WKSU Wins Two Regional Murrow Awards
WKSU 89.7 recently received two Regional Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association. The station was recognized in the categories of News Series and Excellence in Video.
The category of News Series is for single subjects reported in multiple parts. In early 2020, the WKSU news team tackled the topic of recycling with the series Reduce, Reuse, Refocus. Multiple features provided information on everything from how recycling works to what can – or can’t – be recycled.
For the Excellence in Video category, videos must creatively cover a single subject in a single subject. WKSU received the honor for an informational video on how to vote by mail during the 2020 presidential election. The video was a part of the Election Protection series.
WKSU competes in Region 7 with stations in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. Regional winners are automatically considered for a National Murrow award.
The RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious in broadcast and digital news. RTDNA has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971
Mark Shank and Rob Kairis are the 2021 Staff Excellence Award Recipients
The 2021 Staff Excellence Awards celebrated shining examples of dedication to students and the campus community during a year eclipsed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 30, nominees gathered at the Conference Center for a small ceremony, also broadcast live on the Teams platform.
“You have worked diligently to ensure our campus has not only survived – but thrived – during a global pandemic,” said Denise A. Seachrist, Ph.D., dean and chief administrative officer at Kent State University at Stark. “We eagerly look forward to a fall 2021 semester in which students will be, once again, traversing our campus…and our staff – who so often quietly support this institution’s success behind the scenes – will get to interact with students and see the lives we impact every day.”
Seachrist said she was honored to announce this year’s Staff Excellence Award recipients: Rob Kairis, administrator of the year; and Mary Shank, staff member of the year.
“Rob and Mary have gone above and beyond during the global pandemic to ensure they could do everything within their power to help locally,” Seachrist said. “And both share a common characteristic: putting the needs of others before their own.” Read the full story.
A True Test: Training Future Nurses During a Pandemic
You may have heard it said, “when hard times come, notice those who remain, and the ones who disappear.”
Nursing instructors can see this scenario playing out in the lives of their students at Kent State University at Geauga and the Twinsburg Academic Center.
Many people pursue a career in health care because of ample opportunities to serve others while enjoying steady work, advancement, and good pay. But when a pandemic hit, people on the health care path start to have second thoughts. Is the risk worth the reward?
“Many of our nursing students are already working in the health care field,” says Sanhita Gupta, Ph.D., associate professor of Biological Sciences at Kent State Geauga. “In the midst of this pandemic, some are hesitant and scared; they are undecided about their future goals. Others feel even more commitment now than before the pandemic. Overall, most of our nursing students will follow through, although they are facing so many problems.”
Trained as a virologist, Dr. Gupta teaches Basic Microbiology, Human Biology, Biological Foundations, Human Genetics, Life on Planet Earth, and Lab Experiences in Biology. When the COVID-19 global pandemic hit, some of her students were very apprehensive about the contagion because of the possibility of potential exposure. Notably, some who were working in health care got sick and had to quarantine, even though they may have had a different infection. Many have experienced fever but have tested negative for COVID-19. The situation has thankfully improved.” Read the full story.
Equity, Identity and Success: A Pillar of the Division of Student Affairs
Note: This is part three of a four-day series highlighting the pillars within the Division of Student Affairs and how they benefit the students at Kent State University. Today we are focusing on the Equity, Identity, and Success pillar, which includes the Student Multicultural Center, Women’s Center, LGBTQ+ Center, Center for Adult and Veterans Services, International Student Affairs, and Student Accessibility Services.
The resources for students within the Equity, Identity, and Success pillar are rich and provide many ways to get involved and stay connected during their college experience. More specifically, targeted support, affirming communities, emergency funding to assist students in need, leadership development, and cultural exposure and appreciation is a constant theme that does nothing more than boast of the many services provided to students.
Although there are plenty of options, students can still be unsure whether to participate or take advantage of services. Read the full story.
June Employee Wellness Offerings Focus on Brain Health and Caregiving
Good brain health is a state in which an individual can realize their own abilities and optimize their cognitive, emotional, psychological and behavioral functioning to cope with life situations. Changes to your brain are normal as you age. However, there are actions you can take to help slow any decline in memory and lower your risk of developing cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
So, what can we do to maintain good brain health? Furthermore, how can caregivers support the health of those they care for while also prioritizing their own self-care? Join Employee Wellness this June to learn the answers to these questions and more. Whether you are a caregiver or simply want to maintain healthy cognitive functioning throughout your lifespan, you are invited to join Employee Wellness for June offerings focused on brain health and caregiving.
The Longest Day, an initiative in honor of people fighting Alzheimer's disease and those who love and care for them, is back this year, along with several webinars focused on brain health and caregiving, including:
Caregiving and the Workplace – June 8, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
Exercising the Brain – June 17, noon – 1 p.m.
Maintaining a Healthy Brain – June 23, 9 – 10 a.m.
Ask your Eldercare Specialist: Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly – June 25, noon – 1 p.m.
Click on the webinar titles to learn more and register. For the full list of offerings, visit the Employee Wellness June Focus page. For questions related to health and wellness programs for staff and faculty, contact Employee Wellness at wellness@kent.edu or 330-672-0392.
Opportunities to Earn Tier 2 Points
Don't Leave $200 on the Table!
Full-time, benefits-eligible faculty and staff who completed Tier 1 and are working toward Tier 2 of the Wellness Your Way Rewards Program have until October 15, 2021, to rack up 350 Tier 2 points and qualify for their $200 wellness reward. How you earn your points is up to you, and Employee Wellness provides a variety of opportunities to ensure your success.
Review this handout for highlights of ongoing points-eligible wellness offerings, such as virtual exercise classes, webinars, and challenges, as well as self-paced activities you can complete at any time, including complimentary health coaching and nutrition counseling, Impact Solutions and Be Well Solutions web scavenger hunts, small group book discussions, the new 3/3/30 Exercise Tracker, and more.
Please note that this handout provides just a snapshot of Tier 2 options. You can find the full menu of eligible activities listed within your Be Well Solutions portal. Once logged in, select "My Wellness" then "Wellness Rewards Program" and click on the green box for Tier 2. Be Well Solutions tracks your progress along the way, so make sure you are on track to earn your $200 Tier 2 reward by Oct. 15!
For questions related to health and wellness offerings for Kent State faculty and staff, contact Employee Wellness at wellness@kent.edu or 330-672-0392.
FY 2021 Leave Approval Reminder
Fiscal Year-End Processing
The Division of Human Resources is working closely with the Controller's office to confirm that all compensated leave balances are up to date for fiscal year 2021.
As the fiscal year comes to a close on June 30, 2021, Human Resources Records would like to remind all Flashline leave approvers to ensure all alternate, personal, sick and vacation leave used by faculty and staff have been properly recorded, submitted and approved.
Alternate leave will expire June 30, 2021.
Please be sure that outstanding leave reports have been reviewed and approved by July 2, 2021, as HR Records will be moving all pending reports to an approved status on July 3, 2021.
HR Records thanks you in advance for your assistance with our year-end processing. Should you have any questions or need further information, please contact the Human Resources Records Department at 330-672-8316 or hr-records@kent.edu.
Labor Condition Application Notice
In accordance with 20 CFR § 655.734, Kent State University is required to provide notice that a Labor Condition Application (LCA) for H-1B Nonimmigrant Alien Worker has been led by Kent State University with the United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, United States Employment Service Certifying Officer. All LCA postings are provided at the university's Legal Notices website.
Important Information Regarding Student Registration Into Classes
As we begin the new semester, the Office of the University Registrar asks for faculty's help in making sure that all students are properly registered for their Summer 2021 courses.
As per University policy, only officially registered students are permitted to attend courses. Go to Faculty & Advisors/Faculty Dashboard to find the link to official class rosters in FlashLine. Students who are not officially registered within the appropriate time period WILL NOT receive a grade or earn credit for the course even if they attend the entire course and complete all required work.
Registration and schedule adjustment deadlines for courses can be found in the Detailed Class Search. To access the Detailed Class Search, visit the Registrar's website, click the Schedule of Classes quick link, and select Summer 2021, or in FlashLine, go to Faculty & Advisors/Resources/Courses and click on the Registration Deadlines and Tuition Credit Search Link.
Instructors are asked to remind students that it is important to finalize and verify their registration within the proper timeframe. After the published deadlines, adjustments in registration will require faculty and Office of the University Registrar approval.
Grades Submission Information
The deadline for submitting final grades can be found on the Registrar's website.
Incomplete Mark and NF/SF Administrative Marks:
The administrative mark SF (Stopped Attending–Fail) denotes that the student stopped attending the course and did not formally withdraw and must be accompanied by a date of last attendance in the course. If a student has stopped attending your course the SF can be entered on the Final Grade Roster along with the student’s last date of attendance.
The administrative mark NF (Never Attended–Fail) denotes that the student neither attended one class session nor formally withdrew from the course. If a student has never attended your course, mark the student as “Not Started” on the Academic Presence Verification Roster, and the NF will automatically populate to your Final Grades roster.
The administrative mark of IN (Incomplete) may be given to students who are unable to complete the work due to extenuating circumstances. To be eligible, undergraduate students must be currently earning a D or better grade and are unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and the end of classes. Graduate students must be currently earning a C or better grade and are unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and the end of classes. Instructors are required to complete and submit an Incomplete Mark Contract.
Incomplete Mark Contract Workflow
The instructor must create and submit an Incomplete Mark contract via the new workflow. Instructors are no longer able to select the incomplete mark (IB+, IC+, IC-, etc.) from the final grade roster in FlashFAST (Self-Service Banner). The primary instructor must initiate and submit the contract using this new workflow process, which mimics the old paper process. Once the contract has been accepted by the student and approved by the department chair/campus dean, the student’s grade will be updated automatically. The primary instructor will be able to initiate and submit the contract for a student after the deadline to withdraw (10th week of a regularly scheduled section in fall and spring, or prorated for flexibly scheduled sections) through the end of final grading.
Access the Incomplete Mark workflow in FlashLine from the Faculty Dashboard under Grading Resources or Faculty Workflows. The incomplete mark and default grade will no longer be available to assign via the final grade roster or the Grade Push Application.
For complete information on university grading policies including Incomplete Mark and NF/SF grading policies, procedures and timelines, please visit the Grading Policies and Procedures section in the university catalog.