Content deleted Content added
→Mascot: Added context Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
|||
Line 1:
{{Short description|Public university in Cobb County, Georgia, US}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Kennesaw State University
| image = KSU Seal.svg
| image_size = 170
| motto = "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation"
| former_names = Kennesaw Junior College (1966–1976)<br />Kennesaw College (1976–1988)<br />Kennesaw State College (1988–1996)<br />[[Southern Polytechnic State University]] (merged 2015)
| established = {{start date and age|1963|10|09}}
| type = [[Public University|Public]] [[research university]]
| parent = [[University System of Georgia]]
| academic_affiliation = [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program|Space-grant]]
| accreditation = [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools|SACS]]
| endowment = $100 million (2021)<ref name="kennesaw.edu">{{cite web |url=https://www.kennesaw.edu/news/stories/2021/ksu-fundraising-success-supports-growth.php |title=Rankings |website=www.kennesaw.edu|access-date=October 19, 2022}}</ref>
| budget = $566 million (2019)
| president = Kathy Schwaig
| provost = Ivan Pulinkala
| administrative_staff = 2,000
| faculty = 1,004
| students = 47,845 (fall 2024)<ref name="auto"/>
| undergrad = 42,840 (fall 2024)
| postgrad = 5,005 (fall 2024)
| city = [[Kennesaw, Georgia|Kennesaw]]
| state = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|34.038|N|84.583|W|type:edu_region:US-GA|display=inline,title}}
| campus = [[Suburban|Large suburb]]
| campus_size = {{convert|581|acre|km2}}
| free_label = Newspaper
| free = ''[[The Sentinel (KSU)|The Sentinel]]''
| sporting_affiliations = [[NCAA Division I]] [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|FBS]] – [[Conference USA|CUSA]]
| nickname = [[Kennesaw State Owls|Owls]]
| colors = Black and gold<ref>{{cite web |url=https://omni.kennesaw.edu/styleguide/visualelements/color-and-uses.php|title=Style Guide |access-date=October 15, 2022}}</ref><br>{{color box|#2D2926}} {{color box|#FFC629}}
| mascot = Scrappy the Owl
| website = {{URL|https://www.kennesaw.edu/|kennesaw.edu}}
| logo = Kennesaw State University.svg
| logo_size = 150
}}
'''Kennesaw State University''' ('''KSU''') is a [[Public university|public]] [[research university]] in the U.S. state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] with two campuses in the [[Atlanta metropolitan area]], one in the [[Kennesaw, Georgia|Kennesaw]] area<!--The Kennesaw area campus has its own [[census-designated place]] and is not actually in the City of Kennesaw. If the City of Kennesaw annexes it, the CDP may go away--> and the other in [[Marietta, Georgia|Marietta]] on a combined {{convert|581|acres}} of land.<ref name="usg">{{cite news|title=Kennesaw State University |date=February 28, 2007 |publisher=Georgia Board of Regents |url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/kennesaw-state-university-1577 |access-date=March 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216112940/http://www.usg.edu/inst/ksu/ |archive-date=February 16, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The school was founded in 1963 by the Georgia Board of Regents using local bonds and a federal [[space-grant]] during a time of major Georgia economic expansion after [[World War II]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/education/kennesaw-state-university|title=Kennesaw State University|website=New Georgia Encyclopedia}}</ref> KSU also holds classes at the [[Cobb Galleria Centre]], [[Dalton State College]], and in [[Dallas, Georgia|Paulding County (Dallas)]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kennesaw.edu/dallas/|title=Kennesaw State University - Paulding Instructional Site|work=kennesaw.edu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001180047/http://www.kennesaw.edu/dallas/|archive-date=October 1, 2009}}</ref> The total enrollment exceeds 47,000 students making KSU the third-largest university by enrollment in Georgia.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.usg.edu/research/assets/research/documents/enrollment_reports/Fall_2024_SER.pdf |title=Fall Enrollment Report 2024 |date=November 2024|access-date=January 7, 2025}}</ref>
KSU is part of the [[University System of Georgia]] and is [[Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education|classified]] among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kennesaw.edu/about/|title=About KSU|access-date=December 27, 2012|publisher=Office of University Relations|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108110149/http://www.kennesaw.edu/about/|archive-date=November 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup |url=https://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=486840 |publisher=Center for Postsecondary Education |website=carnegieclassifications.iu.edu |access-date=September 12, 2020 |archive-date=March 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330040511/https://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=486840 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kennesaw State's [[Kennesaw State Owls|athletic teams]] are an [[NCAA Division I]] member of the [[Conference USA]].
{{TOC limit|3}}
==History==
===Establishment in 1963 until 1975===
KSU was chartered by the Board of Regents on October 9, 1963, during one of the most dramatic periods of college expansion in Georgia's history. The university was officially founded by the [[Georgia Board of Regents]] approved the establishment of a junior college tentatively to be named [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb County]] [[Junior college|Junior College]]. In December 1964, [[Horace Sturgis]] was designated to serve as the future college's first president. When the school opened in fall of 1966, it was named Kennesaw Junior College and had an initial enrollment of 1,014 students.<ref>[http://www.kennesaw.edu/history.shtml "KSU: History"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113212752/http://www.kennesaw.edu/history.shtml |date=January 13, 2011 }},. Retrieved on February 24, 2011.</ref>
===Early years as Kennesaw College, 1976–1995===
Thirteen years later, in 1976, the former Kennesaw Junior College became a four-year college and was redesignated Kennesaw College. [[Betty Siegel]] became the second president of Kennesaw College in 1981, and the first female university president in the University System of Georgia.<ref name="bizjournals">{{cite news|first=Jan|last=Costello |title=Betty Siegel brings out the best in people and places|date=March 30, 2001|url=http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2001/04/02/focus1.html|work=Atlanta Business Chronicle|page=2|access-date=December 18, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Isakson">{{cite news|first=Johnny|last=Isakson|title=Floor Statement Congratulating Dr. Betty Siegel|date=May 26, 2001|publisher=[[United States Senate]]|url=http://isakson.senate.gov/floor/2005/052605siegel.htm|access-date=December 18, 2007|archive-date=December 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212072642/http://isakson.senate.gov/floor/2005/052605siegel.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
By 1985, KSU had initiated its first [[Graduate student#US|graduate degree]] programs, in business and education, and began a period of rapid growth, including building some residential housing. Finally, in 1988, the former Kennesaw College was renamed Kennesaw State College and [[associate degree]]s were discontinued, except in [[nursing]].
===Becoming a major university===
Kennesaw State finally achieved University status in 1996. The Kennesaw State's [[College World Series#Division II|baseball]] and [[NCAA Softball Championship|softball]] teams won the [[NCAA Division II]] national championships in 1996. The winning [[Kennesaw State Owls|Owls]] continued excelling in athletics, including the Lady Owls 2003 win of the NCAA Women's Division II Soccer Championship and the men's basketball team win of the 2004 [[NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship]]. In part due to their winning Division II in 2005, the Owls joined Division I and the [[Atlantic Sun Conference]].
In 2004, KSU was recognized by the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] and the [[National Security Agency]] as a National Center of Academic Excellence in [[Information assurance|Information Assurance]] Education. At the time, this placed KSU among 67 other institutions recognized as CAE/IAEs with this recognition. KSU was recognized again in 2007.<ref name="CAEIAE">{{cite web |url=http://www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/nat_cae/index.shtml|title=NSA CAE/IAE|access-date=March 25, 2010 }}</ref>
In the summer of 2006, [[Daniel S. Papp]] became the university's third president.<ref name="president">{{cite web |url=http://www.kennesaw.edu/president/ |title=Office of the President|access-date=April 4, 2007|last=Papp|first=Daniel|publisher=Kennesaw State University }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Arlethia|last=Perry-Johnson|title=Papp Named President of Kennesaw State University|date=February 16, 2006|publisher=[[University System of Georgia]]|url=http://www.usg.edu/news/2006/021606.phtml|access-date=April 4, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211072615/http://www.usg.edu/news/2006/021606.phtml |archive-date=February 11, 2007}}</ref>
KSU also began its first doctoral programs in Education in Leadership for Learning, Education, and a doctorate of Business Administration.<ref name="ed">{{cite web |url=http://www.kennesaw.edu/education/grad/edd/index.html|title=Graduate Studies|access-date=October 31, 2007|publisher=Kennesaw State University Enterprise Information Management}}</ref>
On November 1, 2013, the University System of Georgia announced that Kennesaw State University would merge with nearby [[Southern Polytechnic State University]] in 2015. Kennesaw State would be the surviving institution, with President Papp serving as president of the merged university.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/news/kennesaw-state-southern-poly-to-merge/nbfMT/|title=Kennesaw State, Southern Poly to merge|work=ajc.com|access-date=November 2, 2013|archive-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729192431/http://www.ajc.com/news/news/kennesaw-state-southern-poly-to-merge/nbfMT/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usg.edu/news/release/kennesaw_state_and_southern_polytechnic_will_consolidate|title=Kennesaw State and Southern Polytechnic Will Consolidate|work=usg.edu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/23964073/article-Kennesaw-State-to-absorb-Southern-Polytechnic-in-big-merger?|title=The Marietta Daily Journal - Kennesaw State to absorb Southern Polytechnic in big merger|work=mdjonline.com}}</ref> Southern Polytechnic was started by the president of the [[Georgia Institute of Technology]], [[Blake R. Van Leer]] who was known for making Atlanta the "[[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] of the South."<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40581436 | title=Engineering the New South: Georgia Tech, 1885–1985 | journal=The Georgia Historical Quarterly | jstor=40581436 | access-date=November 29, 2020| last1=Hair | first1=William I. | year=1985 | volume=69 | issue=4 | pages=509–517 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://soar.kennesaw.edu/bitstream/handle/11360/1974/sp-51-03-spsuhist-20161026.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=Southern Polytechnic State University: The History|last=Bennett|first=Richard A.|publisher=Southern Polytechnic State University Foundation|year=1998}}</ref> On January 6, 2015, the Georgia Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved the consolidation of Southern Polytechnic State and Kennesaw State. In honor of SPSU's legacy, Kennesaw State established Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology as one of its 11 colleges.
On January 1, 2015, Kennesaw State University was classified by the [[Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching|Carnegie Foundation]] for Teaching and Learning as a Community Engaged Institution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.kennesaw.edu/stories/2015/Kennesaw-State-receives-Carnegie-Foundations-Community-Engagement-Classification.php|title=Kennesaw State receives Carnegie Foundation's Community Engagement Classification - News {{!}} KSU|website=news.kennesaw.edu|access-date=March 4, 2019}}</ref>
In the Fall of 2016, students and faculty protested the suspected appointment of Georgia's Republican attorney general, [[Sam Olens]], as the next Kennesaw president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.11alive.com/news/local/students-faculty-upset-about-potential-new-ksu-president/328140381|title=Students, faculty upset about potential new KSU president|last=TEGNA|language=en-US|access-date=October 3, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He took office on November 1, 2016, resigning as attorney general.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/local-news/2016-10-12/attorney-general-sam-olens-leave-office-lead-kennesaw-state-university|title=Attorney General Sam Olens to leave office, lead Kennesaw State University|agency=Associated Press|website=Athens Banner-Herald}}</ref> He left office in February of 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/cobb-county/sam-olens-out-as-kennesaw-states-president/663977987|title=Sam Olens to step down as Kennesaw State's president|date=December 14, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref> [[Pamela Whitten]] was KSU's next president, serving until 2021. On March 16, 2022, Kathy Schwaig was named the sixth president.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebot-Tabi |first=Ashu |date=October 10, 2022 |title=President Kathy Schwaig begins new chapter in university history |url=https://theksusentinel.com/2022/10/10/president-kathy-schwaig-begins-new-chapter-in-university-history/ |website=The Sentinel}}</ref>
KSU's Computer Science and Information Systems department hosts the Center for Election Systems,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.kennesaw.edu/|title=The Center for Election Systems|work=kennesaw.edu|access-date=January 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205232844/http://elections.kennesaw.edu/|archive-date=February 5, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> which certified and monitored the [[DRE voting machine|direct recording electronic]] machines used in Georgia elections until June 2018 at the latest.<ref name="Election Closure">{{cite news |last1=Torres |first1=Kristina |title=Georgia to shift elections work in-house, away from Kennesaw State |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/georgia-shift-elections-work-house-away-from-kennesaw-state/JAazLxUB0SODnPMqEGNWdJ/ |access-date=December 29, 2020 |work=ajc |language=en}}</ref> This shift was initiated due in part to poor security by the center, which had accidentally exposed over 6.5 million voter records.<ref name="Election Closure"/>
On December 19, 2018, KSU was classified as a doctoral research institution with [[List of research universities in the United States|R2 status]], denoting high research activity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=486840|title=The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education|website=carnegieclassifications.iu.edu|access-date=December 19, 2018}}</ref>
== Campuses ==
Kennesaw State University is located on two campuses with a combined {{convert|581|acre|ha|lk=out}} of land, of which about 230 acres is located in Marietta and the remainder is located in Kennesaw. The Kennesaw campus is located adjacent to [[Interstate 75|I-75]] (similar to four other Georgia universities, [[Georgia Institute of Technology|Georgia Tech]], [[Dalton State College]], and [[Georgia State University]], and [[Atlanta Metropolitan State College]]) where views of the campus can be seen from the highway, including Kennesaw State's University Village.
=== Kennesaw Campus ===
====Social Sciences Building====
[[File:Kennesaw State Social Science Building.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Social Sciences Building and the Spaceship Earth sculpture]]
The Social Sciences building is located on the west section of campus on Campus Loop Road adjacent to the original campus historical district. The {{convert|163000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} building features a 302-seat auditorium, a 100+ seat cinema classroom, a digital media lab, and 40 classrooms with advanced technology. The lobby features a Starbucks and study area. The Social Sciences building also meets Silver Rating [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] Green Building requirements and is the first building in the University System of Georgia to meet these specifications.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2314|title=LEED Registered Project|access-date=March 9, 2007|format=PDF|publisher=U.S. Green Building Council}}</ref> In 2020, after the donation of a $9 million gift to the school by Norman and Lindy Radow, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences was renamed the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KSU Receives Multi-Million Dollar Gift to Name Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences|url=https://news.kennesaw.edu/stories/2020/norman-and-lindy-radow-gift-college-of-humanities-and-social-sciences.php|access-date=October 29, 2021|website=news.kennesaw.edu|language=en}}</ref>
====Spaceship Earth====
{{main|Spaceship Earth (sculpture)}}
Located adjacent to the Social Sciences Building was a {{convert|350000|lb|kg|adj=on}} sculpture entitled "Spaceship Earth", created by Finnish American artist Eino.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eino.org/|title=Eino|website=Eino}}</ref> The sculpture was commissioned by the Maxwell Family Foundation in memory of the late environmentalist [[David Brower]]. The sculpture was intended to be a permanent reminder to future generations to take care of their delicate planet.
In late 2006, only three months after its installation, the structure collapsed. Reconstruction was completed on October 26, 2010. The statue was dismantled in December 2022 due to continuing structural insufficiencies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-23 |title=Spaceship Earth sculpture bids final farewell - The Sentinel |url=https://theksusentinel.com/2023/01/23/spaceship-earth-sculpture-bids-final-farewell/,%20https://theksusentinel.com/2023/01/23/spaceship-earth-sculpture-bids-final-farewell/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |language=en-US}}</ref>
====Convocation Center====
{{main|KSU Convocation Center}}
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 Convocation Center is a multipurpose facility that supports academic classes, lectures, concerts, theatrical performances, athletic events, graduations, and convocation ceremonies. The facility has locker rooms, training rooms, and offices for the athletic department. The third floor of the center houses hospitality and conference suits that overlook the arena floor. KSU's Convocation Center is the largest of its kind in northwest Georgia, with seating for 4,800.
====Bentley Rare Book Gallery====
The [[Bentley Rare Book Gallery|Bentley Rare Book Gallery and Special Collections]] houses 15,000 items.
====Dr. Bobbie Bailey and Family Performance Center====
The Bailey Performance Center opened in 2007. The facility contains a 630-seat auditorium and the Don Russell Clayton Gallery. It serves as the heart of Kennesaw State's Bailey School of Music.<ref>[http://www.kennesaw.edu/music/bpc/about.shtml Bailey Performance Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201032618/http://www.kennesaw.edu/music/bpc/about.shtml |date=February 1, 2010 }}</ref>
====Other selected buildings====
[[File:KSU StudentCenter.jpg|thumb|275px|right|Student Center]]
The historic district of the university (Original Campus) is located in the west section of campus and includes the University College,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kennesaw.edu/uc/|title=Kennesaw State University - University College|work=kennesaw.edu|access-date=March 31, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114232/http://kennesaw.edu/uc/|url-status=dead}}</ref> formerly the Social Sciences Building, Pilcher Public Service and Library, Willingham Hall, Nursing, Advancement, and Technology Annex buildings. These buildings served primarily as the home to the College of Humanities and Social Science until construction on the Social Science Building was completed at the end of 2006. In 2009, a new two-story, 1,500-seat dining hall known as The Commons opened.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kennesaw.edu/dining|title=Kennesaw State University - Culinary and Hospitality Services|work=kennesaw.edu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219172640/http://www.kennesaw.edu/dining/|archive-date=February 19, 2010}}</ref> In 2008, a new $46,000,000, 915-bed freshman residence hall called "University Suites" opened.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.educationdesignshowcase.com/view.esiml?pid=265 |title=Education Design Showcase Project |publisher=Educationdesignshowcase.com |access-date=April 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190538/http://www.educationdesignshowcase.com/view.esiml?pid=265 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Marietta Campus===
{{Main|Southern Polytechnic State University}}
====Student housing====
Dormitory facilities were provided at Southern Tech's first ___location in Chamblee, Georgia. They were created from former bachelor officers' quarters in facilities leased from the Atlanta Naval Air Station. When the campus moved to Marietta, student accommodation was located in former employee housing at the [[United States Air Force Plant 6]]. Construction for the Marietta campus' first dormitory began in 1964. The campus dormitories housed only men until 1974.<ref name=":0"/>
At the time of its merger with Kennesaw State University, Southern Polytechnic State University had five on-campus housing facilities for its students. These were Howell Hall, Hornet Village suites, University Commons apartments, University Courtyard apartments, and University Columns houses.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150213015205/http://www.spsu.edu/housing/housing_options/index.htm Housing Options], Housing and Residential Life. Page dated February 20, 2015, retrieved via Internet Archive on December 21, 2018.</ref> These facilities are still used to house Kennesaw State University students.<ref>[https://ksuhousing.kennesaw.edu/index.php Housing and Residential Life | Kennesaw State University]. Retrieved December 21, 2018.</ref>
== Academics ==
{{Infobox US university ranking
| ARWU_W =
| USNWR_W =
| ARWU_N =
| Wamo_NU = 226
| Forbes = 639
| USNWR_NU = 293–381
}}
Kennesaw State University is accredited by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] and classified as a comprehensive institution by the [[University System of Georgia]].<ref name="Stats12">{{cite web|title=KSU Student Profile|work=Facts and Figures|publisher=Kennesaw State University Office of Institutional Research & Information Management|url=http://ir.kennesaw.edu/webapp_tools/student_profile_select_term.aspx|access-date=March 7, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207055058/http://ir.kennesaw.edu/webapp_tools/student_profile_select_term.aspx|archive-date=February 7, 2007}}</ref><ref name="ksusentinel.com">{{cite web|url=http://ksusentinel.com/2016/08/26/students-struggle-with-overcrowding-at-ksu/|title=Students struggle with overcrowding at KSU|date=August 26, 2016|website=The Sentinel|access-date=September 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827190018/http://ksusentinel.com/2016/08/26/students-struggle-with-overcrowding-at-ksu/|archive-date=August 27, 2016}}</ref>
In September 2016, ''U.S. News'' elevated KSU from the category of "regional university" to "national university", joining a list of 297 other universities in that category. This was in part due to the university's new status as a research university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning, indicating a university that engages in a "moderate" level of research activity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.kennesaw.edu/news/stories/kennesaw-state-university-named-among-us-news-world-report%25E2%2580%2599s-%25E2%2580%259C2017-best-colleges%25E2%2580%259D|title=News at KSU {{!}} Kennesaw State University named among U.S. News & World Report's "2017 Best Colleges"|website=web.kennesaw.edu|access-date=October 3, 2016}}</ref>
In 2018, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning classified KSU as a doctoral research institution with [[List of research universities in the United States|R2 (Doctoral University – High research activity)]] status.
The 2020 ''U.S. News'' rankings placed KSU in Tier Two (#293–381) in the "National Universities" category.<ref name="usnews.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/kennesaw-state-university-1577 |title=Rankings |website=www.usnews.com|access-date=May 13, 2019}}</ref>
=== Colleges and degrees ===
The university is divided into 11 colleges<ref>{{Cite web |title=About - Kennesaw State University - Kennesaw State University |url=https://www.kennesaw.edu/about/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=www.kennesaw.edu}}</ref><ref name="college">{{Cite web |title=Academic Programs - Kennesaw State University |url=https://www.kennesaw.edu/academics/#colleges |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=www.kennesaw.edu}}</ref> and offers 76 [[bachelor's degree]]s, 43 [[master's degree]] programs, five [[specialist degree]]s, and nine doctoral programs;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Program Finder - Kennesaw State University |url=https://programfinder.kennesaw.edu/s/search.html?collection=kennesaw-program-finder-meta&displayMode=list |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=programfinder.kennesaw.edu}}</ref> according to Kennesaw State's Registrar's Office, the university offers over 190 undergraduate and graduate degrees.<ref name="college" />
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* College of '''Architecture and Construction Management''' (CACM)
* Robert S. Geer Family College of '''the Arts'''
* [[Michael Coles (businessman)|Michael J. Coles]] College of '''Business'''
* College of '''Computing and Software Engineering''' (CCSE)
* [[Clarice Cross Bagwell|Bagwell]] College of '''Education''' (BCOE)
* [[Southern Polytechnic State University|Southern Polytechnic]] College of '''Engineering and Engineering Technology''' (SPCEET)
* [[Wellstar Health System|Wellstar]] College of '''Health and Human Services''' (WCHHS)
* Norman J. Radow College of '''Humanities and Social Sciences''' (RCHSS)
* College of '''Science and Mathematics''' (CSM)
* KSU Journey Honors College
* Graduate College
{{div col end}}
=== Continuing Education ===
Kennesaw State's Department of Community and Professional Education, the largest in the nation, is housed in the KSU Center, located a mile away from the main campus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KSU Community and Professional Education |url=https://cpe.kennesaw.edu/about-us/ |access-date=2025-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kennesaw.edu/coned/fact_sheet.htm|title=Continuing Education Fact Sheet|access-date=March 9, 2007|publisher=Department of Continuing Education |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517135416/http://www.kennesaw.edu/coned/fact_sheet.htm |archive-date=May 17, 2007}}</ref>
Kennesaw State is home to the state's largest Educational Technology Training Center (ETTC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ksuetc.org|title=ksuetc.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050822183418/http://www.ksuetc.org/|archive-date=August 22, 2005}}</ref> The ETTC is one of 13 such centers around the state. Teachers and other school personnel from around the state come to the KSU ETTC for professional development.
== Research ==
Research is grouped into four themes: Biomedical and Health; Computing and Technology, Human development & Well-being; and Sustainable and Safe Communities.
== Student life ==
=== Student groups ===
KSU has approximately 300 registered student groups and organizations for student participation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksuclubsports.com/|title=The Official Site of Kennesaw State Owls Club Sports|work=ksuclubsports.com}}</ref> Many of these groups may apply for funding from the Student Activities and Budget Advisory Committee (SABAC), which is a student-run advisory committee to the vice president of student affairs. This committee meets regularly during the fall and spring semesters.
=== Student media ===
* ''[[The Sentinel (KSU)]]'' is the official [[newspaper]] for KSU. It is printed weekly during fall and spring semesters and twice during the summer semester.
* ''Kennesaw’s Worst'' is the feature magazine for Kennesaw State University.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://readworst.com/|title=Home}}</ref>
* ''The Peak'' is the former magazine for Kennesaw State University.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ksutalon.com/|title=Home}}</ref>
* Owl Radio is the student-run online radio station for KSU. Content is streamed online with [[mixlr]] and available on the mixlr mobile application.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ksuradio.com/|title=Owl Radio|website=Owl Radio}}</ref>
* ''Talisman'' is the name of the former student yearbook for KSU.
===Student demographics===
In fall 2023, Kennesaw State was 49% male and 51% female. The ethnic diversity was as follows: 42.5% White, 26.4% Black/African-American, 14.6% Hispanic/Latino, 5.8% Asian, 4.6% multi-racial, and 2.5% undeclared. International students represent 3.4% of the total student body.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://experience.kennesaw.edu/fall-2023-enrollment|access-date=November 6, 2023 |title=FALL 2023 ENROLLMENT - Kennesaw State University in Georgia }}</ref>
=== Fraternities and sororities ===
Kennesaw State University is home to twenty-one [[fraternities and sororities in North America|fraternities and sororities]]: twelve of the [[North American Interfraternity Conference]] (IFC), eight of the [[National Panhellenic Conference]] (NPC), nine of the [[National Pan-Hellenic Council]] (NPHC), eight of the [[National Multicultural Greek Council]] (MGC) and two service Greeks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kennesaw.edu/greeklife/councils.html |title=Chapter and Councils |publisher=Kennesaw State University |date=2014 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |archive-date=March 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313181923/http://www.kennesaw.edu/greeklife/councils.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Less than seven percent of the undergraduate student body is active in KSU's Greek system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ir.kennesaw.edu/docs/Fast_Facts_Fall_2016_03-03-2017___FINAL.pdf |title=Fast facts |date=2016 |website=ir.kennesaw.edu |access-date=May 13, 2019}}</ref>
== Athletics ==
{{main|Kennesaw State Owls}}
[[File:Kennesaw State Scrappy.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Scrappy's retired mascot during new student orientation]]
Kennesaw State University's athletic teams are called the Owls. The school colors are black and gold.<ref>{{citation|url=https://styleguide.kennesaw.edu/index.php|title=Visual Identity Program}}</ref>
The Owls participate in Division I of the NCAA and as a member of [[Conference USA]]. Athletics began in the 1981–82 academic year, with KSU joining both the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GIAC). James "Spec" Landrum was named the school's first athletic director, after football coaching stints at both Georgia and Georgia Tech. After Division I's Gulf Star Conference dissolved in 1987, Commissioner Dave Waples replaced the retiring Landrum that fall. The school won its initial National title in 1994, as coach Mike Sansing's baseball team won the NAIA championship. In the fall of 1994, KSU officially joined the NCAA, Division II, Peach Belt Conference. The Owls dominated the loop for the next 11-years, including DII National crowns in softball (1995 and 1996, coach Scott Whitlock), baseball (1996, coach Sansing), women's soccer (2003, coach Rob King) and men's basketball (2004, coach Tony Ingle). Kennesaw State is one of two division II schools to win a national championship in four different team sports, Grand Valley State University being the other. KSU also won several other regional and divisional championships. Both men's and women's cross-country coach Stan Sims and women's basketball coach Colby Tilley made numerous appearance in NCAA, DII, National competition.
In 2005, the Owls began the painful four-year transition to Division I of the NCAA. The university fully transitioned to Division I status in the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the beginning of the 2009–10 season. Vaughn Williams was hired in April 2011 as the university's third director of athletics. He had previously served for six and a half years as UConn's associate athletic director, where he was responsible for strategic planning, facility master planning, and policy and procedure improvement.
The Owls announced they would start a Division I [[Football Championship Subdivision]] football team on November 14, 2013. Their first football game was against the [[East Tennessee State Buccaneers]] in [[Johnson City, Tennessee]], on September 3, 2015. The Owls initially competed as a part of the [[Big South Conference]] because the ASUN did not sponsor football. Head Coach Brian Bohannon stated at the time that Kennesaw State had no interest in playing any games in exchange for guaranteed payments in the team's first few years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/kennesaw-state-first-football-opponent-set/z1RqRvpdMderRTnecieFiP/|title=Kennesaw State's first football opponent set|first=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last=Doug Roberson|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> By the end of 2019 the Kennesaw Owls tallied a 48-15 total record from the beginning of the program, giving the team the record of most wins for a football program in its first five years.<ref>{{citation|url=https://ksuowls.com/documents/2020/3/30/2020_Football_Record_Book.pdf|title=2020 Football Record Book (PDF)|date=March 2022}}</ref>
The Owls play home games at [[Fifth Third Bank Stadium]] in Kennesaw. KSU announced in 2022 that they would be leaving the ASUN Conference for Conference USA in all sports starting in the 2024–2025 academic year.<ref>{{citation|url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2022/10/14/general-c-usa-adds-kennesaw-state-owls-to-join-in-2024.aspx|title=C-USA Adds Kennesaw State, Owls to Join in 2024|date=October 14, 2022}}</ref> With the move, the Owls Football program moved from NCAA Division I FCS to NCAA Division I FBS competition.
== Traditions ==
=== School colors ===
The official Kennesaw State University school colors are black and gold.
=== Mascot ===
Kennesaw State University's mascot is Scrappy the Owl.
Kennesaw State University also has a live mascot, Sturgis the Owl, named after Dr. Horace T. Sturgis, the first president of Kennesaw State.
== Notable people ==
=== Alumni ===
* [[Nick Ayers]], former [[Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the United States]]
* [[Michael Caldwell]], [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[Georgia House of Representatives]]
* [[Arturo Char]], former [[Senator of Colombia]] and First Secretary of the Colombian Embassy in London
* [[Kristi DeMeester]], writer
* [[Willie Harris]], professional baseball player, [[World Series]] Champion with [[Chicago White Sox]], 2005
* [[Dar'shun Kendrick]], [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[Georgia House of Representatives]]
* [[Charles Lollar]], businessman and politician
* [[Richard Lovelady]], baseball player
* [[Masey McLain]], movie actress
* [[Larry Nelson]], golf player
* [[Kandice Pelletier]], [[Miss New York]] 2005, appeared on CBS's ''[[The Amazing Race 10]]'' (attended)
* [[Ty Pennington]], host of ABC's ''[[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]]'' and TLC's ''[[Trading Spaces]]'' (attended)
* [[Max Pentecost]], first round pick in [[2014 MLB Draft]]
* [[Nels S.D. Peterson]], lawyer
* [[Mac Powell]], singer
* [[Shannon Purser]], actress
* [[Bronson Rechsteiner]], wrestler and football player
* [[Ali Shilatifard]], molecular biologist
* [[Lauren Simmons]], stockbroker
* [[Doug Stoner]], [[Georgia State Senator]]
* [[Drew Thomas]], comedian<ref>{{cite news |last=McIntyre |first=Michael K. |date=2019-04-17 |title=Drew Thomas at the MGM Northfield, and the Alan Cox Show Comedy Tour hits the Cleveland Masonic |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2019/04/drew-thomas-at-the-mgm-northfield-and-the-alan-cox-show-comedy-tour-hits-the-cleveland-masonic.html |newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]] |accessdate=2024-05-19 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519010806/https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2019/04/drew-thomas-at-the-mgm-northfield-and-the-alan-cox-show-comedy-tour-hits-the-cleveland-masonic.html |archivedate=2024-05-19 }}</ref>
* [[James Wade (basketball)|James Wade]], basketball player and coach
* [[Richard Woods (politician)|Richard Woods]], Georgia Superintendent of Schools
=== Professors and scholars ===
*[[Joe Bock (academic)|Joe Bock]], Director, School of Conflict Management
*[[Rhubarb Jones]], professor of mass communications
*[[Farooq Kperogi]], professor of journalism and emerging media
*[[Melanie Sumner]], writer
*[[Kerwin Swint]], professor of political science
*[[Britain J. Williams]], computer science professor
==Demographics==
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Kennesaw State University CDP
|official_name =
|settlement_type = [[Census-designated place]]
|nickname =
|motto =
<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline = Kennesaw State University CDP (2020).jpg
|imagesize = 400
|image_caption =
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
<!-- Maps -->
|image_map =
|map_caption =
|pushpin_map = Georgia#USA
|pushpin_label =
|pushpin_map_caption =
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Georgia|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Cobb County|Cobb]]
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 =
|established_title =
|established_date =
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_sq_mi =
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes =
|population_total = 382
|population_density_sq_mi= auto
<!-- General information -->
|timezone = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset = −6
|timezone_DST = CDT
|utc_offset_DST = −5
|elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/>
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft = 1063
|coordinates =
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code =
|area_code =
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info =
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 2806016<ref name=GNIS>{{Cite gnis|2806016|Kennesaw State University Census Designated Place}}</ref>
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
'''Kennesaw State University CDP''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) and the official name for an area covering the Kennesaw State University campus in [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb County]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. It does not include the Kennesaw State University campus in [[Marietta, Georgia|Marietta]]. It first appeared as a CDP in the 2020 Census<ref name=GNIS/> with a population of 382.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kennesaw State University CDP, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1343210|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 13, 2022}}</ref>
The CDP is in the [[Cobb County School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13067_cobb/DC20SD_C13067.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cobb County, GA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|page=1 (PDF p. 2/5)|access-date=2024-09-25}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13067_cobb/DC20SD_C13067_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{US Census population
|2020= 382
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}
===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Kennesaw State University CDP, Georgia – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kennesaw State University CDP, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1343210&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|166
|43.46%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|152
|39.79%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|4
|1.05%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|16
|4.19%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|0
|0.00%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiacial]] (NH)
|13
|3.40%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|31
|8.12%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''382'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}
{{clear}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://ksuowls.com/ Kennesaw State Athletics website]
{{Kennesaw State Navbox}}
{{Navboxes
|titlestyle = background: #2D2926; color: white; {{box-shadow border|a|#FFC629|2px}}
|list =
{{Colleges and universities in metropolitan Atlanta}}
{{Conference USA navbox}}
{{UnivSysGa}}
}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Kennesaw State University| ]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1963]]
[[Category:Public universities and colleges in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Kennesaw, Georgia]]
[[Category:Marietta, Georgia]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Education in Cobb County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Cobb County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Cobb County, Georgia]]
[[Category:1963 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
| |||