5XÉçÇø

COVID-19 HUB

Essential Workers, including medical, dining, grounds and others, kept Kent State operational during the pandemic.

Thanking Our Essential Workers

Kent State President Todd Diacon and others express their appreciation for the hard-working employees who have pulled together to keep our campuses operating throughout the pandemic.

Tags: University News , Human Resources , Video , Success Story , COVID-19 HUB

Kent Campus

A scientist looking through a microscope

Researching Wastewater as Part of Ohio’s COVID-19 Response

Since March, COVID-19 has become a widespread topic of conversation. Finding ways to explain what this virus is, how one can treat it and how to slow the spread of the virus are just a few commonly asked questions with few clear answers. Xiaozhen Mou, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and her research team recently received funding for their hard work as part of Ohio’s statewide collective effort to discover traces of COVID-19 virus particles in wastewater.

Tags: Research & Science , Health , Environmental Science and Design Research Institute , College of Arts and Sciences , COVID-19 HUB , Institutes and Initiatives

Division of Research & Economic Development

A selfie of two people wearing masks

The Outcome of Perpetually Doing Good

In times of uncertainty and hardship, you can stand back and wait for it to pass or get involved. During the pandemic, people in the town of Kent and the Kent State community wanted to make a difference. Two Kent State students became the catalysts that sparked a 10-week project of doing good.

Tags: Community & Society , Student Life , COVID-19 HUB

Division of Research & Economic Development

AllCollegeRentals.com Screenshots

Alumnus Pushes Student Rental Company to the Next Level Through Pandemic

When Curtis Cofojohn returned to Kent State after serving in the Army, he faced an issue many college students do: where was he going to live? Cofojohn’s own experiences with off-campus housing led him to create a website solution that serves the needs of both students and landlords, during the pandemic.

Tags: Community & Society , Student Life , COVID-19 HUB

Kent State Today

Brittany Sustar

Caring at the Core of COVID Response

Last spring, a COVID-19 outbreak overwhelmed a local nursing home in Geauga County, with cases among patients and healthcare staff jumping from seven to 31 overnight. Suddenly, the facility was in crisis mode… understaffed, under-equipped, and under duress. Ohman Family Living at Briar had thought …

Tags: COVID-19 HUB

Kent State Geauga

Geauga Campus

Emergency Relief Fund Helps Students Stay on Course Despite COVID-19 Disruptions

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyday life for everyone. For some, it’s minor. For others, it’s catastrophic. At the 5XÉçÇø at Geauga Campus, economic hardships caused by the pandemic have threatened to derail many students’ academic plans and their hopes for a better future. Recognizing that dozens of students face similar situations, Kent State Geauga has established an Emergency Relief Fund to provide a stopgap for them to continue on with their studies.

Tags: Community & Society , Student Life , COVID-19 HUB

Kent State Geauga

East Liverpool custodians

Custodial Crews Applauded for Extra Efforts during Pandemic

Oct. 2 is National Custodian Day, but the staffs on the East Liverpool and Salem campuses deserve more than one day to recognize their efforts in recent months. 

Tags: COVID-19 HUB

Kent State Columbiana County Campuses

A 5XÉçÇø faculty member conducts a meeting online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Has COVID-19 Knocked Us Onto Our Backsides? Kent State Researchers Study Pandemic’s Effects on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most universities across the United States transitioned from face-to-face classes to remote learning, closed campuses and sent students home this past spring. Recently, a group of 5XÉçÇø researchers sought to examine the impact of these pandemic-related changes upon physical activity and sedentary behavior, specifically sitting, across the university population. 

Tags: Research & Science , Health , College of Education, Health and Human Services , COVID-19 HUB

Kent Campus

Young women with mask on cell phone, Photo by Maksim Goncharenok from Pexels

Kent State Professors Use Mobile Devices To Study Behaviors During Pandemic

Before leaving the house, you most likely check to ensure you have your ID, your shoes and most importantly your smartphone. In the past decade, American smartphone usage has grown more than 50% according to a . Smartphones have become as commonplace as a wallet or car keys and Kent State researchers are taking advantage of this new commodity by using cell phone data to study individuals’ behavioral patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and link cell phone use behaviors to mental health. 

Tags: Research & Science , COVID-19 HUB

Division of Research & Economic Development

Colorful flowers in 5XÉçÇøâ€™s Judith A. Beyer Murin Memorial Gardens bloom in front of the University Library.

Kent State Board of Trustees Commends Leadership for Strong Enrollment During Pandemic, Approves New Balanced Budget

The 5XÉçÇø Board of Trustees congratulated Kent State President Todd Diacon and university leaders on increased retention and graduation rates, as well as a strong Class of 2024, as official fall 2020 enrollment figures were shared at the Board’s regular quarterly meeting held Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Tags: University News , Board of Trustees , COVID-19 HUB

Kent Campus