Student Multicultural Center Keeps Busy!
The Student Multicultural Center is excited to move into the summer after an eventful academic year. The center celebrated it’s fiftieth anniversary with many events such as our Cultural Cook Off and our Museum Collaboration with Black United Students. To begin the summer season the student multicultural center will host Karamu Ya Wahitimu Celebracion de Los Graduados, which will celebrate graduating African American, Native American, Latinx, Hispanic and Multiracial undergraduate and graduate students from all campuses.
Over the summer, we are excited to begin our six-week Academic S.T.A.R.S. program which is a cultural transition and retention program for incoming students of color. This program will allow selected students to take two college courses and participate in a Rites of Passage which will provide cultural enrichment and affirmation.
At the end of the summer the SMC will begin our Kupita/Transiciones (K/T) program. K/T is a four-day orientation for incoming students of color that will help students get familiar with the university’s campus and organizations that will help them achieve their full potential. This program also includes a year-long mentoring program where each new student will be paired with an upper-class students who has completed the SMC’s Leadership Institute.
Planning Your Transition: Coming to College with a Disability
In the midst of summer vacations, family reunions, and other warm weather fun, you might already be planning to bring your student to campus this fall. Whether your student is a brand new to Kent State or getting ready to graduate, you’re probably thinking about where your student will live, what classes they will take, and how they will be involved on campus. If your student is one of the 15% of high school students who had some type of special education services, you might also be wondering how to support your student academically. Though an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan don’t transfer with students to college, support and accommodations are available through Student Accessibility Services (SAS).
SAS serves students with any type of disability. In college, a disability is any diagnosis that substantially limits a major life activity. Major life activities include obvious activities like walking, talking, eating, sleeping, but it could also include tasks like learning and concentrating. This definition, combined with the unique nature of a college campus, means that students may need different supports than they had in high school or that students may develop a need for accommodations throughout their time in college. Some of the most common diagnoses we see in SAS include severe anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, and chronic medical conditions.
Student Accessibility Services works individually with students with disabilities to provide access to the living and learning environment of Kent State through academic, housing, and transportation accommodations. This could mean classroom accommodations, like extended testing time or recording class lectures; housing accommodations, like a single room or additional refrigerator for medication; or transportation accommodations like door-to-door transportation on campus. In addition, we also support students by helping them navigate other resources on campus, like academic and writing tutoring or mental health services.
If your student had an IEP or 504 Plan in high school, or if they have a diagnosis that affects their ability to do well in college, they may benefit from meeting with SAS to learn more. Additional details, such as how to schedule an appointment or what information might be needed to utilize accommodations, can be found at https://www.kent.edu/sas/get-connected-sas.
Upcoming event:
Supporting Success for Students with Disabilities Saturday, September 7 at 10 a.m.
Join SAS staff during Parents and Families Weekend to learn more about equal access for students with disabilities. Additional information to follow.
KENT STATE OF WELLNESS OFFERS RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS BECOME MORE MINDFUL AND REDUCE STRESS
Kent State of Wellness, the university-level initiative to promote health and wellness across Kent State, has several wellness offerings to engage students, help them reduce stress and become more mindful as they work towards earning their degrees.
Meditation Across Campus, which was introduced in fall 2018, offers free, facilitated meditation sessions at various locations on the Kent Campus. Students can drop in at any location that is convenient for them, and there is no commitment to attend. Learn more about Meditation Across Campus at www.kent.edu/stateofwellness/meditation.
For students seeking to become more mindful, more rested and less stressed, Kent State of Wellness offers Koru Mindfulness, an evidence-based training specifically designed for emerging adults. This four-week class is free for Kent State students, and participants receive a free Koru Mindfulness book. Learn more at www.kent.edu/stateofwellness/meditation/koru.
Is your student looking to become more engaged and involved on campus? The Kent State of Wellness Student Ambassador program offers students the opportunity to have a positive impact on the health and wellness of students, faculty and staff. Student ambassadors help to spread information about the health and wellness resources available to the university community. Learn more and encourage your student to apply at www.kent.edu/stateofwellness/ksow-student-ambassador.