Kent State University’s Election Day Leave Guidelines
Kent State University recognizes that employees may want to vote on Election Day. As such, supervisors should provide employees with a reasonable amount of time to vote on Nov. 3. Note that there is no requirement to take leave time for pay purposes.
Regarding working at polls, the Division of Human Resources has established guidelines on poll worker leave. There is also a comprehensive list of Poll Worker FAQs available at www.kent.edu/hr/benefits/poll-worker.
Finally, the university encourages faculty to be flexible in accommodating students who may need additional time to vote on Election Day.
If there are any questions, these should be forwarded to hrweb@kent.edu.
Kent State Receives Best in Class and Hall of Fame Honors For Supplier Diversity
Kent State University has won a Best in Class award for supplier diversity from the Greater Cleveland Partnership. This marks the third time that the university has received this award. 
Kent State previously won the Best in Class award for supplier diversity in 2013 and 2017.
As a multiyear winner of the Best in Class awards, Kent State is also named to the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Equity and Inclusion Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honor is awarded to member companies and organizations that have consistently demonstrated their commitment to workplace diversity and inclusion. Learn more.
Honors College Hosts Career Conversations
The Honors College is hosting its 3rd annual Career Conversation Series this fall. Due to COVID-19, these conversations will be virtual and bring Kent State students and alumni volunteers together via Google Meet.
Each session will feature alumni panelists from the same industry and an Honors College staff member will ask the panel questions about their field, Kent State education and career. Students will have the chance to ask the panel their own questions as well. The virtual format will give alumni the chance to show off their work space and discuss how the pandemic has affected their industry.
These one-hour sessions will take place from 4:00-5:00 p.m. EST. Students can join and leave sessions as their schedule allows. All students (honors and non-honors), staff, and faculty of Kent State are invited! Learn more.
Flashes Rise Above: Nine Nights of Resilience Programming
Disappointments are inevitable. It is okay to feel or experience disappointment or uncertainty, but developing resilience can make a huge difference on your ability to cope and endure 
adversity.
Flashes Rise Above, a Kent State of Wellness and Recreational Services’ program, is our way of offering support and resources to help our Kent State community cope with, heal, rise above and overcome disappointment and uncertainty.
Join us for nine nights of free, virtual programming, weekdays from Tuesday, Oct. 27 through Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30-8 p.m. Each night we will present an event, hosted by members of our campus community, that will provide resources to help you handle disappointment and uncertainty, build resilience and de-stress.
Learn more and register at the Kent State of Wellness website.
Higher Education Resources from IMPACT Solutions
You probably know that Kent State's Employee Assistance Program, IMPACT Solutions, provides counseling and other services, but did you know that IMPACT provides resources specific to higher education? Visit www.MyImpactSolution.com, go to member login and enter username Kent to access the website, then scroll to the Higher Education Resources tile to find articles and other resources on the topics of supporting students, difficult conversations, and mindful retirement.
You can check out these resources and more on the IMPACT website, and join us for a webinar and learn important strategies to avoid job burnout as a higher educational professional on November 4. As a reminder, IMPACT services are available to all employees, members of their household, dependent children in and outside of the home, spouse/partner, and parents and parent-in-law. You may reach IMPACT 24/7/365 at 1-800-227-6007.
Webinar: Burnout Strategies for Educational Professionals
It's a reality that burnout is high in the educational arena for both educational leaders and administrative staff. Compassion fatigue and basic physical weariness take their toll. Are you having to do more with less? How do you maintain productivity standards and prevent fatigue? Are there REALLY coping mechanisms which provide successful solutions for educational leaders? The answer is YES. With the right strategies, educational leaders, faculty, and staff can cope and thrive! If this sounds all too familiar...this webinar is for you.
The presenter, Debra Saffo, is President of The NiKhar Group - an educational curriculum and workforce company she established after being sought after to develop and conduct professional development for educational and business organizations. Debra brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the area of workforce development and curriculum services.
This webinar will take place on November 4, from noon - 1 p.m., and it is open to all full and part time faculty and staff. You may click here to register.
For questions related to employee wellness offerings for Kent State faculty and staff, contact Employee Wellness at 330-672-0392 or wellness@kent.edu. To reach out to IMPACT directly, please call 1-800-227-6007.
REMINDER: Veterans Day Ceremony 2020
All are invited to attend a virtual ceremony to pay tribute to those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. A special invitation is extended to Kent State faculty, staff, students and community members who are veterans, active service members, or who have family members in the military.
Kent State will hold an online Veterans Day Commemoration on Wed., Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at www.kent.edu/veteransday.
The program, Honoring All Who Serve, will include:
- The program will commence with a pre-recorded flag-raising ceremony, conducted by a joint color guard from the Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC programs, on the Student Green at Risman Plaza.
- Emcee is Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Adrien Humphreys. A native of St Croix, United States Virgin Islands, Humphreys began her military career as an Enlisted Soldier in the Quartermaster Corps in September 1998. She was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December 2003 through the Officer Candidate School, and is a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Officer. Humphreys currently serves as the Professor of Military Science at Kent State University.
- National Anthem being performed by Corinne VanNatta and Lance Zimmerman
- Remarks from Kent State University President Dr. Todd Diacon
- Invocation, Chaplain, Colonel Donnette Boyd
- Guest speaker Chaplain, Colonel Donnette Boyd. Boyd is the Wing Chaplain, 81st Training Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. She served for over eight years as a line officer before being commissioned as a chaplain in 2000 and has served in Korea, Germany, Guam, Italy, Iraq, and Afghanistan. She holds advanced degrees in several subjects and received her Bachelor of Arts from Kent State University in 1987.
- Watch live at www.kent.edu/veteransday on the day of the event.
For up-to-date information, please visit the Veterans Day Commemoration web site.
Guests seeking an accommodation in order to attend this event should contact the Office of Compliance, EOAA 330.672.2038 or aa_eeo@kent.edu prior to the event date to discuss their request.
REMINDER: Kent State University Employee Self-ID Process
As a federal contractor, Kent State University (KSU) is required to report statistical data to the department of labor and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Therefore, KSU currently offers race, ethnicity, disability and veteran self-identification (self-ID) participation for faculty, classified and unclassified employees. The Office of Compliance, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action extends the invitation for these employees to voluntarily self-ID their race, ethnicity, disability and veteran statuses.
We hope you will participate in this voluntary process to help Kent State University determine the diversity in our workforce and maintain an inclusive and diverse workplace. This information is confidential and is restricted to staff in the Office of Compliance, EOAA for the purposes of federal compliance obligations and our HR Records staff for Banner recordkeeping purposes. The information does not become part of your personnel record, nor is it used in any decision-making process related to employment.
To access the self-ID links, please follow the instructions below. Any inquiries can be directed to the Office of Compliance, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at aa_eeo@kent.edu or 330-672-2038.
Log into Flashline, select settings (left side of navigation bar), scroll down to the secure account access section and look for the following links:
• View or Update Veterans Classification
• View or Update Ethnicity & Race
• View or Update Disability Status
This voluntary self-identification process will end on Fri., Oct. 30, 2020.