UA in the news

[ZachTheZip]

More info on the deal for the new Wheeler-Grant residence hall. So long, townhomes.

It's an interesting arrangement. UA is going to have to keep coming up with creative ways to expand the university because there is strong pressure from Columbus for all state universities to go into stagnation.

[g-mann17]

More info on the deal for the new Wheeler-Grant residence hall. So long, townhomes.

It's an interesting arrangement. UA is going to have to keep coming up with creative ways to expand the university because there is strong pressure from Columbus for all state universities to go into stagnation.

What I read is that Petro wants more authority to go to the universities, in fact they are passing something that makes it easier to aquire land and do construction. They want growth, they just don't want the tax payer to pay for it. Quite different from stagnation.

[ZachTheZip]

More info on the deal for the new Wheeler-Grant residence hall. So long, townhomes.

It's an interesting arrangement. UA is going to have to keep coming up with creative ways to expand the university because there is strong pressure from Columbus for all state universities to go into stagnation.

What I read is that Petro wants more authority to go to the universities, in fact they are passing something that makes it easier to aquire land and do construction. They want growth, they just don't want the tax payer to pay for it. Quite different from stagnation.

That's in the future. At the moment, no state university can buy property or get funding to build new buildings because "the money could be used for additional scholarships". UA was recently denied the right to purchase two properties adjacent to campus that are for sale. I'll let you guess which ones.

[ZachTheZip]

EuroGyro gets demolished. But don't worry. They're transforming into a sit-down eatery and adding shish kabobs to the menu.

I hope they open in time to take advantage of football season and the beginning of the fall semester.

[ZachTheZip]

Corrosion Engineering gets another $14-16 million from the DOD. Huge money to be had in this field, especially since we have supposedly the only program in the country.

UPA gets more praise, unveils a master plan. It's by the people who designed Baltimore's Inner Harbor area, which if you've ever visited is very nice. If they can do that kind of thing to downtown and the area along Exchange, we'll have one of the nicest urban campuses around.

[Blue & Gold]

UPA gets more praise, unveils a master plan. It's by the people who designed Baltimore's Inner Harbor area, which if you've ever visited is very nice. If they can do that kind of thing to downtown and the area along Exchange, we'll have one of the nicest urban campuses around.

Here is a link to the University Park Alliance's website & breakdown of the plan.

I found humor in a couple of the ideas. Concerning the University Square District, "Said Ectus: 'What I would love to do is blur the distinction between the campus and the city.'"

Also, concerning the Main Street Distict (Canal Park, Lock 3 Park area), " If there were to be a new University of Akron arena, it could also be located nearby."

No doubt Jake will be riled up.

And finally, an idea we on ZNO have been suggesting for years: '''We must get the Mayflower redeveloped,' he said, referring to Mayflower Manor, a downtown residential building that was built as a hotel."

[jberry1337]

EuroGyro gets demolished. But don't worry. They're transforming into a sit-down eatery and adding shish kabobs to the menu.

I hope they open in time to take advantage of football season and the beginning of the fall semester.

That's going to be awesome. I love EuroGyro, but I cringe every time I step into that place. Something about cats walking around behind the counter, aroudn the food disturbs me. I am guessing they will fix that.

With a new, clean building; I will definitely be a regular there.

[g-mann17]

University Park Master Plan

Here is the UPA Master Plan video from this year's luncheon. A very nice and interesting piece of the plan shows up at about the 3:08 mark.

[ZachTheZip]

I was walking around campus today and saw that the Townhouses on Grant street are being demolished. Probably in preparation for the new mega-dorm project. I didn't expect it to happen so soon. I thought it would start next year.

[ZachTheZip]

Manny's Pub re-opens.

I'm personally more interested in the Hanini's Sub shop opening up adjacent to it.

[UADavid]

UPA gets more praise, unveils a master plan. It's by the people who designed Baltimore's Inner Harbor area, which if you've ever visited is very nice. If they can do that kind of thing to downtown and the area along Exchange, we'll have one of the nicest urban campuses around.

Here is a link to the University Park Alliance's website & breakdown of the plan.

I found humor in a couple of the ideas. Concerning the University Square District, "Said Ectus: 'What I would love to do is blur the distinction between the campus and the city.'"

Also, concerning the Main Street Distict (Canal Park, Lock 3 Park area), " If there were to be a new University of Akron arena, it could also be located nearby."

No doubt Jake will be riled up.

And finally, an idea we on ZNO have been suggesting for years: '''We must get the Mayflower redeveloped,' he said, referring to Mayflower Manor, a downtown residential building that was built as a hotel."

Blue & Gold knocks it out of the park as " Jake" has been very busy. From the Sunday BJ:

Published on Sunday, May 29, 2011

Enhancing UA and Akron

I read the statements made by EE&K principal Stanton Eckstut in the May 9 story ''Focusing on four Akron districts.'' As a supporter of both the University of Akron and the downtown area, I appreciate his verification of what UA and downtown have been planning and doing.

However, I do not agree with his desire to ''blur the distinction between the campus and the city.'' Nor do I agree with his implication that UA should build a new arena off campus.

These two ideas are in major opposition to the university's desire to build a reputable campus with distinct boundaries and visual integrity.

This UA vision began with the New Landscape for Learning in the fall and winter of 1999, and has resulted in a university campus that has won rave reviews for its distinction and beauty.

As stated in the UA Master Plan, the planting of 30,000 trees and 20,000 hedges, bushes and other plants will help define UA's boundaries, line walkways and give the metropolitan campus a green and open park-like feel.

I also feel that this philosophy has contributed to UA's increased enrollment figures.

The plan to continue to sharpen UA's boundaries in no way conflicts with the collaborative vision of any entity within the University Park Alliance. Integrity and healthy boundaries add to the positive vision of all members of the effort.

Distinction does not mean disintegration, and boundaries do not equal walls. UA has finally achieved the recognition it deserves in part by establishing healthy boundaries, which only say to the community and region: ''Welcome.''

Keeping that integrity will only help to strengthen both the campus and the downtown area and community.

Going in the opposite direction will give the university and surrounding community a pseudo quality deserving of little respect and recognition.

As far as building a new UA arena goes, building it adjacent to or near the UA football stadium is nearby enough for downtown.

The on-campus football stadium is a plum for downtown and a multipurpose UA arena next to it would be a downtown asset as well.

Let's not let UA slip back into the days where it faded into the woodwork, causing it to be referred to as, ''Hilltop High.'' That would be bad for both UA and the city.

David Culp

Akron

[UA Fan]

Corrosion Engineering gets another $14-16 million from the DOD. Huge money to be had in this field, especially since we have supposedly the only program in the country.

There's an article in the June 6-12 BusinessWeek about the Pentagon's "war on rust." UA gets a mention at the end for being funded by the DoD with the first corrosion engineering bachelor's program nationally.

[g-mann17]

Future Planning Underway

UA is preparing their capital improvement plans for the next 20-30 years. Of note, the College of Education and Law School are on hold until after the new plan is completed. Also Ted Curtis invisions the JAR as a practice gymnasium and a new arena being constructed. He does state that funding is major factor as "partners" are tight with capital budgeting because of the economy.

Don't let the last sentence scare you. The key to a project like this is naming rights and outside investment. But that too will be tough unless it is already pledged.

[johnnyzip84]

Interesting article on UA polymer research on spider silk. Here is the full report.

It's great to see an ex-NFL quarterback having so much success in a completely different field!

[72 Roo]

It's amazing the difference there is in appearance when Blackledge does not have his TV make-up on.

[scottditzen]

5k race in honor of forumer UA runner.

http://www.coolcleveland.com/blog/2011/07/...-student-founds

article

[ZachTheZip]

UA gets a record amount of donations for the 2010-2011 school year.

Fundraising totals for the University of Akron over the past six years:

2010-2011: $46.7 million

2009-2010: $40.8 million

2008-2009: $43.9 million

2007-2008: $41.0 million

2006-2007: $32.3 million

2005-2006: $25.0 million

[UA Fan]

UA gets a mention in the current Popular Science. Apparently the Geology Dept. has a cave science lab that's fun to work in.

[zippy5]

Any enrollment numbers for this year? usually out by now but I couldn't find any.

[g-mann17]

Any enrollment numbers for this year? usually out by now but I couldn't find any.

Sadly only a very modest 1.8% increase. It was mentioned briefly in a Beacon article. Not sure why it was such a minor increase. I assume it was an anomally considering we have seen an average 5% every year.

[ksu sucks]

UA gets a record amount of donations for the 2010-2011 school year.

You know what I find bizarre? The fact that donations to the university are increasing to record highs, yet tuition is still generally increasing overtime. Which would be fine, but at the same time the University continues to add new bus routes, buildings, degrees, etc.Why cry that you're broke, while you continue to spend, spend, spend?It's become obvious that something isn't right with the current structure of our higher education system; not just at Akron, but across the state and the nation.

[g-mann17]

UA gets a record amount of donations for the 2010-2011 school year.

You know what I find bizarre? The fact that donations to the university are increasing to record highs, yet tuition is still generally increasing overtime. Which would be fine, but at the same time the University continues to add new bus routes, buildings, degrees, etc.Why cry that you're broke, while you continue to spend, spend, spend?It's become obvious that something isn't right with the current structure of our higher education system; not just at Akron, but across the state and the nation.

Because every year the money that the state gives to the universities dimishes. The operating budge for the university is $275 million. The state's share of that has been continuously decreasing each year and the additional $10 billion that the state had to split amongst all universities last year is now gone (stimulus funds).Meanwhile professors expect raises, repairs have to be done, new supplies must be purchased, and utility rates go up. I mean it is pretty obvious. Besides donations go beyond the operating budget to add to the campus. The cost of a college education, when adjusted for inflation, has remained relatively flat. The problem is that the burden of that cost has been pushed to the student. In the 60's roughly 70% of the cost of college was payed by the government. Today students are paying 70% of the cost and the government is paying 30%. The bottom line is so many politicians would rather preach about education then actually fund it.

[ksu sucks]

Because every year the money that the state gives to the universities dimishes.

Decreasing state funding requires an expansion of unnecessary services?

Meanwhile professors expect raises, repairs have to be done, new supplies must be purchased, and utility rates go up. I mean it is pretty obvious. Besides donations go beyond the operating budget to add to the campus.

I think it's simpler than that. When the president showed up to Rob's cafe a couple years back to talk to students, there were at least 20 men dressed in suit and tie scrambling around rearranging chairs while talking on their cell phones before he even got there. I wasn't the only one in the room that thought it looked a tad silly. It's apparent that there's some serious bureaucratic waste in Buchtel hall and beyond...

The problem is that the burden of that cost has been pushed to the student.

As opposed to who? Who else should pay for someone's education?

In the 60's roughly 70% of the cost of college was payed by the government. Today students are paying 70% of the cost and the government is paying 30%.

Ah, I see. The federal government should be held responsible for our debt.I'm curious...why do you think government is paying less now?

[g-mann17]

Decreasing state funding requires an expansion of unnecessary services? I think it's simpler than that. When the president showed up to Rob's cafe a couple years back to talk to students, there were at least 20 men dressed in suit and tie scrambling around rearranging chairs while talking on their cell phones before he even got there. I wasn't the only one in the room that thought it looked a tad silly. It's apparent that there's some serious bureaucratic waste in Buchtel hall and beyond...As opposed to who? Who else should pay for someone's education?Ah, I see. The federal government should be held responsible for our debt.I'm curious...why do you think government is paying less now?

I don't know where you get there was an expansion of any services at any state university that hasn't been funded by student fee. As to you point, most of those "suits" were grad assistants which what most "bureaucratic" waste is on a university campus.As to your second question students paid for it 30 years ago students pay for it today, but the problem is that funding has diminished.And why has that funding diminished? Its because of what went on in the 60's and 70's on college campuses. Conservatives were able to use the hippie movement as grounds to continuously decrease funding for education. Don't want to "indoctrinate the students" with "public money". A major part of this funding change was Reagan. It had nothing to with fiscal conservatism.I am quite curious though, and this goes across the board, how so many anti-government individuals love to attend government run universities.

The tax which will be paid for [the] purpose [of education] is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance.

[ksu sucks]

I don't know where you get there was an expansion of any services at any state university that hasn't been funded by student fee.

Student fees? So effectively a tuition increase. Which was used to fund new programs and services during such questionable economic times? At best, that sounds irresponsible.

As to you point, most of those "suits" were grad assistants which what most "bureaucratic" waste is on a university campus.

If it's good enough for Can't State then it's good enough for us, right?

And why has that funding diminished? Its because of what went on in the 60's and 70's on college campuses. Conservatives were able to use the hippie movement as grounds to continuously decrease funding for education. Don't want to "indoctrinate the students" with "public money". A major part of this funding change was Reagan. It had nothing to with fiscal conservatism.

I don't consider myself a conservative or a Republican, so partisan complaints mean little to me. What you're saying is, your precious government decided against funding education because a certain party was opposed to the concept of a public education. Wow, so how is that democracy working out for you? By the way, not much of Reagan's presidency could be described as "fiscal conservatism". He raised taxes and increased the deficit significantly. That said, his rhetoric sure was appealing...

I am quite curious though, and this goes across the board, how so many anti-government individuals love to attend government run universities.

Believe it or not, your world view at the age of 18 isn't necessarily the same world view that you will hold as an adult-- or even as a 21 year old.

The tax which will be paid for [the] purpose [of education] is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance.

Hey, I can play that game too!"No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him. "-TJBut hey, if the government commits an act of aggression for you then it's okay, right?