eInside Briefs

Kent State to Redesign University Home Page: Take Our Survey to Vote on New Design Concepts

Kent State is gearing up to launch a new website this spring.

As a result, a plethora of research has been conducted to help drive the redesign. This research has included informal feedback via email, an online survey, a review of website visitor analytics, usability studies and focus groups with future students, parents, current students, alumni, and faculty and staff.

In response to your feedback, redesign concepts for Kent State’s home page have been created. Now through Oct. 23 is your chance to get a sneak peek of the new design options and provide feedback by taking our brief survey at https://kent.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_eL02j5NO2l8gfxb. Participants have the opportunity to register to win a $100 Apple gift card. One prize will be awarded.

Watch for an in-depth article about the redesign, its various phases, how it impacts your department and the university’s transition away from CommonSpot to a new content management system in the Nov. 11 issue of e-Inside.

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

Posted Oct. 14, 2013

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Kent State’s 2013 Homecoming Celebrated

Kent State University observed its 2013 Homecoming by celebrating the university’s past and future. Despite a rainy afternoon, crowds showed off their Golden Flashes pride by taking part in a day full of fun activities that represented the Homecoming theme of “New and Old, Forever Blue and Gold.” Kent State alumni enjoyed tours of downtown aboard Lolly the Trolley while reminiscing about times past at the university. During the Homecoming football game, Jesse Markowitz was crowned Homecoming King and Caitlin Kilbane was named Queen. The day concluded with a loss to Northern Illinois Huskies, 38-24.

Information about the 2014 Homecoming will be posted on the Kent State Alumni Association’s website as soon as it is available. Pictures from the day’s activities can also be viewed online.

Posted Oct. 14, 2013 | Lindsay Kuntzman

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Amoaba Gooden Appointed Chair of Kent State’s Department of Pan-African Studies

Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D., has been officially appointed chair of Kent State University’s Department of Pan-African Studies. Gooden served previously as interim chair of the department.

As chair, Gooden wants to augment the curriculum, while maintaining the academic integrity of the discipline—intellectual excellence and social responsibility.

“I would like to restructure the curriculum based on the National Association of Black Studies Model,” Gooden says. “We’ve created three new concentrations: Community Development and Public Policy; Global and Government Systems; and Race, Gender and Sex. We want students to have a curriculum for employers to look at and be even further impressed.”

Gooden also plans to reinforce the idea of double majors. She hopes students will consider fields that coincide well with Pan-African studies.

“We’re encouraging students to consider second majors like sociology, history and politics,” Gooden says.

Additionally, Gooden wishes to increase enrollment and connect the Department of Pan-African Studies with other colleges across campus and the local community. 

“It’s important for students to realize their responsibilities to themselves and to the community,” Gooden says.

Gooden credits her inspiration to a book she read about Harriet Tubman at the age of nine.

“It opened my eyes,” Gooden says. “I realized I really wanted to help people find a path for themselves.”

As she takes this focus into her career, Gooden wants to maintain a strong Pan-African studies program with a long and fruitful life at Kent State.

“It’s important to reinforce the knowledge that there is so much to this field,” Gooden says. “We are a discipline with our own theoretical and methodological stance.”

Kent State provides students interested in Pan-African studies with opportunities for college writing courses, education-abroad programs, a Center of Pan-African Culture, the African Community Theatre and the Uumbaji Art Gallery.

For more information about Kent State’s Department of Pan-African Studies, visit www.kent.edu/cas/pas. 

Posted Oct. 14, 2013 | Caitlin Potts

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Kent State University’s Annual Food Drive Will Benefit Local Community

Kent State University will collect nonperishable food items during its annual food drive. Items benefit food pantries and homeless shelters in Portage County. Pet food and supplies benefit the Portage County Animal Protective League.

Bins and boxes have been placed in campus departments and buildings to collect donations through Oct. 23. Items will be picked up on Oct. 24.

This year, there also will be a truck with large banners on its side located on Risman Plaza from Oct. 14-25. Kent State faculty, staff and students can drop off nonperishable items at the truck. Campus departments without pre-arranged pick-up schedules can drop off their donated items at the truck.

“Every year, the need grows and every year, we at Kent State have risen to the challenge,” says Vicki Ladd, administrative assistant with Kent State’s Business Administrative Services, who is helping to coordinate the drive. “Together, we can again make this food drive successful. Your help getting the word out and the donations in are greatly appreciated by the 11 food pantries served in Portage County, along with the many families and senior citizens that rely on the pantries for a hot meal and nutritionally balanced food.”

Much-needed food items include canned protein, such as tuna, sardines, stew and soups; peanut butter, jelly, canned fruits and vegetables, fruit juices, beans, rice, pasta, breakfast foods, cereals, granola bars, etc. Personal care items including lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, etc. also are appreciated.

Pet food, toys and supplies also can be donated at campus locations or at the truck at Risman Plaza. Checks can be made payable to Portage County Animal Protective League. 

For more information about the food drive or to arrange for pickup of items or monetary donations, contact Ladd at vladd@kent.edu.

Posted Oct. 14, 2013

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Kent State’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Student Center Relocates to the Schwartz Center

Kent State University’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Student Center has relocated from the second floor of the Kent Student Center to the Schwartz Center.

Roxie Patton, program coordinator of the LGBTQ Student Center, says the relocation was done to better provide for the center’s students.

“The move was important to provide dedicated student space and to better support the change in the reporting structure for the coordinator,” says Patton.

The center is now located at 229 Schwartz Center. The center’s new location will continue to provide services and encouragement to all students involved in the program.

“Our newly designed student lounge provides students with a safe space to work, rest and socialize, in order to build a sense of community and ownership within our center,” says Patton.

For more information about the LGBTQ Student Center, visit www.kent.edu/diversity/centers/lgbtq/index.cfm.

Posted Oct. 14, 2013 | Shannen Laur

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Kent State’s College of Public Health Wins Homecoming Office Decorating Contest

Kent State University’s College of Public Health was announced the winner of the Kent State Alumni Association’s 2013 Homecoming Office Decorating Contest.

With 10 campus offices competing, the College of Public Health conquered its challengers by decorating its offices as Dix Stadium, complete with a scoreboard and end zones. 

This year’s Homecoming theme was “New and Old, Forever Blue and Gold.” Participating offices were judged on creativity, use of theme, use of physical space, visual appearance, and appeal and incorporation of staff. The office decorating contest was judged by the 2013 Homecoming Court. 

The winner received a traveling trophy along with coffee and donuts for the entire office. 

Posted Oct. 14, 2013 | Adam Zaleski

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Important Information About Final Grading of Fall 2013 First 7 Weeks (W1) Classes

Online final grading for Fall Semester 2013 First Seven Weeks (W1) courses meeting from Aug. 26 through Oct. 12 began Friday, Oct. 11 via FlashFAST. Grading is also now available for any Fall Semester 2013 course section that was flexibly scheduled and has an end date no later than Oct. 12. The deadline for grading submission is midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Any final grades for Fall Semester 2013 First Seven Weeks (W1) courses not reported in FlashFAST by the grades processing deadline will have to be submitted using the Grade Change Workflow.

Incomplete Mark and NF/SF Grades
The administrative mark of IN (Incomplete) may be given to students who are unable to complete the work due to extenuating circumstances. To be eligible, undergraduate students must be currently passing and have completed at least 12 weeks of the semester. The timeline shall be adjusted appropriately for flexibly scheduled courses. Graduate students must be currently earning a C or better grade and are unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and the end of classes.

The grade NF (Never Attended–Fail) denotes that the student neither attended one class session nor formally withdrew from the course. The grade SF (Stopped Attending–Fail) denotes that the student stopped attending the course and did not formally withdraw and must be accompanied by a date of last attendance in the course.

For complete information on university grading policies including Incomplete Mark and NF/SF grading policies, procedures and timelines, please visit the Grading Policies and Procedures section in the university catalog at www.kent.edu/catalog.

Grades Processing Tips and FAQ may be found on the Office of the University Registrar's website at www.kent.edu/registrar/facstaff/facresc.cfm. Any faculty members needing personalized instruction on submitting their grades via FlashFAST should contact their campus Registrar's Office during normal business hours for assistance.

To access FlashFAST, log in to FlashLine from www.kent.edu (click FlashLine Login from top right menu bar) then click the Faculty & Advisor Tools tab. Locate the Faculty Toolbox, and select Final under the Submit Grades heading.

Troubleshooting TIP: FlashFAST is accessible from any Internet-capable computer that has the cookies function enabled. We recommend 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. 

Posted Oct. 14, 2013

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Important Information about Final Grading of Fall 2013 First Half Semester (H1) Classes

Online final grading for fall 2013 first half semester (H1) courses meeting from Aug. 26 through Oct. 16 begins Wednesday, Oct. 16, via FlashFAST. Grading is also now available for any fall 2013 course section that was flexibly scheduled and has an end date no later than Oct. 16. The deadline for grading submission is midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Any final grades for fall 2013 First Half Semester (H1) courses not reported in FlashFAST by the grades processing deadline will have to be submitted using the Grade Change Workflow.

Incomplete Mark and NF/SF Grades
The administrative mark of IN (Incomplete) may be given to students who are unable to complete the work due to extenuating circumstances. To be eligible, undergraduate students must be currently passing and have completed at least 12 weeks of the semester. The timeline shall be adjusted appropriately for flexibly scheduled courses. Graduate students must be currently earning a C or better grade and are unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and the end of classes.

The grade NF (Never Attended–Fail) denotes that the student neither attended one class session nor formally withdrew from the course. The grade SF (Stopped Attending–Fail) denotes that the student stopped attending the course and did not formally withdraw and must be accompanied by a date of last attendance in the course.

For complete information on university grading policies including Incomplete Mark and NF/SF grading policies, procedures and timelines, please visit the Grading Policies and Procedures section in the university catalog at www.kent.edu/catalog.

Grades Processing Tips and FAQs may be found on the Office of the University Registrar's website at 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.

To access FlashFAST, login to FlashLine from www.kent.edu (click FlashLine Login from top right menu bar) then click the Faculty & Advisor Tools tab. Locate the Faculty Toolbox and select Final under the Submit Grades heading.

Troubleshooting TIP: FlashFAST is accessible from any Internet-capable computer that has the cookies function enabled. We recommend 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. 

Posted Oct. 14, 2013

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