GRAD CHRONICLE - OCTOBER 5, 2023
GRADUATE COLLEGE OFFERINGS
Graduate College Fall Semester Events
Don't forget to save these dates for the amazing opportunities we have planned for you in the Graduate College!
Graduate College October Programming
Check out the fun and educational events we have planned for you this October. Hope to see you soon!
- The Write Place - Wednesdays from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in University Library 314 and Saturdays from 2-5 p.m. via Microsoft Teams
- Graduate Career Peer Drop-In Hours - Tuesdays from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. in University Library 314
- Intercultural Graduate Student Connections - October 11 from 5-6 p.m. in University Library 352
- Graduate Recruitment Fair - October 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Kent Student Center Ballroom
- Research Writing Retreat for Graduate Students - October 13 from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. in the Herrick Garden Room
- Research Writing Retreat for Graduate Students - October 14 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Herrick Garden Room
- Healing Stanzas - October 17 from 12-1 p.m. in University Library 314
- Reimagining the Academy Conference - October 18 &19
- Kent State Homecoming Parade - October 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Rock on Front Campus
- CAPS Mental Health Series - Letting Go of Perfectionism - October 25 from 12-1 p.m. via Microsoft Teams
- Award Ceremony - October 30 from 5-7 p.m. in Kent Student Center Ballroom Balcony
*We are commited to accessibile and inclusive events. If you need disability accommodations, please contact Cicely Schonberg at cschonbe@kent.edu.*
The Write Place
The Graduate College is offering the Write Place every Wednesday and Saturday. Join your fellow graduate students for weekly writing accountability groups. The sessions will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesdays in University Library 314 and 2-5 p.m. via Microsoft Teams on Saturdays. In collaboration with the Writing Commons, a Graduate Writing Consultant will be present during every session to assist students as needed. Students are welcome to join whenever they are able!
Graduate Career Peer Drop-In Hours
In partnership with Career Exploration and Development, we are excited to offer Graduate Career Peer Drop-in sessions. These sessions are a way for you to get help with quick questions about programs and careers, resume and cover letter critiques, accessing and navigating Handshake, increasing your networking skills, learning interviewing tips, and more!
Sessions will be offered on Tuesdays in University Library 314 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Join us as your schedule allows and know we are here to help you with all of your career needs!
Each drop-in visit will typically last about 10-15 minutes. You are welcome and encouraged to attend multiple drop-in sessions throughout the semester.
Intercultural Graduate Student Connections
The Graduate College is bringing domestic and international graduate students together for opportunities to connect with one another over games, intercultural dialogues, and opportunities to build community and friendship. Join us for our second Intercultural Graduate Student Connection event of the year on Wednesday, October 11 from 5-6 p.m. in University Library 352.
Graduate Recruitment Fair
Considering a master's or doctoral degree? Explore our 200+ world-class graduate programs on Thursday, October 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom at the Graduate Fair. Register for the fair here.
Research Writing Retreat for Graduate Students
The Fall 2023 Research Writing Retreat for Graduate Students will be held on October 13 and 14! The retreat will run from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Friday, 10/13 and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, 10/14. The retreat will be in the University Library Herrick Garden Room (1st floor), classrooms 333 and 334, conference room 352, and the Graduate College suite 314. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided on the 13th. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on the 14th. Payment is $30 for two consecutive days of Retreat or $20 for one day of Retreat. Payment is due by 10/13. Register for the retreat here.
Healing Stanzas
In collaboration with the Wick Poetry Center, we present "Healing Stanzas." Join us on Tuesday, October 17 from 12-1 p.m. in University Library 314.
Homecoming Parade
Want to walk with us in the Fall 2023 Homecoming parade? Sign up to walk here. The parade is at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 21. Please plan to wear your blue Graduate College t-shirt. If you don't have one, the Qualtrics form will collect your t-shirt size. You can pick up your shirt in the Graduate College (University Library Suite 314) after registering any time Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mental Health Series for Graduate Students
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is offering a Mental Health Series specifically for graduate students. The second session on Wednesday, October 25 from 12-1 p.m. focuses on letting go of perfectionism. You can join the workshop via Microsoft Teams.
Award Ceremony
Are you a Graduate College 2023-2024 award recipient? Save the date for our annual Graduate College Award Ceremony on Monday, October 30, 2023 from 5-7 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom Balcony. We will be in touch with more information soon!
Graduate Student Teaching Award
The Graduate Student Teaching Award highlights excellence in teaching and mentoring among current graduate students. The award recognizes graduate students who exemplify excellence in teaching/learning as part of their professional development and training. Each year, one award will be given to a doctoral student and one to a master's student. The application window for the 2023-2024 academic year has opened. Applications are due by Wednesday, November 15, 2023 by 11:59 p.m. (EST). Nominations should be submitted to graduatecollege@kent.edu. Additional information about this award can be found on the Graduate College website. For content questions, please contact our Professional Development Specialist, Dr. Sarah Beal at sbeal5@kent.edu.
Graduate College Student Advisory Council
The Graduate College invites applications for our inaugural student advisory council. The GCSAC will share insight and serve as an advisory body concerning graduate education, programming, and initiatives organized and coordinated through the Graduate College at Kent State University. All graduate students are eligible to apply. Estimated time commitment is at least one hour per month for a year-long appointment. Applicants must indicate their interest by completing the Qualtrics form by Monday, October 9 by 11:59 p.m. Please contact graduatecollege@kent.edu should you have questions.
GRADUATE STUDENT RECOGNITION
Three Minute Thesis Competition
The ninth annual Three Minute Thesis Competition concluded on Tuesday, October 3. 10 presenters advanced from two previous preliminary rounds. Students were given three minutes and one PowerPoint slide to make a concise and engaging presentation.
A panel of judges chose the top three winners. The audience selected the People’s Choice awardee by using a QR code. Congratulations to our Fall 2023 award recipients!
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First Place: $500 – Mandalynn Slupek, College of Arts and Sciences, Getting the “NAC” of Being Drug Free
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Second Place: $300 – Elaheh Sabziyan Varnousfaderani, College of Aeronautics and Engineering, Bird Strike Prevention Using Bird Movement Prediction
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Third Place: $200 – Pratyusha Ghanta, College of Arts and Sciences, Stopping Lung Cancer in its Tracks
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People's Choice: $200 – Marwan Shalih Maraicar, College of Arts and Sciences, Protective Role of Betaine Against Demyelination in Multiple Sclerosis
Dissertation Of the Year Award
Dr. Meredith Bielaska, Higher Education Administration graduate of Kent State University, won the Dissertation of the Year Award from the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors for her dissertation, “Finding Family: The Experience of Transgender Students On Gender-Based Membership and Resiliency in College.” To read more about this accomplishment, visit the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors website.
CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY OFFERINGS
Graduate Student Senate Special Election
The Kent State University Graduate Student Senate (GSS) is holding a special election for the position of Finance Chair during the October 16 GSS meeting. The newly elected Finance Chair will take office immediately at the conclusion of the October 16 meeting and will serve alongside the current board until the conclusion of the 2023-2024 academic year. A description of the position and general information about the executive board, including the requirement of 6 hours of work each week, can be found in the bylaws: https://www.kent.edu/graduatecollege/bylaws-charter.
Nominations and questions can be directed to Emily Erb, Executive Chair at eerb4@kent.edu or Ann Winter, Information Services Chair at atager1@kent.edu . GSS meetings are open to the graduate student population and are held in the Student Governance Chambers at 12:30 p.m. with the option for online participation via Microsoft Teams. Only voting members of GSS (Senators and Alternate Senators) can vote in this election, with one vote being cast for each respective academic unit. Additionally, per the bylaws, voting will take place via a secret ballot. As such, only those physically in attendance will be permitted to vote.
DI Dinner
Join Kent State University Design Innovation staff and fellows for a DI Dinner and an evening of community and conversation on Friday, October 6 at 6 p.m. in the DI Hub. Enjoy a meal while seated with a mix of individuals you may or may not know, including faculty, students, alumni and representatives of business and industry. Through a conversation moderated by a DI team member, you and your tablemates will be tasked with collaborating on a complex problem within this dinner’s theme of Transforming the Future of Higher Education. You can purchase a ticket here.
Mental Health Campaign Kickoff
Join us on Tuesday, October 10 from 4:30-6:30p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom for World Mental Health Day. This event will include the launch of a campus-wide mental health campaign, a discussion surrounding mental health, and a keynote address from licensed therapist Kier Gaines. Interested in attending? Register for the kickoff event here.
Sponsored Programs
The Office of Research Compliance primarily supports the Institutional Review Boards and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and collaborates with the the Institutional Biosafety Committee. Here are some tips to get started:
- Meet with your faculty advisor/mentor to get your project started.
- Review the Compliance webpage to access help resources, CITI training, applications, and to learn more about processes and review timelines.
- Do not initiate any regulated research without proper approval.
The Office of Sponsored Programs supports externally funded projects. As a graduate student, follow these steps if you are interested in applying for external funding:
- Talk to your faculty advisor. He/she likely needs to serve in some role on the proposal.
- Identify a funding source, then read and know the proposal guidelines. Contacting the funding agency’s program officer with your idea can also be helpful.
- Contact the Office of Sponsored Programs as soon as possible, and at least 10 business days before the submission deadline to initiate the internal proposal development and submission process. In most cases our office will submit the proposal on your behalf.
The five Research Institutes at Kent State University represent and encompass a wide range of research strengths across our community . The institutes include:
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute
- Anti-Racism and Equity Institute
- Brain Health Research Institute
- Environmental Science and Design Research Institute
- Healthy Communities Research Institute
KSU community members from virtually every college and department are involved in one or more of these Institutes. Collectively, the institutes offer an impressive range of engagement opportunities and benefits for our university community include symposia, speaker series, funding opportunities, research support programming and much more. We encourage you to explore these institutes, sign up for membership and take advantage of everything they have to offer. The Office of Technology Commercialization offers a range of services and programs that supports its market-centered approach to technology transfer. From the time a researcher submits an invention disclosure through licensing or creating a start-up company, the Office of Technology Commercialization helps researchers evaluate product potential, protect intellectual property, collaborate with industry to commercialize university intellectual property. We work closely with the inventor at each step of the process to support the activities related to commercialization, either through licensing the technology to an existing company or by creating a start-up company. Though not every invention may be ready for commercialization, we assist researchers in obtaining external funding to validate the technology in order to determine its commercial viability. While the focus of this work is on university owned intellectual property, we actively contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem at the university and are happy to consult as we can. https://www.kent.edu/research/technology-commercialization The Office of Student Research primarily supports the engagement of undergraduate students in research. Students are typically mentored by a faculty member and often assisted by a graduate student. Programs include the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), the Student Research Experience (SRE) and the annual Undergraduate Symposium for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors. The office also supports/supplements graduate student travel and presentations at national and international conferences through an award made to the Graduate Student Senate.
Flashes Food Pantry
Visit the Flashes Food Pantry in Kent Student Center Suite 106 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. by appointment only. For a chance to walk-in, visit from 2-3 p.m. For more information, visit the CARES Center website.
Reimagining the Academy
Registration is now open for Reimagining the Academy, a new collaborative conference co-sponsored by Kent State University, Miami University and Ohio University. Reimagining the Academy will feature workshops, oral sessions, roundtables and panel discussions focusing on anti-racism, diversity leadership and building community. You can register for the conference here.
Mental Health Support
The Mental Health Resources and Support website is live! Here you'll find all mental health and well-being services that support the Kent State University community across any of our campuses and abroad. This site will help you identify support for yourself or others and empowers you with educational resources. Additionally, we have compiled a list of graduate student support resources. Please click here to view the list.