UA takes additional steps to enhance academics with series of strategic investments

The University of Akron (UA) Board of Trustees is renewing the institution’s academic mission with a series of strategic investments designed to enhance its academic strength and operation.

In addition to the launch of a search for a new University president and a dean of the Honors College, UA recently hired four faculty in the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering — just the first of 32 new faculty hires expected to be announced in the coming months, including the naming of a new director of the School of Music and School of Dance, Theatre, and Arts Administration. UA will also launch dean searches this fall for the colleges of business, education, and health professions, and for a director of the School of Nursing, along with additional faculty searches in new areas of strategic investment.

Rex Ramsier

Today, Trustees continued to move forward by unanimously approving BOT Resolution 4-20-19, which implements the previously approved plan (BOT Resolution 12-17-17) to enhance the University’s administrative structure. BOT Resolution 4-20-19, which goes into effect immediately, implements the strategic division of leadership of the Office of Academic Affairs into two positions: executive vice president/chief academic officer, and executive vice president/chief administrative officer. Rex Ramsier, Ph.D., will retain the duties of the EVP/chief administrative officer.

Chand Midha

Today, the Board:

• extended the contract with EVP/Chief Administrative Officer Ramsier to June 30, 2021.
• discontinued the title of senior vice president and provost (also currently held by Ramsier) and appointed Chand Midha, Ph.D., current senior vice-provost for academic affairs and institutional analytics and executive dean of the Graduate School, as interim executive vice president/chief academic officer, effective immediately. Midha will continue to serve as executive dean of the Graduate School. Both Ramsier and Midha will remain at their current salaries.
• announced that it will engage a search firm to conduct a national search for an executive vice president/chief academic officer. That search will be performed in coordination with the presidential search and in accordance with the agreement between the University and the Akron-AAUP. Neither Midha nor Ramsier will be candidates for the permanent position.

Board of Trustees Chair Joseph M. Gingo said, “With the progress that has been made on many fronts to address the challenges we face and our presidential search well underway, we now are at a point where we can restart the process of searching for the important position of executive vice president/chief academic officer. We initiated that process about a year ago, but all constituencies agreed that it was best to put it on hold when there was a change in the University presidency. We believe that the time is now right to start to put in place the administrative framework that will best support our next president.”

“I am extremely grateful to Dr. Ramsier for performing a dual role for as long as he has. His in-depth knowledge of the University and his data-driven decision-making is invaluable, particularly in his exemplary work with the Higher Learning Commission,” stated Interim President John C. Green, Ph.D. “I am also appreciative that Dr. Midha has agreed to join us in an interim role. Dr. Midha’s extensive experience—having served as faculty, chair, dean and vice provost—will be invaluable in preparing for the executive vice president/chief academic officer search. I look forward to working with both Dr. Ramsier and Dr. Midha as we continue to advance the University.”

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu