AKRON—The University of Akron will consolidate its 11 colleges and schools into five under a plan passed by its board of trustees on May 29.
"In my 30 years in higher education, I have never been associated with a leadership team and a faculty and staff more determined, more capable, more creative and more committed to their institution than the group I have the honor of working with at Akron," President Gary L. Miller said to the board, according to an email to the college community. "This plan does not come close to satisfying everyone. We recognize that we may need to make some revisions later. And, of course, there is hard work ahead. But what you have before you today demonstrates that this university can respond and can do so quickly."
- The five new colleges and schools will be:
- The Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
- The College of Engineering and Polymer Science
- The College of Business Administration
- The College of Health Professions
- The School of Law
The official names for the colleges and schools will be finalized through a shared governance process, according to the email.
On May 28, the university announced in an email that it had hired someone to assist with its redesign efforts. Cher Hendricks will join the university for one year in that role. Hendricks has worked as a faculty member and a research scientist, most recently serving as the vice provost for academic initiatives at the University of Idaho.
Additionally on Friday, the University of Akron's board approved a sliding scale of pay cuts for nonbargaining unit staff and contract professionals hired before April 1, barring anyone with an individual employment agreement. Those cuts will apply to anyone making at least $50,000 and will be implemented from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021. UA's president and university cabinet members will take a voluntary 10 percent pay reduction, the email said. Some athletic head coaches are taking voluntary pay reductions of 20 percent.
Changes related to health insurance benefits and furloughs or reduction in force were also approved.