Development Office

VISTA

Volunteers In Service To Ashland

The VISTA program was initiated in 1986 to enhance Ashland University's ability to identify, attract and enroll quality students. At that time, Ashland University was one of only a few hundred colleges/universities in the nation having such programs.

Since VlSTA's inception, the membership has grown from 50 to 500, significantly extending the reach of the Office of Admission beyond the scope of the professional staff. Although alumni make up 95% of the membership, VISTA is open to all Ashland University students, parents and friends.

As members of the extended University family, VISTA members are in a unique position. Their lives have been and continue to be influenced by Ashland University and they can personalize the University's benefits as described in literature. Through this contact with friends and acquaintances, high school students gain a personal perspective of AU and hopefully pursue AU more seriously.

VISTA activities range from simply talking about Ashland to sending referral cards to representing AU at local college nights. The time commitment varies as well - from a couple minutes a month to a few hours a year.

You can join the hundreds of people currently involved in the program! The VISTA activities are highlighted on this page. Read through them and decide which activity is best for you. Then, complete and return the VISTA Response Form. What a fun and exciting way to serve Ashland University!

VISTA Activities

VISTA members assist in the admission effort of Ashland University
in the following ways:

Talk About Ashland University
Through interaction with neighbors, friends, co-workers and acquaintances, VISTA members intentionally mention Ashland University whenever the opportunity arises. This is the easiest and most natural activity and is expected of each VISTA member.

Make Referrals
This is the most important activity a VISTA member can partake in and it takes very little time. Whenever you are aware of a high school student who may benefit from receiving information about Ashland University, complete a referral card with as much information as possible and drop it in the mail. The admission staff will take it from there. This is expected of each VISTA member.

Encourage Campus Visits
Students rate the campus visit as one of the most important factors influencing their decision to attend AU. Therefore, it is critical for your acquaintances to visit Ashland. You can make arrangements for them, refer them to the Office of Admission to schedule their own visits or, best of all, you can escort them to campus yourself!

Cover/Assist at Local College Programs
Many communities have college programs where representatives from various colleges are available to introduce their institutions to high school students. You may enjoy helping an AU admission representative at your local program or covering the program by yourself. This involves sharing your experiences and general knowledge of AU and encouraging the completion of an inquiry card. All materials are provided for you and most programs last two hours.

Write Letters
Hundreds of VISTA members are involved in writing letters to accepted students in their areas. Names and addresses of local students are sent from the Office of Admission and you may drop a note to each student on your personal stationery or professional letterhead.

Make Phone Calls
Occasionally, a VISTA member is asked to make a phone call to a particular high school student who may have a question or want advice about a profession.

Receive Calls From Perspective Students
Prospective students enjoy having a local contact person to call with questions about Ashland University. A list of names and numbers of alumni willing to receive calls is published each year.

Serve as a Representative to Local Schools
Some VISTA members serve as local AU contacts to area high schools by talking occasionally with guidance counselors and assessing AU literature needs.

Host Student Receptions
Occasionally, prospective students, currently enrolled AU students and alumni from a particular area gather together. VISTA members serve as hosts for these receptions, either at their home or at a local site.

Make Award Assembly Presentations
Some high schools prefer to have representatives from colleges available to present awards and scholarships to their students at assemblies. This is a wonderful opportunity for VISTA members to be involved locally.

Click here to submit an application for the VISTA program.