Kent State University

Kent State University

Motto: "Excellence In Action"
Established: 1910
Type: Public (state university)
Endowment: $158 Million [1]
President: Dr. Lester Lefton [2]
Faculty: 2,279 (Fall, 2006, all campuses)
Staff: 3,453 (Fall, 2006, all campuses)
Undergraduates: 29,227 (Fall, 2007, all campuses)
Postgraduates: 4,829 (Fall, 2007, all campuses
Location: Kent, Ohio, USA
Campus: 1,347 acres (5 km2) (Main campus) suburban college town[3]
Sports: Golden Flashes
Colors: Navy Blue and Gold         
Mascot: Flash
Affiliations: The University System of Ohio
Website: http://www.kent.edu

Kent State University (also known as Kent, Kent State, or KSU) is one of America's largest university systems, the third largest university in Ohio and the largest residential university in northeast Ohio. Kent State is a traditional, selective, residential public research university and its seven regional campuses serve multicounty regions of Northeast Ohio.[4] The eight campuses offer degree programs from the associate to doctoral and medical degrees. The university has students, faculty, and visitors from the entire USA and other countries.

Kent State is centered in Kent, Ohio, United States, about 40 miles (60 km) southeast of Cleveland, 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Akron, and 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Youngstown. Kent State has 34,056 students across eight campuses, and is one of the largest employers in northeast Ohio.

Contents

History

Early history

Kent Hall Front

In 1910, the Kent State Normal School was established as a college for training public school teachers as part of the Lowry bill which also created a sister school in Bowling Green, Ohio, now known as Bowling Green State University. The new school was constructed on land donated by William S. Kent (son of Marvin Kent, the namesake for the city of Kent) in what was then the eastern edge of Kent. The first president was John Edward McGilvrey, who served from 1912 to 1926. By 1915, the school was named Kent State Normal College[5], then Kent State College (after it was authorized to issue Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees), and Kent State University in 1935 when it received university status by Governor Martin L. Davey, a native of Kent.

In 1967, Kent State became the first university to run an independent, student-operated Campus Bus Service. It was unique in that it provided jobs for students, receiving funding from student fees rather than bus fares. Campus Bus Service was the largest such operation in the country until it was sold to the Portage Area Transportation Authority (PARTA) in 2004. [1]

In 1965, Chemistry professor Glenn H. Brown established the Liquid Crystal Institute, a world leader in the development the multibillion-dollar liquid crystal industry, named by Forbes magazine as one of 85 innovations that changed the way we live today.

Memorial Markers in Taylor Parking Lot

Kent State shootings

Main article: Kent State shootings

Kent State gained international attention on May 4, 1970 when an Ohio Army National Guard unit fired at students during a war protest on campus, killing four and wounding nine. The event caused an immediate closure of the campus as well as many other college campuses around the nation. The Guard had been called into Kent after several protests in and around campus had become violent, including the rioting of downtown Kent and the burning of the ROTC building. The main cause of the protests was the United States' invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War.

Recent history

Kent State was again in the national spotlight in 1977 when construction was set to begin on the Memorial Gym Annex, adjacent to the area where the shootings had occurred in 1970. Protesters organized a tent city in May, which lasted into July. Several attempts were made to block construction even after the end of the tent city, including an appeal to Congress to have the area declared a national historic landmark, but these attempts failed. Construction finally began on September 19, and finished in 1979. [2]

In 1994, Kent State earned status as a Research University II from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. In 2000, the foundation changed its classification system and Kent State is classified as a Doctoral/Research University-Extensive, one of 90 U.S. public schools with this classification.[6]

Presidents of Kent State University

Cartwright Hall, Named after President Carol A. Cartwright

Campuses

Main library

Kent State University is an eight-campus system in northeastern Ohio, with the main campus and administrative center in Kent. Within the Kent State University system, the main campus is officially referred to as the "Kent Campus",[7] though it is rarely, if ever, referred as such outside of the university community. The campus is a landscaped suburban environment, making up approximately 866-acre (3.5 km2) which house over 100 buildings, gardens, bike trails, and open greenery. There are also thousands of additional acres of bogs, marshes, and wildlife refuges adjacent to or near the campus.[7] While the university's official mascot is Flash the Golden Eagle, the campus also has an unofficial mascot in the Black Squirrel, which were brought to Kent in 1961 and can be found on and around the campus. The campus is divided into North, South, and East sections but many areas have come to be referred to as Front Campus, Residential Campus, and Science Row. The main hub of activity and central point is the Student Center and Risman Plaza, which is adjacent to the twelve-story main library. In addition to the campus itself, the university also operates the 18-hole Kent State Golf Course and Centennial Research Park just east of campus in Franklin Township and the 219-acre (0.9 km2) Kent State University Airport in Stow.

Regional Campuses

Map of KSU campuses.

In addition to the main campus in Kent, there are seven regional campuses. The system is one of the largest and oldest regional campus systems in the United States. The regional campuses serve to provide a small, liberal-arts college feel as opposed to the large university feel of the main campus in Kent[7]. Students at the regional campuses can begin any of Kent State's majors at their respective campus and each campus offers its own unique programs and opportunities that may or may not be available in Kent. Regional campuses include:

Ashtabula

Main article: Kent State University Ashtabula Campus

The Ashtabula Campus is currently made up of three buildings: Main Hall, a library, and a technology and art building. It is on a 125-acre site along the shores of Lake Erie in Ashtabula, Ohio. Kent State-Ashtabula is noted locally for its nursing program. Seventy-five percent (75%) of registered nurses working in Ashtabula County graduated with an Associate's degree in nursing from Kent State-Ashtabula. On July 17, 2007, ground was broken for a new Health and Science building, which is being constructed for use mainly by the growing nursing and allied health programs.[8]

East Liverpool

The East Liverpool Campus occupies a downtown site overlooking the Ohio River. It is composed of the Main Building, Memorial Auditorium, Mary Patterson Building, and a Commons area.

Geauga

Located in Burton, Ohio, Kent State's Geauga Campus is at the heart of Ohio's maple syrup country in Geauga County. The campus provides easy access to urban, suburban and rural areas. The Geauga Campus also includes the Twinsburg Center, a small extension located in Twinsburg, Ohio.

Salem

Kent State's Salem Campus is located just south of the city. It features a lake, a 25 acre outdoor classroom, and nature walk. In addition to the Salem Campus, Kent State University Salem owns and operates the old Salem Middle School called the "City Center" in which certain administrative offices, classes, and student services are located.

Stark

Main article: Kent State University Stark Campus

The Stark Campus is the largest regional campus of Kent State University, serving around 10,300 students each year (5,300 in academic programs, 5,000 in executive and graduate education). It is located on 200 acres (0.8 km2) in Jackson Township just five minutes from the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. It is composed of seven major buildings and a natural pond and offers three masters and 12 complete bachelor degree programs. Baccalaureate programs include: applied communication, business management, English, general studies, history, justice studies, mathematics, middle childhood education, and nursing, as well as pre-law, technology and psychology degrees.[9] Additionally, there are three associate degrees offered: arts, justice studies, and science. The campus also offers three masters level programs: a professional M.B.A degree and a M.A. or M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching Studies. Ninety percent of Kent State Stark's full-time faculty hold the highest academic credentials in their field. The Stark campus includes the Professional Education and Conference Center; an advanced meeting, training, and events facility that is one of only ten such centers in the state of Ohio affiliated with the International Association of Conference Centers.[10] The Center also serves as a home to the Office of Corporate and Community Services, which provides intense training and learning exercises for area businesses and organizations.[11]

Trumbull

Kent State's Trumbull Campus is located in Warren, Ohio just north of the SR 5 bypass on SR 45. It offers programs in 170 majors at the freshman and sophomore level, as well as 18 certificates and 15 associate degree programs. In addition, there is junior/senior level coursework for baccalaureate degree completion in nursing, justice studies, technology, business management, and English, as well as general studies and psychology degrees. The campus recently opened a new 68,000-square-foot (6,300 m2) Technology Building that supports a variety of technology degree programs. Including in the building are computer technology education; the new Workforce Development and Continuing Studies Center's program that includes certification for professionals; and an Adaptive Technology Lab that provides education and training to individuals with special needs.

Tuscarawas

The Tuscarawas Campus, located in New Philadelphia, Ohio offers 19 associate degrees, six bachelor's, and the Master of Technology Degree. Bacelors degrees are offered in business management, general studies, justice studies, industrial technology, nursing and technology 2+2. The recently constructed Science and Advanced Technology Center provides 50,000 square feet (5,000 m2) of laboratory and classroom space for science, nursing and workforce development. The Tuscarawas Campus plans to construct a 55,000-square-foot (5,100 m2), $13.5 million Fine and Performing Arts center that will enable the campus to expand academic and cultural programming.

Additional facilities

In addition to the eight campuses in northeast Ohio, Kent State operates additional facilities which house study-abroad programs including ones in Florence, Italy; New York City; and downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

Florence Center

Kent State University operates a center in Florence that is a fully accredited institution which has been hosting students studying abroad for years. Recently, KSU-Florence opened its doors to International Studies Abroad in a collaboration that grants students the opportunity to study in historic Florence at its newly-renovated Palazzo dei Cerchi. Palazzo dei Cerchi is a prestigious and ancient building located in the heart of Florence, at the corner of Via della Condotta and Vicolo dei Cerchi, next to the famous Piazza della Signoria and the birthplace of literary genius Dante Alighieri. Kent State acquired this facility in 2003 and undertook its complete renovation. The original exterior was maintained and reflects Florence as it was in the 13th century. The restoration carefully preserved the original structure while creating an efficient space for academic purposes, with an interior that houses state-of-the art classrooms. [12]

New York City Studio

The New York City Studio is located in the heart of New York City's Garment District. Surrounded by fabric and accessory shops, fashion showrooms, and designer studios; one-third of all clothing manufactured in the USA is designed and produced in this neighborhood. The District is home to America's world-renowned fashion designers, including Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Liz Claiborne, and Nicole Miller. The facility is a new, state-of-the art, 4,500-square-foot space and includes a 50-person lecture room, 12-station computer lab with instructor station, and a fashion design studio fully outfitted with professional equipment. The NYC studio gives Kent State students the advantage of working within the heart of the fashion, dance and theater industry. [13]

Cleveland Urban Design Center

Kent State's Cleveland Urban Design Center is located at 820 Prospect Avenue in downtown Cleveland's historic Gateway neighborhood, just off of East 9th Street. The Urban Design Center of Northeast Ohio was created in 1983 under the sponsorship of the Urban University Program, which supports the outreach and community service efforts of Ohio's state universities working in urban areas. Under its founding director, Foster Armstrong, the Center expanded on the existing outreach and public service activities of Kent State's architecture school, focusing primarily on historic preservation and the problems of Northeast Ohio's smaller towns and cities. In 2003, the CUDC began a collaboration with the Dresden University of Technology, Kent State's sister university in Germany, with a joint vision on the revitalization of the lower Cuyahoga Valley in Cleveland. Since then, there have been a number of faculty exchanges as the two universities seek to pool their expertise both to enhance students’ experiences and to better serve their respective regions.[14]

Academic divisions

Front Campus at Night

Kent State has colleges of:

The university has an Honors College and interdisciplinary programs in Biomedical Sciences, Financial Engineering, and Information Architecture and Knowledge Management.

Notable programs

KSU Water Tower, part of the Kent campus "City within a City" system
See also: Kent State University Airport.
Kent State Math and Computer Science Building

Tuition costs

The following are tuition costs per semester for full-time (at least eleven credit hours) students at Kent State University at its main and regional campuses, effective for the Spring 2008 semester:[16][17]

Kent campus

Ohio residents

non-Ohio residents

Regional campuses

Ohio residents

non-Ohio residents

Student life

The university offers a large number of opportunities for student involvement at all its campuses, including: student and professional associations, service organizations, performing ensembles, student publications, student government, and intramural and club athletics.

Kent State's College Democrats were named the College Chapter of the Year in 2008 by the Ohio Young Democratic Convention.

Social fraternities

  • Alpha Tau Omega
  • Alpha Epsilon Pi
  • Delta Chi
  • Delta Lambda Phi
  • Delta Tau Delta
  • Delta Upsilon
  • Lambda Chi Alpha
  • Phi Delta Theta
  • Phi Sigma Kappa
  • Sigma Chi
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Sigma Phi Epsilon
  • Sigma Nu
  • Sigma Tau Gamma
  • Tau Kappa Epsilon

Social Sororities

African American Fraternities

African American Sororities

Service & Honorary Fraternities/Sororities

  • Alpha Kappa Delta
  • Alpha Phi Sigma
  • Alpha Phi Omega
  • Beta Alpha Psi
  • Chi Sigma Iota
  • Delta Sigma Pi
  • Eta Sigma Gamma
  • Kappa Kappa Psi
  • Kappa Phi
  • Lambda Pi Eta
  • Pi Mu Epsilon
  • Phi Alpha Theta
  • Phi Delta Epsilon
  • Phi Sigma Iota
  • Phi Sigma Pi
  • Sigma Alpha Lambada
  • Sigma Tau Delta
  • Tau Beta Sigma
  • Tau Sigma
  • Psi Chi

Performing arts

Through the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music and the School of Theatre and Dance, the university offers numerous performance opportunities in the performing arts, including five concert bands (Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, University Band, and Communiversity Band), Athletic Bands (Marching Golden Flashes and Flasher Brass), three jazz ensembles (Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, and Jazz Lab Band), six choral ensembles (Kent Chorus, KSU Chorale, Women's Chorus, Men's Chorus, Gospel Choir, and Ars Nova Singers), Orchestra, World Music Ensembles, as well as theater and dance opportunities. Each regional campus also offers their own performing arts opportunitites.

Student events and programming

Kent State Student Center Programming offers a variety of programs and events that are free for students across campus. The Black Squirrel Festival, Rock the Runway, Jack Hanna's Animals are just a few of the larger events that take place throughout the year. Karaoke is held every Thursday in the Rathskellar and various tournaments (8-ball, Euchre, Poker) are held at various times throughout the semester.

Student government

Student media

Tri-Towers Residence Hall Complex
Eastway Dining Hall at Night
Centennial Court A at Night

The Daily Kent Stater, colloquially known as the "Stater", is a student newspaper publishing student and guests editorials onday-Friday during the fall and spring semesters and weekly as the Summer Kent Stater during the summer. Stater staff is entirely students, primarily in the journalism. Most editors hold their positions for one semester.

TV2 is Kent State's student-run television station, produced solely by students with live M-F 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm news. Other student-created shows include Sportscorner, a music video show, talk shows and more. News broadcasts are available on KSU cable channel 2, Portage County Time Warner channel 16 and on-demand online.

Student run Black Squirrel Radio broadcasts on the internet with more than 100 disc jockeys.

Campus living

Kent State operates thirty-five on-campus residence halls and a twelve-building apartment complex, all of which are located on the main campus in Kent. Each hall is a part of a larger group, usually bound by a common name or a common central area. They are:

Dining halls are in Eastway, Tri-Towers, Stewart in First Year Experience and Prentice, as well as multiple loactions in the Student Center. Each of the residence hall dining locations also houses small grocery stores where students may use their board plan.

Learning communities

Within the dorms are 13 Learning Communities based on area of study:

Athletics

Main article: Kent State Golden Flashes

Kent State's athletic teams are called the Golden Flashes. Their colors are Navy Blue and Gold. They compete in the NCAA's Division I (Bowl Subdivision for football), and the Mid-American Conference East division. Kent State fields 16 varsity athletic teams and one club team.

The Kent defense lines up against Akron at Dix Stadium on September 30, 2006

The Flashes had success in the Mid-American Conference, earned the Mid-American Conference's Reese Cup for best men's athetic program in 2000, 2002 and 2006 and the Jacoby Cup for best women's athletic program in 1989, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2005.[7]. In 2002 the Men's Basketball team advanced to NCAA "Elite Eight", while the baseball team, women's basketball, gymnastics, men's golf, and women's golf teams have won numerous MAC titles and advanced to NCAA tournament play. Some notable athletic alumni include: Missouri Tigers head football coach Gary Pinkel, 2003 British Open Champion and current PGA member Ben Curtis, former New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson, former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert, ESPN Analyst and former college football coach Lou Holtz, current San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, current Cleveland Browns return man Joshua Cribbs, former San Diego Padres pitcher Dustin Hermanson, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Andy Sonnanstine and current Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban.

The Golden Flashes compete in the following sports:

  • Spring Sports
    • Baseball
    • Men's Golf*
    • Women's Golf*
    • Softball
    • Men's Track and Field (Outdoor season)
    • Women's Track and Field (Outdoor season)

*=the golf teams' season begins in the fall, but continues through most of the school year, culminating in the league and NCAA tournaments in the spring.

City of Kent, Ohio

Main article: Kent, Ohio
Aerial of Kent Campus.

Kent State Kent Campus is located in Kent, Ohio on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. Historically, Kent's growth was influenced by the canals and rail and the city was known as a strong location for the Underground Railroad. Known as the Tree City, Kent is home to the Davey Tree Expert Company, a leader in tree sales and growth. With a population of 27,906[18] Kent offers a suburban, accessible setting. Nearby cities include Streetsboro, Stow, Hudson, Ravenna and Akron.

Alma Mater & Fight Song

Cement Kent on Front Campus

Alma Mater:
From the beauty land Ohio comes a universal praise,
'Tis the song of Alma Mater that her sons and daughters raise.
'Tis a Hail to Kent forever, on the Cuyahoga shore,
Now we join the loving thousands as they sing it o'er and o'er.
Hail to Thee, our Alma Mater.
O, how beautiful Thou art,
High enthroned upon the hilltop,
Reigning over every heart.

Fight Song:
Fight on for KSU
Fight for the Blue and Gold!
We're out to beat the foe;
Fight on brave and bold!
Fight on for victory,
Don't stop until we're through.
We're all together,
Let's go forward, K-S-U!

University Press

May 4 Memorial at Night

The Kent State University Press is the publishing arm of Kent State University. Their mission is "to advance knowledge through publishing" and is controlled by an Editorial Board of Kent faculty. As a member of the Association of American University Presses, it is included in the select group of more than 100 university-sponsored scholarly presses, whose outstanding programs make them an important segment of the publishing and academic community.

The Press began in 1965 under the direction of Howard Allen and published in the University faculty strengths in literary criticism. In 1972 Paul Rohmann became the Press's second director and expanded the Press's publishing program to include regional studies and ethnomusicology. In 1985 historian John Hubbell assumed the directorship and for fifteen years saw the staff and publishing program grow to include widely regarded lists in Civil War history and Ohio history. Today, under director Will Underwood, the Press publishes 30 to 35 titles a year and reaches a large and appreciative audience.

Notable alumni

Rockwell Hall, Fashion Museum and School of Fashion

Campus and buildings

External links

KSU links

Regional Campuses

References

  1. "College Overview: Kent State University". www.petersons.com. Petersons (2007-12-15). Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  2. Lefton, Lester. "Welcome to the Office of the President". www.kent.edu. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  3. "College Overview: Kent State University". www.petersons.com. Petersons (2007-12-15). Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  4. "Kent State University's Strategic Plan". www.kent.edu. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  5. Special Collections FAQ
  6. "Timeline of Kent State University History". Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Welcome to Kent State's Eight-Campus System". Kent State University website. Kent State University (2008-06-11). Retrieved on 2008-06-27.
  8. "Ashtabula Campus Breaks Ground for a Healthier Northeast Ohio on July 17", eInside, Kent State University (2007-07-16). Retrieved on 2008-06-21. 
  9. "Majors & Degree Programs". Kent State University Stark Campus website. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  10. "Welcome to the Professional Education and Conference Center". Kent State University Stark Campus website. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  11. "About Kent State University Stark". Kent State University Stark Campus website. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  12. "Kent State University in Florence", studiesabroad.com, International Studies Abroad Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-07-12. 
  13. "Kent State Meets the Big Apple: NYC Studio Announces Official Opening Oct. 11", einside, Kent State University (2006-10-09). Retrieved on 2008-07-12. 
  14. "Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative". CUDC. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-07-12.
  15. "Board Establishes Nation's First Dual Master's Degree Program in Language Translation". www.kent.edu. Kent State University. Retrieved on 2008-06-25.
  16. http://www.kent.edu/bursar/Fall-2007-Tuition-and-Fees.cfm
  17. Bursar's Office website: Fees and payment options.
  18. Kent, Ohio