eInside Briefs

Kent State University Board of Trustees Meeting, June 6

The Kent State University Board of Trustees will hold its next regular business meeting Wednesday, June 6. The Board will convene at 1:30 p.m. in the George Urban Board of Trustees Conference Room, which is located on the second floor of the Kent Campus Library.

Trustees will retire into executive session at 8:30 a.m. in the Urban Conference Room to consider specific topics as provided for under Ohio’s “Sunshine Law.”

Board committees will meet as follows:

• Academic Excellence and Student Success Committee – 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Urban Conference Room.
• Audit & Finance and Administration Committees – 10:30-11:30 a.m. in Room 222.
• External Relations and Development Committee – 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. in the Urban Conference Room.
  

The Board meeting agenda will be made available at www.kent.edu/bot/meetings/index.cfm.

Kent State University Announces New Student Ombuds

Jennifer Kulics, Ph.D., is the new student
ombuds at Kent State University.

Kent State University has announced the appointment of Jennifer Kulics, Ph.D., as the new student ombuds under the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.

Kulics, who was formerly the senior associate athletic director for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, will take over for Sheryl Smith, Ph.D., who retires from the university this summer. Kulics’s appointment, which took effect in May, follows a recent search by the university to fill the position.

Kulics has held a variety of administrative positions in her 14-year higher education professional career, and has worked closely with students in both group and one-on-one settings. She has served as an academic counselor for student athletes; assisted with the development and implementation of departmental policies, procedures and goals; served as a student conduct hearing officer; supervised employees, including NCAA compliance and eligibility staff members; and managed a range of academic services for undergraduate students, including direct supervision of the department’s Academic Resource Center.

Kulics holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Administration from Kent State University and has graduate faculty status as an adjunct professor in Kent State’s School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration within the College and Graduate School of Education, Health, and Human Services.

The primary goal of the Office of the Student Ombuds is to provide students confidential consultation in assisting with the possible resolution of any university-related concern, grievance or appeal. The Ombuds office works directly with faculty and staff in providing consultation on university policies and procedures, and has established itself as an objective, non-biased operation that continues to work toward developing a fair and equitable university community.

The Office of the Student Ombuds is located in Room 250 of the Kent Student Center. The office can be reached at 330-672-9494.

For more information about the Office of the Student Ombuds, visit www.kent.edu/emsa/ombuds.cfm.

Deadline for Distinguished Teaching Award Nominations is June 30

Nominations for the Distinguished Teaching Award, sponsored
by the Kent State Alumni Association, ends June 30. 

The Kent State Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the Distinguished Teaching Award until June 30.

Sponsored by the Alumni Association since 1967, the Distinguished Teaching Award is the university’s most prestigious honor in teaching for full-time, tenure-track faculty. The award is presented annually to three full-time faculty members who demonstrate extraordinary teaching in the classroom and a devotion to touching the lives of students. Qualified nominees include Kent State tenure-track faculty who are currently employed by the university.

In addition to submitting a nomination, faculty and staff can help promote the Distinguished Teaching Award to students and encourage them to recommend a faculty member. Visit www.ksualumni.org/dta for the nomination form and detailed eligibility requirements.

Deadline is June 30! Nominate Your Favorite Faculty Member for the Outstanding Teaching Award

The Outstanding Teaching Award is sponsored by the
University Teaching Council. Nominations for the 2012 awards
are due by June 30.

Honor that unforgettable faculty member and share your favorite classroom memories of how he or she inspired you — submit a nomination for the Outstanding Teaching Award today.

Sponsored by the University Teaching Council, the Outstanding Teaching Award is intended to honor outstanding teaching by nontenure-track and part-time faculty at Kent State University. The awards parallel the Distinguished Teaching Awards sponsored by the Kent Alumni Association: Every year, three Kent faculty members will be honored with awards of $1,500 each for their outstanding achievements in teaching.

But first they must be nominated, and that is up to you.

ELIGIBILITY

1. A faculty member must have been on a nontenure-track or part-time contract at the Kent Campus or any Regional Campus of the university for a minimum of five consecutive years (annually, not necessarily every semester), including the current academic year. (Returning emeriti are excluded.)
2. Those receiving the awards must be on contract during the semester (fall 2011) in which the awards are presented.
3. Those who received an Outstanding Teaching Award previously are not eligible.
   

You can nominate your favorite professor NOW by visiting the online form. www.kent.edu/utc/teaching_award. Deadline for nominations is June 30. 

Chemistry/Physics Library Closing

Renovations in Williams Hall starting in late summer 2012 require the permanent closing of the Chemistry/Physics Library. The last day for public access was June 1. The space will be vacated June 29. A transition plan is in place for maintaining collection access and services. The Chemistry/Physics Library website provides additional information about the following changes.

Collections
Print journals will be integrated into the bound journal collection on the fifth and sixth floors of University Library. A majority of the remaining print subscriptions will be converted to online access starting in January 2013. About 7,000 of the most current and actively used books will be interfiled on the seventh floor. The remaining book collection will be placed in storage and will be available through online requesting.

Circulation
Materials will be unavailable through KentLINK and OhioLINK until the relocation is complete. The hallway book drop to return books will be available until June 15. After that date, books will need to be returned in person or by campus mail to the library.

Other relocations and services

• Workstations with specialized, stand-alone products including ChemDraw and LiqCryst, will be relocated to the Reference Center on the first floor.
• Course reserve materials will be available to students through the circulation desk. Future processing of materials to be placed on reserve will be handled through the Reserve Services Office in the library.
• Interlibrary loan and document delivery requests should be placed online through Illiad, which can be found at https://kent.illiad.oclc.org/illiad/logon.html.
  

Ongoing Support
University Libraries is committed to continuing needed information support for former users of the Chemistry/Physics Library. Direct instruction or reference requests to Ken Burhanna at kburhann@kent.edu or 330-672-1600, and any collection questions to Melissa Spohn at mspohn@kent.edu. Senior Library Associate Rochelle Gray (rgray@kent.edu, 330-672-1655) will join the staff in Library Technical Services.

Controller’s Office Reminder to Close Out the Fiscal Year

The university will complete its fiscal year on June 30. The following are the cut-off dates for various financial transactions for the end of this fiscal year.  In general, documents received after the due date will be recorded in the new fiscal year.

The Controller’s office appreciates timely submissions of documents to ensure that a timely, year-end cut-off has occurred. If you have questions, contact the Controller’s Office at 330-672-2392.

ITEM (as of 6/30)                                        DUE DATE                    AREA

Cash deposits                                           July 2 by 4 p.m.            Bursar’s Office

Credit memos/invoices for accounts
receivable other systems                        July 2 by 3 p.m.            Bursar’s Office

Cost transfers                                           June 18 by 5 p.m.        Controller’s Office

Expense reimbursements                     June 29 by 5 p.m.         Accounts Payable
                           
Interdepartmental charges
and COR journal entries                        June 29 by 5 p.m.        Controller’s Office

Invoices for payments and P-card
reconciliations                                          July 6 by 5 p.m.            Accounts Payable

Non-position control budget 
revisions                                                    July 3 by 5 p.m.            Budget Office           

Petty cash reimbursements                  July 2 by 5 p.m.            Controller’s Office

Position control budget revisions         June 25 by 5 p.m.        Budget Office

Purchase requisitions
(date for final approval)                           June 28 by 5 p.m.        Procurement

Salary redistributions                              June 18 by 5 p.m.        Controller’s Office

Wire transfers                                           June 27 by 5 p.m.        Accounts Payable

It’s that Time Again! Destination Kent State Advising and Registration is Right Around the Corner

Flashguides, a group of diverse and fun-loving students,
serve as mentors to new students during the Destination
Kent State advising and registration program.Twenty-two
students make up this year's Flashguides class.

The June and July advising and registration program is a one-and-a-half-day experience that includes an overnight stay in a residence hall. Students are encouraged to invite family members to participate in the program. The students explore important topics, including the differences between high school and college, and navigating the university and properly preparing to be a college student. Family members learn about essential tools for a successful college experience, such as financial aid, as well as survival skills for being the parent/family member of a college student. The program concludes on the second day when the student meets one-on-one with an academic advisor and creates an academic plan.

This year, advising and registration sessions will be held between May 29 and July 14 with a break the week of July 4.

The advising and registration program helps students make the all-important first connection to the university. One way students make connections is through their relationship with an exceptional group of students called Flashguides. They are part mentor, part ally, part cheerleader and part program organizer. This year’s class of 22 Flashguides is a diverse and fun-loving group of students who participate in the program because they want to make a difference in the lives of new students.

Join the Office of Student Success programs in welcoming the Flashguide class of 2012 to their positions. We all have a stake in their success!

Braylee Miller (Freshman, Communication Studies)
Lauren Sewell (Sophomore, Public Health)
Chris Woods (Sophomore, News)
Krissa Duhon (Freshman, Integrated Language Arts)
Brittany Neal (Junior, Justice Studies)
Kris Caccamise (Sophomore, Marketing)
David Hendricks (Freshman, Communication Studies)
Ira Chapman (Junior, American Sign Language)
Madeline Hauck (Senior, Communication Studies)
Shelbi Jones (Freshman, Public Relations)
Braylon Hudson (Junior, Psychology)
Blair Gabalis (Freshman, Integrated Language Arts)
Bre Buckner (Sophomore, Public Health)
Courtney Lutke (Junior, Architecture)
Sarah Northcott (Sophomore, Speech Pathology)
Tyler Verma (Freshman, Exploratory)
Jennifer Mitchkash (Sophomore, Middle Childhood Education)
Symphonie Mosley (Sophomore, Advertising)
Karla Santiago (Freshman, Pre-Nursing)
Michael Collins (Freshman, Spanish)
Rosylnn Porch (Sophomore, Marketing)
John Soros (Sophomore, Finance)

New Online Service - KSUview

Students can now keep their parents and other trusted individuals up to date on important student information in KSUview. Students can share information, such as financial aid, class schedules and grades by designating access to individuals for selected categories of information.

Students log in to KSUview from the Student Tools and Courses tab in FlashLine. KSUview allows designees to view student information online, but it does not permit designees to discuss this information with university representatives. That requires FERPA authorization.

Learn more about KSUview and encourage students to sign up at www.kent.edu/KSUview.

Reminder to Submit Stories for e-Inside

e-Inside is back this summer. Stories or story ideas for the e-newsletter should be submitted to einside@kent.edu by 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the issue in which you want it to appear. 

Announcements regarding births, weddings, retirements, obituaries, classifieds and more should be submitted to the e-Inside Message Boards at www.kent.edu/einside/messageboard. The Message Boards are intended to be a service for only Kent State faculty and staff. Please note that there may be a delay in posting messages because they must first be approved by e-Inside editorial staff.