Top art school in 'Cadillac' of facilities
The Mary Schiller Myers School of Art at The University of Akron is one of the largest academic art facilities in the region, offering
an inspiring and comprehensive environment for aspiring artists. Housed in Folk Hall — originally a Cadillac dealership with spacious
showrooms and service bays — the facility now boasts 28 studios, a Student Projects Gallery, an auditorium, classrooms, faculty offices, and specialized resources such as the Visual Resource Center and Graphic Services Center.
At the heart of the school is the nationally recognized Emily Davis Gallery, which hosts approximately eight exhibitions annually,
featuring acclaimed artists from around the world. These exhibitions, along with lectures and workshops, are free and open to the public.
Students engage in hands-on experiences beyond the classroom through initiatives like the Art Bomb Brigade, which transforms
struggling neighborhoods with vibrant public murals, and Arts LIFT, an award-winning summer apprenticeship program for Akron high school students. Additionally, annual study abroad opportunities to destinations like Venice, Italy and New York City enrich students’ artistic perspectives.
Recognized as one of the top art schools in the nation by Newsweek, the Myers School
of Art provides expert instruction and career preparation, fostering creativity and success in the ever-evolving world of art and design.
Learn more at uakron.edu/art.
UA ROTC program — a first of its kind
The Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at The University of Akron traces its origins to the Students’ Army Training
Corps, activated in 1918. Following World War I and the flu pandemic, local leaders and University President Dr. Parke Kolbe successfully petitioned the War Department to establish an official ROTC unit. Approved in 1919, ROTC initially began as a voluntary
program before becoming mandatory for male freshmen and sophomores later that year. It was among the first Army ROTC programs in the country.
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Under early leadership, the program developed a structured four-year curriculum emphasizing military tactics, leadership and physical
fitness. Training included field fortifications, map reading and infantry tactics, with cadets first attending summer camp at Fort Knox in 1923. The program quickly became ingrained in campus life, hosting military balls and forming student groups like the Pershing Rifles.
Through wars, social change and policy shifts — including the admission of female cadets in 1970 — the ROTC program has remained a foundation of leadership development. Today, UA’s ROTC program continues its century-old tradition of producing outstanding leaders, offering scholarships and career pathways through military service, while honoring its long history of excellence and commitment to national defense.
Learn more at uakron.edu/armyrotc.