ASU must continue to work with the ABOR, legislature and other external constituencies to improve the undergraduate experience for our students. The University is stretched between the level of preparation of entering students and what is expected of them after graduation, and the exponential growth in knowledge. These challenges require sophisticated approaches to train our students properly and to evaluate outcomes. An additional 2,682 students were enrolled as post-baccalaureate students who were not seeking a formal degree or award. During 1996-97, ASU awarded approximately 2,500 graduate degrees.
Graduate students contribute greatly to the functioning of the university.
Graduate students also have responsibility in assisting faculty in most student laboratories in science and engineering, discussion groups, studios, student evaluations, and in many other ways. Graduate students also contribute greatly to the research mission of the university. The creation of knowledge by most science and engineering faculty depends on a constant source of bright, creative graduate students who work on research projects and contribute their ideas to the ongoing enterprise. In many ways, excellent graduate students are part of the connective tissue between research and undergraduate education, e.g., through peer learning. Perhaps the most important area in need of attention in the near term is in the improvement of compensation for the services of our graduate students.