School of Art Welcomes Four Full-time Faculty
The School of Art welcomes four new full-time talented and knowledgeable faculty members: three tenure track and one visiting professor, non-tenure track, who started this fall semester.
They include J. Leigh Garcia, assistant professor in Print Media and Photography; Eli Kessler, assistant professor in Sculpture and Expanded Media; Michelle Summers, a non-tenure track visiting professor in Ceramics; Hye-shim Yi, assistant professor and the first full-time professor at the School of Art with a specialization in Asian Art History. Learn more.
School of Music and Tuesday Musical Announce New Masterclass Series
91ֿ’s Hugh A. Glauser School of Music and Tuesday Musical are launching a new series that will bring world-renowned classical musicians to the Kent Campus to work with students.
It's a new partnership between the School of Music and Akron-based Tuesday Musical to bring several internationally renowned guest artists from their concert series to 91ֿ for a series of free masterclasses with music majors. Learn more.
Executive MBAs Conduct International Business Experience Project
Last spring, the 91ֿ K40 Executive MBA team conducted an International Business Experience project in Rome, Italy.
The K40 Executive MBA team collaborated with the Italian Cabinet High Commissioner and Team Digitale on Italian Digital Transformation, meant to affect each of the 61 million Italians across 8,000 municipalities and 22,000 local public administrations.
The EMBAs met in the venerable and prestigious Sala Verde, the "Green Room" in the Prime Minister's building, Palazzo Chigi, where they divided into four teams that analyzed and recommended solutions for a specific area of adoption feasibility, including political, social, economic and technological. .
Banner/KSU Finance Training
The Controller’s office will again offer Banner/KSU Finance training sessions throughout FY20. The training schedule has been set through January 2020, and you may register for these sessions through the HR website training portal. The room is reserved for two hours; the formal 30 - 45-minute presentation will begin at 1 p.m.
These sessions are facilitator-led presentations that cover a specific topic, followed by an open discussion period that can cover any KSU-Finance related questions. Feel free to drop in at your convenience during this period. Representatives from Financial Accounting, Grants Accounting and Accounts Payable will be present to answer questions as a group, or individually if you prefer.
The sessions are open to all employees of all skill-levels. Beginners can learn new skills and experienced employees can sharpen their skills and ask questions.
- September 19, 2019 Processing IDC and COR transactions
- October 22, 20169 Understanding FOAP (Fund, Org, Account, Program) /Chart of Accounts
- November 19, 2019 Understanding Finance Cognos Reports
- January 21, 2020 Managing Capital Assets
Please send requests to Mike Farina at farinami@kent.edu, or Vicki Ladd at vladd@kent.edu for future training sessions and the department will try and work your topic into a session. Please provide feedback as to the specific finance training you would like to see offered.
College of Nursing May 4th Commemorative Events
The College of Nursing invites you to attend its May 4th Commemorative events on Wed. Oct. 2, 2019:
- May 4th Site Walking Tour with May 4th survivor Alan Canfora, at 5:30 p.m. at the May 4th site.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder panel discussion: From May 4th through present day at 7 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva, featuring experts:
- Patricia (North) Gless, BSN '71, MSN '93
- Claudia Cihlar, Ph.D., APRN-BC, CNS
- Doug Delahanty, Ph.D.
- Sarah Ostrowski-Delahanty, Ph.D.
- Moderator: Associate Dean, Wendy Umberger, Ph.D.
Reception to follow. Both events are free and open to the public. for one or both events.
Salary Increases for Non-Represented Employees
As indicated in the memo from Mark Polatajko, senior vice president for Finance and Administration, there will be raises for non-represented staff. The effective date is September 1, 2019. Details about the increase, including timing, eligibility, etc., may be found on the Human Resources website. Questions should be directed to the Compensation office at 330-672-8325 or compensation@kent.edu.
Employee Expense Reimbursements and Direct Deposit
Would you like to receive your expense reimbursements faster?
Did you know that enrolling in direct deposit for payroll does not automatically enroll you in direct deposit for expense reimbursements?
In fact, enrolling in expense reimbursement direct deposit is a separate, but easy process that results in your reimbursed funds being available to you more quickly than if paid via paper checks.
Please follow these instructions:
- Login to Flashline and, via the menu in the left margin, go to Employee, Resources, Travel & Expenses.
- In the box labeled Travel & Expense Reimbursements, click Expense Reimbursement Direct Deposit.
- Enter your banking information (routing number, account number, account type) and click Save. You are now enrolled in direct deposit for expense reimbursements, as well as all other accounts payable payments.
A copy of these instructions can be accessed that includes screenshots. Questions should be directed to payments@kent.edu.
Stark Campus Fine Arts Building Addition Receives Award from American Institute of Architects
The Fine Arts expansion and renovation project was recently completed as the campus welcomed students for the start of a new academic year.
All 91ֿ at Stark students will benefit from the 15,000 square feet of new space and the renovation of another 17,000 square feet of the building.
The $9.7 million capital project transforms the facility to meet the needs of a growing student population and expands opportunities to hundreds of community members who visit the campus annually for arts programs. Learn more.
Apply for a 91ֿ of Wellness Seeds of Wellness Mini-grant
Do you have an idea for a collaborative initiative to promote health and wellness on campus? Are you planning a project or an initiative that supports 91ֿ’s mission to become a model for a healthy campus?
91ֿ of Wellness, 91ֿ’s healthy campus initiative, is seeking applications for its 2019/2020 Seeds of Wellness mini-grant program that awards up to $1,000 for initiatives that focus on any of the following priority areas at all 91ֿ campuses: alcohol and other drug use, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, preventive care, safety, sexual health, smoking and tobacco use.
91ֿ of Wellness encourages members of the 91ֿ community at all campuses to take an active role in creating a healthy campus. Faculty members could make this a class project for their students, or it could be an initiative to help your co-workers adopt healthy behaviors. A healthy campus could also be a collaboration among departments and colleges. Please note that student involvement in project planning and implementation is required.
This past school year, Seeds of Wellness mini-grants were awarded for projects that included:
- A stair climbing event at 91ֿ at Ashtabula
- Suicide prevention movie screening at 91ֿ at Tuscarawas
- Stress-relief events at the Stark and Salem campuses
- CPR training on the Kent Campus
- Nutrition counseling and demonstrations at the Kent Campus
- Be-YOU-tiful: Body positivity event at the Kent Campus
Seeds of Wellness mini-grants are awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.
For more information and to apply, visit the 91ֿ of Wellness website. If you have questions, email Melissa Celko, director of 91ֿ of Wellness, at mcelko1@kent.edu.
20-Year Club Service Award Ceremony - Oct. 24
The Division of Human Resources invites you to attend the Annual 20-Year Club Inductee Ceremony on Thurs., Oct. 24, 2019, in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. Reception at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m.
Guests must register by Oct. 4, and purchase tickets at the 20-Year Club website. Club members $12; guests $22.
This year, we have 59 staff members who will be recognized for 20 years of continuous service with 91ֿ. View a list of 2019 20-Year Club Inductees.
Retired KSU Faculty Pens New Children's Book
Retired 91ֿ professor and award-winning children’s book author Anthony L. Manna has penned a new story that explores loss, struggle and the hope for recovery.
Released October 1, Loukas and the Game of Chance is an illustrated middle school fantasy about a flute-playing boy who befriends a magical talking and dancing snake that bestows fortune and favor upon Loukas. Years later, tempted by greed and pride, Loukas loses his family and riches and begins a treacherous journey to find Destiny, Sun and Moon to reverse his misfortune, restore his honor and regain all that he loves and treasures.
The recipient of numerous academic honors, including 91ֿ’s Distinguished Teaching Award, Manna taught children’s and young adult literature, writing, literacy, education and drama.
For more information, please visit .
Annual Bra Recycling Drive Underway
91ֿ’s Office of Sustainability and the Women’s Center are hosting the 7th Annual Bra Recycling Drive, October 1 – November 2, to collect reusable or worn-out bras and reduce the number of textiles in landfills.
Bras and other clothing that are in good condition will be donated to the Phyllis Zumkehr County Clothing Center. Worn-out bras will be recycled. As a reminder, you can drop off clothing at the Career Closet at the Women's Center.
Since the start of the Bra Recycling Drive nearly 1,000 bras have been collected in 6 years. Since 2012, 75% of bras collected have been sent for reuse to the Phyllis Zumkehr County Clothing Center and 25% have been sent for recycling by The Bra Recyclers.
2019 drop-off locations
Clean bras can be dropped off at the following locations:
- The Women’s Center Williamson House, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- The Student Recreation and Wellness Center, fall hours Monday – Thursday, 5:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Friday from 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- The Office of Sustainability, suite 101 in Harbourt Hall from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., October 1 through November 2.
Clothing can also be sent via intercampus mail to the Women's Center or Office of Sustainability.
Flashfleet Campus Bikeshare Program
91ֿ and Veoride are working hard to ensure that the Flashfleet bikeshare service is successful this semester. Flashfleet technicians are working every day to help with service and bike-related issues. Below is helpful information about how and where to park the bikes.
Parking do’s
- Please park the bike in the recommended parking areas
- All bikes racks on campus are designated as recommended parking areas
- You can find a recommended parking area by looking for teal colored shapes (usually rectangles)
- Use the kickstand to park the bike upright
- Park the bike in a way that does not block a street, sidewalk or building access point
Parking don’ts
- Park the bike across a sidewalk
- Park the bike in front of a building entrance
- Leave the bike laying down on the ground
- Leave a bike in a grassy or garden area
- Leave the bike outside of the red boundary
If you notice any issues with bike maintenance or parking, please contact Veoride’s Customer Service at 1-855-VEO-2256.
Midterm Grading for all Lower-division Undergraduate Courses
Online midterm grading for all Fall 2019 lower-division undergraduate courses (levels 00000, 10000, 20000) meeting in the full term (August 22, 2019 through December 8, 2019) began September 12, 2019 via FlashFAST. Please remember that midterm grading applies ONLY to courses that meet for the full semester.
The deadline for midterm grade submission is midnight on Wednesday, October 9. Midterm grades may not be reported after the deadline. The Grade Change workflow cannot be used to report or change midterm grades after the deadline, and the Registrar's Office will not accommodate other late submission requests.
Submit Midterm grades using Midterm Grades roster
To submit midterm grades via the Midterm Grades roster, login to , then click Faculty & Advisors/Faculty Dashboard/Grading Resources. Locate Midterm Grades to submit grades.
Submit Midterm grades using Grade Push (Blackboard Users)
If you use Blackboard, there is a tool to make reporting your midterm grades easier—with a push of the button! The process is called Grade Push and it will allow you to “push” the midterm grades recorded in Blackboard into our KSU Midterm Grade Roster, thus eliminating the time and effort spent manually entering them.
To access the Grade Push application, login to then click Faculty & Advisors/Faculty Dashboard/Grading Resources. Locate Grade Push to submit grades.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the Grade Push application, please direct them to support.kent.edu.
Please note: The Grade Push application has been developed for Blackboard users as an option to assist in streamlining the university grading process. The use of this application is not mandatory, though it is encouraged.
Tips and Tricks
Grades Processing Tips and FAQs may be found on the Registrar's website. Any faculty member needing personalized instruction on submitting their grades via the Midterm Grades roster should contact their campus Registrar's Office during normal business hours for assistance.
Troubleshooting Tip
FlashLine is accessible from any Internet-capable computer that has the cookies function enabled. We recommend that you clean out your cookie and cache files regularly to help your computer run faster, and to potentially restore and/or improve your access to FlashLine by improving your connection to the server. Our Helpdesk is prepared to help with these issues. Please contact them at 330-672-HELP (4357) for one-on-one assistance and technical issues.
Child Car Seat Safety Inspections and Child Fingerprinting - Oct. 9
Statistics show that four out of five car seats are installed incorrectly. To help rectify this problem 91ֿ's Employee Wellness Office will host another car seat safety inspection on Wed., Oct. 9, from 3-6 p.m. at the Child Development Center parking lot at 775 Loop Rd. in Kent.
Keep your child safe by making sure their car seat is properly installed. If you have more than one car seat or base, feel free to have them each inspected. You do not have to have your child with you for the inspection, but they are certainly welcome to attend.
In addition, Guardians Advocating Child Safety and Protection (GASP) will be attending this event. will be providing free digital fingerprinting and ID on a disc. Disc will include photos, video with voice, digital fingerprints, along with other pertinent information. No registration is required to take advantage of the GASP fingerprinting and ID disc offer. Children will need to be present for the digital fingerprinting. There is no cost for this service.
Certified child passenger safety technicians from the Portage County Health Department will conduct the child car seat inspections. 91ֿ Police Department representatives also will be on hand to answer any safety-related questions you may have.
We encourage you to today for your car seat inspection! Individuals without an appointment will be accommodated as time permits on a first-come, first-served basis.
This event is sponsored by 91ֿ Employee Wellness and Portage County Health Department. The car seat safety inspections and GASP fingerprinting and ID are open to 91ֿ employees, students and the surrounding community.
Webinar: Shedding Light on Depression, Anxiety and Recovery
We all have moments when we feel depressed or nervous. Often, these feelings are fleeting and pass within a short time. However, this is not always the case.
On Thurs., Oct. 10, from 10-11 a.m., 91ֿ faculty and staff are encouraged to attend our webinar "Shedding Light on Depression, Anxiety and Recovery." During this presentation, we will focus on raising awareness while demystifying the symptoms and treatment for stress, anxiety and depression.
Some of the items we will discuss include:
- Tools available to recognize and understand the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Available treatments and lifestyle changes
- Resources for coping with depression and anxiety
- Ways to support someone struggling with a mental health concern
- Learning about Telemental Health Services with IMPACT
- Online and 24/7/365 service request options
- Recovery
Our presenter for this webinar will be Alan Gecht, MA, LPCC, and account manager for IMPACT Solutions' Employee Assistance Program. Please join us for this important discussion that is ideal for all 91ֿ faculty and staff. .
IMPACT Employee Assistance Walk-in Office Hours
Are you curious about financial counseling services, eldercare, childcare, smoking cessation or the new Telemental health services provided by IMPACT, and how you or your eligible family members can take advantage of these services?
Come to the Employee Assistant Program "open" office hours Thurs., Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Employee Wellness Resource Room in Heer Hall room 103 on the Kent Campus. Meet with Alan Gecht, Impact Account Manager, and learn all about the numerous resources available to you and your eligible dependents, including your parents and in-laws.
Complimentary office hours are not intended for counseling services but rather to assist you with getting connected to the appropriate services and resources you may be interested in. No appointment or registration is necessary for these walk-in hours. Mark your calendar and come at your convenience.
For more information about Impact, visit our Impact information webpage, or contact Kim Hauge, director for Employee Wellness, at 330-672-7505, or email wellness@kent.edu.
2019 Employee Wellness Fall Speaker Series – Part 2
Part Two of the Employee Wellness Fall Speaker Series, " Psychological Safety for Thriving Employees and Effective Teams," is Fri., Oct. 11, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Kent Student Center Room 306, or live streamed.
The series features Dr. Joel Gecht, president and chief executive officer of IMPACT Solutions, a leading behavioral healthcare and people development consulting firm.
In part two, we will discuss how and why psychological safety is critical to support thriving employees and productive teams.
As a psychologist, Dr. Gecht specializes in the design and implementation of customized behavioral healthcare and related services for colleges, universities, school systems, healthcare facilities and corporations. Gecht is highly knowledgeable regarding the importance of psychological safety in the home and workplace and is passionate to share that knowledge and provide tools to support individuals and workplaces so they can flourish.
While we hope that you were able to take advantage of Part One of the series on Sept. 27, if you did not, it will be available for viewing on Blackboard in the upcoming week. This will not prevent you from participating in Part two, which will be accessible in person or through live streaming. Registration links for the in-person or live-streamed session on Oct. 11 are directly below.
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All full- and part-time faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in the Fall Speaker Series. View a replay of Part One: Pathway to Workplace Health and Personal Wellbeing on by selecting “Wellness Your Way” from your available courses.
For full-time, benefits-eligible employees participating in the Wellness Your Way program, each session will be worth 30 points for a total of 60 points for the 2019 Fall Speaker Series.
For questions regarding this series, please visit our webpage, or contact the Employee Wellness Office at 330-672-7505, or email wellness@kent.edu.
Fall Training Dates Available for Handshake
Career Exploration and Development has been using the career management system Handshake since June 2018. Requests for training are scheduled regularly. Faculty and staff are welcome to attend and learn how to navigate the system and use it to benefit your work with students. . Email questions to Robin Pijor at rpijor@kent.edu.
I-X Center Trick or Treat Street
91ֿ faculty and staff are eligible for discount tickets to I-X Center Trick or Treat Street, Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. each day.
Cleveland's Halloween event is perfect for kids ages 10 and younger. Come dressed in your Halloween costume for a full day of fun. The street is safe, the fun is nonstop, and the weather is always nice.
Twelve themed candy stations on Trick or Treat Street provide a Halloween Adventure for kids 10 and younger. Over 300,000 pre-approved, individually packaged pieces of candy will be handed out. Take a spin on a variety of kid friendly rides, test your skills at a few games or catch one of the many live performances throughout the event.
Visit the to purchase $10 tickets using promo code: KENT19.
Save the Date
KSU Veterans Day Ceremony
Thurs., Nov. 7, 11 a.m.
Commemoration Program, Kiva
Flag-raising Ceremony, Student Green, 10:45 a.m.
Dates to Remember:
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Disability Employment Awareness Month
Oct. 10 - Columbus Day
Oct. 14 - Nov. 1 - KSU's Annual Open Enrollment for Health and Wellness Benefit