Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State University Summary

Kennesaw State University, commonly known as Kennesaw State, is a public, coeducational university part of the University System of Georgia, and is located in unincorporated Kennesaw, Georgia, USA, approximately 20 miles north of Atlanta. Currently, KSU is the third largest university in the University System of Georgia with nearly 20,000 students. it became Kennesaw State University on June 12, 1996. Other milestones in KSU’s existence include: Kennesaw State University is located on 240 acres of land adjacent to I-75 (similar to two other Georgia universities, Georgia Tech and Georgia State University) where views of the campus can be seen from the highway, including Kennesaw State’s “University Village.” KSU, which enrolls over 20,000 students, is the third largest university in the state of Georgia. This building is one of the more dominant features of this sector of the campus, which contains other large structures (Kennesaw Hall, KSU Convocation Center). Kennesaw State’s Campus Green offers students an area to relax, study or throw a football or flying disc between classes. Signs from the East Parking Deck lead students and visitors to the Campus Green surrounded by the towering buildings in the area (Burruss Building, Kennesaw Hall and The Student Recreation & The Campus Green offers direct access to Kennesaw State’s James V. Kennesaw Hall is home to the Bagwell College of Education and administrative offices of the university. The Office of the President resides on the top floor of this structure that could be seen all the way from Barrett Parkway (a busy Kennesaw road a few miles away) and Kennesaw Mountain. This “Crown Jewel” of the Kennesaw State campus borders Frey Road and can be seen by passing motorist on Interstate 75. Kennesaw Hall over looks the Campus Green and is one of the larger buildings in the east section of Campus. The Convocation Center is located southeast of the Campus Green and houses the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball programs at Kennesaw State University. The ‘historic district’ of the university (Original Campus) is located in the west section of campus and includes the University College (originally the Social Science Building), Pilcher Public Service, Willingham Hall, Nursing, Advancement and Technology Annex buildings. Kennesaw State University is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is public institution in Georgia and is overseen by the Georgia Board of Regents. As of 2004, KSU has the third-largest university enrollment within the University System of Georgia, out of the 34 universities and colleges in the system. Kennesaw State’s Continuing Education, the largest in the nation, is housed in the KSU Center, located a mile away from the main campus. Kennesaw State is home to the state’s largest Educational Technology Training Center (ETTC). Kennesaw State University’s sports teams are called the Fighting Owls and the Lady Owls. Kennesaw State is the only division II school to win a national championship in four different sports. The following year Kennesaw State won the division II national championship. The Kennesaw State Fighting Owl and Lady Owl basketball teams play Division I basketball in the expansive Convocation Center on the campus of KSU. The Lady Owls play at Owl Field just south of the bustling intersection of Kennesaw State University Road and Paulding Avenue in the center of campus.

Summary content courtesy of Wikipedia.

Kennesaw State University History

Kennesaw Junior College was founded in 1963 by the Board of Regents. Four-year status was granted in 1976 and became effective two years later. In 1977 the College dropped the word “Junior” and was known simply as Kennesaw College. In 1982 the College began competing in intercollegiate athletics. From 1989 to 1991 U.S. News & World Report consecutively recognized Kennesaw State College (as it was renamed in 1988) as an “up and comer.” Finally, in 1996, Kennesaw State received university status and changed its name accordingly to Kennesaw State University. Four of the five schools at the University were then identified as colleges.

Kennesaw State University is located in Kennesaw, Georgia. Kennesaw State University was founded in 1963 as a junior college, became a 4-year school in 1978, and received university status in 1996. It is now a member of the University System of Georgia. The University awards bachelor’s and master’s degrees. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Kennesaw State University focuses on teaching and learning, offers a general education program, and is committed to public service, scholarly and creative work, and applied research.

Kennesaw State University Academics

Kennesaw State offers more than 40 undergraduate degree programs and a number of applied undergraduate and graduate certificate programs.

Kennesaw State employs 537 full-time faculty members, 71% of which hold the terminal degree in their field.

The third largest university in Georgia, Kennesaw State University has several colleges, including the Bagwell College of Education, the Coles College of Business, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Science and Mathematics, the College of the Arts, and the WellStar College of Health and Human Services.

Bachelor’s degrees are awarded in a number of different disciplines, including art, education, the liberal arts, music, sports management, information systems, marketing, and exercise and health sciences. Minors are offered in many of these fields, including anthropology, criminology, gerontology, professional sales, and in different cultural areas, such as Asian studies, Latin American studies, and Native American studies. There are also undergraduate certificate programs in fields such as alternative dispute resolution, forensic chemistry, legal interpreting, and public history.

Master’s degrees are awarded in accounting, business, education, conflict management, professional writing, public administration, nursing, information systems, and applied computer science. Graduate certificates are awarded in creative writing and in professional writing for international audiences.

Kennesaw State University Unique Programs

The public administration program at KSU is world-renowned. In 2004 the city government of Hangzhou, China sent 24 workers to Kennesaw State to receive their master of arts degrees in public admin. Following the success of that exchange, more than 40 Chinese students visited the same program in the following year.

Kennesaw State offers the Future Scholars Program, which supports minority students studying to become educators. The program is a collaborative effort between the Bagwell College of Education and the College of Humanities & Social Sciences.

The University has a partnership with the Atlanta Falcons NFL team wherein KSU professors visit the team’s training complex to provide tutoring and accredited programs to athletes who are missing only a few credit hours to attain a degree.

Kennesaw State University Financial Aid

Kennesaw State participates in various federal aid programs including Pell grants, FSEOG, Perkins and Stafford Loans, Plus loans, and Service Cancelable loans. Scholarships are available for both need- and merit-based students, and the Financial Aid office will assist students in identifying other private sources of scholarships funds. A unique aid program in Georgia, the HOPE program is a state scholarship funded by the Georgia State Lottery. Students should visit the KSU website for more information.

In-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students were $1161 in tuition and $218 for fees in 2004-2005. Students applying from out of state and graduate students will have different costs.

Financial aid is available with a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs.

Kennesaw State University Students

U.S. News & World Report has recognized KSU’s “First Year Experience” as a “Program to Look Out For.” KSU is home to 18,000 students and newly renovated and constructed residences. The dorms are “apartment-style” and include private baths and bedrooms. Kennesaw State dorms can accommodate as many as 1,700 students. The campus offers more than 100 clubs and athletic activities. The student body is a diverse mix of traditional, nontraditional, residential, and commuter students. Intramural athletics include basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, track, and soccer.

In addition to resources such as electronic databases, laptops for loans in the library, and books and periodicals, the Kennesaw State University library also has special collection in children’s literature and team literature. It also houses rare books and government documents.

Kennesaw State University Traditions

KSU offers several alumni clubs that help maintain connections between graduates from specific disciplines. These clubs include areas like the College of Education, Black Alumni, College of Business, Communication Alumni, and Nursing Alumni.

Kennesaw State University Local Community

Kennesaw, Georgia is only 20 miles from Atlanta, home to major sports teams and various art and culture organizations. Attractions in Atlanta include the Braves, Hawks, and Falcons professional sports teams, as well as the Georgia Dome, CNN Center, Centennial Olympic Park, Zoo Atlanta, and MLK Center and Birthplace. For History buffs, the city offers the Atlanta History Center, Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History, and the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

Kennesaw State University is located in Cobb County Georgia, approximately 20 minutes drive north of Atlanta. Students have easy access to all of the attractions a large metropolitan area has to offer.