University of Akron

University of Akron. A public research university located in Akron, Ohio, it is part of the University System of Ohio. Founded in 1870 as Buchtel College, the institution has grown into a major urban university known for its strengths in polymer science, engineering, and business. Its athletic teams, known as the Akron Zips, compete in the Mid-American Conference.

History

The institution was founded in 1870 by the Universalist Church as Buchtel College, named for its principal benefactor John R. Buchtel. It became a municipal university in 1913, changing its name to the Municipal University of Akron, a move supported by then-mayor Frank Rockwell. A pivotal moment came in 1967 when it joined the University System of Ohio, gaining its current name and status as a state university. Under the leadership of presidents like Norman Auburn and Luis Proenza, the university expanded its research mission and physical footprint, notably constructing the Goodyear Polymer Center in the 1990s. The early 21st century saw significant campus construction under the "New Landscape for Learning" initiative, though it also faced financial challenges following the Great Recession.

Academics

The university is organized into several colleges, including the College of Engineering and Polymer Science, the College of Business, and the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences. It is internationally recognized for its College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, a legacy of Akron's history as the "Rubber Capital of the World" and home to corporations like Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Other notable programs include corrosion engineering, urban studies, and music therapy. The university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" and operates research centers like the National Polymer Innovation Center and the Center for Conflict Management. It also houses the C. Blake McDowell Law Center, which is part of the Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law's Akron program.

Campus

The 218-acre urban campus is integrated into downtown Akron, Ohio, near the Ohio & Erie Canalway. Key facilities include the Buchtel Hall, the historic Old Main building, and the modern Student Union. The campus features distinctive architecture like the A. Schulman Polymer Center and the Goodyear Polymer Center. Cultural and performance venues include the E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, which hosts performances by the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and the Akron Art Museum. The university also maintains the Field Station in Biology at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and operates InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field for its football program. Recent developments have focused on creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment connecting the campus to the city's Innovation District.

Athletics

The university's athletic teams are known as the Akron Zips, a name derived from "Zippers," a type of rubber overshoe once manufactured in the city. They compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The men's soccer program has achieved national prominence, winning the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship in 2010 under coach Caleb Porter and producing professionals like Darlington Nagbe. The football team plays at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field and has appeared in bowl games like the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Other facilities include the James A. Rhodes Arena for basketball and the Lee R. Jackson Field for track. Notable athletic figures associated with the university include basketball coach Bob Huggins and former National Football League player Jason Taylor.

Notable alumni and faculty

Prominent alumni span diverse fields, including NASA astronaut James S. Voss, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Jason Taylor, and United States Senator Sherrod Brown. In business, alumni include former Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company chairman Robert Keegan and PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta. The arts are represented by Tony Award-winning actress Christine Baranski and composer Michael Daugherty. Notable former faculty include polymer science pioneer Maurice Morton, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate Paul J. Flory, and poet Mary Oliver. The university's law program counts Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael P. Donnelly among its graduates.

Category:Universities and colleges in Ohio Category:Public universities and colleges in the United States Category:Educational institutions established in 1870