The University of Akron: A Legacy of Academics, Athletics, and Transformation
The University of Akron (UA), a public research university in Akron, Ohio, boasts a rich history that spans over a century and a half. From its humble beginnings as Buchtel College in 1870 to its current status as a comprehensive university with a wide array of academic programs and a vibrant athletic tradition, UA has evolved significantly, mirroring the growth and transformation of the city it calls home.
Founding and Early Years: Buchtel College (1870-1913)
The institution now known as The University of Akron was founded as Buchtel College in 1870 by the Ohio Universalist Convention. This initiative was strongly influenced by the efforts, energy, and financial support of Akronites, particularly industrialist John R. Buchtel.
In 1867, at the annual convention of the Universalist Church of the state of Ohio, the Committee on Education expressed an interest in founding a college compatible with Universalist religious principles. It was announced that the location would be given to those who could find an appropriate location and also supply $60,000 for the college. John R. Buchtel, a prominent Akron businessman and Universalist, promptly contributed $25,000 to the endowment fund and $6,000 to the building fund. This led other Akronites to donate, setting the goal and securing Akron as the location for Buchtel College, named after its greatest supporter. John R. Buchtel continued to be the college's most significant contributor, giving $500,000 over his lifetime, approximately equivalent to $16 million today.
Tragedy struck the small college on December 20, 1899, when Old Buchtel burned to the ground. Insurance only covered $65,000 of the estimated $100,000 in loss. While new campus buildings were being constructed, the Crouse Gymnasium was divided into seven classrooms and served as the college until a new Buchtel Hall was opened in 1901.
In 1907, the college shed its Universalist affiliation and became a non-denominational institution, in order to be able to receive funds from the Carnegie Foundation, which would not give funds to religiously affiliated schools.
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Municipal University of Akron (1913-1966)
In 1913, Buchtel College trustees transferred the institution and its assets to the city of Akron, and Buchtel College became the Municipal University of Akron. At this time, the enrollment was 198 students. For the next 50 years, the municipal University of Akron, assisted by city tax funds, brought college education within the reach of many more young people. The University’s growth paralleled the remarkable expansion of Akron. Tax money levied for the school and Akron's growing population led to strong growth for the university.
The University of Akron: A State University (1967-Present)
In 1963, Governor Jim Rhodes approved the university as a state-assisted institution. Enrollment in 1964 was 10,000 students. In 1967, it fully became a state university, providing its current name as The University of Akron. A long era of expansion followed World War II. Overseeing much of this growth was the University’s 10th president, Dr. Norman P. Auburn.
During the tenure (1999-2014) of its 15th president, Luis M. Proenza, the University of Akron underwent a $627 million construction project, called "A New Landscape for Learning." The campus enhancement program resulted in 22 new buildings, 18 major additions, acquisitions and renovations, and 34 acres of new green space added to the 218-acre campus. A new football stadium, InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field, was also constructed on campus. The university purchased the Quaker Square Crowne Plaza Hotel and shopping complex and uses it as a residence hall space.
Today, The University of Akron offers 200+ in-demand associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate and law degree programs - with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. The University of Akron offers about 200 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate majors and has an enrollment of approximately 15,000 students.
In 2015, the university eliminated over 200 positions as the result of a $6 million budget deficit. The university's chapter of the American Association of University Professors had advocated the university also consider cuts to athletics and leave NCAA Division I, which had lost $215 million during that decade, but the university said it would cut only $4.4 million from athletics. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported in August 2022 that thirty-six of the professors who had been fired were hired back by the university, but as adjuncts, with a similar workload and lower pay--in one case, at $18,000 a year, one-third of their former salary.
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In 2021, the Board of Trustees extended President Miller's contract, praising him for "consistent and decisive leadership".
Academics and Research
The University of Akron offers a diverse range of academic programs, with particular strengths in polymer science and engineering. The university's School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering is housed in a 12-story reflective glass building near downtown Akron on the western edge of the main campus. In 1909, the world's first courses in rubber chemistry were offered at the university. The tire and rubber industry and the University of Akron have an overlapping history. Historically, several rubber corporations, such as Goodyear, Firestone, General Tire and Rubber Company, and Goodrich, had their headquarters in Akron.
The University of Akron offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees, ranging from certificate to doctoral programs. Bierce Library is the main campus library, named for Lucius V. E. J. The university offers about 200 undergraduate majors. The University of Akron Honors College students earn degrees from any of the four-year accredited colleges in the university while receiving special advisement and having the opportunity to live in the Honors Complex, a resident hall exclusively for honors students. The university announced on February 3, 2016, that the college was renamed in honor of Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S.
The University of Akron currently offers more than 105 graduate degrees to approximately 2,000 graduate students. The graduate schools at the University of Akron variously offer the Master's degree, PhD, J.D., and LL.M., among others. The Cleveland Clinic and University of Akron have formed the Integrated Bioscience Fellowship in Biomedicine. Fellowships will allow students to conduct cutting-edge research at the University of Akron and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute while pursuing a PhD in Integrated Bioscience. The University of Akron School of Law was founded in 1921 as Akron Law School and became affiliated with the university in 1959, becoming fully accredited by the American Bar Association in 1961. It has both day and evening full-time and part-time programs that lead to the J.D. and LL.M. The University of Akron School of Law is also one of only 22 institutions in America to offer the LL.M.
The Goodyear Polymer Center is a 146,000-square foot research facility, located at the university. Built in 1991, the center comprises two 12-story and nine-story towers connected by glass-enclosed walkways that serve as areas for informal interaction. The Goodyear Polymer Center houses both the Department of Polymer Science and the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. The building houses classrooms, approximately 60 labs, 20 faculty offices, and 25 offices with 200 modules arranged in clusters for students and researchers. It contains the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center, the Paul J.
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The university has three branch campuses: Wayne College in Orrville, Ohio; the Medina County University Center, in Lafayette Township, Ohio; and UA Lakewood, in the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, Ohio.
Student Life: Greek Life
The University of Akron has more than twenty fraternities and sororities. The Ohio Epsilon chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, founded in 1875, is the oldest continuous Greek-letter organization on campus. The Lone Star Fraternity claimed to be the oldest local fraternity in the United States, founded in 1882 with only one chapter. The Beta Tau chapter of Alpha Delta Pi was founded on the University of Akron's campus as "Sigma Delta Theta" in 1920 and at the time it was the oldest local sorority on campus. Phi Kappa Tau was originally founded as Sigma Beta Nu in 1923. The Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics offers scholarships to men pursuing political science while being members of the organization.
Athletics: The Akron Zips
The University of Akron's storied athletics history dates back nearly 130 years. The Zips' intercollegiate athletics program includes basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball for women; and baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and indoor and outdoor track and field for men. The storied history of Akron athletics dates back more than 100 years. Today, UA fields 16 men's and women's varsity teams, comprised of 300+ student-athletes. We compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (the highest level of collegiate football) of NCAA Division I athletics. UA's varsity teams compete against other universities in League of Legends, Overwatch, CS:GO, Hearthstone and Rocket League. Plus, we also have 10+ plus gaming clubs and three gaming facilities.
The University of Akron's athletic teams are known as the "Zips," originally short for "Zippers," overshoes with zippers made in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925, a campus-wide contest was held to choose a nickname. After a three-way vote-one by the student body, one by the University lettermen and one by the local sports writers and faculty representatives-the winner was the "Zippers," inspired from a very popular rubber overshoe (over 500,000 sold the first year) invented by Akron’s B.F. Goodrich introduced its rubber galoshes in 1923 and it made a lasting impression on the world. The footwear featured an ingenious invention, a slide fastener with interlocking metal teeth. The product’s original suggested name was the "Mystik Boot," but the name just did not work for Goodrich President Bertram G. "What we need is an action word," he told a group of sales representatives.
The university's mascot is "Zippy," a kangaroo. The evolution of Zippy, The University of Akron’s mascot, began 54 years ago when the student council, under president Dave Frye, decided the University needed a mascot.“Zippy” the kangaroo was officially declared UA’s mascot on May 1, 1953. Dick Hansford, UA student council adviser, liked the kangaroo when Akron chose "Zippers" as its nickname. He recalled the suggestion was also inspired by a popular comic strip at the time called "Kicky, the fighting kangaroo." No one recalls who made the arrangements for the first costume, but a paper-mache head was produced along with a brown furry uniform that zipped up the back. Pete Demming debuted that first mascot uniform in 1954, at the inaugural Acme-Zip Game - not as "Zippy" but as "Mr. The first known printed reference to the mascot as “Zippy” was a 1965 Zips football press brochure. The Buchtelite's first use of the name “Zippy” came Sept. The selection of the kangaroo for a mascot brought forth the wrath of The Buchtelite and the Akron Beacon Journal as the name was chosen without the benefit of a campus-wide vote. It is difficult to imagine such dissent given that Zippy is one of the most beloved symbols of the University. In fact, during an eleven-week national mascot contest, Zippy defeated all challengers. Zippy is one of eight female college mascots in the United States.
The landscape of college athletics has shifted, and The University of Akron is poised to lead the charge. Given the landmark House v. NCAA settlement, Akron Athletics is building a culture of competitive excellence that will honor the rich history and tradition that is such an immense source of pride for Zips everywhere. The House Settlement, certified in June 2025, marks a transformative moment in college sports. By eliminating scholarship limits and providing opportunities for institutional NIL agreements, the settlement opens new doors for growth and opportunity. Akron is grateful for all the support we have received and is committed to making strategic, forward-thinking investments in the education of our students that position our programs for long-term academic and athletic success.
The creation of The Competitive Excellence Fund is the first step in ensuring we remain competitive and innovative in this evolving environment. The fund will allow us to add new scholarship, engage in institutional NIL opportunities, and support our coaches and student-athletes at the highest level. This isn’t just a moment- it’s momentum. Now is the time to make the climb and Invest in Akron! Join us in spreading the word about this exciting opportunity to support Akron Athletics. Your voice can make a powerful impact-encourage others to get involved and help championship programs. The competitive excellence fund is a new initiative launched by Akron Athletics to support student-athletes through enhanced benefits, including compensation related to their name, image, and likeness (NIL). With the approval of the House Settlement, NCAA Division I institutions are permitted to provide additional benefits to student-athletes. One of these new benefits includes NIL agreements between the university and student-athletes, where the university may license and compensate the student-athlete for the use of their name, image, and likeness. These payments will not be funded through student tuition dollars. On June 6, 2025, a federal court approved a settlement in class-action lawsuits against the NCAA and several Division I conferences challenging the previous restrictions on NIL compensation. This became the House Settlement. Key highlights include allowing institutional NIL payments to athletes (within a capped amount), introducing roster size limits for each sport, and expanding athletic scholarship opportunities across all sports. The newly created College Sports Commission will oversee the implementation of these provisions.
Contributions to the Competitive Excellence Fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The University of Akron Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, processes all donations to Akron Athletics.
The Fear the Roo Collective is a supporter-driven initiative designed to promote Akron student-athletes and enhance the overall athletics experience. By channeling private support into key areas such as training, recovery, nutrition, and facilities, the collective plays a vital role in helping our athletes thrive-on and off the field. It also creates Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, giving fans and supporters a direct way to invest in what they’re most passionate about. The Zips Athletic Club will continue to offer impactful fan engagement opportunities and exclusive access to student-athletes, coaches, and teams. The collective will continue their important work and complement the efforts of the new fund. When contributing to the Competitive Excellence Fund, you may direct your support to a specific sport. Whether you’re passionate about football, basketball, or another team, your gift can make an immediate impact where it matters most to you. Don’t forget, the Zips Athletic Club is still fundraising to fulfill other needs. If the Competitive Excellence Fund isn’t for you, we welcome your support in other department-wide or team-specific initiatives. While you may designate your gift to a specific sport, we cannot accept funds directed to a specific student-athlete. Our head coaches will determine how funds are allocated to best meet team needs and competitive priorities.
Akron facilities include InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field, the James A.
In football, Akron's major rivalry is with Kent State Golden Flashes. In soccer, the Akron Zips men's soccer team, ranked number one throughout the 2009 regular season, went undefeated, making it to the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship. The following season they secured the 2010 "College Cup" against the Louisville Cardinals.
Notable Alumni
Notable alumni include politician Ray C. Bliss, former Akron mayor and Ohio Congressman Thomas C. Sawyer, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Senior Judge Deborah L. Cook, former Republican National Committee chairman Ray C. Bliss graduated from Akron in 1935. The university's Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics is named in his honor. Congressman Shri Thanedar received his Ph.D. Former Akron Zips football players Chase Blackburn, Charlie Frye, Domenik Hixon, Dwight Smith, and Jason Taylor have each gone on to find success in the National Football League. Blackburn and Hixon were members of the 2008 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, while Smith won a Super Bowl Ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. Baseball players Chris Bassitt, Mike Birkbeck and Mark Malaska have gone on to find success in Major League Baseball. Birkbeck played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1986 to 1989 and the New York Mets in 1992 and 1995. Malaska played for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2003 and was a member of the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. Soccer players in the MLS (24) include Colorado Rapids (1): Dillon Serna (2012); Columbus Crew (2): Chad Barson (2009-12), Wil Trapp (2011-12); D.C. Track and field athlete Shawn Barber, went professional in 2015, signing with Nike, after winning the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Men's Pole Vault. Cheerleader Alexis Kaufman, known as Alexa Bliss, has held a combined total of seven championships in WWE.
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