Faculty Support for All Aspects at KSU

Resources are organized to support faculty in building strong connections, affirming their personal and professional identities, and maintaining well-being throughout their academic journey. Each section offers access to programs, services, and support systems that encourage balance, growth, and belonging within the university environment. We provide resources for the Faculty Success support area of community, identity, and well-being. 

Community

  • The Kennesaw State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is the largest AAUP chapter in the state of Georgia, and exists to protect academic freedom and promote shared governance between faculty, staff, administrators, and students at Kennesaw State. 
  • The College of Professional Education offers courses for personal development and professional advancement in high-demand fields. Their goal is to help you achieve success through education.
  • Mutual Mentoring Groups, MMGs, provide an opportunity for KSU faculty to build community with like-minded peers and support each other while achieving goals within an area of focus, as defined by the group. Groups meet monthly or bimonthly, according to member preference.

Identity

  • NCFDD is an independent professional development, training, and mentoring community for faculty members, postdocs, and graduate students.

    KSU has an institutional membership.

  • The Division of Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership and Institutional Development at Kennesaw State University seeks to foster an inclusive learning and work environment that promotes an understanding of, and appreciation for, difference through initiatives, programs, services, and training.
     
  • The Office of Institutional Equity is responsible for ensuring that KSU complies with all applicable laws and policies regarding discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

  • Kennesaw State University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community. Incidents of harassment and discrimination will be met with appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, expulsion, or termination from KSU.

    Every member of the KSU community is expected to uphold this policy as a matter of mutual respect and fundamental fairness in human relations. All members of the faculty, staff, and student body are expected to ensure that nondiscriminatory practices are followed at the University.

    Visit the Reporting Discrimination site for more information. 

Well-Being

KSU Well-Being Resources

  • An Employee Assistance Program is professional help when you need it in your work or personal life. It's trained knowledgeable resources to provide advice for the many life issues we all face.  As a KSU employee, you and your family have the benefit of a customized assistance program which offers professional counseling and consultation.

    Counseling services include:

    • Phone support for crises and emergencies, provided by counselors who hold masters and doctoral degrees.
    • Phone support to arrange for in-person counseling.
    • Up to four in-person counseling sessions (per incident per year) for a range of personal issues, including depression, work-family balance, and substance abuse concerns.
    • Services accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Kennesaw State University Employee Wellness is here to serve you. The Employee Well-being Philosophy is to increase awareness of positive health behaviors, to motivate employees to voluntarily adopt healthier behaviors through providing opportunities and a supportive environment to foster positive lifestyle changes. They encourage mindful eating and research evidence-based health programs that support a holistic approach to physical & mental well-being.
  • KSU's Division of Student Affairs has many resources for students, faculty, and staff through Wellbeing@KSU.

USG Well-Being Resources

  • Kaiser Permanente

    Mental health is one of our nation’s most pressing public health issues. And whether you realize it or not, things like depression, anxiety, addiction, and stress are affecting your company’s bottom line. In the Mental Health and Wellness series (public to non-Kaiser members), we’ll explore the impact of mental health conditions on individual employees and American businesses. You’ll learn why it’s so important to prioritize employee mental health as part of your overall workforce health strategy — and how to do it in an effective, meaningful way.

    Anthem - BlueCross BlueShield

    1 million workers miss work every day due to workplace stress. This webpage from Anthem provides resources on mental health, stress management, and substance abuse.

  • The goal of the USG Wellness Initiative is to increase opportunities for our employees to participate in a program that will assist them to lead happier and healthier lives as well as aid in reducing personal and health care costs. Working in partnership with you, we will implement a comprehensive program of outreach, education and technical assistance with activities to combat obesity and inactivity.

Other Resources

  • "It’s not uncommon for early-career academics to lose professional ground because of family obligations. When I say "family obligations," I don’t mean being a working parent or deciding whether or not to have children. Those topics have been researched and written about extensively; we already know how parenting can set back an academic career.

    When nonwork hours are consumed with familial responsibilities, it can be nearly impossible to meet the ever-increasing expectations for publishing and service. The family obligations to which I am referring affect the 43.5 million Americans who are the primary unpaid caregiver for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend."

    Create a free account to read the full article on The Chronicle of Higher Education.

  • "One of the basic principles of learning is that students’ emotions can influence both individual engagement and the course climate, either facilitating or hindering learning (Ambrose et al. 2010). As the last week of classes and final exams swiftly approach, we can expect heightened stress and anxiety levels in our students, due to the usual end-of-semester pressures. This year in particular, we can also anticipate compounding effects of charged emotions and uncertainty due to the contentious national election as well as local transitions on campus. As a center for teaching and learning, we are committed to maintaining an inclusive and respectful environment for learning, a concern shared by university leadership. Yet, many faculty and students are unsure of how to respond when approached by others who want to share their reactions or when confronted with speech and behavior that threatens the learning environment."

    Continue reading.