WARREN – Kent State University at Trumbull set in motion three projects in 2020 that will contribute to growth and prosperity in the region.
“Without understating the COVID pandemic, last year was still a great year for our campus,” says Daniel Palmer, interim dean and chief administrative officer, Kent State Trumbull. “We were enthusiastic about a fall increase in enrollment. We were equally excited to set in motion initiatives to save money, improve the environment and potentially add some incredible educational opportunities.”
Kent State Trumbull is one of six Kent State regional campuses that began installing solar panel arrays last fall. Once completed, the Trumbull solar array will provide clean energy that represents about 65% of campus use. It is estimated that the 350-acre campus will save over $24,000 the first year and more than $1.3 million over 25 years.
Prairie flowers will be planted throughout the solar array, yielding both natural beauty and a refuge for native honeybees, butterflies and other pollinators that will help restore balance to the ecosystem. This area of native perennial plants has the potential to become a living laboratory for environmental, biological and botanical study.
In September, the KSU trustees sold nearly 63 acres of the Trumbull Campus to Mercy Health, which plans to build a health care campus on the site.
In addition to the existing practicums Kent State’s nursing students have at Mercy Health’s Trumbull County facilities, and as a part of this land sale, the partnership could expand to include additional internship, practicum, and clinical opportunities for the nursing program.
Also in September, Kent State Trumbull and Siffrin Academy formed a partnership to help people with disabilities transition from high school to jobs or advanced education programs.
Kent State Trumbull has more than 2,200 students, 108 full-time and part-time faculty, and 50 administrative and support staff.