Community Projects

Learn more about the civil engagement being done within Student Leadership! From voter registration, to projects, to policies and procedures, we are committed to community service and supporting our students!

Volunteer Team | Voter Registration & Education  American Democracy Project | Civic Learning
Democracy Wall | Policies & Procedures | Exchange Leaders
Student at KSU volunteering for community projects

Volunteer Team

The CET Volunteer Team will be encouraging students around campus to become engaged citizens. We will take part in activities such as promoting voter education, engaging in the election process, and encouraging voter registration! 

Civic Engagement Team Leaders

Civic Engagement Team- The Civic Engagement Team (CET) is a group of students that are civic-minded and want to create awareness at KSU of the election process, increase voter registration, and educate students about issues and policies that relates to college students.

Program Requirements:

  • Voters Registration and Education tabling and programming 
  • Constitution Week Program Planning
  • Commit to at least two hours of office hours a week
  • Attend Advanced Leader League Trainings 
  • Year requirement (May-May)

Voter Registration & Education

KSU Turbo Vote

One great tool available to KSU students and employees is called Turbo Vote! This simple online site can help you register to vote, update your address if you move or want to register to vote locally, receive absentee ballots and vote by mail if your voting location is too far away, and receive email and/or text reminders about upcoming elections so you’ll never miss another election day!

REGISTER TO VOTE

Helpful Information from the Georgia Secretary of State

  • Georgia My Voter page - Use the GA My Voter Page to check voter registration status, ballot status, poll location, Early voting locations and more!  
  • How-to-guide -  Registering to Vote
  • Georgia Student Voting Guide - Everything you need to know about voting in Georgia from the Campus Vote Project. Completely non-partisan, it includes important dates, FAQs, and additional info. 

Want to hold your own voter registration drive? Please check out our Campus Policies and Procedures.

Constitution Week

Constitution Week is celebrated annually during the week of September 17-23 to commemorate the US Constitution, its history, importance, and to bring attention to how it serves still today.  

  • KSU’S Constitution Week
    • The Department of Student Leadership leads the Constitution Week Coalition, a group of departments from across campus,  to host the annual Constitution Week on campus for students to explore their civic responsibilities through voting, education, and engagement. 
  • If you are interested in being part of KSU’s Constitution Week please contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Leadership and policies at the local level can influence your experience as a student in the Kennesaw community. Changing your address allows you to have a voice about these local matters.
  • No, you must be a legal resident of the county ​in which you wish to vote.
  • No, Georgia utilizes an open primary system in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.
  • You can visit Georgia My Voter Page to determine the county ​in which you are registered, early voting locations, and your polling station for election day.
  • Registration must be completed at least 28 days prior to a given election.

American Democracy Project

KSU is proud to be one of the founding institutions of the American Democracy Project. Now at more than 240 campuses, ADP strives to prepare students to be informed, engaged citizens who are active participants in democratic decision-making. At KSU, ADP plans and implements the annual Constitution Week festivities, as well as a variety of events, activities, and advocacy opportunities. 

We are a member of the ADP Georgia ​Caucus.

visit American Democracy Project

Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement

  • NASPA’s LEAD Initiative on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (LEAD Initiative) comprises a network of NASPA member colleges and universities committed to encouraging and highlighting the work of student affairs in making civic learning and democratic engagement a part of every student’s college education.The LEAD Initiative offers unique professional development opportunities, targeted resources, networking, and recognition for its LEAD Institutions.

    learn more
  • As part of KSU’s effort to assess the level of civic engagement of our students, we also participate in the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), sponsored by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University.

    learn more

Democracy Wall

For many years, KSU has posted temporary displays to encourage discussion among students and gather students’ thoughts on various issues.  These temporary “Democracy Walls” have been frequently incorporated into Constitution Week activities each September.  In Fall 2016, KSU installed its first permanent Democracy Walls on both the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses in celebration of KSU’s long-standing participation in AASCU’s American Democracy Project and NASPA’s Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement initiative.

The Democracy Wall on the Kennesaw campus is located on the north side of the Sturgis Library and on the Marietta campus on the east side of the Atrium (J) Building.

The purpose of a Democracy Wall is to provide an outlet for discussing civic issues, increasing communication across diverse audiences, encouraging thoughtful reflection, and increasing participation in the democratic process. Through this Democracy Wall we actively demonstrate our democratic values, heighten awareness, and encourage all voices to be heard. The Democracy Wall is also a space to encourage idea-generation for proactive change – on campus, in the local community, and across the globe.

    1. The most important rule – the “spirit of fair play” prevails. All voices are welcome.
    2. Choose words that convey meaning and reflect our educational dignity, i.e., obscenity, cursing, and other indecencies do not serve the purpose of this wall nor the spirit of The Owl Creed.*
    3. Civic discourse is respectful in disagreement. We can agree or disagree with arguments and issues without attacking individuals, i.e., name calling or personal attacks do not serve the purpose of this wall.
    4. Do not alter or obscure what others have written, but add your voice to the conversation. Feel free to pose your own questions as well as comments.
    5. Free speech is not always pleasant speech, but cannot be illegal speech. The Supreme Court has provided guidance on limitations, such as direct threats, incitement, false statements of fact, obscenity, fighting words, etc. If you believe anything posted on the wall is illegal speech, notify the Dean of Students Office immediately at 470-578-6367 or deanofstudents@kennesaw.edu. If you are able, please attach a picture of the posting you believe includes illegal speech.

    The Democracy Wall and these guidelines are based on the Democracy Plaza created on the Indianapolis campus of IUPUI over a decade ago, which has stood as a national model for democratic engagement and civic dialogue.  Kennesaw State University has borrowed with permission elements of the IUPUI model, and will administer compliance with the law based on consultation with KSU Legal Affairs and KSU Public Safety, and compliance with university codes of conduct based on consultation with Student Conduct and Academic Integrity.  The boards are cleaned every other Friday (or the next available business day if the university is closed on the designated Friday) to allow for a fresh round of conversations.

Stay Connected to Democracy Wall 

Campus Policies & Procedures

Kennesaw State University aligns policies and procedures regarding elections, voter registration and other civic matters with the Georgia Secretary of State and the Cobb Board of Elections.

We ask all individuals wishing to conduct voter registration drives on campus to contact dsl@kennesaw.edu. This request allows KSU to accurately report civic engagement activity.

Exchange Leaders

Open to upper-class students, The Exchange Leaders create programming and off-campus experiences that are centered around specific social issues such as poverty, hunger and homeless. Exchange Leaders will pioneer Glocal Experiences, Homelessness Awareness Week Sleep Out Challenge, and the Tampa Exchange Program. 

  • Program where students from the University of Tampa and Kennesaw State University focus on social issues utilizing the 17 Global Goals (https://www.globalgoals.org/). We will also take our joint trip to Washington D.C during Spring Break!
  • The annual HAW Sleep Out Challenge is the culminating event for HAW. The Challenge participants will spend a night on Marietta's campus to raise awareness for homelessness. You can choose one of three sleeping options: inside your car, inside a simulated Red Cross shelter (in the KSU Marietta Ballroom), or - the ultimate challenge - sleeping outside.
  • Once per semester, students will get to enjoy a day or two experiencing a local social issue! This year will spend a night at the Georgia Aquarium and repeat a similar experience in the Spring! 

    Students will also get to explore networking opportunities with our Regional Center for Expertise Greater Atlanta Mentoring program and connect with other college/universities doing work around the sustainable development goals.

    • Attend Advanced Leader League Trainings
    • Year requirement (May-May)
    • Tampa Exchange Program 
    • Glocal Experience
    • Sleep Out Challenge 
    • RCE Youth Network Involvement