TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State University's announcement that it will not bestow an honorary degree on President Barack Obama has some people incensed, and the school is trying to dampen the flames.

In an e-mail with an attached news release sent Saturday to ASU students, university president Michael M. Crow apologized for what he called the "confusion surrounding our invitation to President Obama to address ASU students at commencement."

"The entire ASU community has been electrified with excitement since we learned of his participation in our commencement ceremony," Crow said. "We hope that the recent discussion of honorary degrees will not detract from the honor and thrill that ASU -- and indeed all of Arizona -- is experiencing in anticipation of his visit."

Instead of an honorary degree, Crow said, the university will name and expand what it calls its most important scholarship program in the President's honor.

The program will be named the President Barack Obama Scholars, and it is awarded to "thousands of students with the greatest financial need," according to the news release.

"Although the focus and attention … has been on an honorary degree, we never felt that this was the only -- or even the best -- means of honoring his tremendous service to our country," Crow said. "Naming this scholarship program after President Obama … is an honor befitting, not only the president's exceptional achievements, but also his values as an individual."

Rumors have been swirling about the subject since ASU's student paper, The State Press, published a story Wednesday about the honorary degree.

The story quoted university spokeswoman Sharon Keeler as saying ASU's honorary degrees recognize people for lifetime achievements.

"Because President Obama's body of work is yet to come, it's inappropriate to recognize him at this time," Keeler told The State Press.

Only one or two people receive such degrees each year, Keeler said, and ASU will not award one this spring.

"Since my appointment we have not awarded honorary degrees to sitting politicians, a practice based on the very practical realities of operating a public university in our political environment," Crow wrote an e-mail to all ASU students. "We have not offered degrees to our sitting Senators or our sitting Governors as many universities do."

"We have not invited them as university commencement speakers either," Crow wrote.

Reaction to the decision was mixed on the streets of Tempe Saturday night. Some did not understand the university's reluctance to bestow the honorary degree.

"Pretty much a lot of people are making fun of the university for it," said ASU senior Danny Schlag. "I don't think it puts ASU in a very good light."

"If they're willing to do a scholarship, why wouldn't they go the extra mile and do the degree?" added Clarke Hosp, who lives in Mesa.

Others believed ASU made the correct call.

Tish Bowling, from Mesa, said, "From what I understand, they only offer those type of degrees to somebody who has a body of experience in their field, so I agree with (President Crow). I think that's the right decision."

"A degree from anywhere is something that has to be earned. And, not to take anything away from President Obama, but I don't see how he earned that degree," said Kyle O'Malley, who added that he still did not feel the university handled the aftermath of their decision well.

ASU announced March 20 that Obama would speak at the school's spring commencement.

Since then, the school has had to crack down on students selling their tickets to the event.

Reporter Jeff Butera contributed to this story.

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