eInside Briefs

Homecoming 2011 a “Whirlwind” Celebration

Members of the 2011 Homecoming Court
participate in the parade.

Despite strong winds and cool temperatures, alumni, students, faculty, staff and the community came together to celebrate Homecoming 2011 on Oct. 15.

“Golden Flash alumni blew in from all over for Homecoming,” Nancy Schiappa, associate director, alumni relations, says.  “From the Bowman Cup Race, to the parade, to the traditional 50th class reunion, to the first ever Kiss on the K, alumni, students, faculty, staff and the community came out for fun times. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the 2011 Kent State Homecoming.”

A new Homecoming event this year, Kiss on the K, occurred at noon with approximately 50 Kent State couples attending. Katie, ’10, and Brice, ’07, Kertoy were one of the couples who attended. The couple met at Kent State, where they were both resident advisors, and were recently married this past July. They decided to attend Kiss on the K since it was a new Homecoming event.

“This was something different, and we thought it would be fun to be a part of the start of a tradition,” Katie says. “Maybe someday we can bring our kids and tell them we were here when Kiss on the K started.”

The day concluded with the traditional Homecoming game, where the Kent State Golden Flashes lost to the Miami RedHawks 9-3. The announcement of Homecoming King Brady Ruffer and Queen Ivy Lumpkin occurred during halftime.

As part of the festivities leading up to Homecoming weekend, several students from the KSU Legacy dance team performed an impromptu dance number at the Risman Plaza. Click here to watch the video.

Homecoming 2012 will be scheduled for sometime in October. Keep checking the Kent State Alumni Association’s website, www.ksualumni.org, for the official date.

Global Education Topmost at Kent State, Says President Lefton

Kent State President Lester A. Lefton says the university
must evolve to keep pace with the demands of a global
economy.

Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton says Kent State will continue to expand its global education strategy as part of the university’s excellence agenda. Lefton said this during his State of the University Address. According to Lefton, international programs were a Kent State strength long before global education and experiences became essential elements of a well-rounded education.

“We must evolve to keep pace with the demands of a global economy. We must send more students to our programs in Florence, Geneva and many other major centers of knowledge and culture,” says Lefton.  “We must continue to welcome students from all corners of the world. And, wherever possible, we must fulfill our teaching, research and service missions in a global context.”

Click here to watch a short video of Lefton talking about expanding Kent State’s globalization goals.

Institute for Excellence: Now Seeking Nominations for 2012 Class

Members of the current Institute of Excellence class
learn valuable skills during their class sessions.

The Institute for Excellence is seeking applications for its second class. Submissions will be accepted through Nov. 15 for the university leadership program that gives eligible faculty and staff a unique opportunity to develop their skills in this area.

A 10-month program designed to create and promote a culture of excellence, the Institute for Excellence was introduced last year by the Training and Development unit in the Division of Human Resources.  The current class has 26 participants in the program’s two tracks: Administrator and Individual Contributor.

The Administrator track is for faculty or staff who manage or chair a department or unit and/or supervise others.  The Individual Contributor track is for employees not currently in a managerial role, but who have the desire and capacity to lead change.

The focus for the Administrator and Individual Contributor versions are quite different even though they are designed to facilitate development around many of the same qualities associated with excellence – such as collaboration, execution, agility, strategic thinking, foresight and communication.  

“Both administrators and individual contributors need to excel at things like collaboration and strategic thinking; the difference lies in how those specific individuals apply the information to their respective roles,” says Bob Hall, manager of Human Resource Training and Development.  He adds that feedback from the current class — and from their supervisors — demonstrates that participants are learning more about their role in the work environment and are being introduced to skills and strategies for improvement.

The Institute for Excellence will begin in January, with the administrator and individual contributor tracks meeting monthly for either a full- or half-day session. The two tracks will meet separately, with some opportunities for joint sessions. A partial list of session topics include discussions with Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton and other Kent State officers, increased financial literacy, emotional intelligence, two 360° assessments to benchmark  skills, diversity in higher education and understanding team dynamics. The sessions will combine in-class discussions, self-development tools and opportunities for hands-on application.

Hall says one of the things that make the institute unique is the ability for participants to immediately apply what they have learned. “Many leadership programs are theoretical in nature with little room for application,” he says. “The breadth and depth of our program, coupled with interaction with university leaders, enables the participants to apply their new knowledge in ways that are useful to them and to their department’s overall operation.”

There are eligibility requirements and an application process for each Institute for Excellence track. All participants must be employed full-time by the university for a minimum of two years and must have received a rating of “exceeds expectations” or higher on their most recent performance evaluation. The IE website includes a complete list of criteria, program dates and other important information.  

Interested faculty and staff should read the online application worksheet and then complete the online application form. Applicants selected for the Institute for Excellence will be notified by the end of the fall semester.

For more information, contact Hall at 330-672-0894 or rhall4@kent.edu.

Project C.O.P.E. Seeks Primary-Caregiving Grandmothers for Kent State Study

Project C.O.P.E. (Caring for Others as a Positive Experience) is looking for grandmothers in Northeast Ohio to participate in a research study. The study will compare different ways to support grandmothers raising grandchildren between the ages of four to 12 in the total absence of the child’s birth parents.

“Custodial Grandparents are a really underserved population, says Karie Feldman, project director, School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences. “There aren’t a lot of resources for this rapidly growing population, and to have Kent State’s name attached to the study is a really positive thing.”

During the 10-week program, grandmothers will receive a curriculum-based program aimed to support grandparents raising grandchildren. At each session, participants will be provided with a meal and childcare. Grandmothers will also be asked to complete a total of six assessments over a two-year period.  After each assessment, the participant will receive a $35 check to cover any local travel expenses.

Funded through the National Institute for Nursing Research, the study is also being conducted at the University of North Texas, the University of Maryland and the University of California.

“It not only advances our scientific understanding of custodial grandparents but the important theoretical findings that will increase our understanding of how these interventions work across the board,” says Gregory Smith, principal project investigator. “The response from the community is overwhelming.”

Kent grandmother Linda Cremen Bouchonville says she looks forward to leading a Project C.O.P.E. support group. Bouchonville has cared for her grandson since his mother died 13 years ago. When she took him in, he was five years old.

“When my daughter died, we didn’t have these kinds of resources available. Project C.O.P.E. would have helped me immensely at that time,” says Bouchonville. “I’ve gone through challenges in my life and I’d like to help others. I want to let people know that they aren’t alone and that raising a grandchild is a courageous endeavor.”

If you are a grandmother raising a grandchild ages four to 12, or know of someone who is, please call 855-260-2433 or contact Feldman at grandmothers@kent.edu.

Procurement, University Communications and Marketing Announce Printing Vendors for 2011-2012

Kent State’s Procurement Department and University Communications and Marketing have announced contracted printing vendors for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

A universitywide committee was involved in the selection process and included representatives from the divisions of Business and Finance, Institutional Advancement and University Relations, the College of Communication and Information, as well as Kent State Stark and Kent State Trumbull.

Eighteen printing vendors responded to the Request for Proposal (RFP). Five vendors were eventually selected following a rigorous review that considered such factors as overall capabilities, ability to service and properly manage the university’s numerous printing projects, printing quality, consistency, adherence to deadlines, reliable delivery and competitive pricing.

The university’s contracted printing vendors are the only printing vendors approved to receive multiple purchase orders exceeding $25,000 per fiscal year. University departments and offices should make every effort to avail themselves of the services of the contracted printing vendors for their printing and photocopying needs.

“Periodically, the university reviews its printing contracts to ensure consistent print quality and the highest level of service,” says Evan Bailey, assistant professor and selection committee member. “These contracted vendors provide a range of services that meet the university’s needs, and we encourage you to take advantage of them.”

The five contracted printing vendors are:

HKM Direct Market Communications — www.hkmdm.com
•    Category A: Short Run 1 and 2 Color Sheet Fed Printing - examples: less than 10,000 pieces per job of one- and two-color event programs, envelopes, applications, invitations, etc.
•    Category B: Long Run 1 and 2 Color Sheet Fed - examples: 10,000 pieces or more per job of one- and two-color envelopes, brochures, applications, etc.
•    Category C: Short Run Multicolor Sheet Fed - examples: less than 10,000 pieces per job of multicolor mailers, brochures, posters, invitations, etc.
•    Category D: Long Run Multicolor Sheet Fed - examples: 10,000 pieces or more per job of multicolor brochures, magazines, etc.
•    Category G: Forms - examples: all quantities of letterhead, notepads, note cards, forms, business cards, etc.

Watt Printers – www.wattprinters.com
Back-up printer for all above categories

The Watkins Printing – www.watkinsprinting.com
•    Category E: Short Run Web Printing - examples: less than 15,000 pieces per job of multicolor booklets, tabloids, Regional Campus magazines, student media magazines, etc. Watkins Printing is a union shop if your printing project requires that service.

Minuteman Press – www.youngstown.minutemanpress.com
•    Category F: Long Run Photocopy - examples: 100 copies or more of posters, table tents, booklets, inserts, fliers, etc.

Oliver Printing – www.oliverprinting.com
Specialty/High-End and Structural Design printing - examples: all quantities of dimensional mailers, unique paper constructions, etc.

"Watt Printers is honored to be a preferred vendor of Kent State University,” says John Gergel, president, Watt Printers/Mail Marketing. “Being a new vendor, we look forward to the challenge of exceeding your requirements in print solutions. Our goal is to give the University more than just ink on paper; we wish to give all of your literature and collateral materials a WOW factor in appearance.”

University Communications and Marketing helps select the vendor best suited for your job, obtains a printing estimate and issues a purchase order for you. To engage the services of any of these contracted vendors, contact Jody Kovolyan at jkovoly1@kent.edu.

Contact Larry McWilliams at 330-672-9196 or lmcwilli@kent.edu, or
Tom Neumann at 330-672-8533 or tneuman1@kent.edu with any questions regarding the university’s contracted printing vendors.

Information Services Holds United Way Pancake Breakfast Event as Kent State Hits 20 Percent Mark

Staff of the Division of Information Services hold
a United Way pancake breakfast fundraiser.

The Division of Information Services recently held a pancake breakfast event to support Kent State’s 2011-2012 United Way campaign. The event took place in Stewart Hall with all food and supplies donated by the division’s staff.  

Executive directors at the division served as cooks during the event, flipping pancakes. Sausages and juice were also on the menu.

“In addition to contributing to a great cause, the breakfast is a fun way for our staff members to get to know one another,” says Christopher Hallahan, United Way coordinator for the Division of Information Services.
 

Kent State has met 20 percent of
its United Way campaign goal.

The division will also be holding a pumpkin decorating contest to benefit the United Way. Staff will vote on the best pumpkins by placing donations to the United Way in boxes next to the pumpkins. Top winners will be announced during a brown-bag lunch and will receive donated gift cards or baked goods.

So far, Kent State has achieved 20 percent of its planned donation to the United Way. The university relies on its employees to help meet its campaign goal. To support the campaign, Kent State employees can make a one-time donation or opt for payroll deductions. Payroll deduction sign-up is available via FlashLine under the MyHR tab. Click here for more information about how to give to the campaign.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication Honors Alumni During Homecoming Weekend

Stephanie Danes Smith, ’79, is the
winner of the William Taylor Alumna of the
Year Award. The award is given to a
graduate who has made a significant
contribution to the profession

The School Journalism and Mass Communication at Kent State University announced its alumni award winners for 2011, including honors for the William Taylor Alumni of the Year Award, JMC Friend of the Year and two Fast Track Alumni Awards for early contributions to the profession. The recipients were recognized at a reception during Homecoming weekend.

The William Taylor Alumna of the Year Award is given to a graduate who has made a significant contribution to the profession. This year's winner, Stephanie Danes Smith, ’79, was an officer for the Central Intelligence Agency for 26 years before retiring with distinction in August 2011, after holding a series of senior executive positions focused on global support operations, strategic planning, organizational development, leadership development, legislative relations, brand and reputation management and corporate communications. Smith is the recipient of the CIA Director’s Award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA Certificate of Distinction, 20 CIA Exceptional Performance Awards and a Special Act Award from the U.S. Navy.

The Fast Track Alumni Awards honor graduates with less than 10 years’ experience who have made significant contributions to their profession.  Andy Alt, ’04, is an entrepreneur and musician based in Los Angeles, Calif. After graduating from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in advertising, Alt began his recording and touring career as a guitar player with rock and pop artists on Interscope Records, Epic Records, MTV, USA Network, and most recently, a world tour with Nickelodeon's Drake Bell (of "Drake and Josh" fame). Kirk Yuhnke is an Emmy award-winning morning news anchor at ABC15 in Phoenix and the proud father of two children. Yuhnke was raised just outside of Buffalo, N.Y., and moved to Northeast Ohio while in high school. While at Kent State, he served in various roles at TV2 and as an anchor/reporter on NewsOhio.

Finally, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication honored its Friend of the Year, Steve Savanyu, for his contributions to the school as a volunteer, educator and director. Savanyu has worked tirelessly over the years to provide Kent State journalism students with real-world experience in producing live sports events, filming movies and working with high-tech audio equipment.

For more information about these awards, contact Jennifer Kramer at jlkramer@kent.edu or 330-672-1960.

Women’s Center Announces Additional Mammogram Screening Dates

Due to the overwhelming interest in the Fall Mammogram Program, the Women’s Center is scheduling appointments for an additional day, Tuesday, Nov. 15, for qualified Kent State employees, spouses and students.  Mammograms take approximately 12 minutes and will be conveniently provided in Tiffany Breast Care’s mobile mammography unit. The van will be located on the Kent Campus in front of the Women’s Center. Participants can either choose to be billed through their health insurance or opt for self-payment.

The Women’s Center will also provide free 10-minute chair massages for stress reduction and relaxation, following the mammogram appointment. The massage will be provided by Kristin Driscoll, licensed massotherapist and owner of Songs of the Sidhe Day Spa.

Registration is required by Tuesday, Nov. 8. For additional information or to register, call the Women's Center at 330-672-9230, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.  Appointments fill up fast and a limited number of slots are available.

Dining Cart Unveiled for Rockwell and Bowman Campus Areas

The new Food in a Flash mobile dining cart serves the
university community on the front end of campus.

Faculty, staff and students finally don’t have to worry about making a dash across campus or fighting through traffic to get off campus for lunch. The Provost Leadership Academy and Dining Services have unveiled Food in a Flash, a mobile dining cart to give the university community on the front end of campus access to lunch without having to go very far.

Unsure if the project would be a good idea, the Provost Leadership Academy and Dining Services conducted an online student survey that received more than 800 responses.  From the survey results, the provost team concluded that this was something that not only needed to be done, but would also be highly anticipated.

“I have at least 9 credit hours in and around Rockwell Hall, any dining service is just too far to make it to,” says Hannah Morford, sophomore VCD major. “It’s going to be so nice to have in the winter, rather than risking the walk across Route 59 to grab something from Circle K.”

The Food in a Flash dining cart is a student- and alumni-organized project with the help of the East Way Market and Deli. Alumni Julie Yang and Steven Greene began working on this project when it was nothing more than an idea on paper.

“I’m so glad the project is finally mobile,” says Yang. “I hope the students and staff are as excited as we are to have this here.”

The dining cart can be found daily, Monday through Friday, between Bowman Hall and Olson Residence Hall, from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., and also in front of Rockwell Hall, on the Lincoln Street side of campus, from 12:30- 1:30p.m. Hungry patrons can pick up anything from Boar’s Head sandwiches to fresh fruit, Starbucks energy drinks and Frappuccinos, and much more. The sandwiches, which are premium deli products that are certified by the American Heart Association and are gluten free with no preservatives or additives, are a campus favorite and start at $6.99, and prices drop from there.

Next time you’re running late, or just need a quick fix, the Food in a Flash dining cart is definitely the place to stop.

For more information about the dining cart services and future cart plans, contact Tia Protopapa, NP-Marketing Manager, Dining Services, at tprotopa@kent.edu.

Celebrate Halloween Kent State Style

Alumni Relations Secretary
Rachel Huntley carved this pumpkin
using a Kent State-themed stencil.

In the spirit of Halloween, University Communications and Marketing has created six Kent State-themed pumpkin carving stencils –  Spooky KSU, KSU Vampire, Flash Ghost, Flash Fright, Excellent Pumpkin and Dawn of KSU.

Faculty, staff, students and friends of the university can download these stencils here.

Happy Halloween!