ASU launches new program promoting 'The Sun Devil Way'

By Benjamin Klenklen
Special to West Times

The Office of Student Engagement has begun integrating a new program called the “Sun Devil Way” into its activities this semester. The program attempts to encourage students to take three key values deemed important for ASU students: achievement, engagement and responsibility.

Katie Fischer, service professional at the Office of Student Engagement at the West campus, says the program is important because, “Our ultimate goal is for students to be successful, and part of that are the decisions they make.”
The program involves administrators helping students to view their lives and actions critically, and gives everyone at the university a common language to speak about the ultimate goals of the institution.

The program defines achievement as “consistently making positive decisions that align with your personal values and goals.” Some examples given are, “experiencing intellectual discovery, developing critical thinking skills, preparing for the world of work and preparing to contribute to society.”

The program defines engagement as, “being part of the solution by actively contributing to the development of self and others,” and lists, “participating in and contributing to the traditions of the university,” as and example.

The program defines responsibility as “positively impacting the communities you are a part of by making responsible choices,” and gives, “respect toward self and others,” as one example.

Fischer says that the university-wide program was incorporated into “student organizations for orientation at the start of the year,” and that she has seen the program displayed at ASU football games.

Fischer says that her hope is that “as [students] begin to make decisions related to their life as a Sun Devil, that they think about what outcome will occur if they make certain decisions, to think critically about what their doing.”