This is an archived communication. Access the university's current coronavirus information.
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Dear Kent State University Faculty and Staff,
Flashes Take Care of Flashes. It’s an easy phrase to say, and seemingly an easy phrase to understand. It denotes community. It signals we are 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 our spending and priorities on student access and degree completion, and the well-being of our employees.
Phrases such as Flashes Take Care of Flashes, however, risk becoming clichés and empty slogans if they aren’t driving what we do. And so, a good way to demonstrate our Flashes Take Care of Flashes spirit is to celebrate recent decisions and actions guided by this commitment.
It can be difficult to give raises during challenging budget times, and the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly created financial uncertainties for our university. Yet, in the spirit of Flashes Take Care of Flashes, all full-time employees will receive raises this year. In addition, full-time employees on our Kent Campus will not have to pay for parking fall semester (parking is always free for those on our Regional Campuses). I am so thankful for everything our employees do to make Kent State the great university it is.
Our spirit of taking care of each other led us to require the use of face coverings indoors, regardless of one’s COVID-19 vaccination status. We want everyone to feel comfortable as we provide our great in-person service to students and to all members of our community.
Flashes also are taking care of the air we breathe. Over the summer we installed nearly 1,100 needlepoint bipolar ionization units in buildings throughout our campuses. Rest assured these state-of-the-art air filtering systems will be constantly working to clean the air we breathe.
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 when our campuses are alive with students and we once again have Homecoming and athletic games to attend. This semester will be special in so many ways, and the magic began on Aug. 21 with what I believe was a truly memorable day on our Kent Campus. On that day, we held Summer Commencement at Manchester Field while at the same time new students moved into nearby residence halls. Graduation and move-in on the same day – what a powerful sign of our commitment to student success.
One group of students and their families celebrated the completion of their degrees while another, our incoming freshmen, marked the very start of 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, they felt lifted and supported, knowing that everyone at Kent State is committed to seeing them one day achieve the same success. I know that they will be lifted and supported by you, our dedicated employees, because Flashes Take Care of Flashes.
I wish you all a great semester!
Todd Diacon
President