Grand Canyon Times

Arizona State University (ASU) was named number one in innovation for the eighth straight year in the annual Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report. 

ASU also was named number 23 in Best Undergraduate Business, number 29 in Best Undergraduate Nursing, and number 33 in Best Undergraduate Engineering, according to a news release from the university. 

"For two decades, Arizona State University has been designing, building, and reinventing itself as a leader in innovation," Michael Crow, ASU president, said in the news release. "We have tested and implemented new ways to teach, learn, discover, and serve at all levels of the institution — all with the goal of demonstrating our commitment to excellence, access, and impact — and I am deeply thankful to all who have contributed to our evolution.

"Innovation has the power to create better lives for all, and our collective future holds limitless potential, opportunity, and inspiration to manifest a healthy, equitable, and just tomorrow. ASU welcomes the chance to dream with others and to work together to make those dreams a reality."

Universities were nominated in the innovation category by college presidents, provosts, and deans of admissions across the U.S., the news release noted. Schools that are making innovative improvements toward curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology, and facilities were chosen for awards.

"By keeping innovation at the forefront of everything we do, we continue to change the way the world solves problems," Sally Morton, executive vice president of ASU's Knowledge Enterprise, said in the news release. "ASU is breaking the mold for what is possible in our collective future by pioneering solutions that positively impact our students, our university, our communities, and the world in far-reaching ways."

Gov. Doug Ducey (R-AZ) expressed his support in a Twitter post.

"Way to go — number one in innovation for the eighth year in a row," he said. "ASU is the nucleus of Arizona's world-renowned innovation. @MichaelCrow and @ASU have been a driving force into research and cutting-edge technology."