Wayne College:
A Quarter of a Century Country-style

The following article appeared in the Spring '97 issue of Akron magazine under the title "Marking a Country Milestone" by Leslie Baus and is used here by permission.

Canada geese glide silently across the ponds' glassy waters. In surrounding woods deer, raccoon, and rabbits embark on another day. It's almost hard to believe that this, too, is The University of Akron.

As tractors plow the nearby fields preparing for another growing season in Wayne County, a vacant 179- year-old farmhouse holds its ground, still watching over the countryside. A reminder of local history, casting its shadow from the past upon the life bursting forth from the college that now dominates the 157 acres.

Wayne College, the brain child of former University of Akron president Norman Auburn, has grown into the land. Now approaching its 25th anniversary, the college has settled comfortably into its rural surroundings.

The Hottest Political Potato to Hit Columbus

Although its doors were officially opened September 24, 1972, the birthing process for this branch campus was long and difficult. A five year battle had been waged between the cities of Orrville and Wadsworth over the location of a permanent branch campus in the area-a battles mirrored between The University of Akron and Kent State University over which institution would operate the branch.

The battles resulted from the Ohio Board of Regents' decision to replace what then were operated as academic centers with permanent branch campuses.Kent State University had two such academic centers - one started in Wadsworth in 1961, and one statred in Orrville in 1963- that held classes in temporary facilities in the area high schools and community centers. The University of Akron also established a presence in Orrville when it offered computer classes at the high school in the late 1960's.

In April 1967, Dr. John Millet, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, proposed that the centers in Wadsworth and Orrville be combined, but he proposed no plan for operation of the new campus. Because Kent State had very close ties with Wadsworth, many people in Orrville and at The University of Akron felt that it was given that Kent would operate the facility in Wadsworth.

But in July of that year, The University became a state institution, and attitudes about its competitive viability began to change. President Auburn actively began to pursue the idea of Akron obtaining the branch and approached Millet about running the campus. In a recent interview, Dr. Auburn recalled, "Millet was opposed to it, and he and I struggled together, however, I convinced him we ought to have that opportunity."

The opportunity was strengthened when Paul Smucker and Bruce Schantz, leaders of the Orrville Branch University Committee, approached Auburn with the proposal that The University of Akron operate the branch campus in Orrville.

W. Richard Wright, '37, who served as assistant to the president from 1967 to 1985, said in a recent interview that "Auburn welcomed the opportunity because he felt The University needed to gain the experience of running a branch campus."

Furthermore, according to Wright, Kent State already had seven branch campuses, none of which where located to conveniently serve the people of Wayne, Medina, and Holmes counties. Wright, who prepared the proposal for the branch campus to the Board of Regents, said it was only natural for Orrville to be the site because it was located at the geographic center of the three counties, and it was close to Akron.

"It was right in step with Governor [James A.] Rhodes' plan for higher education to have a higher education facility within 35 miles of every boy and girl in Ohio," said Wright, who had also served on Rhodes' gubernatorial campaign. The University of Akron submitted its proposal for the new facility in September 1967, and the battle began.

Both cities launched campaigns for the branch campus to be housed within their limits.

Wadsworth quickly received a 97- acre donation of land in Medina County donated.

Jim Banks, then-director of development at The University of Akron, initiated work with Orrville supporters to raise $150,000 to buy the 157 acre Blatter Field site. By the time the fund-raising campaign ended, more than $300,000 had been raised- the money not spent on buying the property was put into a foundation that still awards scholarships to Orrville students attending Wayne College.

Although the Kent-Wadsworth and Akron-Orrville proposals should have been reviewed by the Board of Regents, and the decision handed down within a few months, that was not the case.

According to then-regents chancellor Millett, the nearly five-year political battle over the branch campus was "one of the hottest political potatoes that had ever hit Columbus ". Representatives from both cities appeared before the Board of Regents in Columbus.

Even as the imbroglio in Columbus raged, William Rogers, dean of Akron's off-campus academic programs, began developing a curriculum for the intended branch campus. Rogers had become a familiar presence in Orrville when he set up the University's computer classes at the high school, and he knew what the people in the tri-county area needed and wanted regarding technical programs and general-studies courses.

The Board of Regents finally selected The University of Akron to develop and build the Orrville campus,- but didn't immediately appoint it to operate the new facility. The Orrville group took a stand, voting for permanent branch affiliation with The University of Akron, and sending representatives to the Board of Regents to voice their opinion.

In 1971, the regents voted unanimously to give the campus to Orrville and The University of Akron on the merits of the case, but the battle was not yet won: The State Controlling Board, which had to authorize the $2.5 million to build the facility, denied release of the money. The University persisted, and the decision was reversed in June 1971, through the diligent efforts of Wright; State Rep. Ralph Fisher, then-chairman of the Ohio legislature's finance committee; Ray Bliss, national as well as state chairman of the Republican Party at the time; and Rep. John Johnson of Orrville.

Sowing the Seeds

Construction began within a month. Blatter Field had been an operational airport, but the rest of the property had been a farm. A large barn was torn down, but the century-old farmhouse was spared, and efforts to turn it into a living history farm began. The airport continued to operate.

The faculty, like the facilities, was also under construction. Professors who had taught at the temporary academic centers were given the option of moving to the new campus or being absorbed back into Kent State.

Bob McElwee, who taught political science at Kent's academic center in Orrville, was one of the numerous people who opted for Wayne. He began at the new campus as professor of political science and was promoted to interim dean in 1979 and assistant dean in 1982. In a recent interview, he recalled the spirit that infused the people who took a chance on the new facility.

"The summer before the doors officially opened faculty and staff worked together unloading furniture and equipment," McElwee said. " Everyone was pitching in to get the college ready. There was a feeling that we were embarking on a new adventure and we were all in on this together."

As new faces joined The University of Akron, a dearly loved member of the campus family left: President Auburn stepped down after 20 years in office.. His last official act as president of The University was to dig the first spade-full of dirt at Wayne's ground breaking in July 1971.

It was Auburn's successor, President Dominic Guzzetta who cut the ribbon at Wayne General and Technical College's official opening in September 1972, fulfilling the vision started by Auburn in 1967.

Heading the new college as director was Marvin Phillips. Thirty-seven full- and part- time faculty taught that first quarter. Courses for seven different technical programs, as well as general study courses were offered, and the residents of Wayne, Holmes and Medina counties got the chance to earn associate degrees or to earn credits for their first two years towards a bachelor's degree.

First quarter enrollment was 432- far from the 1,000 students that the Board of Regents stipulated in its policy on branch campuses. At the same time, more than 10,000 students enrolled at the main campus.

Rick Yoder, '75, currently an assistant to the dean at Wayne, who enrolled at the new campus recently recalled that most of the students and faculty at Wayne knew each other from the temporary facilities at Wadsworth and Orrville. "It was like a family we had added to," he said. "All that we did was just move to a bigger house."

The familiarity between students and faculty gave Wayne an intimate air. "Professors and students would hang out together all the time," said Yoder. "Scott Hagen, who taught biology and was there from day one, would make turkey the day before Thanksgiving and we'd have a carry-in dinner in the bio lab with students and faculty alike bringing in food."

Forrest Smith, professor of biology who came to Wayne in 1975, recalled that many of the faculty would invite students to their homes for cookouts or dinner. Smith also was one of the first faculty members to take students on trips to such places as England, Scotland, Chincoteague Island, and New York City.

Additionally, the faculty encouraged the students to form campus organizations.

Soon, a student senate; Waynessence, the literary magazine; The Wayne Mirror, the college newspaper, a biology club, and even an acting troupe that included people community members soon appeared. Men's and women's Warrior basketball teams began in 1973 and 1988, respectively.

John Lorson, who attended Wayne from 1982-84, remembers the faculty's entusiasm about the students' ideas. "They pretty much embraced any idea we had, and they supported it," he said. When Student Senate decided to sell donuts and coffee in the morning since vending machines provided the only food services then, " They gave us the ball and told us to run with it, and we kept that up for a long time," he said.

Lorson also spoke of the family atmosphere at Wayne. His first year at the branch Scott Hagen submitted his name for Student Senate. " He recognized something in me that I hadn't seen myself," said Lorson, who became vice president of the senate his freshman year, and president the next.

Seasons of Change

When Phillips left as director in 1974 to take an administrative post at the main campus, John Hedrick, formerly the dean of the evening college and summer sessions at the main campus, was appointed Wayne's first dean. He remained there until 1979, when he returned to the University.

Dr. Tyrone Turning joined the Wayne family in 1980, when he became the first dean selected through a search committee from the college (prior administrators had been appointed by main campus officials).

In the fall of 1984, Wayne enrollment finally hit the 1,000 mark stipulated by the Board of Regents 14 years earlier. That same year, Guzzetta retired, and William Muse became the new University president.

Over the years, Wayne adapted to meet the students' changing needs. Computers were added and upgraded. Technical programs for jobs and careers now in demand have replaced outdated programs such as the industrial technology, which taught students to operate heavy equipment. More one- and two-year programs, such as retail and sales technology, medical terminology, and accounting, have been added as well.

The classrooms also changed to suit the new curriculum. Extensive remodeling has made room for computer labs. A photography studio and darkroom, trailers providing more classrooms, an arboretum, two tennis courts, a soccer field and a softball field were new additions to the grounds.

From 1986 to 1989, $1.5 million was spent to build the John Boyer Physical Facilities, housing a gym, weight room, and racquetball court, as well as the bookstore and the administrative offices.

A 125-seat auditorium, art room, more offices, replaced the multi-purpose room that had formerlyserved as the auditorium and gymnasium.. The Learning Center, where students can get free tutoring, was expanded, and a writing lab was added to it.