The University of Akron

Dear Colleagues and Friends of the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, As we approach the end of the fall semester, I'd like to take this opportunity to reflect on what has been an eventful year for our college and our University – a year of challenges, achievements and opportunities. In this issue of Aspire, you will see some of the ways our faculty and students exemplify the ideals of a liberal arts education: the ability to think critically and creatively, analyze problems, invent solutions and communicate effectively, all the while cultivating an appreciation for the physical sciences, social sciences, humanities, and fine arts. Numerous studies and surveys have shown that employers want graduates with the crucial skills nurtured by the arts and sciences that lead to success in a diverse and dynamic world. The past year has been challenging for much of higher education and the liberal arts in particular, as funding priorities, requirements and structures change. Our college has not been spared. We've been working hard to meet our core mission while coping with a decline in our overall budget. While daunting at times, dealing with this challenge provided us a fresh look at our goals and objectives. During the coming year, I expect that the results of our self-reflection will have a positive impact on the entire University. A primary issue for us this past year was the retirement of several of our most senior faculty – a wave brought on by a change in state rules and an aging demographic that we expect to continue for at least two years. Not only did we lose some extraordinary teachers, but we also lost some well-funded and highly productive researchers. Such losses mean, of course, that it's unlikely we will meet some of our past benchmarks this year. While we still face challenges, we have a strong foundation on which to build. Despite the budget cutbacks, we were able to hire 20 extremely talented tenure-track faculty members as well as a senior level department chair. This is our most diverse cohort in memory, as it includes five female faculty members who are underrepresented minorities. We were able to use some one-time funds to hire 16 visiting lecturers. We were also able to expand our Study Abroad initiative, doubling the number of participating students in 2012-13 from the previous year. As you read the extraordinary accounts in the following pages, I hope you will be inspired to help us in our mission of expanding, strengthening and promoting the highly valued liberal arts education that remains the heart and soul of The University of Akron. I want to thank the dedicated faculty, staff and contract professionals of the college who continue to support our students through innovative teaching, world-class research and creative activities, and thoughtful advising – all of you have had impacts, large and small, sometimes by just lending a kind ear and a bit of wisdom Wishing you all the best in this holiday season, Dr. Chand Midha Executive Dean, College of Arts and Sciences and Vice Provost, Academic Affairs

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