Greetings,

Across our campuses, we are gearing up for the influx of students and activities that come with the fall semester. As we prepare for another successful academic year, let me share with you an update on our student persistence, summer school and enrollment initiatives.

Student Persistence

A strong student persistence program is key to ensuring the success of all Kent State students, and the university as a whole. A solid persistence program is necessary to build the foundation of a good education. It provides the means by which our students can succeed, not just in academia, but in life. Proactive efforts such as early intervention and readily available student services are integral components of such a program. To that end, I am pleased to provide you with an update on student persistence initiatives that focus on a collaborative and proactive approach to helping every student succeed.

In order to meet the need for increased student persistence and services to assist our students, the Office of Student Success Programs has been expanded. Student Success Programs reports to Dr. Sally Kandel, associate vice president for institutional research and student success. Under the direction of Terri Christensen, executive director of student success programs, the office encompasses the planning and management of the Week of Welcome Program, PASS Program, First-Year Parent Programs, the Kent Campus Faculty Referral Program and the FlashPoint Course. Eboni Pringle has recently joined the Office of Student Success Programs as assistant director for the First-Year Experience. The Student Success Team will continue to grow over the summer to support our many student success programs.

In addition, each Regional Campus has developed a persistence plan for implementation during the 2008-2009 academic year to guide their efforts as we focus on a university-wide push for increased student persistence.

An example of our eight campuses working toward a common goal in student persistence is the Faculty Referral System – an early intervention system that enables faculty to refer students for assistance for any of the following reasons:

• Excessive absence from class
• Low exam grades
• Missing assignments
• Ill-preparation for class on a consistent basis
• To discuss drop options
• For a specific referral need

The system will enable specifically identified individuals from each campus to make contact with the student, develop a course of action, make appropriate referrals and recommendations, assist the student in consulting other professionals on campus and monitor the student’s progress. The Stark Campus has implemented and used a very similar program for the last few years, with great success. The campus has worked closely with the Office of Student Success in the creation and implementation of the Faculty Referral System.

This valuable tool will provide faculty an avenue for early intervention to address student needs outside of the classroom. Faculty has the unique position of being able to identify student issues early in the semester – before advisors can identify issues through mid-semester grade reports.

I urge you to take advantage of the Faculty Referral System when it becomes available this fall. You will be learning more about the system from Student Success Programs or your respective Regional Campus in the weeks to come.

Summer School

With the start of Summer III on July 14, we welcome 12 of our most qualified incoming freshmen to the President’s Academy – an intensive five-week experience during which the students will earn six credit hours while participating in an undergraduate research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. The 2008 President’s Academy Freshman Class will participate in research projects in the areas of Biological Sciences, Educational Foundations and Special Services, Aeronautics, International Development and Building Science.

In addition to the launch of the President’s Academy, the groundwork is being laid for the further development of Summer School for 2009. Let me share with you the objectives for the 2009 Summer School program:

• Establish a central college planning and advocacy group for summer session to coordinate cross-college initiatives and promote long-range planning for summer instruction.
• Increase the number of classes offered at various times and formats in the summer and use the flexibility the system already offers to promote summer teaching.
• Establish a coordinated Summer School marketing plan that focuses on returning and transient students.
• Coordinate processes to allow students to register for summer coursework with ease.

Student Enrollment

I am pleased to report on the progress of our colleagues in the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs for the Fall 2008 Freshman Class. Their diligent recruitment efforts and the work of our student persistence staff are closely tied in the development and success of our 21^st Century Graduates.

Five new admissions counselors have been hired to expand out-of-state recruitment outreach. The new counselors will spend the summer learning about the many offerings of Kent State University, as they prepare to actively recruit students this fall in New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland and Virginia. Their insight and enthusiasm for Kent State will be a valuable tool to many prospective out-of-state high school students and their families. Currently, the fall freshman class represents 30 states outside of Ohio.

Application and enrollment numbers continue to look positive. By mid-June, over 12,850 freshman applications for Fall 2008 and over 1,950 transient student applications had been received. With more PASS programs yet to come, over 3,500 new freshmen have already registered for Fall 2008.

I look forward to welcoming our 2008 Freshman Class at the August 22 Freshman Convocation Ceremony. These students are filled with their own hopes and dreams for their academic futures. Let us greet them with open arms as they begin to make their mark on Kent State University in a few short weeks.

Sincerely,

Robert G. Frank
Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Provost