Helping Students Explore, Engage and Succeed...with Purpose
In addition to being the home to the Exploratory Program, the largest undergraduate major at Kent State University, University College provides university-wide academic and career exploration opportunities that challenge and support students to reach their full potential. Through engaging programming and an intentional campus support network, our award-winning initiatives foster students’ ability to persist through graduation.
Over the last six years, University College has received twelve national awards, three international program certifications, and has been awarded more than $7.5 million in grant funding.
ACADEMIC DIVERSITY OUTREACH
Academic Diversity Outreach in University College engages students in life-changing experiences for academic success with programs and initiatives that help our students stay on track toward graduation and implement successful future career strategies. Support is provided for all students, including racially diverse, first-generation college and limited-income students. Academic Diversity Outreach provides an environment that fosters intentional and meaningful faculty, staff and peer interactions. A few marquee programs include Success Coaching, which moves students toward achieving their academic goals while focusing on school and life balance, and Academic Advantage, which supports underrepresented students’ goal to graduate in four years and envision a path for the future by building a support network of peers and professional staff in the context of career exploration, success coaching and academic coursework.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER
The Academic Success Center empowers students to become independent learners. The center offers drop-in and scheduled tutoring, supplemental instruction, peer academic coaching and academic success workshops. Support for more than 100 courses is available to all undergraduate students. The center promotes student success by engaging students as soon as they are enrolled at Kent State University to help them transition from pre-college to college classrooms. Data show that first-year students who engage regularly have higher course grades, GPAs, and four-year graduation rates than those students who do not.
CAREER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT
We have shifted the career services paradigm at Kent State University to Early and Often by providing students with opportunities to engage in career experiences even before they arrive on campus. Programs offered for career and major exploration include Career Advising, on and off-campus student employment, traditional internships or micro internships (Flashternships), cooperative education experiences, graduate school preparation, career fairs and career skills development. The Career Closet provides donated items at no cost for students who need an appropriate outfit for an interview, career fair or other professional events. Peer support is provided through an innovative Career Peer network.
COMMUNITY ENGAGED LEARNING
Experiential learning is the process of learning by doing. By engaging students in hands-on experiences and reflection, they are better able to connect theories and knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Days of Service provides volunteer opportunities such as Make a Difference Day and Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Day. Alternative Breaks expose students to social justice and cultural issues through direct service, community engagement, reflection, and a variety of cultural activities. The Flashes Fighting Hunger initiative assists in fighting food insecurity and hunger through contactless food drives, drive-thru food distributions, campus food pantries, and the student-founded Campus Kitchen.
EXPLORATORY PROGRAM
Nationally recognized for its work with students, the Exploratory Program in University College is the home to the Exploratory major, the largest major on campus. Dedicated academic advisors in the Exploratory Advising Center work with students to create their Major Action Plan by utilizing their career readiness inventory, creating action steps to align with their strengths, interests and goals so that they confidently declare a major. In addition to dedicated advisors and peer mentors, students can enhance their college experience by participating in the Exploratory Learning Community, a living-learning program designed around their interest in exploring majors and careers.
MCNAIR SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, commonly referred to as The McNair Scholars Program, is a Federally funded TRIO program that prepares undergraduate students who are first-generation, from designated income or underrepresented groups for doctoral study. The program is a national leader in providing transformative research experiences, exceptional faculty mentorship and intentional professional and personal development.
STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAMS
The Office of Student Success Programs partners with students and as well as Golden Flash family members to make a student’s first year extraordinary with outstanding academic and co-curricular experiences that provide several types of support and programs to help new students transition to university life and expectations.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Student Support Services is a Federally funded TRIO program assisting first-generation students, those from designated income backgrounds and students registered with Student Accessibility Services in navigating campus resources and creating a meaningful Kent State experience. Services and programming within the department provide many opportunities for self-reflection, discovery, academic success, and personal and professional growth. By providing support in these core areas, we aim to create a greater sense of belonging for all students who are first-generation, income-eligible or with disabilities.
UNIVERSITY ADVISING AND DEGREE COMPLETION
This department assists in coordinating university-wide academic advising to support students prior to admission at Kent State University through graduation. Additionally, Degree Completion staff assist Kent State students who have spent significant time away from the university in re-enrolling and developing a plan to finish their undergraduate degree.