A Message from the Dean
Fall 2022
Dear Parents and Friends,
It is my great pleasure to welcome our Honors students to the beginning of a new academic year. This year, we have the largest incoming freshman class in the history of the college (594 students), and we have almost half of all our Honors students living on-campus this fall! In short, students are here, ready to take part in all that the college and the university have to offer, and we are delighted!
What’s new and what’s growing….
New: Latest Member of the Honors LLC (Living-Learning Community):
We have added a fourth residence hall to our Honors Living-Learning Community. This year, we have 110 Honors students in Clark Hall, which is strategically located near the main library and is attached to Eastway dining hall and the mailroom. Clark is also home to the Global Village LLC, which includes international and domestic students interested in international affairs, cross-cultural exchange, and just learning about other cultures.
Global Village and Honors students in Clark will have some shared programming events this year!
New: Honors Drop-In Tutoring in Math and Chemistry: We are pleased to offer drop-in tutoring beginning NOW in the Honors College Library and #062 Johnson Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
New: Digital Leadership Academy has openings for Honors students in Computer Science, Visual Communication Design, Emerging Media and Technology, Computer Engineering who are interested in a paid internship in IT this year, which will also provide Honors internship credit. For those that continue through the academic year as a successful intern, a $1,000 tuition scholarship will also be included.
Growing: Peer-to-Peer Support is Back for a Second Year! We have ten Honors Peers in training, mentored by the Counseling Program in the College of Education, Health and Human Services, who will be deployed in the residence halls and on campus this year. They are trained to listen carefully, and to help students find appropriate counseling or self care help. Last year was a great success, we think this program is really making a difference! Dr. Theresa Tschannen Isabella is also returning this year as our Honors embedded CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) counselor, and will meet with Honors students in person on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this year. (Of course, all counseling services are available to our students as well). Joint Peer-to-Peer and CAPS programming will also be offered in the college.
Growing: Academic Enrichment mini-workshops: Back for a second year, our Academic Enrichment programming will be offering mini-workshop sessions on a range of useful tools and services: accessing different services in the library, writing commons, and how to access tutoring in any subject through the Academic Success Center.
How You Can Support Your Student’s Well Being During the Semester
College students across the country are feeling the stress and anxiety of global and US news, of uncertainties of all kinds, and for freshmen, these concerns focus on just commonly shared worries. What are they? We asked the incoming freshmen this year what their #1 concern or fear was about starting college. Here is what we found. The top four concerns were, in order of number of replies from 340 total responses:
1. Fear of failing (28%)
2. Loneliness (22%)
3. Anxiety and Stress (10%)
4. Time Management (9%)
These concerns are all interrelated. Time management skills are important, as students are often surprised at the workload differential between high school and freshman year, and also tend to over commit to many clubs and experiences during their first year. These factors tend to increase their anxiety and stress and fear of failing. We will be working on all of these topics this fall with our students.
Please also check-in with them frequently to see how they are doing and if they are accessing the many support structures offered in the college and the university. Here are some links you may want to share with your student:
Where can I find Health and Wellness Resources?
Don’t forget about that flu shot! Students call 330-672-2322 to schedule an on-campus flu shot or visit the website for more information at University Health Services webpage.
How about Residence Hall Questions or Issues?
What about Commuter Students?
Kent State has a Commuter Student Organization entitled “COSO”, which stands for Commuter & Off-Campus Student Organization; view more information at www.kent.edu/coso.
Where do I go for Financial Aid Questions?
Where can I find information about Kent State's coronavirus updates and safety principles?
Read on to learn about the dates for the upcoming Parents & Family Visiting Day, Homecoming, and more!
With Best regards,
Alison J. Smith, Ph.D.
Honors College, Dean
Kent State University
