YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University is taking steps to mitigate external factors that affect enrollment.

“We thought international students would be one good example based on what’s been happening the last year at the federal level …,” Mike Sherman, vice president of institutional effectiveness and board professional, said Wednesday at the university trustees’ governance committee meeting.

Over the past four years, there’s been an international student increase, he said, pointing to plans implemented at YSU. One of those initiatives was a requirement that international students who enrolled in the spring live in a residence hall because they don’t participate in orientation.

“That’s increased – unlike a lot of institutions in this state,” Sherman said. “Sometimes residence hall occupancy is higher in the spring than it is in the fall, but usually it goes down. So we’ve reversed that trend by that strategy.”

International students who enroll for this fall will be required to live in a residence hall for two semesters. “We’ve been interacting with residence life and student affairs really closely to coordinate this shift,” Sherman said, adding that collaboration has been going well.

To ensure international students are served in the best ways possible, the university set 1,200 as an enrollment target for that demographic.

“That’s kind of where we’ve landed without mitigating circumstances,” Sherman said.

YSU has shifted some costs to those students for the special services provided to them, increasing their fees, introducing a surcharge that will increase next year and reducing scholarship amounts.

“So we’re going to yield more net tuition by some of these adjustments we’re making on the financial side of things,” the vice president said.

But there’s been a philosophical change over the past 12 to 18 months at the federal level regarding international students, Sherman added. Early this year, students were getting notifications that their visas had been revoked. Several YSU departments and offices worked together on those students’ behalf.

“… I will tell you that I believe all of them finished their semester. And all of them are on a path or have graduated, and, in fact, two of them are working on returning back to YSU to go to their next degree program,” Sherman said.

There’s also been a reduction in the number of students from other countries who are interviewed to be allowed to study in the U.S. YSU has started to pursue students from countries that haven’t experienced a reduction in numbers allowed to enter the country.

The university is also pursuing international students enrolled in associate degree programs at other U.S. colleges and universities, encouraging them to pursue their bachelor’s degrees at YSU.

Senate Bill 1 

Jennifer Adams, provost and vice president of academic affairs, reviewed for the Academic Excellence and Student Success Committee changes required under state legislation approved and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine earlier this year. Those changes deal with faculty workload and tenure among others.

The committee voted to approve the changes, and many take effect in the next faculty contract. The full trustees’ board is expected to consider all resolutions approved at Wednesday’s committee meetings at its regular meeting Thursday.

Faculty members are eligible for tenure after six years. There is no more early tenure application. Performance of tenured faculty also will be evaluated annually instead of every two years. All other faculty already are evaluated annually.

Chet Cooper, who has served as chairman of the YSU Academic Senate for 16 years, shared his views on the legislation. His chairman term expires at year’s end, and he’ll serve as vice chairman through the spring semester.

“I’ll be perfectly honest with you – what the legislature did by neutering the Academic Senate and all senates across the state, they basically made them subcommittees of the Office of Academic Affairs,” he said.

Cooper said he’s worried about the future in light of the legislation. Adams is student and faculty centered; President Bill Johnson supports the academic senate; and trustees appreciate what the academic senate does, he said, but the people who occupy those positions will change. 

“These laws that were passed had to be passed by people who’ve never spent time in my shoes or my peers’ shoes because being part of higher education is more than what they think it is,” Cooper said.

Military Students

The trustees’ Finance and Facilities Committee approved a $250 per credit hour tuition rate for active military personnel and reservists enrolled in YSU online programs.

“Student eligibility for this reduced rate would be determined by whether or not the students qualify for the tuition assistance program, which is offered through the U.S. Department of War, but provides a $250 subsidy for the cost of tuition,” said Neal McNally, vice president for finance and business operations.

YSU plans to pilot the program for 18 months and will seek approval from the chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

Johnson said the $250 is determined by the federal government.

“There is a vast market of [active duty and reservist] students that need and want education,” he said. “Tapping into that market is what this is all about.”

Pictured at top: YSU President Bill Johnson.