Student Life

This year more juniors, seniors, faculty and staff have purchased meal plans than last year.

There is a growing number of juniors and seniors, faculty and staff who opted to buy a meal plan for Fall Semester 2022.

Jake Mansfield (BA '21) Taking An Exam at New River Gorge

Remote learning means students can study and take their exams virtually -- make that literally -- anywhere. 

Social Justice Quilting Project

In August 2021, 1,000 incoming Kent State students, faculty and staff began a collaborative community effort to implement a social justice quilting project. This initiative stemmed from the Community Engaged Learning department's welcome week and was completed in late August 2022. The mission was to create something by Kent State students that could be sold or auctioned off to raise money for improvements to the gymnasium at the King Kennedy Community Center.

Members of KMK Fraternity in 1922.

The students who founded Kent State's first Greek organization used the university administration's own initiatives as a way around anti-fraternity sentiments.

Postcard picture of the Kent State Normal College's Student Body in 1922

What were the most common first names among Kent State students 100 years ago?  And what were the names announced most often at the commencement ceremonies of 2022? 

​​Flash Connections: Community Impact and Social Change Flash Connections experience in Columbus, Ohio, 2018.

Choosing a career path at age 18 can be overwhelming for some students. As a part of Kent State's University College’s Exploratory Program, Flash Connections are enhanced sections of the required First Year Experience course created especially for Exploratory students. The Flash Connections program is designed to help students considering multiple majors find a community while discovering their major. This program’s exemplary work with undecided students was recently recognized, receiving awards from the Global Community for Academic Advising.

Deanne Parr and Family

Deanne Parr never gave up on her dream of earning a degree, which included overcoming the many challenges of being a teen mother.

Group of students pose with the WW I cannon on campus.

From 1921 to 1942, a WWI-vintage cannon stood on a knoll overlooking Rockwell Hall, then home to the University Library. It was loaned by the U.S. War Department to the Kent American Legion Post 496, which intended to present it to the city of Kent. When city officials could not decide on a suitable location, the cannon found a home on the campus of Kent State Normal College. 

Members of Kent State University’s LGBTQ+ community participate in the university’s 2021 Homecoming Parade.

For a third consecutive year, Kent State University has been selected as one the nation’s top universities for LGBTQ+ students for creating a safe, welcoming environment for students, faculty and staff, according to Campus Pride, a leading resource for LGBTQ+ leadership development, diversity inclusion and advocacy within higher education.

Members of the Class of 2026 Light Up Convocation at the MAC Center

With a backdrop of strobe lights, rock music and excitement, Kent State President Todd Diacon kicked off the start of the 2022 Fall Semester by encouraging new students to lean on one another during the university's traditional convocation ceremony.