Academics
A 鈥済rowing, exciting, and really diverse institution with a tremendous vision for the future,鈥 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 鈥渃an place any engineering student that wants a co-op very easily.鈥 Other academic standouts include the 鈥渆xcellent biology and chemistry鈥 departments, nursing program, education department, and 鈥渢he only nationally accredited emergency management program in the country.鈥 Students in all programs praise UA鈥檚 strong ties to the city and county, saying that 鈥淭hese ties offer students numerous opportunities not found at many other schools.鈥 Undergrads also appreciate UA鈥檚 commitment to technology; 鈥渋t鈥檚 one of the top 鈥榳ired for wireless鈥 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 鈥榗omputer trees.鈥欌 While students once complained about all the new construction on campus, most concede that the university is making all the right moves in its 鈥渢ransition from a commuter school to a residence school.鈥
Student Body
UA is a large school where the typical student is 鈥渄own-to-earth, working class to middle class, from the Akron-Canton-Cleveland area.鈥 Otherwise, students 鈥渧ary tremendously,鈥 and have 鈥渄iverse backgrounds鈥 that often include 鈥渁verage to slightly better academic achievement in high school鈥 and a 鈥渟erious鈥 attitude about college.鈥 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 鈥渢he 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.鈥 Another common type of student, we鈥檙e told, 鈥渋s the beer-drinking sports fan. You can鈥檛 go wrong with that!鈥
Campus Life
UA is a large community that students say is divided roughly in half. One half 鈥渋s trying to survive and thrive in order to build a future. The other half is just here to have fun.鈥 The first group 鈥渓ives off campus and only gets slightly involved with student organizations or campus life.鈥 The others go 鈥渨est 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,鈥 while still others head 鈥渆ast of campus one block for the parties along 鈥榝rat row.鈥欌 All students enjoy the new 鈥渕ultimillion dollar recreation center and student union, with thirteen billiard tables and eight bowling lanes and lots more.鈥 They鈥檙e even prouder of their 2005 MAC champion men鈥檚 soccer team. Students with cars note that 鈥渢he campus is pretty close to Cleveland,鈥 which presents various opportunities for having fun 鈥渞anging from rock to theater to even partying!鈥 As one student sums up, 鈥淗ow good your life is at UA is up to you.鈥
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