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See "University of Akron Comes to Lakewood," where President Luis M. Proenza is interviewed about UA's newest educational site by CoolCleveland.com during the at dedication festivities.
Director named
Suzanne Metelko is named first director of the Lakewood campus.
The University of Akron was officially welcomed to the city of Lakewood as its new University of Akron Lakewood Higher Education Center was dedicated Thursday, Sept. 22, at the historic Bailey Building, 14725 Detroit Ave.
The public joined UA, city and county dignitaries at the dedication and ribbon cutting, which was preceded by a community open house that included interactive tours of the new education center, family friendly activities, and musical performances featuring the students of Vance Music Studios of Lakewood and UA's popular Steel Drum Band.
Among those who led the dedication were UA President Dr. Luis M. Proenza, Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald and UA’s Senior Vice President, Provost and Chief Operating Officer Dr. W. Michael “Mike” Sherman.
Location offers easy access
Students will have a variety of course options at UA's newest satellite location.
UA's Board of Trustees approved the development of The University of Akron Lakewood Higher Education Center last spring. The 11,000-square-foot education facility is located at the corner of Detroit Avenue and Warren Road in the historic Bailey Building.
"I am proud and excited that the University is establishing a much-needed higher education presence in the Lakewood community. The grand opening of The University of Akron Lakewood Higher Education Center is the culmination of discussions that began about six years ago when the city approached us for assistance in focusing on alternatives to traditional economic development strategies for their community," said Proenza.
“The University looks forward to a successful partnership with the city of Lakewood and Cuyahoga County, as well as collaboration with other colleges and universities in our region to identify complementary offerings that meet Lakewood's programmatic needs,” Proenza added.
Summers underscored what the new opportunities being provided to Lakewood's 51,131 residents will bring.
New educational opportunities
"Today's workplace increasingly requires continued skill enhancement. The University of Akron's distinctive programs will provide Lakewood's citizens access to new opportunities to be even more competitive," Summers said. "We couldn't be happier to welcome UA to our great community."
Over the past two years, business, education and community leadership from the city of Lakewood met with UA leadership to discuss a UA presence in their community. As for programming, the University's demographic and economic analysis determined that the prospective Lakewood student population also would be receptive to programming focused on workforce development and continuing education. This information, coupled with the surrounding support of the business community, will offer key collaborative opportunities between the University and local businesses, such Lakewood Hospital, as the programming begins to take shape.
Since UA's Colleges of Nursing and Education have established degree partnerships with Lakewood High School and Lakewood Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic-affiliated hospital, courses in those disciplines will be offered beginning in spring 2012, according to Holly Harris Bane, UA's associate vice president for strategic engagement.
The University also has entered into preliminary conversations with other Northeast Ohio universities to explore the possibility of those universities using the site to deliver non-duplicative educational programming as well, Harris Bane said.
For more information on UA's Lakewood Higher Education Center, visit http://lakewood.uakron.edu/.
Media contacts: Laura Massie, The University of Akron, 330-972-6476 or massie1@uakron.edu, or Ian Andrews, Lakewood Alive, 216-521-0655 or ianandrews@lakewoodalive.com.