The University of Akron (UA)

A “growing, exciting, and really diverse institution with a tremendous vision for the future,� the University of Akron serves nearly 17,000 undergraduates, most in career-oriented programs. Business is one of the largest undergraduate departments here; engineering, however, is the most well-renowned, enjoying an excellent reputation in mechanical and chemical engineering and co-op programs that “can place any engineering student that wants a co-op very easily.� Other academic standouts include the “excellent biology and chemistry� departments, nursing program, education department, and “the only nationally accredited emergency management program in the country.� Students in all programs praise UA’s strong ties to the city and county, saying that “These ties offer students numerous opportunities not found at many other schools.� Undergrads also appreciate UA’s commitment to technology; “it’s one of the top ‘wired for wireless’ campuses in the nation and it makes it easy to get e-mail, notes, grades, etc. online. Practically every building has computers available to use continuously, called ‘computer trees.’� While students once complained about all the new construction on campus, most concede that the university is making all the right moves in its “transition from a commuter school to a residence school.�

UA is a large school where the typical student is “down-to-earth, working class to middle class, from the Akron-Canton-Cleveland area.� Otherwise, students “vary tremendously,� and have “diverse backgrounds� that often include “average to slightly better academic achievement in high school� and a “serious� attitude about college.� Two-fifths of the student body is at least 25 years old; most of these are part-time students juggling jobs and families. Then there are “the frat and sorority people, the people who are always studying, the people who never go to class; you name it, there is someone like that at UA.� Another common type of student, we’re told, “is the beer-drinking sports fan. You can’t go wrong with that!�

UA is a large community that students say is divided roughly in half. One half “is trying to survive and thrive in order to build a future. The other half is just here to have fun.� The first group “lives off campus and only gets slightly involved with student organizations or campus life.� The others go “west a few blocks to all the clubs over on Main Street. Those who are more into sports will hit up the bars that are a block south of campus,� while still others head “east of campus one block for the parties along ‘frat row.’� All students enjoy the new “multimillion dollar recreation center and student union, with thirteen billiard tables and eight bowling lanes and lots more.� They’re even prouder of their 2005 MAC champion men’s soccer team. Students with cars note that “the campus is pretty close to Cleveland,� which presents various opportunities for having fun “ranging from rock to theater to even partying!� As one student sums up, “How good your life is at UA is up to you.�