Information Services Strives for “One University”

In the midst of the summer rush, IS Communications dedicated time in July to strengthen relationships with the regional campuses.

President Warren has encouraged greater inclusivity with her platform of “One University”. Initially introduced as part of President Warren’s 2014 Listening Project, the “One University” initiative strives to bring a sense of unity to our various campuses, recognizing the unique contributions and challenges of each campus. Taking this to heart, Information Services has been busy reaching out to our regional associates.

Jim Raber, Regional Campus IT Liaison, has been working closely with our regional partners for some time to ensure the smooth implementation of technology initiatives and be a conduit for information sharing among technology staff at all campuses. Kim Price, Sr. IT Security Analyst, shares her knowledge of cyber security with the regional campuses during Human Resource’s KSU for You initiative which has been very well received.
“Our goal has always been to ensure all Kent State students receive an exceptional technology experience,” explains Octavian Maianu, Director, IS Communications, “and the campus visits served as an example of our dedication to reach our more distant community partners.”

With these most recent visits, the Communications team was tasked with several objectives:

• Listen and provide users the opportunity to share their experiences
• Document feedback and turn it into actionable projects
• Generate more awareness of the numerous technology services and benefits offered through IS

Campus visits opened lines of communication that benefit both IS and regional partners. Through strengthening relationships with regional campuses, IS gains detailed feedback on the current status of regional systems, while regional campuses are given the opportunity to be more involved in operations and improvements.

“I am very excited about this effort. I applaud Information Services for ‘walking the walk’ of One University,” said Stephen Nameth, Ph.D., Dean and Associate Provost for Kent System Integration.

Following the initial round of visits, IS will be maintaining active interactions with regional campuses through regular site visits, exchanging informational materials, and discussing how the division can meet the unique needs of each campus.