Remarks at Fall 2021 Convocation

The following is the prepared text of University of Akron President Gary L. Miller's remarks to the Class of 2025.

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to The University of Akron’s Fall 2021 New Roo Convocation.

Let me begin by thanking Dr. John Messina and his fantastic student affairs team for all they’ve done to prepare for this semester and ensure you have a great experience. Thank you, John.

I also want to thank Brandon Mikulski, director of learning communities and the Akron Experience, and the entire New Student Orientation team, for organizing this event and the rest of the New Roo Experience. Thank you all.

Welcome to UA

New students, on behalf of The University of Akron and our nearly 180,000 alumni around the world, I want to congratulate you on your academic achievements and welcome you to The University of Akron.

You are joining one of the most resilient and engaged research universities in America.

• A university with world-class faculty, staff and academic programs.
• A university that is committed to opportunity, partnerships and engagement.
• A university linked to one of America’s greatest legacy cities.

Every fall, we gather at Convocation to get to know each other, and to make commitments to one another about your education, this university and this community.

Our first commitment as a university is giving you, our students, the best education we possibly can.

While we may not be returning to quite the same “normal” that we envisioned earlier in the year, we’re excited to offer much of the full campus experience, including:

• In-person classes and research, internships, co-ops and other experiences;
• The return of our award-winning residence hall programs and activities;
• As well as traditional social gatherings and events, including on-campus dining, athletic events, Homecoming, concerts, guest speakers and more.

Hundreds of faculty and staff have worked all summer to prepare for your arrival — to give you the full Akron Experience, the New Roo Experience.

Our expectations

We also have expectations of you.

We expect you to get involved on campus.

Soon, you’ll hear from Undergraduate Student Government President Grace Kasunic. She’ll tell you about some of the opportunities for you to get involved.

Introduce yourself to Grace and her leadership team. They’ll help you find what you’re interested in.

We expect you to get involved in this community.

You’re attending college in a great American city. Get to know it. Become part of it.

Shortly you’ll have a chance to hear from the mayor of the city of Akron. Get to know him and his team.

We expect you to provide service.

There are many people in this community who need assistance, especially as we still deal with COVID.

You have talent. You have energy. Find a way to use that to make a difference in this community. 

We expect you to change this University in a positive way.

You came here with great ideas. Put them to use to make this University better.

Here is your first assignment.

Sometime between today and the day you graduate from The University of Akron, I want every one of you to introduce yourself to me.

I want to hear what you think, and I want to know about your experience.

Call my office and make an appointment, or reach me by email.

Connection to city, AkronArts

One of the most important features of this University is its very close connection to the city of Akron and the surrounding Summit County.

Indeed, at one time in its history, the University was owned by the city of Akron.

One of our most important opportunities and obligations is to partner with and serve this city. 

One of the exciting ways we’re doing that this fall is through our AkronArts Initiative, which you might have heard about.

We’re bringing our nationally distinctive art, music and literature programs into the public square.

For example, we’re planning to move part of our Myers School of Art to the Polsky Building in the heart of downtown Akron.

Plans are underway to transform Polsky’s 17,000-square-foot first floor into an interactive space for art displays and performances, commerce, dining and gathering.

To those of you who are artists — whether visual artists, musicians, writers or otherwise — we want to showcase your talents. We want you to enrich us and our community.

Ultimately, our goal is to become a national model for creativity and collaboration, not only in the arts, but also in business, engineering, health care, education and more.

We’re letting the world know that nothing, not even a pandemic, can suppress the spirit of our students, of this University, of this city.

Speaking of this city, it is my great honor this morning to be joined by the distinguished mayor of Akron, the Honorable Dan Horrigan.

I have asked him to greet you, welcome you to the community and share some of his thoughts about the exciting renewal that is taking place downtown.

Before I move aside and let him speak, let me say again how happy and thrilled we are to welcome you to The University of Akron — where WE ALL RISE TOGETHER.

Go Zips!