July 30, 20159 yr ^ A VP for Advancement is typically in charge of fundraising, so a pretty important position still. They have a Development department and duly noted the Associate VP of Development just retired. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/ua-posts-list-of-jobs-abolished-remains-quiet-about-plans-to-adapt-1.611961
July 30, 20159 yr A friend of mine works in that field and I always thought they were the same thing. So what's the difference between the two departments at Akron?
July 30, 20159 yr ^ A VP for Advancement is typically in charge of fundraising, so a pretty important position still. They have a Development department and duly noted the Associate VP of Development just retired. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/ua-posts-list-of-jobs-abolished-remains-quiet-about-plans-to-adapt-1.611961 All told, that breakdown of the cuts looks fairly reasonable to me. Obviously no one's list for what they'd have cut to balance the budget will be 100% identical, but he preserved the academic departments and that's actually a reasonable list of administrative-level positions that were convinced to resign or retire.
July 30, 20159 yr ^ A VP for Advancement is typically in charge of fundraising, so a pretty important position still. They have a Development department and duly noted the Associate VP of Development just retired. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/ua-posts-list-of-jobs-abolished-remains-quiet-about-plans-to-adapt-1.611961 The Development Department is part of the Advnacement Division. The VP for Advancement oversees Development, as well as Enrollment (so, is basically responsible for almost all of the university's operating budget).
July 31, 20159 yr I'm actually more forgiving of Scarborough than most. You can always critique the PR strategy whenever someone has to break bad news, but there are simply limits to how much you can soften the blow of 220+ lost jobs and slashed programs in arts, publishing, and internationalism. Though perhaps I benefit by simply having low expectations set early: I saw him speak at the Akron Roundtable very shortly after he took the job, and again at InfoCision Stadium not long after, and it was pretty clear that he was a numbers guy brought in to make the numbers align, not a people person or a visionary brought in to give us Proenza Round 2. I of course have my criticisms of Scarborough and the system, but some of those are perhaps beyond even the power of a university president to influence. I note that the Vice President for Advancement announced that the multicultural center would now be part of the Office for Inclusive Excellence, and my first thought was "OK, what exactly does a Vice President for Advancement do, what does the Office for Inclusive Excellence do, and why were they more worth preserving than EJ Thomas programming?" (That office is led by the Chief Diversity Officer, and I similarly question how that became a C-suite position, even though I know that Title IX and other federal education regulations and regulators obviously push schools in the direction of such administrative bloat.) You're too kind, Gramarye. While I blame the Board of Trustees for hiring Scarborough in the first place, his past history warranted far more scrutiny by the search committee than what it seems he actually received while being vetted for the job, even if his role was to "right the ship" so to speak. On top of this, he had never served as president of a public university before. It shows, and then some. Stinks to high heaven, even.
July 31, 20159 yr My big problem with Scarborough is the wholesale damage he is doing to the operational fabric of UA by how he is handling the situation. People aren't just number signs on some big Excel budget sheet you can indescriminately delete to get out of the red parenthesis. I mean, I guess they are to some folks like him, but then there is a reason why you don't allow people like that anywhere near the levers of power. In any case, the people being summarily fired and dismissed now are the ones with all of the knowledge of how to run the damned place. Some of these jobs aren't just things you can toss to freshman student aides and expect that they will be done properly, if at all. Scarborough is just hacking off pieces of UA on the operating table as if he can sew the whole thing up and set it back on its feet. In the end, they'll say of his operation that it was a "success" but the patient died.
July 31, 20159 yr ^ A VP for Advancement is typically in charge of fundraising, so a pretty important position still. They have a Development department and duly noted the Associate VP of Development just retired. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/ua-posts-list-of-jobs-abolished-remains-quiet-about-plans-to-adapt-1.611961 The Development Department is part of the Advnacement Division. The VP for Advancement oversees Development, as well as Enrollment (so, is basically responsible for almost all of the university's operating budget). Gotcha, thanks.
August 6, 20159 yr "@sockertime: Just dawned on me. Renovating Akron University president's house cost $300,000 more than it cost to run baseball program that was eliminated" "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 6, 20159 yr "@sockertime: Just dawned on me. Renovating Akron University president's house cost $300,000 more than it cost to run baseball program that was eliminated" Akron just sent me a request for money. Now I know why.
August 6, 20159 yr Akron just sent me a request for money. Now I know why. I'm trying to think of how I'd feel if I were an alumnus in that situation. Would I feel more inclined to give because of the current situation? Or would I be pissed off and refuse to give anything until there was a change in the administration?
August 6, 20159 yr Akron just sent me a request for money. Now I know why. I'm trying to think of how I'd feel if I were an alumnus in that situation. Would I feel more inclined to give because of the current situation? Or would I be pissed off and refuse to give anything until there was a change in the administration? Oh this is an easy choice for me. The U has shown no ability to manage itself in a responsible way. This $300,000 expenditure for President A-hole's stupid house is a prime example. Instead I'll give my support more directly to athletic programs. And if I had kids I'd send them to Kent. You probably have no idea just how much it sickens me to say that.
August 6, 20159 yr Akron just sent me a request for money. Now I know why. I'm trying to think of how I'd feel if I were an alumnus in that situation. Would I feel more inclined to give because of the current situation? Or would I be pissed off and refuse to give anything until there was a change in the administration? Oh this is an easy choice for me. The U has shown no ability to manage itself in a responsible way. This $300,000 expenditure for President A-hole's stupid house is a prime example. Instead I'll give my support more directly to athletic programs. And if I had kids I'd send them to Kent. You probably have no idea just how much it sickens me to say that. ROFL I take it that means you don't have kids now. If you had a kid starting tomorrow, then 18 years and 9 months from now, you might be sending your kids to one university that was previously both Akron and Kent. Or to something completely different. Akron may be emblematic of more than just one university's struggles; the entire higher education market is somewhat ripe for a shakeup. Of course, my kid's going to OSU. Though I guess he could settle for Stanford, and I'll still love him anyway. 8-) P.S. The university president's house renovations didn't cost $300,000; they cost $950,000.
August 6, 20159 yr ^ Kent? What about CSU?? I like CSU and I'm glad they're here, but it's just my opinion that it doesn't quite provide a great, well-rounded college experience.....yet. (ducking for cover)
August 6, 20159 yr If you had a kid starting tomorrow Gramarye, are you trying to give me a heart attack!
August 18, 20159 yr UA to close last remaining stores inside Quaker Square, General Store and NewsStand Comics amid budget cuts By Betty Lin-Fisher Beacon Journal business writer Published: August 18, 2015 - 02:06 PM | Updated: August 18, 2015 - 03:19 PM The last original retail store in the former Quaker Square hotel is closing. The Quaker Square General Store and NewsStand Comics is currently operating a going-out-of-business sale, marking all items 25 percent off. The last day will be Sept. 18, said Kris Duey, the lone employee left at the store. http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ua-to-close-last-remaining-stores-inside-quaker-square-general-store-and-newsstand-comics-amid-budget-cuts-1.617164
August 18, 20159 yr UA to close last remaining stores inside Quaker Square, General Store and NewsStand Comics By Betty Lin-Fisher Beacon Journal business writer Published: August 18, 2015 - 02:06 PM | Updated: August 18, 2015 - 03:37 PM http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ua-to-close-last-remaining-stores-inside-quaker-square-general-store-and-newsstand-comics-1.617164
August 18, 20159 yr UA to close last remaining stores inside Quaker Square, General Store and NewsStand Comics amid budget cuts By Betty Lin-Fisher Beacon Journal business writer Published: August 18, 2015 - 02:06 PM | Updated: August 18, 2015 - 03:19 PM The last original retail store in the former Quaker Square hotel is closing. The Quaker Square General Store and NewsStand Comics is currently operating a going-out-of-business sale, marking all items 25 percent off. The last day will be Sept. 18, said Kris Duey, the lone employee left at the store. http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ua-to-close-last-remaining-stores-inside-quaker-square-general-store-and-newsstand-comics-amid-budget-cuts-1.617164 So U of A can't manage something. What a surprise!
August 18, 20159 yr Well, the writing has been on the wall for those places for years. I honestly can't believe they lasted as long as they did.
August 18, 20159 yr Well, the writing has been on the wall for those places for years. I honestly can't believe they lasted as long as they did. I'm fairly sure Quaker Square Mall was before your time, but once upon a time that place was amazing.
August 18, 20159 yr Perhaps so, but I still moved in here in 2009 and that place was already dead. And it's been six years since then. It's pretty clear by now that the past isn't coming back there for a long while yet.
August 18, 20159 yr Perhaps so, but I still moved in here in 2009 and that place was already dead. And it's been six years since then. It's pretty clear by now that the past isn't coming back there for a long while yet. You're way too late. I'm talking early 90's.
August 19, 20159 yr I was just going to say, at one point in time (must have been the 90s that I remember), Quaker Square was truly amazing. I loved going there as a child, even as a Clevelander who only got to go there on rare occasions.
August 19, 20159 yr Fair enough. But in terms of this particular budget cut, that far too long ago to make any difference--it's obviously not just a temporary downturn at this point and I haven't heard any convincing plans that would bring it back from dead-mall-walking status. It is not central to the university's academic mission, is clearly losing money and has for years, and any shops in there that are actually viable will be able to find better storefronts very quickly.
August 23, 20159 yr Fair enough. But in terms of this particular budget cut, that far too long ago to make any difference--it's obviously not just a temporary downturn at this point and I haven't heard any convincing plans that would bring it back from dead-mall-walking status. It is not central to the university's academic mission, is clearly losing money and has for years, and any shops in there that are actually viable will be able to find better storefronts very quickly. You're absolutely right, at least for me I'm just being nostalgic for what it once was. There's no point in UA maintaining it, though I do wish there might be a way for someone to find a creative use for the buildings in the future.
August 24, 20159 yr though I do wish there might be a way for someone to find a creative use for the buildings in the future. My exact sentiments re: the streetfront portions of the Main St. Deadzone aka Polsky Building.
September 9, 20159 yr University of Akron School of Law receives $2 million gift for building renovations September 08, 2015 By Jeremy Nobile The home of the University of Akron School of Law, the C. Blake McDowell Law Center, is set for a total renovation this winter thanks to a $2 million gift from the family of the school’s namesake. The university announced Tuesday, Sept. 8, that the funds donated by the late Beatrice Knapp McDowell will help create a modern moot court room (which offers a simulated courtroom experience for students), a jury deliberation room, two interactive lecture halls and improvements to student collaboration and study areas. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150908/NEWS/150909848/university-of-akron-school-of-law-receives-2-million-gift-for
November 18, 20159 yr University of Akron seeking $92 million from state for capital projects By Rick Armon Beacon Journal staff writer The University of Akron has a big financial wish list. The school is seeking more than $32 million from the state over the next two years to pay for capital projects on campus. The list, submitted to the state last week as part of the biennial capital planning process, includes another $60 million worth of projects that the school would like funded from 2018 to 2022. http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/university-of-akron-seeking-92-million-from-state-for-capital-projects-1.641290#
December 4, 20159 yr The Razing at University of Akron Must Stop: Guest Editorial https://t.co/Det1aVPxWc https://t.co/9JrJxEKnTF "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 8, 20159 yr The Razing at University of Akron Must Stop: Guest Editorial https://t.co/Det1aVPxWc https://t.co/9JrJxEKnTF I've seen some people upset about this. There has been general conversation about other Cleveland church's as well. The problem is that church's are very hard to re purpose. The spaces are not functional or conducive to renovation and heating and cooling is a money pit. Who is going to pay to maintain and secure a building with no use?
December 8, 20159 yr Alumni offices and gathering place (take that CWRU), multi function space, student activities office and student lounge, library, theater project, university archives, polymer laboratories.... Little imagination results in little opportunity.
December 9, 20159 yr Working in higher ed now, you learn a LOT of things. Some of those ideas to use that space are good in theory, but not always in practice.
December 9, 20159 yr Alumni offices and gathering place (take that CWRU), multi function space, student activities office and student lounge, library, theater project, university archives, polymer laboratories.... Little imagination results in little opportunity. They just built new Alumni & Dev elopement offices in the stadium. While you may have a good "imagination", as I stated, churches do not work well with adaptive reuse as they are very inefficient spaces for much else besides a church. Secondly, maybe you have not seen, but the U of A is in the midst of a $60 million shortfall. Renovating a church is probably the last of their concerns.
March 31, 20169 yr Things are not looking good for "Ohio's Polytechnic University." So far, they are down 33% in enrollment deposits compared to this point last year. Whereas numbers at both Kent St and Cleveland State are up University of Akron turmoil hurting enrollment By Karen Farkas, cleveland.com on March 31, 2016 at 9:16 AM, updated March 31, 2016 at 9:59 AM AKRON, Ohio - The number of students who say they plan to attend the University of Akron this fall has dropped by a third, following a year of turmoil over issues including layoffs, rebranding and President Scott Scarborough's leadership. Faculty took an overwhelming vote of no confidence this year, and protestors upset at Scarborough's actions gather outside the board room at every trustee meeting. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/03/university_of_akron_turmoil_af.html
March 31, 20169 yr Things are not looking good for "Ohio's Polytechnic University." So far, they are down 33% in enrollment deposits compared to this point last year. Whereas numbers at both Kent St and Cleveland State are up University of Akron turmoil hurting enrollment By Karen Farkas, cleveland.com on March 31, 2016 at 9:16 AM, updated March 31, 2016 at 9:59 AM AKRON, Ohio - The number of students who say they plan to attend the University of Akron this fall has dropped by a third, following a year of turmoil over issues including layoffs, rebranding and President Scott Scarborough's leadership. Faculty took an overwhelming vote of no confidence this year, and protestors upset at Scarborough's actions gather outside the board room at every trustee meeting. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/03/university_of_akron_turmoil_af.html They have to get rid of this guy asap. His arrogance and his bull in a china shop approach has been an utter PR disaster.
April 3, 20169 yr The Razing at University of Akron Must Stop: Guest Editorial https://t.co/Det1aVPxWc https://t.co/9JrJxEKnTF I've seen some people upset about this. There has been general conversation about other Cleveland church's as well. The problem is that church's are very hard to re purpose. The spaces are not functional or conducive to renovation and heating and cooling is a money pit. Who is going to pay to maintain and secure a building with no use? That's not true. Churches make some of the coolest adaptive reuse projects. Breweries. Climbing gyms. Innovation hubs. All of these are examples that exist within a 3 hour drive of Akron... Urban Krag in Dayton Brew Church in Pittsburgh Nottingham Spirk Inovation Center in Cleveland I could also see restaurants, hotel lobbies (build a tower w rooms adjacent), yoga studio, art studios, and other growing uses. We're going to wish we held onto these churches bc these are the types of projects that make Dayton, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh special. We all know that Cleveland is squandering a lot of its potential to be something really special.
April 3, 20169 yr I don't think the UofA is in the market to host a brew pub. Making beer is science. And an art. The University could offer brewing classes for students and have business, marketing and accounting majors operate the place. Who knows, it might even generate revenues.
April 4, 20169 yr I don't think the UofA is in the market to host a brew pub. Then why is UA in the Akron real estate market? The University of Akron, which has a storied history of razing buildings that are no longer useful to them, has plans to tear down four buildings on the Quaker Square block as well as the former St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on the corner of Fir Hill and East Market Street. http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/12/04/the-razing-at-university-of-akron-must-stop-guest-editorial
April 4, 20169 yr I don't think the UofA is in the market to host a brew pub. Then why is UA in the Akron real estate market?
May 31, 20169 yr University of Akron President Scott Scarborough resigns http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/05/university_of_akron_president_8.html#incart_m-rpt-1
June 1, 20169 yr Good riddance to him, and his olive jar too. Let's hope that UA can find a new president willing and able to work through and help fix the damage Scarborough caused, including the task of repairing all of the frayed relationships between UA's administration and the Greater Akron community.
June 1, 20169 yr Tressel's already got a university presidency to deal with at YSU, and no shortage of challenges waiting for him there, either; he just also has a significant reserve of goodwill there, too. As for Scarborough, as noted on the previous page in this thread (which goes back to 11+ months ago now), I was never Scarborough's biggest fan but also never his most dire detractor, either. When the big cuts that sort of spiked this tumult to another level were announced, a lot of them made real sense. And it was clear from the outset that he was brought in as a dry numbers guy because the board knew that Proenza's grand, inspirational vision was also getting very expensive and the "if you build it, they will come" creed was sadly not performing to Field of Dreams level. In many respects, Proenza got out at just the right time to leave someone else holding the bag; I'm open to argument that he would have handled the messaging and relationship aspect of the retrenchment better, but people are kidding themselves if they think that he could have avoided it.
June 4, 20169 yr There seems to be an emerging consensus that Proenza did some good for UA, particularly in terms of expanding campus and boosting enrollment while elevating UA's status beyond that of an overglorified commuter college. However, his shortcomings, particularly the construction and associated costs of InfoCision stadium without a viable means of paying them off, among other debts incurred, now cast a rather dark shadow over his achievements and legacy as UA President. Maybe Scarborough was hired to address these issues, but if he was actually brought in to be the hatchet man, he clearly couldn't even do the job like one. As he takes his golden parachute into a faculty position in CBA (because he is now so radioactive that no other university in its right mind wants anything to do with him), UA's money issues still remain unaddressed. Plus, he has so managed to damage UA's image and brand that its competitors have dramatically stepped up their efforts to fill the gaps that its decline have created. In particular, Stark State's creation of an Akron campus is very telling in terms of just how far UA has fallen in its ability to appeal to and serve the needs of area students under Scarborough's watch. Have no doubt that Kent is also closely watching and waiting to make its own big move as well. There could even come a time when the University of Akron has to surrender its independence and identity, and relegate itself to merely being a branch campus of KSU. I'd hate to see things happen that way, but it's increasingly possible now if UA is unable to recover.
June 5, 20169 yr There could even come a time when the University of Akron has to surrender its independence and identity, and relegate itself to merely being a branch campus of KSU. I'd hate to see things happen that way, but it's increasingly possible now if UA is unable to recover. I think a merger of the two as equals would be the better way to go about handling what I think is actually inevitable by 2030. FWIW, Akron's endowment is double that of Kent State's.
June 5, 20169 yr Cartwright was investigating this back in the 80s. I'd be happy disbanding the board of regents of Akron and just sharing Kent's. Call it an affiliation.
June 5, 20169 yr And then build a commuter rail line between them using the railroad right of way owned by Akron Metro RTA. Bingo -- a combined, united university! :) "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
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