Impact Report
Discover how your generosity has created student opportunities at Ashland.
A Letter from the President
Greetings from “The World Headquarters of Nice People,” Ashland, Ohio, where we have celebrated over 144 years of success here on Ashland University's campus. Our unique history of Accent on the Individual is dedicated to our students, faculty, alumni and friends. We are humbled by the continued outpouring of support for our mission, vision and core values.
Our students are at the heart of every decision we make. The goal is to create an institution where higher learning is affordable and accessible, and with your help, we have removed barriers to getting an excellent education, providing priceless experiences in and out of the classroom. Your support for academic and co-academic programs allows our students to find a path of professional interest and become valued employees and integral community members.
The student experience here on campus is being enhanced by the campus beautification project. Our library, walkways and bridges have and continue to undergo significant upgrades.
These updates showcase our historical beauty while improving safety and creating accessible and functional spaces. The renovations provide our current students a vibrant space to be proud of, and future Eagles will be excited to make this their home away from home. These projects join many that you have been a part of recently, including new academic programs like Physician Assistant as well as a new indoor field house, student scholarships and more.
As donors, you have had a remarkable ability to respond to our students’ needs and work tirelessly to fill them. We are confident that your generous donations will attract future leaders and create a strong campus community. We hope this campus is the connector for lifelong relationships and transformative education for the next generation of students who have learned how to think and not what to think.
We are grateful to everyone who helped to secure our powerful mission with your generous gifts. We thank each of you for your continued support.
Dr. Carlos A. Campo
President of Ashland University
The Campaign for Every Individual
Total: $100,592,874
Campaign Years
June 1, 2017 to September 30, 2022
(Gifts & Pledges)
Note: The Campaign gift amounts above include $5,132,744 in Secured Planned Gifts.
University Advancement:
Campaign Overview
Campaign Years
June 1, 2017 to September 30, 2022
Beginning in 2017, we began with an idea, a belief, about what Ashland University is and what it could be in the future. Since our founding, everything we’ve done has started with the individual. One student. One moment. One connection that changes everything afterward.
We embraced this idea as a central tenet of what we believed we could accomplish together and watched as you responded like never before, setting the stage for the most successful fundraising campaign we’ve ever undertaken.
You have proven your strength again. And with the end of The Campaign for Every Individual, the future of student opportunities at Ashland holds more promise than ever before.
Donors & Dollars Raised
The generosity shown throughout The Campaign for Every Individual has far surpassed our original goals. The gifts received, the stories shared, former connections rekindled, new relationships established—each of these elements combined to generate student opportunities for this and future generations of Eagles. Your involvement has opened doors to new possibilities and paved the way for success in every facet of students' lives.
As a school, we’re only as strong as the support we receive. As a community, our power lies in the connections we make and grow. And as an institution committed to allowing our students to discover their purpose and blossom within an environment devoted to their individual growth, your generosity has gone far beyond even our wildest expectations.
*June 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022
Endowment
Total: $58,736,343
Campaign Years
June 1, 2017 to September 30, 2022
In the same way that annual giving offers opportunities to students now, our endowment—a self-sustaining source of funding that provides investment income—is the promise we make for our future. In 2017, we made a commitment to steward this fund conservatively, which means gifts to our endowment will impact students and our community for decades to come.
Student Impact Story
Vashtic Cassel, a transfer student from the state of Washington, chose to enroll in Ashland’s Nursing program. But when her funding ran out before her senior year of college, her dream was in jeopardy.
Through the generosity of Ashland donors, however, Vashtic received an endowed scholarship, which allowed her to continue her studies. Before graduating in May 2022, she completed her clinical training and received the critical hands-on experience required of nursing students before program completion.
“The scholarship,” she says, “was a true gift from God. I can’t even express how thankful I am to have received the help I needed to finish my degree and prepare for the future.”
That future, she hopes, will include her employment as a nurse at a children’s hospital or working in labor and delivery. Her passion for helping young bodies heal and touching the lives of families when they’re at their most anxious could easily have run out along with her funding. But, through the generosity our community is known for, you stepped up, gave and kept alive Vashtic’s dream to dedicate her life to the health and well-being of others.
Fiscal Year Overview
June 1, 2021 - May 31, 2022
Contributions
Total: $37,158,651
Fiscal Year
June 1, 2021 - May 31, 2022
(Gifts & Pledges)
Over the past year, the generosity of Ashland supporters was on full display, with total contributions nearly doubling those of the previous year. This increase from $23,847,875 in 2021 to $37,158,651 in 2022 gives our current and future students access to even more opportunities, opening doors into incredible futures and paving the way for success in every area of their lives.
Annual Giving
Total: $8,711,115
Fiscal Year
June 1, 2021 - May 31, 2022
Throughout our history, Annual Giving at Ashland University has directly involved the Ashland Fund to address areas of greatest need. Recently, Annual Giving options have been expanded to include support for many facets of the full student experience at Ashland. This shift has allowed donors to direct their gifts to specific programs, student organizations and initiatives.
Since allowing donors to give to areas aligned with their own interests and passions, we’ve experienced an influx of first-time donors and increased current donor participation. Our students continue to reap the rewards of your generosity in new and incredible ways through annual support.
Why I Give
After graduating from Ashland in 1978, Phil Yale lost contact with both the school and his classmates. When his wife passed away 30 years later, however, Phil felt compelled to reconnect. He contacted some old friends from his undergrad days at Ashland and a new chapter of life began.
Through rekindling these relationships, new giving opportunities arose, including providing masks across campus during the pandemic and serving as VP (and future President) of the Alumni Association.
“I’ve discovered over the years that I’m selfish,” he says with a laugh. “I figured out that I love giving back because there’s no better feeling than being able to help those who are able to benefit from what you’re able to provide.”
In terms of getting involved, there is no shortage of ways to engage students and enhance their experience, according to Phil.
“With over 50,000 alumni, an athletic tradition that only continues to grow more successful and countless ways to give not just of your dollars but of your time and hard-earned experience, giving back to Ashland is one of the most rewarding things you can do."
Phil Yale, '78
Grants
Total: $21,278,152
Fiscal Year
June 1, 2021 - May 31, 2022
(Awarded)
The relationships we build and sustain are crucial to our success. We depend on the commitment of the 51 external partners and 80 faculty and staff who assess and write grants.
A brighter future starts today. The research our students do right now will lead to discovery and innovation. Opportunities to solve real-world challenges will equip them for entrepreneurial and collaborative endeavors. Their hands-on experience in healthcare will save lives. Grants are key to ensuring successful outcomes across every department on campus.
Engaging
Faculty Impact Story
Our country is currently experiencing a shortage of both nurses and nursing faculty—a gap that is predicted only to widen over the next few years. The Nurse Faculty Loan Program addresses this challenge through financial incentives for nursing students preparing to teach after earning their degree.
Dr. Theda (Jody) Hostetler, DNP, MEd, RN is the Director of the Nurse Educator Certificate Program in the College of Nursing
& Health Sciences. In this role, she currently leads a team of ten working to secure the annual funding required to prepare
nurses for the rigors of teaching positions within a wide range of academic and training programs both in Ohio and beyond.
“What’s powerful about this loan program,” says Dr. Hostetler, “is that it’s not need-based. The funds are designed to support nursing students—at both the master’s and doctoral level—looking to become qualified nursing faculty.”
Ashland University has participated in the Nurse Faculty Loan Program since 2018 and is one of only a limited set of programs nationwide to meet the necessary requirements. The program is funded through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Ashland's University Grants & Foundation Relations department partners with the College of Nursing & Health Sciences to ensure this funding continues, after securing the initial funding in 2018.
“This is a great opportunity for folks who want to become nursing faculty,” says Dr. Hostetler. “After earning their degree and committing to serving in faculty positions for a minimum of four years, only fifteen percent of the loan needs to be repaid. It’s solving a dire need across the country and also offering students who might otherwise not have the financial resources to do so, the opportunity to complete their nursing education.”
To date, the program has supported 22 Ashland students through $1,018,459 in total financial assistance.
“And even beyond the financial support we’re able to provide,” says Dr. Hostetler, “it’s also given both the University and our students a way to connect at the local level, to be a vital part of the health of the community.”
Dr. Theda (Jody) Hostetler, DNP, MEd, RN
Who Ashland University Serves
2021-2022 Academic Year
Our generous donors allow us to serve each individual at Ashland University, including students in three distinct categories: first generation, Pell eligible (low income) and those receiving an AU scholarship.
Financial Statement
For more information about Ashland University’s 2021 fiscal year, download the full pdf by clicking the link below.
The Impact of Giving at Ashland
When we began The Campaign for Every Individual, we could not have imagined it would be this successful. Your donations already made a tremendous impact, and we cannot thank you enough.
We are delighted to announce the total amount raised for the campaign is $100,592,874! This far exceeds our initial goal of $50 million, which was a huge challenge when we launched this campaign over five years ago. None of this would have been possible without the support of our alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends.
With your gifts, we continue to focus on our five priority areas: Annual Giving, Endowment, Faculty Support, Military & Veteran Resource Center and Athletics. Your investment helps build a solid foundation, supporting the university’s current and future needs.
Ashland will continue to attract top-notch faculty and a talented student body both in and outside the classroom. What we are building today allows us to impact generations of Ashland University Eagles—connecting students to our rich history, engaging them in robust campus life programming and personalized education.
The Campaign for Every Individual closed on September 30, 2022. However, this is not an end, but a continuation of building upon this success. Ashland University will continue to enhance our campus, serve our students and engage our alumni.
Thank you for investing in Ashland University’s students and community.
In gratitude,
Deborah Liebert Karl, ‘72
Campaign Co-Chair
Frederick B. Broad, ‘76
Campaign Co-Chair
