eInside Briefs

James Blank Reappointed Interim Dean of Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences

James L. Blank, Ph.D., has been
reappointed interim dean of the College
of Arts and Sciences.

Kent State University Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Todd Diacon has announced the reappointment of James L. Blank, Ph.D., as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Blank, who has been serving as interim dean since Nov. 1, 2012, will continue to hold the position through June 30, 2015.

“Jim knows the university very well, he has been doing a good job and he has good ideas to move the college forward,” Diacon says. “As the university undergoes a major campus renovation, we must move quickly yet carefully on large construction projects in the College of Arts and Sciences. We are investing $80 million in renovations to our science buildings, and Jim, who knows these buildings as well as anyone on campus, has agreed to stay on to oversee these and other pressing projects in the college.”

Recognizing the vital importance of the science disciplines, Kent State is making renovations and improvements to the Science Mall on the Kent Campus a top priority under the “Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future” initiative. The goal of the initiative is to create the most outstanding academic experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater community enriched by the university. The $80-million investment in the sciences involves renovations to Cunningham Hall (biological sciences), Smith Hall (physics) and Williams Hall (chemistry), which are all a part of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Diacon adds that Blank is the right leader for the college at this crucial time of campus transformation, noting Blank’s vast knowledge of the university and the college.

“The College of Arts and Sciences is at the heart of Kent State’s academic excellence, and so it has been a privilege to serve as interim dean,” Blank says. “I look forward to continuing to work with the students, staff and faculty of the college to support its many missions.”

A neuroscientist, Blank has served as professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. He has worked at Kent State for 25 years. Under Blank’s leadership, the Department of Biological Sciences has grown in undergraduate and graduate students and in faculty. This growth has transformed the department into a leader in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and research. 

Previously, he served as director of Kent State’s School of Biomedical Sciences, where he helped develop the collaborative doctoral program between Kent State and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Blank resides in Kent, Ohio.

Diacon says he expects to start a search for a permanent dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in fall 2014.

For more information about the College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.kent.edu/cas.

Kent State Program Makes Available $15,000 Scholarships to Undergraduates Pursuing a Master’s in Teaching Degree

Ten scholarships in the amount of
$15,000 each will be awarded to science
and math undergraduate students wanting
to pursue a one-year master’s degree in
teaching (MAT) to become a certified teacher.
The scholarships are awarded by the Kent
State University Robert Noyce Teacher
Scholarship Program.

The Kent State University Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program will award 10 scholarships in the amount of $15,000 each to science and math undergraduate students wanting to pursue a one-year master’s degree in teaching (MAT) to become a certified teacher. This program is designed to increase the number of highly qualified middle and high school teachers (grades 7-12) in biology, chemistry, earth and space science, mathematics and physics.

The scholarships are available to students who meet the following criteria:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in science or math
• Are NOT education majors
• Seek to become science or math teachers in grades 7-12
• Are interested in working with high needs school districts
  

The scholarships are being offered to anyone who qualifies, so all interested individuals are invited to apply.

The MAT program is an 11-month accelerated program with 44 hours of graduate coursework, practicum work in a school and 12 weeks of full-time teaching.

How to apply:

• Application forms are available at www.kent.edu/ehhs/mat/noyce-scholars-program.cfm
• The applicant must provide the following: transcript evaluation, résumé, brief essay highlighting his/her commitment to adolescent education, and three letters of recommendation.
• Eligible candidates will appear for an in-depth interview with the selection committee.
• Application deadline is Friday, March 15, 2013 (or until 10 scholarships are awarded).
  

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

For more information about Kent State’s College of Education, Health and Human Services, visit www.kent.edu/ehhs.

Town Hall Meetings Continue Discussion About Tobacco-free University

Kent State faculty, staff and students can have their say
on the university becoming a tobacco-free campus. Town
hall meetings are scheduled to be held on the Kent and
Regional campuses.

A series of town hall meetings are scheduled this spring at the Kent and Regional campuses, to gather additional input from the university community on becoming a tobacco-free institution.

Last fall, a universitywide committee was convened at the request of President Lester A. Lefton to study a proposal that would make all Kent State University campuses tobacco-free. That was in response to the recommendation from the Ohio Board of Regents that all public college and university campuses in Ohio become tobacco-free. The committee conducted a survey last semester.

This week, town hall sessions will be conducted March 4, 5, 6 and 7, at Kent State University at Trumbull, Kent State University Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg, Kent State University at East Liverpool and Kent State University at Geauga respectively. Each session will last one hour, and faculty, staff and students are invited to attend.

You can view the schedule to find the meeting time and location at your campus. Questions should be directed to Rachael Decker, wellness coordinator, at 330-672-8368 or rdecker4@kent.edu.

E-cycleMania at Kent State Offers Opportunity to Recycle Unwanted Electronic Products

A Kent State student is rewarded with a
prize after making use of the university’s
recycling bins around campus during this
year’s RecycleMania Competition.

Kent State University continues its participation in the annual RecycleMania competition, where colleges and universities strive to reduce waste and increase recycling. From now through March 30, Kent State will join in the E-cycleMania phase of the competition, collecting and tracking the amount of unwanted electronics, such as computers, printers, consumer electronics and other e-waste materials. University Facilities Management is facilitating this phase of the competition by helping faculty, staff and students get rid of unwanted electronic products.

“We receive a work order from a department saying they have electronic devices they want to get rid of, and then we send our delivery workers to pick it up,” says Nicole Corll, business manager for University Facilities Management. “Now is the time for departments to do an inventory and figure out what can be collected.”

On Wednesday, March 13, faculty and staff are invited to bring personal electronic items to work to be recycled. Items will be collected behind the Administrative Services Building. Staff from University Facilities Management will be there all day to help unload items from cars. Students can drop off their old electronics at the Tri-Towers desk on this day as well. Obsolete and damaged electronic equipment includes devices that plug into the wall or operate with batteries, such as the following:

• Personal computers
• Laptop computers
• Servers and storage devices
• Mainframe equipment
• Monitors
• Docking stations
• Floppy drives
• DVD/CD burners
• Circuit boards
• Scanners
• Copiers
• Printers
• Cables, wires, extension cords
• Digital cameras
• Cellular phones
• DVD players
• VCRs
  

Please note that television sets are not acceptable.

“I think it’s nice that some of these items can be repurposed and even reused in schools. It’s good knowing that this stuff won’t be sitting in a dumpster,” says Corll. “From what I’ve heard, I think we’ll have a big turnout.”

To schedule a pick-up for your department on the Kent Campus, enter a work order at https://flashtrack.kent.edu/.

Class Teaches Social Media Skills for Business and Professional Use

School of Journalism and Mass Communication class
teaches social media strategies for business and
professional use. 

Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Pinterest and Instagram are apps people access everyday on their smart phones or tablets without thinking about how it can benefit them and their careers. Social media has grown and will continue to grow, changing the way that people communicate day-to-day.

Social Media Strategies, an online course that allows students to engage in many hands-on and useful learning activities, was introduced to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in spring 2012.

This course, which will be offered again this summer, from May 13 to June 29, is intended to help students and faculty understand the impact social media can have on businesses, society and culture. The course curriculum shows students how social media can benefit their lives by incorporating research, literature and technology into assignments.

“Associate Professor of Public Relations Bill Sledzik started the process for this class, and we worked together to outline the course content,” says Stefanie Moore, social media strategies professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “From there, I created the content and online lectures. This class looks at social media and how it can be used strategically for business or professional use. More importantly, we explore how to create a personal brand and how to communicate that brand online.”

At the end of the course, students will develop a strategic social media plan for personal and professional use. This course is open to all majors across campus wanting to learn more skills or perfect their existing knowledge in social media.

“Students have sent me notes saying how much they enjoyed and valued the course,” Moore says. “One of my smaller successes is when students participate in an online discussion that isn't even required because they enjoy talking about the topic. Social media and technology impact all of us, not just PR majors.”

The class occupancy started with less than 30 students the first semester it was offered and is now full at 50 students, with several students waiting for a seat. The course will be offered again this summer beginning May 13.

Elizabeth Holton, senior advertising major, says she is a social media addict in her personal and professional life. “I say that in the most positive way possible. My passion for media, marketing, and advertising made this course especially intriguing. After completion of Social Media Strategies, I was able to take my prior knowledge of viral marketing and improve it by generating creative, personable, and original online marketing approaches.”

Holton currently works for Undergraduate Student Government as the director of programming where she does a lot of online strategic marketing for upcoming concerts.

“One of the most beneficial things I learned to do was how to advertise via promotions on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter,” she says. “These tools help me to promote my organization, concert and myself.”

Social Media Strategies takes everything you will learn in a communication, advertising, PR, and writing course and implements it into one online course that is practical for those students who want to work in the world of mass communications, says Holton.

“Personal branding is something that has been incorporated into a lot of my social media work,” Holton says. “I continue to use the skills I’ve gained in this course in my personal life, school work and job.”

Moore says in addition to the two major projects in the class, she looks for critical thinking and clear and effective writing in the online discussions.

“All students are looking for a job when they leave college,” Moore says. “It's helpful for them to know how to network and market themselves to potential employers both online and offline.”

Summer registration is available online via Flashline. For more information about the course, email Moore at smoore1@kent.edu.

Important Information Regarding Midterm Grading for Freshmen

Online midterm grading for freshmen in full-term Spring 2013 Semester courses began Thursday, Feb. 28, via FlashFAST. Please remember that midterm grading applies ONLY to courses that meet for the full semester. The deadline for midterm grade submission is midnight on Tuesday, March 5.

No midterm grade can be reported after the deadline. The Grade Change workflow cannot be used to report midterm grades after the fact, and the Registrar's Office will not accommodate other late submission requests.

To access FlashFAST, log in to FlashLine at http://flashline.kent.edu and click the Faculty & Advisor Tools tab. Locate the Faculty Toolbox, and select Midterm under the Submit Grades heading.

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 member needing personalized instruction on submitting their grades via FlashFAST should contact their campus Registrar's Office during normal business hours for assistance.

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 us at 330-672-HELP (4357) for one-on-one assistance and technical issues. 

Important Information about Final Grading of Spring 2013 First 7 Weeks (W1) Classes

Online final grading for Spring 2013 – W1 courses meeting in the first seven weeks from Jan. 13 through March 2 part of term began Friday, March 1 via FlashFAST. Grading is also now available for any Spring 2013 course section that was flexibly scheduled and has an end date no later than March 12. The deadline for grading submission is midnight on Tuesday, March 12.

To access FlashFAST, login to FlashLine at http://flashline.kent.edu and click the Faculty & Advisor Tools tab. Locate the Faculty Toolbox, and select Final under the Submit Grades heading.

Grades Processing Tips and FAQs may be found on the 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.

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.

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

Online final grading for Spring 2013 – H1 courses meeting in the first half of the semester from Jan. 14 through March 6 part of term begins Wednesday, March 6, via FlashFAST. Grading is also now available for any Spring 2013 course section that was flexibly scheduled and has an end date no later than March 12. The deadline for grading submission is midnight on Tuesday, March 12.

To access FlashFAST, login to FlashLine at http://flashline.kent.edu and click the Faculty & Advisor Tools tab. Locate the Faculty Toolbox, and select Final under the Submit Grades heading.

Grades Processing Tips and FAQs may be found on the 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.

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.