Two Faculty Members Awarded for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring
Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą University’s inaugural year for the Excellence in Faculty Mentoring awards resulted in recognition for Jayne Moneysmith and Amoaba Gooden.
A result of the Great Place Initiative, and funded by the Office of the Provost, the awards underscore the commitment to endorse outstanding mentoring of faculty by faculty, and they acknowledge the time and dedication faculty mentors devote to fostering the career development and academic success of colleagues in the areas of research, creative activity, education, service and practice. Each award consists of a certificate, a cash award of $1,500, and recognition at an awards ceremony.
Jayne Moneysmith, Ph.D., is an associate professor of English on the Stark Campus and was nominated by five of her colleagues. She now officially serves as the faculty professional development coordinator for Stark Campus, and organizes writing groups and offers reappointment, tenure and promotion workshops.
One nominee said that Moneysmith “has served as a mentor to faculty across the Stark Campus regardless of any official appointment as a mentor by her department.” As such, she has ushered dozens of new faculty members through the tenure process. Beyond that, she is a constant force for promoting faculty development, support for research, and evidence-based teaching practices on our campus through workshops, private consultations, and administrative decision-making.
Moneysmith said she is thrilled that the work of mentors is being formally recognized by the university and that it is a privilege to work with so many wonderful colleagues.
Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D., is an associate professor and chair of Pan African Studies on the Kent Campus. She was nominated by nine faculty members for extraordinary mentorship of underrepresented faculty members.
One nominee said “Dr. Amoaba Gooden exemplifies the definition of mentoring in every possible way…she never hesitates to serve as a sounding board and provide critical advice as needed.”
Another nominee said “her presence, spirit and voice have been, and remain, necessary components of my (and others') success, trajectory and tenure at Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą.”
Gooden said she is honored and humbled by the nomination and the award. By providing this service, her own journey at Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą becomes clearer and more purposeful.
Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą Excellence in Faculty Mentoring
Candidates are assessed on the extent, quality and effectiveness of their mentoring. This may be demonstrated through a continued commitment to fostering the intellectual, creative, scholarly and professional development of their mentees, and through mentee success, development and advancement. Candidates are expected to consistently serve as role models for their colleagues by maintaining high standards of excellence within their own discipline and the greater institution.
Candidates are also expected to continuously demonstrate many of the following characteristics:
• Offer sound counsel and valuable information to their mentees to advance and develop the mentee’s own path to academic and professional success;
• Generously share their valuable time to be accessible to their mentees;
• Impart guidance and expertise in encouraging and critiquing the mentee’s research, teaching and scholarly works;
• Involve peers and mentees in publications, grants and conferences, as well as readily share knowledge of such opportunities;
• Encourage and include mentees in networking activities with other professionals;
• Promote and make others aware of the contributions and value of their mentees; and
• Help create a vital faculty and engaged academic community.
Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą the Great Place Initiative
The was created in response to the results of the University-wide Climate Survey released in January 2017. In academic year 2016-17, President Warren charged Mark Polatajko, senior vice president for Finance and Administration; Alfreda Brown, vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Jack Witt, vice president for Human Resources, to ensure ULI 2.3 was being addressed.
A Steering Committee, led by Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, associate provost for Academic Affairs, and Dana Lawless-Andric, associate vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, serves as the data-driven action body to ensure Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą is a great place to learn, work and live.
The additional assessments of the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) Survey and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) also inform the work of the Great Place Initiative. Three subcommittees of staff, faculty and students, and two ad-hoc committees on race and disability, address issues and opportunities identified in the data.
In addition, teams have formed in all colleges, divisions and campuses. The Great Place Initiative will continue to review, assess and disseminate information, as well as implement programs and policies.
For more information on the Great Place Initiative, contact Mandy Munro-Stasiuk (mmunrost@kent.edu) or Dana Lawless-Andric (dlawless@kent.edu).
Employee Resource Groups Grow Engagement
Looking for a way to connect with, or enhance your support for, the Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą community? If so, look no further than the KSU Employee Resource Groups, which partner with the Division of Human Resources and the community to support the university’s mission, vision and values. ERGs assist with recruitment and retention, and foster a culture of respect, kindness and purpose for all things Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą.
The newest group to become officially registered is the Women of Color Collective. Housed at the Women’s Center, WOCC fosters the professional development, mental wellness, networking and personal growth of women-identifying faculty and staff of color, and their allies. The Kent Young Professionals provides opportunities for mentoring, and fosters career development and social networking for the young and young at heart.
The Latino Networking Caucus LNC is a university work group comprised of students, faculty and staff who have an affiliation or interest in the Latino culture. Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą Spectrum supports and hosts local events and leads LGBTQ+ advocacy initiatives on campus.
These groups – along with International Faculty & Staff Network and Pan African Faculty, and Staff Association (founded in 1972) – make up the university’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). They engage various generations, job groups, backgrounds, ethnicities and perspectives.
“ERGs serve as vehicles to educate the university community on diversity and cultural norms and values,” said Geraldine Hayes-Nelson, Ph.D. and executive director of Outreach and Engagement for Human Resources. “These groups are one of the university’s best-kept secrets. We encourage faculty and staff to get involved, as enrollment is open year-round.”
To learn more about, or get involved with, Á˝ĐÔÉ«Îçҹ’s ERGs, visit the ERG web page or .
Donor Invests in WKSU Newsroom Through Transformational Gift
WKSU’s state-of-art newsroom will be named The Perantinides & Nolan Newsroom, thanks to a transformational $250,000 gift from Attorney Paul G. Perantinides.
The newsroom was reimagined and expanded in 2016 and is located within the WKSU Broadcast Center at Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą University. The interactive space is the heart of WKSU’s news and information public service to the Northeast Ohio community, serving as the organizational hub and workspace for the station’s award-winning news team and Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą student interns. This current-use gift is only the second at this level in WKSU history.
“This gift in support of the WKSU newsroom strengthens local journalism in our region,” said WKSU executive director and general manager Wendy Turner. “Across the country, local news ecosystems are severely challenged by collapsing business models. Because of vast community support and historic investments like this one WKSU is positioned to pick up the slack. Funding local news is an act of philanthropy but it's also an investment in the civic and cultural life of our region.”
Perantinides, a longtime member of WKSU’s Community Advisory Council, is committed to WKSU’s focus on public service journalism and the role it plays in preserving democracy by providing essential information to the public. The funds from Perantinides’ landmark gift will support the WKSU news operation – the journalists, editors, producers and student interns who work to cover Northeast Ohio news with depth and excellence – and help the station to pursue new, impactful reporting projects and partnerships.
“It takes significant resources for WKSU to function at such a high level and I feel that we have a moral obligation to use our resources to help transform the community in a way that is valuable to all of us,” said Perantinides. “We’re sending a loud and clear message to the community that we’re all in it together – and that Perantinides & Nolan and WKSU have an important alignment.”
“We are so grateful to Paul for his decades of support to WKSU and for his service on our Community Advisory Council,” said Turner. “Paul's commitment to Akron, and the region, through his work and philanthropy, make us proud to partner with him in this effort.”
As a prominent attorney, and through his volunteer and philanthropy work, Paul Perantinides has been a leader in the Akron community for five decades. He has served as a trial attorney for 50 years, most notably with his firm, Perantinides & Nolan. His commitment to WKSU spans more than 30 years, serving as a member of WKSU’s Community Advisory Council for 20 years, where he offered valuable guidance and support to the station. Perantinides is committed to preserving the rights of others, advocating for causes, pursuing the truth and promoting justice – in his professional, philanthropic and personal life.
“It’s admirable that WKSU has been an award-winning organization for decades, is well-respected and the WKSU/NPR brand is one that we’re fortunate to have in our community,” Perantinides said. “We [Perantinides & Nolan] are honored to have this opportunity to support an organization that has done so much good.”
Timely Vacation Reporting
With vacation season upon us, please make sure you are reporting your vacation time accurately and timely. Here are some details you may find helpful as an employee or leave approver.
Vacation is earned each pay period according to eligible employees’ years of service and job appointment (e.g., classified or unclassified). Eligible employees are expected to use vacation time for rest, relaxation and other personal reasons during the year in which it is earned. A detailed explanation of vacation accrual rates, eligibility and usage is in administrative policy 6-11.7. You also can view the accrual schedule online. According to the policy, both supervisors and employees eligible to earn vacation have certain responsibilities.
Supervisor’s Responsibilities
Supervisors are responsible for making sure that employees submit all vacation time that is taken. Supervisors do not have the authority to “give someone the day off” without reporting it as leave.
Supervisors who allow employees to take leave without reporting it may be subject to disciplinary measures. Situations where the employee does not report to work and there is no leave request to document the absence can create legal implications for the university.
Eligible Employee’s Responsibilities
Eligible employees are responsible for scheduling vacation time off in advance with their supervisor, so that the workflow in the department is not interrupted. Employees are encouraged to use their vacation time, and supervisors are expected to approve reasonable requests that are made in advance.
Eligible employees are responsible for accurately reporting the number of vacation hours taken and submitting the time for approval. If an employee has taken previous vacation time and not reported it, time should be submitted for approval immediately. Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą University employees should report vacation leave through the proper channels (classified employees submit leave through the Empower timekeeping system; ). The leave should be submitted at the end of the pay period in which the leave was taken.
Employees have two pay periods (30 days) to enter any vacation, sick or personal leave already taken.
A printable version of the can be found on the Employee Resources & Records page of the Human Resources website. If you have additional questions, Please contact Human Resources Records, at 330-672-8316 or hr-records@kent.edu.
The Music Man Comes to Porthouse Theatre
Faculty and staff are cordially invited to a matinee performance of “The Music Man” at Porthouse Theatre, 3143 O'Neil Road in Cuyahoga Falls, on the grounds of Blossom Music Center Sat., Aug. 10, at 2 p.m. A complimentary lunch served in the Thornbury Pavilion from noon - 1:45 p.m.
"The Music Man" is the funny and romantic story of fast-talking salesman Harold Hill. When Hill arrives in River City, Iowa, to con the townspeople and hurry off with their money, he doesn't count on falling for the town librarian in the process.
Discount tickets on sale now for $22 each. Limit four tickets per employee. Limited supply available. Deadline to reserve tickets is Fri., Aug. 2.
Call the Porthouse Theatre Box Office at (330) 672-3884, or visit the Center for the Performing Arts Roe Green Center Lobby, 1325 Theatre Drive on the Kent Campus.
Box office open weekdays 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, checks and cash accepted.
Flexible Work Arrangement Training Underway
Training for Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą University’s new Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) program is currently in progress and available on Blackboard or in-person training sessions across various Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą campus locations.
Prior to making any FWA request, the employee/requester must attend an FWA training session, or view one in its entirety via Blackboard. Supervisors/approvers must also attend or view a training session. You may find links to both Blackboard and in-person training sessions here.
For more information regarding the new Flexible Work Arrangement Policy, including the policy itself and a list of frequently asked questions, visit our Flexible Work Arrangement information web page.
For questions related to the Flexible Work Arrangement policy or training, please contact Employee Wellness at 330-672-7505 or 330-672-0392. You may also email wellness@kent.edu.
Financial Wellness: Financial Foundations 101
Live Streaming Available
On Wed., July 31, from noon - 1 p.m. in Heer Hall, or via live stream, we will learn basic personal financial management strategies that will assist in managing income and expenses. Other topics covered in this workshop include information regarding student loans and making the right credit decisions.
- Register to attend (space is limited)
- Register for
Employees participating in the Wellness Your Way wellness program will receive 10 Tier Two points towards their Financial Wellness.
If you have questions, you may contact the Employee Wellness office at 330-672-0392 or wellness@kent.edu. To see a complete list of financial wellness programs, visit our financial wellness web page.
Summer is a Great Time to Work on Your Wellness Goals
Feeling stuck? Not sure how to get back on track? Personal health coaching may be just what you need. Health coaching is provided by Be Well Solutions as part of Á˝ĐÔÉ«ÎçŇą University's employee wellness program for all full-time, benefits-eligible employees on all campuses. Health coaching appointments are individualized, 30-minute sessions with a certified health coach with expertise in a variety of areas, including exercise, nutrition, stress management, tobacco cessation and general health.
The next onsite health coaching dates are August 6 and August 29, 2019. All onsite sessions take place at Heer Hall in room 103 in the Employee Wellness Room. Employees can also schedule unlimited telephonic coaching.
To schedule your in-person coaching session, simply do the following:
- Log in to your personal Health Portal at . If you have not yet set up a Be Well account, see instructions for first-time login.
- Under My Appointments select Worksite Coaching. Choose the date and time that fits your schedule. Spaces are limited.
To Schedule your telephonic coaching session:
Unlimited, telephonic health coaching is also an option and is available Monday through Friday year-round. To take advantage of this offer to work on your individual health goals, simply login to Be Well at and select "My Appointments" and "Telephonic Coaching."
For questions or assistance with registration or coaching, you may contact Be Well Solutions directly at 1-888-935-7378.
Dates to Remember
July 14
Bastille Day
July 18
Nelson Mandela's Birthday