Dear 5XÉçÇø Students,
Kent State is ready to welcome you this fall! Our students, faculty and staff together make our vibrant and engaging Kent State community a special one. When we come together, we do so as family, and we are greatly anticipating the day we are all together on our campuses in August!
On-Campus Experience
We know that student life is a major component of your education ─ the time you spend outside of the classroom is an important part of your life. Even if many or all of your classes are remote, there will be great opportunity to engage in a meaningful on-campus experience. You will benefit from the access to quiet study spaces, reliable high-speed internet, and opportunities for student employment.
On the Kent Campus, dining locations will offer a streamlined, in-person menu and an enhanced selection of grab-and-go options. Both Eastway Center and our new Design Innovation Hub location will be available, as well as our all-you-care-to-eat facilities. Our retail locations, including our new Hippie Chick venue in the Kent Student Center Hub, will also be open.
During KSU Kickoff on the Kent Campus, we plan to hold an awesome Blastoff event in person with guidelines in place to do so in a safe manner. Throughout the year, you’ll be able to participate in student organizations, fraternities and sororities, and other campus activities, both in person and virtually. Learn more about our student organizations and start connecting on . Campus programming through the Flash Activities Board plans to host a full calendar of events through various mediums, starting with KSU Kickoff. Although limited, recreational opportunities in aquatics, fitness/wellness, adventure and intramurals will be available. More information about life on campus can be found by visiting the student FAQs.
The Student Multicultural Center is still hosting Kupita/Transiciones, an unforgettable, free program that includes a cultural orientation, a transition experience and yearlong mentoring program for newly admitted and transfer African American, Latinx, Hispanic, Native American and multiracial students. Registration is open through July 31 or until we reach capacity. This program will ensure that you are informed of support services and programs and can engage in opportunities to get involved. Through Kupita/Transiciones, you develop a community comprised of fellow students, faculty and staff with similar backgrounds and experiences. If you have questions about how underrepresented students can find more support, contact the Student Multicultural Center via email at Student_Multicultural_Center@kent.edu or by phone at 330-672-3560.
We remain committed to the health and well-being of our university community as we prepare to reopen. The DeWeese Health Center is undergoing renovations to be able to provide COVID-19 testing on campus. Additionally, we are exploring ways to expand mental health support to ensure that we are meeting student needs. If you are a current student and in need of physical or behavioral health services, please visit www.kent.edu/uhs for further information.
Residence Hall Living
Kent State residence halls will be open! While some learning will be in a remote format, we know your education experience will be enhanced by being on campus, living in residence halls and having the opportunity to meet and interact in a safe manner with fellow students and faculty members. We also know that students who live on campus are more likely to finish their degree and establish a network of support for future career growth. We’ve modified our residence hall plan to help ensure that your on-campus experience is engaging, meaningful and safe. We’ve adjusted our residence hall population to allow for greater physical distancing. There will be enhanced cleaning protocols in place following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Hall spaces will be open, including the lounges, Tri-Rec and multipurpose spaces. You will be expected to wear a face covering in all residence hall spaces, except your room. However, when there is a guest present in the room, everyone in the room must wear a face covering. More information about living in a residence hall may be found at www.kent.edu/housing.
For those who will be living on the Kent Campus, we can’t wait to welcome you to our residence hall community! For detailed move-in information, visit www.kent.edu/housing/move-information.
Once you view your final schedule, if you determine you no longer wish to live in a residence hall, please cancel your housing contract by July 10 and your housing prepayment will be refunded. To cancel, please email housing@kent.edu.
Student Pledge
Staying safe in the residence halls and classrooms is a priority at Kent State. We know you want to remain on campus, and we do, too. To ensure that you are taking responsibility for keeping yourself and others safe from the coronavirus, all Kent State students must agree to the KSU Student Pledge and adhere to the Flashes Safe Seven principles:
- Face coverings are required. The university will provide you with two cloth face coverings.
- You must rigorously practice hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
- Physical distancing guidelines will be strictly enforced, requiring individuals to maintain at least 6 feet of separation from others.
- You must self-monitor daily for symptoms of COVID-19 before coming to campus or attending class.
- For health questions about COVID-19 and safe practices, call University Health Services at 330-672-2322 or, after hours, contact the Kent State Nurse Line at 330-672-2326. Visit our COVID-19 hub for more information.
- As Flashes take care of Flashes, always demonstrate kindness and respect in all that we do.
Students and faculty will be expected to follow the Flashes Safe Seven principles during all face-to-face classes and interactions. Students who fail to follow these guidelines could be subject to the Classroom Disruption Policy or other areas of the Code of Student Conduct.
In some cases, individuals may have special circumstances that prevent them from wearing a face covering. Those individuals must submit a Pandemic Adjustment Request Accommodation Form.
If you or your family have questions about Kent State’s reopening plans or campus life, please visit our student FAQs or contact the One Stop for Student Services for more information.
Fall 2020 is right around the corner, and we will soon feel the unmistakable energy of Golden Flashes on all our campuses! We are excited to welcome you home and look forward to a great year! Go Flashes!
Sincerely,
Lamar R. Hylton, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Talea Drummer-Ferrell, Ph.D.
Dean of Students