Ashland University officials see campus work as benefit to students, community

ASHLAND − Abigail Hassenzahl, a freshman from Wooster, selected Ashland University primarily because of its programs.

Hassenzahl has settled into her dorm, Clayton Hall, and said she's become familiar with renovations ongoing around campus. She said she especially appreciates the new air conditioning.

The work going on at Ashland is part of an ambitious upgrade planned for the entire campus. The effort is funded by about $20 million in contributions from the Schar Family. Hassenzahl said that the work at Clayton has made it able to compare favorably to dorms at other colleges she visited.

Ashland University President Carlos Campo said the Schars have worked to give the college a real boost.

"Dwight and Martha Schar, whose lifetime giving totals nearly $40 million, have been instrumental in starting new programs − like our (physician assistant) program − and investing in campus infrastructure, including our Mansfield College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the College of Education, the Athletics Complex, and now the campus beautification," Campo said in a Sept. 8 email.

"Their giving has truly been transformative for us."

New elevator part of renovations at Clark Hall on Ashland University campus

Clayton, Kem and Clark halls have undergone renovations. Clayton received the largest overhaul, pairing two-person suites with private bathrooms and adding new windows, LED lighting, paint and flooring. A lounge is located on every floor, and laundry rooms are on every other.

Kem and Clark received a "refresh," with updated flooring, carpet, paint, bathroom fixtures and lighting. Rick Ewing, the university's vice president of operations and planning, called it "a new aesthetic look."

Clark also received a new elevator.

Campo said the refurbishments will help with recruiting. "… we no longer are at a deficit when competing with our peers in Ohio," he wrote in his email.

He added that "investing in our residential campus we signal to students, families and visitors that we are committed to excellence."

The dorm makeovers were just one component of an ambitious summer.

New walkways and projects involving infrastructure, aesthetics and safety are also part of the transformation.

Campo said the work has helped Ashland's image.

He said some might have "felt like the campus was looking a bit run-down, and (it) may have left them with the sense that something was missing at AU − that we just did not care enough to invest in our infrastructure. That is not true any longer."

Ewing said these projects amount to the most completed in one summer.

"Nothing of this scope and scale," Ewing said as he gave a tour of campus. "This is the largest combination of projects in this timeframe."

Renovation work on Ashland U Campus 'came about in somewhat of a unique way'

The work is part of a 2013 master plan, deferred maintenance projects and a challenge issued by Dwight Schar.

"The beautification initiative came about in somewhat of a unique way," Ewing said.

He said Schar asked officials for some ideas "to enhance the campus visually" and to boost first impressions for visitors.

"We laid out eight or nine ideas," Ewing said. "Fortunately for us, he liked them all."

A plan originally intended to occur over several years became a three-month effort. "(Schar) wanted, and rightfully so, impact now," Ewing said.

Other parts of the Ashland campus also have been involved in the plan.

The Accent Room, an eatery enjoyed by the public, is gone. In its place is a new dietetic food lab for the nursing program. A cafe with a glass atrium will be added to the Robert M. and Janet L. Archer Library, which also will receive renovations to its main floor and lower level. Ewing said it should be completed sometime early next summer.

The Archers are also significant contributors to Ashland University, funding other renovations.

Ashland Theological Seminary also is on the list for improvement. Ewing said Smetzer Auditorium, which has flooded multiple times in the last decade, will be overhauled.

"We were able to solve the flooding problem and move forward with all new seating, carpeting, paint, ceiling, lighting and technology," said Ewing, who added that the projects were funded with grants.

"It's very nice space," Ewing said. He said it will be available for a number of purposes, including presentations and seminars, in addition to use by the Music Department.

Avenue of the Eagles at Ashland U gets 'a complete facelift'

Areas nearby also have been revamped, helping to improve the look of campus.

Ewing said Avenue of the Eagles, a pedestrian thoroughfare, has received "a complete facelift." A new arch provides a new "hallmark" for the campus, he added.

Campo cited accessibility as one of the targets of the program, with ramps, railings and other handicap accessible elements being addressed.

"When anyone walks our campus today, they are surrounded by beauty, tradition and excellence, which are all hallmarks of a great university," Campo said.

While the new lower and upper plaza are still under construction, Hassenzahl said the accompanying noise and dust have not caused navigation problems.

On College Avenue, the former KD Pizza property will be developed to create easier access with parking for the Gill Center and to improve the entire section from the admissions building to Claremont Ave.

New signage, "way finding" and branding are additionally under way on campus, Ewing said, to clearly mark buildings and highlight parts of campus.

"It's somewhat haphazard currently," he said.

The compressed timeline has been eased by teamwork, Ewing said, assisted by two major contractors, Simonson and Adena, and a Toledo architect.

Ewing said he's hopeful a lot of the work will be cleaned up by homecoming, scheduled for the end of October.

Keith Ramsdell, vice president of enrollment management and marketing, said that after an enrollment decline in 2020, it rebounded in 2021. This fall, Ramsdell said it has remained flat.

"Most of the work on campus started as spring semester ended, after most high school students had already committed to a college or university," Ramsdell said in an email. "However, we fully expect that these campus improvements will have a significant positive impact on both new student enrollment and current student retention in the future."

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland University renovations seen as benefit to students, community