Ohio College Restructuring

[UAZipster0305]

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/10686306.htmlI've said it before and I'll say it again, the best way for this to work out is for CSU to be formally integrated into the NEOUCOM MD program where UA cedes its positions in the program to CSU. NEOUCOM would then be incorporated into UA at a new downtown medical campus with a formalized academic medical center incorporating Summa, Akron General, and Children's Hospitals. This would give northeastern Ohio three major academic medical centers (Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals of Cleveland, and University Hospitals of Akron) that would compete with each other locally, but would also be nationally and internationally prominent (the other two in Cleveland already are). This would make northeastern Ohio a haven for medical companies and would give the economy a long overdue boost.

[LosAngelesZipFan]

Here's how this will unfortunately go down: Movement will build to drive to a more efficient and rationalized set of state supported institutions in NEO. The UA-CSU merger talk will grow, but instead of creating a 'tent pole' for Akron, it will be used to create a focal point for development on the near east side of downtown Cleveland. UA will eventually become a branch campus of a new university that is based in downtown Cleveland, with a major effort to create a football program that can fill Browns Stadium. Let's face it-- most of NEO thinks of UA as this little commuter school with a "high school on the hill" campus. We are at a HUGE disadvantage perceptually-- in 5 years that will have changed I think, but we are still a long way from the average person in say Garfield Heights thinking of UA as a truly major institution. Bank on it-- Akron cannot win a straight up fight with Cleveland over this, even with UA being a much stronger institution. We have to go after a confederation with Can't-- a merger of equals but with complimentary programs-- that really bolsters the Akron region. I know everyone on this board hates to consider this-- but the writing is on the wall. Ohio can't afford to maintain the status quo-- it's ultimately not working. Akron needs to make the argument proactively-- what makes for a better more impactful university: Akron with Can't or Akron with CSU? For the Akron area, the choice is crystal clear. Combine UA with Can't, add in NEOUCOM. You end up with a university concentrated in the Akron metro area with nearly 60,000 students (bigger than OSU), a major endowment, significant research base, synergistic programs, and dominant position in NEO (branch campuses in every county). Only then could a CSU merger be pursued in a way that the base of institution remains in Akron.Every Summit, Portage, Stark, Medina, and adjacent county reps and state senators, mayors, etc., should be supporting this type of solution. It's also in the best interest of Can't State, because otherwise it will essentially revert back to a total backwater, its more successful programs sucked into the CSU-Akron combo because there is no way it could compete politically with that.A global institution like this would have a huge impact on an area the size of Akron-- it could really lead to a renaissance. Net net, it makes a huge difference in Akron, probably saving the region. In Cleveland, it would be not be that additive-- it would always play second fiddle to Case-- but it would certainly help the near east side of Cleveland and anchor the west side of the Euclid corridor that they are building with the Clinic, Case, and the rest of University Circle on the other end.

[LosAngelesZipFan]

btw, anyone know how to do polls on here now or is that feature gone?

[LosAngelesZipFan]

From the PD this past week...time to circle the wagons...University of Akron president talks up school's dedication to cityCSU merger talks downplayedTuesday, October 16, 2007Janet OkobenPlain Dealer ReporterIn his first public remarks since talk of a merger between Cleveland State University and the University of Akron surfaced last month, UA President Luis Proenza said his school is staying put in Akron.UA is "a growing and vital enterprise that will not be moving or sold," Proenza told about 500 supporters at his annual State of the University address Monday.Proenza used the occasion to officially launch a $500 million fund-raising campaign and say that $275 million has quietly been raised. His comments seemed designed to assure donors that the endowed faculty positions, student scholarships and new building that would come from the infusion of money would be for the University of Akron alone. The school's endowment was $168 million as of June 2006, the most recent number reported to the Chronicle of Higher Education."We need not lose our institutional identity or ask any other institution to do so, and we will not do anything to disadvantage our community or dishonor our heritage," Proenza said.Proenza was alluding to the concept of the University of Northeast Ohio, which would combine UA, CSU, and bring the Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown to downtown Cleveland. A task force is now studying ways for the region's universities to collaborate better. And Eric Fingerhut, the state's chancellor for higher education, is working on a 10-year plan for a University System of Ohio.In a speech last month, Fingerhut said, "We have good public universities in this region, but we don't have a great public university. We have some world-class research, and some world-class talent, but we don't have a world-class university."Look no further than Akron, is Proenza's message to Fingerhut."Because of our demonstrated leadership and documented capacity, the University of Akron should be formally designated as the public research university for the region - a strategic partner and a transformational force to create sustainable economic vitality and a model for a fresh paradigm for public higher education," he told the crowd Monday, which included Fingerhut.Fingerhut spoke briefly at Monday's events, but said he wouldn't get into details about the future of Ohio's higher-education system.William Demas, chair of UA's board of trustees, said after the speech that it was important for Proenza to make sure the school's strengths are known."We have a story to tell," Demas said, explaining that a merger would have to come about because it's the right thing to do, "not just bringing things together because the numbers look good on paper."With Akron's position clear, CSU President Michael Schwartz is expected to weigh in on the issue soon, too. He will speak at the CSU convocation Oct. 25.

[zipsbandman]

Proenza will get it done. The University is growing, and look at all the projects pending. CSU will never come close to what we have going. There is no way they can justify making us a branch campus to a school more than twice smaller our size. I think there are many options the state can take.

[LosAngelesZipFan]

I wish I could agree with you but the perception is that Akron is only marginally better than CSU. We know the real story, but most people don't know the HUGE difference including, apparently, the guy pulling the levers. I wrote the PD reporter of the above article, and here is what she responded:"Your points are good ones. I haven't heard this directly from Eric Fingerhut, but rumor has it that he was unaware of the $500 million campaign. It certainly gives UA a lot of clout. CSU President Michael Schwartz is giving his state of the university speech on Thursday and I'm told it's going to be memorable. Stay tuned."-- Janet Okoben, higher education reporter.Frickin Fingerhut didn't even KNOW UA had a top 100 endowment, one of the top 3 or 4 in the state system, and that we had a huge capital campaign going. I'm telling you, we are in a really sketchy place. Proenza is a STUD, I completely trust his vision and judgment and abilities. But there is no way he is as wired in the bowels of the State of Ohio as all the political hacks and business interests of Cleveland. Remember, Mike Schwartz was president of Can't State for a decade-- he has been in Ohio for most if not all his career. He has a very strong hand to play in terms of relationships and business interests. All of Akron's progress won't balance that out.Again, IMHO, the only way to balance the scales is to have Akron and Can't work together. The good news is there is HUGE upside to doing that, but at minimum it mitigates the downside risk of being subsumed into a Cleveland land grab.BTW, the lead story in the BJ should be a total call to arms about this-- the should have an in depth analysis of the potential impact to the community. They should be investigating how the Cleveland establishment is working its way to steal both NEOUCOM and the patina of UA. They should have an op-ed piece from mayor don saying he gets it now and is going to do whatever UA needs for it to fulfill its potential. It won't happen of course, but it should...

[GoZips88]

This whole thing is political BULLCRAP! Circle the wagons is right ... they are NOT going to take my University away. Instead of working on a MUCH bigger problem like how to fund K-12 without properly taxes, Strickland and his pal Fingerhut are working on something like this. I said it before and I'll say it again, if CSWho? can't stand on it's own two feet, make IT a branch of either Can't or Akron or let it die. Has Fingerhut seen what Akron looks like and has to offer these days? Don't go creating a 'make work' or 'revitalization' project and in the process wipe out what we've got here in Akron. I can't STAND these %#*@^*% politicians!

[ZachTheZip]

Fingerhut WON'T approve a merger inbetween UA and Can't. There's no way he would allow a university bigger than OSU. I've said it before: This is all a plan to ruin all the colleges other than OSU so that they get their "World-Class" university right there in Columbus where all the politicians live.I am very interested to hear what the CSU prez has to say. The problem is, Fingerhut is more willing to listen to him than Proenza due to political motives, regardless of actual facts. Let's hope that Dr. Proenza's speech opened up Fingerhut's eyes a little to what we have here.The PD is the one pushing for the CSU merger the hardest. The ABJ needs to start it's own campaign about keeping what we have here so we don't become just another Cleveland suburb. Too bad the ABJ has what seems to be a grudge against us.

[ZipAlumn]

Both Stickland and Fingerhut are politicians with roots in the Cleveland area. The political and economic powers in Cleveland completely out weigh the political clout of the Akron area. Should a merger between CSU and Akron come about it will be spearheaded by political and economic interests and Cleveland beats Akron any day of the week. The reasons that the University of Akron is stronger than Cleveland State may be valid, but will be ignored. Should this merger come about Akron will be a branch of Cleveland ..... believe it!What bothers me is that our Ohio politicians seem to be trying to reinvent the wheel. In my opinion there is no logical reason to merger CSU and the U of A, or Can't or any other public university in Ohio.

[LosAngelesZipFan]

I actually do think there is a strong case to be made that the university system in Ohio needs to be rationalized-- too many schools competing for an ever shrinking pie. Competition is a good thing, but the problem is that Akron and Can't end up competing with each other for a static pool of resources and are not able to get to the point of competing on a different level that would bring in resources from outside NEO. Akron and Can't are the epitome of this-- 2 huge universities within 15 miles of each other. Really just doesn't make sense in the grand scheme of things.The reality is that mergers and combinations won't result in much savings-- a few million dollars of admin and athletic overlap I suppose. But it could result in the creation of an entity with the scale and resources to compete on a national and global level.Now, if Fingerhut and Strickland and others in government really have no interest in creating a competitor to Ohio State, than the whole exercise is meaningless. The point of the whole exercise should be to create real competition for Ohio State. The state is best served to have top tier state universities aligned with the major population centers-- Cowlumbus, Cincinnati, and NEO.

[blueandgold]

I actually do think there is a strong case to be made that the university system in Ohio needs to be rationalized-- too many schools competing for an ever shrinking pie. Competition is a good thing, but the problem is that Akron and Can't end up competing with each other for a static pool of resources and are not able to get to the point of competing on a different level that would bring in resources from outside NEO. Akron and Can't are the epitome of this-- 2 huge universities within 15 miles of each other. Really just doesn't make sense in the grand scheme of things.The reality is that mergers and combinations won't result in much savings-- a few million dollars of admin and athletic overlap I suppose. But it could result in the creation of an entity with the scale and resources to compete on a national and global level.Now, if Fingerhut and Strickland and others in government really have no interest in creating a competitor to Ohio State, than the whole exercise is meaningless. The point of the whole exercise should be to create real competition for Ohio State. The state is best served to have top tier state universities aligned with the major population centers-- Cowlumbus, Cincinnati, and NEO.

All of this is making me sick. In terms of us having two large Universities within 15 miles, I don't see why we can't make it work. What's the problem? It's been this way for many many years. I say, take a look at the state of North Carolina. How do they do it? They have Duke, NC and NC State all very close to each other and they are thriving. All of them have great sports programs as well. Also, you could throw in Wake Forsest. They are maybe 45 minutes away from the other three Universities. I'm tired of hearing about all this political makework crap.