OFFICE OF INCLUSION AND EQUITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

Student organizations, resources and offices

The Multicultural Honors Society

Multicultural Honors Society is about discussing, experiencing, and promoting diversity. Whether it is community service, cultural and/or educational experiences, the Multicultural Honors Society is a group that allows students to learn about and interact with different cultures and organizations.

Student African American Sisterhood (SAAS)

The Student African American Sisterhood provides a sisterhood assembled together to enhance career opportunities to secure a brighter future through hosting programs, conducting workshops, community service, sisterhood and more.

Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB)

SAAB is a nationally established organization specifically to assist our participants to excel academically, socially, culturally, professionally, and in the community. SAAB is primarily comprised of male students who strive for academic excellence and make a commitment to plan and implement programs that benefit their community at large.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Union (LGBTU)

LGBTU is the University of Akron 's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Union. Our goal is to provide an environment in which gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students can freely assemble in order to provide mutual support and to address the campus and community on pertinent issues.

Hillel

Hillel at the University of Akron is a religious and cultural organization dedicated to creating Jewish life on campus through cultural, social, and spiritual events.

Indian Students Association (Drishti)

The purpose of the Indian Students Association is to foster, facilitate cultural exchange and strengthen international understanding at The University of Akron.

Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA)

The Chinese Students and Scholars Association represents Chinese students on campus, enriches campus life of Chinese students and organizes Chinese students to help each other. 

African Student Association (ASA)

The purpose of the African Students Association is to promote unity among students, faculty and staff at The University of Akron.

Saudi Students Association

The Saudi Students Association aims to educate the larger community regarding the Saudi Kingdom, the Saudi people and Islam.

H.A.L.O. (Hispanics and Latinos Organized)

Hispanics And Latinos Organized encourages and cultivates the diverse Hispanic cultures at the University of Akron, fosters friend between Hispanics and non-Hispanic students at The University of Akron, creates language and culture literacy, promotes communicate, and maintains awareness and support of Hispanics and Spanish-speaking students and welcomes new Hispanic student and help them in adjusting to the new culture and student life.

Bangladesh Student Association

Bangladesh Student Association is the community of the Bangladeshi students studying at the University of Akron. This organization maintains the practice of Bangladeshi culture at the University of Akron. We invite people to discover, learn and explore the unique Bangladeshi culture and nature through us.

Liberation in Progress (L.I.P)

The purpose of the Liberation In Progress (L.I.P.) is to promote action and awareness of gender equity. This organization will support and address issues and concerns of women on campus.

Network of Enlightened Women (NeW)

Network of Enlightened Women is the nation's premier organization for culturally conservative women. Started as a book club at the University of Virginia in 2004, NeW cultivates a community of conservative women and expands intellectual diversity on college campuses through its focus on education. NeW members meet regularly to discuss issues relating to politics, gender and conservative principles. Furthermore, NeW has expanded to more than 20 college campuses nationwide. National website.

Taiwanese Student Association

Taiwanese Student Association promotes action and awareness of the diversity of Taiwan and to foster a supportive educational environment among all students at The University of Akron.

Iranian Students Association

The Iranian Students Association strives to educate individuals about Iran and the people of Iran, and to foster and facilitate meaningful cultural exchanges.

Tip: More information about many of these organizations can be found on RooConnect. Under category, choose religious/spiritual life.

Jewish Law Student Association

The Jewish Law Students Association is a relatively new addition to Akron Law. This organization is dedicated to being inclusive and to enriching the Akron Law experience for students of all religious backgrounds. Our organization is diverse and our members range from individuals with no religious affiliation, students from multiple faiths, as well as to Jewish students. JLSA membership and events are open to all faiths and religions as well as to the entire law school community. JLSA is dedicated to providing a wide range of social, cultural, and intellectual events that are based on important legal issues to both Jewish and secular law . Our events also focus on ethical dilemmas facing minorities. Our events are held in an intellectually stimulating and meaningful way. Our programming includes panel discussions, speakers and cultural activities.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship 

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the official collegiate campus ministry program under the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops. Its mission is to support Orthodox students on college campuses, whose members experience and witness to the Faith of Orthodox Christian Church through community life, prayer, service to others, and study of the Faith.

H2O

At H2O, we call ourselves a church for your journey. No matter where you find yourself in the journey to uncover spiritual truth, we would love to have you join us. We meet once a week for community building and Bible-study. We stress community and therefore get together throughout the week.

The U on campus

The U on Campus meets biweekly through Zoom on Tuesdays @ 7pm. We cover different topics and ultimately read a chosen chapter from the bible and discuss it further. Meetings are personable, fun, and a good way to maintain a relationship with God while in college.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

Akron InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is a group of students seeking God, community, and justice together.

InterVarsity Black Campus Ministry

In response to God's love, grace and truth, the purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is to establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities of students and faculty who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord: growing in love for God, God's Word, God's people of every ethnicity and culture, and God's purposes in the world. In keeping with this purpose, Black Campus Ministries (BCM) is committed to reaching black students and faculty at majority institutions and historically black colleges/universities nationwide, ministering to the unique needs of the community and laboring to develop extraordinary Black Christian leaders and world changers. Through our growing campus ministries, involvement in global and urban missions, through our pursuit of God in our fields of study and research, we hope to see the name of Christ spread and exalted among the these young people who will become the next leaders of our communities and beyond.

Campus Focus

Campus Focus is a collection of college students, from many different backgrounds and experiences, who have come together in the name of Jesus Christ. All are welcome, regardless of their current beliefs, gender, race, social status or lifestyle. Some come because they already know him, others because they have difficult questions, and still others because they are skeptics. Come as you are. Join us on this journey.

The Navigators

Your college years are exciting, but they can also be confusing. There are so many opportunities and directions...how do you decide? The Navigators college ministry can help you sort through all the choices of campus life and help you grow in your walk with Christ. Our desire is to know Christ and make Him known. We do this through Bible Study, hanging out and living life together, serving others, and having real conversations about who Jesus really is and what that means for us. Everyone is welcome!

RooCatholic

RooCatholic is the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at The University of Akron. Serving students since 1936, RooCatholic is open to students from all faith backgrounds. We are a group for those who wish to grow in community and learn about the Catholic faith.

Located steps from The University of Akron on the campus of the historic St. Bernard Catholic Church, we offer various avenues of faith enrichment and fellowship throughout the week with Sunday Mass, Wednesday dinner and activities, men's and women's small groups, praise and worship, bible study and other social functions.

RooCatholic takes pride in serving the community, locally and beyond. Each year, our ministry logs countless service hours at campus events, church functions and on regional service trips.

Campus CRU

Campus CRUis the club name for Campus Crusade for Christ in the United States. CRU meets weekly at Wayne College on WEDNESDAYS from 11:30 to 12:30 in Room A-135. Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational student-led Christian organization seeking to provide a spiritual environment for students to grow in their relationship with God. CRU's Values: Faith, Growth, and Fruitfulness in Jesus Christ.Crusade for Christ - Wayne College

Muslim Law Student Association 

The group welcomes and encourages Muslim and non- Muslim law students to form a community and explore legal issues facing American-Muslims and other minorities, address misconceptions about Islamic law, and the legal ramifications of non-Islamic laws for the Muslim community while exploring the law from different perspectives. Following the horrific September 11 attacks, the American-Muslim identity has been propelled to the forefront of the

American civil liberties debate as questions about age-old concepts of law – such as justice and freedom – and the Muslim identity are being discussed on a daily basis in U.S. courts, the Executive branch, and the media.

Today, nearly 7 million American-Muslims comprise our society, putting Islam as the third largest religion in the United States. However, the negative perceptions and anti-Islamic sentiments have been widely present and affecting many in our community. Unfortunately, those who are in need of legal aid as a result of racial and religious bias, lack the support group in the legal profession due to the small number of Muslim attorneys and attorneys who understand the group’s struggles.

Therefore, MLSA’s goals and dedication will involve:

  • Battling the negative perceptions of Islam as a whole through education and fostering interfaith relationships;
  • Instilling in our law students and future attorneys a greater awareness, open-mindedness, and commitment to the needs of misrepresented minorities in our society;
  • Influencing the legal community to bring out meaningful change to such groups; and
  • Encouraging and empowering American-Muslims’ involvement and integration into the U.S. legal system while forming greater diversity in the legal profession.

In battling the misconceptions and divisions within our community, we can create a community that fosters tolerance, understanding, and solidarity. We hope to achieve this through MLSA.

Organizations:

Pride in STEMM

Pride in STEMM is an organization committed to promoting awareness, education, and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community within the STEMM community so that STEMM students and professionals will all be comfortable to be themselves in all aspects.

Outlaws (formerly GSLA)

The Outlaws of Akron Law shall endeavor to foster ideals of tolerance, respect, understanding, and equality in the community regarding the legal rights and privileges of all people, primarily focusing on those individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, or intersex. The group shall provide a forum in which students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni may come together to express themselves and discuss legal issues relevant to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, as well as others under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. Everyone is welcome to join - contact our group at: outlaws@uakron.edu.

Women’s and Gender Resource Center

Location: Shrank Hall, North 58

Phone: 330-972-7008

Organizations:

  • Women in Psychology
  • Women in Business
  • Law Association for Women
  • Society of Women Engineers
  • Women in Information Technology and Security
  • Association of Women Geoscientists - Akron Chapter
  • Women’s Club Soccer
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
  • Sisterhood of African American Students
  • Rho Lambda
  • Women’s Basketball Club
  • Her Campus Akron
  • Panhellenic Council
  • Tau Beta Sigma 
  • Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority 
  • Construction Management Association of America
  • Delta Gamma Sorority 
  • Alpha Phi Sorority 
  • Delta Zeta Sorority 
  • Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority 
  • Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
  • Women’s Volleyball Team - Wayne College Club Sport
  • Women’s Volleyball Club
  • Akron Women’s Club Softball
  • Women’s Rugby Football Club
  • Bowling Club

Campus contact: Brittany Ferguson-Mike, Director, Student Life

Phone number: 330-972-6568

Email: bpf9@uakron.edu

Website

National Panhellenic Council Organizations:

  • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

  • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

  • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

  • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

  • Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

  • Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

  • Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

Office of Accessibility:

Location: Simmons Hall Room 105

Phone: 330-972-5764

Email: access@uakron.edu

Students who require accommodation will register through Student Testing and Accommodation Request System (STARS). Learn more on the Office of Accessibility site.

Notetakers

Students can become notetakers if they are in the same course as a student who requires accommodations.

Earn $100 on “all campus” Zip Card account. Explore notetaking.

The Office of Accessibility and The Counseling and Testing Center have put together a resource guide for mental health and wellness with resources on campus and off campus. This is a really helpful packet of information that is very specific to assistance that a student may need.

Counseling and Testing Center

Has currently ended face-to-face counseling, but is still continuing to take appointments for both group and individual counseling. 

Phone number to make an appointment: 330-972-7082

The Counseling and Testing Center stands in solidarity with our campus to work to eliminate racial injustice and to promote a culture of equity and inclusion. Students are encouraged to reach out to the counseling center to talk about their emotion tied to the racial injustice and other events happening in our world. 

Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Simmons Hall Room 306 

Community Support Resources

The Counseling and Testing Center provides psychological services when the University is open. The following community services are available 24/7 throughout the year.

  • Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK
  • Crisis Text Line - text START to 741-741
  • www.nowmattersnow.org
  • Rape Crisis Hotline 330-434-7273
  • Portage Path Psychiatric Emergency Services 330-762-6110
  • Portage Path Psychiatric Support Hotline 330-434-9144
  • List of community resources

Find Mental Health Resources off campus 

Download a guide for students to find out what resources are available through their insurance provider.