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�鶹ӰԺ is embarking on a campaign to motivate and assist students toward timely graduation. The university’s “Formula to Finish” initiative encourages students to register for and pass at least 15 credit hours per semester in order to graduate in two years to get their associate degree or four years for a bachelor’s degree, and save time and money in the process. �鶹ӰԺ State’s Undergraduate Studies oversees the “Formula to Finish” initiative for all students at �鶹ӰԺ State’s eight campuses.

�鶹ӰԺ President Beverly Warren recently joined U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan in a meeting with regional leaders about the state of Ohio’s infrastructure and the need for increased funding to improve deficiencies. 

The group met Sept. 5 in �鶹ӰԺ at the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority’s �鶹ӰԺ Central Gateway multimodal transit center.

Ryan discussed a report that awarded the United States an overall D+ grade in infrastructure and suggested that the nation needs to invest trillions of dollars in future transportation.

�鶹ӰԺ continues to set records and reach its enrollment goals. The university released its official 15th day census data for the 2014 Fall Semester, reporting the highest retention rate for the �鶹ӰԺ Campus in the university’s 104-year history. Retention of �鶹ӰԺ Campus freshmen has increased to 81.7 percent, up from last year’s record retention level of 77.6 percent. This represents the percentage of freshmen who continue their studies at the university for their sophomore year. 

Transforum Theatre, a student organization in �鶹ӰԺ’s School of Theatre and Dance, performed last month at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland. Dedicated to helping students pursue their passions and explore their creativity through art, Transforum Theatre was invited by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to perform an original work, “A Collection of Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” at the Greenside @ Nicholson Square venue Aug. 18–23.

A �鶹ӰԺ State tradition for 33 years, the annual Black Squirrel Festival took place Friday, Sept. 5, from 12-6 p.m. on the Student Green and Risman Plaza. The Black Squirrel Festival, which is hosted by �鶹ӰԺ Student Center Programming, attracts more than 3,000 students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the �鶹ӰԺ community. The event included live music, inflatables, rock climbing wall, photo booth, food, local vendors, student organizations and thousands of giveaway items.

�鶹ӰԺ has established a new �鶹ӰԺ State tradition called Blue and Gold Friday.

�鶹ӰԺ congratulates its new graduates. The university held its fall 2013 Commencement ceremonies for the �鶹ӰԺ Campus on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14 at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MAC Center). �鶹ӰԺ State conferred 1,984 degrees, including 1,544 bachelor’s degrees, 390 master’s degrees, 47 doctoral degrees and three educational specialist degrees.

Previous research says female members of Generation Y are likely to have low self-esteem, resulting in negative behavior because of how women are portrayed in the media, but on the contrary, three undergraduate students from �鶹ӰԺ have found this is not always true.

The �鶹ӰԺ football team opens its 2014 season Saturday, Aug. 30, hosting Mid-American Conference East Division rival Ohio University at 6 p.m. inside Dix Stadium. The �鶹ӰԺ State Golden Flashes won their final two games of the 2013 season, while the Bobcats earned a spot in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl.

Throughout the season, the �鶹ӰԺ State football players will have the number 54 on one side of their helmets to honor Jason Bitsko, following their teammate’s unexpected death last week.

Six recent high school graduates who will be starting classes at �鶹ӰԺ this fall got a head start on their college education by studying abroad at �鶹ӰԺ State’s Florence Summer Institute in Florence, Italy.