College is an exciting time of new experiences, opportunities and independence – but for most students, the transition is not without its challenges. Mental health is a growing concern nationwide with students today utilizing campus behavioral health services more than any generation before them.

According to the , data from 93 higher education institutions showed a 30 percent increase of students seeking help at counseling centers from 2009 through 2015. Research from the American College Health Association shows an equally alarming mental health trend: The percentage of students who reported receiving treatment for anxiety has increased at a concerning rate from 9.2 percent in 2010 to 22.1 percent in 2018 – a 140 percent uptick just in the last eight years.

During that same time period, we’ve seen a 118 percent increase in students seeking treatment for depression, which today impacts more than 18 percent of all college students. Meanwhile, in the last year, 40 percent of college students reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function – with 10 percent seriously considering suicide.

The Arizona Legislature has also recognized this growing problem among students in Arizona. State Sen. Sean Bowie sponsored and Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law , which  mandates suicide prevention training for schools who work with students from sixth grade through high school. Our universities are dedicated to educate students on suicide awareness and prevention in teacher training programs to prepare future educators as they enter the classroom and engage with students.

Students identify a number of issues that may prompt them to seek mental health services. Nationally, students report academics, finances, sleep difficulties, career-related issues, intimate relationships and appearance as issues difficult to handle over the previous 12 months.

Fortunately, there are some bright spots in the nationwide effort to address this crisis: I am talking about Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona. Arizona’s public universities are not only committed to academic success, but the institutions are committed to the health and well-being of students. Mental health is just as important as your physical health, and our institutions are giving time and resources to ensure students are mentally healthy during their college experience.

Arizona’s public universities are doing innovative work to support student mental health and well-being on campus. For example: In 2018, for its Active Minds program – a student organization focused on reducing stigma about mental health, preventing suicide and providing myriad on-campus resources for students in need.

For the past four years, among 384 colleges and universities by Princeton Review, while a 2017 Gallup poll found that UA alumni are “healthier, happier and more successful than their peers nationally.”

And NAU’s comprehensive, creative and effective approach to prevention, early intervention and treatment ensures students are getting the help they need when they need it. NAU is even using online, interactive technology , and engages them in simulated realistic conversations to determine whether and how to refer them to appropriate campus counseling centers. To date, nearly 9,000 participants at NAU have completed the training, which has been shown to increase interventions for at-risk students.

These accomplishments represent just a snapshot of the great work Arizona’s public universities are doing to address mental health. This must continue to be a priority, both because of its connection to student well-being and the clear connection between mental health and academic success. Studies have shown that students who report psychological distress earn lower GPAs and are less likely to complete their education. In fact, mental illness is the second most common reason students drop out of school.

A healthy student population today means a better-prepared workforce and a healthier and more prosperous community. The Arizona Board of Regents will continue to work with our universities to expand and improve mental health services; promote innovative efforts that address the root causes of this growing concern, foster a culture of well-being and support our attainment goals; and ensure the health, safety and long-term success of every Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­niversity student.

Karrin Taylor Robson is a native Arizonan, attorney and business leader. She is the founder and president of Arizona Strategies, a land use strategy firm in Phoenix. In 2017, she was appointed to the Arizona Board of Regents.

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Arizona public universities have a rich history protecting and promoting free speech and expression on campus. In keeping with that tradition, the Arizona Board of Regents is proud to announce the inaugural – a university-wide debate competition designed to encourage and enrich democratic engagement among university students.

During the day-long event in November 2019, students from ASU, NAU and UA will compete in rigorous debate anchored by mutual respect and civil discourse. This will truly be a celebration of the First Amendment and free expression.

Perhaps never has it been more needed on campus than now.

We’ve all seen the headlines cataloging a First Amendment under siege on too many university campuses across the country. Guest speakers booed off the stage (or physically prevented from taking the stage at all). Free speech constrained and corralled into special “zones.”

The Arizona Board of Regents and university presidents firmly believe our campuses should be a marketplace of ideas, and that college should be a time of intellectual exploration. We believe students must be exposed to all manner of arguments and human thought (as uncomfortable as they may be) so that they can develop as critical thinkers.

We must provide our students a proper foundation for activity, participation, engagement and civil discourse, a foundation rooted in fundamental civic and constitutional knowledge about our liberal-democratic republic and its founding principles, history and legacy of debate. All three public universities have been awarded the highest rating for their free-speech policies by the , a non-partisan group devoted to protecting freedom of expression on campus.

The Regents’ Cup is a living embodiment of each of these same ideals. Through this competition, students will sharpen their arguments, be exposed to different viewpoints and walk away better informed and prepared for life outside the classroom. The winning team will take home the Regents’ Cup trophy, a proud symbol of free speech in the spirit of the Territorial Cup. Victors will also be awarded a scholarship toward their university education, and the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute will recognize the winning student team at its Legacy Luncheon event.

“The spirit of the Regents’ Cup is reflective of Justice O’Connor’s career – one that was epitomized by respect and civil discourse,” said O’Connor Institute Chief Executive Officer Sarah Suggs. “There is no better place to showcase the art of civil discourse than our nation’s college campuses, incubators for leaders of the future – in Arizona and throughout the world.”

I agree! Let us all gather for the Regents’ Cup – and may the best argument win!

Karrin Taylor Robson is a native Arizonan, attorney and business leader. She is the founder and president of Arizona Strategies, a land use strategy firm in Phoenix. In 2017, she was appointed to the Arizona Board of Regents.

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There are few things in life more powerful than a good teacher. Inspiring, impactful and effective – devoted educators make a difference in the lives of our children every day.

Like so many states, Arizona faces daunting challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining high-quality K-12 teachers – particularly in low-income and rural classrooms. Estimates show that more than 3,000 in 2017-18 were filled by candidates lacking a standard teaching certificate.

Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona are on the front lines of efforts to address this shortage as the state’s leading supplier of the teaching workforce. Through the Arizona Teachers Academy – created in partnership with Governor Doug Ducey in 2017 – the public universities are working to bring more teachers to Arizona’s classrooms.  

During this year’s State of the State address, Governor Ducey called on the universities to expand the Arizona Teachers Academy to meet the need for more quality teachers across the state. With the infusion of $21 million proposed in the Governor’s budget, enrollment in Arizona Teachers Academy programs could grow by as many as 3,000 students at the universities.

Key to the success of the academy is a dedicated funding source from the state to bring more teachers to Arizona’s classrooms and address a critical teacher shortage.

The Arizona Teachers Academy began two years ago after now-Regent Fred DuVal proposed to the Governor an innovative concept to finance teacher training through quality programs offered at Arizona’s public universities. Governor Ducey announced the initiative, asking our universities to create a plan to develop the next generation of Arizona public school teachers and expand the number of qualified teachers in our state.  The Arizona Board of Regents, on which I am proud to serve, has supported this effort from the beginning and understands the importance of its mission.

Within a matter of months, Arizona Teachers Academy programs were put into place at each of the universities, offering varied programs with an identical promise – commit to teach in an Arizona classroom and your and tuition and fees will be covered – allowing students to graduate from teacher training programs with little to no cost for their education. Approximately 90 graduates of the academy are already working in K-12 schools throughout our state.  But this is only the start and we have a long way to go to fill the demand in our schools.

Currently, universities cover costs to educate the academy’s students – approximately $4,500 per student. This results in demand exceeding supply as the universities are not able to provide for all prospective students interested in bachelor’s, master’s and non-degree certification programs offered at the universities. An influx of resources to support the Arizona Teachers Academy as proposed by the Governor will help ensure more Arizona teachers receive the training they need.

The Governor’s funding proposal has the potential to bring thousands of new, professionally trained teachers to Arizona’s classrooms – representing a meaningful step toward addressing our teacher supply and retention crisis.

Karrin Taylor Robson is the founder and president of Arizona Strategies and a member of the Arizona Board of Regents, shares how public universities are a powerhouse for the state economy.

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Arizona’s economic landscape is constantly evolving – from the early days when the “5 C’s” drove jobs and prosperity, to today’s modern, 21^st-century economy spurred by tourism, defense, aerospace, technology, manufacturing and healthcare.

Among this vital mix of forces shaping Arizona’s future are the economic and fiscal impacts of Arizona’s public universities.

As a first-of-its-kind analysis of public higher education in Arizona demonstrates, our public universities are firmly cemented among the giants of Arizona’s economy – with Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona generating billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs every year.

An independent analysis by Elliot D. Pollack & Co., in partnership with the Maguire Company, examines the direct, indirect and induced economic and fiscal impacts resulting from Arizona public universities’ operations, research activities and spending by employees, students and the universities. According to the report, Arizona’s public universities are vital economic powerhouses – contributing $11.1 billion to the state’s economy and more than 84,000 jobs in fiscal 2017. These numbers are comparable to the fiscal and economic impacts of the state’s largest military installations at $11.5 billion in economic output and more than 76,000 jobs.

This analysis employs a conservative methodology to ensure the reported economic impacts slightly understate rather than overstate the impacts of Arizona’s public universities.

A breakdown of the numbers reveals far-reaching impacts such as spending by out-of-state visitors who come to the universities for sporting and other events. In fiscal 2017, spending by these visitors alone supported more than 2,000 jobs and $3.8 billion in economic output. That’s not all:

• Research conducted at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona not only has the potential to lead to groundbreaking discoveries, but also results in total economic impact of more than $2 billion.
• State, county, city and other local government tax revenues generated from annual operations of the universities – including faculty, student and visitor spending – are estimated at $451 million.
• An estimated $2 billion was spent by students in fiscal 2017 for housing, utilities, groceries and other items. This spending alone supported nearly 20,000 jobs and $3 billion in total economic impact. University faculty and staff members supported more than 11,000 jobs and economic impact totaling $1.7 billion.

Just as important as the results of this report is the fact that ASU, NAU and the UA educate thousands of highly-skilled workers for the state during an era when jobs increasingly demand skills beyond high school. Through this workforce, the universities contribute to the vitality, growth and innovation of the economy.

Arizona’s public universities are essential contributors to the fabric of our state and the strength of our economy. Ensuring these institutions remain dynamic centers of learning and cutting-edge research is essential to securing opportunity and prosperity for current and future generations of Arizonans.

Karrin Taylor Robson is the founder and president of Arizona Strategies and a member of the Arizona Board of Regents, shares how public universities are a powerhouse for the state economy.

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