By Mike Sunnucks | Rose Law Group Reporter
Arizona State University President Michael Crow said Friday that Arizona’s economy and educational fabric are still too fragile to handle the ups and downs and changes in the economy such as automation and artificial intelligence.
Crow spoke before the Valley Partnership real state group Friday in Phoenix. He touted ASU’s entrepreneurial approach to higher education and growth in its engineering, research and development and online degree programs.
ASU’s engineering programs has grown from 8,000 students in 2009 to 19,000 today.
“That’s a function of being allowed to innovate,” Crow said.
Crow said Arizona’s economy is still too sensitive to economic changes and downturns. He said Arizona’s economy has continue to evolve and mature beyond population growth as well as improve high school graduation rates and number of workers with college degrees.
“We must get everyone through high school,” said Crow pointing to Arizona’s low high school graduate rates compared to other states including among Hispanics.
Crow said the economy is increasingly demanding college degrees from workers and Arizona lags the national average. He also said Arizona’s income levels lag other states such as Colorado and Texas.
“I’d raise a little hurricane
flag around that,” Crow told the real estate group and a crowd that included
Governor Doug Ducey’s Chief of Staff Daniel Scarpinato, Arizona Board of
Regents members Karrin Taylor Robson and Fred DuVal and prominent real estate
executives and developers such as Jim Pederson and John Graham.
Crow said workers have to be adaptable to a future that will include more
automation and artificial intelligence. He also said ASU is creating more
innovative programs to appeal to students and prospective students of various
ages and backgrounds.
The ASU president said the school has been developing “micro B.A. and micro M.A.” programs that can more tailored to non-traditional and other students.
