Mayor Miller and Dr. Campo highlight how Ashland is rising

ASHLAND — There’s no doubt in either Ashland Mayor Matt Miller or Ashland University president Dr. Carlos Campo’s minds: Ashland is rising — both the city and the university.

Mayor Miller and Dr. Campo joined Ashland Source Wednesday evening at the Uniontown Brewing Company for a community conversation centered around AU’s most recent strategic plan, ongoing city initiatives and the relationship between the university and city government. 

More than 70 people the event watched as Miller and Campo provided updates on their latest successes and highlighted how they are working together for the betterment of Ashland. A question and answer session led by reporter Tracy Leturgey followed. 

As the University’s strategic plan, called Ashland Rising, comes to an end in 2020, Dr. Campo can point to strides taken within each of the plan’s five pillars: Academic Excellence, Unique Christian Identity, Exemplary Fiscal Stewardship, Supportive Campus Environment and Enhanced Community Engagement. 

Before coming to Ashland, Campo said, he’d never heard of the term, “townie.” He wasn’t aware of the distinct separation that could be felt between college students and Ashland’s full-time residents. 

He set out to better work and communicate with the city of Ashland and to play a role in the city’s success. He purposefully sought out ways that Ashland University could not only passively support, but to actively bolster the city of Ashland. 

“Every great university serves the needs of their community,” Campo said. 

One way AU did this was by buying and renovating the former Chase Bank building on West Main Street in downtown Ashland. The space houses the University’s up and coming Correctional Education Program.

“It’s one thing to talk the talk — the university wants to be more a part of the community. It’s another thing to invest dollars and cents in buying a valuable downtown building and remodeling it, if you want to call it this, saving it and making it useful,” Mayor Miller said. “Then putting 30 to 40 employees in that building, who are going to walk from their parking lot on Main Street every day, past every shop, past every restaurant… That’s a game changer.” 

“We truly do appreciate that the university is putting its money where its mouth is.” 

While Ashland University was fixing up the space, the city posted a sign out front of the building. It read: Ashland on the Rise. The same type of sign can still be seen outside other Main Street storefronts, too.  

Miller says the sign campaign was launched last year at a time when nearly 7 or 8 dumpsters lined the street, as multiple buildings were being renovated at once. 

“Part of leadership is inspiring hope and showing people where we can go, and I think those signs help us do this,” Miller said. 

While the city has seen changes in the past two years, he continued, one of the biggest changes he’s noticed is “the lens we see the city through.” The demolition of the former Pump House Ministries property, for instance, he said, has “imaginations running wild with what’s next.” 

The last wall of the longtime eyesore was torn down in late October, and the cleanup is ongoing. 

The city’s long term plan for the corridor is to transform Fourth Street from a one-way to a two-way street and to then develop apartments, offices, and other mixed-used properties. 

“We’re doing things to make it (Ashland) more livable not just for the students, but for everyone,” Miller said.

The city and AU are currently working together with other Ashland area businesses and organizations on a targeted action plan, which includes a handful of projects they hope to complete together in the coming years. This includes the Pump House clean up, turning South Street into a gathering spot with unique Ashland character and creating a paved walking path — Center Run Trail — for all to enjoy. 

Progress with Dr. Campo’s strategic plan has included enhancing resources and services for students’ mental health, launching a multi-literacy campaign and establishing a more stable financial situation. 

In moving forward, he said, AU is purposefully looking to “buck trends” in higher education and tackle issues like cost. He shared that students who want to study teaching and qualify for the Pell Grant may soon be able to attend AU for free.

By May 31, 2020, the next AU strategic plan will be released.

“We sense urgency on our campus to not simply move forward incrementally. We want to take a leap forward,” Campo said. 

And as for the relationship AU currently has with the city, both he and Miller expect that to continue. 

“It’s part of the fabric of what we do now,” Campo said.