YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State University Board of Trustees has unanimously approved an academic master plan aimed largely at supporting and promoting a variety of programs, as well as further cementing the university’s goal of being more inclusive.

During their quarterly meeting Thursday morning in Tod Hall, trustees adopted the plan, which also seeks to guide YSU toward adding innovation to current programming and expanding the university’s portfolio.

Part of that effort has been the result of analyzing marketing research to enhance the university’s ability to decide what may be attractive and a good fit for its portfolio, Jennifer Pintar, provost and vice president of academic affairs, noted.

For example, the university recently transferred about $700,000 toward implementing a two-year radiation technology program, Pintar said.

Along similar lines, YSU is exploring ways to attract potential students 26 and older who have some college credit but, because of work or other obligations, felt they needed to sideline their college pursuits. The effort also includes giving them tools for a successful return to and experience at the university, Pintar said.

In addition, part of the plan entails efforts to attract a higher number of veterans and military personnel via offering them advanced degree opportunities, she added.

A high percentage of Ohio students study and earn degrees from online colleges, so it’s important to develop ways to have them attend YSU in person or take online courses that the university offers, Pintar noted.

YSU has about 9% international students from Nepal, Vietnam, Turkey and elsewhere, so the best recruitment tool for attracting additional students from around the world is “word of mouth,” since those who have positive experiences at the university are more likely to share those experiences with others from their home countries, she said. The provost added that YSU works each semester to figure out how better to attract such students.

The master plan’s components are largely the result of qualitative and quantitative data gleaned from having met with all YSU departments, along with feedback from students, staff and faculty, and town hall meetings from which a structural outline was developed, Pintar explained.

“This is geared so there are no surprises going forward,” she said.

The plan also aligns with the university’s “culture of caring” that incorporates students, faculty and staff, YSU President Bill Johnson said in his report.

Johnson also cited YSU’s 10.7% enrollment increase this semester, compared to one year ago – something that reflects the largest uptick since 2018. Part of that is tied to YSU’s efforts to seamlessly absorb students who had been displaced when Eastern Gateway Community College dissolved this fall, he said.

Many of them will have an opportunity to earn degrees higher than an associate’s degree, Pintar and other YSU officials have said.

Also, the university is in “a very solid position” financially, Johnson said, noting that YSU has received more than $9.5 million in grants between January and September for dozens of projects.

In addition, efforts to foster relationships between the university and the region’s school districts and business communities are continuing. Along those lines, an initiative is underway to further integrate relationships between YSU and Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown and other city officials, Johnson said.

In his remarks, board member Michael Peterson expressed gratitude that more than 100 students will be graduating this fall than a year ago.

YSU’s fall commencement will be Sunday afternoon in Beeghly Center. The first ceremony is set for 1 p.m. for undergraduates and the second one will be 4:30 p.m. for graduate students.