A Message from the Dean

It is my pleasure to welcome you to University College. We offer a variety of curricular and co-curricular programs, projects and services to help you achieve academic success at Kennesaw State University. University College houses a variety of University-wide programs. In the Department of First-Year Programs are the nationally recognized and award-winning First Year Seminar (KSU 1101) and Learning Communities programs. In the Department of University Studies are the award-winning Honors Program, the Joint Enrollment Honors Program, the Sophomore Year Experience, the Senior Year Experience, the English as a Second Language Study & Tutorial Center, the Math Lab, Learning Support Programs, Supplemental Instruction and a variety of other services. Each of these programs is designed to promote engagement with the university and the communities it serves, and to help you succeed in your progression toward graduation. I invite you to use the links to the left to explore the web pages for these two departments to find out more about these exciting and rewarding programs and services.

For exploratory students who have not yet declared an academic major, University College will be your academic home and we will work closely with the CAPS Center and with the Center for Student Leadership to provide academic advising for you until such time as you declare a major.

The University System of Georgia is placing great emphasis on improving the retention, progression and graduation (RPG) rates at its 35 institutions. This system-wide RPG initiative has provided some additional funding to KSU. University College in collaboration with the CAPS Center and the Center for Student Leadership will be in the forefront of that effort through the use of advising teams for exploratory students, expansion of our Supplemental Instruction program, development of an Early Warning/Early Intervention program for students heading toward academic difficulty and a Summer Bridge Program to help better prepare students for the university experience.

University College is also the home of KSU’s Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) major housed in the Department of University Studies. This program allows students to design an individualized “contract major” involving two or more disciplines to create a unique program not otherwise offered at KSU. I invite you to click on the link above to explore this major more thoroughly. One of the most exciting developments for this program is the development of an Environmental Studies Concentration with tracks in Environmental Science and Environmental Policy.

In addition to the programs and services in the Department of University Studies, the Dean of University College has responsibility for several university-wide initiatives. Working closely with the General Education Council, this office oversees the General Education program and the Council on Undergraduate Academic Advising. I also serve as the campus coordinator for KSU's involvement in the American Democracy Project (ADP) and the Political Engagement Project (PEP). I also chair the University Retention Committee. Use the links to the left to access more information about these areas.

In collaboration with other campus departments and colleges, the Dean of University College works to maintain the high quality programs that have long characterized Kennesaw State University. Together with the highly qualified and caring faculty of KSU, we focus on student academic excellence and success.

We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ralph J. Rascati
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
& Dean of University College
Professor of Biology