eInside Briefs

Time Management Tips for Helping Busy Students

According to the Upromise Foundation, today half of all students work part-time jobs. In addition, the number of students working off campus has increased from 49 to 57 percent in the past five years. Other factors that contribute to students’ long and busy days are the activities that students participate in.  With all the options to get involved including Greek life, leadership development, student government, community service, and many others, students are filling their plates sky high with things to do.

While all this involvement can be challenging, the benefits are numerous. Involvement leads to a better understanding of the students’ own abilities, talents and career goals. It allows students to socialize and relieve stress, as well as encourages their development as leaders. Given those factors, it is our job as professionals in the field to encourage students to stay organized in order to keep up with their class work, involvement and many other obligations. The following are some tips and resources to share with students about time management from the Center for Student Involvement.

First, encourage students to get a planner and coordinate their activities according to how important they are to their success. The planner creates a visual reminder of all the things students need to accomplish every week and forces them to develop a routine that will allow for the most productivity. Just as students have deadlines for papers and projects in class, suggest that they create personal deadlines for other aspects of their life so they can stay three steps ahead in all facets. Lastly, let students know that it is OK to say no. Students are sometimes overwhelmed with the activities that are presented to them by their friends, their families and as part of campus life. Students cannot stretch themselves too thin in this busy time in their lives.

For more resources regarding time management, goal setting, conflict management and much more, visit the Center for Student Involvement website and the Golden Flash Handbook of Leadership at http://www.kent.edu/csi/leadership/resources/golden-flash-handbook-of-leadership.cfm.
 
Inspire one of your students today!

Kent State Magazine Survey Closing Soon

We know you have things to tell us! So here’s your chance. We’re inviting you to take a quick survey about Kent State Magazine. Visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/KSUMag1 to tell us what you’d like to see more of or where we can improve.

The first 100 of you who give us a piece of your mind will receive a copy of Professor Emeritus William Hildebrand’s engaging chronicle of Kent State’s first 100 years, A Most Noble Enterprise.

Who knows, the next great story you read in Kent State Magazine may be your brainchild!

Grades for H1 and W1 Courses Due March 8

Online grading for courses meeting in H1 (first half of term) and W1 courses (those which meet online)begins  Tuesday, March 2, via FlashFAST. Grading is also now available for any Spring 2011 course section that was flexibly scheduled and has already ended. The deadline for grading submissions for these courses is midnight on Tuesday, March 8.

FlashFAST is accessible from any Internet-capable computer that has the cookies function enabled. To access FlashFAST, log in to FlashLine at http://flashline.kent.edu and click the Faculty and Advisor Tools tab. The link to your grade roster(s) is located in the Faculty and Advisor Toolbox, under the Submit Grades heading.

Grades processing tips and FAQ may be found on the Office of the University Registrar's website at http://www.kent.edu/registrar/facstaff/facresc.cfm. Any faculty member who needs personalized instruction on submitting their grades via FlashFAST should contact their campus’s Office of the Registrar during normal business hours for assistance.

Also, as a helpful tip, it is recommended 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 FlashFAST and/or FlashLine by improving your connection to the server. Our Helpdesk is prepared to offer assistance with these issues. Please contact them at 330-672-HELP (4357) for one-on-one assistance and for technical issues.

University Extends Hours of Security Escort Service

Effective Feb. 21, Kent State University’s Office of Safety and Security is extending the hours of the Security Escort Service. Any student, faculty or staff member will now be able to call 330-672-7004 for an escort between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m., seven days a week. The extended hours will be in effect until spring break.  
 
Security Aides are trained student employees who go through more than 100 hours of training before they are able to work security. They are also in direct radio communication with the Kent State Police Department via their radios.

Kent State University at Geauga Student Raises Funds for MDA Shamrock Drive

Kent State University Regional Academic Center student Stephanie Royster recently held a Shamrock fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).  Students, faculty and staff of the Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg opened their hearts and wallets to donate a total of $220 for the cause.  To entice contributions, Royster raffled off donated prizes to those who gave.  Raffle prizes ranged from CDs to pizza coupons to gift baskets.  This was the first time a fundraiser for the MDA was held at the Regional Academic Center and it won’t be the last as Royster hopes to hold another fundraiser in the future.

The MDA is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to conquering more than 40 diseases that affect more than one million Americans of all ages. The MDA combats muscle diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. The association's comprehensive service program includes medical examinations, flu shots, support groups, MDA summer camps for youngsters, and assistance with obtaining and repairing all types of durable medical equipment, including wheelchairs, leg braces and communication devices. To learn more, visit: www.mda.org.

College of Education, Health and Human Services Seeks Hall of Fame Applications

The College of Education, Health and Human Services seeks applications for its second annual Hall of Fame Award Ceremony. Applicants must be College of Education, Health and Human Services alumni who have committed their lives to serving others to make the world a better place.

The alumni award categories are:

• Centennial Alumni Award
• Distinguished Alumni Award
• Recent Alumni Award
• Diversity Alumni Award
• International Alumni Award
• Distinguished Service to the College of Education, Health and Human Services
• Alumni Leadership Award
  

The college will accept nominations online at www.kent.edu/ehhs/hof beginning March 1 through April 30. You may nominate yourself, an alumnus or a colleague for an award. An awards committee, composed of the College of Education, Health and Human Services faculty, administrators and advisory board members will review the nominations and select the recipients, who will receive their awards at the Hall of Fame Award Ceremony.

The event will be held during Homecoming weekend on Friday, Oct. 14, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.

Last year, the following alumni were inducted into the Hall of Fame: Dr. Fay Biles, ’56; Dr. William Herbert, ‘67,‘71,’79; Dr. Thomas Hohenshil, ‘65,‘68,’71; Dave Herpy, ’01; The Rev. Dr. Ron Fowler, ’59; Dr. Issaou Gado, ‘04; Rae Mandel, ’56; and Dr. Judy Genshaft, ‘73.

For more information about the College of Education, Health and Human Services Hall of Fame, contact Hope Magnus at hmagnus@kent.edu or call 330-672-2008.

Extended Service Hours for Audiovisual Collections

University Libraries is adding new extended service hours for its audiovisual collections, including reserve and booking services. To accommodate the new hours, all audiovisual services (except the preview room) will soon be available via the first floor circulation service area. Students, faculty and staff will have access to the collections whenever the building is open.  

DVDs and spoken word CDs are currently available on the first floor. All other collections, including the VHS collection and the camera equipment for classroom use, will be made available via the first floor in the coming weeks. Preview room services will be moving to the new Speak Easy area and nearby locations on the second floor. Watch for updates in e-Inside or on University Libraries’ website.

To book or reserve materials for classroom use, call 330-672-1854 or visit the circulation desk in the  Library lobby.

Kent State Offers New Study in Israel Trip Over Intersession

Comparative Religious Thought, a standard philosophy course offered by Kent State University, will be offered for the first time as a study abroad course in Israel, allowing students to study in Israel during the summer. The study abroad program occurs May 24 to June 4 during the summer intersession. Students will study Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha’i, Zoroastrianism and the ancient religious traditions of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Babylonians.  

This three-credit hour course will be taught by David Odell-Scott, chair of the Department of Philosophy, and will count as a Humanities CORE and Global Diversity course. Chaya Kessler, director of Jewish Studies and a native of Israel, is accompanying Odell-Scott as an instructor of record and translator.

As part of the study trip, the group will visit historic and religious sites, including Tiberias, Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, archeological expedition sites, the City of David, the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, Masada, Yad V’Shem, Capernaum, Tabgha (loaves and fishes site), Elijah’s Mount Carmel site and Beit-Lechem.

The trip is open to current Kent State students and anyone else from the area who wishes to participate. Non-Kent State students will be expected to participate in the readings for the course. The trip will cost $3,500 for students and $4,000 for non-students. The fees include flight, accommodations, entrance fees, most meals and administrative fees.

An interest meeting will be held March 1 at 4 p.m. in room 124 in Bowman Hall, and the application deadline is March 15, which must include a $1,000 deposit. For more information, contact Odell-Scott at dodellsc@kent.edu.