We are just over a year since our lives changed, classes converted to remote learning, and we lost much of the face-to-face contact that we had taken for granted. Considering what we all have endured since those first COVID-19 cases reached Ohio last March, our campus has been able to continue moving forward, and even thrive. The campus even showed an increase in enrollment for the fall semester, something we were particularly enthusiastic about. We have set in motion initiatives to save money, improve the environment, and potentially add meaningful educational opportunities even as we worked to provide a safe environment for our students and staff during the pandemic.
Looking ahead to summer and fall we are cautiously optimistic. As vaccines continue to become more readily available and there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, we are preparing for more in-person classes and returning to a more traditional college experience. Kent State’s "Flashes Safe Seven" has added another safety principle to become “Flashes Safe Eight.” As vaccines are more readily available, we are encouraging students, faculty, and staff to “flash your arm” and get your shot to be better protected against COVID-19. The university hopes to have everyone in the Kent State community protected against this deadly virus, and vaccines are an essential tool in this prevention strategy.
Until then, we continue to strengthen our ability to connect with our students virtually. We have reinforced our safety net to ensure students can take advantage of free tutoring, free mental health counseling, library guidance, technical support, and many of the other needs they may encounter.
I encourage you to stay connected to Kent State Trumbull and Kent State University. We will continue to find ways to connect with the businesses, organizations, and individuals in the community. If you have questions about our campus or ideas for new programming, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know. I wish you all the best and a healthy and enjoyable spring and summer.
Stay safe and as always, go Flashes!
Daniel E. Palmer, Ph.D.
Interim Dean and Chief Administrative Officer
Kent State University at Trumbull