eInside Briefs

Interim Director Appointed for Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science

Jeffrey W. Fruit, professor of journalism
and mass communication, has been named
interim director of the School of Library and
Information Science.

Stanley T. Wearden, Ph.D., dean of the College of Communication and Information at Kent State University, has announced the appointment of Jeffrey W. Fruit, professor of journalism and mass communication, as interim director of the School of Library and Information Science.
 
“Jeff has extensive administrative experience after 10 years of excellent service as the director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication,” Wearden says in his announcement. “I am confident he will serve the school very well as we search for a continuing director.”

Wearden says the university will post the search for a new director for the School of Library and Information Science later this month.
 
Fruit, of East Palestine, Ohio, served as director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication from 2002-2012, during which undergraduate and graduate enrollment increased significantly, two innovative online master’s programs were launched (public relations and scholastic journalism), the school moved into a state-of-the-art 80,000-square-foot facility following a $21.5 million renovation and the school’s funds in the university foundation quadrupled.
 
Fruit’s research interests focus on the historic and current impact of technology on journalism, journalists and the broader media marketplace. He is co-author of The Training and Hiring of Journalists (Ablex, 1985) with Lee B. Becker and Susan L. Caudill. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from the Ohio State University, where he also has passed general examinations toward an interdisciplinary Ph.D. He earned a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in journalism and history from Ohio Wesleyan University.
 
Fruit replaces Tomas A. Lipinski, J.D., L.L.M., Ph.D., who will join the faculty at the School of Library and Information Science to explore options for new curricular programs and continue his research and teaching in copyright, information law, intellectual property and other areas where he has established an international reputation.
 
For more information about the School of Library and Information Science, visit www.kent.edu/slis.

Kent State’s Faculty Professional Development Center Makes Available Educational Resources

A selection of 2013 Lilly Conference session videos are available for free on Kent State University’s Faculty Professional Development Center’s website at www.kent.edu/fpdc/educational_resources. The conference video page at the link requires users to log in with their Kent State credentials in order to access the videos. The Lilly Conference theme of 2013 was "Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning."

The Lilly Conferences on College and University Teaching and Learning have provided opportunities for the presentation of the scholarship of teaching and learning. Presentations at the conference are selected through a blind peer-review process.

A few of the recorded presentation videos available are:

• "Putting the Research on Learning Into Practice" by Terry Doyle
• "The New Science of Learning: Advances in Brain-Based Research" by Todd Zakrajsek
• "The Nuts and Bolts of Planning a Flipped Classroom in Higher Education" by Priya Boindala and her colleagues

For more information about Kent State’s Faculty Professional Development Center, visit www.kent.edu/fpdc.

With Zipcar, Get Wheels When You Want Them

Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing service, is now on
campus and available to faculty, staff and students.

Having a car on campus just got a whole lot easier.

Students, faculty and staff at Kent State University can now have wheels with no strings attached. Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing service, is now on campus. With Zipcar, members can reserve self-service, on-demand cars by the hour or day, 24/7.

Any 18 and older Kent State student, faculty or staff can become a member today for only $25. Enter promo code “2014LAUNCH” on your application and you’ll get $40 in free driving* so you can give it a try.

Wondering how it works? There are four simple steps to Zipcar freedom. Join today at www.zipcar.com/kent. Once you’re a member, reserve a car online or on your phone for as short as an hour or as long as four days. Let yourself into the car with your unique Zipcard. (The keys are already in the car.) Drive away. Just make sure to return the car at the end of your reservation.

With Zipcar parked right on campus, it is easy to get downtown, do errands or even take a road trip. And since Zipcar covers gas, insurance and 180 miles per day, you can enjoy the freedom of the open road without any of the extra costs.

Interested? Join today at www.zipcar.com/kent or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/zipcaru. Questions can be answered at www.zipcar.com/how. 

*Offer expires March 30, 2014. For more information on ID and/or documents needed for international students, please refer to www.zipcar.com/apply/foreign-drivers.

Support for Students: Early Alert for Spring 2014

Kent State University’s Office of Student Success
Programs has an Early Alert program to support students
who are struggling in class.

Kent State University’s Office of Student Success Programs would like to welcome you back to campus. Now that the Spring 2014 Semester is underway, we wanted to send out some information on how we can work together to help support your students' success. The Early Alert system is now up and running for the semester.

Early Alert for Faculty
Early Alert allows faculty members to identify students who are struggling in class so that the Office of Student Success Programs can provide support where they need it. This online system is accessible through your FlashLine Faculty tab. The Early Alert system is designed to provide faculty members with an easy way to partner with other campus professionals to reach out to students who pose some type of concern. The areas of concern include:

• Difficulty comprehending course material
• Poor performance on exams or assignments 
• Poor class attendance 
• Missing assignments
  

For more information, visit www.kent.edu/success/faculty/earlyalerts/index.cfm.

Staff Members Only
Staff members can submit an Early Alert through our website at www.kent.edu/success/faculty/earlyalerts/eastaffonly.cfm.
 
The Office of Student Success Programs appreciates your commitment to students’ academic success. For questions, contact Monica Hermann, coordinator for Student Success Programs, at mherman7@kent.edu. 

Alumni Association Features Successes from 2013

Year in Review Document Highlights Association Achievements

Kent State community members watch the annual
Homecoming parade.

The Kent State University Alumni Association reached new heights in 2013 in terms of attendance at association-sponsored events, sustained growth of alumni communications and increased volunteer participation. To highlight the numerous accomplishments during the past year, the Alumni Association has created a document for its members and friends: the 2013 Year in Review.

“Thanks to the unwavering support of our many members, volunteers and campus partners, the alumni association was able to achieve great success this year,” says Lori Randorf, assistant vice president for alumni relations. “This document provides a recap of the association’s various activities during 2013.”

To read the 2013 Year in Review document, visit www.ksualumni.org/2013review.  Additionally, a video recap of the alumni association’s activities in 2013 is available at www.ksualumni.org/2013VideoRecap.  Faculty and staff members interested in becoming a member of the Kent State University Alumni Association should visit www.ksualumni.org/jointoday. 

University Libraries Will Be Open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 20

Although Kent State University will be closed to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 20, University Libraries will be open for normal business. The library will be open from Sunday, Jan. 19, at noon and will not close until Friday, Jan. 24, at 10 p.m.

For more information about University Libraries, visit www.kent.edu/library.