Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Parent Questions

Why can’t I go to my student’s advising appointment?

In 1974, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) was passed into United States law. FERPA passes the right to privacy onto students when they reach the age of eighteen or attend an institution beyond the high school level. This right to privacy means that you are not permitted into your student’s academic advising appointment today at Orientation, even though you may be helping to pay for school. Don’t worry. Because UA’s course registration is completed online, you will have a chance to see your student’s schedule and to talk about the courses that he or she will be taking during the upcoming semester! If a change needs to be made to your student’s schedule, the change can be made online with the permission of your student’s academic adviser.

Why is Orientation mandatory?

It takes a great deal of hard work, persistence and determination to be successful in college. Students need information about academics, registration, housing/commuting, campus life, financial aid and student services, all of which will be covered at Orientation today! Orientation provides students with all of the tools that they need to be successful at The University of Akron.

How safe is UA’s campus?

The University of Akron has taken many steps to ensure the safety of its students. We have our own campus police department, along with the City of Akron’s police department patrolling our campus. Emergency phones that have a 2-minute response time in case trouble arises are placed in strategic areas all across campus. Despite the many safety precautions in place, however, students need to be smart when they are on campus, especially after dark and in more secluded areas of campus. Students are cautioned to walk in groups. If students need to be on campus alone, they can call UA’s police department for a campus escort to walk them to their cars or residence hall rooms. The Campus Escort service is available until midnight every night. Students should use caution at all times, just as they would in any city at night.

Can my student earn a degree in four years?

Earning your degree in four years depends on many factors.  Most degrees at The University of Akron require 128 hours of coursework.  This can be completed in four years if you complete 16 hours a semester. 

However, depending on the program there may be additional requirements that coincide with your students coursework.  For example, students seeking specific engineering degrees must complete a yearlong multi-semester Co-Op internship experience in addition to 128 hours of coursework.  These specific degrees are designed for students to graduate in five years.

Another factor that plays a role in a students graduating pace is how much developmental coursework is needed.  Developmental courses are designed for students to develop the skills they need for general college level classes.  These additional classes are then added to the total number of credit hours required.

Moreover, many students have outside obligations that can limit the number of credit hours attempted in one semester.  Students that work and volunteer either full-time or part-time, as well as go to school, may not be able to handle 16 credit hours every semester.  If a student is not on pace to graduate in four years, summer courses are available and serve as a great way to catch up on coursework.

Which is better – living on campus or commuting?

Residence Hall life and commuting both have positive aspects. Living in a residence hall provides students with a sense of independence and personal responsibility, even though they have a strong community around them! Living in the halls is a great way to meet new people and to become immersed in the college social life. On the other hand, commuting gives students a great opportunity to save money, to focus on their school work (and probably still get their laundry done!), while adjusting to the many challenges of college life and academics. UA has great commuter services located in Commuter Central on the first floor of the Student Union to make sure that our non-residential students get to meet new people and to become immersed in the college community, too! Both options are great – it depends on what experiences your student is looking for when coming to college.

Does my student need a car on campus?

Unlike some schools, UA’s freshmen are allowed to park on campus. Each students taking more than five credit hours per semester is charged a $115 Transportantion Fee that covers the cost of a parking permit and use of the Roo Express Campus Shuttle Service. Having a car on campus has its positives and negatives. On the plus side, having a car on campus allows students to go home on the weekends, explore the city and surrounding areas, and go to nearby shopping areas when necessary. On the negative side, with so many commuters and staff who have to park on campus every day, parking can become a bit tense at times, especially in the lots right next to the residence halls. Also, everything your student would need is readily available on campus. If you’re unsure about whether or not to let your student bring a car, give both options a try! A semester is only four months long, which is just enough time to decide if your student’s having a car on campus is worthwhile.

How can I get money to my student?

The easiest way to give your student money (and to know what it’s being used for!) is to put it on his or her Zip Card. Your student’s Zip Card can be used like a debit card anywhere that they are accepted, including locations such as Sheetz, Dave’s Supermarket, on-campus eateries, campus fast food restaurants and pizza places, Spaghetti Warehouse, UA’s Barnes and Noble Bookstores, CVS Pharmacy, and Health Services on campus, just to name a few! You can add money to your student’s Zip Card by going online to zipcardonline.net. The money rolls over from semester to semester, and any unused dollars are returned when your student graduates.

What is there to do around campus?

The City of Akron has a great deal to offer! The Akron Aeros play baseball in their state-of-the-art stadium downtown. Free concerts are given at Lock 3 Live all summer long. The city also has a new art museum and the Inventor’s Hall of Fame, Inventure Place. UA is also home to E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall where Broadway shows and the UA Forum Speaker Series are presented throughout the year! All locations are a short walk from campus. If the city doesn’t offer enough, there are three shopping malls within a half hour’s drive from campus: Chapel Hill Mall in Akron, Summit Mall in Fairlawn, and Belden Village Mall in North Canton. Even Cleveland is only about forty minutes away! Whatever your student is interested in, there is sure to be a spot for it close by.

Should my student bring a desktop computer or a laptop?

It’s all about preference! A student does not need to have his or her own computer to be successful at UA. We have computer labs in almost every building, and because the Student Union and the library have laptops available for check-out during their hours of operation, there are computers available all over campus! Many students, however, prefer to have their own computer. Desktop computers are a good choice because they are easy to upgrade and have a very small chance of being left behind or stolen. There is a hardwire Ethernet connection available in all residence hall rooms, along with wireless Internet, which are provided free-of-charge. Laptops, on the other hand, are very convenient, because students can take them to class to take notes on or to complete homework wherever they are on campus.

Should my student have a job?

Having a job will obviously take time away that could be spent studying; however, many students either want to work to have spending money or need to work to help pay for school. The best suggestion is an on-campus job at UA. On-campus jobs have very flexible hours because our offices recognize that their employees are always students first! There are many work study and non-work study positions available on campus. Visit Student Employment for a list of both on and off campus jobs, and be sure that your student applies early! Working is a great way to make connections in different offices on campus, and it also gives your student an opportunity to learn to manage his or her time effectively.