Social Embeddedness

EASE is a free program that is available to incoming undergraduate students in the Fulton School of Engineering with an autism spectrum disorder or Asperger’s diagnosis. The EASE program begins with peer mentoring to assist with the transition to college life and a focus on career readiness skills.

The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering offers high-quality engineering education programs for K-12 teachers and students year-round. The goal of the Fulton Summer Academy is to engage Arizona’s K-12 students and create pathways to become technically savvy, prepare for studies in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-related fields and pursue careers in engineering.

YAWP is a summer program designed to offer young writers a non-evaluative environment in which to explore the power of writing.

The Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program is an intense academic program that provides motivated students an outstanding opportunity to begin university mathematics studies before graduating high school.

The First Star – Arizona State University Academy is a free, comprehensive four-year college access program that aims to provide foster youth the academic support, enrichment and resources needed to enroll and succeed in college.

The Sankofa programs aim to help students transition successfully from high school to college by providing interactive sessions, workshops and engagement opportunities.

Access ASU is dedicated to increasing access to higher education and preparing Arizona students for success through family engagement, strategic K-12 education and community partnerships. Access ASU’s programs and initiatives are designed to ensure all Arizona students graduate high school ready to thrive in college and the 21st century workforce.

DreamBuilder is a free training and certification program that consists of courses covering the foundational business knowledge needed to start and grow small businesses. DreamBuilder is available at no cost in English and Spanish and in both online and offline formats.

The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation Nonprofit Management Institute provides both online and in-person programs dedicated to building the capacity and skills of those who lead, manage and support nonprofit organizations. 

The Next Generation Workforce program through the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College works with schools and community organizations to build tools, resources and opportunities to increase the number of community educators in the state of Arizona.

Bob Ramsey Executive Education is dedicated to improving the effectiveness of the people and organizations that serve communities. Public service professionals can enhance their management and leadership competencies and can earn an Executive Master of Public Administration degree, the Certified Public Manager® designation and the Certified Municipal Clerk or Master Municipal Clerk credential. They also assist state, county, municipal and tribal organizations with the implementation of their staff development initiatives.

CareerCatalyst is dedicated to improving learners’ skills and capabilities at work through high-quality professional education that expands opportunity, fulfills passions, and positively impacts the future of individuals, organizations and businesses.

Sustainable Earth, in partnership with Wells Fargo and Arizona State University, presents free micro-courses for businesses interested in becoming more sustainable. The courses require no registration and take approximately 60-90 minutes.

With a team of experienced clinicians, healthcare educators and academic researchers, the College of Health Solutions offers the most current information and innovations in healthcare delivery and population health management. Continuing Education programs are accessible, flexible, learner-centered and on the cutting edge of research and content.

Global Launch works with universities, businesses and government agencies to offer courses and programs for faculty, employees, government officials and groups seeking English, academic or professional development.

W.P. Carey Executive Education empowers learning and development for individuals and organizations through innovative offerings that build impactful leadership skills and business acumen, and custom education programs that deliver business results and value.

The Piper Writers Studio (PWS) offers creative writing classes, workshops and other educational opportunities for writers of all backgrounds, genres and levels of experience. The classes are intended for and open to the public.

The ILA is the first program inclusive of Indigenous leadership principles and works with emerging Indigenous leaders from throughout Arizona and nationally to expand their knowledge, skills, and networks to address long-term issues faced by Indigenous governments, communities, associations and corporations.

The Next Generation Service Corps is a four-year leadership development program (with a two-year transfer track) where students study their chosen major, engage in practical elements of leadership, learn cross-sector collaboration and take three internships throughout the program in the nonprofit, public and private sectors all while pursuing their own chosen social mission. 

The Pastor Center for Politics and Public Service serves as a dynamic, student-centric hub of activity that promotes, publicizes and encourages political engagement and public service among ASU students and the broader community. The center prepares and empowers ASU students from all backgrounds to assume leadership positions in the public sector.

The Arizona Legislative and Government Internship Program is a competitive university-wide program that provides an opportunity for students to intern full-time at a state agency, the Arizona State Legislature the Governor's Office or the Arizona Supreme Court during the spring semester.

Arizona State University students have the opportunity to compete for paid internships within multiple Maricopa County departments through an award-winning program approved by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Arizona State University. The MCLEAPS program offers top students hands-on experience and greatly enhances their education with an introduction to the opportunities and rewards of public service careers, including those in county government.

The ASU Sacramento Scholars program pairs ASU student interns in the offices of legislators, state agencies and prosecutors in Sacramento, California. The program provides a learning environment for students on how the government works in the nation’s most populous state while earning a stipend. 

Interested in learning more? Email [email protected]

Through the Capital Scholars Program, students experience Washington, D.C. as a summer intern and earn 6 upper-division credits. Students work at organizations of interest to them — options include but are not limited to, the White House, Congress, courts, government agencies, lobbying and consulting firms, advocacy groups, media outlets, museums, think tanks and non-profit organizations.

The one-year Spirit of Service Scholars program develops leaders with the talent, compassion and skills to become the next generation of public interest advocacy and community engagement professionals.

The Center for Work and Democracy was founded in 2019 to connect university knowledge production to the challenges facing working people in our increasingly unequal and exclusionary society.

The Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at Arizona State University facilitates powerful and informed dialogues and transformative scholarship about issues related to race and democracy. 

The Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University aims to foster and support thoughtful, innovative research, policy briefs and forums around the state of American Democracy.

The Center for American Civics is a non-partisan outreach center under the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership that supports and strengthens the knowledge of American civics and the skills of civil discourse among K-12 students.

The Center for the Study of Economic Liberty, a joint endeavor of the W. P. Carey School of Business and the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, is dedicated to becoming a leader in research that affects liberty-enhancing public policy and increases public and academic awareness of the history and philosophy of economic liberty.

The Morrison Institute for Public Policy serves as Arizona’s premier public policy research organization. Their team works with government agencies and nonprofits of all sizes and missions to examine trends, policies and practices.

The Office of Government & Community Engagement serves as the liaison to officials and agencies of the U.S. government, State of Arizona, Maricopa County, surrounding municipalities and communities, Tribal Nations, Mexico and Cultural leaders.

The McCain Institute is part of ASU, based in Washington, D.C., and focused on impacting the nation’s and world’s most critical issues and discussions. The institute offers policy research, events, student internships and other activities committed to supporting American global leadership, humanitarian action and upholding democratic and human rights.

The Kyl Center for Water Policy at Morrison Institute promotes research, analysis, collaboration and dialogue to build consensus on sound water stewardship for Arizona and the West. 

The Democracy initiative seeks to leverage existing programs, bolster emerging initiatives and develop new ideas to educate the next generation on American politics and encourage civic engagement at the local, state and national level.

The Center for Policy Informatics is a translational research hub at Arizona State University that advances the study, teaching, and practice of the nebulous field of policy informatics to address complex public policy and administration problems.

The ASU Center for American Institutions has a single nonpartisan purpose: Preserving and renewing our fundamental American institutions to maintain well-ordered liberty in an exceptional nation through the fostering and renewal of foundational American institutions including civic, religious, legal, financial, political, military and family.

The Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies conducts research, evaluates policy, and develops solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges at the nexus of scientific, societal, technological and environmental change.

The Enterprise Policy Analysis Group (EPAG) works to improve decision-making by helping ASU executive leadership understand and identify opportunities within the public policy landscape through student-centric projects.

The Center for Healthcare Delivery and Policy focuses on the advancement of high-value healthcare in the US and the attainment of health through the contribution of ideas, evidence, and solutions to influence policy and practice.

The President's Community Council helps to embed ASU in the community, identify issues and co-develop opportunities for engagement, and solutions.

The Knowledge Exchange for Resilience is a network of collaborators and community partners working to share data and knowledge to improve community resilience in Maricopa County. By leveraging the existing strengths of our academic, nonprofit, business and government organizations, they can do more together than any one organization can do alone to improve social, economic and environmental resilience in our community.

The Graduate College's Knowledge Mobilization Initiative supports graduate student and postdoctoral scholars to make an impact with their research, moving academic knowledge beyond the university and putting it into use--in current practice, informing policy change and collaborating with industry and/or community-based organizations.

The Decision Theater organizes researchers, policymakers and the business community to better understand and explore solutions to complex issues facing society.  Using data analytics and high-performance computing to drive software-integrated models, DT works with transdisciplinary partners to streamline big data and transform it into novel, interactive data visualizations.

The ASU Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence is a partnership between Arizona State University and Helios Education Foundation. Partnering with ASU’s Decision Theater and other ASU researchers and thought leaders, the ASU Helios Decision Center for Education Excellence convenes key stakeholders in the education system with Tools & Visualizations to examine the education system and model and visualize the impact of potential new policies and innovative solutions on education outcomes.

The Design Studio for Community Solutions (DSCS) works in and with communities to foster partnerships, implement community-driven programs, and promote authentic university-community collaboration.

The NGSC is a 4-year student leadership development program that aims to equip the next generation of leaders to tackle complex social issues through cross-sector collaboration. Students engage with the community through internships, coursework, service, and advocacy requirements. Engage with NGSC students by nominating one challenge from your organization to be the project focus for an NGSC semester-long design-thinking class.

ProMod is an innovative modular learning model that infuses project-based learning into undergradaute courses at ASU. Participating students work closely with faculty and fellow peers by apply academic knowledge to real-world situations while earning course credits. At the end of the year, students produce tangible solutions to problems that fit their majors, building collaboration and writing skills, creativity and product portfolios along the way.

The ASU Community Collaborative is a student-run clinic and community center located on the first floor of the Westward Ho, and provides residents with a wide range of assistance. Services range from increasing social connection, providing supplemental food, counseling, community assistance and referrals, assistance with technology, educational and cultural enrichment opportunities, blood pressure checks, nutritional education, and disease prevention programs. 

The Engineering Projects in Community Service program (EPICS) is a national award-winning social entrepreneurship program in which teams design, build and deploy systems to solve engineering-based problems for charities, schools and other not-for-profit organizations. Project teams address needs through innovative technology-based approaches in the Phoenix metropolitan area and around the world in places like Bangladesh, Malawi and Fiji. In the fall 2009, ASU joined a consortium of 20 universities in the nationwide EPICS program, and has since become the largest social entrepreneurship program at ASU featuring 6 EPICS GOLD classes, 142 students and 35+ active project teams.

The community health initiative is Arizona's first tri-university collaborative project, run by students and guided by faculty united by a mission to provide free, holistic, client-centered healthcare services using inter-professional team-based care to individuals who are experiencing homelessness. The SHOW Clinic also addresses larger system issues through community partnerships and capacity-building projects, and offers students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels the opportunity to learn and demonstrate leadership in an inter-professional team environment.

Collaborate with faculty, staff and students on a community project that leverages design-and-arts based programming through the Design and Arts Corps.

Full-time MBA students in the W.P. Carey School of Business partner with local nonprofits on semester-long projects to provide free consulting services on their organizational priorities.

Want to learn more? Email [email protected]

Through the Sandra Day O’Connor Legal Clinics, ASU law students, under the direct supervision of faculty and practicing attorneys, provide legal consultation for clients through a variety of programs including Civil Litigation, First Amendment, Immigration, Indian Legal, Patent, Entrepreneurship and Small Business and Post-Conviction as well as the three outside clinics: Lodestar Mediation, Public Defender and Prosecution.

Project Cities connect sustainability faculty and students pair with a city to co-create strategies for better environmental, economic and social balance in the places we live. Students from multiple disciplines research challenging issues chosen by the city and propose innovative sustainability solutions that enable the city to make progress toward a better future.

The ASU Speech and Hearing Clinic serves as a training and research facility for degree programs in speech and hearing science at ASU’s College of Health Solutions. Clinical services are provided by graduate students under the direct supervision of licensed faculty with expertise in hearing, speech, language, voice and early childhood communication.

Humanities Lab provides students with the opportunity to engage in hands-on research on compelling social challenges of interest to today’s students while working with others who are also invested in making a difference.

The ASU Chandler Innovation Center (ACIC) is a partnership between the City of Chandler and Arizona State University. The facility includes a DIY fabrication shop, event, meeting and coworking space.

SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, is home to a diverse business community that links technology, research, education and entrepreneurship to position ASU and Greater Phoenix as global leaders in the knowledge economy. The campus was developed as a joint venture among ASU, the City of Scottsdale, ASU Enterprise Partners and the Plaza Companies.

The Health Futures Center represents the collaboration between Arizona State University and the Mayo Clinic with the shared goal of improving health and well-being outcomes to the community. The leading-edge facility will feature a med-tech innovation accelerator, biomedical engineering and informatics research labs, and an innovative education zone. Programs from several ASU schools and colleges will benefit from the proximity of this facility to the Mayo Clinic Hospital and Cancer Center. ASU programs include the College of Health Solutions, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Fulton Schools of Engineering, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation, as well as collaboration programs within the Mayo Clinic.

The MIX Center is part of the ASU at Mesa City Center complex, a collaboration between ASU and Mesa, Arizona, a city rich in history, art, community and industry. The site serves as a laboratory for advanced media technologies and media production, a platform for game development and a driving force for entrepreneurial solutions. It will also be an open and inviting place for the public as well as a source of inspiration, entertainment and education.

The Phoenix Bioscience Core is a place where unprecedented collaborations transpire between innovators and institutions of research excellence, setting a new standard in advancing precision medicine from discovery to delivery. Home to the highest concentration of research scientists in the state, the PBC’s anchor institutions include Arizona’s three public research universities — Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona — leading genomics pioneers including the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope; the International Genomics Consortium; Exact Sciences; several of Phoenix’s major health care systems, such as Banner Health, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Dignity Health and Valleywise Health; and a growing number of emerging life science companies.

ASU Local satellite campuses are embedded in the heart of the communities and provide high-quality online degrees with in-person academic support. At each of our locations, students can partake in ASU Local’s signature experiences, which are designed to harness the essence of the local community and use the city as a campus setting. ASU Local locations include Washington D.C. Downtown Los Angeles, Lake Havasu, Yuma and more.

Innovation Zones provide an opportunity for businesses to develop a broader partnership with the university by working in close proximity with ASU staff, students faculty, as well as other high-profile industry leaders while engaging with a multitude of resources. Zones include ASU Polytechnic Innovation Zone, ASU Research Park, ASU West Valley Innovation Zone, Discovery Oasis, Novus Innovation Corridor, Phoenix Bioscience Core and SkySong.

SciStarter helps bring together millions of curious and concerned people in the world; the thousands of opportunities to engage in real-world research questions in collaboration with researchers, communities, organizations, and companies; and the resources, products, and services that enable people to pursue and enjoy these activities while learning and accelerating important research. They enable and encourage people to learn about, participate in, and contribute to real science through both informal recreational activities and formal research efforts and Create a shared space where scientists and project leaders can collaborate with people interested in working on or learning about their research projects.

Dr. Karey O’Hara, Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Forensics, has launched Project Brain Team to support children who are experiencing parental conflict. This project is testing new online games to learn if they help children ages 9-12 feel better when conflict happens after parental separation and divorce. The online games teach children about the brain and how they can learn to work with their "Brain Team" to deal with tough thoughts and feelings.

The mission of the ASU REACH Institute, which is within the Department of Psychology, is to bridge the gap between university-based research and practice to promote children’s mental and physical health and academic achievement. Scientists at the institute are leaders in developing and evaluating child and family interventions for culturally diverse and international communities. They use their expertise in translating evidence-based interventions into community practice in their work with policy makers and community stakeholders locally and globally and across diverse service sectors, including schools, community mental health agencies, hospitals and courts.

ASU’s Global Locust Initiative engages key actors in locust research and management to develop partnerships and solutions for transboundary pest management in agroecosystems around the world.

Researchers within Arizona State University’s School of Molecular Sciences and School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment are studying natural emission levels in Phoenix to better understand and address the city's ozone pollution problem. By measuring these naturally occurring emissions and the weather conditions that may be influencing them, ASU researchers aim to improve air quality models and develop more effective strategies for reducing ozone levels.

The Central Arizona–Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) program advances research and education on urban ecology and urban socioecological systems. It is one of two LTER sites funded by the National Science Foundation that specifically studies urban ecology. Educating the next generation of urban ecologists is a core mission of the CAP LTER. The Ecology Explorers program engages K-12 students and teachers, while undergraduate and graduate students are active researchers whose work is published in leading scientific publications.

The Humanities Institute (HI) supports research and creative engagement with what it means to be human in a constantly changing world. HI connects university and partner communities in celebrating the best of what the humanities can accomplish across cultures, time and space.

Arizona State University is one of the three leading partners for the Center for Heat Resilient Communities, which will receive $2.25 million in funding. Together with the University of California, Los Angeles Luskin Center for Innovation and the University of Arizona, this center’s goal is to develop and implement a Heat Resilient Communities Framework to support communities in determining the best strategies for local heat mitigation and management.