eInside Briefs

New Interim Director for Kent State’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Student Center

N.J. Akbar will serve as interim director
of Kent State's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender and Queer Student Center.

Kent State’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has named N.J. Akbar the new interim director of the university’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Student Center. Akbar replaces Delores Noll, who stepped down from the position for health reasons.

Akbar, who is also the assistant director of student success programs, will serve as the center’s interim director until January 2012, when a new director is expected to be announced.

“We do not want to have a void in leadership at the center, and that is why we have appointed N.J. Akbar to this position,” says Alfreda Brown, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. “Akbar has been committed to LGBTQ issues on campus, and we know that he is a right fit for the center as we go through this transition period. We want our students to continue to feel welcome here on campus and recognize the importance of inclusion at Kent State regardless of gender identity or gender expression."

“I am excited to serve the university in this critical role,” Akbar says. “More importantly, I am eager to seek ways to serve more students with an inclusive and holistic approach.”

Akbar hopes to provide a welcoming environment where all students can be supported, educated, advocated and cared for at the university.

“It is important that we are first responsive and supportive to the needs of the students who seek out services during this transition period of the center,” he says. “Students, the university and the community at large can benefit from education on sexual and gender identity or expression, and we plan to move this up a notch.”

According to Akbar, the center will serve as a strong advocate for students in a caring and holistic fashion.

“You can look forward to receiving more information about ally training for faculty and staff, broader center marketing and promotion and collaborative programs with other campus offices and student organizations,” he says.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Student Center, a collaborative effort between the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Student Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences, provides resources and support for LGBTQ students and their allies.

The center is located at Room 226M in the Kent Student Center. For more information about the center, email lgbtq@kent.edu, call 330-672-8008 or visit www.kent.edu/lgbtq/index.cfm.
 

Kent State Welcomes Four Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellows

This fall semester, Kent State University welcomed four new international students as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program. Joining the Kent State community this year are Nino Beradze from Georgia, Kanat Jakupov from Kazakhstan, Seymur Mammadli from Azerbaijan and Lolagul Raimbekova from Tajikistan.

“It is an honor and is very competitive to receive Muskie scholars at an academic institution,” says Dr. Mary Anne Saunders, executive director of Kent State’s Office of Global Education. “Having Muskie scholars reflects well on Kent State University, as well as the academic departments.”

Established by the U.S. Congress in 1992 to encourage economic and democratic growth in Eurasia, the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, and administered by IREX. By selecting emerging leaders from 12 countries of the former Soviet Union, the Muskie program aims to promote mutual understanding, build democracy and foster the transition to market economies in Eurasia through intensive academic study and professional training. In addition to their academic programs, Muskie fellows gain exposure to American values through a community service experience and develop professional skills through a full-time internship in their field of study.

The Muskie program is highly competitive, averaging nearly 4,000 applications per year with a 4 percent rate of acceptance. For more information, visit www.irex.org/programs/muskie.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries to promote friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations, as mandated by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchanges Act of 1961. ECA accomplishes its mission through a range of programs based on the benefits of mutual understanding, international educational and cultural exchange, and leadership development. For more information about ECA exchanges, visit http://exchanges.state.gov.

Save Time and Money: Elect to Receive Your W-2 Electronically

Kent State will again make it possible for all employees, including student workers, to elect to only receive the W-2 Wage and Tax Statement electronically. This has several advantages:

• Employees will be able to access the W-2 earlier because they will not have to wait for it to be delivered in the mail.
• Employees’ sensitive personal information will not be sent through the mail.
• Natural resources are saved by not printing the forms.
• Cost savings by not printing and mailing the forms.
  

Employees who wish to take advantage of this opportunity are required by federal regulations to give their consent. This can be done online any time between now and Jan. 9. To sign up, log in to FlashLine, go to the My HR tab and look for the Employment Details box. Once there, click on the link for Tax Forms.  From the Tax Forms link, select Electronic W-2 Consent, check the box indicating consent and then click Submit. If there is already a check mark in the box, you have previously given consent and do not need to consent again.

Anyone who does not elect to receive an electronic version will receive a printed W-2.  These will be delivered either via U.S. or campus mail no later than Jan. 31. Questions should be directed to the Payroll Department at 330-672-8640 or by email at payroll@kent.edu. 

Kent State Raffle Helps Fund the United Way

Kent State has achieved more than 40
percent of its United Way campaign goal.
The university relies on support from
faculty and staff to help people in the
local community.

Kent State employee Sue Eikelberry won more than $247 in dining gift certificates in a raffle that benefits the United Way of Portage County. The dining gift certificates were from area establishments, such as Acme, Bistro on Main, Dairy Queen, Evergreen Buffet, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Guido’s, Handel’s Ice Cream, Jimmy John’s, Pita Pit, Pizza Hut, Ray’s Place, Rockne’s and The Rusty Nail.

More than $600 was raised from the raffle for the United Way. So far, Kent State has met more than 40 percent of its United Way campaign goal. The university counts on the support of faculty and staff to help meet its overall goal and help our neighbors.

For more information about how to give and support Kent State’s United Way campaign, visit www.kent.edu/unitedway/howtogive.cfm.

Garage Sale
The Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs will hold its United Way Garage Sale on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in Room 306 of the Kent Student Center. Silent auction items will also be available. The division is soliciting donations of gently used items. Donations can be dropped off by Nov. 14 at the following locations: The welcome desk at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center; Room 119, Twin Towers; Room 250 Kent Student Center; and Room 257 Schwartz Center.

For more information about the garage sale, contact Barb Boltz at 330-672-1306 or Jeanette Jones at 330-672-0506.

Remember:

• $1 provides a free winter coat and a free bag of clothing from the County Clothing Center.
• $2 will provide a hot, full-course meal to a hungry child or adult.
• $50 will purchase groceries to feed a family of four for an entire week.
  

You can help make a difference. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.kent.edu/unitedway.

Holiday Forever Stamps Available at Kent State University Post Office

New books of Holiday Forever stamps
are now available for purchase at the
Kent State University Post Office.

New books of Holiday Forever stamps are now available for purchase at the Kent State University Post Office, located in the lower level of the Kent Student Center. 

Assistant Manager Katelyn Neff is responsible for selecting stamps to sell at the Kent State Post Office. 

“I like these stamps so much because not only are they festive, but they also can be used well into the winter season,” says Neff. “I like ordering new stamps because of the variety it provides our customers.”

The Kent State University Post Office has been in operation for more than 10 years, servicing students, faculty and staff, and often has the newest stamp designs for customers to choose from throughout the year.  The post office is open Mondays through Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Hours vary during breaks and holidays. 

For more information about the Kent State Post Office services, call 330-672-8189 or visit www.kent.edu/kscprogramming and select the post office link for answers to questions, news, and information regarding upcoming promotions.