The Student Development Center is located in Suite 267 of the Student Center. The Center serves to enrich and expand offerings in the areas of minority and international student retention services, disabled student support services, adult learner programs, volunteerism and student community service. The main office is open weekdays from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m. and can be reached by phone at 770-423-6443.

The Odyssey Program is offered by the Student Development Center. Odyssey is a peer-mentoring program that helps freshman and transfer students make a smooth transition to campus by pairing them with a more experienced KSU student.

Minority Student Retention Services
A number of factors have a direct or indirect impact on retention of black students at a major institution like Kennesaw State University. These factors include the quality of support services, professors' expectations and attitudes, the atmosphere of the campus with regard to socialization and programming, and the level of isolation and alienation experienced by the students.

Through the Office of Minority Student Retention Services (OMSRS), minority students are provided with support services that include advisement, advocacy to facilitate problem solving, exposure to mentors and role models, information on campus and community resources, and multicultural programming.

Some of the programs and services offered through the OMSRS include: P.L.U.S. - Project Let Us Succeed. P.L.U.S. features Protégé, a program that matches new students with faculty and staff members for mentoring and/or academic advising; Phoenix, a series of workshops on academic, personal and social topics; and Linkages, a service that informs students about scholarships and grants and connects them with the various KSU minority student organizations. P.L.U.S. also provides services such as personal counseling and advocacy to facilitate problem solving.

The OMSRS also actively encourages students to become involved in the various student organizations on campus, including the African American Student Alliance (AASA), the NAACP, Rising Images (a multicultural theatrical group), the Native American Student Organization (NASO), and the predominantly black sororities ­ Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

The OMSRS also offers the Cultural Awareness and Resource Center (CARC) which features a wide array of diverse books, magazines and videotapes available to students, staff and faculty. Also, in the CARC, is a computer lab where students can check their e-mail and surf the net. A math tutor is available by appointment.

For more information about the OMSRS and the CARC, contact the coordinator of Minority Student Retention Services at 770-499-3546.

International Student Retention Services
The Office of International Student Retention Services (OISRS) serves as an advocate and resource for international students. The OISRS provides counseling and advising pertaining to cross cultural adjustment, academic concerns and referrals regarding financial matters and course scheduling. The coordinator develops and implements educational, social and cultural programs, activities and workshops for international students. Services such as the Friends Abroad Program, International Student Locator, ISONET (International Students On the Net) and Liaisons are available to assist students in their adjustment to a different culture. The International Student Handbook is available in hardcopy from the OISRS or on the net at http://www.Kennesaw.EDU/stu_dev/isrs/handbook.html.

The coordinator of the OISRS is also the advisor for the International Student Association (ISA). The ISA brings together students of all nations for intercultural, social, and athletic exchange.

OSIRS also hosts The Global Village, a facility that provides a gathering place for internationally centered activities, resources, discussions, and exhibits.

Disabled Student Support Services
Kennesaw State University provides program accessibility and reasonable accommodations for persons defined as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A number of services are available to help disabled students with their academic work. In order to make arrangements for special services, students must visit the Office of Disabled Student Support Services and arrange an individual assistance plan. In some cases, certification of disability is required.Special services are based on medical and/or psychological certification of disability, eligibility for services by outside agencies and ability to complete tasks required in courses. Any individual with a disability who wishes to participate in an activity or program offered by the institution and needs accommodations should contact the office sponsoring the program at least five days prior to the date of the program so that arrangements can be made.

Accommodative services may include, but are not limited to, handicap-accessible parking spaces, special test rooms, classroom accessibility, modifications of printed materials, sign language interpreters, assistance with getting class notes, tape recording, library and laboratory assistance, adaptive computer equipment, and referral to community resources.

Eligible students deliver certification letters to faculty at the beginning of each semester identifying the accommodations approved. The assistant director for Disabled Student Support Services works with faculty members to assure that students with special needs receive appropriate accommodations.

Workshops on relevant topics designed to meet the unique needs of disabled students are offered frequently during each semester. Individual assistance with study skills, assignment completion, and test preparation is available.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to become active members of the Disabled Student Support Services Advisory Committee and to have a part in promoting awareness of the important contributions made by students with disabilities to the life of the university and the community. The committee also works to increase the accessibility of the university and to represent the interests of students with disabilities to the university administration. Individuals with hearing impairment may contact the university's assistant director for Disabled Student Support Services by TDD at 770-423-6480.

Adult Learner Programs
Adult Learner Programs at KSU offer a variety of innovative programs and services to meet the needs of the "nontraditional" student-those students who are 25 or older or who have "nontraditional" life-styles such as family, children, and employment. Offerings include a peer mentor service, workshops for students re-entering school, parenting workshops, and programs for the college students' children. Childcare information is provided as well as an opportunity for students to participate in a childcare subsidy program. A major program sponsored by ALP is the WINGS Ceremony for graduating seniors to recognize those individuals that have helped them through college. KSU students, faculty, and staff interested in adult learner concerns are provided resource materials, consultation services, and networking opportunities. The office is housed in the Lifelong Learning Center, a resource center for adult learners.

Lifelong Learning Center
The Lifelong Learning Center (LLC) serves as a resource center for adult learners (students over the traditional college age or living "nontraditional" college life-styles such as family and employment). The center makes the university experience more pleasant and beneficial by providing programs and services specifically designed for students returning to college or starting college later in life. The center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

Resources in the LLC include information and referral services, computers, television/video playback unit, and cassette player for student use. An emergency locator service, typewriter checkout, a resource library with books, and audio and videotapes are available for students to check out. The LLC also houses a study/socializing area complete with kitchenette, message board, racks of magazines, resource brochures, and bulletin boards with campus and community information, childcare information, free telephone, and free coffee. Other services include workshops and programs on a variety of topics including parenting skills, succeeding in college, and programming for children such as Disney Days.

Student Community Service
Student Community Service is an important outreach for Kennesaw State University. Not only does volunteer service provide an avenue for individuals to give something back to the community, but it is also a vehicle for service learning, which unites classroom study and on-site community service. Service learning is a component of a growing number of university courses. Additional information regarding service learning can be obtained through Volunteer Kennesaw State University. VKSU is a campus center, which coordinates a variety of service placements and projects.

Volunteer Kennesaw State University
VKSU is a campus based community service center matching student volunteer skills and talents with community needs. Since 1984, in cooperation with more than 150 agencies, VKSU has served as a clearing house for volunteer placements which include: Habitat For Humanity, Red Cross Blood Drives, MUST Ministries and providing tutoring/mentoring services to at risk children from the Cobb County and Marietta Schools. In addition to traditional volunteer placements, VKSU also regularly coordinates group service projects called Involve to Solve. VKSU serves an educational role, too, by providing a practical opportunity for students to explore career options and experience volunteer services in their major field of interest. Student community service can provide valuable job experience as a prelude to career opportunities. Students are invited to stop by the VKSU office where student employees will help them in reviewing service opportunities. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.