On Sept. 30, a crisp fall morning inside the unseasonably warm Department of Biological Sciences’ Herrick Conservatory, dirty hands and laughter were some of the results of an hour’s work. Sixteen Kent State University students gathered around two tables loaded with a rich mixture of clay, compost and native flower seeds, rolling them into small, compact spheres about the size of doughnut holes.The main goal, though? Making seedballs, a simple yet effective method for planting native plants and wildflowers to enhance pollinator habitats across campus.For many, like Julianna Tresler, a senior v...

Kent State continues preparing university websites and web content to meet accessibility requirements, with a compliance deadline of April 26, 2027. Faculty and staff who manage university webpages have already made important progress improving the accessibility of web content, including reducing, replacing and remediating PDFs. Departments are encouraged to continue reviewing and improving their webpages, documents and other digital materials throughout the fall semester. Making steady progress now can help reduce the amount of work remaining as the university moves closer to the compliance d...

Flu shots and more covered at select locationsThe changing seasons are upon us, and the flu season has begun! Kent State employees and dependents covered by the Kent State's health plans are eligible to receive flu shots and other vaccines covered under their medical benefits. Vaccines are available at:Your in-network provider's officeA Medical Mutual-contracted pharmacy, orA CVS MinuteClinic (not at the CVS Pharmacy)Employee Wellness ProgramMake an appointment for your flu shot by logging into the BeWell Portal. Flu shots and biometric screenings are available for full-tim...

14th Annual Bra DriveKent State University Athletics, Employee Wellness and Health Promotion, Kent State of Well-being, Office of Sustainability, and SRVSS are hosting a bra recycling drive from Sept. 28 through Oct. 30, to collect reusable or worn-out bras and reduce the number of textiles in landfills. Bras that are in good condition will be donated to the Phyllis Zumkehr County Clothing Center, and worn-out bras will be recycled. View Bra Drive drop-off locations here....

by  Eric Mansfield, Kedron Trapp Aug. 25, 2026For 50 years, state, federal and local agencies have been scooping up water samples from rivers and streams across the country and measuring what's in them – a practice that dates back to the early days of the Clean Water Act. That massive, largely untapped archive is now the foundation of a new project led by David Costello, Ph.D., a professor in Kent State University's Department of Biological Sciences.Costello is the principal investigator on "AI-Driven Probabilistic Source Mapping for Critical Minerals at Continental Scale," a nine-mo...

Kent State’s online departmental directory is separate from the faculty and staff directory and is not connected to university systems that automatically update employee or departmental information. Departmental listings are manually maintained, so changes to unit names, phone numbers or organizational structures will not automatically appear there.Please review your unit’s departmental directory and determine whether the information is accurate. Consider, too, whether a listing is still needed. Because current contact and departmental information is now available on individual unit websites, ...

All full-time and part-time staff are invited to share their experiences by participating in a brief research survey about work practices, learning, and organizational commitment at Kent State. The study explores how HR practices may support stronger employee commitment through a greater ability to learn, share, and apply knowledge across the institution.Your perspective matters. By participating, you can help build a clearer picture of staff experiences and contribute to research that may inform future conversations about how Kent State supports, develops, and engages its staff.How to Partici...

Attention Flashes 101 instructors! The Learning, Engagement and Belonging unit is excited to offer new in-classroom opportunities for Flashes 101 courses this fall. All courses are 45 minutes in length, perfect for adding to your Flashes 101 course schedule. Offerings include Belonging 101, Crafting a Community Agreement, Discovering our Values, and more. To schedule a session for your course, email Shaunte Rouse at srouse2@kent.edu.Flashes 101 Belonging Boost Offerings Belonging 101 for Flashes 101: Wondering where to start your learning journey on understanding belonging? This introduct...

Kent State University is pleased to announce the launch of the newly redesigned Probationary Evaluations within the PageUp Performance platform.Designed to support employees and supervisors during the critical first months of employment, the new evaluations shift the focus beyond simply assessing performance. They are intended to help determine a new employee's success, identify opportunities for growth, and foster meaningful conversations throughout the probationary period (typically the first 60–120 days of employment).A key enhancement to the new process is the integration of Kent State's s...

A Kent State University researcher has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for an inaugural Genesis Mission award to develop an artificial intelligence framework capable of locating critical minerals using 50 years of the nation’s water-quality records.David Costello, Ph.D., professor in Kent State’s Department of Biological Sciences, is the principal investigator on “AI-Driven Probabilistic Source Mapping for Critical Minerals at Continental Scale.” The project is one of 278 selected by the DOE to accelerate AI-driven scientific discovery. More than 5,000 applications were sub...