annual report

2018-19

Departments

Enrollment Services• Academic Admissions

• Financial Aid

• Military and Veteran Services

Student Life• Dean of Students

• Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre

• Multicultural Student Engagement

• Student Counseling and Psychological Services

• Student Life and Engagement

• Student Support and Advocacy

• Testing and Disability Services

Student Services• Campus Recreation

• Housing and Residence Life

• Student Health Services

#1 Priority:

STUDENTS

Table of contents

1: Promote Student Engagement & Involvement

2: Build Comprehensive Student Development & Leadership Opportunities

3: Strengthen Student-Centered Services, Operations and Facilities

4: Develop our Human Resources to Support Student Success

5: Create Campus and Community Collaborations

6: Enhance Recruitment and Support for Student Achievement

Strategic Plan 2015-2019Strategic Priorities

SP1: Student engagement & involvement

The Disc Golf Club Sports Team qualified for Nationals, earning a 26th rank in the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships.

About 670 students participated in 18 intramural sports, playing in 249 games. Of those participants, more than 47% were graduate or professional students.

Collaborated with the Lambda Alliance student organization to host programs focused upon our LGBTQ+ community: Coming Out Day, inclusive healthcare training, halloween social, and an anti-bullying campaign.

The Maxwell Theatre partnered with the African Student Association to increase student attendance for the Lyceum presentation of Cirque Zuma Zuma, distributing the most student tickets to a Lyceum event in the last five years!

Implemented new traditions at Commencement: a student speaker, a student soloist, and the ringing of the Arsenal Bell.

Student engagement in the first 6 weeks of fall semester increased by 38% (compared to FY18).

Fraternity and sorority involvement grew by 16%. All three councils expanded their chapters: Phi Delta Theta (IFC), Sigma Gamma Rho (NPHC), and Alpha Chi Omega (CPC) were introduced, with the last group joining the College Panhellenic Council in Fall 2019.

An average of 172 graduate and professional students participated in eight different Takeover Tuesday events.

954Pig Out

AttendeesRecord

Attendance

5,136Students Attended

Campus Events19% Increase

over FY18

Precious IllonahReturning Resident Assistant

of the Year Award

SP2: Student development & leadership

The Student Veteran Association president and vice president attended The National Student Veterans Association Conference. For the first time, the Residence Hall Association sent a delegation to the South Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls meeting and the Georgia Residence Hall Organization conference. The Augusta University Office at Ft. Gordon hosted a monthly lunch-hour Speakers Series to assist students with professional development. The speech “Initiation of State-Sponsored Cyberattack” received local news coverage.

Created an accreditation process to exemplify what excellence looks like in Fraternity & Sorority Life. Categories mirrored university values: Academic and Membership Development (Excellence), Community Engagement (Collegiality), Service and Philanthropy (Compassion), Chapter Operations (Integrity), Leadership (Leadership), and Recruitment/Intake and Retention (Inclusivity).

Our Resident Assistants won “Best Roll Call” video at the Georgia Resident Assistant Saturday Seminar.

Ten Student Health Advisory Council, MCG, nursing, and physician assistant students were trained by Student Health clinicians to provide blood pressure screenings during the Health and Wellness Fair.

Many departments developed or enhanced student employee training programs: a professionalism manual and book discussions in Testing & Disability Services, online training in Campus Recreation, monthly leadership sessions in the JSAC and Student Life and Engagement, and a recognition program in Housing and Residence Life.

99%Utilized

of Federal Work Study allocations

John SimpsonGraduate Student Government Association

Inclusivity Award

SP3: Services, operations, & facilities

An all-time high of 200 students were placed on a waiting list for University Village for Fall 2019.

The Office of Academic Admissions implemented automated acceptances for freshmen students, increasing efficiency and a quicker turn-around time for students.

Began automatically sending contracts for physical therapy and occupational therapy acceptances for faster notification and admissions processing.

Improvements to The Maxwell stage included replacement of thrust stage lifts, curtains and curtain motor, and bass speakers.

Partnered with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health to provide psychiatric service with a total of 445 psychiatric appointments attended during FY19.

Upon student request, adopted a fingerprint access scanner to gain entrance to the Wellness Center.

Augusta University events in the Maxwell Theatre increased 23%.

Housing and Residence Life hosted online room selection for all returning students.

105%Housing and

Residence Life opened Fall 18 at

Occupancy

Lindsay RamosStudent Leader of the Year

The Mandatory Student Fee Committee recommended, and the Board of Regents approved, a $10 increase to the Campus Recreation fee for FY20.

Testing & Disability Services began extended hours one evening per week to provide more flexibility with testing hours.

Testing & Disability Services increased their independent testing from 914 students in FY18 to 1,262 students in FY19.

A new Housing Task Force was established to plan for student service facilities needed to accommodate enrollment growth. Engaged Brailsford & Dunleavy to assess the student demand for increased housing and dining services on campus. Submitted a project concept proposal for a new residence hall to the USG.

SCAPS Group Psychotherapy program grew from 10 to 13 students in FY19.

With a $10 increase in student health fees, Student Health Services was able to offer additional provider appointments for student care:

9,913 patient encounters, an increase of 11.7% from FY18.

3,420 unique student served, an increase of 9.5% from FY18. Started dispensing 22 different prescription medications in the Student Health Clinic.

Extended office hours, opening at 6:30 am on Tuesdays and staying open until 7:00 pm on Thursdays.

6,342

Scheduled Appointments

at SCAPS

a 24% Increase from FY18

Ananya Chakraborty, PresidentStudent Organization of the year:Indian Cultural Exchange

SP3: Services, operations, & facilities

Student Health Services

SP4: Human resources development

Created a Professional Development Committee to enhance employee engagement and develop our staff’s knowledge, skills, and abilities to best serve students at Augusta University.

Created a Communications Task Force which recommended the implementation of a divisional newsletter emailed monthly to all staff.

Three staff members were selected to participate in the NASPA Region III New Professionals Institute, and one staff member was selected to participate in the Mid Managers Institute (MMI). The Vice President was selected as a faculty member for MMI, and the Coordinator of Special Programs served as the doctoral intern.

Housing and Residence Life attended The Placement Exchange associated with the annual NASPA conference, hosting 28 interviews, and hiring a Coordinator for Academic Initiatives and Student Leadership.

Hired a graduate assistant to support the Multicultural Center and marketing of the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement.

Revised open positions to meet the needs of the division. An open position in Military and Veteran Services was revised to assume account reconciliation responsibilities, and an open position in the Vice President’s Office was revised to create a Communications Specialist.

The Maxwell Theatre’s Production Coordinator served as the Technical Director for the National Tour of Trey McLaughlin and the Sounds of Zamar.

Hired one new counselor in Student Counseling & Psychological Services to best serve student needs on the Health Sciences campus.

Established two new positions in the Student Health Clinic: Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse. And, offered two new services through a part-time registered dietician and a part-time Athletic Trainer.

15 QPR suicide prevention trainings were held on both Summerville and Health Sciences campuses, with 204 individuals trained.

Created an Employee Awards Committee of previous award recipients to select annual staff award recipients.

Innovation AwardLacey Hauser Student Health Services

Exceptional Service AwardAmber Wade Student Services

Student Impact AwardTraci Westin SCAPS

New Jaguar AwardKimberly Griffin Student Health Services

Good Neighbor AwardJames Grigg Facilities

Annual Staff Award Recipients

SP5: Campus & community collaborations

Engaged in a year-long process to develop a new vision statement, mission statement, and strategic plan for the division. Hosted a strategic plan kick-off event with 145 division and university partners attending.

A Strategic Planning Task Force developed 16 goals for the division’s four strategic priorities and two interwoven commitments.

The Leadership Luncheon series featured speakers from the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, the US Cyber Command Center, Richmond County Schools, and the Ronald McDonald House.

Housing partnered with the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences to launch their first Living Learning Community in Fall 2019. Housing partnered with Shepheard Community Blood Center to host the first blood drive in our residence halls, with a record number 40 units of blood donated by our students.

Multicultural Student Engagement collaborated to produce over 15 programs to celebrate unity in diversity and encourage an inclusive campus climate.

Seven staff members served on Momentum Year teams to implement the USG’s Momentum Approach for new students.

Maxwell Theatre SOLD OUT two shows: Trey McLaughlin and the Sounds of Zamar, and Cirque Zuma Zuma.

The Maxwell Theatre celebrated its 50th Anniversary and hosting The President’s Gala helped to highlight its history and accomplishments, as well as the physical needs of the facility.

65A Taste of Augusta

Campus and Community Organizations Participated

Arts in the Heart student ticketsAugusta GreenJackets student ticketsAugusta Pride FestivalDisability Awareness Basketball GameJaguar Madness Parents and Family WeekendRock Fore! Dough student ticketsWorld Religions and Spirituality Fair Values Week

Campus and Community Partner Events

Brooklyn DoggettGreek Woman of the Year

SP6: Recruitment & student achievement

Housing and Residence Life conducted intervention meetings with first-year students placed on academic probation for the spring semester, and provided follow up to ensure they registered for fall classes. Housing and Residence Life tutors provided 1,024 hours of tutoring for first- year students in residence. Two Veteran’s Affairs Work-Study students doubled the number of tutoring hours provided at Ft. Gordon from 20 to 40 during the spring 2019 semester. Since opening Augusta University at Fort Gordon, we have had a 45% increase in the number of enrolled military-affiliated new freshmen at AU.

Implemented Visit Days software and increased student yield to campus events by almost 20%.

Financial Aid award letters were distributed earlier than compared to the prior year. Compared to FY18, the number of students awarded increased by 58% in FY19.

At selected Storyland Theatre performances, teachers were provided recruitment materials, and stickers were given to children to encourage enrollment and college awareness.

Added an additional Preview Day in which more than 235 students attended, including 3 high schools which brought students in buses.

Increased the number of early action acceptance deliveries from 38 to 52 high schools in Georgia and South Carolina.

Received Board of Regents approval to offer an out-of-state waiver to all residents of South Carolina.

Implemented the “Know More, Borrow Less” campaign to educate our students on their loan amounts. All student loan borrowers at Augusta University were provided personalized information to make informed borrowing decisions.

Increased enrollment in Jaguar JumpStart to 69, up from 56 in 2018.

Implemented freshman student orientation changes such as shortening presentations to 30 minutes, and creating university 1101 and 1102 sessions as recommended by the Momentum Year Initiative.

Caryn BirdGraduate Student Government Association

Integrity Award

SP6: Recruitment & student achievement

For Fall 2019, freshman applications for admission increased by 2.9%*, admits increased by 4.8%*, and enrollment increased by 3.2%*.

For Fall 2019, recruitment activities led to the following enrollment:

Enrolled 1,046* new freshmen, an increase over FY18. Record-breaking out-of-area new freshman enrollment: more than 54%* of the new freshman class. Our most academically prepared new freshmen in institutional history: more than a 20%* increase in accepted students with an Freshman Index over 3000*.

Since opening AU at Ft. Gordon, we have had a 45% increase in the number of enrolled military affiliated new freshman at AU.

Welcomed the inaugural class of 15 students participating in the Early College Initiative with Lucy C. Laney High School.

Dual-Enrolled student enrollment decreased by 2.6%* from Fall 2018.

New undergraduate transfer student enrollment decreased about 3.8%* from Fall 2018.

East Georgia co-enrolled students increased from 23 to 91 students. (295% increase from FY18)

Supported student achievement by advising students on financial aid eligibility and processing applications for financial aid and military benefits:

The Office of Financial Aid awarded $128* million (1.6% increase from FY18).

Military and Veteran Services processed military benefits for 116* more students than last year.

*All enrollment data is preliminary until official Census for the University System of Georgia.

30033089*

22182324*

Fall 2018 Fall 2019 Fall 2018 Fall 2019

Tylin SiwemukeNew Resident Assistant of the Year