eInside Briefs

Parents and Families Association Launches for Families of Kent State Students

Kent State University students and their family members
take a walk across the Kent Campus on a summer day. 

Launched in June, Kent State University’s Parents and Families Association allows parents and family members of Kent State students to be aware of happenings on campus and opportunities available to help enhance the experiences of their student both inside and outside the classroom.

“We launched the Parents and Families Association in an effort to make being a family member of a Kent State student as easy, painless and fun as possible,” says Nichole Baker, director of advancement in the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. “We want to be their one-stop resource for all their questions and concerns, and to offer them updates on campus happenings so they can follow along in their student’s journey.”

The Parents and Families Association provides opportunities to engage with the university on campus from time to time, such as on Parents and Families Day, which will take place this year on Sept. 6. The association also provides benefits and perks, such as exclusive e-newsletters, a freshman parent newsletter, a 15-percent discount on Kent State apparel in the University Bookstore and a 15-percent discount from participating merchants in the Kent community.

“The college experience can sometimes be confusing and stressful for family members of students, and that is why we have created this association,” says Shay Little, associate vice president for the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. “We are here to ensure you have the information, support and access you need to feel secure in the knowledge that your student is on the road to success at Kent State. The Parents and Families Association is a great way for you to stay connected to your student and to learn about the many academic and extracurricular opportunities at Kent State.”

All faculty and staff members who have students attending Kent State are eligible to be part of the Association and take advantage of the benefits and discounts. To learn more, visit www.kent.edu/families. To sign up, visit www.kent.edu/join-today.

Train Your Brain With Summer Tech Workshops

Tom Mahon, manager of training and outreach for the
Division of Information Services, leads a workshop on
Google Apps.

Back by popular demand, Kent State University’s Division of Information Services is hosting an on-campus summer workshop series focused on tech tools used by staff and faculty. Visit http://training.kent.edu today to see all of the training offerings and to register for these free workshops. Ed Mahon, vice president for information services, explains that “these trainings offer us a great opportunity to provide information and trainings around useful and leading-edge technologies that faculty and staff can really use.”

Summer workshops will run from July 28 until Aug. 7. In 90-minute sessions, we will walk you through ways to use your apps more effectively:

1. Microsoft Word Basics
2. Microsoft Excel Basics
3. Microsoft PowerPoint Basics
4. Google Docs
5. Google Sheets
6. Google Presenter
7. Cloud Storage
   

Look for the “Train Your Brain” logo for more information
about the Fall 2014 Tech Training Series. 

These workshops are an extension of last spring’s training effort when students, faculty, staff and university alumni quickly filled up seats in a series of technology workshops offered throughout February and March. With more than 50 sessions to choose from, attendees were trained in a variety of skills, including Google applications, computer troubleshooting, Adobe products, Blackboard navigation and social media usage.

“These trainings were clearly filling a need,” notes Jay Frye, director of information services service management and one of the leaders behind this initiative. “Attendees consistently provided positive feedback on the trainings and indicated that they wanted even more.”
 
Come see us to train your brain and make these apps work for you! Again, the full summer 2014 tech training course list, training locations and registration can be found at http://training.kent.edu.
 
Questions? Direct any inquiries to Tom Mahon, manager of training and outreach for the Division of Information Services, at tmahon@kent.edu.

Get Ready for Homecoming 2014

A group of runners take part in the annual Bowman Cup
5K Race.

Many fun-filled activities are already planned for Homecoming. The festivities will kick off early on Oct. 18 as the university shows that “Kent State Pride is Worldwide.”

This year’s events will embrace the Homecoming theme by offering the opportunity for those living outside Northeast Ohio to run the annual Bowman Cup 5K Race virtually. Similar to past years, on-campus events will include the Bowman Cup 5K Race, the hospitality tent at the Williamson Alumni Center, the parade down Main Street, Kiss on the K and the Homecoming game against the Army Black Knights.

The deadline to register Homecoming events being planned by university departments or offices is Friday, Aug. 22. The registration form is available on the Kent State University Alumni Association’s website and can be submitted online. Registered events will be promoted on the Homecoming website and, as space allows, in other marketing materials. You also can download a parade registration form from the Alumni Association website.

For additional information about Homecoming 2014, visit www.ksualumni.org/homecoming or email alumni@kent.edu. 

Register to Participate in the 2014 Homecoming Parade

Members of the Homecoming Court
wave to the crowd during a Homecoming
parade.

Kent State University and the city of Kent invite you or your department to participate in the 2014 Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 18. The parade will step off at 11 a.m. from the Kent Campus and will proceed west on Main Street. The parade will conclude at approximately 12:30 p.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Franklin Avenue in downtown Kent.

This year’s parade theme is “Kent State Pride is Worldwide.”

Participation in the parade is limited to the first 100 entries. All entries must be received by Friday, Sept. 26 for consideration of acceptance into the Homecoming Parade. Your entry will be confirmed upon receipt of your registration form. Parade registration, staging and disbanding location, map and additional information will be sent to the entry’s contact person by Oct. 3.

Please email, mail or fax your completed form by Friday, Sept. 26, to:

Rebecca Kapler
Center for Student Involvement
226 Kent Student Center
Kent, OH 44242-0001
330-672-2052 Fax
rkapler@kent.edu

Each entrant is responsible for securing their own parade mobility, whether by foot or vehicle. Signs and/or banners are also the responsibility of the entrant. Parade participants are welcome to pass out promotional items and/or candy to the parade spectators, both children and adults. All entries should be in good taste and not make any reference to alcohol, drugs or other distasteful or offensive behaviors.

If you have specific questions about the parade, contact Rebecca Kapler, in the Center for Student Involvement, at 330-672-5288 or rkapler@kent.edu.