eInside Briefs

Students Help Share the Passion for United Way With Spaghetti Dinners

All year long, community members count on the vital services that  United Way supports, giving them a reason to look with hope to the future. The generosity of our entire university community ensures that individuals and families get the support they need to live dignified and healthy lives.

This year, our goal is $160,000. Our campaign makes it simple for you to give, whether through a direct contribution or through payroll deduction. Many departments are sponsoring their own workplace events and competitions - be sure to look for them!

Kent State students are joining in the fundraising fun by hosting two spaghetti dinners to support United Way. The dinners are $7.50 per person, with $2 from each dinner sold going to the United Way of Portage County.  On Monday, Nov. 15,a dinner will be held in the Prentice Hall cafeteria. On Tuesday, Nov.16, pasta will again be served, but the location switches to the cafeteria in Eastway. Both dinners will be held from 5 - 7 p.m.

Just as we all focus on results in our work, United Way of Portage County focuses on achieving measurable, long-lasting results through vital, locally operated programs. The local United Way supports a number of programs, including crisis-relief efforts and programs for children and youth, senior citizens and families. In addition, the United Way supports 211 Portage, an information and referral service that provides direct access to more than 800 community services in Portage County.

Kent State University's annual United Way Campaign comprises a substantial portion of the operating funds of the United Way of Portage County. Our support is critical to the long-term and local success of our local United Way.

A few dollars donated to United Way can mean a person or family in need receives services worth far more than the face value of the cash. For example, $1 provides a free winter coat and a free bag of clothing from the County Clothing Center. A donation of $2 will provide a hot, full-course meal to a hungry child or adult. And, $50 will purchase groceries to feed a family of four for an entire week.

These are only a few examples of how much a little can do! Each and every seemingly small amount can make a big difference in the lives of a person or family in need. A pledge of $2 per month per employee or $50 for 2011 will bring us to our 2011 goal.

Annual Awards Recognize Educators During Teaching Conference

Six Kent State University educators received recognition for their achievements inside the classroom during Kent State's 17th annual Celebrating College Teaching conference on Thursday and Friday Oct. 28-29.

The Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA), sponsored by the Kent State Alumni Association, was presented to three individuals who demonstrate extraordinary teaching in the classroom and a commitment to impacting the lives of students.

The Outstanding Teaching Award (OTA) honors full-time, non-tenure track and part-time faculty and is sponsored by the University Teaching Council. This prestigious award is also presented annually to three faculty members who consistently demonstrate extraordinary skill in classroom teaching.

The OTA winners are:

Richard "Rick" Robyn, Department ofPolitical Science, Kent Campus

Ivanka Sabolich, Department of Sociology, Kent Campus

Donald McFall, Department of Accounting, Kent Campus

The DTA winners are:

Deborah Bice, Department ofEnglish, Kent State University at Ashtabula

Danielle Gruhler, School ofTeaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies, Kent Campus

Kristen Marcussen, Department ofSociology, Kent Campus

More information about each winner will appear in future issues of e-Inside.

Air Travelers Can Take Advantage of Kent State Employee Parking Discount at Cleveland Hopkins Airport

Have travel plans in your future? Take advantage of the Kent State employee discount parking promotion offered through Park Place Airport Parking, immediately across the street from Cleveland Hopkins Airport on Snow Road.

Claim your Frequent Parker Card now by visiting www.parkplacefree.com; go to the Frequent Parker tab at the top of the page; and click on the "enroll now" button at the bottom. When prompted, enter the promotional code 0640207. Include Kent State as the company name in the appropriate area of the sign-up form.

This Frequent Parker Program is a discount card that lets cardholders earn free parking days and guarantees parking accommodations at all times. Cardholders never need to prepay or call ahead to make reservations. There is no contract, minimum usage or additional fee required.

Cardholders pay $5.75 per day to park. In addition, cardholders receive free newspapers, bottled water and a car wash every time they park.

For additional information, contact Paul Sokol, Park Place account representative, at 440-724-4570.

Kent State PRSSA Wins Two National Awards

The Kent State Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) recently received two national awards honoring the chapter's work with the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau and its outstanding relationship with the Akron Area Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

The Bateman Team, with Vice President Iris Harvey (far right),
who presented the team with the U.S. Census award.

2010 Teahan National Chapter Award
PRSSA Kent and Akron PRSA won the national PRSSA Teahan Chapter Award for Outstanding PRSSA/PRSA Relationship at the Annual Awards Ceremony during the PRSSA 2010 National Conference in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 18.

"We're very fortunate to have such a good relationship with Akron PRSA," says Aubrey Haskins, a senior public relations student and PRSSA Kent officer. The professionals share valuable career advice and insight about the public relations field."

The chapters collaborated on several events in 2010 including a social media conference and a networking event. Akron PRSA members also serve as guest speakers and mentors throughout the year.

"Our members feel that it is one of our obligations to mentor the members of PRSSA Kent to assist them in becoming the public relations leaders of tomorrow," says Tom Duke, president, Akron Area PRSA.  "We are very proud of our association and look forward to cooperative efforts in the future."

The Teahan Chapter Award for Outstanding PRSA/PRSA Relationship Award recognizes the strong and mutually beneficial relationship between the two chapters. PRSSA National gives 12 Teahan National Chapter Awards annually to honor the achievements of chapters across the country. PRSSA Kent and Akron PRSA previously won a Teahan in this category five years ago.

U.S. Census Bureau Valuable Partner Award                                               
The U.S. Census Bureau presented Kent State a valuable partner award for its "Count Kent in a Flash" campaign. A team of PRSSA Kent members implemented the campaign to raise awareness and participation in the 2010 Census. The campaign was part of the PRSSA National Bateman Case Study Competition. 

"This project provided students with a valuable opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom to a real-world communication challenge," says Michele Ewing, associate professor and PRSSA Kent faculty adviser.

To kick off the campaign, Kent State students teamed up with the U.S. Census Bureau for the Portrait of America Road Tour, which featured 13 vehicles traveling throughout the country. At the Kent State stop, attendees had an opportunity to learn more about the census and how it benefits Kent State and Kent communities through census-themed activities and information tables. The campaign also included a street team, pledge drives and numerous presentations.

Members of the PRSSA Kent Bateman Team included senior public relations students Aubrey Haskins, Stephanie Mathias, Erin Orsini, Rachel Polchek and Katie Young. Iris Harvey, vice president of University Relations presented the award.

In 1968, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) founded the Public Relations Student Society of America. The purpose of PRSSA is to cultivate a favorable and mutually advantageous relationship between students and professional public relations practitioners. PRSSA has more than 9,600 members in 284 chapters on college campuses across the country.

For more information about PRSSA, visit http://www.prssa.org/.

For more information on PRSSA Kent, visit http://jmc.kent.edu/students/organizations/prssa/default.aspx.

For more information about the Akron Area Chapter of PRSA, visit http://prsaakron.org/.

Enrollment Growth Propels Kent State to Second Largest Public University in Ohio

Kent State University now ranks as the second largest public university in the state of Ohio, moving up a spot from the number three position it had previously held.

Kent State University now ranks as the second largest public university in the state of Ohio, moving up a spot from the number three position it had previously held. Increased enrollment at Kent State's Regional Campuses, as well as rising enrollment of international students and students among the AALANA (African-American, Latino-American and Native American) population, have helped propel the university to its new ranking.

Students continue to choose Kent State in record numbers.

For the Fall 2010 Semester, Kent State reported 41,365 students, a 7.56 percent increase in enrollment from the prior year and the highest recorded enrollment in the university's 100-year history. Kent State's enrollment this fall exceeds the University of Cincinnati's enrollment by eight students, which had occupied the number two spot. The Ohio State University, one of the largest universities in the country, remains the largest public university in the state.

"We are, of course, delighted with the enrollment growth that moved us to second place," says Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton. "More importantly, we are proud that each year more and more students from across Ohio and around the world recognize the great educational experience provided at Kent State."

In addition to Kent State's enrollment growth, the university has recently received recognition from local, national and international organizations. Times Higher Education, a London-based higher education magazine, has ranked Kent State as one of the top 200 universities in the world in its 2010-2011 World University Rankings. Kent State earned a coveted spot in the first-tier list of Best National Universities, appearing in the September issue of U.S. News & World Report in its 2011 edition of Best Colleges. In addition, the Princeton Review has just named Kent State's College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Management to its The Best 300 Business Schools: 2011 Edition guide.

To view Kent State's enrollment reports, visit www.kent.edu/rpie/enrollment.

Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement Launches Engaging Leadership Newsletter

The Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement is excited to announce the first issue of Engaging Leadership, the quarterly newsletter designed to keep you up-to-date on the exciting things the office is doing to make experiential learning and civic engagement a distinctive part of the academic culture at Kent State University. We invite you to read more about exciting courses and community-based opportunities in this issue and future issues to come.

The first issue is available now online at http://www.kent.edu/experiential/newsletter.cfm .

Group Endows LGBT Studies Scholarship at Kent State

A local support, advocacy and education group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals has given $30,000 to endow a scholarship for students in Kent State University's LGBT studies minor.

The Akron chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgendered individuals (PFLAG) made the gift through bequest funds designated for education by the Harold Sylvester family of Medina.

Rabbi David Horowitz, a local board member who is also the president-elect of the national organization's board of directors, said the university's commitment to diversity inspired the gift. In March, Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton and other officials opened the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Student Center as part of a universitywide diversity initiative.

"We are impressed with Kent State's outreach to the LGBT community, particularly the opening of the LGBTQ Student Center," Lefton says. "Kent State is friendly and embracing of the LGBT community."

In addition to the LGBTQ Student Center, Kent State's resources for the community include a previously endowed scholarship for LGBT studies students and an endowed fund that supports LGBT student programming.

Horowitz says PFLAG made the gift to increase awareness of sexual minority issues by inspiring more students to enroll in the LGBT studies minor.

"We hope that as more students increase their knowledge of the LGBT community, it will broaden that information throughout the general public," Horowitz says. "The more people are educated, the more people will teach, the more people will understand LGBT issues and equality in America."

The LGBT studies minor was the first of its kind in Ohio when it was created in 2001, and today is just one of two such programs in the state. Kent State Associate Professor Molly Merryman, co-coordinator of the minor, says the scholarship not only will raise the visibility of the program, but also will aid students who are financially vulnerable during their coming out process.

"One of the really tragic stories is that every year students come out to their families and are then cut off financially," she said. "Helping these young people deal with their financial issues allows them to remain students and continue achieving their career and life goals. I find it particularly poignant that PFLAG Akron, an organization made up of parents who go out of their way to support their LGBT children, is reaching out to assist students whose parents may not be so supportive."

Recently, much national attention has been focused on a number of high-profile suicides by LGBT people in high school and college. Merryman says the LGBT studies minor plays a role in helping remove stigma and shame within the community.

"The high rates of suicide among people who are coming out is a very significant national problem," she says. "Hopefully, the LGBT Studies Program and the assistance provided by the PFLAG scholarship will contribute to lessening that epidemic."

Hudson resident Bill Libby, who sits on the Akron chapter board with his wife, Marie, helped facilitate the gift in honor of his daughter, Susan, who is a successful potter in California.

"Susan's doing fine," Libby says. "This is for all of the other kids who are dealing with family members who are surprised to learn they are gay, or transgender or bisexual."

The group is seeking others to step forward to increase funds available for Kent State LGBT student scholarships.

"By making this gift to Kent State, we're encouraging others to contribute," says Ed Kancler, president of the Akron chapter. "We believe that with our contacts we can generate money for the fund, and we hope Kent State alumni and community members will help, too."

To contribute to the PFLAG Akron Scholarship, contact the Kent State Office of Institutional Advancement at 330-672-2222 or advancement@kent.edu.

Show Your Kent State Support and Pride Through Membership in the Alumni Association

As a Kent State employee, you have a significant tie to the university. The Alumni Association would like to invite you this month to take that connection one step further through membership in the Kent State University Alumni Association.

Your membership helps make a significant impact on the Kent State community. Alumni association members support programs for students and alumni, including scholarships and awards to honor faculty, such as our recently presented Distinguished Teaching Awards.

Each year, the alumni association also hosts Homecoming, a celebration bringing together faculty, staff, alumni, students, friends and family to enjoy a day of Kent State pride and traditions.

Membership also provides many benefits to faculty and staff such as valuable online discounts, a free annual Kent State University calendar, free or discounted admission to alumni association events and a number of valuable networking opportunities.

Even if you are not an alumnus or alumna of the university, becoming a member of the alumni association is a way to show your support and pride in Kent State University while taking advantage of the many benefits offered through membership. By becoming a member during the month of November, you will be able to take advantage of a special member offer and receive a $5 gift card to Chipotle.

In the coming weeks you'll be hearing more about the Alumni Association, including testimonials from university employees and members. Until then, if you'd like to learn more about the Alumni Association and our programs, please take a few minutes to view this video.

Click here to join the alumni association online or call the Alumni Association office at 330-672-5368. Also, you can take advantage of payroll deduction to easily make your membership payment or utilize an installment plan.

Vietnamese Dignitaries Visit Kent State as Part of Speak Peace Poetry Initiative

Kent State recently hosted three visiting dignitaries from Vietnam in conjunction with an international collaborative art project that debuted in Kent in September.

Speak Peace: American Voices Respond to Vietnamese Children's Paintings, the Vietnamese Children's Art Exhibit in partnership with Vietnam's War Remnants Museum, is the result of a collaborative, international exchange between image and word, showcasing the visions of Vietnamese children and the power of poetry to promote healing and reconciliation.

The exhibit, which debuted in the United States at Kent State's Downtown Gallery, was featured at the 2010 International Peace and War Summit, which was held at Case Western Reserve University in late October. The Speak Peace exhibit has now moved on to travel nationally.

The idea for the art project grew out of the lifelong, innovative work of Dr. Edward Tick, co-founder of Soldier's Heart, a veterans return and healing organization based in Albany, N.Y. Tick, whose organization has led numerous healing and reconciliation journeys to Vietnam, has sought for years to bring these children's paintings on peace and war to the United States to help facilitate healing and cross-cultural understanding. Two Kent State students, Gabrielle Ciofani and Laura Torchia, were among a group of about 25 area veterans and community members who recently returned from a three-week trip to Vietnam.

Other speakers at the evening program included Tick, area veterans and Hiram College students in a dramatic performance of Speak Peace.

"We are celebrating the collaborative project with their country, welcoming back the veterans and Kent State students, and honoring our guests," says David Hassler, director of the Wick Poetry Center.

For more information on Speak Peace, contact Rachelle Chavez at the Wick Poetry Center at rpina@kent.edu or 330-672-2067.