VI. Developing and Recognizing Our People
All university divisions will actively pursue this goal; some specific action steps are noted below.
6.1 Develop leadership skills in a wide range of faculty and staff – create bench strength
- Utilize professional development opportunities for employees (Enrollment Management and Student Affairs)
- Develop and implement diversity training, diversity seminars, and professional development opportunities focused on diversity for faculty, staff, and students (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
- Promote leadership skills of division’s management staff through professional development series (Information Services)
- Develop and implement a training program that strengthens Kent State’s culture of excellence and facilitates cultural change to attain the university’s goals (Human Resources).
6.2 Recruit and retain the highest-quality faculty and staff in the nation
- Develop a mentoring system for faculty (Academic Affairs)
- Increase external funding to support faculty positions, i.e. research scholars (Research and Sponsored Programs)
- Continue to use established candidate recruitment and selection procedures to hire a diverse, quality workforce; recognize and reward top-performing staff (Enrollment Management and Student Affairs)
- Develop leading practices in the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty and staff (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
- Promote the achievements of faculty and staff (University Relations)
- Develop leading practices in the recruitment, retention, and recognition of outstanding faculty and staff (Human Resources).
6.3 Develop and implement a diversity plan with a focus on inclusive excellence
- Incorporate diversity-related goals into leader performance evaluations (All divisions)
- Promote an inclusive, non-discriminatory, welcoming and highly productive workplace throughout the university (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Human Resources)
- Create an inclusive environment, broadly defined, for student-athletes, coaches, administrators and other stakeholders (Intercollegiate Athletics)
- Support the university’s diversity plan and demonstrate the division’s commitment to diversity in all marketing output (University Relations)
- Support efforts of Information Services diversity working group to enhance awareness of diversity issues among staff (Information Services)
- Implement a training reporting application to consolidate staff training information (Information Services).
6.4 Align faculty and staff rewards with institutional priorities
- Provide incentives for faculty who secure external funding (Research and Sponsored Programs)
- Continue employee recognition programs (Human Resources; Enrollment Management and Student Affairs)
- Support and promote the health and well-being of the university community through implementation of a strategic and comprehensive health and wellness approach (Human Resources).
6.5 Ensure effective communication and ownership of the university strategy and values at all levels
- Communicate strategy by enhancing transparency and setting clear expectations (All divisions)
- Conduct division- and unit-level meetings; develop town hall-style meetings; complete annual reports and WEAVEonline assessment (Enrollment Management and Student Affairs).
News and Accomplishments
- Journalism School at Kent State University Places in Top 10 of National Competition
- Kent State’s Kent Campus Expects Freshman Class With Highest-Ever Grade Point Average This Fall
- $5 Million Gift Is Largest Made to the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Kent State University
- Kent State Hosts Global Adolescence Research Summer School
- Commission on Economic Inclusion Recognizes Kent State, Awards University With Commission 50 Designation