What GoElite Learned from Avila University Arizona's Second Residency

A second visit to Avila University Arizona, engaging with students in person, and the value of onsite presence.

At the end of August, our team traveled to Goodyear, Arizona, for Avila University Arizona's residency weekend. This marked our second visit to the AUA campus within one year, and the opportunity to return to the same campus community provided invaluable perspective. While the first visit offered initial impressions, the follow-up visit allowed us to assess tangible progress and outcomes.

Shan Zhang, our Director of Global Accounts, spent the weekend actively engaging across classrooms, transportation, and communal spaces. Compared to our earlier visit, nearly every observation we had shared with AUA had been thoughtfully addressed.

For example, the shuttle was upgraded to a larger, fully branded bus capable of transporting the entire group at once, offering greater convenience for students. The change of hotel also improved accommodations for students traveling from various states.

Additionally, the relocation of lunch to a nearby restaurant provided enhanced menu variety and ample space for students to connect. Among numerous residency experiences throughout our partner network, this now ranks among the top in terms of student support and onsite logistics.

Importantly, AUA invited a guest speaker specializing in immigration to engage directly with students. We observed sessions in two classrooms where students actively participated, asking specific and practical questions typically reserved for private consultation. The live dialogue, supported by expert answers, provided far deeper insight and reassurance than any written FAQ could deliver.

On the Friday evening prior to the residency sessions, GoElite co-hosted a Happy Hour event with AUA at a local venue in Goodyear. The invitation extended to all students attending the weekend, regardless of their route to AUA. The gathering featured refreshments and informal activities, intentionally kept small to foster meaningful conversations.

The intimate setting enabled our team to connect personally with nearly every attendee. Discussions extended into themes such as managing coursework alongside full-time employment, weekly program experiences, and pre-enrollment expectations. A recurring topic was the availability of career resources and employer connections—a critical focus area we are monitoring across partner institutions.

Notably, students offered very little criticism—an uncommon occurrence across many university settings where students often maintain extensive lists of concerns when given the opportunity. AUA students consistently described an attentive and responsive university experience. The suggestions they did provide were practical and constructive. We have relayed this valuable feedback to Mercy Carlsen and the AUA team, who confirmed it is being directed to relevant departments for action. Given the substantive improvements observed between visits, this follow-through goes beyond formality.

This experience underscores the importance of onsite engagement over passive reporting. Partnership health is visible not only in enrollment data but also in authentic student experiences in everyday contexts—from classroom dialogues to informal gatherings.

We appreciate Mercy and the entire AUA team's warm invitation and look forward to supporting future residency weekends!