eInside Briefs

Kent State Gets Green Light for Historic Campus Transformation

At Kent State University, the phrase “four more years” has nothing to do with politics. It refers to the time frame for a physical transformation of the university’s Kent Campus that will be historic in size, scope and significance. That time frame became official on Sept. 12 when the university’s Board of Trustees authorized the university to move forward with four, major capital projects on the Kent Campus totaling nearly $150 million.

Kent State’s investment in universitywide improvements, which is possible in part because of the university’s issuance of $170 million in general receipts bonds, is motivated by far more than aesthetics. The projects approved today are part of a larger building and renovation initiative called “Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future.”

“Without exception, every improvement we make will contribute to the creation of a 21st-century learning environment that supports Kent State’s top priorities: academic excellence and ensuring the success of all students in all majors on all of our campuses,” says Kent State President Lester A. Lefton.

Click here to see a list of projects that were approved by the board and other board actions.

Centennial Campaign Concert Rocks Kent State

Sheryl Crow performs during the Centennial Campaign
Concert in Dix Stadium.

Sheryl Crow, O.A.R. and Los Lonely Boys performed at Kent State University’s Centennial Campaign Concert on Sept. 8. Held at Dix Stadium, the Centennial Campaign Concert served as a celebration of the conclusion of Kent State’s Centennial Campaign, a $250-million fundraising effort timed around the university’s 100th anniversary in 2010, and the largest campaign in Kent State’s history. The university exceeded its goal, raising more than $265 million for endowment, capital projects and current operating funds, with emphasis on student scholarships. The concert was presented by the Kent State University Foundation, a not-for-profit entity that is legally separate from the university, along with Acorn Alley and Main Street Kent.

Prior to the concert, ticket holders and members of the general public attended a free tailgate party in the Kent State University Field House. Attendees enjoyed food sampling and sales from local vendors, wine sampling from four local wineries, live musical performances, cornhole games, giveaways and music provided by 98.1 WKDD. Student and community organizations also were represented at the pre-concert event.

A portion of ticket sales from the Centennial Campaign Concert go directly to support Kent State’s Campaign for Change Scholarship Fund, the university’s student philanthropy initiative, kicking off the next round of fundraising for student scholarships. The Campaign for Change enlists student volunteers to educate their peers about the impact of private support on their education and to encourage students to “pay it forward” supporting an endowed scholarship fund. Since its launch in 2007, the Campaign for Change has raised more than $65,000 from students, parents, faculty and staff. Student gifts range from as little as $1 to as large as $200. In 2009, the fund reached the $25,000 threshold required to endow it, meaning Kent State students have left a legacy that will aid their peers, current and future, in perpetuity. For more information about Kent State’s Campaign for Change Scholarship Fund, visit www.campaign-for-change.org.

Click here to watch highlights from the concert.

Governor Appoints Student to Kent State Board of Trustees

Junior honors student Alex Evans has
been appointed by Gov. John Kasich to
serve as a student member of the Kent
State University Board of Trustees.

Alex Evans of Hubbard, Ohio, has been appointed by Gov. John Kasich to serve as a student member of the Kent State University Board of Trustees. His term began on Aug. 13, 2012, and ends May 26, 2014.

Kent State’s Board consists of 12 members, nine of whom are voting members, who are appointed by the governor of the state of Ohio, with the advice and consent of the state senate. Evans joins Chelsea Knowles, a Kent State graduate student who is studying to receive her Master of Public Administration, as the two student trustees – one graduate and one undergraduate – appointed to the board for two-year terms of office.
 
Evans personifies excellence in action both in the classroom and as a student leader. He is a junior honors student with a triple major in biology/premed, business management and public health, and his current GPA is 3.69. He is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, the Sigma Alpha Pi National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Kent State College of Business Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society. Evans received a Choose Ohio First Scholarship, under the university’s “Integrated Science Training for Northeast Ohio’s Future Biomedical and Biotechnology Workforce.”
 
His leadership activities include serving as campus chapter president for Habitat for Humanity, mentor and member of the Provost’s Leadership Academy, student representative of the College Policy Council and participation chair and treasurer of the Kent State Student Ambassadors. He also serves as a peer mentor, tutoring 12 students per week in chemistry and business courses.
 
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Kent State. By Ohio law, the Board is responsible for selecting and appointing the president; setting the operating budget; approving personnel appointments; granting all degrees awarded by the university, including honorary degrees; establishing tuition and fee rates; approving contracts; and approving all rules, regulations, curriculum changes, new programs and degrees of the university. For more information about Kent State’s Board of Trustees, visit www.kent.edu/bot.

Kent State Approaches $100,000 in Tuition Scholarships From LifeShare Blood Drives on Campus

LifeShare Community Blood Services is a community-focused nonprofit organization committed to providing safe and adequate blood and blood component supply for patient healthcare in Northeast Ohio. The LifeShare Community Blood Services Scholarship was created to acknowledge the crucial role students, faculty, staff and administration play in helping to maintain adequate blood supply.

University Health Services, College of Business Administration and the Student Recreation and Wellness Center sponsor LifeShare blood drives at the Kent Campus. In addition, the student organization Public Health Student Alliance hosted its first LifeShare blood drive this past spring.

Keeping in mind that one $500 tuition scholarship is created for every 35 units of blood collected, the LifeShare blood drives held on the Kent Campus have led to $97,000 in earned scholarships since this blood drive initiative started in 2005.

Please consider donating with LifeShare at our September blood drive so that Kent State can reach the milestone of $100,000. Every unit collected helps earn scholarships for Kent State students, and a Chipotle gift card will be given to all donors.

Upcoming LifeShare Scholarships and Burritos Blood Drive: Sept. 18, 19 and 20, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the DeWeese Health Center.

Are you interested in giving blood with LifeShare? If so, sign up online at www.lifesharedonor.org. Be sure to use sponsor code KSUKENT. Walk-ins are always welcome; however, people with appointments will be taken first before walk-ins. A photo ID is required at blood drives.

Scholarship applications are available at all LifeShare blood drives or the information can be downloaded at www.kent.edu/uhs/ohp/lifeshare-blood-drive.cfm.

For more information about Lifeshare Community Blood Services, visit www.lifeshare.cc.
 
If you have any questions about the upcoming blood drive, contact Scott Dotterer (University Health Services) at sdottere@kent.edu.

Kent State University Airport Hosts Props-4-Paws Food Drive

The Kent State University Airport's Props-
4-Paws program seeks to collect 1,000
pounds of pet food for pet shelters by
Nov. 18.

The Kent State University Airport is holding its first-ever fall pet food drive, Props-4-Paws, that started Sept. 15 at its Heritage Fair. The airport’s goal is to collect 1,000 pounds of food by Nov. 18.

“This program has one goal: to help save the less fortunate animals in our community,” says Jim Sebastian, the airport’s supervisor of flight and instructor for the aeronautics division, and organizer for Props-4-Paws. “By doing that, we are striving to promote kindness, respect and the well-being of animals.”

With this program, Sebastian hopes that the food donations will help alleviate the financial burden for local rescues and shelters.

“Shelters and rescues operate on donations from the community, and one of the biggest expenses is food,” says Sebastian. “By collecting and distributing this food, funds will be freed up for the shelters’ and rescues’ other expenses, such as vet care for sick and injured animals.”

Sebastian says it is important for participation from the community for this program to be successful, and the animals of Summit and Portage counties play a much larger role than many realize.

“They are therapeutic, assist law enforcement, which helps keep our communities safe,” says Sebastian. “They help and assist the handicapped and generally make our lives happier and richer. Every animal deserves that chance. That’s why we are doing this project.”

Food donations and supplies can be dropped off at the Kent State University Airport from
7 a.m. –7 p.m., Monday through Friday, or 8 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Items needed include puppy/dog food, kitten/cat food, nonclumping cat litters, dog treats, and cat and dog toys.

For more information, email Sebastian at jimsebastian1@gmail.com.

Take Advantage of University Health Services

Kent State employees are encouraged to take advantage
of the DeWeese Health Center on the Kent Campus.

The DeWeese Health Center on the Kent Campus offers care to all Kent State faculty and staff. The services provided are similar to those offered at a medical center or primary care physician’s office, such as:

• Treatment for illnesses and minor injuries
• Flu shots
• Immunizations, travel vaccines, allergy injections
• Health screenings
• Treatment for worker’s comp injuries
• Women’s health
• X-ray and lab services
• Physical therapy
• On-site pharmacy
  

Patients receive quality medical care from experienced, board-certified clinicians, and all information remains confidential.

University Health Services accepts most major medical insurance providers, including Medical Mutual of Ohio and Anthem BlueCross/Blue Shield.

University Health Services is also very convenient! You can schedule an appointment online and same-day appointments are often available. For many employees, using University Health Services reduces time away from the office for healthcare appointments.

Find out more about this excellent university resource at www.kent.edu/uhs/employeehealth.