Will this Affect my GPA?

No Grades. No Pressure. Just Career Prep.

The Kent State Career Academy is here to help you — not stress you out.

These courses are completely optional and designed for your personal and professional growth. They won’t affect your GPA, and there are no tests, grades, or deadlines to worry about.

Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Photo of student nurses.

The compassion, empathy and care nurses showed Marissa Baker when her mother suddenly passed led her to pursue a career in nursing.“The nurses helped me immensely during the hardest time in my life, and I will never forget the way they cared for me,” Marissa said. “I knew I wanted to make the same impact.” Marissa discovered the program at at Trumbull after she had trouble finding a school that was the right fit for her in her hometown of Castro Valley, California. She was thankful to have found a high-quality nursing program that she truly loved. “The incredibl...

Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Photo of Phillip Ridgley

“When I was a student, I was burning the candle at both ends. I was going to school and working full time. I want to make sure students don’t have to go through what I did.”Phillip R. Ridgley became a respiratory therapist at age 17, while he was still in high school in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He worked in the field for 10 years while attending college and serving in the United States Army Reserve for a hospital unit. When he enrolled at in 1969, he was the first in his family to attend college. His goal was to become a registered nurse. “I took general classes at Kent...

Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Photo of Chip Bahn.

When Terrence J. “Chip” Bahn, ’75, M.Ed. ’77, Ed.D., was a senior at Admiral King High School in Lorain, Ohio, he wanted to attend after graduation, but he wasn’t ready. His counselor encouraged him to start at the local community college. As a first-generation college student, this helped him develop the skills and confidence to succeed at Kent State.This experience inspired him to create the Dr. Terrence J. Bahn Endowed Scholarship, which will help students who studied at a Northeast Ohio community college to attend Kent State. This fund was created through a bequest.“F...

A new Kent State graduate celebrates at Commencement.

Graduating from Kent State is an exciting achievement, but you may have questions about the process before – and after - the big day. Once the ceremony is behind you, there are still a few things to take care of as you transition to life after graduation.  From receiving your diploma to participating in unique celebrations, it’s essential to stay informed about what comes next. Kent State has planned various events to honor graduates, including celebrations for specific communities and opportunities for alumni involvement. Visit the Commencement site for details about downloading your tic...

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Life at KSU

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