The Ashland University faculty and staff had their yearly All-Institutional meeting last Tuesday to get ready for the 2018-2019 academic school year.

This meeting was to recognize new hires as well as those that have been with the university for 25 years, and also inform everyone about where the university stands when it comes to finances, changes and even the satisfaction of the students that attend.

To ensure the well-being of AU and those here, surveys are now being conducted. These surveys include the Noel-Levitz Satisfaction Inventory, the National survey of student engagement/faculty survey of student engagement and the faculty and staff climate survey.

In the fall 2017 semester, AU conducted the Noel-Levitz Satisfaction survey with the University’s undergraduates.

“Majority of the items on that instrument were very positive,” Larry Bunce executive director of institutional effectiveness said. “We got a lot of very positive feedback and several instances where our students’ mean satisfaction ratings were significantly higher than students at other four-year private institutions.”

Bunce explained that out of the 80 different topics that were included in the survey, there were 13 items that were highlighted for needed improvement, including the residence halls which the University has already taken initiative on this past summer.

Each of the surveys will be conducted every three years to keep up to date with the overall satisfaction of the University.

Enrollment and satisfaction at AU correlate directly which is why Provost Dr. Eun-Woo Chang has to watch the enrollment rates closely.

“Tradition freshmen are almost the same numbers from last year. Transfer student numbers are actually up by about 25 or 30,” Dr. Chang said. “Returning student numbers are actually a little less when compared to last year.”

Last year the final number of traditional freshmen was 616 and returning students are said to be about 30 less than last year, according to Dr. Chang.

As the semester approaches the final numbers to fluctuate and are not considered final until three or four weeks into the semester. Dr. Chang states that AU also typically loses roughly 20 students once classes start.

“(Three-thousand) is the number of tradition undergraduates I am looking for in 10 years,” Dr. Chang said. “Currently we have about 2,350. Three-thousand is a good number to have for ungrad tradition to have a lot of stability.”

Dr. Chang continued on to say that he will be going more in-depth during the Provost Luncheon on Aug. 23

President Carlos Campo ended the meeting be reflecting on pillars of distinction; Academic excellence, unique Christian identity, exemplary fiscal stewardship, a healthy, safe and supportive campus environment and enhanced community engagement.

“Can we be nationally recognized? We said we are going to deliver the most personalized comprehensive experience in the nation and that is what we are working towards,” Dr. Campo said.