Kent State University

Summary

Established in 1910, Kent State University is a public research university in Kent, Ohio. The university has regional campuses in Ashtabula, Burton, East Liverpool, Jackson Township, New Philadelphia, Salem, and Warren astride facilities in Cleveland, Independence, Twinsburg, New York City, and Florence. The first classes were held in 1912 in temporary buildings in Kent and the first campus buildings opened the following year. Since that time the university has grown to include baccalaureate and graduate programs of study in the arts and sciences. Kent State now offers over 300 degree programs and is a member of the University System of Ohio.

History

Since its founding as a teacher-training school in 1910, Kent State has become an engine for economic, cultural and workforce development in the region and beyond as a premiere university in Ohio. This university has also earned acclaim for applying new knowledge to address the needs of the communities it serves and society as a whole through a vast array of continuing education courses and much more.

Established under the Lowry Bill, it shared this origin with its sister institution, Bowling Green State University. Originally called the Ohio State Normal College at Kent, it was soon renamed Kent State Normal School to honour William S. Kent, the son of the city’s namesake, who contributed significant land to the school. John Edward McGilvrey became the first president in 1912 and envisioned Kent as a large university. Classes began in 1912 in regional centres before the campus buildings were ready, with the first campus classes starting in 1913. The school awarded its first degrees in 1914 and expanded to four-year degrees by 1915, prompting a name change to Kent State Normal College. By 1929, the institution was renamed Kent State College after introducing a college of arts and sciences.

McGilvrey’s vision for Kent was met with resistance, especially from state officials and other universities such as Ohio State. This led to conflicts over credit transfers known as the “credit war,” which ultimately resulted in McGilvrey’s dismissal in 1926. He was succeeded by David Allen Anderson and then James Ozro Engleman, although McGilvrey remained involved in alumni relations. A significant milestone came in 1935 when Governor Martin L. Davey signed a bill that authorised Kent State and Bowling Green to add business and graduate schools, granting them university status and the new name Kent State University.

During the 1940s to 1960s, Kent State experienced substantial growth under President George Bowman. The university organised student and faculty senates and opened its first regional campus in Canton in 1946. The appointment of Oscar W. Ritchie in 1947 marked the first African American faculty position at Kent State and any Ohio state university. The campus expanded with new buildings and additional regional campuses in the 1950s and 1960s. The black squirrel, introduced in 1961, became an unofficial mascot. In 1965, the Liquid Crystal Institute was founded, positioning Kent State as a leader in liquid crystal research and industry. That same decade, Kent State established the first student-operated Campus Bus Service.

The university gained worldwide attention following the tragic shootings on May 4, 1970, when National Guard troops fired on protesting students, killing four and wounding nine. The protests were in response to the U.S. invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War. The campus closed immediately, and alternative teaching methods were implemented to complete the academic term. In 1971, the university founded the Center for Peaceful Change (now the Center for Applied Conflict Management) as a living memorial. The shootings also inspired Neil Young’s song “Ohio” and led to ongoing remembrance efforts by faculty and students.

From the 1970s onward, Kent State expanded its facilities and academic offerings. A new library opened in 1970 and became a research member library in 1973. Kent State joined a medical consortium that year, later adding pharmacy and other partners. In 1991, Carol Cartwright became the first female president of an Ohio state university. The university continued to grow through renovations, new residence halls, and academic buildings. By 2010, student enrollment reached a record high of over 41,000.

Today, Kent State operates eight campuses in Northeast Ohio, including the main Kent Campus and seven regional campuses. It also maintains international study facilities in Florence, Italy, and a New York City studio, along with an urban design center in Cleveland.

Courses

Fashion Design, BA

The Fashion Design Bachelor of Arts degree prepares students for a career in fashion. They will develop technical skills, explore creative problem solving and grow an understanding of the challenges in the industry. The B.A. degree in fashion design offers a diverse art experience; students can create designs for everything from wearable technology applications to knitwear and accessories. During the program, students will learn about three key stages of fashion design: conceptual, technical ,and production.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design integrates conceptual, technical and production design knowledge and skills, leading to a synthesis of the design process from concept to production. These processes include color, design and trend research; technical sketching and rendered illustration; pattern-making and garment construction; appropriate fit and fabric selection; sustainable methods and the ability to communicate specifications for production using industry standards appropriate to specific markets.

The B.A. degree in Fashion Design promotes an emphasis on the diversity of studio practice and liberal art experiences with the most up to date technology applications. Students have the option to select specialties such as wearable technology applications, sustainable development and design, garment knitting, illustration, and accessory design. The degree program prepares students for professional careers by developing technical competency, creative problem solving and conceptual understanding.

Fashion Merchandising, B.Sc

The Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising allows for students to acquire a thorough background in the business aspects of the fashion industry; they develop competencies in fashion theory, retail operations, management and buying, fashion forecasting and promotion, the merchandising for apparel manufacturing and the development and marketing of fashion goods. By the time they graduate, students will have the skills needed for a variety of business roles in the industry.

Students in the Fashion Merchandising major have the opportunity to enrol in the combined degree program with the Master of Business Administration degree, which allows high-achievers early admission into graduate school.

Students enrolled in the combined degree program complete a maximum of nine credit hours of graduate-level coursework for the M.B.A. degree during their senior year. This allows a student to accelerate their completion of the M.B.A degree after being awarded their undergraduate degree. To be eligible for the combined degree program, students must complete 90 credit hours in Fashion Merchandising with a 3.300 grade point average. Upon achieving these requirements, students can submit an admissions application to the M.B.A. program by the set deadline.

Fashion Media, Minor

The Fashion Media minor is for students studying either fashion merchandising or a major in the school of media and journalism. For fashion merchandising students, the minor better prepares them to understand their industry from the media perspective. For media and journalism, the minor exposes them to the fashion publishing industry to better prepare them for work in this business.

Fashion Design, BFA

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design integrates conceptual, technical and production design knowledge and skills, leading to a synthesis of the design process from concept to production. These processes include color, design and trend research; technical sketching and rendered illustration; pattern-making and garment construction; appropriate fit and fabric selection; sustainable methods and the ability to communicate specifications for production using industry standards appropriate to specific markets.

The degree program prepares students for professional careers by developing technical competency, independent problem solving and conceptual understanding necessary for the challenges of a career in the creative industries. Students develop portfolios for presentation at industry interviews and are prepared to be strongly competitive for any entry-level design position in the industry. The B.F.A. in Fashion Design engages students in a focused-study thesis project (collection development) as a capstone experience that results in submitting their collection for formal review by faculty and industry designer-critics, followed by public presentation in a fashion venue and completion of a thesis “magazine” (print collateral).

Master of Fashion Industry Studies – M.F.I.S

Leading the way to create a more sustainable global fashion industry, the Master of Fashion Industry Studies is designed to help students work on projects with local, regional, national and global fashion companies to gain real world industry experience. The following courses are required as part of the degree — Research Methods in the Fashion Industry where students learn techniques to research into pragmatic solutions for industry challenges and Fashion Systems Thinking and Global Consumers in the Fashion Industry which teaches students how to navigate the fashion industry with a sustainable perspective and global mindset.

The Master of Fashion Industry Studies addresses the interdisciplinary character of practice within the fashion industry. The major leads to an initial master’s degree for the academic advancement of students to engage in learning and experiences applicable to the fashion industry. The curriculum prepares students with critical and analytical skills to address industry challenges, integrating historical and theoretical knowledge while emphasizing effective communication, environmental responsibility and a global perspective.

Kent State University’s Master of Fashion Industry Studies is ranked among the top Universities in the US. As part of the degree program, students complete a fashion industry practicum during the first summer, which counts as a 3-credit course. This hands-on experience with local and regional companies prepares them for a career in fashion. Students can refer to this work-based experience on their résumé, while companies benefit from access to fresh talent when they need it.

“Two months after graduating, I was able to secure a position working full-time with an online-only men’s clothing brand – Bearbottom Clothing. My daily tasks include social media campaign coordination and planning in-person or content creator photoshoots. I’m primarily assisting the brand with the creation of marketing materials like emails and social media posts,” says graduate Siera Terry, M.F.I.S., ’20.

Job Integration Rate

The involvement of students, faculty, staff, parents, families, alumni and the Kent State community is the key to the future development of their students. The university’s evolution from a normal school to a comprehensive institution with business, graduate, and professional programs has helped it align its curriculum with industry requirements. This adaptability supports high job integration rates, as students gain relevant skills and practical experience through regional campuses, research centres, and specialised programs like the Liquid Crystal Institute.

Throughout its history, Kent State has placed emphasis on community engagement and experiential learning, which positively impacts graduate employment outcomes. The establishment of regional campuses and partnerships with local industries facilitates smoother transitions for students into local and regional job markets. Additionally, initiatives such as the student-operated Campus Bus Service and the Center for Applied Conflict Management provide real-world experience, enhancing students’ readiness for professional roles.

References

• “A History of Kent State University” (PDF).
• “Preliminary Headcount, Fall Term 2021”. Ohio Department of Higher Education.
• “Kent State University At a Glance”. Petersons.com.
• “Our Brand | Kent State University”. Kent State University.
• “Graduation Planning System”. Kent.edu.
• “Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup”. carnegieclassifications.iu.edu.
• “Flashback | Kent State University”. www.kent.edu.
• “John Edward McGilvrey, Papers, 1890-1945”. Kent State University Special Collections and Archives.
• “Renovations for Oscar Ritchie on Track”. eInside.
• “London Black Squirrels Take Over Kent State University”. Victoria-Park.com.
• “Liquid Crystal Institute blazes new trails at Kent State”. Inside Business.
• “Liquid Lessons: The Missed Opportunity of Liquid Crystal Technology isn’t Lost on Researchers Crain’s Cleveland Business.
• “James Fergason – Lemelson-MIT Program”. lemelson.mit.edu.
• “Crystal clear; Kent State playing lead role in exploring medical, anti-bioterror uses for liquid crystal technology”. Crain’s Cleveland Business. Crain Communications.
• “Kent State University Campus Bus Service: History 1965-2004” (PDF).