AKRON, Ohio - The new Stark State College Akron is taking shape between Perkins Street and Route 8, with classes expected to begin there in fall 2018.

The Akron campus will be the newest school in the community college's footprint, joining sites in Barberton, Canton, North Canton and Alliance.

The four-story college in Akron is designed with large windows all around to offer students plenty of natural light and, from its elevated foundation, a panoramic view of Akron and beyond. And with plenty of parking all around, everyone parks for free and teachers have their own spaces.

The 60,000-square-foot facility will offer 21 classrooms, a book store, study nooks and several labs where students will work to earn two-year associate degrees and one-year certificates.

At $153.60 per credit hour, students will be able to earn an associate degree there for less than $9,000, said Marisa Rohn, executive director of advancement and marketing. Or they can fulfill the majority of the general education requirements they'll need to transition to a university to earn a four-year degree at a lower cost.

Although the college is less expensive than a traditional university, the quality of education students receive is high, said Stark State Akron Executive Director Donald Mullen.

"Ninety-five percent of graduates leave with jobs or go on to four-year degrees," he said. "Several Stark State students who have earned associate degrees in biomed at have been admitted into Northeast Ohio Medical University's pharmacy program."

Stark State College Akron will open for fall 2018 classes at 360 Perkins St.

Stark State currently offers 230 degree and certificate programs. In Akron, the top floor of the building is being left vacant for the time being, until student demand determines what educational tracks will be offered there.

The floor could shape up to be healthcare or IT, Mullen said. And, depending on which academic disciplines draw the strongest interest, space on the bottom floor could accommodate CAD drawing or medical coding labs, he said. A loading dock with a large cement pad on the Route 8 side of the college could accommodate Stark State's mobile welding lab.

Stark State currently operates in Akron at a site on White Pond Drive, which was opened to meet high demand, Rohn said. Prior to plans for the Akron campus, Summit County students often asked Stark administrators about opening in Akron. Then, a survey revealed demand was high across the board.

"Summit County was the largest county in Ohio without a stand-alone community college," Mullen said.

As word has spread about the Akron campus, enrollment at the White Pond site jumped 84 percent between its opening last spring and the current fall semester, said Robyn Steinmetz, director of marketing and communications for the Akron campus.

"We're getting great exposure in Summit County," she said. "We are incredibly excited to get into the Perkins building to serve even more students and bring that community college presence to Summit County."

For now, a large vending cafeteria will be available onsite, but the city hopes retail will pick up once the college is up and running.

"Retailers go where there are people who spend money," said Adele Dorfner Roth, Akron deputy planning director for economic development. "We'll see other office development up and down Market Street."

In addition to the central cafeteria, smaller lounge areas will also be available. One room in the new college has been designed as a lactation room for new mothers.

"We tried to make it as comfortable as we possibly can," Mullen said. "They're very important to us."

For more information about Stark State College Akron or to apply, visit the website or call 330-494-6170, ext. 4670.

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