Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Suitcase causes bomb scare at Akron bus terminal
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
New eateries expand menu of options
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Family found dead in Ohio home
Louisville athlete commits to play for Boston College
Unusual sports bar to be sold at auction
Indians and Reds to share ballpark
Ridenour: Browns are back but nothing has changed so far
Blogs:
Pets:
It Takes All Kinds
The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader
Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
Flashes interested in another Cincinnati player
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook
Varsity Letters:
Report: Walsh baseball player commits
All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 10:38 a.m. EDT, Sep 21, 2007
University of Akron President Luis Proenza responded to a newspaper report of a possible merger between his school and Cleveland State University by saying, ''There's really nothing to talk about.''
He said said talk of merging all of Northeast Ohio's universities, including Kent State University, has been around for a long time.
''I can't tell you (that) there is a reality here or not,'' Proenza said.
He said the late Richard Shatten, who led the former Regional Economic Institute in Northeast Ohio, had floated such ideas.
''For someone like Richard Shatten to say that 10 years ago, was that a real comment? Yes. Did anything happen? No.''
The Plain Dealer reported today that people ''familiar with the discussions'' say a combination of CSU and UA ''has a real chance of happening.''
That talk apparently has grown out of discussions centered around the creation of a master plan for Ohio's higher-education system, which Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland recently dubbed the University System of Ohio.
Strickland and new Ohio higher-education chancellor, Eric Fingerhut, want more collaboration among the state's 13 public universities, with 24 branch campuses.
They want to eliminate duplication and focus on strengths to benefit students, the different institutions and the state.
Fingerhut is developing a 10-year strategic plan that sets specific goals for the state's institutions of higher learning. He is expected to make a report by the end of March.
At the same time, a group called the Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration and Innovation Study Commission has been meeting to develop ideas to improve higher education. Proenza is a commission member.
Proenza said this morning that UA officials are ''very interested in the work of the commission and the chancellor. . . . He recognizes that Northeast Ohio deserves and needs a major world-class public research university.''
Asked whether a merger of Northeast Ohio universities is a way to create that premier institution, Proenza said, ''That's one way to get there, but there would be many different ways.''
Proenza said that UA is celebrating its enrollment increase and dramatic physical changes to its campus.
''The interest and image of the university is quite simply on an upward trajectory,'' he said.
UA has the second-highest increase in enrollment among public universities statewide, according to figures released so far by individual schools.
Total combined enrollment at UA's main campus in downtown Akron and UA's Wayne College in Orrville is 24,704, up 4.9 percent from last fall.
That percentage increase is double that of many colleges in the state university system.
University of Akron President Luis Proenza responded to a newspaper report of a possible merger between his school and Cleveland State University by saying, ''There's really nothing to talk about.''
He said said talk of merging all of Northeast Ohio's universities, including Kent State University, has been around for a long time.
''I can't tell you (that) there is a reality here or not,'' Proenza said.
He said the late Richard Shatten, who led the former Regional Economic Institute in Northeast Ohio, had floated such ideas.
''For someone like Richard Shatten to say that 10 years ago, was that a real comment? Yes. Did anything happen? No.''
The Plain Dealer reported today that people ''familiar with the discussions'' say a combination of CSU and UA ''has a real chance of happening.''
That talk apparently has grown out of discussions centered around the creation of a master plan for Ohio's higher-education system, which Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland recently dubbed the University System of Ohio.
Strickland and new Ohio higher-education chancellor, Eric Fingerhut, want more collaboration among the state's 13 public universities, with 24 branch campuses.
They want to eliminate duplication and focus on strengths to benefit students, the different institutions and the state.
Fingerhut is developing a 10-year strategic plan that sets specific goals for the state's institutions of higher learning. He is expected to make a report by the end of March.
At the same time, a group called the Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration and Innovation Study Commission has been meeting to develop ideas to improve higher education. Proenza is a commission member.
Proenza said this morning that UA officials are ''very interested in the work of the commission and the chancellor. . . . He recognizes that Northeast Ohio deserves and needs a major world-class public research university.''
Asked whether a merger of Northeast Ohio universities is a way to create that premier institution, Proenza said, ''That's one way to get there, but there would be many different ways.''
Proenza said that UA is celebrating its enrollment increase and dramatic physical changes to its campus.
''The interest and image of the university is quite simply on an upward trajectory,'' he said.
UA has the second-highest increase in enrollment among public universities statewide, according to figures released so far by individual schools.
Total combined enrollment at UA's main campus in downtown Akron and UA's Wayne College in Orrville is 24,704, up 4.9 percent from last fall.
That percentage increase is double that of many colleges in the state university system.
