Open Enrollment Has Closed - What's Next?Remember, if you did not engage in the Open Enrollment process, your 2026 elections will continue into 2027 EXCEPT for the Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account. Those accounts must be elected every year. Look Out for These CommunicationsEmployees who made any of the following elections during Open Enrollment (Oct. 12- Oct. 30) will receive an email on Friday, Nov. 6 detailing the next steps for completing and submitting forms online via the DynamicForms process.Affidavit of Alternative CoverageIf you elected to opt out of both...
HSA, Healthcare FSA, and Dependent Care FSA: Making the Most of Your Tax-Advantaged BenefitsWhen it comes to saving money on healthcare and family care expenses, few employee benefits are as valuable as an Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts. These accounts allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible expenses, reducing your taxable income and helping your paycheck go further. HSA + HDHP: A Powerful CombinationA Health Savings Account (HSA) is available only to individuals enrolled in a qualified High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). While HDHPs typicall...
On Sept. 30, a crisp fall morning inside the unseasonably warm Department of Biological Sciences’ Herrick Conservatory, dirty hands and laughter were some of the results of an hour’s work. Sixteen Kent State University students gathered around two tables loaded with a rich mixture of clay, compost and native flower seeds, rolling them into small, compact spheres about the size of doughnut holes.The main goal, though? Making seedballs, a simple yet effective method for planting native plants and wildflowers to enhance pollinator habitats across campus.For many, like Julianna Tresler, a senior v...
Kent State University is responsible for the stewardship of university resources and is committed to the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. The reporting line provides a formalized mechanism to communicate concerns related to fraud and fiscal abuse.Employees are encouraged to discuss concerns with a supervisor, department head or another appropriate university official. If this is not a viable option or if you believe your concerns have not been addressed after reporting fiscal fraud or abuse, reports may be communicated through the reporting line provided by an independent company, a...
Kent State continues preparing university websites and web content to meet accessibility requirements, with a compliance deadline of April 26, 2027. Faculty and staff who manage university webpages have already made important progress improving the accessibility of web content, including reducing, replacing and remediating PDFs. Departments are encouraged to continue reviewing and improving their webpages, documents and other digital materials throughout the fall semester. Making steady progress now can help reduce the amount of work remaining as the university moves closer to the compliance d...
Flu shots and more covered at select locationsThe changing seasons are upon us, and the flu season has begun! Kent State employees and dependents covered by the Kent State's health plans are eligible to receive flu shots and other vaccines covered under their medical benefits. Vaccines are available at:Your in-network provider's officeA Medical Mutual-contracted pharmacy, orA CVS MinuteClinic (not at the CVS Pharmacy)Employee Wellness ProgramMake an appointment for your flu shot by logging into the BeWell Portal. Flu shots and biometric screenings are available for full-tim...
14th Annual Bra DriveKent State University Athletics, Employee Wellness and Health Promotion, Kent State of Well-being, Office of Sustainability, and SRVSS are hosting a bra recycling drive from Sept. 28 through Oct. 30, to collect reusable or worn-out bras and reduce the number of textiles in landfills. Bras that are in good condition will be donated to the Phyllis Zumkehr County Clothing Center, and worn-out bras will be recycled. View Bra Drive drop-off locations here....
by Eric Mansfield, Kedron Trapp Aug. 25, 2026For 50 years, state, federal and local agencies have been scooping up water samples from rivers and streams across the country and measuring what's in them – a practice that dates back to the early days of the Clean Water Act. That massive, largely untapped archive is now the foundation of a new project led by David Costello, Ph.D., a professor in Kent State University's Department of Biological Sciences.Costello is the principal investigator on "AI-Driven Probabilistic Source Mapping for Critical Minerals at Continental Scale," a nine-mo...
Kent State’s online departmental directory is separate from the faculty and staff directory and is not connected to university systems that automatically update employee or departmental information. Departmental listings are manually maintained, so changes to unit names, phone numbers or organizational structures will not automatically appear there.Please review your unit’s departmental directory and determine whether the information is accurate. Consider, too, whether a listing is still needed. Because current contact and departmental information is now available on individual unit websites, ...
All full-time and part-time staff are invited to share their experiences by participating in a brief research survey about work practices, learning, and organizational commitment at Kent State. The study explores how HR practices may support stronger employee commitment through a greater ability to learn, share, and apply knowledge across the institution.Your perspective matters. By participating, you can help build a clearer picture of staff experiences and contribute to research that may inform future conversations about how Kent State supports, develops, and engages its staff.How to Partici...
