Accelerate: The Campaign for UA
Aspirational Goals of Vision 2020
Twelve distinctive aspirations provide a foundation for achieving Vision 2020 and reflect the University’s commitment to the principles of relevance (delivering tangible benefits to the campus and community), connectivity (achieving greater impact through partnerships, collaborations, and collective initiatives), and productivity, (adding value to the ecosystem with the University as an active agent of opportunity and innovation). These aspirational goals are:
- Enroll up to 40,000 students
- Increase diversity
- Increase graduation rates
- Enhance job placement
- Diversify revenue sources
- Increase annual research expenditures
- Increase private philanthropy
- Attain national recognition for The Akron Experience
- Revitalize the campus neighborhood
- Achieve recognition as a leader in academic innovation
- Attain national recognition for The Akron Model
- Benchmark achievements against national and international peer universities
- UA's strategic plan: "Vision 2020"
The Accelerate campaign was designed to do exactly what its name implies: increase activity, development, and progress at The University of Akron. The campaign fully supports the University’s new gold standard of performance, Vision 2020, which capitalizes on UA’s distinctive competencies as it approaches its sesquicentennial and underscores its commitment to fiscal integrity, academic excellence, quality assurance, and strategic investment.
For Vision 2020 to achieve its aspirational goals (see sidebar), the Accelerate campaign serves as an important tool, forming critical partnerships – with alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations – to generate funds that continue to drive the University forward.
As of March 31, 2013, more than $881 million has been raised — toward a $1 billion goal — for scholarships, endowments, buildings and programs.
Your gift to the Accelerate campaign supports Vision 2020’s five strategic Pathways to Success:
The Akron Experience: Academic and Inclusive Excellence
Fund and endow comprehensive and transformative learning experiences for each student, creating multiple opportunities for academic, professional, and personal success.
Globally Relevant and Distinctive Programs
Create a University experience that reflects a global and multicultural mindset, with international learning opportunities for students and faculty, as well as globally relevant courses across disciplines.
Interdisciplinary Clusters of Entrepreneurial Innovation
Support programs that encourage collaboration among scholars, teachers, researchers, and students, creating new opportunities for research excellence with greater relevancy to industry.
Connectivity for Economic Vitality
Invest in collaborations and partnerships that are connected to the economic health of the community, resulting in greater revenue through funded research, knowledge transfer and patent approval, public-private investments in growth, and continuously enhanced learning environments.
Campus and Community Enhancement and Engagement
Continue to improve the learning, living, intellectual, and social experiences for faculty, students, and staff through innovative public-private partnerships that strengthen the University’s position as a cultural hub and contribute to a vibrant community.
To learn more about Accelerate and how you can contribute, contact the University’s Department of Development at development@uakron.edu or 330.972.7238.