Faculty/Staff News Now Vol. 1 Issue 2 Feb. 18, 2019

Faculty/Staff News Now – Volume 1, Issue 2

Shred-Mania and E-Cycle Drive Return

For the 10th consecutive year, Kent State will compete in RecycleMania, a friendly competition and benchmarking tool to promote waste reduction at more than 300 college and university recycling communities. The electronics recycling (E-Cycle) Drive and Shred-Mania are hosted by Kent State’s University Facilities Management, the Division of Human Resources and the Office of Sustainability. The public electronics recycling drop-off event contributes to Kent State’s standings in the RecycleMania competition.

Free Electronics Recycling and Document Shredding

The E-Cycle Drive will be held on Feb. 27 and March 6, 13, and 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Kent State University R-17 parking lot behind Starbucks (between S. Willow and S. Lincoln Streets). Faculty, staff and students, and the Kent community can recycle used electronics through RET3, an R2-certified recycler, where materials are handled in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Materials permitted at E-Cycle Drive include just about anything with a cord: personal and laptop computers, servers and storage devices, CRT and LCD monitors, docking stations, floppy drives, DVD/CD burners and players, VCRs, circuit boards, scanners, copiers, printers, cables, wires, extension cords, digital cameras, cellular phones and network and telecom equipment. Televisions and kitchen appliances are NOT accepted. For more information about E-Cycle Drive, please visit https://www.kent.edu/sustainability/e-cycle-drive.

Free Document Shredding

Shred-Mania will be held on Wednesday March 13, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Kent State University R-17 parking lot behind Starbucks (between S. Willow and S. Lincoln Streets). Faculty, staff and students, and the Kent community may shred personal documents. However, only university property will be counted toward the competition with this event. Materials accepted for shredding include documents, drawings, photos, blueprints, coupons, tickets, checks, magazines, paper bags and file folders. There is a limit of five boxes per person from the Kent community for document shredding. For more information about Shred-Mania, please visit https://www.kent.edu/sustainability/shred-mania.

For more information, please visit. www.kent.edu/sustainability. If you have questions, contact Leah Graham, Kent State University's Outreach Recycling Coordinator, at 330-672-8023, or lgraha13@kent.edu.

Volunteers Needed for Career Fair

It’s that time of year! Career Exploration and Development is in need of volunteers to help staff the Spring Internship, Co-op and Career Fair on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. in Kent State's Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

Please sign up for as many shifts as you can. Volunteers will receive a T-shirt to wear during shifts. You can request a size when completing the volunteer registration form. If you’ve already received a volunteer T-shirt from assisting with a prior fair, please help to recycle by wearing or bringing your shirt with you.

Sign-up in three easy steps:

1. Register to volunteer.
2. Review our areas of need and choose the spot(s) you like (roles include the estimated time slots in which the role is needed - you do not need to be available for the entire time).
3. Submit form to sign-up with your preferences.

We will try to accommodate volunteer area preferences as much as possible, but may have to shuffle workers based on staffing needs.

More information will be provided to volunteers closer to the event date. Please direct all volunteer-related questions to Jody Patterson at jrpatter@kent.edu.

March 8 Title IX training for Faculty and Staff

The Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action will be conducting a Title IX workshop for faculty and staff on Friday, March 8, noon–1 p.m. in Heer Hall, Room 107, on the Kent Campus. Lunch will be provided.

It is highly recommended that this training be taken annually. Additionally, this workshop serves as one hour of Beyond Compliance training.

The session will consist of the following topics:

• What is Title IX? Defining sexual harassment/sexual misconduct.
• How and where to respond to matters related to Title IX. 
• Reporting responsibilities.
• What happens after you report a Title IX concern.
• Available support resources.

Advance registration is required for these facilitator-led workshops, and dates are subject to change or cancellation if an insufficient number of participants sign up.

For additional training dates, please visit www.kent.edu/hr/title-ix-workshops-faculty-staff-and-students to register.

WEBINAR: Take a Tour of IMPACT and Learn How Your Employee Assistance Program Can Assist You!

Available to all full- and part-time employees, supervisors and managers. Wellness Your Way points eligible!

The IMPACT Solutions Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers a wide array of resources and services to employees and their families. IMPACT can assist with various work/life issues, such as eldercare, personal finances, family or marriage counseling, smoking cessation, resiliency skills training, and so much more.  

By participating in this informational webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 10-11 a.m., you will learn much more about how Impact Solutions can support you with a range of services and resources that promote healthier, more balanced living. In addition, with its enhanced web portal, IMPACT will introduce you to new resources such as its Savings Center, Financial Fitness Center and Personal Growth resources.

This webinar will be led by Lisa Kirby, a member of the IMPACT Solutions Team. She is licensed as a professional counselor and a marriage and family therapist. Kirby will guide us in learning all about these valuable resources and answer questions during this interactive webinar.

This webinar is encouraged for all full- and part-time employees, including supervisors and managers. For individuals participating in the Wellness Your Way employee wellness incentive program, this session is worth 10 Tier Two Wellness Your Way points.

Register here for this invaluable showcase of services available through Impact Solutions. If you have questions, please contact Kim Hauge, director of employee wellness, at 330-672-7505 or wellness@kent.edu.
 

WeightWatchers in the Workplace Open House

KSU Faculty/Staff, Family Members and Students Welcome. At Work and Digital Option Available.

WW in the Workplace welcomes all Kent State University employees, family members and students to an Open House on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 12-12:45 p.m. in Room 303 in the Kent Student Center. Reservations are not required for this event and all attendees will have their names entered into a random prize drawing. 

The open house is a perfect opportunity to learn more or try out a meeting with no obligation to join. As part of this WW event, anyone who joins WW between Feb. 11 and Mar. 1, 2019 will get a FREE Join the Journey Kit. 

Kent State WW in the Workplace workshops are held each Wednesday in the Kent Student Center, Room 303, unless otherwise noted. The WW Wellness Coach will assist with your registration process or you can follow the directions at www.kent.edu/hr/benefits/weight-watchers-work to enroll. Individuals covered by Medical Mutual are also eligible for up to $150 reimbursement at the work meeting.

If an “at work” meeting doesn’t fit your schedule, WW digital is also an option. Please visit our website for more details here. Both WW@Work meetings and digital options are eligible for Wellness Your Way points by using the “Weight Management” feature under Tier 2.
 

Flash Survey for Faculty

Are you teaching an online course this semester? If so, please remind your students to complete the Flash Survey course evaluations.

At Kent State University, we are committed to ensuring the quality of our academic programs, our teaching and the learning experiences of our students. Student feedback on courses and instructors is pivotal for helping design courses and curriculum.

Flash Survey is the end-of-course student survey for online and hybrid courses. Direct your students to visit www.kent.edu/FlashSurvey, and click on Complete Your Survey Today. Email questions to flashsurvey@kent.edu.

Remember to Register for KSU’s Employee Appreciation Celebration 2019

The Division of Human Resources, in partnership with The Office of the President and The Office of the Provost, is proud to announce its first-ever Employee Appreciation Week. Don't miss out on this seven-day extravaganza chock full of activities and events, and gifts and prizes for KSU faculty and staff and their families, March 3-9, 2019. Visit the Employee Appreciation Week web page for a complete list of activities.

Kent State faculty and staff will be recognized through Employee Appreciation Day on Tuesday, March 5, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. A special evening event will be held for second- and third-shift workers 10-11:30 p.m.

To provide a consistent experience for all employees, lunch and events will be held concurrently throughout the day so departments can schedule release time for staff. Workers are not required to use designated sick or vacation leave to attend. Participation in this event should be coordinated with guidance from your supervisor or manager.

Please note: Although the university certainly values its graduate assistants and student employees, Employee Appreciation Day events are intended for all full- and part-time faculty and staff. This does not include graduate assistants and student employees.

Please direct questions to the Employee Engagement and Outreach Office at 330-672-2100, or engage@kent.edu.

Discount tickets to the I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama (March 15-17)

If a piston makes it go, it’s in this show! The 53rd annual I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama is March 15-17 at the I-X Center. The largest show of its kind in the world, Auto-Rama will feature more than 1,100 cars, motorcycles, tractors, military equipment and vintage aircraft.

Kent State employees receive $2 off per ticket. Visit http://www.pistonpowershow.com/promotional-code/ and click on Corporation/Organization Discount. Use promo code: KENT19. Tickets are $18 per person. Kids 12 and under are FREE. Don’t want to purchase tickets online?, Print and show this coupon at the box office and receive the same $2 discount. For more information, please visit www.pistonpowershow.com.

Enroll in Free Koru Mindfulness Classes and Become More Mindful and Resilient

Missed the first round of Koru Mindfulness training sessions? Here’s your opportunity to enroll for sessions in March. This free, four-week, 75-minute class is offered by Kent State of Wellness, the university-level initiative to promote health and wellness at Kent State University, and is open to Kent State faculty, staff and students.

Koru Mindfulness is an evidence-based training specifically designed for emerging adults, but anyone will find this useful at any age. Participants learn mindfulness and meditation skills that can help them become more resilient, more mindful and more rested, including several other health benefits.

The classes are facilitated by Melissa Celko, director of Kent State of Wellness.

Participants will receive a free Koru Mindfulness book. Spots fill up quickly so register today!

Session 1:
Mondays, March 4, 11, 18 and April 1 (Noon-1:15 p.m.)
Kent Student Center, Room 308
Register here

Session 2: 
Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19 and April 2 (4-5:15 p.m.)
Kent Student Center, Room 319
Register here

For more information about the Center for Koru Mindfulness, visit https://korumindfulness.org/.

Kent State of Wellness also offers weekly meditation sessions through its Meditation Across Campus initiative that are free and open to all. To learn more about Meditation Across Campus, visit www.kent.edu/stateofwellness/meditation.