Academics

Learning Communities

A learning community is a cluster of two-to-four academic courses, designed around a specific major or a general interest theme. Typically, 20–25 students are enrolled in each learning community. Participating in a learning community allows students the opportunity to take classes together, form study groups, integrate their learning from one class to another, and get to know a small group of likeminded students during their first semester at college.

First-Year Seminars

Some of our colleges and majors have established first-year seminar courses designed to help first-year students transition successfully into academic life at Kennesaw State. Through these courses, students develop a sense of academic and social belonging to KSU by learning to manage their time, connect to essential campus resources, and develop a purposeful path to graduation.

Faculty Expectations of First-Year Students

Faculty expect students to arrive in class prepared, complete work outside the classroom, and seek out professors when they have questions or need assistance. Faculty respect each student’s ability to assume these responsibilities while mentoring them to develop these skills.

Additionally, students are expected to communicate directly with their professors about any issues or concerns they might have. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA; see p. page 29 for more information) protects a student’s privacy by prohibiting faculty from disclosing a student’s information, even to parents, without permission; therefore, students must learn to advocate for themselves and reach out to their professors on their own.