eInside Briefs

Long-Serving Faculty Member Awarded for Work With Honors Students

Barbara L. Yoost, faculty member in
Kent State's College of Nursing, was
awarded the Distinguished Honors Faculty
Award for 2013 for her work with nursing
honors students.

Kent State College of Nursing faculty member Barbara L. Yoost, M.S.N., RN, CNS, CNE, ANEF, received the Distinguished Honors Faculty Award for 2013 for her work with nursing honors students.

“I was shocked and humbled to have been named the university’s Distinguished Honors Faculty Award recipient this year,” says Yoost.

Yoost first taught at the School of Nursing from 1979-1984.She returned to the College of Nursing in 2002 and began teaching honors courses. In the late 2000s, she was appointed College of Nursing Honors Program coordinator by Dean Laura Dzurec.

“As the College of Nursing has grown, so has the number of nursing students who take courses for honors credit,” Yoost says. “At present, there are approximately 85 honors students majoring in nursing on the Kent Campus.”

This year, 40 junior and senior nursing honors students participated in a new journal club course she designed. It was created to engage students in the critique and analysis of current nursing research and practice, according to Yoost.

“It has been exciting to facilitate their discussions of best practice and to help the students consider how they might use the new research to change their own nursing practice,” Yoost says.

She was chosen by a committee of honors students on the basis of letters of nomination and her outstanding teaching and mentoring of honors students.

Yoost was honored Saturday, April 13, at a brunch hosted by the Honors College.

“It is a joy to work with such bright and committed students,” she says. “I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to assist in their professional development.”

Annual Steam Shutdown

In order to perform necessary maintenance on the boilers, steam transmission systems and electrical distribution systems, Kent State University’s Power Plant will be shut down from 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, until 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 19.

As a result of the steam shut down, most buildings located on the Kent Campus will not have hot water to sinks and showers, and/or heat and air conditioning.

Address any questions about this project to Frank Renovich at 330-672-0775 or frenovi2@kent.edu.

Controller’s Office Reminder to Close Out the Fiscal Year

Kent State University ends 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.

Please share this information with others in your department as you feel necessary.

The Controller’s Office appreciates timely submissions of documents to ensure the university’s auditors that a timely cut-off has occurred. For questions or more information, please contact the Controller’s Office at 330-672-2392. 

Kent State Students Share Favorite Classes on Facebook

Kent State University students were asked about their favorite classes in a contest on the Kent State Facebook page. About 246 students shared their favorite classes and were entered to win a stuffed black squirrel, a travel mug, a USB drive, a T-shirt, a hat and a tote bag.

Find out what their favorites were and see if your class made the list at www.kent.edu/news/socialmedia/prize-pack-contest.cfm.

Visit Kent State’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kentstate.

University Libraries’ Stress-Free Zone Is Back

A Kent State student gets to know a dog during the
Stress-Free Zone event held in the lobby of the library
during finals week. 

Kent State University Libraries will host its Stress-Free Zone event in the libraries lobby on Monday and Tuesday, May 6-7, from 3-5 p.m. The Stress-Free Zone offers members of the university community the opportunity to unwind and ease the stress of finals week.

“It’s a nice distraction from finals,” says Karen Hillman, director of marketing at University Libraries. “It’s been very successful in the past, and we expect nearly 400 students to attend this semester.”

Popcorn and drinks will be provided, and attendees can take time to relax by playing Wii games and more. Pet therapy dogs also will return this year. All Kent State students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the event.

For more information about University Libraries, visit www.kent.edu/library.

Renovated Heer Hall New Home for Several Administrative Offices

Pictured above is the lobby area in Heer Hall, home to the
Division of Human Resources; Research, Planning and
Institutional Effectiveness; and Academic Personnel.

As part of Kent State’s campus transformation, "Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future" initiative, several administrative departments have relocated to Heer Hall.

The newly renovated building is now home to the Division of Human Resources, bringing together all HR units previously housed in Terrace Hall Annex and Wright Hall. Also taking up residence in the tri-level building is Research, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, formerly located in Lake Hall; and Academic Personnel, which moved from its office on South Willow Street. The latter two departments are located on the third floor of Heer Hall. The phone and fax numbers for all offices remain the same.

Heer Hall is located at 635 Loop Road, near the intersection of Loop Road and Eastway Drive on the Kent Campus. The building improvements are similar to those made to the adjacent Harbourt Hall in 2011, and include a complete replacement and modernization of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, upgrading the fire suppression and alarm systems, renovation in the bathrooms and other public areas, a new elevator for accessibility, interior finishes and exterior envelope.

There is also a lactation room and a bicycle locker area for those who choose to conserve fuel by riding a bicycle to work instead of driving.

The Heer Hall renovations also represent a transition to more eco-friendly solutions that will help to conserve energy and save money. As such, it is anticipated that Heer Hall will be recognized as a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) building.

“Currently, Harbourt Hall is the only LEED Gold building on any of our campuses, “says Melanie Knowles, manager for sustainability at Kent State.  “However, we are currently in the process of seeking LEED certification for several other new or renovated buildings, including the Kent State University Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg and many of the new 'Foundations of Excellence' buildings that will be constructed over the next several years.”

The occupants of Heer Hall are enjoying their new surroundings. “The fact that the Division of Human Resources is located in one building will help us work more collaboratively  as well as add a convenience factor to those whom we serve,” says Alvin Evans, interim vice president for human resources. “We also have more conference space, which will allow us to conduct training and outreach activities in an inviting atmosphere.”

Lynn Heller, manager of Academic Personnel, says her staff still has a lot of unpacking and re-arranging to do.  “But once we are set up properly, I think the space will be more efficient, and having our offices back on campus will make it more convenient for everyone.”

Wayne Schneider, director of Research, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, says for his staff, the new space means there is more room and a little more privacy than in their previous space. He and the others also credited the staff from Facilities, Planning and Operations for their work in making this a smooth transition.

The "Foundations of Excellence" project involves the construction of new buildings, facility upgrades and the establishment of dynamic, new spaces throughout Kent State’s campuses.

Kent State Students to Make Feature Film This Summer

Pictured above is a scene from Research: The Musical, a
musical comedy with original songs written and scored by
students in the preproduction class taught by Associate
Lecturer Traci E. Williams. Williams and her students are
in the process of creating their third feature film, Hell at
Heathridge, this summer. 

Kent State University students have the cameras ready to roll again to create their third feature film, Hell at Heathridge.

Written by former student Bryan Kelly, the terror-filled tale weaves the story of five young actors who reenact a grisly murder-suicide that occurred at Heathridge University 20 years ago. However, they come to realize it’s not just a simple reenactment. The students soon learn one thing – evil is real.

At this time, more than 50 aspiring filmmakers are tackling the groundwork for this movie in a three-hour preproduction class taught by Traci E. Williams, associate lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. From working on teasers to casting talent, this is a real film production.

“Nobody else is doing this,” says Executive Producer Estee Hodge. “Not even world-renowned film schools.”

The students are giving up an entire summer to shoot the film June 10 through Aug. 3. Seniors Tyler Pina and Caroline Abbey are directing the entire film and overseeing about 100 volunteers. The finished product will premiere before an audience of hundreds at a red-carpet event booked this fall. Soon after, Hell at Heathridge will hit international and national film festivals. The producers are also looking to secure a distribution deal for the movie.

The number one priority for the students now is fundraising.

“If we don’t raise money, we don’t have a film,” Williams says.

The group launched a Kickstarter campaign to support the production. Financial contributions will go towards production necessities, such as camera and audio equipment, props, wardrobe and set meals. The group only has 30 days to raise $25,000. If they don’t meet that goal by May 25, they lose it all and get nothing.

“Everyone involved in this film project is truly dedicated,” Williams says. “Not only are they using this experience to help launch their careers, but they are making a name for Kent State and filmmaking in Ohio as well.

“Kent State University Independent Films will not stop working until Hell at Heathridge is up on the big screen,” Williams adds.

For more information or to contribute to the project, visit the Kent State Independent Films’ Kickstarter page at http://kck.st/XZTZmP, and get Hell at Heathridge updates at www.facebook.com/HellatHeathridge.

Paid Internships Available For Freshman and Sophomore Math or Science Majors

The Kent State University Robert Noyce Summer Internship program is available to freshman and sophomore math or science majors. Noyce interns will be paid $450 per week for four weeks in June-July 2013, depending on students’ schedules and sites.

Interns will:

• Assist the Kent State TRIO Upward Bound program staff members teaching math or science to high schools students.
• Assist summer programming at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Environmental Education Center.
• Assist in math and science professional development programs, such as operation physics.
  

Interns can still take summer courses, and internship schedules can be worked around students’ class schedules. This is the first phase of the service learning project of the Noyce Scholarship program. 

Future scholarships for graduate studies may be available.

How to apply:

• Application forms are available at: www.kent.edu/ehhs/mat/noyce-scholars-intern-program.cfm.
• The applicant must provide the following: résumé, brief essay highlighting interest in science/math, commitment to adolescent education and desire to work in high-needs school districts and two letters of recommendation.
• Eligible candidates will appear for an interview with the selection committee.
• Application deadline is Thursday, May 30.
  

For more information, visit www.kent.edu/ehhs/mat/noyce-scholars-intern-program.cfm or contact Lisa Borgerding (Donnelly), Ph.D., at ldonnell@kent.edu.

Kent State Holds 5th Annual Arbor Day Celebration

Kent State students and employees plant trees on the Kent
Campus to mark Arbor Day.

Kent State University held its fifth annual Arbor Day celebration with a tree planting on Friday, April 26, at noon near Engleman Hall.

Heather White, grounds manager with University Facilities Management, says the celebration recognizes Kent State for receiving a Tree Campus USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation for the fifth year in a row.

Tree Campus USA was created in 2008 to honor colleges and universities across the nation for campus forest management and engagement in conservation goals. To earn the Tree Campus USA designation, Kent State had to meet five standards: maintain a tree advisory committee, develop a campus tree-care plan, dedicate annual expenditures toward trees and host Arbor Day observances and student service-learning projects.

About 20 Kent State students and staff participated in the tree-planting ceremony this year, and White says it was a successful event.

“The weather was great,” says White. “Everyone was smiling, and Engleman Hall was recognized for winning RecycleMania.”

Kent State continues to work toward the goal of keeping the campus green through programs like RecycleMania — an international competition where colleges and universities strive to reduce waste and increase recycling. White believes Arbor Day is equally important to help raise awareness for all the green initiatives at the university.

“It is important to demonstrate to students, staff and administration our commitment to keeping Kent State green,” says White. “We plant trees to show our commitment to the future.”

More information about the Tree Campus USA program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA or www.arbordaynow.org.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the foundation and its programs can be found at www.arborday.org.

Kent State Celebrates 40,000 Facebook Fans, Expands Into New Social Media

Kent State student and senior fine arts major Linda Knolhoff
won an iPod Touch in a contest to celebrate Kent State
reaching 40,000 Likes on Facebook. 

Kent State University’s Facebook page recently reached 40,000 Likes, and in celebration of this achievement, University Communications and Marketing ran a Facebook contest for its fans.

“We have traditionally held an annual giveaway when reaching 10K, 20K and 30K fans,” says Lin Danes, director of Web services and interactive media at University Communications and Marketing. “This contest, with its larger prize, is a way to express our appreciation to the individuals who follow us on Facebook.”

Linda Knolhoff, senior fine arts major, won an iPod Touch from this contest.

“Every once in a while, I will check the Kent State Facebook page to see what is going on,” says Knolhoff. “FlashLine always has nifty links to interesting information.”

Danes says the Facebook contest is only one way to interact with followers.

“We hope the contest encourages continued engagement with current friends and fans,” says Danes. “And perhaps by word of mouth or other promotions, we can pique the interest of others and nudge them to befriend Kent State in various social media spaces.”

Kent State’s Web team continues to promote its social media presence in several platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and recently expanded into other platforms including Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and Foursquare.

“We work hard to respond to questions and deliver interesting content to our friends in these spaces,” says Danes. “In 2013/2014, we hope to expand our contests to our social media platforms beyond Facebook.”

Kent State’s Web team monitors various social media platforms in order to determine which ones will have longevity. After monitoring these platforms, the Web team researches various university constituents to determine where they are spending most of their time in social media.

As a result of research, Danes believes that Instagram and Twitter are the best ways to reach future and current students, while faculty, staff and alumni seem to be better reached through LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

“During recent research with high school students, we learned that they are spending more and more time on Instagram,” says Danes. “This space dovetails nicely with the saying that a picture is worth 1,000 words. Because we have such a beautiful campus and interesting university community members, it’s the perfect opportunity to share images with those using that technology.”

In order to continue to encourage participation in Kent State’s social media platforms, the social media icons on the university’s home page and other kent.edu pages have been revamped.

“This change was implemented based on research around the effectiveness of our previous social media icons,” says Danes. “The social media by department icon in the ‘more’ section leads to an improved listing of all Kent State University department social media presences, from the College of Nursing’s Twitter feed to Kent State University’s YouTube page."

For more information, contact Danes at ldanes@kent.edu. 

Center for Student Involvement Survey of Kent Campus Students, Faculty and Staff

Dear Kent Campus Students, Faculty and Staff:

I invite you to take our 10-minute survey about your experiences with the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) by May 17. Once you have completed the survey, you will be entered into a random drawing to win a $50 Starbucks gift card. Four gift cards will be awarded. Respondent confidentiality is guaranteed.

CSI’s mission is to foster student growth and development through leadership, civic, cultural and involvement opportunities. Your participation in this short survey will help us assess awareness of and satisfaction with CSI programs, services and administrative processes and make improvements in the future.                                         

To access the survey, please click on the link below.
www.surveymonkey.com/s/KentStateUnivCSI

If you have any technical difficulties accessing the survey, please contact Liz Lewis at elewis9@kent.edu.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in completing the survey!

Timeka L. Thomas Rashid, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the Center for Student Involvement

Kent State Connects Employee Blog

The Kent State Connects blog features content written by Kent State faculty and staff. Topics range from health and wellness to tips and trends, “just for fun” and more.

The blog offers Kent State employees the opportunity to have peer-to-peer online conversations about a variety of topics. Visit www.kentstateconnects.com to read stories written by your colleagues.

Click here to subscribe to the Kent State Connects blog and receive an email notification when a new post has been published. It is the easy way to always keep up with what your Kent State colleagues are writing about on the blog.

If you have an interesting talent or hobby to share on the Kent State Connects blog, email your topic and a short description for consideration to connects@kent.edu, using “Interesting Blog Topic” as the subject line.

Panhellenic Council Wins at Fraternal Leadership and Values Regional Conference

Brianna Foraker, Kent State student and
current president of the Panhellenic Council
of Kent State, accepts an award on behalf
of the council at the Association of Fraternal
Leadership and Values (AFLV) Central
Conference.

Kent State University’s Center for Student Involvement (CSI) announces that the Panhellenic Council of Kent State won two awards at the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values (AFLV) Central Conference this past year.  This conference is one of the largest events that AFLV sponsors. The programming that occurs at this event includes position-specific information for governing Greek councils, chapters, advisors and graduate students.

Another component of the conference is applying for awards that are presented during the closing banquet on the last night of the conference. Councils across the Central Division can submit an awards and assessment application to receive recognition within their designated division, and an assessment report that shows how their achievement compares to other institutions in their division. Kent State is in Division II with other institutions that have a range of five to seven chapters on their campus. The prestigious awards that the council won were for programming excellence in the concentrations of Academic Achievement and Philanthropy and Community Service.

Judges were impressed with the Panhellenic Council’s involvement in communitywide events. These events include Song Fest, where all the chapters from Kent State raised $25,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Judges also highlighted the council’s high-grade expectation for member organizations and plan-of-action requirements for continual improvement as the main reasons Kent State was given an Academic Achievement award.

The award was presented to the Panhellenic Council at the closing banquet of the AFLV Central Conference on Saturday, Feb. 9. Accepting the award on behalf of the council was Brianna Foraker, current president of the Panhellenic Council.

For more information about Greek Life at Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/csi/greek/index.cfm or www.kentstategreeklife.com.

e-Inside Takes a Break

The e-Inside newsletter will take a break between semesters. The May 6 issue is the last for the Spring 2013 Semester. e-Inside will return on June 10. Copy submissions for this issue should be emailed to einside@kent.edu by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4.

Thank you for reading and contributing to e-Inside.