Kennesaw State University, under the leadership of Dr. Dan Papp, is focused on student success and service in the community. Over the last year, our University was challenged and rose to the occasion with outstanding academic and community service. Here are a few of our accomplishments and descriptions of how KSU goes above and beyond our mission to provide exceptional service in scholarship, student support, and community service: Kennesaw State University is Respectful: As part of our strategic goal “to enhance the collegiate experience and foster a welcoming, diverse and inclusive environment.” we have established a cabinet level officer of Diversity and Inclusion. In 2014, the Ignite initiative was launched to determine a baseline for campus culture. Some of the findings included: A majority of faculty and staff hold positive attitudes about work-life balance issues such as support for taking necessary leave (65 percent) and flexible work schedules (75 percent). A majority of students feel positive about their academic experience, including the extent of their intellectual development (81 percent); an increased interest in ideas and intellectual matters (79 percent); and satisfaction with their overall academic experience (79 percent). While these numbers are encouraging, they also reveal work that still needs to be done. To address diversity and respect issues, Kennesaw State University continues to engage in research, education, and initiatives to make all students welcome and help them thrive, including campus-wide bystander intervention training, crime reporting programs, and programs for international and minority students. In addition, Kennesaw State is the first University System of Georgia institution to hire a victim services advocate, who will be housed in the campus police department’s new Office of Victim Services. Kennesaw State University minority enrollment has risen steadily from a small percentage in the 1980’s to approximately 1/3 of the student body in 2014. This is a reflection of the welcoming environment for all students at our institution. Kennesaw State University is Accessible: We have expanded our majors and with them opportunities for more students. Kennesaw State University is now one of the 50 largest public universities with 33,000 students from 130 different countries enrolled for fall 2015. In his opening of the university address, Dr. Papp noted: As a newly designated comprehensive university “KSU will focus on undergraduate and master’s degrees, while at the same time, in measured ways, adding doctoral and Ph.D. programs at both the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses,” he said. “This is exactly what we have been doing and what we will continue to do.” -Dr. Papp Dr. Papp noted that today, Kennesaw State offers 99 bachelor’s degrees, 44 master’s degrees and 12 doctoral programs. The doctoral degrees include: • Eight doctorates in education; • Two professional doctorates – one in nursing and one in business; and • Two Ph.D.s – one in international conflict management and one in data analytics. Our tuition and fees remain one of the lowest in the state and the nation for a four year degree, making academic success reachable for more of our states citizens and our students from around the nation and world. We have a new international presence with the opening of the new education abroad facility in Montepulciano, Italy. This new international campus is a welcome addition to our other five campuses and satellite locations, bringing quality higher education to more students nationally and internationally. Kennesaw State University is Informed: While our focus is undergraduate education, Kennesaw State and Southern Polytechnic each had “welldeserved reputations as excellent teaching and educational institutions”. The newly consolidated Kennesaw State will maintain that same standard while adding a new emphasis on basic and applied research. KSU has had an increase of 550% in research grants over the last 12 years, now totaling $11million in 2014. Kennesaw State University continues to graduate informed citizens ready for the workplace. KSU leads the state in the number of Teachers and Nurses graduated. In the last decade, according to the American Society for Engineering Education, Southern Polytechnic State University was ranked #5 for the most engineering technology degrees awarded in the United States and was #4 in the number awarded to female graduates in that same time. In order to unify both campuses and provide exceptional service, a new course highlighting our shared history and the USG service standards was created. The Owl Way, introduced in 2014, has been completed by over 300 full time employees and continues to be a popular course. Kennesaw State University is Supportive: In 2014, the consolidation of KSU with nearby Southern Polytechnic University created the “New KSU” and with it opportunities to raise the already excellent level of service, research, and scholarship that both universities are known for. Consolidation, while saving taxpayer and tuition funds, and creating a more comprehensive university, comes with challenges. The “New U” achieved remarkable results in consolidating the two campuses while maintaining standards of service. Increased enrollment for the combined institutions in 2015 is evidence of that outstanding support and service. Internal service was key to the success of consolidation. Employees from both campuses were supported with a dedicated web site http://www.ksuspsuconsolidation.com/ , training on how to thrive during change http://www.ksulearning.com/uploads/1/4/7/6/14767780/new_thriving_during_change__pdf.pdf , a herculean and successful IT transition program, HR and payroll consolidation, constant communication and leadership from the President and cabinet, dedicated work teams made up of faculty and staff, and many other support activities. Student and employee volunteer efforts were carried out in support of the Marietta Campus in the sometimes difficult transition. Going forward, administrative funds saved will be spent on one-time needs and capital improvements like new signage, IT upgrades, new roofs, and building and laboratory renovations, and in succeeding years put directly towards students’ academic success and research, scholarship, and creative activity. In his opening of the university address, President Papp said “As a consolidated university, we can look at what we do and ask, ‘Is this needed, and if so, is there a better way to do it?’ If the answer is ‘yes,’ most of the time, we can then do it.” Kennesaw State University is Responsive: Kennesaw State University is responsive to each other as internal customers, as well as our community. We recognize the needs of our students and community beyond the classroom. We have an international reach with over 2000 international students and 800 of our students studying abroad. Our community service efforts are huge, including service projects incorporated into employee development programs and student curricula. Volunteer KSU http://vksu.kennesaw.edu/ and our Community Engagement office coordinate tens of thousands of volunteer hours for local organizations, a community food bank, an annual KSU day of service, pet shelters, counselling centers, and much more. In 2014 Kennesaw State was recognized by the Carnegie Foundation with its Community Engagement Classification. Receiving this designation is a prestigious honor and places KSU as part of a select group of institutions that are considered national leaders in community engagement. Kennesaw State was recognized for numerous initiatives including: The Office of Community Engagement within the Division of Academic Affairs Museums, exhibits, and more than 3,000 arts and educational events open to the public Nearly a dozen institutional and academic college-level honors and awards programs to recognize students, faculty, staff and community volunteers A Volunteer KSU (VKSU) office, which actively recruits, trains and provides transportation for students who volunteer to work at some 300 local service organizations and agencies; Active engagement with Corporate Partners, to identify opportunities to expand connections with Kennesaw and the larger community. You can view details of the application here: http://communityengagement.kennesaw.edu/about/Kennesaw%20State%20University%20Carnegie%2 02015%20Application%20Distribution%20Copy.pdf It would be impossible to list all of the awards for service received by KSU faculty, staff and students. But here is a selection of university wide recognition recently received: “Up-and-Coming” Regional Universities in the South (4th) — U.S. News & World Report One of nation’s best first-year programs for 11 consecutive years — U.S. News & World Report “Great Colleges to Work For” 5 Consecutive Years – Chronicle of Higher Education Top 40 part-time MBA programs — Michael J. Coles College of Business — U.S. News & World Report One of the nation’s top schools for veterans — Military Times One of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the U.S. and Canada — Princeton Review Innovator of the Year for our “Farm to Campus” program and LEED certified Commons dining facility — National Restaurant Association Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization — NAFSA: The Association for International Educators Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education — Institute for International Education Despite the challenges of consolidation, the New Kennesaw State University has not paused in its commitment to provide exceptional service to all of our constituents, students, employees, community and world.