Vanguard’s Road to Change

While students are making plans for summer, Vanguard is making plans for the next group of Lions in Fall 2012.

This year, Vanguard saw a 12% increase in the undergraduate program with 581 new undergraduate students. Many exciting events followed this growth, including the unveiling of the Towers Lobby, the largest class size in Vanguard’s history, and many new faces seen around campus. But this increase was not without its challenges.

These new faces meant less parking and less housing. Residence Life rose to this challenge and provided housing for all students who needed on-campus housing. As for the parking, faculty were given their own spaces to park and the students’ parking is still first-come, first-served.

Rumors in regards to the plans of the upcoming academic year of 2012-2013 have begun to circle within the past few months. These rumors concerned parking fees and housing changes.

The parking fees rumor was quickly silenced by SGA President David Vazquez.

“It has come to the attention of some of you today that Vanguard University will be assessing a parking fee to students next academic year. To clear the air – this is not true, and the rumors are simply false,” Vazquez said.

In regards to housing, remodeling will continue in the Huntington Dorms. The next floors to be remodeled are the third and fourth floors of Huntington. Catalina first floor, in its entirety, will be designated to freshmen girls.

“Since I have been in my position in the Housing Office, we have been able to provide housing to all students desiring to live on-campus at Vanguard” said Allison Hesse, Housing and Data Coordinator.

Vanguard, as a whole, is preparing for a growing number of traditional undergraduates. This fall, the university had 1,418 total traditional undergraduates. For the Fall 2012, the budget target aims at 1,450 total traditional undergraduates, with a plan to hit 1,500 sometime between fall 2012 and fall 2015.

“Due to our attention to capacity in facilities, we do not plan to grow the class size beyond 1,500 total traditional undergraduates without significant discussion and planning at the President’s Cabinet and Board of Trustees level” said Kim Johnson, Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management.

To address the community feel amidst the recent growth, Vanguard recently announced its newest campaign “Your Story Matters.” This campaign emphasizes that the story of every current student and incoming student matters not only at Vanguard but afterward.

“It’s really amazing, the sense of community here. The more you immerse yourself into campus culture, you see that the faculty truly know their students and are helping them with their journey,” Johnson said.

Administration recognizes the importance of having a “community” feel at Vanguard. Even with the growth in the undergraduate program, the administration is committed to keeping this as a central priority and will not make any major decisions that would impede upon this important aspect of the university.

As for the upcoming years, the focus of the administration will be to maintain steady growth. In the meantime, the administration and others are under a strategic planning process for expanding the capacity of the university and preparing for more growth in the future.

“We are deeply committed to sustaining and strengthening the community feel here. Community has become, and will remain, a central aspect of Vanguard University” said Dr. Jeff Hittenberger, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.