Flashes of Success Archive

Welcome to the home of University College’s Flashes of Success. Below, you will find demonstrations of how we have successfully supported Kent State students since Fall 2019.

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View of Kent State campus — Julie Paskiet, Multiple Roles

In order to serve students at a higher level, **Julie Paskiet** serves on the Pennsylvania Education Regional Consortium Regional Board and served as the 2019 Job Fair Coordinator for the American Association of Employment in Education.

Sculpture outside of the Kent State Hotel — CommUNITY Lab student support

CommUNITY Lab is a new four-year cohort program coordinated through Community Engaged Learning that offers scholars a network of care and resources while removing financial, academic, and personal barriers to success. Participants reside in a Living-Learning Community located in Lake Hall on the Kent Campus where they learn through specially selected courses, plug into campus resources and co-create individualized achievement plans with their support networks.

Student at career fair — Kristin Williams Leadership Award

As a result of her contributions to Kent State students’ career exploration, **Kristin Williams** received the 2020 Ohio Career Development Association (OCDA) Bob Windle Leadership Award. This award is presented at the annual Ohio Career Development Association (OCDA) Conference in recognition of a true leader in a career field.

Students are all smiles on a warm and sunny day. — Key Connections Program from Academic Diversity Outreach

URS Students are predicted to have a 6-yr graduation rate of 54.5% in the Key Connections program from **Academic Diversity Outreach.**

A beautiful sunny day on Kent State's Campus — Dr. N.J. Akbar Advocate Magazine’s Champion of Pride

LGBTQ+ students at Kent State are being advocated for on and off campus by **Dr. N.J. Akbar,** who became Advocate Magazine’s Champion of Pride of 2020 because of his dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Instructor at desks talking with several students — Education Employment Week

174 KSU job candidates attended Education Employment Week organized by **Career Exploration & Development,** where 55 employers from 16 different states offered employment opportunities. 143 positions were offered to candidates.

Exterior of front campus building on Kent campus through trees and sunlight — Nicole Kotlan reviewer for national publication

Nicole Kotlan has been invited to be a reviewer for a national publication, The Journal of Campus Activities Practice and Scholarship. **Nicole Kotlan** has been invited to be a reviewer for a national publication, **The Journal of Campus Activities Practice and Scholarship**. The Journal consists of Empirical Research Paper of original quantitative or qualitative research. Papers include a review of relevant literature, a clear explanation of methodology that was conducted by the author or authors, a review of all relevant research findings, and a discussion of the implications and recommendations from the author that stem from the research project.

Student in classroom smiling — McNair Scholars Funding

100% of **McNair Scholars** admitted to graduate programs received full funding totaling $250,000 in awards.

Kent State University archway on the esplanade with architecture building in the background — NASPA Lead Institution Designation

KSU’s commitment to make civic learning and democratic engagement a part of every student’s college education was recognized as Kent State was designated as a NASPA LEAD Institution. The efforts to achieve this title were led by Assistant Director of CEL, **Craig Berger.**

Kent State University — Career Exploration and Development Flashternship

Completing a Flashternship through **Career Exploration and Development** gives KSU Students the opportunity to increase their networking connections by up to 300% and their earning potential by over 250%. Students who complete a Flashternship are retained at a higher rate compared to off-campus employment opportunities and provide a clear path to future careers.

Kent State Sidewalk Seal — Melanie Jones Accepted into Prestigious NASPA Institute

Congratulations to Melanie Jones, Director of Academic Diversity Outreach. She was recently accepted into the NASPA Ujima Institute. Melanie had to complete a competitive application process for this Institute. Congratulations, Melanie!

Home away from home — Flash Connections NACADA Award

**Flash Connections** are enhanced sections of the Exploratory First Year Experience course that include an exclusive out-of-class and overnight experience either before the start of the semester or during the semester. Students are supported by a collaboration of the college and campus partners including Community Engagement Learning, Career Exploration and Development, Student Success Programs, University College Dean’s Office, the Department of Recreation Services and more! The **Flash Connections program** has been recognized for the second year in a row and awarded NACADA Region 5 Innovation in Advising Award.

Student on balcony in College of Architecture and Environmental Design — Virtual Destination Kent State Orientation

Over 4,000 incoming Kent State students attended a Virtual Destination Kent State Orientation over Summer 2020. **Maghan Larkins, Assistant Director of Student Success Programs,** received the honor of the 2020 President’s Award of Distinction for her crucial role in transitioning the event from in-person to virtual orientation.

Congratulation Graduates — Krittika Grau Commitment to Student Success

When **Krittika Grau** is not guiding our Flashes to career success, she spends her time serving on the American College Personnel Association Commission for Career Services Directorate Board, committed to the future success of college students.

Fashion student at work — SI Leaders Fresh Perspectives Webinar Series

Students at Kent State are provided amazing Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leaders in various courses. Our SI Leaders **Mark Abunda, Torrance Gaskins,** and Ben Rininger from the Academic Success Center recently led a Fresh Perspectives Webinar Series Session entitled "Using SI Techniques to Develop Fellow SI Leaders", hosted by the International Center for Supplemental Instruction. At the session, they facilitated collaborative discussion and activities across institutions to develop SI Leaders' and SI Mentors' skills.

Three students sit around a laptop in the University Library. — Randi E. and Thomas L. McKenzie Gift

Students are now eligible to receive $10,000 from the Randi E. and Thomas L. McKenzie Gift through **Academic Diversity Outreach** at Kent State.

A group of students enjoy a laugh in the Student Center. — Barb Miller-Harris Tom Vandermeulen Award

Transfer students find their home at Kent State, feel supported and graduate as Golden Flashes with the help of **Barb Miller-Harris** who has been awarded the Tom Vandermeulen Award. Her contributions have enhanced relationships among people of diverse cultures, ethnic groups, first-generation students and students with special needs.

Student in class discussion smiling — Award-Winning Flash Connections Program

Exploratory Program students are given amazing opportunities via the **Flash Connections Program** which has been recognized as **a NASPA Excellence Award - Gold** recipient. Students participating in **Flash Connections** have the opportunity to create a sense of belonging and purposeful learning around career exploration, community engagement, and personal development.

View Schedules — The MAP NACADA Outstanding Advising Program Award

Assisting **Exploratory students** with confidently declaring their major by connecting with intentional action items is the goal of MAP. **The MAP** has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 NACADA Outstanding Advising Program Award. The NACADA Outstanding Advising Program Award recognizes advising programs that are innovative and/or exemplary practices resulting in improvement of academic advising services. The Outstanding Advising Program Award application was judged on the following criteria: innovative quality, creativity, currency, institutional commitment, impact evident by assessment and transferability.

Comments — Start Strong to Finish program

More than 320 new students positioned themselves well, engaging in the “Start Strong to Finish” program by taking a reassessment of their placement tests with **Judy Huber.**

Students smiling and sitting on campus — MAP NASPA Excellence Bronze Award

Assisting Exploratory students with confidently declaring their major is the goal of the **Exploratory Program's Major Action Program (MAP)**. The MAP has just been selected as the recipient of the 2021 NASPA Excellence Bronze Award in the Academic Advising, Careers, Graduate Professional Category. The program connects students with intentional action items based on their career readiness, thus informing how, what, where, and why they may explore majors that align with their strengths and career interests.

Students walk past beautiful flowers on a sunny day. — 214 students received more than $114,000 from Academic Diversity Outreach.

214 students received more than $114,000 in tuition, book, course supply, and other aid from **Academic Diversity Outreach.**

Student participating in a donation volunteer event with paper bags of donated goods — Campus Kitchen Race to Zero Waste

Students have endless volunteer opportunities with University College's Campus Kitchen. The Campus Kitchen, in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, won the 2021 Campus Race to Zero Waste case study competition in the “Summary of Waste Reduction Efforts” category.

2 students sitting on campus by a fountain, with centennials and eastway center in the background — MAP Start to Finish Program receives Award

Kent State Exploratory students experience award-winning advising with the Major Action Plan (MAP): Start to Finish Program. This program, which recently received the NASPA Region IV-East Innovative Program Award, uses innovative advising strategies to assist students in declaring their major.

Student smiling in a hat and glasses — Campus Kitchen Fundraising

Our volunteers at **Campus Kitchen** have raised over $10K for their Giving Tuesday campaign, $20K for Campus Kitchen Renovations, and received $2K from the Portage Foundation’s Rapid Response Fund Grant.

Student working on a project in classroom with micron pen and a ruler — Kent State Together Community Service

Our Flashes have continued providing community service virtually through the Kent State Together program provided by **Community Engaged Learning.** Over 700 student volunteers wrote 1,400 welcome notes to incoming KSU students and provided 500 United Way Literacy Kits for a local elementary school.

A "K" rests stop the Prentice Gate near Rockwell Hall. The gate once served as the formal entrance to Ke — PNC Foundation Awards, CommUNITY Lab

**PNC Foundation** Awards $75,000 in support of student success. Students to be supported with immersive opportunities centered on service and career-related experiences. **CommUNITY Lab** is a new four-year cohort program coordinated through Community Engaged Learning that offers scholars a network of care and resources while removing financial, academic, and personal barriers to success. Participants reside in a Living-Learning Community located in Lake Hall on the Kent Campus where they learn through specially selected courses, plug into campus resources and co-create individualized achievement plans with their support networks.

Student sitting in the Kent Student Center smiling — Young professionals benefit from Engage! Cleveland

Young professionals benefit from personal and professional development through Engage! Cleveland. Katie Kimble assists in this endeavor as a member of the leadership council for Engage! Cleveland.

Student standing at the front of a lecture in front of a whiteboard — Key Connections Program Support

Underserved students, including first-generation students and students from limited-income backgrounds who will enroll in Fall Semester 2022, will continue to receive support through student success initiatives through the **Key Connections program** due to a new gift of **$200,000 from the KeyBank Foundation**.

Students on Field Trip — Campus Kitchen Impact

Helping those in need, Kent State’s **Campus Kitchen** provided 4,500 hours of service, 81,321 lbs. of food, and 28,294 lbs. of food pantry distribution to community members in need.

Lambert Kanamugire, standing, community peace centers — Community Engaged Learning Civic Learning and Democracy

Kent State students benefit from Community Engaged Learning work on civic learning and democracy led by **Craig Berger.** Berger is dedicated to students’ democratic engagement, recently co-authoring an article published in the eJournal of Public Affairs, “Tools for Living Democracy: Putting the CLDE Theory of Change into Practice” and a publication in a NASPA issue of the *Leadership Exchange Magazine* entitled “Infusing CLDE Theory of Change into Student Affairs: New Thinking about Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement”.

Student section at a home Kent State Football Game at Dix Stadium — Peer Leader Training Enrollment

More than 600 students enrolled in the **Peer Leader Training** course this academic year (57% were first year students, 30% underrepresented students, and 35% first generation students).

Kent State University has many engaging campus events and activities. — Service in a Flash Program

Students now have the opportunity to volunteer in-person together for 1.5 hours on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons through **Community Engaged Learning’s** new Service in a Flash program. Activities have included upcycling t-shirts to make tote bags for food pantries and cutting fabric to make face masks for all students in Kent local schools.

Flash the mascot engages in activity with students on a sunny day. — Make a Difference Day

50 Student volunteers engaged in Community Engaged Learning’s annual Make a Difference Day, planned by **Imani Reynolds, Coordinator** of Community Engaged Learning, and **Maggie Allphin, Graduate Assistant.**

Students enjoying the warm weather on campus. — Weeks of Change

Students can now attend educational, volunteer, and activism events through a new series called Weeks of Change organized by **Community Engaged Learning** where one week every month will be dedicated to a particular social issue.

An aerial view of Risman Plaza. — 2021 Campus Race to Zero

Students have endless volunteer opportunities with University College's **Campus Kitchen**. **The Campus Kitchen**, in collaboration with the **Office of Sustainability**, won the 2021 Campus Race to Zero Waste case study competition in the “Summary of Waste Reduction Efforts” category.

Student sitting and smiling — Virtual Major Action Plan Program

Over 80% of this Fall’s Exploratory students were able to connect with Major Action Plan (MAP) resources at the **MAP: Start to Finish** program held virtually by the **Exploratory Program.** One step closer to confidently declaring their major!

A student gets feedback from an instructor. — Kristin Williams SIM Cleveland Panel Discussion

**Kristin Williams**, the Executive Director of Career Exploration and Development, will be sharing these developmental student internship experiences with regional employment leaders at the SIM Cleveland panel discussion on November 8th.

Student smiling on campus — Exploratory Mentor Program Receives Certification

The Exploratory Mentor Program has received College Reading & Learning Association (cRLA) International Peer Educator Training Program Certification (IPTPC). The **certification was based on the 2021-2022 Exploratory Mentor program led by Layne Crow (Sr. Learning Community Coordinator) and Megan Medfisch (Graduate Assistant).** The work included a training curriculum to following CRLA training requirements. The certification requirements include providing documentation and materials that demonstrate the use of multiple training formats, that the training include advanced topics such as conflict resolution, mentoring boundaries, cultural awareness and academic majors and advising. Mentors in our program must meet our own selective criteria and are required to accumulate 75 hours of mentoring experience during their time as an Exploratory Mentor.

A fashion student gets feedback from an instructor during class. — CommUNITY Lab

**CommUNITY Lab** is a new four-year cohort program coordinated through Community Engaged Learning that offers scholars a network of care and resources while removing financial, academic, and personal barriers to success. Participants reside in a Living-Learning Community located in Lake Hall on the Kent Campus where they learn through specially selected courses, plug into campus resources and co-create individualized achievement plans with their support networks.

Helping Students Shift to Remote Academic Success

As a result of helping students make the shift to accessing academic success resources remotely during the pandemic, **Amanda Shah, Rachel Cordy, Samantha Spitak,** and **DeAnn Zalom** published a manuscript, “Leading through change: Four perspectives, one team,” in TLAR’s special September edition *Rising to the Challenge: Navigating COVID-19 in Higher Education Learning Centers.*

Nicole Kotlan NASPA Orientation, Transition, and Retention Knowledge Community (OTRKC) Awards Coordinator!

Nicole Kotlan has been appointed as the NASPA Orientation, Transition, and Retention Knowledge Community (OTRKC) Awards Coordinator!
Nicole will be responsible for:
Overseeing the operations and logistics of annual awards.
Communicating with the National Office about the annual awards nomination process and coordinating the timing of the awards selection process to meet relevant national deadlines.
Developing a marketing plan to advertise the awards process and solicit nominations from individuals across the Region.
And much more!

Kent State University Designated a Voter Friendly Campus

Kent State University designated a Voter Friendly Campus, one of 258 campuses in 38 states and the District of Columbia by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encourage their students to register and vote in the 2023 elections and in coming years. The mission of the 2023 Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster colleges and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process.

A "K" is at the Prentice Gate near Rockwell Hall. The gate once served as the formal entrance. — MAP Program Innovation in Advising Award

The Exploratory academic advisors at Kent State help guide students through career, major and personal exploration. As a result of their hard work and dedication to our students, the team has just been selected as the recipient of the NACADA’s Region 5 ***Innovation in Advising Award*** for the *Major Action Plan (MAP): Start to Finish* program.

Students walk between Risman Plaza and the University Library. — Adam Cinderich, President of the Ohio TRIO Educational Opportunity Association

Helping others help students. With his experience helping our Kent State students, Student Support Services **Director Adam Cinderich,** who currently serves as President of the Ohio TRIO Educational Opportunity Association (EOA) Board of Directors was selected as a mentor for the TRIO Works SSS Directors Group continuing a commitment to provide access to higher education.

Eboni Pringle — Dean Pringle Receives the 2023 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award

Dean Pringle was nationally recognized for her advocacy for students and receiving the 2023 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award, presented by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.
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A speaker during a lecture engages an audience of students. — Educational Opportunity Association Conference

Student Support Services and McNair staff are committed to assisting students beyond Kent State, recently contributing to the Educational Opportunity Association Conference. **Jim Piascik** presented “Expanding budgets in the time of COVID” with over 100 attendees and **Siobhán Hicks,** along with **Dr. Kelly Cichy,** presented “Addressing the mental health needs of TRIO-eligible students” with over 250 attendees.

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