History of Arizona State University in Timeline
Arizona State University (ASU) is a public research university located in Tempe, Arizona. It is known for its comprehensive range of academic programs, research activities, and a large student body. ASU emphasizes innovation and accessibility, offering both traditional in-person and extensive online education options. With multiple campuses throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, ASU is a significant contributor to the region's economy and culture. The university is also recognized for its sustainability initiatives and commitment to global engagement.
1900: Arthur John Matthews Tenure Begins
In 1900, president Arthur John Matthews began his 30-year tenure.
1902: First Dormitories Constructed
In 1902, the first dormitories built in the state were constructed.
1903: Name Changed to Tempe Normal School
In 1903, the name of the institution was changed to Tempe Normal School.
March 20, 1911: Theodore Roosevelt Visits ASU
On March 20, 1911, President Theodore Roosevelt visited Arizona State University and spoke on the steps of Old Main. He was in Arizona to dedicate the Roosevelt Dam.
1917: Lantern Walk Tradition Begins
The Lantern Walk, one of the oldest traditions at ASU, dates back to 1917.
1918: Letter Existed on "A" Mountain Slope
Since 1918, a letter has existed on the slope of "A" Mountain, starting with a "T" followed by an "N".
1923: High School Diploma Requirement Added
In 1923, the school stopped offering high school courses and added a high school diploma to the admissions requirements.
1924: Homecoming Tradition Dates to 1924
The Homecoming tradition at ASU dates to 1924.
1925: Name Changed to Tempe State Teachers College
In 1925, the institution was renamed Tempe State Teachers College.
1929: Renamed Arizona State Teachers College
In 1929, the 9th Arizona State Legislature authorized Bachelor of Arts in Education degrees as well, and the school was renamed the Arizona State Teachers College.
1930: Arthur John Matthews Tenure Ends
Arthur John Matthews 30-year tenure ended in 1930.
1930: Ralph Waldo Swetman Hired
In 1930, Ralph Waldo Swetman was hired to succeed President Matthews at Arizona State Teachers College. During his tenure, enrollment doubled, and he conceived of a self-supported summer session.
1933: Grady Gammage Becomes President
In 1933, Grady Gammage became president of Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe.
1937: "Alma Mater" Composed
In 1937, "Alma Mater" was composed by former Music Professor and Director of Sun Devil Marching Band, Miles A. Dresskell.
1938: First Master of Arts in Education Awarded
In 1938, the first Master of Arts in Education was awarded.
1938: "A" Installed on Tempe Butte
Since 1938, the "A" has been installed on the slope of the south face of Tempe Butte, visible from the campus.
1939: Harold D. Richardson begins various roles at ASU
In 1939 Harold D. Richardson began a variety of roles at ASU.
1945: Name Changed to Arizona State College
In 1945, the institution was renamed Arizona State College.
1952: Original "A" Destroyed by Vandals
In 1952, the original "A" on "A" Mountain was destroyed by vandals using pipe bombs.
1954: First Doctor of Education Degree Awarded
In 1954, the first Doctor of Education degree was awarded.
1955: New "A" Constructed of Reinforced Concrete
In 1955, a new "A", constructed of reinforced concrete, was built on "A" Mountain to replace the one destroyed in 1952.
1956: Non-Teaching Master's Degrees Approved
In 1956, 10 non-teaching master's degrees were approved by the Arizona Board of Regents.
1957: Ronald Reagan Gives Political Speech at ASU
In 1957, future president Ronald Reagan gave a political speech at ASU's Memorial Union.
1958: Name Changed to Arizona State University
In 1958, the institution was renamed Arizona State University.
1958: Phrateres Chapter Installed
In 1958, the second Eta chapter of Phrateres was installed at ASU.
1959: Harold D. Richardson becomes acting president
In December 1959, Harold D. Richardson became the acting president of the university.
1960: Harold D. Richardson laid the groundwork for recruitment
In September 1960, Harold D. Richardson laid the groundwork for the future recruitment and appointment of well-credentialed research science faculty.
1961: Doctoral Degree Programs Authorized
In 1961, the Arizona Board of Regents authorized doctoral degree programs in six fields, including Doctor of Philosophy.
1964: ASU Gammage Completed
In 1964, ASU Gammage, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, was completed.
1966: Devils' Advocates Founded
In 1966, Devils' Advocates, the volunteer campus tour guide organization, was founded as a way to more competitively recruit National Merit Scholars.
1966: Hayden Library Opened
In 1966, Hayden Library opened on Cady Mall in the center of the Tempe campus and became the largest library facility at ASU.
April 28, 1968: Gerald R. Ford Debates at ASU
On April 28, 1968, future president Gerald R. Ford debated Senator Albert Gore, Sr. at Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium.
1969: Enrollment Reaches 23,000
By 1969, ASU reported an enrollment of 23,000 students.
1969: Harry K. Newburn Becomes President
In 1969, Harry K. Newburn became president.
October 31, 1970: Richard Nixon Visits Phoenix, Acknowledges ASU Band
On October 31, 1970, President Richard Nixon visited Phoenix and attended an event that included a performance by the Arizona State University Band, which he acknowledged, stating, "when I am in Arizona, Arizona State is number one."
1971: John W. Schwada Becomes President
In 1971, John W. Schwada became president.
January 29, 1972: Lyndon B. Johnson Speaks at ASU
On January 29, 1972, President Lyndon B. Johnson spoke at ASU's Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium at a memorial service for ASU alumnus Senator Carl T. Hayden.
1981: Donald Johanson established the Institute of Human Origins
In 1981, ASU Professor Donald Johanson established the Institute of Human Origins (IHO) in Berkeley, California after discovering the 3.18 million year old fossil hominid Lucy (Australopithecus) in Ethiopia.
1981: J. Russell Nelson Becomes President
In 1981, J. Russell Nelson became president.
February 24, 1984: Gerald R. Ford Lectures at ASU
On February 24, 1984, former president Gerald R. Ford returned to Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium to give a lecture.
1984: ASU West Valley Campus Established
In 1984, the ASU West Valley campus was established.
1986: ASU West Valley Campus Constructed
In 1986, the ASU West Valley campus was constructed.
March 20, 1989: Ronald Reagan Delivers Speech at ASU
On March 20, 1989, former president Ronald Reagan returned to campus and delivered his first ever post-presidential speech at ASU's Wells Fargo Arena.
1989: Richard Peck becomes Interim President
In 1989, Richard Peck became Interim President.
1989: Hayden Library Expansion
In 1989, an expansion of Hayden Library created a subterranean entrance underneath Hayden Lawn, attached to the original library with a "Beacon of Knowledge".
1990: Lattie F. Coor Becomes President
In 1990, Lattie F. Coor became president of ASU.
1991: Sun Devil Marching Band Receives Sudler Trophy
In 1991, the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the Sun Devil Marching Band the prestigious Sudler Trophy.
1994: Pat Tillman at ASU
Pat Tillman played football at ASU from 1994 to 1997.
October 31, 1996: Bill Clinton Visits ASU
On October 31, 1996, President Bill Clinton became the first sitting president to visit ASU, speaking on the Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium lawn.
1996: Founding of ASU East
In 1996, ASU East was founded, later becoming the ASU Polytechnic campus. It serves over 4,800 students and offers more than 130 degree programs.
1997: Institute of Human Origins Moved to ASU
In 1997, the Institute of Human Origins (IHO), originally established in Berkeley, California, was moved to Arizona State University.
1997: Pat Tillman at ASU
Pat Tillman played football at ASU from 1994 to 1997.
May 5, 1998: George H. W. Bush Lectures at ASU
On May 5, 1998, President George H. W. Bush gave a lecture at Wells Fargo Arena.
July 1, 2002: Michael M. Crow Serves as ASU president
Since July 1, 2002. Michael M. Crow has served as the 16th ASU president.
2002: Lattie F. Coor Leaves Presidency
In 2002, Lattie F. Coor's presidency ended.
2002: Michael M. Crow Becomes President
In 2002, Michael M. Crow became the 16th president of ASU and outlined his vision for a "New American University".
2002: Research Facility Capital Building Effort
Since 2002, ASU began a research facility capital building effort, leading to the establishment of the Biodesign Institute and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability.
2003: Sigma Phi Beta Founded
In 2003, Sigma Phi Beta, one of the nation's first and fastest growing gay fraternities, was founded at Arizona State University.
October 13, 2004: George W. Bush Debates at ASU
On October 13, 2004, President George W. Bush became the second sitting president to visit ASU and debated Senator John Kerry at Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium.
2004: Partnership with the Pentagon Begins
In 2004, the partnership between Arizona State University and the Pentagon began with an initial $43.7 million grant to the Flexible Display Center.
2006: Bill Clinton Returns to ASU
In 2006, former President Bill Clinton returned to ASU.
2006: Establishment of Downtown Phoenix Campus
In 2006, the Downtown Phoenix campus was established on the north side of Downtown Phoenix, featuring an urban design and housing multiple colleges.
2007: ASU's School of Sustainability Established
In Spring 2007, Arizona State University's School of Sustainability was established as the first school in the United States to introduce degrees in the field of sustainability.
October 2008: Wind Turbines Installed on Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability
In October 2008, six wind turbines were installed on the roof of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability building on the Tempe campus.
2008: Economic Downturn Impacts ASU Budget
In 2008, the economic downturn led to significant budget cuts for ASU.
2008: School of Sustainability Enrolls Undergraduates
In Fall 2008, ASU's School of Sustainability began enrolling undergraduates.
May 13, 2009: Barack Obama Delivers Commencement Speech
On May 13, 2009, President Barack Obama visited ASU as sitting president and delivered the commencement speech for the Spring 2009 Commencement Ceremony.
September 2009: Salary and Benefit Policy Re-evaluation
In September 2009, the Arizona Board of Regents re-evaluated the salary and benefit policy for athletic staff due to criticism over high salaries earned by coaches at Arizona's public universities, including ASU.
2009: The Sustainability Consortium Founded
In 2009, The Sustainability Consortium was founded by Jay Golden at ASU.
2009: Army Research Laboratory Extends Funding for FDC
In 2009, the Army Research Laboratory extended funding for the Arizona State University Flexible Display Center (FDC) with a $50 million grant.
April 5, 2010: Women's Swimming and Diving Team selected to the Pac-10 All-Academic Team
On April 5, 2010, eight members of ASU's Women's Swimming and Diving Team were selected to the Pac-10 All-Academic Team.
April 6, 2010: Men's Swimming and Diving Team selected to the Pac-10 All-Academic Team
On April 6, 2010, five members of ASU's Men's Swimming and Diving Team were selected to the Pac-10 All-Academic Team.
2011: Economic Recovery Underway
By 2011, with an economic recovery underway, ASU continued its campaign to expand the West Valley and Polytechnic Campuses, and establish a low-cost extension campus in Lake Havasu City.
2011: College Sustainability Green Report Card
In 2011, ASU earned an "A−" grade on the College Sustainability Green Report Card.
2011: Dennis Erickson Fired
In 2011, Dennis Erickson was fired and replaced by Todd Graham as the men's football coach.
2011: Changemaker Central Opens
In Fall 2011, Changemaker Central locations opened on all campuses, providing flexible, creative workspaces for the ASU community.
2011: Pac-12 Conference Expansion
With the 2011 expansion of the Pac-12 Conference, a new $3 billion contract for revenue sharing among all the schools in the conference was established, which addressed salary and budgeting issues at ASU.
June 12, 2012: Elinor Ostrom Died
On June 12, 2012, Elinor Ostrom, ASU's third Nobel laureate, died at the age of 78.
June 2012: ASU Generated 15.3 MW of Electricity from Solar Arrays
As of June 2012, Arizona State University generated a total of 15.3 MW of electricity from on-campus solar arrays.
2012: Victory Bell Tradition Reintroduced
In 2012, Arizona State University reintroduced the tradition of ringing a bell after each win for the football team.
2012: Steve Patterson Appointed Athletic Director
In 2012, Steve Patterson was appointed as the athletic director, replacing Lisa Love.
2012: World's Largest Flexible OLED Created
In 2012, researchers at the Flexible Display Center created the world's largest flexible full-color organic light-emitting diode (OLED), which at the time was 7.4 inches. In 2012, ASU also eliminated the need for specialized equipment and processing, thereby reducing costs compared to competitive approaches.
2012: Devil Walk new approach added
In 2012, with the arrival of head coach Todd Graham, a new approach to the Devil Walk tradition was added in Wells Fargo Arena, involving a more formal introduction of the players to the community.
2013: ASU Libraries Held 4.5 Million Volumes
As of 2013, Arizona State University's libraries held 4.5 million volumes.
2013: Expansions Completed at Hayden Library
In 2013, more expansions were completed at Hayden Library.
2013: Hayden Library Repurposing and Renovation Project Approved
In 2013, the Arizona Board of Regents approved a $35 million repurposing and renovation project for Hayden Library.
2013: Start of the Curtain of Distraction
In 2013, the Curtain of Distraction tradition started at every men's and women's basketball game to attract more fans.
2013: Addition of Sun Devil Fitness Center
In 2013, the Sun Devil Fitness Center was added to the Downtown Phoenix campus in conjunction with the original YMCA building.
2013: Ranking by University Business Incubator (UBI) Index
In 2013, the Sweden-based University Business Incubator (UBI) Index named ASU as one of the top universities in the world for business incubation, ranking 17th.
March 2014: ASU Ranks as Top Institution for Solar Generating Capacity
As of March 2014, Arizona State University was the top institution of higher education in the United States for solar generating capacity.
May 1, 2014: ASU Under Investigation by Office of Civil Rights
On May 1, 2014, ASU was listed as one of fifty-five higher education institutions under investigation by the Office of Civil Rights for possible violations of federal law.
June 2014: Partnership with Starbucks
In June 2014, ASU Online and Starbucks announced the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, offering benefits-eligible employees full-tuition coverage for ASU Online undergraduate degree programs.
July 2014: Request to Expand Federal Investigation
In July 2014, a group of registered and former students asked for the federal investigation to be expanded.
August 2014: Task Force Appointed to Review Sexual Violence Efforts
In August 2014, ASU president Michael Crow appointed a task force to review the university's efforts to address sexual violence.
November 2014: Crow Accepts Task Force Recommendations
In November 2014, Crow accepted the recommendations of the task force.
2014: Clinton Global Initiative University Hosted at ASU
In 2014, President Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton came to ASU to host the Clinton Global Initiative University.
April 2015: Partnership with edX to form Global Freshman Academy
In April 2015, ASU Online announced a partnership with edX to form the Global Freshman Academy, a program open to all potential students without requiring a high school transcript or GPA to apply.
April 2015: Bobby Hurley hired as men's basketball coach
In April 2015, Bobby Hurley was hired as the men's basketball coach, replacing Herb Sendek.
July 31, 2015: Jimmy Carter Visits Arizona PBS at ASU
On July 31, 2015, President Jimmy Carter visited Arizona PBS at ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication to promote a memoir.
2015: Free tickets for ASU athletic events
As of Fall 2015, ASU students, including those enrolled in online courses, may avail of a free ticket to all ASU athletic events upon presentation of a valid student ID and reserving one online through their ASU and Ticketmaster account.
2015: Arntzen Named Top Honoree
In 2015, ASU professor Charles Arntzen was named the No. 1 honoree among Fast Company's annual "100 Most Creative People in Business" for his work which made possible the production of Ebola antibodies in specially modified tobacco plants that researchers at Mapp Biopharmaceutical used to create the Ebola therapeutic ZMapp.
2015: Princeton Review Ranking
In 2015, ASU was named one of the Princeton Review's most sustainable schools.
2015: Bob Bowman hired as head swim coach
In 2015, Bob Bowman was hired as the head swim coach at ASU.
2015: Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU
In 2015, the Thunderbird School of Global Management became the Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU.
May 2016: ASU Generated Over 24 MW of Electricity from Solar Arrays
As of May 2016, Arizona State University generated over 24 megawatts (MW) of electricity from on-campus solar arrays.
June 2016: Entrepreneurial University Award
In June 2016, ASU received the Entrepreneurial University Award from the Deshpande Foundation, which supports social entrepreneurship and innovation.
2016: Relocation of Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
In 2016, ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law relocated from Tempe to the Downtown Phoenix campus.
2016: Formation of Mayo Clinic and ASU Alliance for Health Care
In 2016, Mayo Clinic and ASU formed the Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University Alliance for Health Care for health care education and research.
2016: Michael Phelps Distraction
In 2016, former Olympian Michael Phelps came out of the Curtain of Distraction wearing a Speedo during a game against Oregon State.
2016: Luminosity Lab Founded
In 2016, the Luminosity Lab, a student-led research and development think tank, was founded at ASU by Dr. Mark Naufel.
2016: Innovation Ranking
In 2016, the innovation ranking was determined by a poll of top college officials nationwide asking them to name institutions "that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities".
2016: Ranking as top public university
In 2016–2017, the Institute of International Education ranked ASU as the top public university in the U.S. for hosting international students.
2016: Beus Center for Law and Society Opens
In fall 2016, the Beus Center for Law and Society, the new home of ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, opened on the Downtown Phoenix campus.
December 2017: Herm Edwards Hired as Head Football Coach
In December 2017, ASU announced that Herm Edwards would replace Todd Graham as the head football coach.
2017: Enrollment in ASU Online
As of spring 2017, more than 25,000 students were enrolled through ASU Online.
2017: Certificate in the Science of Health Care Delivery
Beginning in 2017, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine students in Phoenix and Scottsdale could earn a certificate in the Science of Health Care Delivery, with the option to pursue a master's degree in the same field through ASU.
2017: Average GPA of Incoming Freshmen
For Fall 2017, the average GPA of incoming freshmen at Barrett, The Honors College was 3.78, with an average SAT score of 1380 and an average ACT score of 29.
2017: Ranking as top public university
In 2016–2017, the Institute of International Education ranked ASU as the top public university in the U.S. for hosting international students.
2017: Sierra Club "Cool Schools" Ranking
In 2017, ASU was named one of the top 6 "Cool Schools" by the Sierra Club for its campus sustainability efforts.
2017: Lindy Elkins-Tanton Selected by NASA to Lead Psyche Mission
In 2017, Lindy Elkins-Tanton of ASU was selected by NASA to lead a deep space mission to Psyche, a metal asteroid.
2017: Tempe Campus Student Enrollment
In fall 2017, ASU's Tempe campus had more than 70,000 students enrolled in at least one class on campus.
2018: Opening of Barrett and O'Connor Center in Washington, D.C.
In 2018, ASU opened the Barrett and O'Connor Center in Washington, D.C., to solidify its presence and contacts in the capital city, housing various academic programs and offering special lectures and seminars via video-conferencing.
2018: ASU Facilities Inventory Reported
In 2018, the Arizona Board of Regents reported that the ASU facilities inventory totaled more than 23 million gross square feet.
December 2, 2020: Jeff Flake Appointed
On December 2, 2020, Former US senator Jeff Flake was appointed as a distinguished dean fellow.
2020: Research Expenditures
ASU spent $673 million in fiscal year 2020, ranking it 43rd nationally.
2020: Expansions Completed at Hayden Library
In 2020, more expansions were completed at Hayden Library.
2020: Limited Tickets
In 2020, tickets may be limited or not available due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Money Magazine Ranking
Money magazine ranked ASU 124th in the country out of 739 schools evaluated for its 2020 "Best Colleges for Your Money" edition.
October 2021: Biodesign's Millionth COVID Test
In October 2021, Biodesign announced their millionth COVID test.
2021: Fall Semester Enrollment
During the fall semester of 2021, Hispanic students comprised over 25% of the university's total undergraduate enrollment.
2021: Systemwide Student Population
In 2021, ASU had a systemwide total enrolled student population (both in-person and online) of 135,345.
2021: Passive Radiative Cooling Film Installed at Bus Shelters
In 2021, Arizona State University researchers installed a passive radiative cooling film, produced by 3M, to local Tempe bus shelters to cool temperatures during the daytime.
2021: ASU Ranked Top "Cool School" for Sustainability
In 2021, The Sierra Club magazine ranked ASU as the top "cool school" for sustainability, noting CISA's Burrowing Owl Conservation Project.
2021: Limited Tickets
In 2021, tickets may be limited or not available due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2022: Designation as Hispanic-Serving Institution
In June 2022, Arizona State University was designated a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) by the United States Department of Education.
August 2022: Systemwide Student Population
As of August 2022, ASU had a systemwide enrolled student population (both in-person and online) of 140,759, a 4% increase over the systemwide total in 2021.
2022: Acquisition of Columbia College Hollywood
In 2022, ASU acquired Columbia College Hollywood, a small nonprofit college, and renamed it California College of ASU.
2022: Sun Devil Walk Returning
In 2022, interim coach Shaun Aguano announced that the Sun Devil Walk is returning.
2022: Limited Tickets
In 2022, tickets may be limited or not available due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2023: Agreement with Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
In 2023, ASU reached an agreement with the for-profit Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) to take over some of its academic programs, creating ASU FIDM.
February 2024: ASU Faculty Statistics
As of February 2024, ASU had over 5,000 faculty members, including Nobel laureates, MacArthur Fellows, Pulitzer Prize winners, and members of various prestigious academies and fellowships.
2024: Alumni in Major League Baseball
As of 2024, ASU is second among all NCAA universities with 117 alumni who have played in Major League Baseball.
2024: Sun Devil Olympians
As of 2024, more than 200 Sun Devil student-athletes have competed in the Olympic Games, winning a total of 66 medals.
2024: ASU Alumni Association Membership
As of 2024, the Arizona State University Alumni Association has more than 640,000 members worldwide, with 338,000 residing in Arizona.
June 2025: Closure of ASU Colleges in Lake Havasu City
In June 2025, ASU Colleges in Lake Havasu City closed due to state budget cuts. The undergraduate-only college was focused on teaching and offered lower tuition rates.
2025: Global Employability University Ranking and Survey
ASU is also one of 250 global universities selected for the Emerging Group's 2025 Global Employability University Ranking and Survey (GEURS), and is ranked 41th in the world (14th in the U.S.) within this select group.
2025: Academic Ranking of World Universities
ASU is ranked 49nd–58th in the U.S. and 151st–200th in the world among the top 1000 universities in the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities
2025: Center for World University Rankings
ASU is ranked 65th U.S./196th in the world by the 2025 Center for World University Rankings.
2025: U.S. News & World Report Rankings
The 2025 U.S. News & World Report ratings ranked ASU tied for 117th among universities in the United States and tied for 192nd globally.
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