Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce that the Open Enrollment period for plan year 2027 will begin on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, at 8 a.m. and continue through Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. This is the time each year when we encourage you to take the opportunity to review your current benefit plan selections and re-evaluate your current and future benefits needs. There will be changes in plans and process this year, and we've already introduced our new Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability carrier. Please be sure to read all Open Enrollment communications.To aid in your decisio...

Before Pinterest boards and TikTok DIYs, there was “Design on a Dime.” Now, 2019 Kent State University graduate Maddie Scalzi is bringing the 2000s HGTV show back to life, one DIY and thrifted find at a time.  {"preview_thumbnail":"/s3/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/7hMP1RNnwNI.jpg?itok=KmmT1W59","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hMP1RNnwNI ","settings":{"responsive":true,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":false,"title_format":"@provider | @title","title_fallback":true,"loading":"lazy"},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}...

To aid in your decision-making, the Employee Benefits team will hold Open Enrollment and Wellness Fairs at each campus. The Employee Benefits and Wellness team, as well as internal university partners, external benefits, retirement planning, financial wellness, and other service provider partners, will be available at each fair to answer questions and provide information. Biometric screenings and flu shots will also be available on those days.  2026 Open Enrollment and Wellness Fair DetailsDateCampusOpen Enrollment FairsEvent Location(s)Monday, Oct. 12, 2026Ashtabula Screening/Flu Sh...

 Nora Ineman a sophomore at Kent State University and a Choose Ohio First Scholar, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology is deeply personal. As an infant, Nora experienced a blood clot in her brain that affected her development, particularly her ability to swallow. During her recovery, a speech-language pathologist played an important role in helping her regain those abilities. Her experience inspired Nora to pursue the same career and one day provide that support to others. “I'm so incredibly grateful for the support I received from her,” Nora said. “It insp...