OUR VALUES:
The Student Experience team is committed to creating experiences that help our students to gain and develop the following:
Autonomy:
Encouraging, supporting and mentoring students to gain independence through a variety of new and relevant experiences, responsibilities, relationships, and exposure to new ideas, people and environments while challenging student to align their personal and social responsibility within the YSU community.
Passion:
Helping students identify their ever-evolving passions in their personal, professional and academic lives, through positive campus engagement. Civility: Treating all members of the campus and community with dignity, courtesy, respect, politeness and consideration in behavior and speech regardless of differences in beliefs or opinions.
Belonging:
Encouraging student connections and idea sharing inside and outside of the classroom that culminates in positive experiences, invested relationships and high level of engagement within the YSU community while creating institutional pride.
Identity:
Supporting each student's development of an authentic self within a community that strives to fully accept and acknowledge each other, recognizing and valuing the diversity in experience that we can all contribute.
Well-being:
Fostering a caring environment that prioritizes attention to physical, mental, and emotional health and quality of life as students pursue their academic and career goals.
Service:
Purposefully engaging students in activities that develop and strengthen leadership skills, enrich the lives of those with the YSU community, and establish a commitment to meeting the needs of others.
| |
ON THE HORIZON:
Student Center Renovation slated to begin in May 2025
WTW Architects performed a feasibility study to renovate the Student Center at Youngstown State University in 2021-22, and worked work with campus leaders, students, and staff in the development of a plan to improve and optimize student union space on campus. The WTW + Strollo led design team for the building renovation used the program from that study as a basis for the program verification stage of basic services. More meetings were held with students, campus leaders, and staff to verify and finalize the renovation program, and react to evolving needs and final budget constraints since the study completion.
The renovation is scheduled in five phases, to be completed by Fall 2027:
Phase 1: Summer 2025
Phase 2: Fall 2025 - Spring 2026
Phase 3: Summer 2026
Phase 4: Fall 2026 - Spring 2027
Phase 5: Summer 2027
| |
STUDENTS LEADING STUDENTS
Student Government Association
Student Government appropriated funding for 138 student events that benefited 78 registered student organizations
(62 Student Organizations, 14 Club Sports, 2 University Programs). SGA was awarded a CampusVote grant and held several events to increase campus civic engagement.
Penguin Productions
Fall Fire Fest and FEDERAL FRENZY were opportunities for our student body and community to create great memories -- and for our student programming board to develop skills in marketing, communications, logistics, fundraising, and collaboration. The 10th FEDERAL FRENZY attracted an estimated crowd of 10,000 for this free music & arts festival featuring 25 musical acts, 40 vendors, 12 food trucks, and much more.
Student Media
YSU Student Media received accolades through the Ohio News Media Association, including 2nd Place Overall for Excellence in Collegiate Journalism, 2nd Place for website, and 1st Place for Headline Writing. YSU competes against BGSU, OU, OSU, Kent, and Miami University.
| |
WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
Dining Request for Proposal in Process
As the current dining contract established in 2013 is ending in May 2025, YSU is participating in a dining request for proposal (RFP). We are seeking nutritional, high quality, cost effective and innovative residential dining, retail, catering services and other amenities that meet the diverse needs of our students, faculty, staff, and guests. In addition, a reasonable financial return for all parties is necessary to promote cooperation and planning, to maintain and improve the facilities, provide equipment replacement and maintenance, and to support temporary retail and activation of the planned new Student Center.
YSU hired Innovated Hospitality Solutions (IHS) to work closely with our team to understand and assess the current dining service program; recruit and conduct visioning sessions with potential dining providers; identify recommendations and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to use in developing a customized RFP documentation; recommend alternative dining options during the student center renovation; conduct evaluation of submitted proposals; develop agendas for operator presentations; develop matrix for committee scoring of proposals & presentations; and facilitate a final review session with core committee to make selection using feedback from both the Core and Steering Committees.
| |
|
Campus Recreation received over $60,000 in grants in 2023-24
Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley:
Community Recreation Graduate Assistant $52,382
This is a renewal grant for the continued partnership with the Healthy Community Partnership, City of Youngstown Parks & Recreation and YSU Campus Recreation
Ohio Department of Education:
Prevention & Response Grant Opportunity: $9,997.32
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Grant: $500
YSU Campus Recreation hosted the Ohio Recreational Sports Association (ORSA) State Workshop in October 2023, welcoming approximately 150 Campus Recreation students and professionals from across the state to Youngstown. Ryan McNicholas, Director of Campus Recreation, was elected as ORSA President.
Andrews Student Recreation & Wellness Center had 110,000+ swipes into the facility in 2023-24!
There was a 40% increase in club sport participation from 2022-23. Men's Basketball, Women's Softball, eSports, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Pickleball were added to YSU's club sport offerings.
Looking ahead to 2024-25: Campus Recreation has three new professional staff members joiining their team: Dalton Korda, Associate Director; Billy Blaze, Membership & Marketing Coordinator; and Josiah Horst, Competitive Sports & Youth Programs Coordinator.
| |
University Housing added University Courtyard Apartments to portfolio in October 2023
The transition resulted in the addition of 408 beds to the university portfolio, expanding our offerings to include 12-month leases in 1-, 2-, and 4-bedroom apartments, and adding five full-time staff and eight student staff to our University Housing team.
736 students called the residence halls "home" in 2023-24, surpassing Housing & Residence Life's goal of 90% occupancy. 29% of residents were international students, 10% student athletes, and 33% Honors students. 59% of residents were of freshman standing; 22% sophomore, 9% junior, and 8% senior.
Housing & Residence Life collaborated to offer Living Learning Communities (LLC) for students from two colleges: Bitonte College of Health & Human Services, hosted in Lyden House, and Cliffe College of Creative Arts, hosted in Wick House.
Housing invested in facility projects across our properties, including completion of Lyden House bathroom renovation, upgrades to Wick House lighting, painting, and bathroom fixtures, and installation of a new dish machine and conveyor system in Christman Dining Commons.
Looking ahead to 2024-25: Housing & Residence Life continues to be heavily engaged in supporting the growing international student population at YSU, hosting 194 international students in Fall 2024, and anticipating a large incoming cohort for Spring 2025.
| |
The Office of Veterans Affairs secured $1.34 million in funding for students.
This funding was obtained by accurately processing over 400 VA certifications, 50 National Guard Scholarships, and 67 Tuition Assistance requests.
The OVA meets with the Office of Veterans Affairs Advisory Council once a quarter to update them on the office, discuss upcoming events, and garner their advice on things like recruiting, initiatives, and other matters of importance.
Thirty-two YSU Penguins, including Faculty, Staff, and graduate students, completed Warrior Awareness Training this year, learning about military culture, the GI Bill, barriers and issues that face this unique population of students.
YSU OVA connected with the community through attendance at four military themed college fairs, speaking at five civic functions, and performing two on-air interviews.
Looking ahead to 2024-25: OVA has entered into an agreement with College Recon for increased marketing to Veterans about the advantages of pursuing an education at Youngstown State University.
| |
Kilcawley Center hosted over 136,500 attendees at campus events, via 3,200+ bookings.
YSU Department events accounted for 58% of room bookings, bringing in 79% of total attendance traffic. Forty-one percent of bookings were for student organizations, totaling 20% of annual event attendance.
Kilcawley Center (KC) supported commission revenue generation by providing a pop-up location for Barnes & Noble Bookstore, open on special days throughout the year, assisting Chartwells with rebranding efforts for Wild Pie and Choolah, and renogiating the Grubhub contract to increase YSU's commission.
KC played a critical role in hosting events for prospective students, extending service beyond the standard accommodations, including décor, special setups, and direct interaction with prospective students and families at these events, highlighting YSU customer service.
Student Center staff worked hand in hand with Student Activities in the execution of large scale programs, creating affinity and a sense of pride for YSU.
Attendance at these events filled all of the nooks & crannies of Kilcawley Center: Penguin Nights (628 + 534), Red & White Day (200+), Midnight Breakfast (617 + 543), and Friendsgiving (550)!
Looking ahead to 2024-25: Kilcawley's team will focus their efforts on preparations for Student Center renovations, which begin in May 2025 (look left for details). Staffing operations will be relocated to an alternate location, seeking to provide seamless service to campus for their food service, event planning, and ID needs.
| |
Campus Groups software implementation opened the door to student involvement
2,048 students were members of student organizations in 2023-24. 486 students stepped into leadership as officers in one or more organization.
Student Activities collaborated with faculty from the following disciplines to present the "Let's Talk About..." Panel Series: Sociology and Anthropology; Politics, International Relations, and Pre-Law; Communication; Mathematics and Statistics; Criminal Justice and Consumer Sciences; Accounting and Finance; Health
Professions; Nursing; English; Psychological Sciences and Counseling; Art; and Philosophy and Religious Studies.
During Greek Week, over 6,600 clothing items were donated to Goodwill through the United Way. 7,608 non-perishable food items and 684 hygiene items were donated to the Penguin Pantry.
Crafternoons provided students with a regularly scheduled arts & crafts break, with activities including Spirit Necklaces, Diamond Painting, and Grad Cap decorating. Total attendance at the biweekly program exceeded 400 students.
Looking ahead to 2024-25: The Student Activities team continues to provide a variety of high quality and engaging community building opportunities for our Penguins. Over 1500 new Penguins attended First Year Fest at IGNITE, setting the stage for them to Embrace Their Era at YSU!
| |
Our Partners In Service
Student Experience relies upon the expertise and commitment of contracted partners to provide the services that our students and our campus need on a daily basis. We are grateful for the partnership of these agencies:
- Barnes & Noble Bookstore, providing textbooks and YSU attire online and through their storefront on Fifth Avenue;
- Chartwells, recently rebranded as YSU Eats, providing food service for campus through residential board plans, retail outlets, and catering;
- College Pads, providing an online marketplace for on- and off-campus housing options, including roommate and sublease posting boards;
- Mercy Health, meeting the medical needs of our students through walk-in and scheduled appointments at Wick Primary Care on the corner of Wick & Lincoln:
- Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, stocking and servicing vending machines across campus;
- Pepsi, our pouring rights provider, renewed for continue service of campus in 2024;
- SERVPRO, addressing the daily and deep cleaning needs of Andrews Student Recreation & Wellness Center, Kilcawley Center, and University Housing;
- Wee Care Daycare, offering convenient and affordable child care for students, faculty, and staff on campus.
| |
|
