Don’t Forget to Register for YouToo 2012!

The YouToo Social Media Conference 2012 is quickly approaching. Have you registered yet?

Kent State University Hosts Fifth Annual YouToo Social Media Conference for Area Communications Professionals

National and local experts will discuss the impact of mobile technology and the importance of social media measurement strategies for area communications professionals and students at the fifth annual YouToo Social Media Conference on Friday, April 13, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Kent State University’s Franklin Hall.

“Each year we try to make the conference more informative and relevant,” said Ron Kirksey, co-chair of the conference. “Those who attend this year will learn techniques they can immediately put into practice for their organization or their clients.”

National and regional experts include Chuck Hemann, director of analytics at WCG in Austin, TX; Michael Pranikoff, global director of emerging media at PR Newswire; Scott Chapin, mobile and analytics strategist at Marcus Thomas LLC; Dan Young, principal partner of DYX Solutions, LLC; Karl Fast, professor at Kent State University; Stefanie Moore, professor at Kent State University; Sean Williams, CEO at Communication AMMO, Inc.; Matt Bailey, president at SiteLogic; and Damon Herren, senior analyst at Metrics Marketing Group.

The conference is hosted by the Kent State University College of Communication and Information and produced in cooperation with the Akron Area Chapter of PRSA, Kent State University Chapter of PRSSA and university staff.

Part of our school’s mission is outreach to the professions where our students go to work,” said Jeff Fruit, director, Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication.  ”Through our partnership with PRSA, the annual YouToo Conferences have delivered cutting-edge thinking and best practices in the fast-moving social media marketplace.”

The 2010 YouToo Conference won a coveted Diamond Award for public relations relevance and excellence, presented by PRSA’s East Central District.

The conference is generously sponsored by Kent State University CCI, Time Warner Cable, Robert J. Events & Catering, Gemini Copies, Aultcare, FedEx Custom Critical, Verizon Wireless, Cleveland Plus, Kent State University Communications Studies, PR Newswire, The Buzz Maker! LLC, Summit County ADM Board, Marcus Thomas LLC, Infocision, 1-800-Divorce and Sharon Teuscher.

Conference proceeds support the YouToo Scholarship Fund, the Kent State University PRSSA Chapter and the Akron Area PRSA Chapter. For more information, conference pricing and updates about the YouToo Social Media Conference, visit www.youtoosm.comor www.akronprsa.org. Find YouToo on Facebook, Twitter or via email atyoutoosm@yahoo.com.  

The line up of speakers includes but is not limited to:

Sean Williams, CEO at Communication AMMO, Inc.

 Sean Williams is the owner of Communication AMMO, Inc., which helps organizations plan and execute communications effectively and measure the results. His current and past clients include Ernst & Young, Ketchum Pleon Change, Avery Dennison, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, and U.S. Endoscopy. He also is an adjunct professor of Public Relations at Kent State University, and a member of the Institute for Public Relations Measurement Commission.

Twitter: @CommAMMO,  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sean.d.williams1, LinkedIn:http://bit.ly/cfXvnU

Stefanie Moore, Professor at Kent State University

Stefanie Moore is a faculty member in Kent State’s public relations sequence where she teaches “on the ground” and online.  She also directs eight students at Flash Communications, an on-campus student public relations agency housed in University Communications and Marketing. Prior to her role on the faculty, she was a member of the university’s Web team where she managed the university’s search engine optimization project and other Web-related initiatives. She earned a bachelor’s in public relations and a master’s in information architecture and knowledge management, both from Kent State.  Stefanie feels understanding user-experience design meshes well with the field of public relations, especially as more and more PR practitioners are required to effectively communicate online.  Twitter: www.twitter.com/stefmoore, LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/stefaniemoore, Blog:www.studentpr.wordpress.com.

Scott Chapin, Mobile and Analytics Strategist at Marcus Thomas LLC

Scott Chapin is a mobile marketing pioneer and an analytics lover.  Scott is a former partner and strategist with DigiKnow and the founder of Circle44 Mobile.  Now part of the Marcus Thomas team, Scott oversees digital strategy development and leads the agency’s analytics group. Scott has guided the design and measurement of more than a dozens of apps for Android, iPad and iPhone, for clients as diverse as the Cleveland Medical Mart, Nestle, Rockwell Automation and others.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/scottchapin, Twitter: http://twitter.com/scottchapin

Event Details:
Friday, April 13, 2012
8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Franklin Hall
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio 44242

For more information & the full conference schedule visit the YouToo Social Media Conference website.

WHYCCI Summer Classes?

By Britney Beaman

As the semester is coming to an end, it’s not a bad idea to register for summer classes. I know the last thing you probably want to think about is another class right now, but enrolling in a summer class or two isn’t a bad idea. Why you ask?

1. Make hard classes easier: Taking a tough class in the summer will make the class easier for a couple reasons. One, you won’t (unless you choose to) have as many classes to juggle as you would during a regular semester. This gives you much more time to study and focus on the class or classes you’re taking. Two, summer classes are condensed courses, so you won’t have to spend as many weeks in that course as you would during a regular semester.
2. Graduate on time: If you don’t want load up on classes during your semesters, summer classes can help you to graduate in four years. That’s what I ended up doing, and it really helped me out. Each regular semester I took 15 credit hours of class and almost every summer I took a summer class or two. I will earn my Bachelor’s degree in four years and never had a semester over-loaded with credits.
3. Move ahead in your major:  If you choose to take LERs and LSRs in the summer, you’ll have less non-major classes to take during your semesters. As I said before, condensed courses make the classes easier on you, and if you get these classes out of the way, you can move on quicker in your major. This way, too, you won’t have to take as many of these classes as an upper-classman.
4. Improve your GPA: This is another aspect of summer classes that I took advantage of. After a long semester of 12-plus credit hours, taking one or two courses is cake. You have all the time you need to study, do your homework and get a good grade in the class. It’s a great way to improve your GPA a little.
5. Maintain school mode: After a long summer, the first couple weeks of the fall semester can be rough. I know it is for me. I always feel like I don’t remember how to write, I can’t focus and I can’t manage my time, nor do I want to. When you take summer classes, though, you maintain school mode without much stress. Just taking a couple classes at a time is easy and keeps your work ethic polished for the full semester to come.

Summer classes are open for registering now. Below you can find some classes that are offered for students in the College of Communication and Information:

School of Communication Studies

- COMM 15000 Intro to Human Communication: An inquiry into the nature and function of human communication in interpersonal, group and public contexts.

- COMM 26001 Public Communication in Society: Examines communication in public settings. Content includes issues in mass media, political communication and political advertising, news, crisis communication, public opinion and communication in executive, legislative and judicial settings. Students explore the influence of mediated messages via application of mass communication theories and constructs.

- COMM 30000 Communication Research Methods: Introduction to qualitative and quantitative research methods in communication. Students should complete this course early in their program of study.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

- JMC 20006 Multimedia Techniques: Introduction to basic elements of multimedia journalistic storytelling, including the creation of audio, video, slideshows and multimedia packages for distribution via the Internet.

- JMC 21001 Principles of Advertising: Advertising history, purposes, techniques, media and research; analysis of functions of advertising organizations.

- JMC 40006 Law of Mass Communication: Libel, slander, privacy, copyright, obscenity, regulation of advertising, broadcasting and corporate speech.

School of Library and Information Science

- LIS 30010 Information Fluency in the Work Place and Beyond: Teaches information access, technology and media literacy skills, which enables students to become, not only information literate, but also information fluent-able to move seamlessly among multiple information sources and technologies resources to fill their informational needs whether in the classroom or the workplace.

- LIS 50693 Open Source Software for Libraries: Maximum workshop credit accepted for MLIS degree is 4 semester hours. Intensive examination of special topics of interest to practicing librarians.

- LIS 60001 Access to Information: Examination of information access issues. Topics include discussion of information needs, use of information sources and information access services.

School of Visual Communication Design

- VCD 13000 Intro to Visual Communication Design I: Introduction to the design and illustration program in VCD as well as the design profession. Focus on historical overview, industry standards, job opportunities, creative design process and skills needed to succeed.

- VCD 28000 Photography: Basic camera techniques to provide a better understanding of photography as a creative skill in visual communication.

- VCD 37000 Visual Design for Media Advanced: A lab course which students apply design concepts to computer-generated communication pieces using a layout software program. May not be used toward degree requirements for VCD majors.

For more information about these or other classes offered this summer, visit http://www.kent.edu/summer.

CCI is now on Pinterest!

By: Emily Horne

Pinterest, a virtual bulletin board, seems to be the new “it” Web site and social media outlet that many people are talking about. While it has not entirely reached the business and organization audience, Kent’s College of Communication and Information (CCI) is now on Pinterest. Like some other universities, CCI has been researching the best ways to utilize Pinterest. There seem to be mixed opinions on whether universities need to be on Pinterest yet or not but why shouldn’t Kent’s College of Communication and Information be one of the first?

What other universities are doing:

1. Contests
2. Showcasing its Personality
3. The Student Experience
4. Study Abroad Destinations
5. Dorm Room Decorations
6. Artwork Created by Students
7. Achievements from Alumni

What can students gain from CCI’s Pinterest profile?

1. CCI Student, Alum and Faculty Successes: Many people with connections to CCI go on to do great things during or after their time with the college. On this board, followers can see what these people are doing.
2. School of _________: There is a board for each of CCI’s four schools that showcase information about the school and stories that relate. Pay attention to these boards if you are a prospective student, a current student, or a former student!
3. Facilities: This board showcases the great facilities each of CCI’s programs are housed in. From the recently renovated facilities in Franklin Hall to the Resource Room in the Art building, CCI’s programs offer their students the best.
4. Study Away: CCI offers a variety of study away programs. Here, we are pinning information about various programs.
5. Why CCI Kent Blog: Here we are reposting blogs posted here on our Why CCI Kent blog to reach more students.
6. For Future Students: Students interested in CCI, whether current college students in other majors or current high school students, can look to this board for basic information.

Send us your work:

We would love to begin showcasing student work (artwork, photography, research, Web site design, etc.) on Pinterest. If you are interested in seeing your work on our page, please send an E-mail to ccikent@kent.edu with your work, a caption, and a link (if applicable) to attach to the pin.

Follow CCI Kent State:

Follow us on Pinterest to keep up on the latest information.  http://pinterest.com/ccikentstate/ Also, please help us to promote our Pinterest account. Share it on Facebook, Twitter and repin our pins that interest you!

JMC Students Sit In On Dimora Trial

By Meghan Caprez

The media has been buzzing about former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora’s trial. Kent journalism students found themselves sitting in the media room next to professional reporters, writing on the same topics.

The trial, which is currently taking place in the Akron federal courthouse, sees Dimora facing 36 corruption-related charges, generating public interest in surrounding counties.

Sue Valerian, a part-time journalism professor, saw the trial as an opportunity for her Reporting Public Affairs students to receive experience in the field. As a class assignment, each student was required to sit in on the trial at least once.

“I hope they gain some kind of comfort and understanding in just being in a court room,” Valerian said. “It’s pretty intimidating doing anything for the first time.”

Senior Britni Williams was the first of Valerian’s students to go to the courthouse. Williams sat in on Jan. 21, then returned Jan. 28.

“Just walking into the building alone was overwhelming,” Williams said. “Having to go through the security check, figuring out where the clerk’s office was so I could get a media pass, finding out where the media room was to begin with was an experience.”

But when Williams walked into the media room, she realized that she had a distinct disadvantage. Those involved in the trial wanted to avoid a “media circus,” so no electronic devices were allowed in the main courtroom or in the public overflow room. Williams thought this also applied to the media room.

“I finally get in there and I feel like an idiot because I’m holding a pencil and a piece of paper and everyone’s got their laptops, iPads, cell phones, smart phones,” Williams said. “I said ‘Alright, let’s do this.’”

Though challenging at first, Williams did find the experience worthwhile. She was able to network with WKYC reporter Kim Wendel, who she still has contact with. Wendel helped Williams by sharing notes and opinions on reporting the events of the day.

She was also able to accomplish what Valerian hoped for all of her students; Williams went away from the experience with a story to tell. The story was posted to kentwired.com later that day.

Williams was also contacted by WKYC the following Monday for an interview about her experience. News anchor Eric Mansfield broadcasted a story on her time in the courthouse.

“It was exhilarating being side-by-side with all of these professionals,” Williams said. “I definitely have less reservations about walking into a federal courthouse now. Going in I was a little timid because I went in by myself not knowing what I was doing. After feeling it out on my own, I’m much more comfortable doing it now.”

Electronic Media Course Produces Video to Show Benefits of Upward Bound Program

By Jayne Fenton

A video produced by students of Danielle Wiggins, an adjunct professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Kent State University, who also serves as an instructor of electronic media for Upward Bound, appeared on the Council of Opportunity in Education’s Facebook page this fall. JMC Assistant Professor Gene Shelton recommended Wiggins as an instructor for an electronic media elective course in the Upward Bound Program.

“It was my first time serving as an official instructor for a course and I fell in love with it.” Wiggins said. Wiggins has taught the course each summer since 2009.

Wiggins earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She worked for WEWS-TV in Cleveland as an associate producer, and began her journey as an adjunct instructor for Kent State in fall 2010. Wiggins has also started her own business, Vision Ideal Media, where she assists small businesses and non-profit companies with producing multi-media materials.

Upward Bound is a Federal TRIP Program which gives high school sophomores and juniors the opportunity to work in a collegiate atmosphere, ultimately encouraging them to continue onto college after high school graduation.

According to the U.S Department of Education, “The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.”
Wiggins’ electronic media course produced a video that explains the benefits of Upward Bound for students. She said her goal for the class was to show the power of the media. “Many of the students were in tears when they spoke of the impact the Upward Bound program is having on their lives,” she said.

Because of the federal budget crunch, Upward Bound is in danger of losing its funding, Wiggins added.

“The students had a unique opportunity through the mini-documentary to be the voice for students empowered to achieve at high levels because of Upward Bound.”

On Sept. 7, the Council for Opportunity in Education posted Wiggins’ class video on its Facebook page.

“It was my hope that the video would spread virally and be used as an advocacy tool to support Upward Bound in front of power players in Washington and locally,” Wiggins said. “I’m glad that we reached our goal.”

To watch the video Wiggins class created, click here.

 

Cell Phone Photography Course Teaches Students to Tell Stories with Pictures

By Nicole Gennarelli

Every day people use their smart phones to take pictures and videos that are later uploaded to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other social media accounts. At Kent State University, a course is offered that teaches students how to refine these skills to produce quality photography.

Cell phone photography, taught by JMC Lecturer David LaBelle, aims to teach students about composition and light, how to anticipate action and emotion and to tell stories with pictures. Students must complete a picture story with captions as a final project. This spring is the second semester the class has been offered, and it is proving to be quite popular.

“The course was born out of discussion in a faculty meeting about classes that we would like to offer to those outside of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication,” LaBelle said. “Recognizing how many people had cell phones with cameras, the growing interest in cell phone photography and the increased quality of image files, I felt the time was ripe to offer students the chance to learn the basics of photography without having to invest in a digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera. It looks like the class is here to stay.”

LaBelle teaches the class like a basic photography course, with discussions of light, timing, color and composition. He focuses on topics like portraiture, landscapes, dealing with motion, ethics of cell phone photography, ways to deal with low light situations, color correction, transmitting images and storage.

“The file sizes on the cell phones and smart phones make it possible to create some amazing images, many comparable to 35mm SLR,” he said. “We also talk about different applications available for different phones. We look at different types of images being created today – art, commercial and photojournalism. The camera phone is no longer a toy or a novelty; it is a very real tool used by beginners and professionals.”

This course is open to all students on campus. Part of the purpose for the class is to introduce non-JMC students to the department and specifically the photojournalism sequence, LaBelle said.

“I learned you don’t need a nice camera to take good pictures, and that a picture is more than an image; it holds value, emotion, tells a story, supports a cause,” said Casey Engelhart, sophomore electronic media major. “Photography is more than images; it is life.”

LaBelle loves seeing students get excited about photography and learning new things.

“Teaching this class also reminds me how much I love photography, without all the expensive, intimidating gear,” he said. “If I could teach a point and shoot film camera class, I would like that even more. I truly believe less is more. Beyond this, I truly love the students.”

Photos by David LaBelle.

Nicole Gennarelli is a senior public relations major and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

Students receive opportunity to display their work at the first annual CCI Film and Photography Gala

Do you have a love for photography and film? Kent State provides you an opportunity to show off your work at the first annual College of Communication and Information (CCI) Film and Photography Gala on Friday, March 30.

“Students should enter their work so that they have the opportunity to have their photos and videos shown to the public and people in the entertainment industry,” said David Sadvari, senator of Undergraduate Student Government. “A lot of students don’t have the opportunity to show their work because there aren’t many screening options for them in this area.”

The event will have two separate competitions: photography and film.

The photography exhibition will be a judged screening of the Through Our Eyes exhibit in the FirstEnergy Auditorium Lobby at 5 p.m. in Franklin Hall.  Photos in this exhibit were compiled by students from elementary and basic photography classes, Visual Storytelling, photojournalism and specialty classes, as well as photos taken for student media and personal projects. The images represent the diverse talent of Kent State students and are currently being displayed in the lobby.

The doors for the film competition will open at 6:15 p.m. in the FirstEnergy Auditorium. Judging will be based on originality, technical merit, execution and audience appeal. Each film entry should be submitted on an individually-labeled DVD and can be between one and 15 minutes long. Films must have been created in the past two years and free of any copyright infringement.

The first, second and third place winners will receive a prize that will be announced at a later date.

“This will be a networking event where professionals in the industry, faculty from the university and the student producers and photographers have a great chance to get together for an exciting event,” Sadvari said.

A non-refundable flat fee of $15 per person is required to enter the film competition.  All submissions are due to Jennifer Kramer in 131 Moulton Hall (CCI Dean’s Office) by March 26, 2012.   Each entrant must be a current Kent State CCI student.

Important dates to remember:

-          March 26: Submissions are due

-          March 28: Receive notification of acceptance

-          March 30: Film and Photography Gala event day

For more information, visit the College website.

JMC and COMM Majors Shouldn’t Stress About Changes in the Professional World

By Britney Beaman

Technology is forcing a wave of change onto journalism and communication professions. Take a deep breath and swim with the current, because this isn’t a bad thing.

According to Jeffery T. Child, an assistant professor and undergraduate coordinator for the School of Communication Studies here at Kent State University, it’s an opportune time to study communication. The Internet has changed the way that people communicate, seek news and organize information.

“We’re in an era where communication skills have never been more important, given how online communication has changed the available means for interaction,” Child said. “People need help understanding communication in different contexts, for different goals, through different channels and understanding the rich avenues for the study of interaction in this day and age when so many jobs require such an advanced communication skill set.”

The media in which people communicate and gather information may be evolving from print and face-to-face meetings to the Internet, but the basics still remain.

“It’s not changing in terms of the basics, meaning, accuracy, credibility, thoroughness and fact-checking,” said Jan Leach, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Kent State, said. “It is changing in delivery, desire for media, finding it and those kinds of things.”

That’s a good thing for COMM and JMC majors. The basics that students are taught at Kent State are those listed in the Forbes article The Seven Most Universal Job Skills. Here’s how:

1. Top-Notch Communication Skills- Students in COMM and JMC studies are taught communication skills from day one in their core classes, like Introduction to Human Communication and Introduction to Mass Communication. Then this knowledge turns into skills as students progress in their upper-level classes.
2. Creativity- Whether it’s choosing an angle on a news story or developing a new way to reach an audience, COMM and JMC students learn diverse and creative skills to make an impact when it matters.
3. Curiosity- Students in both schools are expected to be curious, so they can find more news stories and consider the effective functioning of communication contexts in growing fields, such as the health industry and the new major concentration in health communication.
4. Good Writing Ability- Not only do both COMM and JMC majors at Kent State have plenty of writing to do between the research papers, campaigns and news stories they must write for classes, but the students are taught to write professionally.
5. Ability to Play Well with Others- Students within both majors experience teamwork through group projects, clubs and organizations.
6. Re-engineering Skills- Using a variety of clients for projects, interviewing people in many different industries and developing an understanding of communication theory and practice are just a couple of ways that Kent State helps its COMM and JMC students become re-engineering.
7. Computer Skills- Various courses in COMM and JMC help students to be familiar with different computer programs, social media and online researching tools.

These schools aren’t going to leave students treading water with these basic skills, though. Each has made changes in the learning sequences that flow with the wave of change in the professional world.

This past year, the School of Communication Studies added two new concentrations in global communication and health communication. This allows students the ability to acquire critical communication skills required for jobs in demand today.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers a high-tech TV and print newsroom where students can practice the skills they learn in the classroom. Both schools have adopted online classes and hybrid (online and face-to-face) courses to keep up electronically.

Students need to take the initiative to swim with the current, too.

“Effective students are those who love learning, do everything they can to further invest in their education and be fully present in it,” Child said. Do this by standing out to professors, joining groups, being involved in your professors’ research and applying for internships that provide opportunities for enhanced skill development and networking.

These experiences will help you to land a job in an economy that’s tough for everyone.

“It’s a tough job market for everyone in all markets,” Leach said. “If you have multiple skills (interview, practical, multimedia and news skills) and really, really work at them, you’ll have an excellent chance of being employed in your field.”

Within this job market, traditional jobs are evolving with the Internet. Opportunities in both communication jobs and journalism jobs are more and more online focused.

So, the wave of change in communication and journalism fields may be creating different types of online jobs, but the basic skills professionals will need remain the same. Kent State COMM and JMC students are being prepared for the changes.

Here’s an eye-opening video about how the Internet and social media is changing communication and journalism in important ways…

Social Media Revolution 2012

Benefits of Living on Campus

By Nicole Gennarelli

Information from CCI Commons

As an incoming freshman, you can’t wait for the freedom of moving out of your parent’s house and moving into a dorm room with a new roommate. However, as freshman year comes to an end, you may start entertaining the thought of living off campus in an apartment or house. All first year students must live on campus for two years, so why not sign up to live in a living and learning community? There are many benefits that an LLC can provide compared to living off campus.

According to the College of Communication and Information (CCI) Commons website, it is “a living a living and learning community housed in Olson Hall exclusively for students with majors or pre-majors in one of the College of Communication and Information’s four schools (Communication Studies, Library and Information Science, Journalism and Mass Communication or Visual Communication Design). Students live with others who are studying the same major or similar fields of interest, allowing an open exchange of ideas and experiences that go beyond the classroom. CCI Commons is the central hub for activities and information related to CCI Kent State. Weekly programs offer students a peek into various career possibilities and current practices in the broad field of communications.”

CCI Commons is located in Olson Hall right in the middle of campus near the Kent Student Center and close to the coordinating buildings for each of CCI’s four schools.

“As a resident of the commons for three years, I can say that living here is not just a place to sleep and do homework, it is an experience all in itself. The people you meet are going through your classes with you, so you suffer and grow together. Its a way to make a large campus seem a lot smaller.” – Kristen Deran, CCI Commons resident

Building Benefits:

• Studio Space
• Community director on site
• Advising and technology help provided weekly
• Classes help within the hall with other Commons members

Why should you join CCI Commons?

• Connections with other students who share the same academic and professionals goals/interests
• Close location to your college advising office and classrooms
• Guest speakers geared toward your major
• Computer lab and studio space available in your hall
• Up-to-date valuable information  about CCI with the Community Director’s listserv

How do I join?
Students must be accepted to the College of Communication and Information in order to be eligible to join the CCI Commons. Rooming assignments are based on the date you turn in your housing application. To receive a CCI Commons assignment, make sure to get your application in early!

Students who are interested in applying to participate in the CCI Commons need to follow these steps:

• Select Olson Hall and CCI Commons as your #1 choice on your residence hall application, and alert the academic advisor during your Destination Kent State: Advising & Registration program that you would like to participate in the CCI Commons.
• If you have already completed and submitted your residence hall application and now want to make changes, you may re-enter your application by logging back into it through the residence hall application website.
• If you need further assistance, or have questions about how to join the CCI Commons please contact the community coordinator.

“The CCI Commons offers advantages to our students both academically and socially to help them connect to their major and set them up for success. We’re a living/learning community, so in order to reap the benefits of our programs and services students are asked to live in Olson Hall.  It’s the only live-in community on campus for our CCI majors, and we work very hard to provide programming and support to help you succeed here at Kent State.  With more than 200 students living in the community, you have an opportunity connect with others in the College of Communication and Information and to make bonds that will last beyond KSU.” –Marianne Warzinski, CCI Commons Director

Nicole Gennarelli is a senior public relations major and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication Scholarships: Deadline is Feb. 12

Information from www.jmc.kent.edu

Looking for scholarships for next school year?

Apply for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s 2012-21013 Scholarships by Feb. 12.

Here’s what to do:

1. Fill out the Scholarship Application Form 2012-2013. You can find this at: http://jmc.kent.edu/index.php/Financial-Aid/jmc-scholarships.html

2. Prepare an essay about yourself and a portfolio that can be submitted into a Google Docs folder.

3. Within 48 hours of Step 1 (filling out the online form) the Google Docs folder will be created for you. You’ll receive an email to notify you when you receive access to the folder. Access will be permitted until the deadline of Feb. 12, 2012.

To upload your essay and portfolio:

A. Log into Flashline

B. Click on the Docs icon at the top of the page

C. Look for folder with your last name, first name and JMC SCH 2012-2013

                      Example: Dudley, Anne JMC SCH 2012-2013

D. Open your folder and click the arrow icon in the upper left corner to upload your material. Or, open “Create” to enter your materials.

Remember to include your name on any documents that you upload to your folder. Only upload to your folder.

Scholarship winners will be notified by email on Friday, March 16, 2012. A list will also be posted in the Reading Room in Franklin Hall on that date.

For a list of all the JMC scholarships and details on the selection process visit the JMC Scholarship website.

Questions? Contact Sharon Marquis by phone at 330-671-8281 or by email at smarquis@kent.edu. For Google Docs questions, contact Darlene Contrucci at dcontruc@kent.edu.