
Center for Undergraduate Excellence
Kent Campus
330-672-0980
www.kent.edu/universitycollege
Mission of the College
The mission of the University College is to help foster an inclusive environment that empowers all students to explore, engage and succeed.
The college's record of innovation includes 20 national awards, three internationally certified programs and nearly $10 million in grant funding in the past several years.
Initiatives in the University College for students to succeed include the following:
- Students who regularly attend services offered by the Academic Success Center are 17 percent more likely to return for the next academic year and had a graduation rate 18.9% higher than their classmates.
- Students who attend Academic Success Center sessions GPA 0.26 points, on average, higher than their classmates.
- The college's Office of Career Exploration and Development helps our students find on-campus employment, and these students are more likely to earn higher grades and stay in school.
- Our Career Exploration and Development mantra is “Early and Often” – The results are that first-year students engage in career experiences at the same rate as junior and senior students.
- Students who participate in the Exploratory Advising Center’s Exploratory Learning Community are nearly 10 percent more likely to return to Kent State compared to their peers.
- Student Support Services exceeded all Ohio Department of Education performance goals by 10 percent or more.
University College (UC)
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1 Credit Hour
(Equivalent to UC 10002 or UC 20007) Course aims to foster a university-wide sense of belonging; promote engagement in the curricular and co-curricular life of the university; articulate what students can expect from and contribute to their community; and help students continue to clarify their purpose, meaning and direction. This course is required for all new degree-seeking, first-time students to Kent State. The course is not required for transfer students with 30 or more credit hours or students who are admitted as an adult student.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
UC 10002 ADULT STUDENT ORIENTATION 1 Credit Hour
(Equivalent to UC 10001) Course focuses on balancing adult roles and responsibilities with college demands. Students sharpen learning skills and study strategies while making connections with other adult students at Kent State.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
UC 10095 SPECIAL TOPICS IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE 1-3 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Variable topics course that covers areas not treated adequately in traditional coursework related to student success and the student experience.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 1-3 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 10096 INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION 1-6 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for a maximum of 6 credit hours) Experiential learning opportunity, working with a faculty member in his or her area of expertise.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Individual Investigation
Contact Hours: 1-6 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
UC 10162 INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1 Credit Hour
Course exposes students to professional skills and competencies they will need and use in the future. Students begin to develop important career ready competencies. Students learn about the art of networking and relationship building, what it means to be culturally agile, how to succinctly present themselves (elevator pitch and executive summaries), how to use career job sites and resources for career exploration and-or researching companies. Students must have satisfactorily completed UC 10001 before taking this course.
Prerequisite: Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship major or College of Applied and Technical Studies major.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 10192 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PLUS-1 CREDIT (ELR) 1 Credit Hour
(Repeatable for maximum 2 credits) Course allows students to add experiential learning to any undergraduate course. The course involves applying the knowledge and skills developed in a course to support local initiative through civic engagement. Students consider the knowledge base of the primary course and/or discipline, and how it is applied in real practice. Reflective activities are used to challenge students to consider larger questions and the interdisciplinary nature of complex problems and solutions. This course is not a stand-alone course - it must be appended to a primary course.
Prerequisite: Special approval.
Schedule Type: Practical Experience
Contact Hours: 3 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Attributes: Experiential Learning Requirement
UC 20007 LIFE BEYOND KSU 1 Credit Hour
(Equivalent to UC 10001) Equips students with the knowledge and tools critical for entering the professional world through research and application of career-related concepts and activities. Reserved for students who have not successfully completed the Flashes 101 course.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 20010 CAREER NAVIGATION: CONSTRUCTING POSSIBILITIES 2 Credit Hours
Navigating a career and life planning can be complex. Course is designed to equip students with self-awareness, knowledge and skills useful in deciding how to use opportunities to build meaningful futures and how to maintain flexibility and adaptability in the work environment. Students learn how to balance planning with uncertainty and navigate a lifetime of meaningful occupational realities. Through experiential activities, discussions and reflective exercises, students gain self-understanding and connect academic opportunities to careers and specializations in career fields. Designed for students who have not yet declare a major, are interested in finding personal meaning and mattering in occupational and life decisions or are contemplating or engaged in life and career exploration or change.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 2 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 20011 CAREER CONFIRMATION 1 Credit Hour
This course is designed to support students as they develop a professional self-image, explore their personal work values and learn about important decision-making skills needed to navigate the workforce. Through hands-on application, activities and reflective exercises, students will develop skills needed to network with professionals, approach work with an equitable perspective and practice, and connect vocational identity to community belonging. This course is designed for exploratory students who are close to a decision, or students with a declared major who are exploring post-graduation paths. This course will support the student's journey to build a professional mission that guides the development of short- and long-term career goals.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 20095 SPECIAL TOPICS IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE 1-3 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Variable topics course that encourages interdisciplinary study to cover areas not treated adequately in traditional coursework and to make available promptly the new and significant experience of the faculty.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 1-3 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 20193 VARIABLE TITLE WORKSHOP IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE 1-3 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Workshop focused on variable topics.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Workshop
Contact Hours: 1-3 other
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
UC 20201 PEER SUCCESS ACADEMY 2 Credit Hours
The P.E.E.R. (Peer Experiential Education and Reflection) Success Academy is designed to train students to cultivate and nurture critical skills that serve as a foundation for peer educator positions across Kent State University. The course curriculum is designed to be hands on, immersing students in skill development with content pertaining to mentorship, leadership, group dynamics, personal strengths, problem solving, value free advice, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, emotional intelligence, conflict management and self-wellness.
Prerequisite: UC 10001.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 2 lecture
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
UC 20203 THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PEER TUTORING 1 Credit Hour
Preparation for tutoring in several academic areas. Emphasis on the student as learner. Introduction to current learning theories. Opportunities provided to adapt learning strategy to particular disciplines. Field experience included.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 20250 COLLEGIATE LEADERSHIP COMPETITION 2 Credit Hours
This experiential, competency-based course is designed to help students become more aware of a wide range of managerial and leadership concepts. Students will develop leadership skills and gain an opportunity to build their resume and professional network. This course will increase the student’s understanding of personal strengths and areas for improvement by stretching them to the boundaries of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Likewise, students will build skills around ethical decision making, problem solving, negotiation, conflict management, and presentation skills. Students will represent Kent State University at the Collegiate Leadership Competition against other schools in the Great Lakes Region.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 2 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 20260 (R)EVOLUTION LEADERSHIP 1 Credit Hour
The (R)evolution leadership course is an experiential, competency-based course designed to equip students with the tools and the introspection they need to be successful leaders and engaged community members in a complex and ever changing landscape. Students are taken through a series of leadership modules and develop a capstone project that will utilize the skills they have gained and make a positive impact on the community.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 20292 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PLUS-1 CREDIT (ELR) 1 Credit Hour
(Repeatable for maximum 2 credits) Course allows students to add experiential learning to any undergraduate course. The course involves applying the knowledge and skills developed in a course to support local initiative through civic engagement. Students consider the knowledge base of the primary course and/or discipline, and how it is applied in real practice. Reflective activities are used to challenge students to consider larger questions and the interdisciplinary nature of complex problems and solutions. This course is not a stand-alone course - it must be appended to a primary course.
Prerequisite: Special approval.
Schedule Type: Practical Experience
Contact Hours: 3 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Attributes: Experiential Learning Requirement
UC 30202 FLASHES 101: PEER SUCCESS MENTOR SEMINAR 2 Credit Hours
(Repeatable a maximum of 4 credits) Required of all student success leaders who are paired with a faculty member in assisting with UC 10097. Students need to meet the minimum requirements for the college or department in which they serve as a student success leader.
Prerequisite: UC 20201.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Contact Hours: 2 other
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
UC 30392 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PLUS-1 CREDIT (ELR) 1 Credit Hour
(Repeatable for credit) Course allows students to add experiential learning to any undergraduate course. The course involves applying the knowledge and skills developed in a course to support local initiative through civic engagement. Students consider the knowledge base of the primary course and/or discipline, and how it is applied in real practice. Reflective activities are used to challenge students to consider larger questions and the interdisciplinary nature of complex problems and solutions. This course is not a stand-alone course - it must be appended to a primary course.
Prerequisite: Special approval.
Schedule Type: Practical Experience
Contact Hours: 3 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Attributes: Experiential Learning Requirement
UC 31000 MCNAIR RESEARCH METHODS I 1 Credit Hour
This course is part one of the McNair Research Methods series, which provides students in the McNair Scholars Program with practical research skills and professional development. The primary goal of the course is to prepare you to successfully complete all stages of your faculty-mentored independent research projects and to explore options for graduate study.
Prerequisite: Special approval.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 31001 MCNAIR RESEARCH METHODS II 1 Credit Hour
This course is part two of the McNair Research Methods series. This course will continue to provide students in the McNair Scholars Program with practical research skills and professional development. The primary goals of the course are to prepare Scholars to successfully complete all stages of their faculty-mentored independent research projects and prepare for graduate study.
Prerequisite: Special approval.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 40010 MCNAIR SCHOLARS SEMINAR I 1 Credit Hour
McNair Scholars are required to take this course after participation in Summer Research Institute. The course provides training related to the graduate school application process. This course will assist scholars with applying to graduate school programs, further developing research projects, and navigating the personal, professional and technical challenges in completing a graduate degree. The prerequisites for this course are acceptance to the McNair Scholars Program and successful completion of the Summer Research Institute.
Prerequisite: Special approval.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 40201 PEER SUCCESS TRAINER SEMINAR 3 Credit Hours
Course provides training and skill development for experienced student leaders involved in assisting with training student peers enrolled in UC 20201, P.E.E.R. Success Academy.
Prerequisite: UC 30202.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 3 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 40202 FLASHES 101: PEER SUCCESS COACH SEMINAR 3 Credit Hours
The seminar course is designed for Peer Success Coaches to develop effective coaching strategies, methods, and habits to support Peer Success Mentors in their role. Throughout the course, Peer Success Coaches will learn how to develop, implement, and facilitate group check-in activities that position the Peer Success Mentors to cultivate a peer success network within the larger group for support.
Prerequisite: UC 30202.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 3 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
UC 40492 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PLUS-1 CREDIT (ELR) 1 Credit Hour
(Repeatable for credit) Course allows students to add experiential learning to any undergraduate course. The course involves applying the knowledge and skills developed in a course to support local initiative through civic engagement. Students consider the knowledge base of the primary course and/or discipline, and how it is applied in real practice. Reflective activities are used to challenge students to consider larger questions and the interdisciplinary nature of complex problems and solutions. This course is not a stand-alone course - it must be appended to a primary course.
Prerequisite: Special approval.
Schedule Type: Practical Experience
Contact Hours: 3 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Attributes: Experiential Learning Requirement
UC 41010 MCNAIR SCHOLARS SEMINAR II 1 Credit Hour
McNair Scholars are required to take this course after participation in Summer Research Institute. This course provides training related to the graduate school application process. This course will assist scholars with applying to graduate school programs, further developing research projects, and navigating the personal, professional, and technical challenges in completing a graduate degree. Registration is restricted to McNair Scholars. The prerequisites for this course are acceptance to the McNair Scholars Program and successful completion of the Summer Research Institute.
Prerequisite: Special approval.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Contact Hours: 1 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter