Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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College of the Arts
Q: How can I get involved in efforts to promote diversity and equity in the College of the Arts (COTA)?
A: COTA sponsors many events and activities that contribute to our Diversity and Equity mission. If you're a KSU student, faculty, or staff member, please feel free to contact one of your colleagues or other members of the Diversity & Equity Committee.
Q: What groups are covered in the College's definition of Diversity?
A: COTA embraces an all-inclusive defintion of this term and strives "to promote inclusion in all activities of the College of the Arts" (Diversity and Equity Mission Statement). Several members of the Diversity and Equity Committee also worked on the university-wide Diversity and Equity Assessment Initiative, which helped to establish a new campus administrative unit devoted to these concerns led by a Chief Diversity Officer, Jennifer Wade-Berg.
Q: How can I be sure that any issues I bring to the Diversity and Equity Committee will be kept in confidence and anonymity?
A: We recognize and will honor your request for anonymity. If, for any reason, you would prefer to speak to a non-COTA affiliated listener, please consider contacting the Office of the Ombuds, where the KSU community can turn for "impartial, objective, and confidential" assistance.
Q: What should I do if I have been discriminated against?
A: Contact the Office of Student Success Services. Depending on the nature of the discriminatory claim (academic or non-academic), the student will be advised of his/her options and guided through the appropriate university process to evaluate the validity of the claim and seek appropriate university action.
Q: What resources and/or services do you offer for non-native speakers of English?
A: Kennesaw State University (KSU) offers English as a Second Language (ESL) courses through our Continuing Education department. KSU also features a study and tutorial center as well as a conversation partners program, hosted by the Department of University Studies. To learn more about ESL at KSU, click here.
School of Music
Q: As a student in Music Education, will I have the opportunity to gain the experience and knowledge necessary to prepare for a diversified classroom atmosphere?
A: Yes, as a student in Music Education, you will get to work with students from a variety of diverse social and economic backgrounds. You are encouaraged to gain the experience of teaching in an environment different from your own educational experience--this helps you gain a more well-rounded perspective that will better prepare you for future work in an increasingly diverse field.
Q: As a Music major, will I have an opportunity to gain more knowledge about other cultures' music practices?
A: Yes, you will be required to take a world music class, where you learn about other cultures' music practices, values, and where students from various cultures and backgrounds are encouraged to participate and share their perspectives. This class is typically taught by an ethnomusicologist, or a scholar who studies how music is appreciated and practiced in diverse cultures.
Department of Visual Arts
--forthcoming--
Department of Theatre & Performance Studies (includes Dance)
Q: Is diversity included in the Theatre & Performance Studies curriculum?
A: Yes, it is interwoven throughout many of the courses. In addition, the Department engages with the "Year of" programming by highlighting performance, design, and scholarship related to the country featured by the university.
Q: Is inclusivity reflected in the season selection?
A: We hope so--we strive to reflect our diverse community as well as to support our institution's global teaching and learning Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) through our yearly programming. Take a look at our Production Spotlight page for images from previous seasons of performances for a glimpse of what we've done thus far.
Q: What about auditioning--are shows cast using color blind casting or seniority?
A: It depends on the piece and the director's vision, of course, but the Department of Theatre & Performance Studies has a strong record of working with actors of diverse races, ethnicities, and ages. In addition, in the classroom, many students study the performance of gender, race, spirituality, sexuality, age, and other components of an inclusive definition of diversity. As for seniority, while experience can make a difference in an individual's performance during an audition, we hold open auditions and do not require that those auditioning be majors in the department.