火爆社区

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�

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�

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�