2015 sd exsum final by Student Development

Executive Summary June 2015

Where Student Engagement Meets Social Awareness and Academic Success

Table of Contents Message from the Interim Director ........................................ 1 Our Mission, Our Goals ........................................................... 2 A Legacy of Vision and Excellence ......................................... 3 Odyssey Peer Mentoring Program .......................................... 4 Adult Learner Programs ........................................................... 5 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Student Retention Services ....... 6 International Student Retention Services .............................. 7 Multicultural Student Retention Services ............................. 8 Student Disability Services ...................................................... 9 Volunteer KSU ......................................................................... 10 Federal Work Study Program ................................................ 11 Organizational Chart .............................................................. 12 Directory ................................................................................... 13

Message from the Interim Director As Kennesaw State University undergoes an era of unprecedented growth and change, the Department of Student Development continues to play a vital role in helping the university foster a diverse, globally engaged, service-oriented community of scholars. It is my pleasure to share our many successes with partners and friends during these exciting times. The Department of Student Development’s programs and units include the Odyssey Peer Mentoring Program (OPMP); Adult Learner Programs (ALP); Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Student Retention Services (GLBTIQ SRS), International Student Retention Services (ISRS), Multicultural Student Retention Services (MSRS), Student Disability Services (SDS), Volunteer KSU (VKSU), and the Federal Work Study Program (FWS). Strategically positioned in KSU’s Division of Student Affairs, the Department of Student Development supports and engages students from matriculation through graduation. The department’s programs, services, and resources cultivate student leaders, facilitate valuable community engagement experiences, ensure equal access, provide mentoring connections for all students, and promote activities that create a vibrant learning environment for all. Our efforts not only support students and the university – they also attract recognition through innovative programming that serves as a model for other institutions. The Adult Learner Programs’ outstanding success has resulted in numerous regional and national accolades, including the Georgia College Personnel Association’s (GCPA) 2014 Outstanding Student Learning Program Award, the American College Personnel Association’s (ACPA) 2013 Outstanding Adult Learner Program Award, and the ACPA’s 2015 Innovative Academic Support Initiative Award. When our newest unit—GLBTIQ—established the Stonewall Housing Community, the first of its kind in the University System of Georgia, the move paved the way for similar endeavors at Georgia State University and Columbus State University. The assistant director of GLBTIQ Student Retention Services has helped other universities develop Safe Space programming on their campuses, and GLBTIQ SRS successes have been featured in numerous local and national publications. In the fall of 2014, and for the fourth consecutive year, KSU was included in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education’s “Top 100 Undergraduate Degree Producers” publication, recognizing the university’s success in the retention, progression, and graduation of African-American students in seven different academic categories. KSU’s Multicultural Student Retention Services unit is crucial in helping the university’s students of color achieve both academic and personal success. VKSU’s efforts to foster campus-community partnerships that engage students, faculty, staff and alumni have helped KSU earn distinctions including the 2015 Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation, recognizing KSU’s commitment to community engagement and public service. The university has also made several recent appearances on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, an honor that reflects KSU’s excellence in fostering servicelearning opportunities that benefit our students and the community. While programs and services focus on creating a framework in which the populations they serve can thrive, Student Development’s signature events invite the entire KSU community to embrace the university’s proud tradition of diversity and service. Kennesaw Pride Alliance’s Coming Out Day Cookout, the International Festival, Annual Hispanic Heritage and Black History Month celebrations, and KSU’s Day of Service are just a few of the many festivities that bring all members of our campus together throughout the year. By supporting historically underrepresented student populations, ensuring access for students with disabilities, and nurturing a campus environment that promotes diversity and community service, the Department of Student Development truly is “where student engagement meets social awareness and academic success.” Please take a few moments to read more about the Department of Student Development as we reflect on the past and look toward the future. Sincerely,

Nicole A. Phillips Interim Director, Department of Student Development *Data in this report represent the Kennesaw campus unless otherwise indicated.

Our Mission

Our Goals

To provide a community of support and a responsive array of activities and services for a broad range of unique and globally diverse students and their support networks. Our services include: • Student advocacy • Volunteer opportunities • Mentoring and academic support • Social networks • Cultural adjustment and advising • Financial assistance • Workshops and seminars • Community partnerships • Accommodations and accessibility

•T o encourage student access and persistence by providing individualized services such as academic support, mentoring, tutoring, advising, and advocacy. • To develop collaborative partnerships, on and off campus, which foster necessary and innovative programs, activities, and services for students. • To facilitate students’ personal development as demonstrated by evidence of leadership, interdependence, respect for all human beings, and involvement in campus life and community service. • To enhance planning, communication, and learning by accessing appropriate technologies and resources. • To utilize appropriate assessment measures to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of programs and services offered to students. • To monitor and recommend appropriate functional improvements, such as allocation of human resources, to better address students’ needs.

A Legacy of Vision and Excellence The Department of Student Development was officially formed in 1989, 26 years after Kennesaw State University was founded. Dr. Nancy King and Dr. Paul Benson, former vice presidents of the Division of Student Affairs (formerly Student Success and Enrollment Services), recognized the need for the university to provide support, safe spaces, and a sense of community for underserved and historically underrepresented student populations, which encompassed minority students, adult learners, international students, and students with disabilities in the late 1980s. Dr. Jerome Ratchford, the founding director of the Department of Student Development (and retiring vice president of student affairs) at KSU, was initially hired to coordinate programs for minority and international students in partnership with KSU’s earliest Equal Employment Opportunity/Diversity activities, led by Dr. Pete Silver. Two other key players were instrumental in building KSU’s burgeoning student development programs: Carol Pope, assistant director of the previously titled Disabled Student Support Services, and Dr. Toby Hopper, former dean of students and founder of Volunteer KSU and Adult Learner Programs. While KSU’s Department of Student Development initiatives paralleled the trend of expanding legal mandates in higher education requiring unprecedented accommodations on college campuses across the nation, the university’s efforts transcended mere compliance with these directives. As Dr. King later recalled, “Though much legislation required services offered by Student Development, we didn’t establish the center as a knee-jerk reaction to meeting laws. We did this out of the spirit of wanting to create a sense of belonging for these populations.” Such visionary leadership reflected a commitment to the growing field of student affairs. As higher education professionals increasingly explored the connections between psychosocial and cognitive development and student engagement and retention, the Department of Student Development continued to expand programs, services, and activities for the university’s diverse student populations. The Odyssey Peer Mentoring Program and GLBTIQ SRS, the most recent additions to the Department of Student Development, are outgrowths of strategic efforts to identify the needs of all KSU students and provide resources and services that lead to academic persistence and success. With dedicated leadership and synergistic partnerships, the Department of Student Development will continue the momentum of its vibrant and successful past.

“Though much legislation required services offered by Student Development, we didn’t establish the center as a knee-jerk reaction to meeting laws. We did this out of the spirit of wanting to create a sense of belonging for these populations.” Dr. Nancy King

Former Vice President for Student Success & Enrollment Services, and Professor Emeritus of English

Odyssey Peer Mentoring Program The Odyssey Peer Mentoring Program (Odyssey) matches interested first-year and transfer students with trained student mentors who offer new members of the KSU community a sense of belonging while helping them adjust to the social and academic demands of college life. Incoming students are paired with mentors based on shared academic interests, hobbies and availability. Program participants socialize and work together on community service projects. While Odyssey helps new students succeed, the program also benefits mentors, who must complete a comprehensive training program that develops leadership and coaching skills necessary for positive mentoring experiences. Workshops throughout the semester are open to all program participants and address topics including adjusting to college, succeeding in the classroom, and becoming an effective leader.

Fast Facts

•M ore than 300 students served in spring 2015 •8 5 percent increase in participation from 2013-14 to 2014-15 •4 ,000 mentoring hours logged in 2014-15

What Students Say 4

“The most valuable part was that [my mentor] gave me personal insight about the nursing program that I did not get during advising.”

Mentoring is a valued practice in educational and professional settings, associated with higher retention rates and positive student experiences.

•8 3 percent of freshman mentee participants in the Fall 2014 - Spring 2015 academic year are expected to enroll at KSU for the Fall 2015 semester •3 .18 average GPA for peer mentors and 3.05 average GPA for first-year mentees in 2014-15 “We instantly clicked. We talked about anything and everything. She made me feel comfortable because we have similar ways of thinking. She is always flexible with my tight schedule, which is very important to me.”

“[My mentor] is so full of knowledge about things I’m interested in but have never heard of. New doors continue to be opened.”

Adult Learner Programs For more than 25 years, the Adult Learner Programs (ALP) and the Lifelong Learning Center (LLC) have supported and enhanced the educational experiences of KSU’s adult learners, who represent 41 percent of the Kennesaw campus enrollment. Adult learners have been valued members of the KSU community since the university was founded in 1963. These students are at least 25 years of age and often must balance academic demands with other obligations such as full- or part-time employment and family commitments. Many adult learners are veterans or reservists in the armed forces. ALP’s many services, activities, and resources encourage engagement and promote academic success for this important student population. These include: •T utoring services •A welcoming space for students in the Lifelong •T extbook and childcare subsidies Learning Center •A dult Learner Recognition & Graduation •F irst-year seminars designed for adult learners Acknowledgements Ceremony •A cademic advising Looking to the future, ALP’s vision of offering academic credit for life and work experiences will become a reality in 2016 with the implementation of Prior Learning Assessment, a nationally recognized approach to streamlining the path to graduation for adult learners. ALP successfully launched an online tutoring program to help KSU’s distance learners, adult learners, and commuter students succeed in critical core classes in nursing, business, and science. ALP is the university’s point of contact for Georgia’s adult-learning initiatives including the Georgia Adult Learning Consortium and the Governor’s Go Back Move Ahead campaign. The department’s staff hold leadership positions in state and national organizations. Assistant Director Todd Powell serves as the vice president of the Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE), and is also a member of the Regents Academic Committee on Adult Learning (RACAL). Both Nicole Simmons and Veronica Jones serve on the Directorate of the American College Personnel Association’s CPA Commission for Commuter Students and Adult Learners.

Fast Facts • 26,000 visits to the Lifelong Learning Center every year • 3,500 annual tutoring appointments with 15 tutors assisting students in 55 subjects • 3.05 average GPA for adult learners compared to the university’s overall average of 2.88

What Students Say

“The Adult Learning Program has been instrumental to my academic success at KSU. The LLC is my ‘go-to’ place before, in between and after my classes. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything they do for non-traditional students.”

•$ 20,000 in annual student subsidies for textbook and childcare expenses •4 1 percent of students on the Kennesaw campus are adult learners

“I want to express how much I appreciate Adult Learner Programs and the Lifelong Learning Center. I came in so intimidated, and all of you have been so kind and welcoming. And please tell Leroy that I passed the math exam and will not be required to take remedial classes. He was such a great help!”

“I have two kids in high school and two in college this year. They were amazed that I was getting scholarships. I just can’t stop smiling.”

2013 American College Personnel (ACPA) Outstanding Adult Learner Program Award 2014 Georgia College Personnel Association Outstanding Student Learning Program Award 2015 ACPA Innovative Academic Support Initiative Award

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Student Retention Services Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Student Retention Services (GLBTIQ SRS) provides advocacy, programming and services for students of all gender identities, gender expressions and sexual orientations. As the newest unit in the Department of Student Development, GLBTIQ SRS has quickly become an indispensable resource for the KSU community and a model for other universities that seek to emulate the program’s Safe Space and Stonewall Housing Community initiatives. The GLBTIQ Resource Center offers a safe, welcoming space for all KSU students, faculty, staff and alumni. Collaborations with partners throughout the university have established more than 130 safe spaces across campus, creating an inclusive environment that increases the likelihood of retention, progression and graduation of KSU’s GLBTIQ students. The unit’s events and activities celebrate and promote GLBTIQ awareness both on and off campus, including: •G LBTIQ Rainbow Graduation • “ Coming Out Monologues” in •G LBTIQ representation at student and Awards Ceremony collaboration with the Department recruitment fairs and public events •G LBTIQ History Month of Theatre and Performance •G LBTIQ awareness presentations •C oming Out Day Studies to KSU classes and departments

Fast Facts

•3 ,270 student visits at the GLBTIQ Resource Center in 2014-15 • More than 130 Safe Space campus allies •1 2 residents in the innovative Stonewall Housing Community

What Students Say

“It provides support and services that allow me to explore my interests with people who are like-minded and knowledgeable, and provides a safe space for me to spend my time between classes free from stigma and judgment.”

•6 30 percent increase in use of the GLBTIQ Resource Center since 2013 •3 .0 or higher GPA for 60 percent of students who access the center

“The Resource Center has given me the ability to feel comfortable with who I am. Throughout my time at KSU, it has helped me grow and embrace my identity while fostering a social and educational environment. The Resource Center brings safety and community for GLBTIQ students on our campus.”

“The Resource Center is a very special place to me because it is a safe space on campus where I do not need to hide my sexual orientation and my gender identity. It is also a place where I’m able to meet other people within the community.”

The Stonewall Housing Community, the first of its kind in the University System of Georgia, is a genderinclusive residential option that provides an environment where KSU’s GLBTIQ students can comfortably express their identities and pursue academic and personal success.

International Student Retention Services International Student Retention Services (ISRS) provides resources, services and programming for KSU’s international students. The unit proudly advances the university’s vision of a campus environment that values “global understanding” and “appreciation of human and cultural diversity.” The focal point of ISRS is the Global Village, a gathering place and resource center for students of all nationalities. With helpful staff, study space, computer access, tutoring services and a resource library, the Global Village welcomes students into a dynamic environment that promotes academic success and cultural understanding among all KSU students. ISRS addresses the unique needs of the university’s international students with immigration and regulation advising and a host of other programs and services that help ease the transition to college life in the U.S. The unit facilitates academic, co-curricular, and personal success for international students with: • I nternational student orientation •K SU 1101 Global Gateways International Student seminars • I nternational student success workshops •A cademic support and tutoring

• S ervice learning opportunities • I ntervention programs for at-risk students • I nternational Peer Leader Program • I nternational Student Association (ISA)

•P hi Beta Delta International Honor Society •C ommunity connections through Friends of Internationals

Fast Facts • 4,000 students attended ISRS and ISA events and programs in 2013-14 • 1,563 international students from approximately 130 countries represent 6 percent of the total student population on the Kennesaw campus

What Students Say

“The Global Village was my home away from home, and ISA was my group of friends and my ‘teacher.’ It is hard to be alone and far away from your family and culture.”

•M ore than 12,498 student visits to the Global Village in 2014-15 •8 6 percent retention rate for first-year students who matriculated in fall 2013

“The Global Village helped me on the road toward becoming bilingual because I had access to many native Spanish speakers who were willing to practice with me. This allowed me to complete my degree in Spanish CrossCultural Disciplines.”

“The Global Village was where I found laughter after a long day of classes and it was where I went when I had a problem and was sure that someone would listen and help me find a solution. The ISRS staff is always willing to help, and if they are not able to, they’ll find someone who can.”

Multicultural Student Retention Services (MSRS) Multicultural Students Retention Services (MSRS) fosters KSU’s long-standing tradition of diversity by providing essential programming, resources, and services that increase the retention, progression, and graduation rates of historically underrepresented students at Kennesaw State University. The centerpiece of the unit’s efforts is the Cultural Awareness Resource Center, a welcoming, inclusive space where students study, socialize, and receive tutoring in English, math and science. Through MSRS leadership training programs, students of color are empowered to work as change agents at KSU and as civic-minded professionals after they graduate. During MSRS’s annual summer leadership retreat, emerging leaders develop skills that help them think critically, plan events, and educate others about diversity awareness issues. The PEOPLE Mentoring Program establishes valuable networking connections by pairing students with community leaders. Students active in MSRS have represented KSU as presenters at international leadership conferences, pursued postgraduate education in a variety of fields, and have often obtained internship employment with Fortune 500 companies.

MSRS Programs and Services: •T utoring in English, math, and science through the Cultural Awareness and Resource Center •K SU African American Male Initiative

•K SU Women of Color Success Initiative •P EOPLE Mentoring Program •M ulticultural Programming Board

•H eritage Month celebrations •M aking the Grade workshop series • S ummer leadership retreat

Fast Facts 8

•7 ,691 visits to the Cultural Awareness and Resource Center in 2013-14 represented a 20 percent increase from 2012-13 •3 0 student leaders are advised by MSRS staff •2 0 students attend the annual summer leadership retreat

What Students Say

“I would not be where I am today had it not been for my MSRS family at KSU. They have groomed me to be a scholar, high achiever, mentor, and a young black professional. Through various programs, conferences, and professional development opportunities, I am on my way to achieving my doctorate thanks to MSRS.”

•M ore than 30 events attract an average of 150 students •1 5 students were paired with community mentors in 2014-15 •3 3 percent of KSU undergraduates in 2013-14 were minority students

“I chose KSU because it seemed like it would present a lot of opportunities. As a Native American, I would be a minority anywhere I went, but KSU is so inclusive that I don’t feel alone here.”

In recognition of exceptional efforts on behalf of his students, MSRS assistant director Brent Obleton received the Dr. Carroll F.S. Hardy Rising Star Award for University/College Professional from the Bryant Educational Leadership Group in 2014.

“Honestly, there were a few times I was tempted to give up, but Chika encouraged me with confidence and said I would pass the class. Peter is also a great asset. His knowledge in algebra is exceptional, and his assistance was greatly appreciated! Without the CARC, I would not have passed my class.”

Student Disability Services Student Disability Services (SDS) provides accommodations for a growing population of KSU students with documented disabilities. In accordance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, SDS helps students, faculty and staff identify specific student needs and develop strategies to meet them. The office works with many other campus partners to ensure equal access to educational, co-curricular and extracurricular activities at the university for students with various challenges, including learning, sensory, medical, psychological and mobility disabilities.

Accommodations include: • • • •

Sign language interpreters Assistive technology Testing accommodations Note-taking assistance

• • • •

Alternate format textbooks Accessible classrooms Academic coaching Remote captioning services

• Housing accommodations • Handicap-accessible parking

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. The SDS student group ABLE (Advocacy, Boldness, Leadership, Empowerment) is open to all KSU students. The organization offers disability awareness programs for the entire university community and sponsors off-campus events, with transportation provided by KSU’s Big Owl Buses.

Fast Facts • • • •

More than 700 students receive SDS accommodations 150 students registered for SDS services in fall 2014 1,000 exams proctored by SDS each semester 260 electronic and audio textbooks provided to students

What Students Say

“They make it possible for me to succeed as a college student.”

“SDS accommodations have reduced my anxiety regarding test taking and deadlines.”

“Thanks to Student Disability Services, I can really concentrate when I take my tests.”

Volunteer KSU Volunteer KSU (VKSU) is a campus-based volunteer resource center that connects KSU students, alumni, faculty and staff with community service opportunities in more than 200 Atlanta-area nonprofit agencies. Participants are paired with organizations and activities based on their interests. By mentoring and tutoring low-income youths, planting sustainable gardens that feed the homeless, confronting domestic violence issues, and engaging in a wide range of other meaningful service-learning projects that fulfill community needs, volunteers make a significant economic impact and support KSU’s commitment to helping students become engaged citizens. While students clearly gain personal satisfaction and valuable co-curricular experience as volunteers, VKSU also can help participants earn course credit, satisfy court-ordered community service requirements, qualify for the university’s Global Learning Scholarship, and receive international student non-resident fee waivers. The unit’s staff provide presentations throughout the year to educate the KSU community and local organizations about service-learning and community outreach opportunities and initiatives.

VKSU Signature Events: • KSU Day of Service • Greeks Give Back • Homecoming service projects

• MLK Day of Impact • Red Cross blood drives • Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive

• Holiday gift giving activities • Annual Volunteer Fair

Fast Facts

• 3,000 active volunteers in the database •1 3,448 volunteer hours with an economic impact of $299,238 between August 2014 and February 2015 • 23 group projects in 2015 • More than 200 nonprofit community partners • 378 students attended the 2014 Volunteer Fair

What Students Say

“This experience as a volunteer for Amedisys Hospice Care really made me feel like I was doing something positive, and I learned things about myself.”

•1 8 service-oriented academic courses during spring 2015 •4 0 educational presentations to KSU students and the community in 2014-15 •5 50 pints of blood donated during each quarterly blood drive helping to save over 2,000 lives

“I loved it! Volunteering with Atlanta Community Food Bank taught me so much about helping those in need and how I could make an impact on world hunger.”

“The interaction with the children in Junior Achievement is wonderful! I feel excited about helping young children succeed.”

KSU received the 2015 Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation, a prestigious distinction that recognizes the university’s outstanding commitment to community engagement and public service.

Federal Work Study Program The Federal Work Study Program (FWS), managed jointly by VKSU and KSU’s Office of Student Financial Aid, is a Title IV financial aid program partially funded through the U.S. Department of Education. The program provides part-time work opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students who qualify based on financial need, which enables KSU students to earn money to help pay for their educational expenses and gain valuable work experience that will help prepare them for future professional success. On-campus and community-based placements in nonprofit agencies are available for students. The America Reads Challenge is a featured FWS alliance that trains eligible KSU students to become tutors at local elementary schools where they work with children to improve reading skills. KSU’s FWS students are also placed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Engineering for Kids, and the Georgia Animal Project.

Fast Facts • 178 students enrolled in FWS in 2014-15 • 5 elementary schools received tutoring services from KSU’s FWS participants in 2014-15

What Students Say

“As a student with not much financial means, having a job to support myself and build skills that are necessary for my future career as a teacher has been invaluable.”

“FWS provided me with the work experience I needed to become employed after college. The program is an excellent way to build your resume, create networking opportunities, and get to know the faculty and staff on campus.”

“Through FWS, I have been a teaching assistant, a camp counselor and an operations specialist for a nonprofit agency, for which I am now an administrative manager. I am grateful for the opportunities and mentorship I received through the program.”

Organizational Chart

Director Student Development

Business Operations

Assistant Director GLBTIQ Retention Services

Administrative Assistant & Manager GLBTIQ Center

Assistant Director International Student Retention Services

Assistant Director Multicultural Student Retention Services

Office Operations

Assistant Director Adult Learner Programs

Assistant Director Student Disability Services

Assistant Director Volunteer KSU

Program Coordinator and ISA Advisor

Program Coordinator Multicultural Program Board

Computer Technology Manager

Coordinator of Student Disability Services

Program Coordinator

Administrative Assistant & Manager Global Village

Program Coordinator

Administrative Projects & Program Coordinator

Coordinator of Testing Kennesaw Campus

Federal Work Study Coordinator

Graduate Research Assistant

Administrative Assistant & Manager Cultural Awareness & Resource Center

Administrative Assistant & Manager Lifelong Learning Center

PT - Program Coordinator and ABLE Advisor

Administrative Assistant & Office Manager

Graduate Research Assistant AAMI Research

Captioning & Computer Technology Coordinator Kennesaw Campus

Graduate Research Assistant AAMI Programming

Testing Clerk Marietta Campus

Captioning, Note-taking & Technology Manager Marietta Campus

PT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Program Coordinator Odyssey Peer Mentoring Program

DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT 470-578-6443 http://www.kennesaw.edu/stu_dev/ Nicole Phillips, Interim Director 470-578-6443 | nphill10@kennesaw.edu Cindy Foster, Business Manager 470-578-2422 | cfoste18@kennesaw.edu Amy Burnette, Office Manager 470-578-4858 | aburne27@kennesaw.edu UNITS ADULT LEARNER PROGRAMS 470-578-6701 R. Todd Powell, Assistant Director 470-578-3144 | rpowel26@kennesaw.edu Veronica Jones, Coordinator of Academic Tutoring and Manager of Lifelong Learning Center 470-578-6701 | vjones38@kennesaw.edu