ASU President Michael Crow updated students on the state of the University and defended increased fees during a Feb. 10 forum on the West Valley campus.
The forum was moderated by Undergraduate Student Government West Valley President Joshua Cole, a junior studying applied computing, and Graduate Student Government President Ramachandra Kulkarni, a graduate student studying information technology.
University updates
Crow began the forum with information about the state of the University in its Spring 2026 semester.
"The semester is off to a great start," he said. "We have tremendous energy. You can feel it on campus."
Crow said ASU currently has the most students ever enrolled, as well as record-breaking fundraising and research funding.
He said the institution is "performing at a high level," with more students taking on double and triple majors, learning new languages and earning certificates.
During the forum, Crow said the University continues to prioritize a strong athletic program alongside academics. Crow said athletes maintain strong grades and outperform the general student body in graduation rates.
READ MORE: When academics meet athletics: why Barrett athletes take on honors college
"It turns out that the vast majority of elite performing research universities in the country are also elite performing athletic institutions," Crow said.
Concerns about fees and affordability
Students at the forum asked Crow about increases in fees.
In response to a question regarding what a new advanced technology fee will provide, Crow said the fee will "create the opportunity where ASU students will have access to state-of-the-art everything."
He said the fee will allow students to not have to pay for AI tools individually and help the University integrate AI into classes. The aim of the fee is to make the technologies available to everyone.
READ MORE: ASU adds a new student fee for 'Advanced Technology'
Another student asked whether the fee would be optional.
There will not be an option to opt out of the fee, Crow said. Fees support the "health and the well-being of the entire community," and AI will be an important part of University operations, he said.
However, Crow acknowledged that not every student may use the tools made available by the fee and that some people disagree with the use of AI.
Later, a student asked about increases to Barrett, The Honors College fees.
Crow said the increase is part of a specialized cost structure exclusive to Barrett.
He also said the University is working to keep tuition steady despite inflation. ASU will invest around $700 million in financial aid for students this year, Crow said.
He also said the University will reassess students' financial situation and try to be of greater assistance if their circumstances change.
Accessibility and inclusion
One student touched on ASU's New American University title and asked what steps the University is taking to maintain this mission.
Crow responded that ASU is focusing on moving away from exclusive admissions to a model that maximizes access to higher education for a diverse student body.
"There are institutions of higher education which don't have very many students, and in some ways, don't even wish that they had students," Crow said. "That's not us."
Crow also said the University is accessible for all qualified students and it helps those who are not yet qualified to reach the ASU's enrollment standards.
He said the University's students vary widely in age and noted that programs such as dual-enrollment courses for high school students are part of ASU's efforts to reduce future tuition costs and broaden access to higher education.
The forum also focused on accelerated master's programs, which Crow said widen the scope of students' academic choices but require planning ahead of time.
He also addressed the future of student engagement as online learning options continue to expand, noting that ASU aims to maintain a unified learning experience while ensuring programs remain broadly accessible.
Crow emphasized ways the University hopes to expand the New American University model and allow more people to access it.
"What we're looking to do going forward is to make that model continue to evolve," Crow said.
Edited by Carsten Oyer, Senna James, Katrina Michalak and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at swang496@asu.edu.
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