Kent State is a Great College to Work For
When you asked for a “one campus” feel, we consolidated all graduations to provide a consistent experience, and offered more webinars and regional activities across all shifts to better connect employees.
When you wanted the option to be identified by a “preferred name” at work, we added a feature to your personal information on Flashline that facilitates an inclusive environment.
Kent State University is again participating in the Great Colleges to Work For program. By doing so, we can continue to track our progress in responding to your insights through a process that provides invaluable internal and external benchmarking.
Thanks to our valuable survey respondents, Kent State was recognized in the Benefits and Compensation category for eight consecutive years. For four years in a row, Kent State was the only public or private institution in Ohio to make the list. We should all be proud of such an accomplishment. This year affords us the same opportunity and we encourage you to share your feedback regarding Kent State.
Although recognition is not guaranteed, we remain wholly optimistic about the value we can derive from this program. Your input allows us to improve existing practices and implement new programs and procedures like the following:
- DocuSign - empowers you to sign, send and manage documents anytime, anywhere on any device
- New Hire/Employee Checklist – provides a consistent hiring process for faculty and staff across all divisions
- Page Up – Improves job applicant experience by delivering contract and new hire information on any device
An invitation to take the Great Colleges to Work For survey will be distributed to a random selection of our employees this spring, meaning you may or may not be chosen to provide feedback. If you receive an invitation, we welcome and encourage you to participate and share your honest viewpoints, as a high response rate helps ensure an accurate representation of our community. We thank everyone who participated last year.
Please note that the survey, open March 11 through April 5, is voluntary and completely confidential; our institution cannot trace results back to individuals. ModernThink LLC, an independent management-consulting firm focusing on workplace quality in higher education, will process your survey. ModernThink can be reached at 888.684.4658, or email surveys@modernthink.net.
Thank you in advance for your participation. Please contact Dr. Susan Perry, Assistant Provost for Accreditation, Assessment and Learning, at sperry31@kent.edu, or call (330) 672-3931, with questions.
Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award Call for Nominations
Purpose
As an outcome of the Great Place Initiative, Provost Todd Diacon is pleased to announce the creation of the “Excellence in Faculty Mentoring” award. Up to two awards will be presented annually. These awards underscore the commitment to endorse outstanding mentoring of faculty by faculty, and they acknowledge the time and dedication faculty mentors devote to fostering the career development and academic success of colleagues in the areas of research, creative activity, education, service and practice. Each award consists of a certificate, a cash award of $1,500, and recognition at an awards ceremony.
Eligibility for nomination
Any member of the Kent State Community with current faculty status is eligible for the Excellence in Mentoring Award. This includes all full-time tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty, as well as part-time faculty. Any faculty member can submit a nomination. In most cases, an individual faculty member would nominate their current or previous mentor; however, fellow colleagues with faculty status who admire the mentoring efforts of their colleagues may drive the nomination process and solicit letters from the candidate’s mentee(s). A faculty member may be nominated multiple times for an award, but an award may be conferred only once.
Honorable Mentions - We will also accept applications for faculty members who have retired or left Kent State. While they are not eligible for the full award, we will consider them for an honorable mention and recognize them at an awards ceremony.
Criteria for award
Candidates are assessed on the extent, quality and effectiveness of their mentoring. This may be demonstrated through a continued commitment to fostering the intellectual, creative, scholarly and professional development of their mentees, and through mentee success, development and advancement. Candidates are expected to consistently serve as role models for their colleagues by maintaining high standards for excellence within their own discipline and the greater institution. Candidates are also expected to continuously demonstrate many of the following characteristics:
- Offer sound counsel and valuable information to their mentees to advance and develop the mentee’s own path to academic and professional success;
- Generously share their valuable time to be accessible to their mentees;
- Impart guidance and expertise in encouraging and critiquing the mentee’s research, teaching and scholarly works;
- Involve peers and mentees in publications, grants and conferences, as well as readily share knowledge of such opportunities;
- Encourage and include mentees in networking activities with other professionals;
- Promote and make others aware of the contributions and value of their mentees; and
- Help create a vital faculty and engaged academic community.
Submitting a nomination
Nomination letters addressing how the nominee meets the criteria outlined above will be uploaded by submitting your nomination here. Nominations will be accepted until March 18.
Employee Appreciation Week In-Store Discounts at Local Merchants
Below are faculty/staff discounts during Employee Appreciation Week. All discounts are available only during the week of March 3 – 9, 2019, with KSU faculty/staff ID.
- Barnes & Noble Bookstore (Kent Student Center), Discount coupons available in the Kent Student Center ballroom, March 5.
- Campus Wine Cellar (1655 E Main St, Kent; the only local vendor selling Kent State wine), Get any daily special on any day of the week after 5 p.m. For example, order from the Monday and Wednesday menus on Friday.
- Kent Lanes – 11th Frame (1524 S. Water St, Kent), $1.50 games for KSU faculty/staff.
- The Kent Stage (175 E Main St, Kent), On-line discount available at http://www.thekentstage.com. Use promo code KSU to access the discount. Limit four per person. KSU employees receive a $10 discount for the following concerts:
- Earls of Leicester
- Lonestar
- The Prince Project
- Skerryvore
- Lonesome Traveler with Peter Yarrow
- David Wilcox & Beth Neilsen Chapman
- Swamp Pop Legends
- Thompson Square
- La Terraza Mexican Bar & Grill (1888 OH-Route 59, Kent) 20% off all food orders.
- Mike’s Place (4447, 1700 S. Water Street, Kent) 10% off all food orders.
Visit our Employee Appreciation Week feature article for additional offers and updates on employee discounts. Visit the Employee Appreciation web page for upcoming regional dates.
The Great Place Initiative - Spring Forum
The Great Place Initiative is pleased to announce the Spring 2019 Forum on Thurs., March 7 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Moulton Hall Ballroom. We will share updates on our work to date, including, but not limited to, the following topics:
- The creation of a Climate Advisory Network for students;
- The creation of a comprehensive, centralized list of climate-related resources for students;
- The creation of a Staff Council;
- The development of a flexible work policy;
- The launch of a mentoring award, acknowledging faculty mentoring faculty;
- The charge to all colleges, campuses and divisions to create Great Place teams to address climate issues and celebrate success;
- The creation of two new ad-hoc sub-committees on race and disability;
- Updates from two in-depth Kaizen events on Student Sense of Belonging and Unwanted Sexual Contact.
We welcome your input and ideas. Light refreshments will be served. You can find more information and provide comments on the Great Place Initiative website. Details for a live stream to follow. Regional Campus Great Place events are being planned for April and May.
Employee Health Coaching: Sessions Available to Support Your Wellness Goals (Face-to-Face & Telephonic)
Health Coaching is part of our employee wellness program for all full-time, benefits-eligible employees on all campuses. Health coaching appointments are individualized, 25-minute sessions with a certified health coach with expertise in a variety of areas, including exercise, nutrition, diabetes management, stress management, tobacco cessation, and general health. Appointments are available face-to-face or telephonically to suite all schedules and are unlimited. This incredible benefit, typically a $80 per hour benefit, is completely free to our full-time, benefits-eligible employees. You DO NOT have to be enrolled in the university-sponsored health plan to take advantage of our health coaching benefit.
The next onsite health coaching dates are March 7 and 20, and April 2 and 18. All onsite sessions take place in 103 Heer Hall in the Employee Wellness Room. If you cannot do a face-to-face session, see the telephonic appointment option below:
To schedule onsite coaching session, simply do the following:
1. Login to your personal Health Portal at portal.bewelldata.com. If you have not yet set up a Be Well account, see instructions for first-time login here.
2. Under My Appointments, select Worksite Coaching. Choose the date and time that fits your schedule. Spaces are limited.
Telephonic coaching available to suit any schedule
If an on-site health coaching visit doesn't fit into your schedule, unlimited, telephonic health coaching is also an option and is available Monday-Friday year round. To take advantage of this offer to work on your individual health goals, simply login to Be Well at portal.bewelldata.com and select "My Appointments" and "Telephonic Coaching." You will be able to quickly set up your first session and you're on your way.
Each health coaching session is worth 10 Wellness Your Way incentive points towards your Tier 2 total for individuals participating in the Wellness Your Way incentive program.
Note: Onsite health coaching appointments open at the beginning of each month for the following month. If you find it necessary to cancel after securing an appointment, please notify Be Well immediately at 1-888-935-7378.
For questions or assistance with registration or coaching, you may contact Be Well Solutions directly at 1-888-935-7378.
April 30 Deadline Approaching: Sign Up for Your "Know Your Numbers" Onsite Health Screening
Step One Toward Your $300 Wellness Reward
Don't leave your wellness dollars on the table for 2019. The April 30th deadline is approaching for meeting your Tier 1 eligibility, which includes a "Know Your Numbers" health screening to put you on track for your $300 Wellness Reward.
If you haven't done so already, remember that you must have your "Know Your Numbers" screening done annually IF you are working toward the $300 Wellness Your Way reward. For the 2019 calendar year, your screening must be done between Sept. 1, 2018 - April 30, 2019. You can take advantage of the convenient onsite screenings (space is limited) provided by Be Well Solutions or have one completed with your primary care physician and have the results populated in the Tier 1 Physician Screening Form available on the Be Well portal. The choice is yours.
There are a limited number of remaining appointments available for the onsite health screening. Follow the "How to Schedule" instructions below as registration is required.
| Date | Location | Time |
| March 28 | Kent Student Center - Ballroom Balcony | 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. |
| April 16 | Heer Hall, Room 107 | 7:30 – 10:30 a.m. |
"Know Your Numbers" health screenings are complimentary for full-time, benefits-eligible employees only. Employee does NOT have to be enrolled in the university-sponsored health plan. If you are unable to make your scheduled appointment, please CANCEL promptly.
How to Schedule Your Appointment
- Login to your private Be Well portal at portal.bewelldata.com. If you have never logged into Be Well, there are special instructions for first-time access at http://www.kent.edu/hr/benefits/partners-bewellsolutions.
- Once you are logged in, select "My Appointments," then "Worksite Screening." Choose the date and location that best meets your schedule. Please keep in mind that you will need to fast for 8 to 10 hours prior to your health screening and blood draw is via a finger prick.
- To complete/update your online health risk assessment for 2019 while logged into Be Well, select "My Wellness" and then select "Health Risk Assessment."
- Results of your screening always remain confidential and will be provided directly to you by Be Well at the time of screening.
For questions regarding the Be Well portal or wellness point tracking, please contact Be Well directly at 1-888-WEL-SERV (935-7378). For all other questions, you may contact the Employee Wellness Office at 330-672-0392, or wellness@kent.edu.
Bill Atha Named Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year
Kent State University Police Department Officer Bill Atha (pictured here third from left) was recognized as one of several Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officers of the Year by the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County, and the Portage County Police Chiefs Association.
The officers were recognized for practicing the communication and de-escalation techniques they learned during CIT training, which teaches how to safely work with people in a crisis who may have a mental illness, or may be experiencing a traumatic event.
KSU Student Media Survey, Win $25
Kent State Student Media wants to know how you access campus news. The group is conducting research to determine how faculty and staff interact with their material. Consequently, taking this short survey would provide a better understanding of how to serve you and deliver quality content.
The survey takes less than five minutes to complete and your participation is strictly confidential. As a thank you for participating, you will have the option to enter into a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card.
Access the Kent State Student Media Survey to participate, or copy and paste this link into your browser: https://kent.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_abmCbxL7jnMfoDb.
State of Mind: Larry Pollock Kent State of Wellness Summit Seeks to Advance Mental Health, Hope and Awareness
Almost 40 percent of college students experience a significant mental health issue, and about 50 percent of the U.S. population will experience a mental health condition, according to Active Minds, a leading nonprofit organization for mental health awareness and education for students.
By recognizing the impact on students and other members of the university and local community, Kent State University is bringing together experts and stakeholders to explore the issue of mental health on college campuses.
The 2019 Larry Pollock Kent State of Wellness Summit, themed “State of Mind: Creating a Community of Health, Hope and Awareness,” will take place on Wednesday, April 3, from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
The event is free and open to members of the public, but online registration is required by March 28, 2019, at www.kent.edu/stateofwellness/summit2019.
The keynote speaker is Alison Malmon, founder and executive director of Active Minds. The interactive event also will feature speakers from the JED Foundation and Peg’s Foundation, as well as student-led panels and presentations, and participation from area high schools and colleges. The conversational-style event will afford attendees the opportunity to discuss issues, solutions and resources, and ask questions of panelists and other experts. Additionally, in line with its goal to promote a healthy campus, healthy appetizers from the university’s Dining Services will be served during the event.
Student involvement is a priority for the summit, hence, Rylie Woods, Kent State higher education administration graduate student, and Annelise Stopar, Kent State junior marketing student, serve as summit co-chairs.
Organizations or departments that offer mental-health-related services and resources are welcome to host resource tables at the summit by submitting an online application.
The summit is co-sponsored by Kent State of Wellness, a university-level initiative to promote health and wellness. For more information and to register, visit www.kent.edu/stateofwellness/summit2019.
Seeds of Wellness Mini-grants Support Kent State Community-Driven Health and Wellness Initiatives
Earn up to a $1,000 for your health and wellness proposal
Kent State University is on a mission to become the model for a healthy campus, which requires involvement from members of the university community. Kent State of Wellness, the university-level initiative to promote health and wellness at the university, encourages Kent State community members to come up with ideas and opportunities to impact the health and wellbeing of faculty, staff and students in their area or campus.
Through its Seeds of Wellness program, Kent State of Wellness offers up to $1,000 in mini-grants to support health and wellness initiatives proposed by members of the university community at Kent State’s eight campuses. The grants focus on alcohol and other drug use, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, preventive care, safety, sexual health, smoking and tobacco use.
Last fall, a candid and impactful discussion about mental health took center stage following the screening of a documentary at Kent State Tuscarawas campus. The documentary screening and panel discussion that followed were supported with a Seeds of Wellness mini-grant.
The local NAMI and ACE chapters partnered with Kent State Tuscarawas to screen the documentary on the campus.
This year, applications received so far from the Kent and Regional Campuses have ranged from a stair-climbing proposal to enhance fitness and stress relief, to CPR training for community members, nutrition-based, healthy-eating initiatives, stress-relief programs for finals week, light therapy lamps and more. Applications for the mini-grants are still being accepted on a rolling basis.
To learn more and apply for a Seeds of Wellness mini-grant, visit www.kent.edu/stateofwellness/seeds-wellness-program. Learn more about Kent State of Wellness.
Dates to Remember
March is Women's History Month
March is National Nutrition Month
March 8
International Women's Day
March 10
Daylight saving time begins (ends Nov. 5)
March 17
St. Patrick's Day
March 20
Spring begins
March 25 - 29
Spring Recess