eInside Briefs

Kent State Achieves Fundraising Goal for University's 2010 United Way Campaign

Faculty, staff and students at Kent State University raised more than $160,000 for the 2010 Kent State United Way campaign, university officials announced today. The total amount raised by the university for the United Way of Portage County was $160,026.02, surpassing the university's goal of $160,000.

The 2010 campaign marks the third year that the university's Division of Academic Affairs has led the multifaceted campaign. In the three years since Kent State Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Robert G. Frank assumed campaign duties, the goals for the campaign have increased by $34,000.

This year, more than 14 percent of Kent State employees contributed to the effort, raising more than $160,000, a significant percent of the overall Portage County campaign. In addition, 37 of the 561 Kent State donors made leadership contributions of $1,000 or more.

The campaign remains open, and contributions will be accepted through Dec. 15. Contributions can be made at www.kent.edu/unitedway.

The annual campaign demonstrates that the Kent State community - students, faculty, staff and retirees - works together to address the most pressing human service issues for local residents. Kent State is the largest contributor to the United Way in Portage County.

The United Way of Portage County funds 17 nonprofit agencies locally that help adults, children and families in crisis and promote health and wellness initiatives in the community. The United Way of Portage County also operates the 2-1-1 call center, which connects individuals to more than 800 local community services. To learn more about the United Way of Portage County, visit the organization's website at www.uwportage.org.

E-Inside Takes a Holiday

The e-Inside newsletter is taking a break between semesters. The last issue of the fall semester will post online on Dec. 13. The e-magazine returns with the beginning of the spring semester on Jan. 10, 2011. The submission deadline for stories for the Jan. 10 issue is Jan. 4.

Submissions to e-Inside are always welcome. Submit story ideas via e-mail at einside@kent.edu or through the links within the publication. The Message Boards will continue to be available during the break, but no new submissions will be posted until January.

Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Announces Organizational Changes

Dr. Sheryl Smith

Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Greg Jarvie announced recently that, given the uncertain status of the state budget and its likely forthcoming negative impacts on higher education, the national search for a new associate vice president and dean of students has been canceled. Jarvie also eliminated this administrative position from the Office of the Vice President. 

As a result of this decision, Jarvie enacted organizational changes that will allow his division to maintain appropriate attention on student support services and community relationship building inherent in a successful student affairs organization. Specifically, Dr. Sheryl Smith, associate dean of students and student ombuds, will assume the position of dean of students and student ombuds.  In her new expanded role as dean, Smith will be more involved in student life issues, will continue to work extensively with crisis management, and will serve as Jarvie's key advisor in a variety of student affairs-related areas. 

Dr. Timeka Rashid

Dr. Timeka Rashid, director of the Center for Student Involvement, will have expanded responsibilities as assistant dean of students/director of the Center for Student Involvement and will report directly to Dean Smith.  Rashid's new duties as assistant dean will include town-gown relations, student behavioral review, campus ministries and community service/community-based learning, among others. Rashid will provide oversight for the Office of Community Service, Learning and Volunteerism and will supervise the recently-implemented university-community liaison position previously administered from the Office of the Vice President.  Consistent with the university's strategic goal of engaging the world beyond our campuses, Rashid will continue the division's efforts to build partnerships with a particular emphasis on student-community relations within the city of Kent.

Pan-African Studies' Moore to Retire

E. Timothy Moore

After 41 years at Kent State University, E. Timothy Moore, associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of the Department of Pan African Studies, will retire on Dec. 31.

Since coming to Kent State as a student in 1969, Moore has experienced the campus on both personal and professional levels. His involvement with the Institute for African American Affairs and the Black Cultural Center has helped Kent State diversify both its students and campus.

Moore says that Kent State and Black United Students made it possible for him and countless other students of all backgrounds to learn things about his American and African heritage that he never could have learned in the same way, had he gone elsewhere.

"As an American of African ancestry, I have come to appreciate the deeper value of brotherhood, sisterhood, fatherhood, motherhood, familyhood and neighborhood.  In other words, the greater communities of which we all are a part, but those that we have forgotten individually and collectively.  Friendship is free, to be expressed in a smile, or a hello to a stranger.  My mother taught me to speak to everyone and that's what I do," Moore says.

Starting out as an art major from Cleveland, Moore intended to become a commercial artist. He worked his way up at Kent State from being a graduate assistant to an associate dean. His educational experience as both a student and faculty member has helped him interact with students, faculty, staff and administrators throughout the years.

Moore said that having the opportunity to share what he has learned has been an honor. He hopes that his students gained from him the inspiration to "keep growing and to be more thankful and to practice respectful coexistence. "

Moore's educational experience is not the only fond memory he has of Kent State. He met his wife of 36 years, Lacy, at Tri-Towers in 1970 and is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi. Moore was also on campus during the events of May 4th.

"When I was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in the spring of 1970, it was during the time of the May 4th incident." he says. "The motto of my fraternity is 'Friendship Is Essential to the Soul' and its message is something I hope I have been able to demonstrate while at Kent State throughout my time here."

In his 41 years at Kent State, Moore can count among his many accomplishments transforming the diversity program, teaching countless numbers of students both text book and life lessons, and earning three degrees.

"I've come to realize that those of us who have been here before, up to now and in the future, we are all Golden Flashes," says Moore. "That includes students, faculty and staff, including those who serve others at this university.  We all have the potential to demonstrate 'Excellence in Action.' The eagle in all of its visual forms is a symbol that we all can and should embrace. This, in my opinion, has the potential to unite us in new ways as a university."

By Rebecca Mohr

Password System Upgrade Coming to Kent State in Spring 2011

Beginning February 2011, Kent State students, faculty and staff will notice improvements and changes to how they manage their online Kent State account and password.  As part of a Password System upgrade, a component of the Identity Management initiative from Information Services, the upgrade will reduce password support requests, make password resets easier through a streamlined FlashLine interface and utilize enhanced technology, bringing better account security to Kent State.

Rec Services Announces End-of-Year Specials, Holiday Schedule

The Department of Recreational Services is excited to offer a special holiday promotion to all Kent State University employees! 

Today through the end of the month, faculty and staff can print out this page and bring it to the Pro Shop inside the Student Recreation and Wellness Center for a 30-minute massage buy one, get one free offer. Purchase a 30-minute massage, and receive an additional 30 minutes free!  The price for members of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center is $36 and i$52 for nonmembers. Gift cards are available.

Please contact Ben Cope, fitness coordinator, with questions about this promotion, at 330-672-4798 or bcope1@kent.edu.

Also, mark your calendars! The Ice Arena will be a featured deal on groupon.com , the e-mail service that offers daily deals at local businesses, on Saturday, Dec. 18. Up for sale that day will be a special skating package: any public skating session for two, including skate rental, for $8, which is a savings of 50 percent.

In addition, our winter break hours/holiday closing schedule is now posted online .

Oprah Recognizes the Work of Kent State Professor

When Dianne Kerr, associate professor in the School of Health Sciences at Kent State University, was asked to be in the audience for the Nov. 19 taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Kerr believed it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Dianna Kerr

"At first, I was not sure if I wanted to fly out to her show, but then I realized it would be an experience to remember and I would maybe get the chance to shake her hand," Kerr says.

Little did Kerr know that she would not only get to shake Oprah's hand, but she would be a guest on the final airing of Oprah's most anticipated show of the year, "Oprah's Favorite Things,"  where guests are honored for their special commitments to serve others.

Kerr was chosen to be in the audience because of the many years she has spent giving back to those who need it the most.

Although Kerr was excited to see the show live before it concluded its final season, she had no idea the true reason she was invited to come.

"Over the summer I had heard several promotions asking fans of the show to go to the website and share why they were Oprah's ultimate fan," Kerr says. "I decided to go on the website and share my story, since I believe her show helped me in my teaching career."

Since Kerr began teaching 19 years ago, she has shown clips from The Oprah Winfrey Show to her classes at Kent State.

"Her shows have motivated some of my students to action, and I think the highest level of learning is when you can motivate someone to do something," Kerr says. 

After Kerr had submitted her entry on the website, the show's producers called to interview her. Throughout the interview they asked what Kerr did for others.

Since 1986, Kerr has been an advocate for AIDS and is the recipient of two Ohio AIDS Service Awards for her work in AIDS education and prevention.

"I begin my work with AIDS when I was an intern at the Ohio Department of Health," Kerr says. "So many people had so much fear toward AIDS victims at the time, which made me want to help those victims."

Kerr practiced what she preached by adopting two AIDS orphans. One is from Zambia through a program called World Vision, and the other is from Zimbabwe through Global Vessels, which is an AIDS orphanage.

Kerr is also an advocate for breast cancer prevention and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She co-facilitates a breast cancer support group with survivor, Sue Eichlerat, at the Kent State Women's Center on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

"I started the group from a two-year grant I applied for through Susan G. Komen, and although the grant is up I still continue the group," Kerr says.

After sharing her experience during the interview, Kerr received an e-mail asking if she would like to be in the audience during a taping of the show.

Even though being on the show was an amazing experience, she does not forget that giving to others is what brought her to that experience.

"Having the opportunity to give to others and watch them react is the greatest experience you can have," Kerr says. "Knowing that Oprah cares about the same things I care about, makes doing what I do feel even better."

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 University Press Announces New Series of Limited Edition Collectors Plates

The Fort Sumter plate

The first of ten limited edition collectors plates commemorating the sesquicentennial of the U.S. Civil War, is now available from the Kent State University Press.

Individually hand-wrought from forged aluminum, these commemorative plates feature a detailed recreation of the Siege of Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, and Secretary of the Treasury John A. Dix's handwritten order to Union treasury agents.

Each six-inch diameter plate arrives in a custom presentation box, perfect for safekeeping, and with a certificate of authenticity, making this a unique and historic gift.

The Dix signature plate

No more than 1,000 plates of each type will be made. Both plates are now on display in the showcase near the library elevators. The price for one plate is $49 (plus $6.50 shipping and handling) or $79 for the pair (plus $13 shipping and handling). Ohio residents add 6.5% sales tax ($3.31 for one plate or $5.33 for two plates).

Don't delay!  Order today from The Kent State University Press at www.kentstateuniversity press.com/sales.  For additional information, e-mail ksupress@kent.edu or cheller1@kent.edu or call 330-672-7913.

It's Time for Final Grading for Full Term, F3, H2 and W2 Fall 2010 Courses

Online final grading for courses meeting for the full term (Aug. 30 to Dec. 12), F3 part of the fall term (Nov. 8 to Dec. 12), H2 part of the fall term (Oct. 21 to Dec. 12) and W2 part of the fall term (Oct. 25 to Dec. 12) began Dec. 10 via FlashFAST. The deadline for course grade submissions is midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

Grading is also now available for any fall 2010 course section that was flexibly scheduled and has already ended.

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 & Advisor Tools tab. The link to grade rosters is located in the Faculty & 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 needing personalized instruction on submitting their grades via FlashFAST should contact their campus registrar's office 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 technical issues.

Pajama Donations Sought for Sorority Community Service Project

Kent State University's Kappa Sigma Upsilon Chapter and the Chi Sigma Iota community outreach committee are collecting new or gently used women's and children's pajamas to support Safer Futures shelter in Kent.

For additional information, contact Mitzi Hutchins at mhutchi3@kent.edu or Melanie Leech at mleech@kent.edu.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Launches Research Project to Seek Individual Workplace Experiences

You may be aware that Kent State University has made a commitment to creating an environment where all are included and welcomed. As such, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion includes as part of its mission a commitment to engagement and collaboration with constituents across the campuses and within our greater community. The goals of the division include maximizing individual and collective contributions to the university to create an environment that welcomes diversity of thought, continuous personal growth, academic attainment and above average achievement.

It is with these goals in mind that the division is kicking off a universitywide research project in February to study the employment experience at Kent State University. Participants have been randomly selected to participate in a refereed roundtable discussion, in a focus group format, to discuss individual perceptions of work environment and how that environment could be improved.

According to Provost Faculty Associate Linda Walker, "Every employee at Kent State is a number - we are among the number of males or females, number in a racial group, or number of faculty and staff at our respective campuses. The focus group format that will be used seeks to provide richer data that goes beyond a number, seeks individual voices and contributions to positive changes at the university, and  gather and report qualitative data to help effect these changes." 

The project will conclude in the spring, and research results will be available in the fall.

For additional information, contact Linda B. Walker, Provost Faculty Associate, Office  of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at lwalker@kent.edu or 330-672-2431.

Women's Center Scholarship Reception to Honor University Mentors, Mothers and Muses

Now is time to nominate your colleagues who have acted as a mother, mentor or muse, so that they may be recognized at the Women's Center Annual Scholarship Fundraising Reception on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. 

Faculty, staff and students can nominate a woman of excellence in any of the three roles: mother, mentor or muse.  A mother is a woman who has helped with academic endeavors and who serves as a nurturing individual, a mentor is a woman who serves as a trusted role model and a muse is a woman who inspires creativity and academic passion in others.

Nominations will be accepted until Dec. 31. To nominate a mother, mentor or muse, complete the nomination form found at www.kent.edu/womenscenter.

By Aubrey Haskins