Greetings from Columbiana County!
The Kent State East Liverpool and Kent State Salem campuses are busy places these days: we just came back from our fall break; midterm exams are finished; and students are already registering for spring semester classes.
Additionally, our recruiting season is in full swing with campus representatives visiting high schools and college fairs all across the region. They are waving the Kent State flag and doing a great job of promoting our campuses.
I am proud of the ongoing efforts of our dedicated staff and faculty who support our students in multiple ways. Their actions are making a difference with student success, and I applaud all who are involved.
For instance, we are actively participating in Kent State’s mental health campaign that promotes the services available to students in crisis and as well as the resources available to support the emotional well-being of all students. Our mental health counselor is making a big difference by addressing those needs on our campuses in collaboration with faculty and staff.
Another initiative aimed at improving retention and student success is our Power Hours. This is a Columbiana County campus initiative that encourages interaction between faculty and students during hour-long tutoring sessions covering a wide range of subject matter. Faculty members volunteer to provide this personal interaction with the students.
Aside from the Power Hours, there is a well-organized peer tutoring network on each campus and a Writing Center that provides additional help for students with writing assignments.
While there is a great emphasis on student success for each campus, there is also a strong sense of community responsibility in East Liverpool and Salem. Our campus outreach projects demonstrate a true sense of compassion and goodwill by students, staff, faculty and administrators.
By the end of this semester, we will have held a Red Cross blood drive; hosted a community dinner providing free meals to nearly 130 individuals; raised money to support a therapy horse-riding facility; distributed nearly 1,000 books to children along a holiday parade route; and stocked an on-campus food pantry – not to mention the school supplies and clothing items our Salem nursing students provided to children on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
Campus representatives are also partnering with civic leaders from across Columbiana County to secure funding through the Governor’s Office of Appalachia to finance significant community improvement projects that will benefit a multitude of residents. It is rewarding to witness the collaboration between communities and professions, knowing that the work we are doing today will impact lives for many years to come.
As we enter into the season of thanksgiving and celebrations, I am grateful for the efforts put forth to make a difference on our campuses and in our communities. I also appreciate the support we receive from community members, alumni and organizations that help in so many ways. Financial support is vital to student success, but we also depend on sites that provide hands-on, real-life learning opportunities, especially in our allied health programs.
I welcome you to visit our East Liverpool and Salem campuses so that you can meet faculty and students, while also seeing our updated learning environments. Our buildings may not be “new,” but our technology is state-of-the art!
Again, thank you for being part of what makes the Kent State East Liverpool and Salem campuses special. Happy Fall!
Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Bielski
Interim Dean and CAO
Kent State Columbiana County Campuses