University of Akron facts for kids
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Former names
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Buchtel College (1870–1913) Municipal University of Akron (1913–1966) |
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| Motto | Fiat Lux (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Let there be light |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1870 |
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Parent institution
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University System of Ohio |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $235.3 million (2020) |
| President | Robert J. Nemer |
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Academic staff
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1,032 (2022) |
| Undergraduates | 10,279 (2023) |
| Postgraduates | 2,070 (2023) |
| Location |
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United States
41°04′31″N 81°30′41″W / 41.0752°N 81.5115°W |
| Campus | Urban, 218 acres (0.88 km2) |
| Colors | Blue & gold |
| Nickname | Zips |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FBS – MAC |
| Mascot | Zippy the Kangaroo |
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The University of Akron is a public school in Akron, Ohio, United States. It is part of the University System of Ohio. This university focuses on STEM subjects like science, technology, engineering, and math. It is well known for its programs in polymers (plastics), advanced materials, and engineering.
The University of Akron offers about 200 different study programs for undergraduate students and over 100 for graduate students. Around 15,000 students attend the university. Its School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering is in a tall, shiny glass building near downtown Akron. The university also has a special collection called the Archives of the History of American Psychology, which is connected to the Smithsonian Institution.
The university has three smaller campuses: Wayne College in Orrville, Ohio; the Medina County University Center in Lafayette Township, Ohio; and UA Lakewood in Lakewood, Ohio. It also works with Lorain County Community College for nursing programs.
Contents
History of the University
How Buchtel College Started
In 1867, a church group called the Universalist Church wanted to start a college. They needed someone to provide a location and $60,000 to build it. John R. Buchtel, a successful businessman from Akron and a Universalist, quickly gave $25,000 for the school's fund and $6,000 for building.
This encouraged other people in Akron to donate, and soon enough money was raised. Akron was chosen as the location, and the college was named Buchtel College after John R. Buchtel. He continued to be a major supporter, giving about $500,000 during his life, which would be like $16 million today.
When the university opened in 1872, it had only one building, known as "Old Buchtel." Later, George W. Crouse donated $10,000 to build a new gym, which opened in 1888. It was named Crouse Gymnasium and was considered one of the best gyms in the region.
Sadly, on December 20, 1899, Old Buchtel burned down. Insurance only covered some of the cost. While new buildings were being built, Crouse Gymnasium was used as classrooms. A new Buchtel Hall opened in 1901. This new building, even after another fire in 1971, is still part of the campus today.
The University in the 20th Century
In 1907, Buchtel College changed. It stopped being connected to the Universalist Church so it could get money from the Carnegie Foundation. In 1913, the college was given to the city of Akron and became the Municipal University of Akron. At this time, only 198 students were enrolled.
With money from city taxes and Akron's growing population, the university grew quickly. Over the next few decades, it added many new buildings and bought more land. In 1963, the university became a state-supported school. By 1964, it had 10,000 students. In 1967, it fully became a state university and got its current name: The University of Akron.
Changes and Growth
From 1999 to 2014, the university spent a lot of money on new buildings and projects. This included a new football stadium, InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field, which opened in 2009. The university also bought the Quaker Square Crowne Plaza Hotel and uses it as a student dorm.
The University of Akron campus now has 82 buildings on about 222 acres near downtown Akron. Its total property is worth a lot of money.
Like many schools, the university has faced challenges. Between 2011 and 2020, the number of students went down by almost 40 percent. In 2019, Gary Miller became the university's 18th president. In 2020, he announced that the university would combine its eleven academic colleges into five. This was done to save money, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
University's Connection to Rubber Industry
The University of Akron has a long history with the tire and rubber industry. Many big rubber companies like Goodyear and Firestone used to have their main offices in Akron. In 1909, the university started offering the world's first classes in rubber chemistry. It also has the world's first College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, which began in 1988.
What You Can Study
| ARWU World | Not Ranked |
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| USNWR National University | 361 |
| Washington Monthly National University | 434 |
The University of Akron offers many different degrees, from short certificate programs to advanced doctoral degrees. The biggest college at the university is the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences. The main library on campus is Bierce Library, named after Lucius Bierce, whose personal book collection started the university's libraries.
Academic Colleges and Schools
The University of Akron has several colleges, schools, and campuses where students can learn:
- Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Engineering and Polymer Science (which includes the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering)
- College of Health and Human Sciences
- The Graduate School
- School of Law
- Williams Honors College
- Wayne College
Programs for Undergraduate Students
The university offers about 200 different majors for undergraduate students. It also has a special program with the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) that can help students get into their medical doctor program early. The University of Akron is also the first and only university in the U.S. to offer a bachelor's degree in corrosion engineering, which is about preventing rust and damage to materials.
Williams Honors College
Students in the Williams Honors College can earn degrees from any of the university's four-year colleges. They get special advice and can live in a dorm just for honors students. In 2016, the college was renamed to honor Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams.
Programs for Graduate Students
The University of Akron offers more than 105 different graduate degrees to about 2,000 graduate students. These degrees include master's degrees, PhDs (doctorate degrees), and law degrees (J.D. and LL.M.). The university also works with the Cleveland Clinic to offer a special program for students to do advanced research in bioscience while working towards a PhD.
Law School
The University of Akron School of Law started in 1921. It joined the university in 1959 and became fully approved by the American Bar Association in 1961. It offers full-time and part-time programs for law degrees. The University of Akron School of Law is one of only a few schools in America to offer a special law degree in intellectual property, which deals with inventions and creative works.
Research at the University
Goodyear Polymer Center
The Goodyear Polymer Center is a large research building at the university. It was finished in 1991 and has two tall towers connected by glass walkways. It is one of the tallest buildings in Akron.
This center has many labs for studying polymers, including areas for computer modeling, microscopy (using microscopes), and testing materials. It is home to the Department of Polymer Science and the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. The building also has classrooms, faculty offices, and spaces for students and researchers. It includes special facilities like the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Auditorium.
Other Research Facilities
- The Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics is a research center that helps people understand politics better. It focuses on political parties and ethical behavior in politics.
Sports at the University
The University of Akron's sports teams are called the "Zips." This name comes from "Zippers," which were overshoes with zippers popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The university's mascot is "Zippy," a kangaroo. Zippy is one of the few female college mascots in the United States and won the Capital One National Mascot of the Year award in 2007.
Akron has great sports facilities, including InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field for football, the James A. Rhodes Arena for basketball, and the FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field for other sports.
In football, the Akron Zips have a big rivalry with the Kent State Golden Flashes. In 2005, the Akron Zips football team won their first MAC championship. This allowed them to play in the Motor City Bowl, which was their first major bowl game.
The Akron Zips men's soccer team was ranked number one in 2009 and went undefeated. They made it to the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship. The next year, in 2010, they won the "College Cup" against the Louisville Cardinals. This was the first national team championship won by the Akron Zips.
In basketball, the men's team won the MAC Tournament title in 2009. This sent them to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1986. They have won the MAC tournament title four times, with the most recent win in 2022.
Student Life and Groups
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 75% |
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| Black | 11% |
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| Other | 5% |
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| Hispanic | 3% |
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| Asian | 3% |
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| Foreign national | 2% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 38% |
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| Affluent | 62% |
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The University of Akron has more than twenty fraternities and sororities. These are social organizations for students.
- Kappa Kappa Gamma was a very old sorority chapter on campus, started in 1877. It stopped operating in 2022.
- The Lone Star Fraternity (Pi Kappa Epsilon) was the oldest local fraternity in the United States. It was founded in 1882 and celebrated its 135th anniversary in 2017. It stopped operating in 2021.
- Alpha Delta Pi started on campus as "Sigma Delta Theta" in 1920. It later became part of Alpha Delta Pi in 1938.
- The Ohio Epsilon chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, founded in 1875, is the oldest continuous Greek-letter organization on campus.
- Phi Kappa Tau was originally founded as Sigma Beta Nu in 1923. The Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics offers scholarships to men who study political science and are members of this group. Famous alumni include Ray C. Bliss and former Akron mayor Tom Sawyer.
Famous People Who Attended
In Politics
- Former Akron mayor and Ohio Congressman Thomas C. Sawyer studied at the university.
- Judge Deborah L. Cook, who works for a high court, earned her degrees from the university.
- Former Ohio congresswoman Betty Sutton also earned her law degree there.
- Ray C. Bliss, who used to lead the Republican National Committee, graduated from Akron in 1935. A research center at the university is named after him.
- Former Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan earned a degree in education from the university.
- Bob Paduchik, who has held important roles in the Ohio Republican Party, earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 1989.
- Congressman Shri Thanedar received his Ph.D. from the university in 1982.
In Sports
- Several former Akron Zips football players have become successful in the National Football League. These include Chase Blackburn, Charlie Frye, Domenik Hixon, Dwight Smith, and Jason Taylor. Blackburn and Hixon won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants, and Smith won one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Taylor was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.
- Baseball players like Chris Bassitt, Mike Birkbeck, and Mark Malaska have played in Major League Baseball. Malaska was part of the Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series in 2004.
- Many soccer players from Akron have played in the MLS (Major League Soccer). Some of them include Darlington Nagbe, Steve Zakuani, and DeAndre Yedlin.
- Track and field athlete Shawn Barber became a professional pole vaulter in 2015 and won a world championship. Clayton Murphy won a bronze medal in the 800m race at the 2016 Olympic Games.
- Cheerleader Alexis Kaufman, known as Alexa Bliss, is a famous professional wrestler in WWE.
- Basketball player Kwan Cheatham plays professionally for a team in Israel.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Akron para niños
- List of colleges and universities in Ohio
