Faculty/Staff News Now

Kent State University is proud to kick off its annual United Way of Portage County Workplace Campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 3! Please join us on the K for Food Truck Wednesday and show your support; we will have free snacks and giveaways for those that donate. This important initiative brings together faculty, staff and students to support local programs that strengthen our community in the areas of education, health and financial stability. Join us as we work together to make a lasting impact right here in Portage County—because when we LIVE UNITED, we all thrive.

The Division of Information Technology is excited to inform you that we will be replacing our aging phone system with Microsoft Teams Phone. This upgrade will provide greater flexibility and advanced features to improve communication across the organization, such as enhanced flexibility, simplified dialing, and improved voicemail. Not all departments will migrate at the same time. This transition will be rolled out in phases, beginning immediately and continuing over the next 18 months until completion. 

Join us Sept. 9 and 10 as we welcome Jane Chu, former chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, to Kent State University. During her two-day campus visit, Chu will present two engaging public lectures exploring the intersection of artistry, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series brings distinguished guest artists to Kent State University across the disciplines of theatre, dance, visual arts, music, and architecture. This prestigious series is presented jointly by the College of Architecture and Environmental Design and the College of the Arts.

The City of Kent recently submitted an application to the League of American Bicyclists to renew its Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) status. As part of the review process, the League is asking for your input about bicycling in the City of Kent through an online survey. This survey is open to anyone familiar with or interested in bicycling in the community. Whether you bike every day or on occasion, we encourage you to complete the survey. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will be open until Oct. 5, 2025.