eInside Briefs

Kent State University Sponsors Western Reserve PBS Program

Kent State University will serve as sponsor of NEOtropolis, a Western Reserve Public Media half-hour television series that explores the business and economy of the Northeast Ohio region.

Kent State President Lester A. Lefton
recorded an introduction spot for Western
Reserve PBS program NEOtropolis. The
program, which explores the business
and economy of Northeast Ohio, is
sponsored by Kent State.

Kent State University will serve as sponsor of NEOtropolis, a Western Reserve Public Media half-hour television series that explores the business and economy of the Northeast Ohio region.

Hosted by award-winning public radio reporter Luke Frazier, NEOtropolis showcases three forces of change in the Northeast Ohio region – technology, globalization and diversity. The series includes a coordinated field piece and panel discussion that explore how people work, learn, live and play in Northeast Ohio, and how organizations are doing business in new ways.

NEOtropolis profiles educators and a pool of experts, and takes viewers to policy places, including government meetings and other venues, to discover how the region is evolving. The program also features a call-in segment to get feedback from viewers.

Sixteen programs will be broadcast during the sponsorship period, beginning Jan. 10 through June 26. The program will air live on Tuesdays at 9 p.m., and repeat twice a week on Wednesdays at 3:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m.

More than 780,000 viewers watch Western Reserve PBS every week, which broadcasts over the air on channels 45.1 (WNEO) and 49.1 (WEAO), and is also available on most Northeast Ohio cable and satellite services.

“As a center of educational excellence, Kent State impacts the economic development of the Northeast Ohio region,” says Tom Neumann, associate vice president, University Communications and Marketing. “The university is accomplishing a lot through research, innovations, science, the arts, and more, and contributes to the development of a competitive workforce for the region. NEOtropolis provides us the platform to tell our story and those of other organizations that impact our local economy, and we are proud to be sponsors of the program.”

NEOtropolis will be produced at Kent State’s TeleProductions studio, and offers Kent State students the opportunity to participate in production. Kent State faculty will also be tapped for expertise as needed for studio and field segments.

For more information about the program, visit www.neotropolis.org.

Kent State University Summary of Board Actions from Dec. 13

At its Dec. 13 meeting, the Kent State University Board of Trustees took action on the following items:

College of Podiatric Medicine

The Board of Trustees authorized President Lester A. Lefton to take the next step in merger discussions with the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (OCPM), authorizing the signing of an exclusive letter of intent with the Independence, Ohio-based institution. The agreement will allow the completion of appropriate due diligence and enable leaders at both institutions to move toward plans for implementation. According to the resolution, President Lefton will present a final plan for acquisition or merger of OCPM for review by the Board within six months.

“This is a great fit and opportunity for Kent State, and I am pleased that our discussions with the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine are progressing,” says President Lefton. “Our organizations, Ohio students and the state will benefit from expansion of STEM-related instruction and degree options.”

Kent State Appoints First National Trustee

In recognition of the fact that Kent State is widely considered a top American university (as reflected in its inclusion in the first tier of best national universities in the 2012 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges), the Board established the position of National Trustee in September 2010. Today, Trustees voted unanimously to appoint alumnus and successful entrepreneur Michael D. Solomon to the new position, effective immediately.

National Trustees serve three-year terms. They must be non-Ohio residents who are Kent State graduates or friends of the university; have demonstrated professional success; have earned state, national or international prominence; have the ability to serve as advocates for higher education; and be willing and able to provide counsel to the university.

Solomon was nominated for the new role by Kent State President Lefton. The nomination was reviewed and endorsed by the Board’s Nominating Committee.

Aging Tri-Towers Residence Hall Complex to Undergo Renovation

The Kent State University Board of Trustees authorized a
phased renovation of the Tri-Towers residence hall complex.

The Board authorized a phased, major renovation of the Tri-Towers residence hall complex that will require Kent State to issue $30 million in tax-exempt, revenue bonds.

The Tri-Towers complex, which comprises Koonce, Leebrick and Wright halls, was built in 1968 and today houses 1,415 students. Recent internal and external studies of the university’s residence halls concluded that the complex needs a complete replacement or refurbishment in order to continue meeting student needs. The project approved by the Board includes the replacement of building automation controls, heating and air-conditioning systems, masonry pointing and caulking, window replacement, roof replacement, removal of existing flooring and concealed insulation, elevator replacements or upgrades, and replacement of all built-in furniture/partition wall systems with moveable furniture and acoustically insulated wall systems.

The Tri-Towers renovations will be completed during four, consecutive summers, with students occupying rooms during the academic year. Once bond funding for the project is secured, the first phase of construction will begin during the summer 2012 recess.

Click here to view a full listing of additional summary of board actions taken by the Kent State University Board of Trustees.

Kent State University Provost Robert Frank Accepts President Position at University of New Mexico

Provost and Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs Robert Frank has
accepted the position of president at the
University of New Mexico.

Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton has announced that Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Robert Frank has accepted the position of president at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Frank will become the 21st president of UNM.
 
“Dr. Frank made significant accomplishments while at Kent State,” Lefton says. “He was an innovator who supported the introduction of systems that have had tremendous impact on our students’ success.  He helped launch the university’s new College of Public Health and served as its interim dean. He helped forge international strategic partnerships and supported study abroad opportunities, as well as recruitment efforts to draw more international students to Kent State.

“The Kent State University community is grateful to Dr. Frank for his unwavering leadership and dedication to student success and I thank him for his contributions to our excellence agenda,” Lefton says. “The University of New Mexico is fortunate to have Dr. Frank, and we wish him well.”

Kent State has begun an active search for a new provost. The search committee is chaired by Dr. Daniel Mahony, dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Services. It is expected that a new provost will be named by the end of February 2012.

Frank will assume his position at the University of New Mexico in June 2012.

Important Message Regarding Student Registration Into Classes

As we begin the new semester, the Office of the Registrar asks for your assistance in making sure that all students are properly registered for their Spring 2012 courses.

As per university policy, only officially registered students are permitted to attend courses. The link to official class rosters is found in FlashFAST, under the "Faculty Advisor Toolbox" within the "Faculty and Advisor Tools" tab. Students who are not officially registered within the appropriate time period WILL NOT receive a grade or earn credit for the course even if they attend the entire course and complete all required work.

The schedule adjustment period for students to add full-term courses ends Sunday, Jan. 22. Students are able to withdraw from any or all full-term courses through Sunday, March 18. Deadlines for courses that meet outside the full part of term can be found on the Detailed Class Search. To access the Detailed Class Search, visit the Registrar's website at www.kent.edu/registrar, click the Schedule of Classes quicklink, and select Spring 2012.

Instructors should remind students that it is important to finalize and verify their registration within the proper timeframe. After the published deadlines, adjustments in registration will only be considered for review by the Office of the University Registrar in situations where students have fully complied with their responsibilities.

The deadline for submitting midterm grades (for freshmen only) and final grades can be found on the Registrar's website at www.kent.edu/registrar/calendars/index.cfm.

For additional information, please contact Jeff Gardner, associate registrar, at jgardn11@kent.edu.

Spring Semester Tech Help: Just a Click, Call or Visit Away

Information Services is offering dedicated information technology support for faculty and students beginning the first day of spring semester.  See below for our in-person, phone and online support options:

Faculty:

Faculty Drop-In Sessions, Jan. 9 - 13, from 2 - 5 p.m.

1. Bowman Hall (entrance by computer lab)
2. White Hall (1/9: Room 203 and 1/10 - 1/13: Room 221b)
3. Kent Library (first floor entrance, across from the Library Coffee Cart)
   

Staff in all three locations are trained to provide one-on-one assistance with:

• Blackboard courses and Wimba Classroom
• Login and password issues
• Computer, email and mobile device setup
  

Scheduled Training: Visit www.kent.edu/blackboard to sign up for one of the specialized Blackboard training sessions offered throughout the semester.
Support:  Contact your area's local tech support by visiting http://support.kent.edu/localsupport (Kent Campus) or http://support.kent.edu/help (Regional Campuses).

Students:

Visit The Tech Spot (http://techspot.kent.edu) in Tri-Towers Rotunda for complete computer care.

Visit Tech at Night (http://techatnight.kent.edu) for after-hours tech support (support for residence hall students until 11 p.m. at no charge)

Faculty, Staff and Students:

Click: http://support.kent.edu (24/7), Call: 330-672-HELP (24/7) or Visit: the Library IT Helpdesk (1st floor library) or The Tech Spot in Tri-Towers Rotunda.
 

Tunnel of Oppression Poster and Art Project Contest Now Underway

The 2011 Tunnel of Oppression at Kent State Trumbull
addressed the "Five Faces of Oppression," which include
exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural
imperialism and violence. This year, the theme is "Human
Trafficking: From Darkness to Light," and will be on display
from March 2 - April 27.

Generated and supported by the Kent State University at Trumbull Diversity Council, the 2012 edition of The Tunnel of Oppression will be displayed in the Theatre/Library Building from March 2 - April 27.

The purpose of such a project, according to council members, is to evoke thought by removing spectators from their "comfort zones" and thereby "causing them to change their preconceived ideas about hate".

The 2012 tunnel will be the fourth such display to appear at Kent State Trumbull and will address the theme, "Human Trafficking: From Darkness to Light." According to information provided by the Diversity Council, roughly 600,000 to 800,000 men, women and children are forced, coerced or fraudulently lured into sex work, prostitution, labor and domestic servitude each year.

In conjunction with the 2012 theme, the Diversity Council is sponsoring a poster/art project contest. Posters or other mediums must address the theme and be submitted no later than March 2.

Themes of “Dark” and “Light” can include the following areas:

• Types of countries: Source, transit, destination (Dark)
• Types of human trafficking: Sex trades, labor or domestic servitude (Dark)
• Victims (Light) & Offenders (Dark)
• Countries complicit in trafficking (Dark) or are taking steps to prevent it (Light)
• Resources, services, policy and legislation to address the issue (Light): International, national, state and local, including Ohio (Dark and Light)
• Non-governmental and faith-based organizational efforts (Light)
  

 Prizes will be awarded as follows:

• First Place: Kent State University book bag
• Second Place: Kent State University sweatshirt
• Third Place: Kent State University T-shirt
• Honorable mention (3): Kent State University ball cap
  

Contestants must be enrolled students at Kent State University at Trumbull at the time of the submission deadline. Posters must be no smaller than 11" x 17” and no larger than 22" x 28". No digital submissions will be accepted. The deadline for submissions is March 2.

Criteria for judging will consist of overall power of message, clarity and emotional tension, integrity, originality and creativity.

Posters should be submitted to Dr. Mary Wilson via the Information Desk, located inside the Classroom/Administration Building and should include the submitter's name, street address, phone number and email address.

Do You Have a New Year's Resolution?