University of Akron Press is Back in Business

Posted on August 23, 2015

It's been a tumultuous summer for the University of Akron press. The university has big budget problems and as part of a new budget plan it fired all the editors of the highly-regarded publisher. The outcry was loud and immediate.

The school's trustees were blasted for their short-sightedness in gutting the publisher that has brought nothing but kudos to the university. In fact, the backlash to University President Scott Scarborough and the Board of Trustee's plans was so severe that authors were demanding their rights back and protests movements were gathering steam. Well, the protests worked. The Akron Beacon-Journal reports that the university has changed course and has rehired all the press' employees.

University President Scott Scarborough issued a statement promising that the press will be active and vibrant going forward. He said, "The University of Akron Press has been and will continue to be a vital part of the academic core of this institution."

The press will be continuing to acquire new works going forward. But we have no doubt that the staff is pretty rattled.