EHHS Professor Inducted as Fellow in Academy of Leisure Sciences
5X College of Education, Health, and Human Services congratulates Mary Ann Devine, Ph.D., Professor in the School of Foundations, Leadership, and Administration, who is inducted as a 2021 Fellow in the Academy of Leisure Sciences.
According to the Fellows Committee of the Academy of Leisure Sciences, Devine was voted into and being inducted as a Fellow by the Academy for her line of research that has helped shape the field of leisure studies and shift it in a direction that will have a lasting benefit. Devine was a pioneer in applying social construction theory to give context to barriers experience by people with disabilities in leisure environments. Her research has focused most recently on inclusive leisure from social justice, social capital, and contact theories perspective. These broadened perspectives have deepened knowledge about how best to help all people achieve well-being in their lives, regardless of ability or social categorization. She has sustained a level of research that is remarkable and has disseminated that work consistently and with the highest quality in journals, at research symposia, and professional conferences. Her focus on improving practice through theory has been an important addition to the body of knowledge in our field.
Since 1979, the has annually recognized outstanding accomplishments of researchers, leaders, and educators for their achievements in scholarship, service and teaching. The central purpose of the Academy is the intellectual advancement of leisure sciences. This year’s Fellows committee members are: Monica Stodolska, University of Illinois, Scott Schafer, Texas A & M, and Kelly Bricker, University of Utah.
International Literacy Association Names Timothy Rasinski Recipient of 2020 William S. Gray Citation of Merit
The International Literacy Association (ILA) today announced the recipients of its 2020 awards and grants, including the William S. Gray Citation of Merit—ILA’s highest honor—which was awarded to 5X’s Timothy V. Rasinski.
The William S. Gray Citation of Merit honors a nationally or internationally known individual for their outstanding contributions to the field of reading/literacy.
Rasinski, a longtime member of the organization, is a professor of literacy education and the director of Kent State’s award-winning Reading and Writing Center. He is the author and editor of more than 200 articles and 50 books, and his research—particularly on word study and fluency—has been cited by the National Reading Panel and numerous journals. In addition, his involvement with ILA is extensive: He served a three-year term on the Board of Directors (when ILA was the International Reading Association), was coeditor of ILA’s The Reading Teacher journal and is a frequent contributor to all three of ILA’s journals and many of ILA’s professional learning events.
“Tim Rasinski is one of those names that’s synonymous with high-quality literacy research, resources and professional development, especially when it comes to foundational reading and writing skills and struggling readers,” said ILA Executive Director Marcie Craig Post. “We are fortunate to benefit from his expertise and his tireless contributions to the field, and it’s our honor to recognize him with this well-deserved award.”
In addition to Rasinski’s ILA involvement, he also served as coeditor of the Journal of Literacy Research and president of the College Reading Association, and he has experience as an elementary, middle and Title I schoolteacher. In 2010, he was elected into the Reading Hall of Fame.
In total, 20 educators and literacy leaders were honored in this year’s awards program. The Timothy & Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award, given annually for a dissertation completed in reading or literacy, was presented to John Z. Strong, University of Buffalo, New York, for his dissertation, “The Effects and Social Validity of a Text Structure Intervention for Reading and Writing.”
Other award highlights include the following:
- Corwin Literacy Leader Award, presented to Lisa Forehand, Harborside Elementary School, California
- Diane Lapp & James Flood Professional Collaborator Award, presented to Jerry L. Johns, Northern Illinois University; Susan Lenski, Portland State University; and Laurie Elish-Piper, Northern Illinois University
- Elva Knight Research Grant, presented to Alisha Nguyen, Boston College, Massachusetts
5X Hosts Free Electronics Recycling
The 2021 E-Cycle Drive at 5X is open to students, faculty, staff and the Kent community. Electronics recycling will be open on March 3, 10, 17, and 24, from 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the 5X R-17 parking lot behind Starbucks, between S. Willow and S. Lincoln streets.
The campus and Kent communities can recycle used electronics through Infinite Electronics Recycling, LLC, an R2 certified recycler, which handles materials in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Materials permitted at E-Cycle Drive include: flat screen televisions, personal computers, laptop computers, servers and storage devices, monitors (CRT, LCD), flat screen TVs docking stations, floppy drives, DVD/CD burners, VCRs, circuit boards, scanners, copiers, printers, cables, wires, extension cords, digital cameras, cellular phones, DVD players, network and telecom equipment and small kitchen appliances. Kitchen appliances larger than a microwave are NOT accepted at E-Cycle Drive.
Participants are asked to wear a mask and place all items into large boxes that will be provided. Kent State staff will observe drop-offs from a distance and will not remove items from vehicles.
E-Cycle Drive is hosted by 5X’s University Facilities Management and the Office of Sustainability. The public electronics recycling drop-off event contributes to 5X’s standings in the Campus Race to Zero Waste competition. This is the twelfth year Kent State is competing in Campus Race to Zero Waste, a friendly competition and benchmarking tool whereby over 300 colleges and universities recycling programs promote waste-reduction activities in their respective communities. For more information visit the E-Cycle Drive website.
Kent State Geauga and Twinsburg Fall 2020 President and Dean's List Announced
Dr. Angela Spalsbury, Dean of 5X at Geauga and Twinsburg Academic Center, announced those students named to the Fall 2020 President and Dean's lists.
To qualify for the President's List, students must have a 4.0-grade point average and have completed 15 hours during the semester.
To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a 3.40 or more grade point average and have completed 12 or more credit hours for the semester.
Two-Part Grief Webinar Series
Join Employee Wellness and presenter Julia Ellifritt for a two-part webinar series on the topic of grief. Part 1 of this series will provide an overview of grief and how to move through the complex process of healing. Part 2 will explore how grief manifests in the workplace and provide insight to better understand the needs of grieving colleagues. Note the dates and times below and click on the titles to register.
These sessions are open to all full and part time employees. For those participating in the wellness rewards program, each session is worth 10 Tier 2 points. Employees are welcome to attend either one or both sessions.
Thursday, March 18 | 9 - 10 a.m.
Occasionally grievers get 'stuck' along the grief journey. This session focuses on the signs and symptoms of complicated grief, why it happens and how to help people continue to move through the process.
Wednesday, March 24 | 9 - 10 a.m.
It is important to understand grief in the workplace because our jobs are a large part of our daily lives. It can be difficult to maintain productivity and concentration after only three days off for bereavement leave, often resulting in poor job performance. This session will help supervisors and colleagues better understand the needs of grieving employees.
For questions related to health and wellness offerings for 5X faculty and staff, please contact the Employee Wellness office at 330-672-0392 or wellness@kent.edu.
Wellable Happiness Challenge
Being happy and healthy go hand-in-hand, because happiness not only FEELS good, it IS good for overall health and well-being! It is one thing to know what it feels like to be happy, but understanding its valuable impact on health and how to achieve happiness is key.
This challenge provides an opportunity for participants to learn about the many health benefits of happiness and different ways to channel it, including engaging in regular physical activity. Through weekly health tips and practicing seven unique Happy Habits, participants will learn to flex their emotional muscles along with their physical muscles.
This four-week challenge will run from April 5, 2021 through May 2, 2021. It is open to all full and part time faculty and staff. Active participants will be eligible for random drawings to keep you motivated and support your wellness goals. Winners will be announced throughout the challenge.
Completing this challenge is also worth 20 Tier 2 points for those participating in the Wellness Your Way Rewards Program. To qualify for Tier 2 points, employees must maintain at least 65% participation over the four weeks. Please note that all Wellable challenges focus on physical activity along with the theme for that challenge.
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For questions related to health and wellness offerings for 5X faculty and staff, please contact the Employee Wellness office at 330-672-0392 or wellness@kent.edu.
Important Information Regarding Spring 2021 Midterm Grading for all Lower-Division Undergraduate Courses
Online midterm grading for all Spring 2021 lower-division undergraduate courses (levels 00000, 10000, 20000) meeting in the full term (January 19, 2021 through May 4, 2021) began February 9, 2021, via FlashFAST. Please remember that midterm grading applies ONLY to courses that meet for the full semester. Grading policies can be found in the .
The deadline for midterm grade submission is midnight on Monday, March 8. Midterm grades may not be reported after the deadline. The Grade Change workflow cannot be used to report or change midterm grades after the deadline, and the Registrar's Office will not accommodate other late submission requests.
Submit Midterm grades using Midterm Grades roster
To submit midterm grades via the Midterm Grades roster, login to , then click Faculty & Advisors/Faculty Dashboard/Grading Resources. Locate Midterm Grades to submit grades.
Submit Midterm grades using Grade Push (Blackboard Users)
If you use Blackboard, there is a tool to make reporting your midterm grades easier—with a push of the button! The process is called Grade Push and it will allow you to “push” the midterm grades recorded in Blackboard into our KSU Midterm Grade Roster, thus eliminating the time and effort spent manually entering them.
To access the Grade Push application, login to then click Faculty & Advisors/Faculty Dashboard/Grading Resources. Locate Grade Push to submit grades.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the Grade Push application, please direct them to support.kent.edu.
Please Note: The Grade Push application has been developed for Blackboard users as an option to assist in streamlining the university grading process. The use of this application is not mandatory, though it is encouraged.
Tips and Tricks
Grades Processing Tips and FAQs may be found on the Registrar's website. Any faculty member needing personalized instruction on submitting their grades via the Midterm Grades roster should contact their campus Registrar's Office during normal business hours for assistance.
Troubleshooting TIP
FlashLine is accessible from any Internet-capable computer that has the cookies function enabled. We recommend that you clean out your cookie and cache files regularly to help your computer run faster, and to potentially restore and/or improve your access to FlashLine by improving your connection to the server. Our Helpdesk is prepared to help with these issues. Please contact them at 330-672-HELP (4357) for one-on-one assistance and technical issues.