Faculty Appreciation Week begins April 15

The Provost’s office will host Faculty Appreciation Week beginning April 15 and ending April 19.

The week will feature events almost every day to honor faculty, said Provost Todd Diacon.

“It’s always important to recognize the talents, the hard work, the perseverance and the importance of the people that work at the institution,” Diacon said. “We really haven’t done that in an organized way here for the faculty and they deserve it.”

There will be a breakfast at the Student Center Ballroom at 8 a.m. on April 15, and registration is available on the Kent State website. Diacon, Associate Provost Wanda Thomas and the university deans will be serving breakfast for the faculty, Diacon said.

An invitation-only dinner will be held at Laziza’s at 6 p.m. on April 16. This dinner will celebrate faculty members who have been promoted or tenured in the last year, Diacon said.

“Promotion and tenure are the milestones in a professor’s career,” Diacon said. “Tenure is a recognition that we’ve made a very long-term investment in that individual based on their sustained excellence and promotion is similarly a recognition of their excellence. Neither of those are easy to attain.”

Faculty Author Recognition will honor faculty who have published a book in the last two years, said Lashonda Taylor, manager of university ceremonies and academic events. Their books will be on display in the quiet study area of the University Library at 4:30 p.m. on April 17. The Provost will attend and make remarks.

A Faculty Club Reception from 5-7 p.m. on April 18 will be in the Schwebel Dining Room.

“We have a faculty club regularly in the Schwebel Room, but at this one in particular, we want to honor two groups of faculty: our newest hires and our professors that are retiring,” Diacon said.”

Faculty Appreciation Week will also include faculty discounts, Taylor said. Discount information will be available on the Faculty Week website Monday, April 15.

Contact Lyndsey Schley at [email protected].