Graduate School - The University of Akron

Background Information 13College of NursingThe College of Nursing, housed in Mary Gladwin Hall, provides professional nursingeducat1on at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The college is approved bythe Ohio Board of Nursing, and all programs are fully accredited by the NationalLeague for Nursing. The college has a Student Affairs Office which provides academicadvising services to prospective students. The college houses a state-of-the-artLearning Resource Center, including a computer laboratory and the Center for Nursing,which is used by faculty and students for practice and research.The undergraduate nursing curriculum is a six-semester clinical sequence after completionof University and college prerequisite courses. The undergraduate programoffers the basic B.S.N. program and sequences for licensed practical nurses and registerednurses who wish to obtain the B.S.N. degree. The graduate program preparesnurses in the areas of education, administration, and/or advanced practice.Areas of specialization include child and adolescent health nursing, adult health nursing,liaison-community mental health nursing, gerontological nursing and nursinganesthesia. There is also a sequence within the graduate program for registerednurses from associate degree and diploma programs to obtain a master's degree.Students at all levels have clinical experience in a variety of settings including hospitals,clinics, rehabilitation agencies, long-term care facilities, community health agencies,mental health agencies, pediatric agencies, and home care settings.College of Polymer Science andPolymer EngineeringThe College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering offers only graduatedegrees leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in both PolymerScience and Polymer Engineering. In addition, there are elective courses in bothpolymer science and polymer engineering for undergraduate science and engineeringmajors.The facilities of the Department of Polymer Science and the Maurice MortonInstitute of Polymer Science support fundamental and applied research in polymerchemistry, physics, and many aspects of polymer behavior. There are extensive laboratoriesfor polymer synthetic chemistry and for the characterizationof macromolecules and polymer morphology. The macromolecular modeling centerprovides state-of-the-art computer modeling capabilities for research, and providesa way to introduce chemistry students in local high schools to computer modeling.A nuclear magnetic resonance laboratory is maintained with several high-resolutionmstruments supervised by a professional staff. The applied research section of TheMaurice Morton Institute of Polymer Science operates a variety of analytical andcompounding/processing laboratories to serve the needs of industry and governmentagencies for a reliable source of problem solving and data. The total value ofmajor instrumentation and equipment housed in the polymer science laboratoriesexceeds $6 million.The Department of Polymer Engineering and Institute of Polymer Engineeringmaintain a broad-based range of processing, structural, and rheological/mechanicalcharacterization facilites. Processing facilities include unique blending/compoundingfacilities w1th five twin-screw extruders, a Buss kneader, and seven internal mixersincluding flow visualization capability; seven single-screw extrusion lines for plasticsand rubber, with ultrasonic and sound waves and rotational mandrel dies, and withsingle/multiple bubble tubular film and cast film extrusion capability as well as a biax­Ial film stretcher. Molding facilities include screw injection molding capability of fivemachines, blow molding, plug assist thermoforming and compression molding withcomposites capability. The Institute of Polymer Engineering is the home of the EPIC­M.A. Hanna Compounding and Blending Center and the Molding Technology Center.Characterization capability includes scanning and transmission electronmicroscopy, X-ray diffraction (including a rotating anode X-ray generator), Fouriertransform 1nfrared, small angle light scattering, optical microscopy and retardation,radiography, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, dielectricthermal analysis, and surface profiling, rheological and mechanical testing, includingelongational flow, rotational and capillary shear rheometry, dynamic mechanical, tensileand impact testing.The Akron Polymer Training Center, which serves as a laboratory for the processingand testing of rubber and plastic materials, was opened in June 1994. TheCenter was developed at the urging of the Akron Regional Development Board andEPIC, an industriali]overnment-university consortium, to train machine operatorsand technicians for the polymer industry. The Center also provides classrooms andlaboratories for graduate students in Polymer Engineering, for undergraduate studentsin Mechanical Polymer Engineering, and for two-year associate degree studentsin Polymer Technology as well as continuing education courses for scientistsand engineers.University LibrariesLibrary fac1lities are housed in three separate locations: in Bierce Library on BuchtelCommon; the Science Library in Auburn Science and Engineering Center,Room 104; and Archival Services in the Polsky Building, lower level.Library services include reference and research assistance, user education, bibliographicinstruction, and computer-based information searching. Materials can beborrowed from the University Libraries through the circulation department orobtained from other libraries through the OhioLINK network or other resourcesharingarrangements.The University Libraries' collections contain more than 2.8 million items: books,periodicals, government documents, curricular materials, microforms, maps,audio-visual materials, and archival documents. The library receives nearly 5,000magazines, journals, newspapers, and other serial publications, such as annualreports and the publications of various societies.Through the library's memberships in the Center for Research Libraries, the OhioLibrary and Information Network, the Northeast Ohio Major Academic andResearch Libraries consortium, the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), andthe Ohio Network of American History Research Centers, access to vastresources is greatly increased for University students, faculty, and staff.University identification cards function as library cards. Photocopy services andequipment for use in making paper copies from microforms are available in BierceLibrary and in the Science Library. Group study rooms and typing facilities are alsoin Bierce Library.Audiovisual Services, located in Bierce Library, Room 63B, maintains an extensivecentralized collection of media hardware and audio-visual resources for studentand faculty use. It also has a collection of instructional materials in various mediaformats (filmstrips, slides, etc.) to supplement class-room Instruction. Its newMedia Center supports faculty who want to improve teaching through the use oftechnology. Audio V1sual Services also designs, installs, and maintains technologyenhancedgeneral purpose classrooms, offering permanent in-room projection,sound reinforcement and a sophisticated media retrieval system.Information ServicesThe lnfonnation Services Department provides communications and computingsupport for The University of Akron. There are four divisions within the department:• Client Services (Computer Center and Carroll Hall)• Technical Services (Computer Center)• Telecommunications Services (Lincoln Building)• Applications Services (Computer Center)The Information Services Help Desk can be reached at (3301 972-0888. Help Deskpersonnel can answer questions or refer callers to the appropriate source for moreinformation. The walk-in consulting desk is located in the Computer Center, room144, and can also be reached by E-mail at consu/t@uakron.edu. Free seminars,handouts, and dial-in software are available.There are six general purpose computer labs for students, faculty and staff to use.In addition, there about 130 Windows/DOS computers and 10 Macintosh computers(Computer Center only) in these labs. These computers have personal productivitytools (such as word processing and spreadsheets) and network access. Thelab locations are:• Computer Center, rooms 139, 141 and 146• Gallucci Hall, room 279• Bierce Library, room 274A• Polskys, room 267• Olin Hall, room 273• Mary Gladwin Hall, room 306There are more than 300 dial-in l'lnes for faculty, staff, and students to use with theircomputers and modems from home to access UA and Internet networks.UA:s computer network, named UAnet has about 4,000 computers connected oncampus. To use these services, faculty, staff and students should go to the ComputerCenter at 185 Carroll Street and obtain a UAnet ID. The network providesaccess to:• ZipLINK- UA:s library catalog• OhioLINK- the library catalogs of all State of Ohio universities and colleges.• Electronic Mail !E-mail)• The Internet: a world-wide network, including the popular World Wide Web(WWW) multimedia information protocol• Usenet news groups• Discussion lists• Wayne College• UA Center at Coventry North• IBM mainframes and Digital serversStudent information is available using a touch-tone telephone and a PIN number.Services available in this manner include:• Registration for classes• Personal financial aid information• Course grades• Fee payment by credit cardComputer-Based Education and Testing services provide on-line tutorials, instruction,and testing for UA. The Testing Center is located in Carroll Hall, room 325.