This is an archived communication. Access the university's current coronavirus information.
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Dear Kent State University Students,
Flashes Take Care of Flashes.
It’s an easy phrase to say, and seemingly easy to understand. It denotes community. It signals we’re all in this together. It reflects our commitment, as members of the Kent State family, to look out for each other, to take care of each other and to focus on our priorities: Making sure you have an exceptional Kent State experience and reach your goal of a degree.
You’ll hear Flashes Take Care of Flashes often at Kent State. A phrase like this could be at risk of becoming a cliché or empty slogan, if it wasn’t driving our actions every day.
Our Flashes Take Care of Flashes spirit guides every decision we make. It’s the reason we have won national recognition for the dramatic increases in our graduation rate. It’s the reason we are committed to making a great Kent State education affordable to all. It’s the reason we’ve developed nationally recognized and award-winning student support programs to ensure your success.
Flashes Take Care of Flashes is behind our commitment to student well-being. Even in the darkest days of the pandemic when budgets were cut, we added $1.2 million to expand mental health counseling on our campuses. We’ve eliminated wait times for counseling appointments and soon, our Counseling and Psychological Services will have a new, expanded home in Van Campen Hall. Keeping you healthy and safe is our top priority.
Flashes Take Care of Flashes is why we have devoted countless hours to studying how our campuses can be more diverse, equitable, inclusive and welcoming for all. We created an Anti-Racism Task Force to identify ways we can do better and are actively working to expand the diversity of our instructors.
Ultimately, Flashes Take Care of Flashes means taking care of others and taking care of yourself, too. Both happen when you flash your arm and get vaccinated against COVID-19 – you’re safeguarding your health and looking out for the well-being of others in our community. I can’t think of a better, more powerful way to demonstrate your commitment to Flashes Take Care of Flashes than by getting vaccinated.
We have so much to look forward to this fall semester – Blastoff and KSU Kickoff Week, Homecoming and a return to cheering on our athletics teams in person. A new ice skating rink is opening in downtown Kent, our student organizations and activities will be in full swing, and most importantly, the return of in-person classes will create the vibrant educational experience we all have been missing during the pandemic.
This semester is going to be special in so many ways, and it started on Aug. 21 with what I believe was a truly magical day on our Kent Campus. On that day, we held Summer Commencement at Manchester Field while at the same time new students were moving into nearby residence halls. Graduation and move-in on the same day – what a powerful sign of our commitment to student success.
Students and their families were celebrating the completion of their degrees just as our incoming freshmen were starting their educational journeys, bringing with them their fears and hopes for the future. I hope that when the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” played across Manchester Field, you felt lifted and supported, knowing that everyone at Kent State is committed to seeing you one day achieve the same success. Because Flashes Take Care of Flashes.
Let’s make it a great semester!
Todd Diacon
President