Kent State University at Ashtabula held its 73rd commencement ceremony on Friday evening, Dec. 17, at SPIRE's indoor track and field building in nearby Geneva, Ohio.  It marked the second consecutive commencement ceremony the campus has held at SPIRE.

The Ashtabula Foundation has awarded Kent State University at Ashtabula a grant totaling $142,850 to upgrade equipment for two allied health programs.

“I am grateful to the Ashtabula Foundation for their generous support of our students,” said Susan J. Stocker, Ph.D., dean and chief administrative officer. “The grant will allow us to purchase state of the art equipment that will better prepare our students for the real-world clinical experience.”

An early holiday gift came to student Crystal Dell in the form of a $1,000 scholarship toward her Spring Semester studies from an anonymous “Christmas Angel.” Crystal, who is pursuing her degree in nursing, was surprised with the award  by Senior Program Director for Nursing and Allied Health Julie Senita, Ph.D., and Dean Susan J. Stocker, Ph.D. right after her final exam for the fall semester.

When severe winter forces cancellations and closings on the Ashtabula Campus, that information is shared in a number of ways.  Stay up to date by reading the winter weather advisory page and subscribing to Flash ALERTS.

The interruption to Kent State Ashtabula associate lecturer Joan Steidl’s Intro to Human Services class recently was for a good reason, as Dean Susan Stocker and many of her colleagues were there to make the surprise announcement of Steidl being a recipient of the Kent State Outstanding Teaching Award (OTA) for 2020. Steidl is one of three recipients across the Kent State system awarded for 2020 and is just the second Kent State Ashtabula faculty member to win the award.

Kent State Ashtabula’s Viticulture and Enology programs were recently awarded a $180,000 grant from the Ohio Grape Industries Committee for a pair of research projects to be conducted over the next two years. Kent State Ashtabula is partnering with the Ashtabula Agricultural Research Station, a division of the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, to conduct the projects at Markko Vineyards in Conneaut, Ohio.

During the 2022 Spring Semester, most aspects of university life to be very close to pre-pandemic normal, with a return of all in-person classes, engaging activities and residence halls that are at capacity. 

Face coverings will continue to be required inside all buildings, and are strongly recommended outdoors where six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.

Because of the ever-changing nature of the pandemic, our plans are always subject to change to adapt to new pandemic conditions that might arise, including the rise of the COVID-19 omicron variant.

For the health and safety of our entire university community, on Aug. 27, 2021, Kent State implemented a COVID-19 vaccine requirement which now extends to all students, faculty and staff. While booster shots are not yet part of this requirement, they are strongly encouraged.

All our decisions will continue to be guided by the best public health science and recommendations from federal, state and local health agencies, as they have since the beginning of the pandemic.

• If you have questions regarding COVID-19 please call 1-833-4ASKODH (1-833-427-5634) or email coronavirus@kent.edu.
• Kent State COVID-19 Response Team: 330-672-2525