91�ֿ�

Flashes Fight Hunger Contactless Food Drive

As a part of KSU Kick-off, Community Engaged Learning is coordinating a Flashes Fight Hunger Contactless Food Drive.

Held, Wed., Aug. 26, from 4 - 8 p.m., at Hilltop Dr. (enter at intersection of Hilltop Dr. and S Lincoln St.), this city-wide event is open to all members of 91�ֿ� and the surrounding community. Participants are encouraged to donate non-perishable food and toiletries, volunteer or contribute funds to the giving campaign.

Donations will go to the Campus Kitchen at 91�ֿ�, as well as the Family & Community Services of Portage County.

Members of the KSU community will be on-hand, including special appearances by the university president, provost, cabinet members, athletes, Flash and others. Learn more.

Ethnomusicology Professor Participates in International Twitter Conference

Last month, Ethnomusicology Assistant Professor Janine Tiffe, Ph.D., took over the Glauser School’s Twitter account to participate in a unique conference hosted on the platform by the Welsh  . With the cancellation of in-person conferences and events worldwide due to COVID-19, the organizers moved to Twitter to try a new approach in sharing research. The conference, titled “Shaped by Steel,” explored “the human dimension of work and life in—and after—steel.”

Tiffe presented “Hammer and Steel: A Musical Biography,” which explored the origins and history of the Trinidadian steel drum (steelpan) and its adoption into U.S. music education. Below, Tiffe reflects on the experience. Her presentation remains available on our  and you can about the conference, or visit the School of Music website.

Webinar: Handling the Stress of Interpersonal Relationships

Most of our family, friends and co-workers bring joy into our lives, but some people can bring challenges. Some of these situations are occasional and a little easier to handle but others are more difficult.

On Wed., Sept. 2 from noon – 1 p.m., the Employee Wellness program presents, “Handling the Stress of Interpersonal Relationships.”  Our presenter will be Judith Eugene of Impact Solutions. Judith will engage the audience and provide the tools to help you deal with difficult people and the stressful situations they present, including setting boundaries, strengthening our own mindset, and changing what we can.

This webinar is open to all full- and part-time faculty and staff. For full-time, benefits eligible employees participating in the Wellness Your Way Rewards Program, this session will be worth 10 points toward your Tier 2 total.

You may . For questions, please feel free to reach out to the Employee Wellness Office at 330-672-0392 or wellness@kent.edu.

Webinar: Mindful Parents, Mindful Families

A timely presentation for kicking off the school year

If we want to raise our children to be mindful, resilient adults, we need to cultivate these capacities ourselves. We can teach our children how to disrupt drama, de-escalate their reactions and regulate their emotions by practicing these important skills in our own lives.

On Tues., Sept. 15 from noon – 1 p.m., Employee Wellness invites you to join one of our most popular mindfulness coaches and presenters, Daron Larson. Daron will teach you how to pass on mindful habits without using the eye-roll-triggering word “mindfulness.”

This webinar is open to all full- and part-time faculty and staff. For full-time, benefits eligible employees participating in the Wellness Your Way Rewards Program, this session will be worth 10 points toward your Tier 2 total.

. For questions, please reach out to your Employee Wellness team at 330-672-0392 or wellness@kent.edu.

Annual Sick Leave Conversion Period Coming Soon!

The annual sick leave conversion for eligible staff employees will take place September 1, 2020, through September 14, 2020. During this period, eligible classified and unclassified employees with a continuing appointment may convert accrued sick leave to vacation per administrative policy 3342-6-11.2.

Eligible full-time employees who have a balance of at least 500 hours of sick leave may convert:

• A maximum of five days (40 hours) per fiscal year of sick leave to vacation; or
• A combined maximum of five days (40 hours) per fiscal year of sick leave to vacation and personal leave.

Eligible part-time employees who have a balance of at least 250 hours may convert:

• A maximum of three days (24 hours) per fiscal year of sick leave to vacation; or
• A combined maximum of three days (24 hours) per fiscal year of vacation and personal leave.

Eligible classified employees represented by AFSCME who have a balance of at least 500 hours of sick leave may convert a maximum of five days (40 hours) per fiscal year of sick leave to vacation.

The conversion process will be done online through . The system will tell you how much sick and vacation leave you currently have and how much you are eligible to convert. With the electronic process, employees will receive a confirmation email and will see the conversion reflected immediately in their  leave balances.

If you have questions, contact a member of the Human Resources Records team at 330-672-8316 or hr-records@kent.edu.