Glauser School of Music Launches Youth Winds Ensemble
Beginning fall 2021, Kent State University’s Glauser School of Music will launch the Kent State Youth Winds. The new ensemble—a joint venture by the Kent State Bands and Music Education departments—will welcome eighth to 12th-grade students from around the region.
“I’m so pleased we’ll be launching this new ensemble, particularly given the challenges we’ve collectively faced over the last year due to the pandemic,” said Kent McWilliams, D.M.A., director of the Glauser School. “As we anticipate a fall that’s closer to normal, I look forward to welcoming these young musicians to our campus.”
Wendy K. Matthews, Ph.D., director of bands and associate professor of music education, will lead the new ensemble. She’ll be joined by instructors Sarah Kois (M.M. ‘20) and Garrett Doty. Kois currently teaches band at Streetsboro High School and Henry Defer Intermediate School, and Doty teaches band at Kent City School’s Stanton Middle School. Kent State students enrolled in the instrumental methods class will also work with the ensemble as part of their music education classes.
“This initiative will provide an opportunity for young musicians to develop their individual playing and ensemble skills while also meeting others like them from across Northeast Ohio,” said Matthews. “Not only will this provide great opportunities for its members, but the music education students will also have time on the podium conducting and assisting with sectionals. Our goal is to provide a positive, enriching and fulfilling musical experience for everyone involved.”
Auditions for the ensemble will take place in-person or online. Live auditions are on May 16, from noon to 6 p.m. and May 24, from 4 to 9 p.m. in the Glauser School of Music (Center for the Performing Arts, 1325 Theatre Dr., Kent Campus). Video auditions are due May 16. Find more information and audition requirements at www.kent.edu/youth-winds.
Tuition for the ensemble is $250, with some limited, need-based scholarships available. Members of the ensemble must also remain enrolled in their school ensemble. Homeschooled students are exempt from this requirement.
Kent State Geauga Associate Professor Receives $10,000 Research Grant
Psychology Associate Professor Arne Weigold, Ph.D. started teaching General Psychology and Perception at Kent State University at Geauga a year ago. With a focus in cognitive psychology, he also has been engaged in ongoing research. He completed a grant-supported research project that analyzes the differences and equivalencies among different types of research participants, including college students.
In January 2020, Dr. Weigold received a $10,000 grant from the Kent State University Research Council to carry out a new online research project titled “Traditional and Modern Convenience Samples in Self-Report Survey Data Collection: Are They Equivalent?” Read the full story.
CPM Adjunct Professor Receives Silver Award for Innovations in Technology Driven Research
--By Madalynne Stanic Fitzgerald
The College of Podiatric Medicine (CPM) congratulates Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP, on receiving a Silver Award for Innovations in Technology Driven Research. Cole was honored with the award during the recently held Journal of Wound Care World Union of Wound Healing Societies (JWC WUWHS) award ceremony.
Cole’s Silver Award in Innovations in Technology Driven Research was granted for her ongoing work with CPM and its Cleveland Foot & Ankle Clinic, where she serves as an Adjunct Professor, and Director of Wound Care. Sponsored by Sanuwave, the award is open to those who conduct research with innovative technologies that lead to advances in wound care and improved patient outcomes.
Regarded as ‘The Olympics of Wound Care,’ the JWC WUWHS awards celebrate the finest achievements in wound care over a four-year span. This year, the ceremony delivered some of the most prestigious awards in the wound care community for work done following the previous award ceremony, held in Florence in 2016. A total of 15 categories were recognized that covered the latest innovations in research and practice worldwide. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a physical awards ceremony was not possible this year. Instead, a virtual awards week was held in late February that included honoree interviews and educational webinars.
Geauga Library Director Receives COBAA Grant
Kent State University Geauga Campus and Twinsburg Academic Center's Library Director Mary Hricko, Ph.D., received a Celebrating Ohio Book Awards & Authors (COBAA) Grant for $1002. The COBAA grant, which is sponsored by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and awarded by the State Library of Ohio Library, provides federal funding to expand the collection development of books about Ohio and written by Ohio authors. The COBAA Book list includes titles from the Ohioana Awards, the Buckeye Childrens’ Book Awards, and the Choose to Read Ohio programs.
Most of the books received will add to the library's juvenile collection for the Middle Childhood Education Program. Additional titles will offer instructional support for courses such as Ohio History, African American Literature, Media, Power, and Culture, and Introduction to Justice Studies. Many of the books address issues related to diversity and inclusion.
Questions regarding the project should be directed to Dr. Hricko.
Reminder to Terminate Flexible Work Arrangements You Are No Longer Using
Kent State University’s Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) policy went into effect July 1, 2019. Since then, over 600 flexible schedules have been approved.
If you were previously approved for a flexible work arrangement but are no longer working a flexible schedule, you must officially end the arrangement by completing a FWA termination form via DocuSign. This establishes a record of your return to the regular hours for your position in your personnel file. Until you complete a termination form or are approved for a new FWA, your record will not be up to date and will continue to reflect the FWA schedule for which you were last approved.
Terminating a flexible work arrangement you are no longer using is an important step in the FWA tracking process, and we ask that you keep this in mind for future use of FWAs at KSU. To review the full procedures for requesting, approving, and terminating flexible work arrangements, visit the FWA guidelines at www.kent.edu/hr/wellness/fwa-guidelines. To access the FWA termination form and additional information about Kent State’s flexible work arrangement policy, visit www.kent.edu/hr/wellness/flexible-work-arrangement.
Should you need to initiate a request for a Flexible Work Arrangement, you may access the request form at our FWA webpage at https://www.kent.edu/hr/wellness/flexible-work-arrangement.
If you have questions, please contact Employee Wellness at wellness@kent.edu or 330-672-0392.
May Employee Wellness Offerings Will Focus on Plant-Based Living
Plant-based is a style of cooking and eating that emphasizes foods derived from plants. Adopting a plant-based diet doesn’t necessarily mean eliminating all animal products, but rather prioritizing plant-based foods that promote good health. Rather than thinking about what you’re limiting, focus on the word “more” – more vegetables, more fruit, more whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, etc.
Adopting a diet rich in natural plant-based foods has an array of benefits for your health as well as the environment. Going plant-based can be done gradually and doesn’t have to be restrictive. If you're interested in learning more about plant-based living, you may consider scheduling a nutrition counseling session and/or participating in May Employee Wellness offerings, like webinars and the Powered by Plants Challenge. Visit the Employee Wellness May Focus page at www.kent.edu/hr/wellness/may-2021 for the full list of programming.
For questions regarding health and wellness offerings for faculty and staff, contact Employee Wellness at wellness@kent.edu, or 330-672-0392.
Get Ready for Get Fit Don't Sit Week, May 3 - 7
National Get Fit Don't Sit Day™ was originally created by the American Diabetes Association as an opportunity to increase awareness of the dangers of prolonged sitting and the importance of getting up and moving throughout the day - especially while at work.
At Kent State, we seek to empower staff and faculty by providing opportunities and the resources you need to get moving. To celebrate Get Fit Don't Sit Day, Employee Wellness encourages movement all week long! Join us as we get up and move during the week of May 3. Our celebration will include virtual workouts, Get Fit Don't Sit BINGO, and an opportunity to win prizes via a contest on Facebook.
How you can prepare for our week-long celebration?
- Visit the Employee Wellness calendar to register for Total Body Toning (M/W, May 3 and 5) and Cardio Kickboxing (F, May 7) hosted by Recreation Program Coordinator, Beth Michel
- Download your BINGO board from the Get Fit Don't Sit page and make a plan for getting on the move and achieving BINGO. Those who achieve BINGO two or more times will qualify for a t-shirt!
- Join the Employee Wellness Facebook Group so you can participate in the contest and enter a raffle for prizes
For questions related to Get Fit Don’t Sit Week and other wellness offerings for faculty and staff, contact Employee Wellness at wellness@kent.edu, or 330-672-0392. We look forward to getting up and moving with you during the week of May 3!
The Virtual Gratitude Graffiti Project Ends This Week
For the fifth consecutive year, Kent State is participating in the Gratitude Graffiti Project, a practice of purposeful reflection and appreciation expressed through interactive art. Throughout the month of April, Kent State employees have taken “gratitude breaks” and added electronic sticky notes with grateful sentiments to shared online gratitude boards.
It is the fourth and final week of the 2021 Gratitude Graffiti Project. So, take some time to reflect on the virtues of your life and those around you by visiting Kent State’s virtual gratitude boards. While you’re at it, see how your fellow Flashes are expressing their gratitude and enjoy the “art” you’ve created together! Add to the week 4 board or visit the Gratitude Graffiti landing page to access all boards.
For questions related to the Gratitude Graffiti Project and other wellness offerings for faculty and staff, contact Employee Wellness at wellness@kent.edu, or 330-672-0392.
2020-2021 Tenure and Candidates for Promotion in Fall 2021
Congratulations to the following faculty members on their recent promotions in the categories listed below. Review of these actions commenced in the 2020-2021 academic year with all actions effective for the faculty contract 2021-2022 academic year. These actions are effective July 1, 2020, for the College of Podiatric Medicine and 12-month tenure/tenure track, or non-tenure track faculty, and upon contract for the remainder of faculty, August 21, 2022.
Tenured Faculty Receiving Promotion