�鶹��ѡ

�鶹��ѡ will be closed Sept. 7 to observe Labor Day. No classes are scheduled on the holiday, and university offices are closed. The university will resume normal operations on Sept. 8.

�鶹��ѡ will welcome more than 1,000 new graduates to its alumni family during summer commencement on Aug. 8. The ceremony, held at 10 a.m. at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center, will confer 1,010 degrees across associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and educational specialist levels.

David Costello, Ph.D., professor in Kent State’s Department of Biological Sciences, will use AI and 50 years of river data to help locate critical minerals like copper, cobalt and manganese for a U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission award.

�鶹��ѡis introducing a $1,000 scholarship for domestic, prospective first-year undergraduate students who visit in person and enroll at the Kent Campus and eliminating the undergraduate application fee for all domestic, Ohio residents – two new steps to make a college education more accessible and affordable.

As you may have noticed, it is hazy outside today and air quality is a concern. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) has issued an Air Quality Alert for the entire state of Ohio.

�鶹��ѡ will be closed July 3 to observe Independence Day. No classes are scheduled, and university offices are closed. The university will resume normal operations on July 6.

�鶹��ѡunveiled plans for the proposed �鶹��ѡ Rwanda and School of Fashion at a Kigali symposium, aiming to train designers and entrepreneurs to grow Africa's fashion industry.

�鶹��ѡ has been named one of the Best Global Universities by U.S. News & World Report for 2026-2027, the highest-ranked public university in northern Ohio on the list. The recognition reflects Kent State’s global research impact, international student enrollment, education-abroad programs and partnerships spanning more than 60 countries.

�鶹��ѡ’s School of Fashion is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its New York City Fashion program in Manhattan’s Garment District with a two-day event on June 11-12. The celebration includes a free Portfolio Showcase and Reception on June 11 and an exclusive philanthropic dinner on June 12, with proceeds benefiting the NYC Fashion Housing Fund.

The �鶹��ѡ Board of Trustees celebrated student success following spring 2026 commencement ceremonies during its regular quarterly meeting held May 20 at The John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design on the Kent Campus. 

The �鶹��ѡ Board of Trustees will hold its next regular business meeting at 11 a.m. on  May 20 in The John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design on the Kent Campus.

�鶹��ѡ welcomed nearly 5,000 new graduates into its alumni family last week, completing its spring 2026 commencement ceremonies across three days of celebrations on the Kent Campus.

Following a trial period on the Kent Campus, �鶹��ѡ has ended the Flock Safety license plate recognition camera system.

An Ohio nurse earning $95,000–$110,000 has comparable or better real purchasing power than a nurse earning $150,000 in California or New York, setting the stage for a measurable difference for �鶹��ѡnursing graduates who stay in Ohio.

Commencements as a foundational activity of a university are memorable days filled with emotions - some celebratory, some bittersweet.

�鶹��ѡ will honor nearly 5,000 graduates from its eight-campus system during its spring 2026 commencement ceremonies on May 7-9 and May 15. The ceremonies will be livestreamed on the commencement website.

Fifty-six years after the Ohio National Guard opened fire on student protesters at �鶹��ѡ, killing four and wounding nine, the university community gathered once again on the May 4 site at the �鶹��ѡCommons to bear witness, reflect and reaffirm its commitment to preserving the legacy of that day.

Dean Kahler is often quoted as saying he only had one bad day at �鶹��ѡ.

That day was May 4, 1970, when an Ohio National Guardsman’s bullet struck Kahler as he stood under a tree watching, from what he thought was a safe distance, a student protest against the escalation of the War in Vietnam. When the National Guard fired on the students, a bullet pierced Kahler’s spine, leaving him paralyzed and wheelchair bound for the rest of his life.

�鶹��ѡmarked Arbor Day with tree plantings at multiple locations across campus, bringing together students, staff and local children for a day focused on sustainability.