Flashes of Success Archive

Welcome to the home of University College’s Flashes of Success. Below, you will find demonstrations of how we have successfully supported Kent State students since Fall 2019.

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Students on Field Trip — Campus Kitchen Impact

Helping those in need, Kent State’s&�Բ��;**Campus Kitchen** provided 4,500 hours of service, 81,321 lbs. of food, and 28,294 lbs. of food pantry distribution to community members in need.

A beautiful sunny day on Kent State's Campus — Exploratory Program's MAP receives 2021 NASPA Excellence Award Bronze

Assisting Exploratory students with confidently declaring their major is the goal of the Exploratory Program's Major Action Program (MAP). The MAP has just been selected as the recipient of the 2021 NASPA Excellence Bronze Award in the Academic Advising, Careers, Graduate Professional Category. The program connects students with intentional action items based on their career readiness, thus informing how, what, where, and why they may explore majors that align with their strengths and career interests. The Excellence Award recognizes and highlights innovative initiatives that relate to the programs, policies, procedures, best practices or services. The Excellence Award application was judged on the following criteria: impact on student learning, relevance to our mission, successfully addressing students' needs and program concerns and issues (e.g. retention), collaboration with campus partners, use of innovative and creative methods/technology, application to the theoretical framework and evidence of program assessment. The award will be shared publicly during the 2021 NASPA Virtual Conference.

Student standing at the front of a lecture in front of a whiteboard — Key Connections Program Support

Underserved students, including first-generation students and students from limited-income backgrounds who will enroll in Fall Semester 2022, will continue to receive support through student success initiatives through the **Key Connections program** due to a new gift of **$200,000 from the KeyBank Foundation**.

5X�� — $25,000+ Raised for Mobile Food Pantry

Many of our Flashes volunteer for Kent State’s Campus Kitchen, run by **Community Engaged Learning,** which raised over $25,000 in donations to fund a mobile food pantry, making operations more effective and impactful.

Instructor at desks talking with several students — 2021 ACPA Distinguished Commission Award

Students at Kent State get expert career insight from our Senior Career Advisor Krittika Grau, who is a member of the ACPA Commission and has just been awarded the Distinguished Commission Award for 2021. Her commission was recognized for working with the resources it had at its disposal and demonstrating distinguished leadership by providing balanced, innovative and sustainable products, projects and services within or across the commissions and to ACPA.

Lambert Kanamugire, standing, community peace centers — Community Engaged Learning Civic Learning and Democracy

Kent State students benefit from Community Engaged Learning work on civic learning and democracy led by **Craig Berger.** Berger is dedicated to students’ democratic engagement, recently co-authoring an article published in the eJournal of Public Affairs, “Tools for Living Democracy: Putting the CLDE Theory of Change into Practice” and a publication in a NASPA issue of the *Leadership Exchange Magazine* entitled “Infusing CLDE Theory of Change into Student Affairs: New Thinking about Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement”.

Student sitting in the Kent Student Center smiling — Provost Leadership Academy

Seventy-nine students were welcomed to the **Provost's Leadership Academy** and will spend the year working with university leadership to identify projects that will positively impact the student experience at Kent State.

5X�� has many engaging campus events and activities. — Service in a Flash Program

Students now have the opportunity to volunteer in-person together for 1.5 hours on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons through **Community Engaged Learning’s** new Service in a Flash program. Activities have included upcycling t-shirts to make tote bags for food pantries and cutting fabric to make face masks for all students in Kent local schools.

Student in classroom smiling — Suit Up Success

Over 325 students pre-registered for a Suit-Up event hosted by Career Exploration and Development in partnership with JCPenney. Discounts were available to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Jody Patterson and Aryanna Sciranka planned the virtual shopping event and hundreds took advantage, resulting in thousands of dollars in savings on professional attire.

Congratulation Graduates — Dr. N.J. Akbar, Racial Equity Chapter Publication

Dedication to academic success and racial equity for students at Kent Campus and beyond. **Dr. N.J. Akbar,** former Assistant Dean, recently had three book chapters accepted for publication. His chapter, Discussing Student Achievement and the Family in V. Seeburg’s&�Բ��;*Black American Students’ Achievement in the Suburbs: Academic Success through Family Engagement* is expected to be published in December 2021. In May/April 2021, his two chapters of A Race-Conscious Pedagogy Future: Essays that Forge a New Path for Equitable Schools will be published, titled Fixing the System, Not the Student or Family: Dismantling Racism and Institutionalizing Equity by Leveraging Your Board’s Leadership and Underresourced, Underfunded, and COVID: Schools seeking Racial Equity during a Pandemic.

Student section at a home Kent State Football Game at Dix Stadium — Peer Leader Training Enrollment

More than 600 students enrolled in the **Peer Leader Training** course this academic year (57% were first year students, 30% underrepresented students, and 35% first generation students).

Flash the mascot engages in activity with students on a sunny day. — Make a Difference Day

50 Student volunteers engaged in Community Engaged Learning’s annual Make a Difference Day, planned by **Imani Reynolds, Coordinator** of Community Engaged Learning, and **Maggie Allphin, Graduate Assistant.**

View of Kent State campus — Underserved Students Supported through Gift from KeyBank Foundation

Underserved students, including first-generation students and students from limited-income backgrounds who will enroll in Fall Semester 2022, will continue to receive support through student success initiatives through the **Key Connections program** due to a **new gift of $200,000 from the KeyBank Foundation**. This gift has been awarded to 5X�� to continue KeyBank Foundation’s support for the successful Key Connections Program offered by University College at Kent State. During the next four years, students will receive support in professional development, including internships and conference participation, research support and other student success initiatives for students from the direct funding of this gift.

5X�� — Imani Reynolds Publication CYC Advocate

Students can enjoy Community Engaged Learning coordinated by **Imani Reynolds,** who co-authored and published an article entitled: “How do North American child and youth workers view cultural diversity?” in the CYC Advocate.

5X�� — Destination Kent StaTE

Destination Kent State welcomed 4,088 Incoming students into the Kent State community through the DKSmobile app and website between May and August 2020. The **Destination Kent State New Student Orientation** program helped our new Flashes find their home at Kent State, prepared them to excel academically, and introduced them to student organizations.

Students enjoying the warm weather on campus. — Weeks of Change

Students can now attend educational, volunteer, and activism events through a new series called Weeks of Change organized by **Community Engaged Learning** where one week every month will be dedicated to a particular social issue.

Student on balcony in College of Architecture and Environmental Design — Foundation awards $75,000 in support of student success

Students to be supported with immersive opportunities centered on service and career-related experiences. CommUNITY Lab is a new four-year cohort program coordinated through Community Engaged Learning that offers scholars a network of care and resources while removing financial, academic, and personal barriers to success. Participants reside in a Living-Learning Community located in Lake Hall on the Kent Campus where they learn through specially selected courses, plug into campus resources and co-create individualized achievement plans with their support networks.

Sculpture outside of the Kent State Hotel — Assistant Dean Liz Piatt Publication

Kent Campus is not the only place **Assistant Dean Liz Piatt** excels in her work. Liz has recently published with Dr. Akbar (former UC Assistant Dean), a chapter titled, *Learning and Coping: The (Mis)Education of Lip Gallagher* in the book, *Shameless Sociology: Critical Perspectives on a Popular Television Series* as well as publishing *“The Segregated Gun: Racism and Representations of the Gun in Film.”* *Humanities and Social Sciences Communications* (formerly *Palgrave Communications*)” with two other additional authors.

An aerial view of Risman Plaza. — 2021 Campus Race to Zero

Students have endless volunteer opportunities with University College's **Campus Kitchen**. **The Campus Kitchen**, in collaboration with the **Office of Sustainability**, won the 2021 Campus Race to Zero Waste case study competition in the “Summary of Waste Reduction Efforts” category.

A "K" rests stop the Prentice Gate near Rockwell Hall. The gate once served as the formal entrance to Ke — Students Benefit from UC Collaboration on the “Academic Success Plan” web application.

When students log in to this app, they are **automatically provided** with a list of academic support opportunities offered by the ASC based on the student's schedule of classes for the semester. Both previous Directors, Amanda Shah and Matt Bungard had been working on : **The academic success plan: personalized web application** which was just published in the Fall 2022 NCLCA Newsletter! Brittany Lash was responsible for the coding of the Academic Success Plan app.

5X�� archway on the esplanade with architecture building in the background — First-Generation, Low-Income, Underrepresented Students Focused Publication

First-Generation, Low-Income, and Underrepresented Students have on-campus advocates through **Dr. Liz Piatt** and **Dr. Eboni Pringle.** The duo published *The Role of Science Identity Salience in Graduate School Enrollment for First-Generation, Low-income, Underrepresented Students* in the Journal of Negro Education with two additional authors.

Three students sit around a laptop in the University Library. — Career Exploration & Development’s Virtual Career Week

Over 800 Kent State students attended **Career Exploration & Development’s** Virtual Career Week where 130 employers offered job opportunities.

A student gets feedback from an instructor. — Kristin Williams SIM Cleveland Panel Discussion

**Kristin Williams**, the Executive Director of Career Exploration and Development, will be sharing these developmental student internship experiences with regional employment leaders at the SIM Cleveland panel discussion on November 8th.

Student smiling on campus — Exploratory Mentor Program Receives Certification

The Exploratory Mentor Program has received College Reading & Learning Association (cRLA) International Peer Educator Training Program Certification (IPTPC). The **certification was based on the 2021-2022 Exploratory Mentor program led by Layne Crow (Sr. Learning Community Coordinator) and Megan Medfisch (Graduate Assistant).** The work included a training curriculum to following CRLA training requirements. The certification requirements include providing documentation and materials that demonstrate the use of multiple training formats, that the training include advanced topics such as conflict resolution, mentoring boundaries, cultural awareness and academic majors and advising. Mentors in our program must meet our own selective criteria and are required to accumulate 75 hours of mentoring experience during their time as an Exploratory Mentor.

Student at career fair — Common Interview Questions Publication

Students have lots of questions about interview questions. **Julie Paskiet** is helping them and as a result published “How to Answer Common Interview Questions” in the 2020 American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE) Job Search Handbook.

Student sitting and smiling — Virtual Major Action Plan Program

Over 80% of this Fall’s Exploratory students were able to connect with Major Action Plan (MAP) resources at the **MAP: Start to Finish** program held virtually by the **Exploratory Program.** One step closer to confidently declaring their major!

A fashion student gets feedback from an instructor during class. — CommUNITY Lab

**CommUNITY Lab** is a new four-year cohort program coordinated through Community Engaged Learning that offers scholars a network of care and resources while removing financial, academic, and personal barriers to success. Participants reside in a Living-Learning Community located in Lake Hall on the Kent Campus where they learn through specially selected courses, plug into campus resources and co-create individualized achievement plans with their support networks.

Students smiling and sitting on campus — Review of International Encounters

5X�� International students can benefit from the expertise of Career Advisor **Krittika Grau,** who has recently published a book review of *International Encounters: Higher Education and the International Student Experience.*

Student smiling in a hat and glasses — Don’t Hate-Debate

KSU Students were engaged politically during the Don’t Hate-Debate (AND VOTE)! virtual teach-in event sponsored by the College of Information, School of Peace and Conflict Studies, Division of Student Affairs, and the Division of Academic Affairs. **Dr. Liz Piatt, Amanda Woodyard,** and **Craig Berger** gave sessions at the event.

Helping Students Shift to Remote Academic Success

As a result of helping students make the shift to accessing academic success resources remotely during the pandemic, **Amanda Shah, Rachel Cordy, Samantha Spitak,** and **DeAnn Zalom** published a manuscript, “Leading through change: Four perspectives, one team,” in TLAR’s special September edition *Rising to the Challenge: Navigating COVID-19 in Higher Education Learning Centers.*

Nicole Kotlan NASPA Orientation, Transition, and Retention Knowledge Community (OTRKC) Awards Coordinator!

Nicole Kotlan has been appointed as the NASPA Orientation, Transition, and Retention Knowledge Community (OTRKC) Awards Coordinator!
Nicole will be responsible for:
Overseeing the operations and logistics of annual awards.
Communicating with the National Office about the annual awards nomination process and coordinating the timing of the awards selection process to meet relevant national deadlines.
Developing a marketing plan to advertise the awards process and solicit nominations from individuals across the Region.
And much more!

A "K" is at the Prentice Gate near Rockwell Hall. The gate once served as the formal entrance. — MAP Program Innovation in Advising Award

The Exploratory academic advisors at Kent State help guide students through career, major and personal exploration. As a result of their hard work and dedication to our students, the team has just been selected as the recipient of the NACADA’s Region 5 ***Innovation in Advising Award*** for the *Major Action Plan (MAP): Start to Finish* program.

Kent State Sidewalk Seal — Jim Piascik, Ohio TRIO

Outside of his work guiding Kent State students to success within Student Support Services, **Jim Piascik** serves as Treasurer of Ohio TRIO, currently serving his second term after being re-elected to the position. Ohio TRIO is a professional organization of TRIO professionals from across the state of Ohio.

5X�� Designated a Voter Friendly Campus

5X�� designated a Voter Friendly Campus, one of 258 campuses in 38 states and the District of Columbia by ’s&�Բ��; and – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encourage their students to register and vote in the 2023 elections and in coming years. The mission of the 2023 Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster colleges and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process.

A speaker during a lecture engages an audience of students. — Educational Opportunity Association Conference

Student Support Services and McNair staff are committed to assisting students beyond Kent State, recently contributing to the Educational Opportunity Association Conference. **Jim Piascik** presented “Expanding budgets in the time of COVID” with over 100 attendees and **Siobhán Hicks,** along with **Dr. Kelly Cichy,** presented “Addressing the mental health needs of TRIO-eligible students” with over 250 attendees.

Students walk between Risman Plaza and the University Library. — Adam Cinderich, President of the Ohio TRIO Educational Opportunity Association

Helping others help students. With his experience helping our Kent State students, Student Support Services **Director Adam Cinderich,** who currently serves as President of the Ohio TRIO Educational Opportunity Association (EOA) Board of Directors was selected as a mentor for the TRIO Works SSS Directors Group continuing a commitment to provide access to higher education.

Eboni Pringle — Dean Pringle Receives the 2023 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award

Dean Pringle was nationally recognized for her advocacy for students and receiving the 2023 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award, presented by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.
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5X�� — KSU Students and Staff Receive 2022 Community Impact Group Award

KSU students and staff were recognized by the United Way of Portage County as the recipient of the 2022 Community Impact Group Award. This award was presented in recognition of Kent State's commitment to the Literacy Kit program, which aims to improve early-grade reading, encourage the love of reading and generate long-term school success. Thanks to KSU students and staff, over 1,000 literacy kits were distributed in Spring of 2022 to Portage County Kindergarteners.

A student pays close attention to her scientific experiment. — Peter Jeffy Research Award

Helping students goes one step further. **Peter Jeffy** recently received the James B. Hamilton and Thomas G. Mortenson TRIO/EOP Professional Research Award. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a TRIO/EOP professional for research consistent with the goals and purpose of Educational Opportunity Association.

Home away from home — Kent State football team and students volunteer

Kent State's Football team and other Kent State students volunteered at Campus Kitchen's March food distribution in collaboration with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank Wednesday, March 17, at Dix Stadium. This volunteer opportunity continued on the third Wednesday of every month through June, thanks to a food bank grant from Feeding America. Additionally, Campus Kitchen student volunteers hold food pantries in Tri-Towers three times per week as well and support the food pantry within the Office of the Dean of Students.

Students are all smiles on a warm and sunny day. — Key Connections Program from Academic Diversity Outreach

URS Students are predicted to have a 6-yr graduation rate of 54.5% in the Key Connections program from **Academic Diversity Outreach.**

Exterior of front campus building on Kent campus through trees and sunlight — Nicole Kotlan reviewer for national publication

Nicole Kotlan has been invited to be a reviewer for a national publication, The Journal of Campus Activities Practice and Scholarship. **Nicole Kotlan** has been invited to be a reviewer for a national publication, **The Journal of Campus Activities Practice and Scholarship**. The Journal consists of Empirical Research Paper of original quantitative or qualitative research. Papers include a review of relevant literature, a clear explanation of methodology that was conducted by the author or authors, a review of all relevant research findings, and a discussion of the implications and recommendations from the author that stem from the research project.

5X�� — Career Exploration and Development Flashternship

Completing a Flashternship through **Career Exploration and Development** gives KSU Students the opportunity to increase their networking connections by up to 300% and their earning potential by over 250%. Students who complete a Flashternship are retained at a higher rate compared to off-campus employment opportunities and provide a clear path to future careers.

Fashion student at work — SI Leaders Fresh Perspectives Webinar Series

Students at Kent State are provided amazing Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leaders in various courses. Our SI Leaders **Mark Abunda, Torrance Gaskins,** and Ben Rininger from the Academic Success Center recently led a Fresh Perspectives Webinar Series Session entitled "Using SI Techniques to Develop Fellow SI Leaders", hosted by the International Center for Supplemental Instruction. At the session, they facilitated collaborative discussion and activities across institutions to develop SI Leaders' and SI Mentors' skills.

A group of students enjoy a laugh in the Student Center. — Barb Miller-Harris Tom Vandermeulen Award

Transfer students find their home at Kent State, feel supported and graduate as Golden Flashes with the help of **Barb Miller-Harris** who has been awarded the Tom Vandermeulen Award. Her contributions have enhanced relationships among people of diverse cultures, ethnic groups, first-generation students and students with special needs.

Student in class discussion smiling — Award-Winning Flash Connections Program

Exploratory Program students are given amazing opportunities via the **Flash Connections Program** which has been recognized as **a NASPA Excellence Award - Gold** recipient. Students participating in **Flash Connections** have the opportunity to create a sense of belonging and purposeful learning around career exploration, community engagement, and personal development.

View Schedules — The MAP NACADA Outstanding Advising Program Award

Assisting **Exploratory students** with confidently declaring their major by connecting with intentional action items is the goal of MAP. **The MAP** has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 NACADA Outstanding Advising Program Award. The NACADA Outstanding Advising Program Award recognizes advising programs that are innovative and/or exemplary practices resulting in improvement of academic advising services. The Outstanding Advising Program Award application was judged on the following criteria: innovative quality, creativity, currency, institutional commitment, impact evident by assessment and transferability.

Comments — Start Strong to Finish program

More than 320 new students positioned themselves well, engaging in the “Start Strong to Finish” program by taking a reassessment of their placement tests with **Judy Huber.**

Students walk past beautiful flowers on a sunny day. — 214 students received more than $114,000 from Academic Diversity Outreach.

214 students received more than $114,000 in tuition, book, course supply, and other aid from **Academic Diversity Outreach.**

Student participating in a donation volunteer event with paper bags of donated goods — Campus Kitchen Race to Zero Waste

Students have endless volunteer opportunities with University College's Campus Kitchen. The Campus Kitchen, in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, won the 2021 Campus Race to Zero Waste case study competition in the “Summary of Waste Reduction Efforts” category.

2 students sitting on campus by a fountain, with centennials and eastway center in the background — MAP Start to Finish Program receives Award

Kent State Exploratory students experience award-winning advising with the Major Action Plan (MAP): Start to Finish Program. This program, which recently received the NASPA Region IV-East Innovative Program Award, uses innovative advising strategies to assist students in declaring their major.

5X�� — Krittika Grau ACPA Commission Award

Students at Kent State get expert career insight from our Senior Career Advisor **Krittika Grau**, a member of the ACPA Commission, who has just been awarded the Distinguished Commission Award for 2021. Her commission was recognized for working with the resources it had at its disposal and demonstrating distinguished leadership by providing balanced, innovative and sustainable products, projects and services within or across the commissions and to ACPA.

Student working on a project in classroom with micron pen and a ruler — Kent State Together Community Service

Our Flashes have continued providing community service virtually through the Kent State Together program provided by **Community Engaged Learning.** Over 700 student volunteers wrote 1,400 welcome notes to incoming KSU students and provided 500 United Way Literacy Kits for a local elementary school.

5X�� — Exploratory Program selected as the 2021 Outstanding Advising Program by NACADA

Assisting Exploratory students with confidently declaring their major by connecting with intentional action items is the goal of MAP. The MAP has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 NACADA Outstanding Advising Program Award. The NACADA Outstanding Advising Program Award recognizes advising programs that are innovative and/or exemplary practices resulting in improvement of academic advising services. The Outstanding Advising Program Award application was judged on the following criteria: innovative quality, creativity, currency, institutional commitment, impact evident by assessment and transferability.

5X�� — NASPA Center for First-Generation Student Success Blog

Support for First-Generation Students is featured in the NASPA Center for First-Generation Student Success Blog. **Melanie Jones,** Director of Academic Diversity Outreach, and **Alexandra Henry**, an intern, worked together to highlight the support given to First-Gen students at First-Gen Forward Institutions by writing a blog that was recently promoted on the Center’s social media.

5X�� — I AM FIRST Celebration

The **I AM FIRST Celebration** honored first generation students, staff, and faculty with a week of university-wide events. Attendees from all parts of the Kent State community enjoyed the week’s in-person and virtual events.

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