AKRON, Ohio — The University of Akron is making some changes to its structure in efforts to soften the financial blow sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.
“As you know, all university revenue sources have been significantly diminished by the pandemic,” UA President Gary L. Miller said in a Facebook video while noting they face a potential “$70 million challenge.”
Although no official plans were detailed, President Miller offered the following highlights of what’s to come:
- Significantly reduce the athletic budgets. More information expected “in the next week or so.”
- Reorganization and staffing of UA’s operations to a five-college model: “I called for a dramatic reduction in the number of colleges in order to reduce administrative costs, match longstanding enrollment trends and build on our strengths. … I’m happy to report that our deans, working together, have developed a first approximation of a five-college model that features meeting many of these goals.”
After Miller’s message was posted on UA’s Facebook page Monday afternoon, it sparked this question from one person: “So what exactly does all this mean? Are they eliminating colleges or condensing them together ?????”
UA offered this response: "Decisions have not all been made yet. The administration will be working with University Council, Faculty Senate, and Chairs/Deans through the month of May to come up with the best set of recommendations possible for the Board of Trustees to consider at its June meeting. The majority of our degree programs will continue, each within one of the proposed five colleges. For students in discontinued degree programs - including admitted freshmen for the fall - our intent is to still have them complete their programs in a timely manner."
Last week, Kent State University announced their plans to reduce their budget by 20 percent. You can read more about those cuts HERE.
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