Statement about the future of the UA Press and the Multicultural Center

Statement from Lawrence Burns, Vice President of Advancement—The University of Akron:

“Media reports that The University of Akron plans to close its Multicultural Center and University Press are incorrect. Neither entity will close and UA’s commitment to both diversity and the support of the humanities is resolute.

“The Multicultural Center’s operations are being consolidated with the university’s Office of Inclusion & Equity. This consolidated unit is being elevated and will report directly to the president.

“University Press operations are being transferred to UA’s Division of Libraries.

“Working in close consultation with faculty leadership – including the head of the Faculty Senate and the president of the AAUP-Akron chapter – there was an in-depth and comprehensive nine-month review of university finances that led up to the development of the University’s budget. Unfortunately, position eliminations were a necessary part of the budget-balancing work to strengthen UA’s financial health. As part of that process, it was determined that there would be no faculty layoffs to ensure the academic mission of the University was protected.”