With ASU’s overall enrollment at a record 67,082, students are seeing the result of overpopulation as they attempt to walk and drive to classes.
Relief may come soon, however, as recent changes to the Polytechnic, West and Downtown Phoenix campuses have a growing number of students choosing to get their degrees on campuses outside Tempe.

The student population at those three campuses has been skyrocketing in recent years as the University has made a concerted effort to drive more students to the campuses.

Downtown up 22%

Seeing the biggest jump this fall was the Downtown Phoenix campus, according to statistics released Wednesday by ASU.

Downtown enrollment increased from 6,595 students in 2007 to 8,431 this year.

The increase came as the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication relocated to the campus. A new six-story building for the Cronkite School and the new Taylor Place residence hall both opened this semester.

A University wide academic reorganization across all four campuses in 2004 eliminated many duplicated programs and offered students a wider variety of programs in such areas as business, education, engineering and arts and sciences.

Another plan, called “One University in Many Places,” was implemented in 2006 in an attempt to create four distinct sections of the University, rather than having one main campus with several satellite campuses.

Some students at campuses outside Tempe said they are worried that they’ll be too far from the Tempe campus to enjoy the college atmosphere and events it offers, but most say they are adjusting well.

Journalism freshman Chelsea Smith said she was disappointed when she heard the journalism school would be moving to the Downtown campus.

“Tempe is the main campus where all the events are,” she said. “But [the Residence Hall Association] in Tempe is really good at letting us know when activities are going on, and thankfully we have the shuttle to transport us to the Tempe campus when needed.”

Smith said she’ll actually benefit from being separated from the Tempe campus.

“I really like being able to go to Tempe when I want for special activities but also having the ability to get away to Downtown,” Smith said.

Poly grows by 9%

Enrollment at the Polytechnic campus increased by nearly 900 students: from 8,752 in 2007 to 9,614 this semester.

Keith Hjelmstad, University vice president and dean of the Polytechnic campus’ College of Technology and Innovation, said the “One University in Many Places” plan reorganized the leadership structure so all the college deans across all campuses locations report to ASU’s executive vice president and provost.

“This structure enables a more unified approach to educating the students at ASU,” he said.

The addition of new colleges and buildings to each of the three campuses has further increased students’ desire to attend school outside of Tempe as well as earning ASU national recognition.

Dramatic physical changes at the Polytechnic campus, including the Student Union that opened in 2004 and the three new academic complexes completed this summer, have helped to accommodate the enrollment growth, Hjelmstad said.

“In the coming years we expect to see the development of new facilities aimed at enhancing the quality of student life on the campus and to foster the development of Polytechnic as a residential campus,” he said.

The plan for the Polytechnic campus is to grow in enrollments to about 15,000 students, Hjelmstad said.

West up 9.5%

At the West campus, enrollment jumped from 8,664 to nearly 9,572, and the campus is also poised to welcome as many as 15,000.

Stephen Des Georges, a West campus spokesman, said growth at ASU can be attributed to several factors.

“We continue to offer new programs and amenities for our students and as our schools and programs grow in stature, more prospective students take note of the ASU brand and all the University has to offer,” Des Georges said.

Tempe up 2.4%

Enrollment is up at ASU’s largest campus as well, although not as dramatically as in other locations.

Fall enrollment at the Tempe campus is 52,734, up from 51,481 last year.

Reach the reporter at zachary.fowle@asu.edu.