eInside Briefs
News Briefs
- Governor Names Ralph M. Della Ratta Jr. to Kent State Board of Trustees
- Provost Announces Leadership Change in Arts and Sciences
- Important Information About Final Grading of S2 Summer 2012 Classes
- Supplier Diversity Program Continues to Grow at Kent State University
- Last Day to Submit Your Best Vacation Photos Is July 31
Governor Names Ralph M. Della Ratta Jr. to Kent State Board of Trustees
Gov. John Kasich has named Ralph M. Della Ratta Jr. of Gates Mills, Ohio, to serve on the Kent State University Board of Trustees. Della Ratta’s appointment is from July 13, 2012, through May 16, 2021.
Della Ratta is founder and managing partner of Western Reserve Partners LLC, a Cleveland-based middle market investment bank that provides mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and other financial advisory services. He has more than 30 years of experience in investment banking and commercial banking. Prior to founding Western Reserve Partners, Della Ratta managed the Investment Banking Division of McDonald Investments Inc.
Della Ratta’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University, a Master of Business Administration from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a graduate degree in banking from the Stonier Graduate School at Rutgers University. He serves on the board of directors of numerous private and public companies, including Olympic Steel Inc., MAI Wealth Advisors LLC and NDI Medical. He is a past board member of McDonald & Company Securities Inc. and Hyland Software.
In addition, Della Ratta has been actively involved in various charities and not-for-profit organizations. He currently serves on the board of University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (chairman of the investment committee) and Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital National Leadership Council (past chairman). He is a member of the 50 Club of Cleveland. He has previously served as chairman of the Ohio Venture Capital Authority, president of the City Club of Cleveland and chair of its Campaign for a New Century, board member and executive committee member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, board member and executive committee member of Business Volunteers Unlimited, board member and executive committee member of the Annual Fund of Duke University, board member and executive committee member of the Duke Alumni Association, board member of the Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art, chairman for the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon, chairman of INROADS of Northeast Ohio, president of the Achievement Centers for Children and treasurer of the capital improvements board of the city of Indianapolis.
Della Ratta replaces Patrick S. Mullin, a certified public accountant who recently retired as managing partner for the Northern Ohio practice of Deloitte. Mullin’s term as a Kent State trustee expired in May.
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.
Kent State’s Board of Trustees consists of 12 members, nine of whom are voting members appointed by the governor of the state of Ohio, with the advice and consent of the state senate, to nine-year terms of office.
Two student trustees, one undergraduate and one graduate, are appointed by the governor to two-year terms of office. Since 2011, the Board has appointed a national trustee, who serves a three-year term, as an additional nonvoting member.
For more information about Kent State’s Board of Trustees, visit www.kent.edu/bot.
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Provost Announces Leadership Change in Arts and Sciences
Dear Colleagues:
I’m pleased to write to you today to announce that Timothy Moerland has agreed to join me to work on special projects in the Provost’s Office, effective Aug. 1, 2012. As such, he will take on new responsibilities that will offer a different level of exposure to higher education administration. I want to thank Timothy for his fine service as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. I look forward to having him join the Provost’s Office. Dean Moerland said, “It’s been a pleasure and privilege to serve as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and I look forward to continuing to serve KSU in this new capacity.”
I have appointed Senior Associate Provost Timothy Chandler to serve as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Most of you know Tim, have worked with him, and understand his dedication to Kent State University. Having worked closely with Tim since my arrival, I know that he will bring a keen intellect, sharp wit, and a gracious and careful manner to the job. He will serve in the position for the 2012-2013 academic year while we search for a permanent replacement.
When you cross paths with either Tim, please congratulate them for their continued service and dedication to Kent State University.
Sincerely,
Todd A. Diacon, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
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Important Information About Final Grading of S2 Summer 2012 Classes
Online final grading for Summer 2012 courses meeting in S2(6/4 - 7/28) part of term begins Thursday, July 26, via FlashFAST. Grading is also now available for any Summer 2012 course section that was flexibly scheduled. The deadline for grading submission is midnight on Tuesday, July 31.
FlashFAST is accessible from any Internet-capable computer that has the cookies function enabled. To access FlashFAST, login to FlashLine at http://flashline.kent.edu and click the Faculty & Advisor Tools tab. The link to your grade roster(s) is located in the Faculty & Advisor Toolbox, 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. Faculty members that need personalized instruction on submitting their grades via FlashFAST should contact their campus Registrar's Office during normal business hours for assistance.
Also, as a helpful tip, it is recommended 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.
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Supplier Diversity Program Continues to Grow at Kent State University
Teresa Golden, president of Environmental Flooring Group,
LLC, meets with a representative from Kent State's
Procurement Department.
Kent State University’s Supplier Diversity program is committed to hiring minority- and women-owned business enterprises to restore the buildings around campus. The Supplier Diversity program is an important component of Kent State’s overall diversity effort.
Teresa Golden, president of Environmental Flooring Group, LLC, was hired to replace the office carpet in the Energy and Power Plant.
“This is my first business,” Golden says. “I’m hoping that I can provide Kent State with quality flooring when the need arises, and as time goes on, I hope that I can expand to the regional campuses.”
Environmental Flooring Group, LLC, is a manufacturer and installer of commercial flooring, specializing in green flooring products made from recycled rubber. The recycled materials also fit nicely with the university’s sustainability mission.
“I’m proud to use the recycled rubber because it’s an American-made product,” Golden says. “It’s also excellent for the environment. The rubber comes from old tires that are just sitting in landfills.”
Before establishing her business, Golden was an educator and has more than 30 years of experience in retail. She found a passion for interior design while serving on the interior design committee for schools in her district.
“I really enjoyed helping the architects with the design,” says Golden.
After retiring from education, she knew she wanted to go into some type of sales within the design industry. With the help of a friend in marketing, Golden decided to start her own business in which she could tap into her passion.
Her first contact with Kent State began when she was elected to participate in the Akron Urban League Partnership for the Minority Business Accelerator (PMBA) program. As part of the program, Golden worked with a core counselor and students in the design and marketing departments at Kent State. Golden advised students on a branding project, and the students helped her design her own business cards and brochures.
“It was really fun to work with the students,” Golden says.
For more information on Environmental Flooring, visit efgflooring.com.
For more information about the Supplier Diversity program at Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/procurement/diversity/index.cfm.
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Last Day to Submit Your Best Vacation Photos Is July 31
e-Inside featured a story in the July 9 issue titled, “Tips to Help You Take the Best Vacation Photos,” with a request for you to submit your favorite vacation photos.
Thank you to all who have already submitted photos. If you have a vacation photo that you would like to see published in the newsletter, please send them to einside@kent.edu by Tuesday, July 31.
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