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Save the Date! �鶹��ý’s Anti-Racism and Equity Institute Invites the University Community to An Evening with Roxane Gay.

�鶹��ý’s Anti-Racism and Equity Institute invites the university and community members to attend An Evening with Roxane Gay on Tues., April 26, at 5 p.m. in the Kent State Student Center Ballroom. This is the first public program offered by the Anti-Racism and Equity Institute.

This event is free and open to the public. Details on tickets for the event will be shared in early April.

Roxane Gay is an author and cultural critic. Her work has garnered international acclaim for its reflective, no-holds-barred exploration of feminism and social criticism. Her collection of essays, “Bad Feminist,” is universally considered the quintessential exploration of modern feminism. NPR named it one of the best books of the year, and Salon declared the book “trailblazing.” Her debut novel, “An Untamed State,” was longlisted for the Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, which is awarded by The Center for Fiction to the best debut novel of the year. Her bestselling books also include “Difficult Women” and “Hunger.” Gay also writes the “Work Friend” advice column for The New York Times. She was the first black woman to write for Marvel, authoring a comic series in the Black Panther universe called “World of Wakanda.”

Designed to serve as a hub for scholars, activists and practitioners from across the university and surrounding communities, Kent State’s Anti-Racism and Equity Institute addresses racial inequalities that systemically impact Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other people of color. For more information about the Anti-Racism and Equity Institute, visit www.kent.edu/AREI.

Benefits Tip of the Week

Medical Mutual informed me that my address is incorrect. How can I ensure that my address is correct with the University and its partners like Delta Dental and PNC?

The address you have on file in Flashline is considered the “true” address and is the address passed to our vendors via eligibility files. If you correct addresses/phone numbers in Flashline, it will automatically be corrected with corresponding vendors, generally within ten business days.

Follow these steps to update your personal information (including your address) in Flashline:

1. Log in to FlashLine
2. Select “Settings” from the left side navigation pane
3. Under “Secure Account Access,” select “Addresses and Phone Numbers”
4. If the displayed information is incorrect, select “Update Addresses and Phones” from the bottom of the page
5. Be sure to correct both your Billing and Permanent address and phone number as needed by selecting their “current” or “primary” links. Enter phone numbers and dates following the example on the screens (e.g. 330-672-1234).
6. When finished, click Submit.

April Employee Wellness Focus on Positivity

Appreciating and caring for what we have starts with challenging our negative perceptions and cultivating a positive mindset. We often hear people being described as positive or negative. However, the truth is that a positive mindset is a choice that we make every moment, not an innate trait. Although it is challenging, you have the power to change your attitude, and committing to this change can lead you to a happier, more successful life.

Employee Wellness is here to help you discover strategies to cultivate a positive mindset, such as helping in your community, adopting a regular gratitude practice, boosting your confidence, and sharpening your emotional and social intelligence skills.

 is a powerful presentation designed to help you develop stronger self-esteem and realize your full potential. The will teach you how it elevates your mood, increases optimism, alleviates depression, and helps you cope with grief. Develop your people smarts to successfully interact with others by learning . Also offered,  will cover the Windfall Elimination and Government Offset Provision related to OPERS and STRS. To view the full list of April offerings, visit the April wellness focus page.

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

Onsite Health Coaching, April 14

If you need help with setting health goals, finding motivation, or sticking to your self-care routine, a Be Well Solutions health coach can help! With health coaching, you’ll receive individualized accountability, and you can also earn points toward Tier 2 of the wellness rewards program.  
   
Health coaching sessions are confidential and include a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental conversation with a certified coach. Your coach will help guide you through the process of planning, implementing, and maintaining healthy behaviors. You'll receive encouragement and support as you work toward identifying and overcoming your barriers to achieving success.  
   
Health coaching is complimentary and unlimited for full-time, benefits-eligible faculty and staff.  The next onsite session is Thursday, April 14, at Heer Hall on the Kent campus. Virtual coaching is also available.
   
To schedule a session, login to your and click on “Worksite Health Coaching” (available monthly at Heer Hall on the Kent campus), or select “Virtual/Telephonic Nutrition Counseling and Health Coaching” (available anywhere year-round), under “My Appointments.”
   
For questions related to wellness offerings for Kent State faculty and staff, please contact the Employee Wellness office at 330-672-0392 or wellness@kent.edu.

Great Colleges to Work For Survey Deadline is April 1

The Great Colleges to Work For survey is being distributed to a random selection of our employees and faculty members, meaning you may or may not be chosen to provide feedback. If you receive an invitation, we welcome and encourage you to participate and share your honest viewpoints, as a high response rate helps ensure an accurate representation of our community. We thank everyone who participated last year.

Please note that the survey, which runs through April 1, is voluntary and completely confidential. Our institution cannot trace results back to individuals. ModernThink LLC, an independent management-consulting firm focusing on workplace quality in higher education, will process your survey. ModernThink can be reached at 888.684.4658, or surveys@modernthink.com.

Thank you in advance for your participation. Please contact Susan Perry, Ph.D., assistant provost for Accreditation, Assessment and Learning, at assessment@kent.edu, if you have any questions.