Kennesaw State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Kennesaw Junior College (1966–1976) Kennesaw College (1976–1988) Kennesaw State College (1988–1996) Southern Polytechnic State University (merged 2015) |
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| Motto | "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | October 9, 1963 |
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Parent institution
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University System of Georgia |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Academic affiliation
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $100 million (2021) |
| Budget | $566 million (2019) |
| President | Kathy Schwaig |
| Provost | Ivan Pulinkala |
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Academic staff
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1,004 |
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Administrative staff
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2,000 |
| Students | 45,152 (Fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 40,591 (Fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 4,561 (Fall 2023) |
| Location |
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United States
34°02′17″N 84°34′59″W / 34.038°N 84.583°W |
| Campus | Large suburb, 581 acres (2.35 km2) |
| Newspaper | The Sentinel |
| Colors | Black and gold |
| Nickname | Owls |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FCS – ASUN (CUSA in 2024) |
| Mascot | Scrappy the Owl |
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Kennesaw State University (KSU) is a large public university in Georgia. It has two main campuses near Atlanta, one in Kennesaw and another in Marietta. These campuses cover a total of 581 acres.
KSU was started in 1963 by the Georgia Board of Regents. This happened during a time when Georgia was growing a lot after World War II. KSU also offers classes in other nearby towns. With over 45,000 students, KSU is the third-largest university in Georgia.
KSU is part of the University System of Georgia. It is known as a "research university" because it does a lot of important research. Kennesaw State's sports teams, called the Owls, play in NCAA Division I. They are currently in the ASUN Conference but will join Conference USA in 2024.
KSU's History: From College to University
How KSU Started in 1963
Kennesaw State University began on October 9, 1963. It was first called Cobb County Junior College. In 1964, Horace Sturgis became its first president. When the school opened in 1966, it was named Kennesaw Junior College. It started with 1,014 students.
Growing into Kennesaw College
Thirteen years later, in 1976, Kennesaw Junior College became a four-year college. It was then called Kennesaw College. In 1981, Betty Siegel became the second president. She was the first woman to lead a university in the University System of Georgia.
By 1985, KSU started offering its first advanced degrees in business and education. The college grew quickly and even built student housing. In 1988, it was renamed Kennesaw State College.
Becoming a Major University
Kennesaw State officially became a university in 1996. Its baseball and softball teams won national championships that same year. The Owls continued to do well in sports. The women's soccer team won in 2003, and the men's basketball team won in 2004. Because of their success, the Owls moved up to Division I sports in 2005.
In 2004, KSU was recognized for its strong programs in computer security. This placed KSU among top schools in the country for this field. Daniel S. Papp became the university's third president in 2006. KSU also started offering its first doctoral degrees, which are the highest level of university degrees.
On November 1, 2013, Kennesaw State University announced it would merge with Southern Polytechnic State University. This merger happened in 2015, with Kennesaw State becoming the main university. To honor Southern Polytechnic, KSU created the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.
In 2015, Kennesaw State was recognized for its strong involvement with the local community. In 2016, Sam Olens became the university's president. He left in 2018, and Pamela Whitten became the next president until 2021. Kathy Schwaig was named the sixth president in 2022.
In 2018, KSU was classified as a doctoral research institution. This means it does a lot of high-level research.
KSU's Campuses
Kennesaw State University has two main campuses. They cover a total of 581 acres. The Kennesaw campus is right next to a major highway, Interstate 75. This allows people to see parts of the campus from the road.
Kennesaw Campus Highlights
Social Sciences Building
The Social Sciences building is a large, modern building. It has a big auditorium, a cinema classroom, and many classrooms with advanced technology. There's even a Starbucks inside! This building was designed to be very energy efficient. In 2020, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences was renamed after Norman and Lindy Radow, who gave a large gift to the school.
Spaceship Earth Sculpture
Next to the Social Sciences Building was a huge sculpture called "Spaceship Earth." It weighed 350,000 pounds and was created by artist Eino. The sculpture was meant to remind everyone to take care of our planet. It was rebuilt in 2010 after it collapsed in 2006. However, it was taken down in 2022 because of ongoing problems.
Convocation Center
The Convocation Center is a large building used for many things. It's home to KSU's basketball teams. It also hosts classes, lectures, concerts, plays, and graduation ceremonies. It has locker rooms and offices for the sports department. With seating for 4,800 people, it's the biggest center of its kind in northwest Georgia.
Bentley Rare Book Gallery
The Bentley Rare Book Gallery and Special Collections holds about 15,000 special items. These include old books and unique documents.
Dr. Bobbie Bailey and Family Performance Center
The Bailey Performance Center opened in 2007. It has a 630-seat auditorium and is the main building for Kennesaw State's School of Music.
Other Important Buildings
The older part of the Kennesaw campus has buildings like the University College and the Pilcher Public Service and Library. In 2009, a new dining hall called The Commons opened. It can seat 1,500 people. A large new dorm called "University Suites" opened in 2008, providing 915 beds for first-year students.
Marietta Campus
The Marietta Campus used to be Southern Polytechnic State University. It has its own history and buildings.
Student Housing
The Marietta campus has several dorms and apartment buildings for students. These include Howell Hall, Hornet Village, University Commons, University Courtyard, and University Columns. These buildings were originally for Southern Polytechnic students and are now used by Kennesaw State students.
What Students Learn at KSU
Kennesaw State University is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is known as a comprehensive institution by the University System of Georgia.
In 2016, KSU was recognized as a "national university" by U.S. News. This was because it became a research university, meaning it does a lot of important research. In 2018, KSU was given an "R2 status," which means it has "high research activity."
Colleges and Degrees
KSU has 13 different colleges. These colleges offer many types of degrees:
- 52 bachelor's degrees (your first college degree)
- 21 master's degree programs (advanced degrees)
- One specialist degree
- Five doctoral programs (the highest degrees)
In total, Kennesaw State offers 80 different undergraduate and graduate degrees.
- College of the Arts
- Coles College of Business
- University College
- College of Science and Mathematics
- Bagwell College of Education
- Wellstar College of Health and Human Services
- Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Graduate College
- Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
- College of Computing and Software Engineering
- College of Continuing and Professional Education
- College of Architecture and Construction Management
- Honors College
Continuing Education
Kennesaw State has a very large Department of Continuing Education. This department offers classes and training for adults who want to learn new skills or improve their careers. It's located at the KSU Center, a mile from the main campus.
KSU is also home to Georgia's largest Educational Technology Training Center (ETTC). Teachers from all over the state come here for special training.
Research at KSU
KSU focuses its research on four main areas:
- Biomedical and Health
- Computing and Technology
- Human Development and Well-being
- Sustainable and Safe Communities
Student Life at KSU
Student Groups
KSU has about 300 different student groups and organizations. Students can join these groups to meet new friends, explore interests, and get involved in campus life. Many of these groups can get money from a student committee to help with their activities.
Student Media
- The Sentinel (KSU) is the official student newspaper. It comes out every week during the school year.
- The Peak is a magazine for Kennesaw State University students.
- Owl Radio is the student-run online radio station. You can listen to it online or on a mobile app.
- Talisman was the name of the university's former student yearbook.
Student Diversity
In Fall 2023, Kennesaw State had a diverse student body. About 49% of students were male and 51% were female. Students came from many different backgrounds, including White, Black/African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and multi-racial. A small percentage of students were from other countries.
Fraternities and Sororities
Kennesaw State University has 21 different fraternities and sororities. These are social organizations that students can join. Less than 7% of undergraduate students are part of these groups.
KSU Sports: The OwlsKennesaw State University's sports teams are called the Owls. Their school colors are black and gold. The Owls play in Division I of the NCAA, which is the highest level of college sports. They are part of the ASUN Conference. KSU started its sports programs in 1981. The baseball team won its first national title in 1994. In the fall of 1994, KSU joined NCAA Division II. The Owls were very successful, winning national championships in:
Kennesaw State is one of only two Division II schools to win national championships in four different team sports! In 2005, the Owls began moving up to NCAA Division I. They fully became a Division I school in the 2009–10 season. On November 14, 2013, the Owls announced they would start a Division I football team. Their first football game was on September 3, 2015. By the end of 2019, the Kennesaw Owls had a great record, winning more games than any other new football program in its first five years. The Owls play their home games at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw. In 2022, KSU announced that its sports teams would join Conference USA starting in the 2024–2025 school year. This means the football team will move to the highest level of college football, NCAA Division I FBS. KSU TraditionsSchool ColorsThe official colors for Kennesaw State University are black and gold. MascotKennesaw State University's mascot is Scrappy the Owl. Famous People from KSUAlumni (Former Students)
Professors and Scholars
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