John West Appointed First NorTech Fellow

Dr. John L. West, Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies at Kent State University has been named the first NorTech Senior Fellow.  Dr. West is joining NorTech for 12 months, and will lend his considerable expertise to specific programs designed to build economy-sustaining, technology industries in Northeast Ohio.  Dr. West will split his time between NorTech and furthering his research efforts at the Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State.

NorTech, Northeast Ohio’s technology, is expected to bolster the group’s economic development outreach efforts as well as foster stronger ties with regional industry and academic institutions. Link to KSU Press Release

Liquid Crystal Institute Receives NSF Grant

Researchers from Kent State University's Department of Physics and Liquid Crystal Institute have been awarded a $536,000 grant by the National Science Foundation to study a new class of “boomerang” shaped liquid crystal molecules.

The researchers - including professors James Gleeson, Antal Jakli and Sam Sprunt - will search for new liquid crystalline states of matter and focus on a phenomenon called “flexoelectricity,” which is likely to be enhanced by the boomerang shape of the liquid crystals. Flexoelectricity could be the basis of environmentally-friendly micro-power generators. “Imagine harvesting your legs’ energy during walking to charge your cell phone,” said team member Gleeson.

Reports as of June 30, 2006

We recently closed the books for Fiscal Year 2005-06, showing a total of $15,688,533 (cash in), an increase of 19.3 percent over last year.

Choose from one of the links below:

• Gifts by Dollar Level
• Gifts by Source
• Gifts by College
• Performance Report

Kent State in the News

JMC Trains High School Media Advisers

In this day where the phrase "mainstream media" is more of an epithet than a term of endearment, it's hard to imagine a more thankless job than that of a high school newspaper adviser. Nor a more rewarding one, if Sandra Cato's experience is any indication. She is one of 35 high school publications advisers attending a two-week journalism institute sponsored by Kent State University and the American Society of Newspaper Editors -- and supported by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Read the Beacon Journal Story...

Rain (and drought) Finally End for Ben Curtis

After three years of waiting, Ben Curtis didn't mind a couple of soggy days before his second PGA Tour victory. Early Tuesday morning, Curtis finally putted out on the 18th green to claim a five-stroke victory at the Booz Allen Classic. Read the Plain Dealer story.

Higher Education News

Less than 40 percent of community-college students enrolled in associate-degree programs are committed to obtaining their degrees, according to a report released on Wednesday by the National Center for Education Statistics. Among those less-committed students, a majority said they were enrolled for personal interest or to obtain job skills. Read the Chronicle of Higher Education story. Username:11214607   Password: 4geeth07 

Ohio's public colleges and universities were relieved when the State Controlling Board released $30 million in subsidy support for fiscal 2007, which had been previously appropriated but withheld from distribution. The money may now be used for operating support. to the schools to spend as they wish. Because of stagnant enrollment and virtually no change in the state's higher education funding formula, however, six of Ohio's 15 universities will still receive less this upcoming school year compared with last year. Read the Plain Dealer story.