Appreciation, encouragement & unity

11/14/2016

Matthew J. Wilson

President Matthew J. Wilson

Dear Student,

With the Thanksgiving holiday next week and the end of the semester rapidly approaching, I want to share this note of appreciation, important statement of encouragement and unity, and several reminders.

Note of Appreciation

During this season of gratitude, we thank you for selecting The University of Akron for your education. Speaking on behalf of the faculty, staff, contract professionals, and administration, I can truly say we appreciate you and your contributions to the UA family. As we constantly strive to meet your needs and expectations, we look forward to continuing to assist you. Please let us know how we can improve.   

On a personal note, I want to express my gratitude for your support and our relationship. I appreciate the interaction around campus, your invitations, and the opportunity to assist you. Please know that your quest for learning, desire to succeed, as well as the sacrifices you make on a daily basis to obtain your degree(s) truly inspire me. In fact, I know that your efforts give meaning to the lives of everyone who works here at The University of Akron.  

Encouragement & Unity

In this time of transition in the leadership of our country, I want to encourage everyone to unify around the mission and core values of The University of Akron. At UA, we strongly value inclusion, diversity, mutual respect, equal opportunity, intellectual liberty, free speech, fearless inquiry, and safety from violence. As a nation, we are currently witnessing a lack of unity fueled by the contention that fills the airwaves and social media, permeates our discourse, and threatens civility. This contention has caused alarm and concern for many.

As members of our University family, we can help build bridges, promote peace of heart, and unify our nation. I invite you to use this moment to reaffirm our values of respect and inclusion. Avoid criticism, refrain from name calling, and rise above the rancor. Serve others. Take the higher road to common ground. Together, let’s take the lead in setting a positive example of unity, mutual respect, and support for one another. We can overcome our concerns and fears. We should respect the dignity of all persons. We need to strive to become peacemakers and find ways to make a positive difference in our areas of influence.

Please join me in committing to the greater good and endeavoring to improve our campus, our society, and our world. It is my belief that we can be strengthened if we engage in civil discourse, respectful listening, and empathy for diverse views. History has shown us that such positive engagement will lead to greater promise for our country, and help overcome the worries or challenges associated with a single day or event.

Important Reminders     

Finally, it is our mission to help you succeed here at UA. With final exams on the horizon, please know that your professors stand ready to assist. There are many resources on campus to help you with classes, including tutoring, math and writing labs, study sessions, and more. If you are stressed, our Counseling Center provides free and confidential personal counseling. Please take advantage of these resources.  

Also, if you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to use the Thanksgiving break to register for spring courses. If you have any questions about registration, please contact your academic advisor. Spring semester courses start on Jan. 17.

Thank you again for being a valuable member of The University of Akron family. Good luck as you head into finals, and I look forward to seeing you on campus.

Sincerely,

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Matthew J. Wilson