Hunton Brady
AdventHealth University
CJAE GROUP LLC
Nestled between two serene lakes, four bright, contemporary buildings make up the Orlando campus of AdventHealth University (AHU).
Students walking and talking amid this hidden gem next to the bustling AdventHealth Orlando hospital complex pursue their calling to become health care professionals here. A sense of calm and purpose is palpable in the library, cafeteria, classrooms — even on the sidewalks as groups of students walk together to their clinical rotations. AHU provides a one-of-a-kind educational experience. Students and alumni alike say they have learned valuable lessons at AHU that transcend the classroom and stay with them long after graduation.
“The staff provided a sense of peace, relief, and calm,” said Isabella Rodgriguez, who earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from AHU in December 2023. “They knew how hard we were working, and they continually kept us motivated. I appreciated the times when we would pray before an exam together. They all make it clear that they are here for you in any type of way. My other schools were never like that, where they would text you and try to motivate you. AHU is different in a good way.”
Since its founding in 1992, AHU has stood apart from other colleges and universities. Its faith-affirming environment, focus on health care degrees, and close relationship with AdventHealth draw students who dream of a career dedicated to whole-person care.
Leaders at AHU aspire to build on this special legacy in many innovative ways. Among those are the following.
• Expanding in West Florida: Construction of AHU’s new Tampa, Florida, site has started, which includes plans to welcome 25 students to its Associate of Science in Nursing degree program in January 2025. At full capacity in 2038, AHU Tampa will have 137 students.
• Growing Student Enrollment: Defying national college enrollment trends, AHU’s student enrollment shows promising growth. Because AHU focuses on health care-related degrees, interest is strongly tied to health care workforce demands and trends rather than higher education trends, AHU leaders said. Enrollment for the current term is 1,657 students, a 17% increase over the previous spring term, and 1,692 students were enrolled for the fall 2023 term, a 5% increase over the fall 2022 term.
• Orlando Campus Expansion: With promising current and projected enrollment growth, AHU needs more classrooms and labs. This month, the first phase of AHU’s Orlando expansion is underway as construction starts on the AHU Simulation Center, located in AdventHealth’s former Center for Behavioral Health. In addition, non- academic teams, such as business, marketing, financial aid, and admissions, will relocate to what will become the AHU Welcome Center. The final renovation phase will create additional classrooms, and student learning and interaction spaces on the current campus. This entire project is expected to be complete by December 2025.
• New Nursing Degree: In January 2024, 37 students became the first cohort in AHU’s new Associate of Science in Nursing program. The degree, which can be completed in as little as 20 months, aims to help stem national and local shortfalls in nurses.
• Denver Campus Milestones: AHU Denver is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, with nearly 200 alumni extending the healing ministry of Christ throughout Colorado and beyond. In addition, AHU Denver and AdventHealth in the Rocky Mountain Region are finding innovative ways to build on their clinical and workforce relationship. Next year, students, faculty, and team members will be moving into new state-of-the-art classrooms and labs.
• Reimagined Mission Integration: AHU team members are receiving national recognition for their groundbreaking work to create a whole-person education model. Leading-edge research, services and curriculum aim to ensure students and team members feel academically, physically, spiritually, and mentally supported, challenged, and inspired. In addition to a presentation and article for the Council of Independent Colleges in early 2024, the Mission Integration Initiative has plans for retreats, implementation, additional conference presentations, observation, and measurement tactics.
• Innovative Clinical Initiatives: AdventHealth and AHU are partnering to discover innovative clinical and workforce solutions. One such effort is the Physician Assistant Sponsorship program, providing tuition to AHU physician assistant students with a two-year work agreement with AdventHealth Medical Group upon graduation. Creation of the Clinical Scholars role is another unique effort that allows nurses to work two shifts on their AdventHealth hospital unit and then the third shift as a clinical instructor for AHU. The University also established two Dedicated Education Units at AdventHealth Orlando, providing nursing students an immersive one-on-one clinical experience on a hospital unit.
• Workforce Development Certificates: In 2023, AHU began offering certificates for high-demand jobs in the fields of health care, information technology, and project management. These certificates are available online, self-paced, and can often be completed in less than a year. Currently, 1,300 students are enrolled in AHU’s certificates program.
• Empowering Alumni: AHU’s 12,000 alumni are being engaged in new and exciting ways that benefit them and their alma mater. In addition to opportunities to socialize and network, alumni are utilizing AHU to find jobs, share ideas with the school president for academic growth and improvement, advance their careers through discounted certificates and degrees, and volunteer at AHU events and in the classroom to inspire current and prospective students.
In addition to these enterprising initiatives, two outstanding leaders took the helm at AHU in 2023. Last month, C. Josef Ghosn, Ed.D., FACHE, completed his first year as the third president of the University, and, in fall of 2023, Karen Benn Marshall, Ed.D., M.S., assumed the role of provost. Through their visionary leadership, AHU plans to continue building on this growth and momentum.
“At AdventHealth University, we are grateful for our role in instilling values of whole-person care and developing highly skilled and compassionate professionals who live the healing values of Christ,” said Ghosn. “Our students feel called to practice health care as a ministry, and we are committed to helping them pursue that dream with competence and confidence.”
On the horizon for AHU: new degrees, faculty development, scholarly research, and new student and family engagement opportunities.
“I am constantly amazed by the ways our students, faculty, administrators and staff are leading the way in research, leadership, and education,” said Benn Marshall. “This is an exciting time to be involved with AdventHealth University.”
is the social media and communications manager at AdventHealth University.
Southern Union | June 2024
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