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����ֱ�� State Employs uConfirm for Employment and Income Verification Services

����ֱ�� State University receives numerous requests from third parties seeking verification of employment and salary history for current and former employees. Third-party verifiers, which typically request this information by phone, e-mail fax or regular mail, include lenders, property managers, employers, background check firms, social service agencies, even employees themselves. 

In order to make the employment verification process more secure and improve workflow, ����ֱ�� State University has contracted with uConfirm, a leading national provider of employment verification solutions that helps to speed up the verification process for our employees and verifiers.

Effectively immediately, if your department receives a request to verify employment or salary history for a current or former ����ֱ�� State University employee, please refer them to uConfirm’s web site at , where they can complete the verification process.

The uConfirm process is seamless for our employees and there are no new procedures that they need to be advised of in order to have their employment verified.

If a verifier or employee has questions on the uConfirm process, or if an employee needs their own employment verified, please refer them to uConfirm’s toll free customer support line at 404-382-5400. Select option 2, or e-mail support@uconfirm.com. 

The Quick Reference Guide is a resource for employees.

����ֱ�� State University’s account manager at uConfirm is Doris Dzirson, and she may also be contacted for special assistance. Doris can be reached toll free at 866-312-8266, extension 108 or email doris.dzirson@uconfirm.com.

Save the Date for Veterans Recognition Program

You are invited to join in and honor America's veterans at this year's Veterans Day program, Honoring All Who Serve, on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m. on the Student Green at Risman Plaza.

The outdoor program will include a flag-raising ceremony conducted by a joint color guard from the Army and Air Force ROTC programs, remarks from ����ֱ�� State President Beverly Warren and guest speakers. All are invited to come and pay tribute to America's veterans. A special invitation is extended to ����ֱ�� State faculty, staff, students and community members who are veterans, active service members or who have family members in the military.

A reception in the ����ֱ�� Student Center Kiva lobby will follow the brief program. In the event of inclement weather, the rain location will be the ����ֱ�� Student Center Kiva.

Ohio Minimum Wage Increase

The Ohio Department of Commerce has announced that Ohio’s minimum wage will increase on January 1, 2017, from $8.10 to $8.15 per hour.  More information on Ohio’s 2017 minimum wage is available on the .

With this increase the Student Employment Pay Plan will be adjusted accordingly. 

Please keep in mind that departments do not need to take action on the minimum wage increase.  Career Services will adjust the hourly wage for all students who are below the new minimum pay rate for each of the three pay levels effective January 1, 2017.  Student employees who are already at or above the new minimums will not have their pay rates adjusted.  If you wish to increase the hourly wage for your student employees who are above the new minimums (i.e., to keep a pay differential), please submit a Pay Raise Request form.

Feel free to contact Ami Hollis at 28380 or ahollis@kent.edu for more information.

Phase One of Summit Street Project Nearing Completion

The first phase of the Summit Street: Building a Better Way Improvement Project is almost complete. Work began nearly a year ago on the stretch of Summit Street from Fraternity Circle to just past Loop Road, and that section of the road is expected to be finished by mid-November. 

The first segment of the project has many new features to make the road safer for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. This includes a new traffic signal at Loop Road that has more capabilities to move traffic more efficiently, a new sidewalk from Fraternity Circle to Whitehall Blvd., roadway lighting and bike lanes.

Another new feature is the addition of a roundabout at Ted Boyd Drive/Johnston Drive. While roundabouts have been in the region for several years, this one incorporates significant pedestrian crossings, as well as bike lanes. A video is available to explain how to navigate a roundabout, whether you’re in a car, on a bike or walking. 

Summit Street will return to regular, two-way traffic throughout the construction zone in mid-November. The contractor will continue working on utilities and other items throughout the winter. 

The second phase of the Summit Street Improvement project will begin in March, and will make improvements to the roadway between Fraternity Circle and Lincoln St. The entire project is expected to be completed by late fall 2017.

Updates about the project, which is being managed by the City of ����ֱ��,  are always available at www.kent.edu/summitstreet. 

Turbine Testing Scheduled in November

����ֱ�� State University generates a large portion of the power used on the ����ֱ�� Campus and at times can supply all the power requirements for the campus.  In order to test the operation and integrity of the power generation, control and distribution systems, a test of the turbines will be performed on Friday, Nov. 11, when the university will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.

The purpose of the exercise is to test the turbines’ ability to power the ����ֱ�� Campus without being connected to the Ohio Edison grid.  The turbine test is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and last approximately two hours.  If all goes as planned, the test will be completed without any power interruption. If the test is not successful, the ����ֱ�� Campus would experience a brief power outage while the university switches back to district power. If this happens, the power is expected to be off for approximately five minutes.

Upon completion of the test, an e-mail will be sent to the building curator list serve to let them know of any interruptions in power during the testing period. 

����ֱ�� Campus employees are asked to take appropriate precautions by shutting off all computers and any unnecessary equipment before leaving for the day on Nov. 10.

Questions should be directed to Frank Renovich, Associate Director, Energy Operations, at 330-672-0775 or frenovi2@kent.edu.

Postage Rates Changing in January

The Postal Regulatory Commission approved the USPS’s request for a change in postage rates effective January 22, 2017. Some of the highlights include:

• New first-class stamp rate will increase to 49 cents.  
• Free “second ounce” now good up to 3.5 ounces for presort letters
• Basic flats increase from 94 to 98 cents
• Standard Mail now called Marketing Mail (both commercial and nonprofit)

 Here’s a sampling of what to expect.

2017 Price Change Percentage by Mail Class

Click here: to read the entire case.

Mail Services will still be assisting you to get the best postage rate available. Contact Steve Finley at 330-672-8703 or sfinley7@kent.edu with questions.

The 2016/2017 Holiday Schedule

The University will be closed starting Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, and will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. Very late on Thursday, Dec. 22, or very early on Friday, Dec. 23, the Energy Management System will be transferred to a “holiday schedule,” when temperatures will be adjusted, ventilation and lights reduced, and other energy savings techniques will be enacted. The university will continue to operate in “holiday schedule” until very late Mon., Jan. 2, or very early Tues., Jan 3, 2017, when the energy schedules will return to normal.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Nov. 4                      Open Enrollment Health Benefits closes

Nov. 9                      ����ֱ�� State’s Veterans Day Recognition Program, Student Green

Nov. 11                                     Veterans Day (Campuses closed)

Nov. 17                                     Great American Smoke Out Resource Table, ����ֱ�� Student Center, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Nov. 24                                     Thanksgiving Day (Campuses closed)

Nov. 27                                     Columbus Day Observed (Campuses closed)

Nov. 29