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Join the Lean Community of Practice

Are you interested in being part of a community that focuses on respect for people by recognizing that those who are doing the work are the best ones to improve it? Interested in continuous improvement and learning from your peers about how they have used Lean principles and tools to streamline their processes, big and small? Interested in sharing your own experiences? Then join the Lean Community of Practice.

A Community of Practice is a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better by interacting regularly. CoPs are important to connect people, enable dialogue, stimulate learning, improve skills, share knowledge, generate new knowledge and much more.

Some of the ways we did this in 2020 were through activities, presentations, and discussions on topics like: 

• Engaging in virtual meetings 
• Creative problem solving  
• Brainstorming 
• Tools for automating processes 

In 2021 we will meet every other month starting in February. There is also a Microsoft Team you can join for resources and ongoing discussion within the community. To become a member, or to be added to the Team Channel, you can sign up via the link below. 

Lean isn’t just about five-day Kaizen events (although those are extremely valuable!), it is about practicing respect for people and continuous improvement every day, with everyone, and in every situation. Novice or expert, all are welcome regardless of your experience with Lean. If you have a passion to improve your workplace and processes, the Lean CoP is for you!  

If you are interested in joining the Lean Community of Practice, please .   

For more information about the Lean Kent State Office and how you can get involved, please visit the Lean Kent State Office site. 

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Biological Sciences Faculty Take On Invasive Plant Species of Ohio In New Book

�鶹��ý’s College of Arts and Sciences would like to congratulate three faculty members in the Department of Biological Sciences who recently co-authored a 384-page hardcover book,  and available on Amazon.com.

Adjunct Professor Megan E. Griffiths-Ward, Ph.D., collaborated on the book with (her husband) Professor David Ward, Ph.D. and Melissa A. Davis, a botany instructor and the horticulture facilities director at Kent State’s Herrick Conservatory and collections manager of the Tom S. and Miwako K. Cooperrider Herbarium at Kent State. Read the full story.

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Healthy Heart Week | February 8 - 12, 2021

In past years, Employee Wellness has hosted a heart health luncheon in recognition of the America Heart Association's Go Red for Women initiative. Since we are unable to come together in person this year for a lunch, we decided to host an entire week of virtual heart health programming instead.

Healthy Heart Week is February 8 - 12 and consists of offerings designed to inspire and motivate you to make heart health a regular part of your self-care routine. Check out the first two events below, and click on the webinar titles to register. Visit the Healthy Heart Week page for the full list of offerings. 

Monday, Feb. 8, noon - 1 p.m. Presented by Be Well Solutions

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in America, accounting for over 655,000 annual deaths, or one every 36 seconds. Despite the universality of cardiovascular disease, significant differences in the rates of diagnoses, deaths, and risk factors exist according to age, gender, and ethnicity. This presentation will include:

• An examination of notable differences in heart disease rates and deaths across various demographic groups.
• An overview of differences associated with various risk factors across different demographic groups will be provided.
• An introduction to proposed explanations for these differences, and efforts to bridge these gaps, will be reviewed, including sources for further study and proactive planning.
• A reminder, that as we attempt to improve these incongruities on a societal level, all individuals can benefit by working to control their personal risk factors.

Tuesday, Feb. 9, noon - 1 p.m. Presented by Be Well Solutions

Research shows that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in women each year. Understanding how heart disease affects women is a complex, but important issue. This session will cover the following topics:

• Heart Disease Myths
• How Heart Disease is Different for Women
• Prevention and Lowering Risk
• The Importance of Starting Prevention at an Early Age
• An Overview of Congenital Heart Defects and the Benefits of Early Detection

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. For more information, visit the Healthy Heart Week page.

For questions regarding wellness offerings for faculty and staff, please contact Employee Wellness at wellness@kent.edu or 330-672-0392.

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Mindfulness at Work Webinar & Introducing Mindful Mondays with Daron

When you realize that mindfulness is much more than breath awareness and relaxation, you start to notice opportunities to practice throughout the day, even while at work. Join IMPACT Solutions' mindfulness guru, Daron Larson, for a on Jan. 27 from noon - 1 p.m., when he will share ways you can sneak mindfulness into your workday, increase your ability to focus and decrease stress. 

This webinar will also introduce and launch the new Mindful Mondays with Daron initiative. Mindful Monday sessions will be offered once each month from 8:30 - 9 a.m. throughout 2021. Registration is open now for the February and March sessions!

• Click here to learn more and register for Mindful Mondays with Daron

Both the Mindfulness at Work webinar and Mindful Monday sessions will take place via live stream and are open to all full and part time faculty and staff. For full time, benefits eligible employees participating in the wellness rewards program, each session is worth 10 Tier 2 points. 

For questions regarding wellness offerings for faculty and staff, please contact Employee Wellness at wellness@kent.edu or 330-672-0392.

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Geauga Campus and Twinsburg Academic Center Fall 2020 Commencement

�鶹��ý Geauga and the Twinsburg Academic Center is pleased to recognize the Fall 2020 graduates.  Over 80 students earned an associate or bachelor’s degree. Please visit Commencement web site for more information regarding the virtual commencement ceremony that is now available for viewing at any time.

Name	Degree	Town
Elizabeth May Neal	Associate of Arts	Akron
Karl I. Joyner	Associate of Applied Business	Aurora
Katelynn Justice	Associate of Science	Aurora
Mackenzie E. Luke	Associate of Science	Aurora
Andrew Joseph Hejl	Bachelor of Science in Information Technology	Aurora
Jeremy H. Lynch	Associate of Arts	Bedford
Tyrell William Hubbard	Associate of Science	Bedford
Harry Lee Carter Jr.	Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies	Bedford
Taylor A. O'Brien	Associate of Arts	Berea
John Enzo Orlando	Associate of Arts	Broadview Heights
Angela Marie DiNardo	Associate of Arts	Burton
Joanne Elizabeth Miller	Associate of Arts	Burton
William Widner Black	Associate of Arts	Chagrin Falls
Breanna Love Bodak	Associate of Science	Chagrin Falls
Alivia McGonnell	Associate of Technical Studies	Chagrin Falls
Laurel Ann Grae	Associate of Arts	Chardon
Seth A. Kulch	Associate of Arts	Chardon
Troy Anderson Yoder	Associate of Arts	Chardon
Dakota Ray Hill	Associate of Science	Chardon
Marissa Nichole Siegert	Associate of Science	Chardon
Jordan P. Darrah	Bachelor of Science in Information Technology	Cleveland
Jordan Ajamu Talley	Associate of Science	Columbus
Kathryn Michelle Lee	Associate of Science	Cuyahoga Falls
Cullin Robert Whitaker	Associate of Science	Cuyahoga Falls
Mary Elizabeth Weahry	Associate of Science	Cuyahoga Falls
Matthew Gene Johns	Associate of Applied Business	Fairport Harbor
Robin M. Masters	Associate of Arts	Garrettsville
Avery Joy Malotte	Associate of Arts	Garrettsville
Brittany Nicole Gallagher	Associate of Science	Garrettsville
Thomas J. Bissler	Associate of Science	Garrettsville
Derek S. Schreffler	Associate of Arts	Macedonia
Karlie Dane Zlocki	Associate of Arts	Macedonia
McKenzie A. Rizzo	Associate of Science	Macedonia
Caitlyn Lee Rizzo	Associate of Science	Macedonia
Sheryl A. Toth	Associate of Science	Macedonia
Taylor Mae Chism	Associate of Arts	Mantua
BreAnna Lee Benner	Associate of Arts	Mantua
Megan Lynne Buchert	Associate of Arts	Mantua
Joseph Vandell Daczko	Associate of Science	Mantua
Emma Katherine Kotkowski	Associate of Science	Mantua
Bradly Michael Labate	Associate of Science	Mantua
Kaeli Rome Wilson	Associate of Science	Mantua
Danielle Aleece Kess	Associate of Science	Mantua
Natalie A. Higgins	Associate of Arts	Maple Heights
Marissa Marie Hunt	Associate of Arts	Maple Heights
Jonathan Dean Courtney	Associate of Arts	Mesopotamia
Lauren Elizabeth Petrick	Associate of Science	Middlefield
Spencer Starr	Associate of Science	Middlefield
Bella Marie Jones	Associate of Technical Studies	Middlefield
Nicholas Kenneth Breunig	Associate of Applied Business	Montville
Taylor Marie Zeigler	Associate of Science	Montville
Jacy Rhianna Drabek	Associate of Arts	Newbury
Raquel L. Reid	Associate of Science	North Randall
Ryan Joseph Bass	Associate of Science	Northfield
Dominique Manolita DiBlasi	Associate of Science	Northfield
Hannah F. Kendall	Associate of Science	Northfield
Bria Shaunte Cothran	Associate of Science	Oakwood Village
Jessica M. Fraser	Associate of Arts	Painesville
Niraidy Nieves	Associate of Arts	Parma
Danna J. O'Connor	Associate of Arts	Peninsula
Cameron M. Crabtree	Associate of Arts	Ravenna
Steffanie Graham	Associate of Technical Studies	Rootstown
Jalen Johnson	Associate of Arts	Seven Hills
Amanda Key	Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies	South Euclid
Rachel Madison Daniels	Associate of Arts	Stow
Samantha Lynn Jacoby	Associate of Arts	Stow
Thomas Patrick James Jr.	Associate of Arts	Stow
Brianna Macy Wilson	Associate of Arts	Stow
Jeremy Thomas Gaglione	Associate of Science	Stow
Benjamin R. Weisenburger	Associate of Science	Stow
Lynda J. Cooke	Associate of Science	Streetsboro
Jennifer Johnson Christian	Associate of Science	Streetsboro
Morgan Dianne Alleshouse	Associate of Technical Studies	Tallmadge
Deavion Keiyonda Wilkins	Associate of Arts	Twinsburg
Nicole Anne Sablack	Associate of Science	Twinsburg
Sanampreet Gill	Associate of Science	Twinsburg
Michael Roy Reeves	Associate of Science	Twinsburg
Lanetta Monique Rucker	Associate of Technical Studies	Twinsburg
Larissa Mae Weaver	Associate of Arts	West Farmington
Dominique Amani Brown	Associate of Arts
Kristen Nicole Mathis	Associate of Arts

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Important Information Regarding Student Registration into Classes

As we begin the new semester, the Office of the University Registrar asks for your assistance in making sure that all students are properly registered for their Spring 2021 courses.

As per University policy, only officially registered students are permitted to attend courses. Go to Faculty & Advisors/Faculty Dashboard to find the link to official class rosters in FlashLine. Students who are not officially registered within the appropriate time period WILL NOT receive a grade or earn credit for the course even if they attend the entire course and complete all required work.

Registration and schedule adjustment deadlines for courses can be found in the Detailed Class Search. To access the Detailed Class Search, visit the Registrar's website, click the Schedule of Classes quick link, and select Spring 2021, or in FlashLine, go to Faculty & Advisors / Resources / Courses and click on the Registration Deadlines and Tuition Credit Search Link.

Instructors are asked to remind students that it is important to finalize and verify their registration within the proper timeframe. After the published deadlines, adjustments in registration will require faculty and Office of the University Registrar approval.

Grades Submission Information
The deadline for submitting final grades can be found on the Registrar's website at http://www.kent.edu/registrar/calendars-deadlines.

Incomplete Mark and NF/SF Administrative Marks:
The administrative mark SF (Stopped Attending–Fail) denotes that the student stopped attending the course and did not formally withdraw and must be accompanied by a date of last attendance in the course. If a student has stopped attending your course the SF can be entered on the Final Grade Roster along with the student’s last date of attendance.

The administrative mark NF (Never Attended–Fail) denotes that the student neither attended one class session nor formally withdrew from the course. If a student has never attended your course, mark the student as “Not Started” on the Academic Presence Verification Roster, and the NF will automatically populate to your Final Grades roster.

The administrative mark of IN (Incomplete) may be given to students who are unable to complete the work due to extenuating circumstances. To be eligible, undergraduate students must be currently earning a D or better grade and are unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and the end of classes. Graduate students must be currently earning a C or better grade and are unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and the end of classes. Instructors are required to complete and submit an Incomplete Mark Contract.

Incomplete Mark Contract Workflow
The instructor must create and submit an Incomplete Mark contract via the new workflow.  Instructors are no longer be able to select the incomplete mark (IB+, IC+, IC-, etc.) from the final grade roster in FlashFAST (Self-Service Banner).  The primary instructor must initiate and submit the contract using this new workflow process, which mimics the old paper process.  Once the contract has been accepted by the student and approved by the department chair/campus dean, the student’s grade will be updated automatically.  The primary instructor will be able to initiate and submit the contract for a student after the deadline to withdraw (10th week of a regularly scheduled section in fall and spring, or prorated for flexibly scheduled sections) through the end of final grading.

Access the Incomplete Mark workflow in FlashLine from the Faculty Dashboard under Grading Resources or Faculty Workflows. The incomplete mark and default grade will no longer be available to assign via the final grade roster or the Grade Push Application.

For complete information on university grading policies including Incomplete Mark and NF/SF grading policies, procedures and timelines, please visit the Grading Policies and Procedures section in the university catalog at catalog.kent.edu.