By Estelle R. Brown
Dean Angela Spalsbury and her staff have spent the summer back on campus at Kent State Geauga and the Twinsburg Academic Center, planning the safest and most flexible way forward so students can enjoy a seamless transition back to class in the Fall, starting August 26.
“We are excited to be back to serve and meet the needs of our students,” Dr. Spalsbury says. Noting the challenges imposed by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic that forced a shift to remote instruction in 2020, she adds, “I especially want to express my appreciation of staff and faculty for their hard work and dedication to our students during the past 16 months while working remotely.”
While special “welcome back” events earlier this month have given faculty and staff an opportunity to re-engage on campus, students are invited to participate in mixers and orientations during the week of August 23. Students can enjoy food, giveaways, games, tours, face-to-face advising, plus Blackboard and Canvas training.
“This is aimed for students who are enrolled at Kent State Geauga and TAC but may have never stepped foot on campus due to the pandemic,” says Amy Murfello, Marketing & Community Engagement Manager. “All are welcome!”
According to Assistant Dean Susan Emens, “This Fall will be our opportunity to transition back on to campus so students can keep up their momentum. We’re looking forward to having our students back for face-to-face instruction and personal interactions again. Our faculty members are enthusiastic to teach in person again.”
Even with this back-to-campus push, students have a variety of course options to choose from, including in-person, online/remote or hybrid-style classes, whether enrolled at the Geauga Campus in Burton or Twinsburg Academic Center (TAC).
“We have lots of options for students as a result of gauging their preferences and developing a good schedule that works well with their other courses throughout the week,” Dr. Emens explains. “Some students prefer all-online/remote courses, while others prefer all in-person or a hybrid mix, depending on their program, their work schedules and/or family obligations.”
Dr. Emens indicates that this new, flexible approach is an upside to lessons learned during the pandemic. “We are learning a lot, especially in terms of student preferences and motivations that will help to move them forward toward their goals, maintaining a robust educational experience for them.”
ENSURING A STRONG START
As part of the university-wide initiative to welcome students, faculty and staff back to campus, health guidelines are continually refined to ensure safety for all. Now with a substantial spread of the delta variant of COVID-19 across the country, face coverings are required indoors for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, on all Kent State campuses and on all public transportation. For further details about Kent State’s most up-to-date COVID guidelines, mandates, recommendations and exceptions, follow this link.
Manfred van Dulmen, Ph.D., Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Chair of the Pandemic Leadership Committee, says this is necessary since the delta variant accounts for more than 80% of new COVID-19 cases. This variant — much more highly contagious than the original COVID-19 — is disproportionately affecting younger people, with 18- to 49-year-olds now accounting for the largest increase in hospitalizations. Of those hospitalized with COVID-19, 97% are unvaccinated.
In order to help curb viral spread, all academic buildings on every Kent State campus are now equipped with needlepoint bipolar ionization units. They enhance air purification and filtration, reducing airborne particles, odors and pathogens while inactivating up to 99.4% of the COVID-19 virus. This technology has been installed in classrooms, student rooms, dining facilities, athletic facilities, elevator cabs of five stops or more, and other locations.
Further, COVID-19 vaccines (the most effective way to protect public health and curb viral spread) are available at no cost to all members of the Kent State community and their families at the DeWeese Health Center on the Kent Campus. Vaccines are offered Monday through Friday at varying hours between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Use this linkor call the health center at 330-672-2322 to schedule an appointment, or visit the state’s vaccination portal to find another vaccination location nearby.
Students and Kent State employees with COVID-19 symptoms should isolate themselves from others immediately and seek medical evaluation by calling the DeWeese Health Center at 330-672-2525 or their primary care physician.
“We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as the state of the pandemic continues to evolve,” Dr. van Dulmen. “Please continue to demonstrate how Flashes Take Care of Flashes by following the Flashes Safe Eight safety principles.”
“I am so looking forward to seeing my students in class this fall,” says Kent State Geauga’s assistant professor in economics, Ludmila (Luda) Leontieva, Ph.D.
Expressing the point of view shared by so many of her colleagues, she continues, “It has been a challenging time, and so many unknowns are ahead of us. I strongly believe that when we are together, we will not just adapt but also find the way to thrive! There is always opportunity and innovation in the face of adversity.”