UNIVERSITY SYSTEM REPORT CARD

 

Arizona University System
2000 Report Card

Executive Summary
The Arizona Board of Regents monitors and reviews the progress of Arizona’s public universities toward improving the quality of education for undergraduate students, enhancing the quality of instruction, becoming more innovative and using resources efficiently. The Report Card is one of the primary instruments used to record that progress.

The 2000 Report Card provides an overall, combined system grade for 19 key areas. Of 19 measures, five showed superior ratings, 11 showed satisfactory, and two showed a need for improvement. Superior rankings were earned by the universities in the areas of:

• Making sure students do not graduate with an excessive number of credits,
• The percentage of faculty with good or excellent teaching ratings,
• The universities’ ability to attract Arizona’s top high school graduates,
• The number of National Merit Scholars attracted to Arizona’s universities, and
• Research grant and contract expenditures.

Since implementing the Report Card in 1997, the Board has witnessed solid, steady improvement in the way Arizona’s universities operate. Highlights of university improvements are:

The quality and effectiveness of undergraduate education is getting better:

• Graduation and retention rates have shown a steady increase over the past four years.
• University efforts to improve advising have been successful, with 70% of student satisfied or very satisfied.
• More than 91% of lower-division students have two or more courses taught by regular faculty.
• More transfer students are able to graduate in a timely manner after enrolling at a university.

The quality of instruction has improved:

• More of the top Arizona high school graduates are attending one of Arizona’s public universities. Almost 73% of the top 1998 high school graduates enrolled in the university system.
• Nearly 200 National Merit Scholars enrolled in Arizona’s public universities in Fall 1999, up from 100 in Fall 1995.

Innovation is expanding:

• The average number of patents increased from 26 in FY 93-95 to 76 for FY 97-99.
• Sponsored research at the universities continues to expand the body of knowledge, growing to $339 million in FY 1999, a 32% increase from last year.
• Enrollments in electronic delivered courses have increased by 24% since Fall 1997.

Resources are being used efficiently:

• An external review committee completed a study of privatization opportunities in the Arizona University System in mid-1999. The Board approved plans to implement 26 committee recommendations.
• The universities have increased the amount of resources used to provide quality instruction and student-related expenditures while reducing the portion of resources used for administrative purposes.

Scope, Size and Character of the Arizona University System

Economic Impact on Arizona

Arizona’s public universities are estimated to make an annual economic impact of $5.3 billion

Value of University Building System

The estimated replacement cost of more than 1,700 buildings on the university campuses is estimated at $3.9 billion.

Operating Budget Sources of Funds

Total: $2.157 billion

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Arizona Board of Regents
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Phoenix, AZ 85004-4593
Telephone: (602) 229-2500 / Fax: (602) 229-2555