Grad Chronicle: March 2021
Featured Graduate Students
Graduate Student Spotlight
Here at Kent State University, we pride ourselves on the exemplary work of our graduate students. Meet Sayoni Dutta, a doctoral student in Kent State’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program in the Department of Biological Science. While the current pandemic has brought unique challenges for Sayoni as an international student, she has overcome these obstacles to achieve great professional success and advancements in her research. Click here to read more about Sayoni’s Kent State experience!
Student Events and Programs
Register for Graduate Student Appreciation Week events!
Registration for our 2021 Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW) events are now open! We will kick off the week on Monday, April 5 from 12-2 p.m. by hosting a grab and go lunch and care package event outside Cartwright Hall. On Tuesday, April 6 at 6 p.m. there will be a virtual trivia night where attendees will have the chance to answer questions from around the globe, socialize and win prizes! We will conclude the week on April 8 at 11 a.m. with a free CliftonStrengths Assessment workshop in partnership with Career Exploration and Development. The deadline to register for the CliftonStrengths assessment is tomorrow, March 24 at 5 p.m.
For additional information and to register for these events, please click on the links below. You will need to log in with your kent.edu credentials to access registration forms.
Deadline to Submit your FlashPitch is Friday
If you haven’t submitted your 90-second pitch for the FlashPitch competition, don’t worry—there’s still time! Pitch recordings are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 26. Submit your pitch with this form or email it to Kyle Reynolds at kreynol3@kent.edu.
E-Cycle Drive
As part of Kent State University’s sustainability initiative, everyone is welcome to recycle any old or unused electronics to the E-Cycle Drive on Wednesday, March 24. From 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can head to the R-17 parking lot behind Starbucks between S. Willow St. and S. Lincoln St. to drop off the electronics you wish to recycle.
Materials permitted at E-Cycle Drive include flat screen TVs, personal computers, laptop computers, servers and storage devices, monitors (CRT, LCD), flat screen TVs docking stations, floppy drives, DVD/CD burners, VCRs, circuit boards, scanners, copiers, printers, cables, wires, extension cords, digital cameras, cellular phones, DVD players, network and telecom equipment and small kitchen appliances. Kitchen appliances larger than a microwave will NOT accepted.
Flashes Give Back Week
Monday, April 19 through Saturday, April 24 is Flashes Give Back Week! There will be various activities and competitions throughout the week, including find Flash contest, virtual volunteer opportunities and Thank-a-Giver Day! Click here to learn more about Flashes Give Back Week.
April Gradfest
Beyond the Professoriate's Free Webinar Series
Tune in for Beyond the Professoriate's free series of events to support graduate student and postdoctoral professional and career development. Join L. Maren Wood, PhD, in this webinar series as she covers various topics related to career opportunities outside of academia.
Click on the links below to register for the events. You are able to view the recorded sessions for seven days following the presentation. Events begin at 12 p.m. ET and run for 45 minutes.
March 26: Non-academic career options for humanities and social sciences
April 9: Why leaving academia can be harder than it seems
April 23: How I decided to leave academia
Strengthen your Résumé
The Division of Graduate Studies is dedicated to preparing graduate students for their careers, and we are providing all graduate students with the opportunity to earn a certificate in Career Planning Essentials and Research Fundamentals. Watch our research fundamental videos to learn more about grant writing, systematic reviews and software support. Our career planning videos discuss topics including interviews tips as well as creating a résumé and LinkedIn profile. After watching at least three videos from either category, graduate students will be prompted to complete an assessment to demonstrate their understanding of the content.
Upon answering 80% of the assessment questions correctly, you will be sent a certificate of completion that you may add to your résumé or CV. You can access the library of videos as well as the assessment on our website.
Shaping a Better Future Series
Join the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as they finish the semester with two more town hall sessions. On Thursday, March 25, from 4-5:30 p.m., discussants will be covering “KSU’s Legacy of Advocating for Change: Gender, Race and Sex,” while the transgender experience will be discussed on April 21 at 4 p.m. Click here to register for the March 25 session, and click here to register for the April 21 session.
Kent State University's Climate Survey
Kent State University seeks to create and maintain a welcoming and inclusive campus environment that respects individual abilities, differences, needs and potentials. There are a few days left to complete Kent State University’s climate survey. This study gives you the opportunity to describe your personal experiences and observations. You may also offer suggestions for change to help enhance the campus climate at Kent State. The survey is open to all students, faculty and staff and will close on Sunday, March 28. You can access the survey link from the email that was sent to you from the university.
Graduate Student Resources
Peer Support for Graduate Students
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Blackboard Tests & Assignments for Instructors
Kent State University seeks to create and maintain a welcoming and inclusive campus environment that respects individual abilities, differences, needs and potentials. There are a few days left to complete Kent State University’s climate survey. This study gives you the opportunity to describe your personal experiences and observations. You may also offer suggestions for change to help enhance the campus climate at Kent State. The survey is open to all students, faculty and staff and will close on Sunday, March 28. You can access the survey link from the email that was sent to you from the university.
Qualtrics Workshops
Do you utilize surveys within your academic research, course work or position on campus? If so, you may know that Kent State offers the Qualtrics platform to create and distribute surveys. Qualtrics offers many features that many users do not take advantage of. Information Technology is offering two workshops on Qualtrics on Friday, April 9. The first workshop, which take place from 2:15-3:30 p.m., will cover the survey creation process and how to utilize the features within Qualtrics to build a quality survey. For more information about this virtual workshop, click here. The second workshop, scheduled to take place from 3:45-5 p.m., will cover the collection and analyzation of data through Qualtrics distribution and reporting tools. For more information and registration, click here.
Career Advising for Graduate Students
Schedule an appointment with the Division of Graduate Studies for career advising. We are here to support you with whatever you need – from fine tuning your résumé or CV to practicing your interview skills. The Division of Graduate Studies will continue to offer career advising services throughout spring semester. Visit our page on Career Advising for Graduate Students to schedule your appointment today!
Health and Wellness
Mental Health Resources
As a graduate student, managing stress and juggling all of your responsibilities can feel overwhelming. Click here to view a comprehensive list of Kent State University’s mental health resources.
Learn Emotional Resilience
Counseling and Psychological Services is hosting virtual group meetings, titled the Art of Coping: Building Emotional Resilience, each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. These sessions focus on learning and incorporating useful skills like mindfulness, stress management and self-compassion into your everyday life. If you're interested in participating in these sessions, please visit the website to fill out a one-time registration form.
Manage Anxiety and Stress During the Pandemic
Join Counseling and Psychological Services’ spring 2021 group programming – Anxiety and Stress During COVID-19 – every Tuesday evening from 4-5 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. For additional information and to complete a one-time registration form, please click here.
It's Springtime – Get Outside!
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Learn how to stand up paddleboard from experienced instructors and enjoy all that nature has to offer at Wingfoot Lake on Friday, April 2 from 4-6 p.m. Click here to learn more and to register for the event! The cost is $25 per student and pre-registration is required.
Outdoor Climbing Trip
Step out of your comfort zone and enjoy the spring weather with a day rock climbing in Logtown, Ohio. All experience levels are welcome! The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs $25 per student.
Pre-registration is required. Click here to register.
Full Moon Float
Get outside and enjoy a sunset while social distancing with others from the Kent State community during a two-hour float trip on Wingfoot Lake. The cost is $30 per student and pre-registration is required. Check out the available dates below and click here to sign up!
- Thursday, April 8 from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
- Friday, April 9 from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
- Saturday, April 10 from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
COVID-19 News and Updates
Stay Informed About COVID-19 Procedures
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In these uncertain times, stay up to date with Kent State University news, procedures, Flashes Safe Seven and updates regarding COVID-19 such as the academic schedule, remote resources, preventative measures, emergency funding, testing, vaccine distribution and more.
Resources to Combat Food Insecurity
As a result of the pandemic, food insecurity has affected many people who are part of the Kent State community and the surrounding area. The following link contains information about available food resources in Kent.