Our Record of Innovation
Sixteen national awards, four internationally certified programs, and nearly $9.5 million in grant funding in the last 7 years.
International Certificates Extramural Funding
National Awards
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Region IV-East Innovation Award (NASPA—2022)
Exploratory Program has been selected as the recipient of the NASPA Region IV-East Innovative Program Award, specifically, the Flash Connections program.
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Advising Innovation
Award (NACADA—2022)Exploratory Program selected as the winner of Global Award for the Major Action Plan: Start to Finish program for its innovative advising strategy.
Read more about the Advising Innovation Award here -
Outstanding Advising Program Award (NACADA—2022)
Exploratory Program selected as the winner of Global Award for the Flash Connections program for its innovative and exemplary practices.
Read more about the Outstanding Advising Program Award here
Read Kent State Today article about the award here -
Excellence Award – Gold (NASPA—2021-2022)
Exploratory Program selected as the Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, First-year, Other-year, Orientation, and related category Gold winner for the Flash Connections program for its innovative and exemplary practices.
Read more about the NASPA Excellence Awards here
Read Kent State Today article about the award here -
Innovation in Advising Award (NACADA Region 5—2022)
Exploratory Program receives the award for the Flash Connections program for its “outside-of-the-box” innovative advising strategy.
Read more about the Region 5 Innovation award here
Read Kent State Today article about the award here -
Waste Reduction Efforts (Campus Race to Zero Waste—2021)
Campus Kitchen in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability has won the 2021 Campus Race to Zero Waste case study competition in the “Summary of Waste Reduction Efforts” category.
Read more about the award and recipients here -
Innovation Program Award (NASPA Region IV-East—2021)
Exploratory Program selected as the winner for the Major Action Plan (MAP): Start to Finish program for its outstanding innovative program which furthers the growth of students and enhanced life on campus.
Read more about the Innovation Program Award here -
Tom Vandermeulen Award (2021)
Transfer Kent State receives the Tom Vandermeulen Award for contributions that have enhanced relationships among people of diverse cultures, ethic groups, first generation students, and students with special needs.
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Outstanding Advising Program Award (NACADA—2021)
Exploratory Program selected as the winner of Global Award for the Major Action Plan (MAP) program for its innovative and exemplary practices.
Read more about the Outstanding Advising Program Award here -
First-gen Forward Institution (Center for First-generation Student Success—2021)
Kent State University recognized nationally for programs to assist students first in their families to attend college.
Read more about the First-Gen Forward declaration here -
Excellence Award – Bronze (NASPA—2020-2021)
Exploratory Program selected as the Academic Advising, Careers, Graduate Professional category bronze winner for the Major Action Plan (MAP) program for its innovative and exemplary practices.
Read more about the NASPA Excellence Award here -
Innovation in Advising Award (NACADA REGION 5—2021)
Exploratory Program receives the award for the Major Action Plan (MAP): Start to Finish program for its “outside-of-the-box” innovative advising strategy.
Read more about the Innovation in Advising Award here -
Degree Completion Finalist (APLU—2020)
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) selected Kent State University as one of four finalists for the association’s Degree Completion Award (2020).
Read more about the Degree Completion Finalist Selection here -
Institutional Excellence for Students in Transition Award (National Resource Center—2018)
Academic Diversity Outreach's Summer Advantage program - presented with the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition award.
Read more about the Institutional Excellence for Students in Transition Award here -
Outstanding Advising Program Award (NACADA—2017)
Degree Completion receives the NACADA Annual Awards for Academic Advising, which honors individuals and institutions making significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising.
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Frank L. Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award (NCLCA—2016)
The Academic Success Center receives award presented to Centers who demonstrate success as an interactive academic space for students to reinforce what they learn in the classroom. The award focuses on the use of technology and if it can be used as a model for other institutions.
Read more about the Outstanding Learning Center Award here -
Institutional Excellence for Students in Transition Award (National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition—2015)
Exploratory Program received this award for the Exploration Plan for designing and implementing the outstanding collaborative initiative, enhancing the Exploratory students' transition to a declared major.
Read more about the Institutional Excellence for Students in Transition Award here -
Model of Excellence (University Business Magazine—2015)
Exploratory Program received this national recognition for the Exploration Plan for implementing innovative, effective, and inter-departmental initiatives that bolstered student success.
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International Certifications
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International Peer Educator Training Program Certification (IPTPC) - Level III (CRLA—2022-2023)
The Exploratory Mentor program has received this certification! CRLA certifies peer mentor training programs and authorizes the program to then certify mentors once they have completed the certificate requirements. By receiving this distinction, we are authorized to issue certificates to the Exploratory Mentors at the end of the year that can be part of their portfolio and resume.
Read more about the International Peer Educator Training Program certification here -
Certified SI Program (International Center for Supplemental Instruction—2017)
The Academic Success Center in University College is one of only 41 centers across the country that have received this certification.
Read more about the Supplemental Instruction certification here -
Certified International Tutor Training Program (CRLA—2017)
Our Academic Success Center's Tutoring Program is internationally certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA).
Read more about the Certified International Tutor Training Program here -
Certified International Peer Educator Training Program Certification (IPTPC) - Level II (CRLA—2017)
Our Exploratory Learning Community Mentor program is certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA).
Read more about the Certified International Peer Educator Training Program here
Extramural Funding
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Student Support Services and McNair Scholars (2022-2027)
Within the past 8 years, our McNair Scholars Program and Student Support Services have received more than $7.9 million in competitive, federally-funded grants to help students achieve academic excellence.
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Kent State And KeyBank Foundation To Continue Key Connections Program For Underserved Students (KeyBank Foundation—2022)
KeyBank Foundation has awarded a new $200,000 gift to Kent State University to continue KeyBank Foundation’s support for the successful Key Connections program offered by University College at Kent State.
Read more about the Key Connections Program -
KeyBank Foundation Student Success Grant (KeyBank Foundation—2017)
KeyBank Foundation has granted $1 million to Kent State University to support programs to increase the recruitment, retention and graduation rates of underrepresented students.
Read more about the KeyBank Foundation Student Success Grant here