eInside Briefs

Kent State College of Public Health Begins Accreditation Process

The Council of Education for Public Health has approved Kent State University’s College of Public Health to begin its accreditation process.

“Being approved means that the college has met all the council’s standards,” says Sonia Alemagno, dean of Kent State’s College of Public Health. “It means we have achieved the base set of resources in terms of faculty, academic degrees and infrastructure, as an independent school.”

Alemagno explains that the Council of Education for Public Heath requires resources to be in place before the school can apply for accreditation.

The accreditation process activities will take approximately two years. The next step is to attend an accreditation orientation workshop and conduct a one-year, in-depth self-study. Then, a three-day, on-site visit by a team of four peer reviewers will follow to confirm the validity of the self-study document and form the basis for the accreditation decision. 

Becoming accredited offers many benefits for students, faculty and the college.

“First, it will draw students internationally because students and employers value degrees from accredited schools,” says Alemagno. “The accreditation also tells the world we have achieved a level of academic coursework at the highest level. “

Alemagno also explains accreditation will make the college more sought after off-campus as well.

“It will help with being competitive for research funding, but also community organizations will seek us out and be more willing to collaborate with us,” Alemagno says.

By virtue of accreditation-process acceptance, Kent State was welcomed as a new associate member school in the Association of Schools of Public Health, the national organization representing accredited schools of public health.  There are 50 member schools and eight with associate status like Kent State.

“Once you are accredited, you become a member school,” Alemagno explains. “Because we were accepted into the accreditation process, we were offered associate membership.” 

For more information about Kent State's College of Public Health, visit www.kent.edu/publichealth.

Posted Nov. 26, 2012 | Megan Confer

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American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Selects Kent State Alumna as 2013 Distinguished Research Lecturer

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently selected Kent State University alumna Nancy M. Albert, RN, Ph.D., CCNS, CCRN, NE-BC, FAHA, FCCM, as its 2013 Distinguished Research Lecturer.

Albert is the senior director of nursing research and innovation for the Cleveland Clinic enterprise (nine hospitals in Northeast Ohio and 16 regional medical practices). In addition, she is a practicing clinical nurse specialist for patients with advanced heart failure in the Heart and Vascular Institute of Cleveland Clinic main campus in Cleveland, Ohio.

In addition to her research and clinical responsibilities, Albert is an adjunct associate professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and an adjunct faculty member in the College of Nursing at Kent State.

The Distinguished Research Lectureship recognizes nurses who make significant contributions to high-acuity and critical care research. Funded by a grant from Philips Healthcare, the lectureship is one of the association's most prestigious honors. The awardee is nationally recognized as a nurse researcher, known for publications, presentations, mentorship and consultation in research relevant to acute and critical care nursing.

Albert says the lectureship is a wonderful honor. “I am thrilled to have been selected and to be able to present my research at the AACN’s 2013 National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition,” she says.

Albert says her favorite part about her jobs is gaining new knowledge about clinical and administrative practices, based on research evidence, whether from her own research, from nurses she is coaching in research or from the literature.
 
“My research focuses on patients with heart failure and nurses who deliver heart failure care,” she says. “Specific themes of interest are self-care – diet, fluid restriction, exercise, etc.– delivery and adherence and relationships of self-care with re-hospitalization, quality of life and emergency care.”

After receiving her nursing diploma from Huron Road Hospital School of Nursing, East Cleveland, Albert earned her B.S.N. from Cleveland State University and M.S.N. and Ph.D. from Kent State University.

Albert says her Ph.D. coursework from Kent State set her research foundation she uses daily as a nurse scientist.

“Additionally, I met wonderful, talented people while in school that I still network with today,” she says. “Through the M.S.N. program, I think the greatest experiences were associated with learning the value of collaboration, consultation, teamwork and innovation.”

Posted Nov. 26, 2012 | Megan Confer

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Kent State Connects: Gratitude is Not a Platitude; Don’t Forget Those Who Won’t Be Home for the Holidays

Steve Toepfer, associate professor for Human Development and Family Studies, writes about how giving the gift of gratitude can improve your well-being.

“At this very moment, you possess a super power but you may not know it. You have at your disposal health-promoting resources that, if you tap into it, can make you happier, more satisfied and possibly less depressed. It's called gratitude. But it won't work for you unless you use it. Happiness won't just appear like a lucky penny. You must go out and get it! Research shows that if you express gratitude toward others you will feel better; your well-being will improve. Sure, it's nice for the recipient but it does wonders for the person who takes the time to share it.”

Click here to read more from Toepfer’s post.

Carla Wyckoff, communications and events manager for the Office of the Vice President for Human Resources/General Counsel, writes about the holidays and how to support military families during this season.

“The holiday season is upon us, whether we’re ready or not … but we can’t forget that there are those loved ones who can’t be home for the holidays; those men and women who are part of the military and are serving our country in other parts of the world. I know about this first-hand, as my husband just last week returned home after a one-year deployment to Afghanistan with the Ohio National Guard.”

Click here to read more from Wyckoff’s post.

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Posted Nov. 26, 2012

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Last Chance to Take the Kent State Smoke-Free Campus Survey

If you have not already taken the smoke-free campus survey, please do so by Nov. 30.

As an institution of higher learning, Kent State is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for its students, employees and visitors at all of our locations. In light of the recommendation by the Ohio Board of Regents that all public colleges in Ohio implement a smoking ban, President Lester A. Lefton has asked us to lead a committee to study this proposal.

The president’s charge to the committee is to gather input from the university community, examine the pros and cons of having a smoke-free campus, and make a recommendation to his office for consideration.  Our committee members represent many different facets of the university population including: faculty, staff, students, representatives from student government and representatives from academic units related to healthcare.

An integral part of this process is to gather input from the university community. Please let us know what you think by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SmokeFreeKSU to take our five-minute online survey by Nov. 30. Your feedback will help us develop a recommendation to send forward to President Lefton. 

Once you have completed the survey, you have the option to enter a random drawing to win your choice of a $25 Starbucks or Kent State Bookstore gift card. Eight gift cards will be awarded.

Thank you for your participation.

Sincerely,

Willis Walker,	Greg Jarvie,
Vice President	Vice President
Human Resources	Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

Posted Nov. 26, 2012

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Do You Have an Interesting Talent or Hobby?

Here is your opportunity to share a post about your interesting talent or hobby on Kent State Connects, the Kent State University faculty and staff blog. 

Email your topic and a short description for consideration to connects@kent.edu, using “Interesting Blog Topic” as the subject line.

Blog topics must be received by Thursday, Nov. 28.

Posted Nov. 26, 2012

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Kent State Student is Finalist in Student Diplomat Video Contest

Public Can Vote for Their Favorite Video on ConnectingOurWorld.org
 
Kent State University student Glenn Bolich, a senior news major who studied in Italy, is one of five finalists in a national contest that will decide the winner of the Student Diplomat Video Contest.

The competition is sponsored by Connecting Our World, an advocacy community powered by National Association for Foreign Student Advisors (NAFSA): Association of International Educators.

Videos from the five finalists can be viewed on the website www.ConnectingOurWorld.org until Nov. 27. Winners will be determined by survey votes and will be announced in December. The winner will be bestowed the title of 2012 Student Diplomat and will receive a $1,000 travel voucher from STA Travel, a NAFSA Global Partner. The runner-up will be awarded a hand-held flip camera.
 
The other finalists in the 2012 Student Diplomat Video Contest are:

• Alisha Forbes of Doane College; studied in Africa (Tanzania, Malawi, Namibia, Lesotho and South Africa)
• Ashley Feith of Marymount Manhattan College; studied in Greece
• Angela Santilli of California State University, Chico; studied in Ghana
• Samantha Costas of the University of the South; studied in Cuba
  

The challenge to contestants was to tell a compelling story about how they became "student diplomats" by connecting in meaningful ways with people and cultures in other countries and by gaining global skills that will help them in their future academic studies and professional careers.
 
Connecting Our World is a global community of individuals taking action to support public policies that strengthen and expand international education. STA Travel is a youth travel agency enabling students and young adults to explore the world by creating experiences filled with adventure, discovery and personal growth.

For more information about opportunities to study abroad while attending Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/studyabroad.
Posted Nov. 26, 2012 | Bob Burford

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Is Your Department or College Celebrating a Milestone Anniversary in 2013?

Is your department or college celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2013? Kent State Magazine would like to highlight any planned activities. If you haven’t already done so, please send an email message mentioning the anniversary year, any events planned and a link to information on your website to Ramona Stamm at rstamm@kent.edu by Dec. 20. 

Posted Nov. 26, 2012

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