Institutional Mission of Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State is a proud public university in the University System of Georgia, located in the densely populated and rapidly developing northwest region of Greater Metropolitan Atlanta. Chartered in 1963, KSU serves as a highly valued resource for this region's educational, economic, social, and cultural advancement.

This institution shares with all other units in the University System of Georgia the following characteristics:

• a supportive campus climate, necessary services, and leadership development opportunities, all to educate the whole person and meet the needs of students, faculty and staff;
• cultural, ethnic, racial, and gender diversity in the faculty, staff and student body supported by practices and programs that embody the ideals of an open, democratic, and global society;
• technology to advance educational purposes, including instructional technology, student support services, and distance education;
• collaborative relationships with other System institutions, State agencies, local schools and technical institutes, and business and industry, sharing physical, human, information, and other resources to expand and enhance programs and services available to the citizens of Georgia.

This institution shares with other state universities in the University System of Georgia the following characteristics:

• a commitment to excellence and responsiveness within a scope of influence defined by the needs of an area of the state, and by particularly outstanding programs or distinctive characteristics that have a magnet effect throughout the region or state;
• a commitment to teaching/learning environment, both inside and outside the classroom, that sustains instructional excellence, serves a diverse and university-prepared student body, promotes high levels of student achievement, offers academic assistance, and provides developmental studies programs for a limited student cohort;
• a high quality general education program supporting a variety of disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and professional academic programming at the baccalaureate level, with selected master's and educational specialist degrees, and selected associate degree programs based on area need and/or interinstitutional collaborations;
• a commitment to public service, continuing education, technical assistance, and economic development activities that address the needs, improve the quality of life, and raise the educational level within the university's scope of influence;
• a commitment to scholarly and creative work to enhance instructional effectiveness and to encourage faculty scholarly pursuits, and a commitment to applied research in selected areas of institutional strength and area need.

Kennesaw State University's distinctive characteristics are described as follows:

Kennesaw State serves a diverse student body in the northern suburbs of Atlanta and extending into northwest Georgia. It includes young adults who enroll as freshmen or undergraduate transfers and an equally large number of older adults who return or transfer to the university at different stages in their lives for undergraduate or graduate study. Students reside off campus and commute to classes. A majority pursue their academic goals on a part-time basis because of job, family and civic responsibilities. Significant numbers of international and minority students enroll. Many students pursue professionally oriented degrees, especially at the graduate level. Evening and weekend programs accommodate experienced professionals seeking academic advancement. A broad range of programs, services and activities are offered outside the classroom to enrich campus life and enhance student success and personal development.

Effective teaching and learning are central institutional priorities. Service and research that strengthen teaching and address the public's interests are important supportive priorities. Faculty, staff and administrators are committed to providing a challenging and facilitative collegiate environment that fosters high-quality academic preparation, critical thinking, global and multicultural perspectives, effective communication and interpersonal skills, leadership development, social responsibility and lifelong learning. Programs, up to and including a professional doctoral degree, that prepare students well for the advancement of professional pursuits are especially attractive and are offered in all schools of the university.

The foundation for all undergraduate majors is a comprehensive and coherent general education program that promotes internationalized and connected learning in the liberal arts tradition. A wide array of baccalaureate degree programs is offered, including majors in the arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, natural science, accounting, business fields, teacher education specialties, computing and information systems, and nursing. An expanding array of professional master's degrees exists in education specialties, accounting, business fields, public administration, professional writing and nursing.

KSU's commitment to public service is reflected through an extensive array of continuing education programs, service institutions and centers, nationally recognized lectures and conferences, collaboratives with the public schools, partnerships with business and governmental agencies, and international initiatives. The university plays a vital role in promoting and supporting regional interests in the visual, performing and cultural arts.

Research, scholarship, and creative activity are broadly defined and predominantly applied. The university honors action research on the improvement of teaching and learning; survey research for community and economic development; interdisciplinary studies in support of environmental, governmental, business or health interests; creative contributions in the arts and humanities; intellectual contributions; discovery research and academic publication; and the interpretation or application of academic research.

Kennesaw State University aspires to be a progressive and exemplary educational institution, respected for its excellence and leadership in teaching, service and research. The university is committed to continuous improvement in an increasingly diverse and constantly changing learning community.

Approved by the Board of Regents
August 2006