Merit pages

Media tool celebrates, publicizes student success

To demonstrate the power of The Akron Experience, The University of Akron will begin using Merit pages from readMedia to publicize student achievements both in and out of the classroom. Students will receive recognition when they are named to an academic or leadership position, join a team, volunteer in the community, study abroad, make the dean’s list, earn a scholarship, and many more. This allows students to get credit for their achievements and activities, and creates an online profile - a Merit page - that they can use for jobs, internships, and references after graduation. Students can also share their accolades with their friends and family to generate more interest and involvement in the opportunities UA offers.

See UA's Merit page for a collection of student success stories.

How does it work?

Participating departments and organizations provide Institutional Marketing with a brief story about the item they would like to recognize students for, along with a list of students who have earned the accomplishment. IM will then create personalized stories about these student accomplishments and award a badge (similar to Foursquare badges), which are published on each student’s profile on Merit. Stories are also sent to each student’s hometown newspaper for publication.

How is Merit important for students?

• Merit helps people who make decisions about internships, grad school, and jobs find the "good stuff" about students, and recognizes their accomplishments with official college "badges" that show that they're authentic.
• A Merit page creates a positive online identity for post-graduation success. Many companies now research applicants online, and some have rejected applicants based on what they found there. A student's Merit page is a way for them to shine online.
•  Students who are featured are informed of the announcement through their University e-mail address and encouraged to share their accomplishments with family and friends through social media channels such as Facebook. This reinforces the positive accomplishment
  and reflects positively on the institution as a whole.

Enhancing The Akron Experience

Students’ Merit pages show how The Akron Experience prepares students for a career, and makes them valuable members of society and more attractive to employers. The profiles connect what students do in the classroom to the exceptional career-building opportunities students gain at UA.

How students can claim their profiles

1. Go to uakron.meritpages.com and search for your name.
2. Next to your name, find the option to claim your profile.
3. Enter your UA email address and submit the form. Merit will send you a confirmation email.
4. Claim your Merit page by clicking on the “connect with Facebook” button in the email you receive.

Follow the Facebook prompts for logging in and connecting to your Facebook account. By doing this, you’ve claimed your Merit page.

Students, how to opt out

To opt out of the program, simply reply to the email you receive from Merit and ask to be removed. Or, email your request to achievement@uakron.edu. You will be given instructions on how to opt out of future stories.