![The 2017 Summer Advantage Program participants and staff stand outside Á½ÐÔÉ«Îçҹ’s University College. The 2017 Summer Advantage Program participants and staff stand outside Á½ÐÔÉ«Îçҹ’s University College.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article_thumbnail/PHOTOLEAD-SummerAdvantage1.jpg?VersionId=b2R3YYCdPLC8aYLvkOrAgohXz0OKoOLY&h=e6f36a9c&itok=H_p45apG)
To increase retention rates – and ultimately graduation rates – Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ created its first-ever Summer Advantage Program through University College’s Academic Diversity Outreach department.
![Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Professor Hanbin Mao (middle) co-authored a paper with graduate students Sagun Jonchhe (left) and Prakash Shrestha (right) on the genetic factors influencing the formation of cancer cells. Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Professor Hanbin Mao (middle) co-authored a paper with graduate students Sagun Jonchhe (left) and Prakash Shrestha (right) on the genetic factors influencing the formation of cancer cells.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article_thumbnail/PROFILE-Chemists.jpg?VersionId=ygHV37YYFGQFfPBSj1qdhTBpRvOg4LzX&h=e6f36a9c&itok=CvpcKjx5)
According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 1,688,780 new cancer cases diagnosed and 600,920 cancer deaths in the U.S. in 2017.
![Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University and downtown Kent prepare to welcome new and returning students for the fall semester. Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University and downtown Kent prepare to welcome new and returning students for the fall semester.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article_thumbnail/Video-backtoschool.jpg?VersionId=eC7fcEEgpmJwrK4u.xKLQTUVv62y.LyI&h=ec98a0f6&itok=j3B57mIh)
Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University and downtown Kent prepare to welcome new and returning students for the fall semester.
![Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University mascot Flash helps to motivate students in Sarah Smiley's class during a class project. Smiley modeled her class after "The Amazing Race." Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University mascot Flash helps to motivate students in Sarah Smiley's class during a class project. Smiley modeled her class after "The Amazing Race."](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article_thumbnail/REGIONAL-AmazingRace1.jpg?VersionId=D_Ol5MXZlxNpvB5FwtYRriaWLVKgyFXY&h=e6f36a9c&itok=CIB98Mbw)
Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University at Salem Associate Professor Sarah Smiley, Ph.D., adopted a novel idea in teaching her geography class during the 2015 Fall Semester.
![A student in Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University’s Fashion School works on a project in a design classroom. A new partnership between Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ and Akron Public Schools will allow Akron students to immerse themselves in innovative design areas including fashion. A student in Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University’s Fashion School works on a project in a design classroom. A new partnership between Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ and Akron Public Schools will allow Akron students to immerse themselves in innovative design areas including fashion.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article_thumbnail/SPECIALFEATURE-fashionstudent.jpg?VersionId=KdnAv5st0f0wJi5TuoL17p4zsi9bXgeU&h=e6f36a9c&itok=oWod8e1b)
Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University is offering special expertise and resources to high school students attending to include immersive opportunities with the university’s fashion, arts and architecture programs.
In This Issue
Employee Anniversaries
Sinclair, Elizabeth A. — 40 years
Barnes, Alene L. — 35 years
Ehrman, Radd K. — 35 years