Kent Campus enrollment is up 4.2 percent.

Kent State University has surpassed last year’s record enrollment number to achieve a new all-time high with the release of the university’s official 15th day census data. Kent State announced a 1.98 percent increase in enrollment for the fall 2011 semester across its eight campuses. On the Kent Campus alone, enrollment is up 4.2 percent with the number of full-time equivalent students, or FTEs, up 5.54 percent, so students are taking more hours.

G.I. Jobs has named Kent State a 2012 Military Friendly School for the third year in a row. G.I. Jobs, a premier magazine for military personnel transitioning to civilian life, distinguishes the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools doing the most to embrace military service members and veterans as students.

A dominant first half pushed Kent State past South Alabama 33-25 Saturday at Dix Stadium. Trailing 33-0, the Jaguars made a hard second half charge and took the game down to the last play. However, sophomore safety Luke Wollet made the game's final tackle at the Kent State 23, shortly after making his second interception of the game.

Alabama showed why it is ranked No. 2 in the nation Saturday with a 48-7 victory over Kent State at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson punched in three touchdowns, including two in a 21-point first quarter.

Another big milestone in the $100-million redevelopment of downtown Kent, Ohio, was achieved with the groundbreaking of the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center on Sept. 19. The project is a partnership between the Kent State University Foundation and the Pizzuti Companies of Columbus, Ohio. Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton joined members of the Kent State University Foundation Board of Directors, developer and Kent State alumnus Ron Pizzutti of the Pizzuti Companies and Kent Mayor Jerry Fiala to celebrate the special occasion with members of the Kent community, elected officials and university representatives.

For the second straight year, Kent State University has earned a place in the Best National Universities category with its inclusion in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report. Once again, Kent State received a coveted spot in the first-tier list of Best National Universities. The exclusive rankings, which include rankings of more than 1,500 schools nationwide, are available Sept. 13 at www.usnews.com/colleges and also will appear in the 350-page 2012 edition of the Best Colleges guidebook, available on newsstands starting Sept. 20. Kent State’s ranking is 194, tied with eight other schools out of more than 1,500 schools.

Kent State University congratulates its newest graduates. Summer 2011 Commencement Ceremonies took place Thursday, Aug. 11, and Saturday, Aug. 13.

Kent State University fans will have their first opportunity to see the 2011 Golden Flashes football team – and check out the pregame tailgate in the Kent State Field House – when the university’s Department of Athletics hosts Fan Experience Night on Wednesday, Aug. 17. The event is free and open to the public. During the entire event, Kent State Athletics will be collecting donations to benefit the Alabama Tornado Relief Fund.

Kent State University has announced that enrollment for summer 2011 is up 6.57 percent across its eight-campus system. The university reports 14,467 students were enrolled in its two summer sessions, compared to 13,575 for summer 2010, for a net increase of 892 students.

Kent State University has been selected as one of the 2011 “Great Colleges to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education, the nation’s number one source of news and information about colleges and universities. The Chronicle’s “Great Colleges to Work For” program recognizes small groups of colleges, based on their enrollment size, for specific best practices and policies. This is the second time that Kent State has made the prestigious list in its four-year history.