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Thrive four-year graduation rates exceed expectations 
 

The first four-year data are in, and more than twice as many Thrive students from the 2011 cohort petitioned to graduate this spring as students in a pair-matched control group.

 

Thirty Thrivers expect to graduate in May 2015, exactly four years from their start date in comparison to the 13 students in the academically and demographically matched control group.  

 

Graduation data are typically reported at the six-year mark, so comparing the performance of Thrive participants versus students in the control group is the best method to analyze the four-year numbers.

   

Graduation Coach Cathy Bradford said, "I could not be prouder of these determined students who soon, no doubt, will make us proud as achieving KSU and Thrive alums!" 

 

The list of Thrive students who plan to graduate (see below) includes John "Caleb" Rice and Brooke Sapp, who recently announced their engagement. This is believed to be the first Thrive marriage.

 

Ellen Adkins

Elise Anisko

Tanna Balke

Sarah Batzel

Raymon Buster

Rachel Cash

Kelly Cassidy

Brynn Crosby

 

Nakia Daniels

Jessica Dean

T'keyah Duke

Shannon Hawks

Amanda Henderson

Saysha Jackson

Petra Kornicer

Kaitlin Lange

 

John Lewis

Whitney Lince

Armel-Kevin Mamaril  

Chaitlin Maycott

Victoria McCrite

Faith Mohr

Ebob Ogork

Katherine Para

 

John Rice

Brooke Sapp

Emily Storey

Nicole Trocina

Gloria Vosilla

Cortlin Yancey

 

$10,000 grant from Nordson will enhance Thrive
 
The Thrive program received its first external grant when the Nordson Foundation approved a $10,000 grant that will be dedicated to enhancing the program's summer activities. 

 

Interim Dean Keisha Hoerrner and graduation coach Shae Smith -- along with Mary Quat, director of Foundation Relations -- presented the proposal to the Nordson grant committee in January. "This was a team effort that without everyone's help would not have been possible. We had the right ask for the right place and the right relationship," Quat said.

 

Nordson is a corporation and foundation that is dedicated to improving communities through the educational system by creating self-sustaining individuals. This, in turn, creates active members in society and helps all succeed in every aspect. University College is grateful for the grant.

 

Quat is seeking additional funding from other private foundations to both expand and enhance existing programs like Thrive.   

University College Dean search update   
                       

The search committee has announced that the University College Dean search is progressing according to the original timeline. The committee is working with Academic Search Consultants Maya Kirkhope and Mac Stewart.


The position was advertised in major higher education media outlets, discipline listservs, and on the Academic Search and KSU websites. In addition, Kirkhope and Stewart engaged in targeted outreach, including:

  • Senior administrators (president, vice presidents, UC related deans, etc.) at public and private institutions and peer and aspirant institutions calling for applications and nominations.
     
  • Senior Academic Search consultants to their networks, specifically those individuals who are at peer institutions similar in size and scope to KSU.
  • To date, there are 59 applicants for the Dean of University College position, and the search committee has engaged in two rounds of candidate screenings.

  • On March 11-12, there will be airport (neutral site) interviews of eight semi-finalist candidates. The goal of these interviews is to recommend two to three finalist candidates for on-campus interviews.


    It is anticipated that on-campus interviews will occur in late March. As those dates are finalized, they will be communicated to University College faculty and staff, and announcements will occur in KSU Inform. If you have questions about the search process, please contact Val Whittlesey, chair of the search committee. 

    Usher featured in Times in Education Teaching Toolkit 
     
    Carlton Usher's work has been highlighted in The New York Times' Education Teaching Toolkit. This program showcases the great work happening at AASCU member campuses while providing a roadmap for those who want to expand their teaching techniques and strategies.

    The
    American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the New York Times have been working together through a long partnership resulting in this toolkit. KSU is a member of AASCU and a founding member of its American Democracy Project initiative.

    Usher's work is listed on pages 13, 33, and 34 on the AASCU website using this link: http://www.aascu.org/3dpubs/NYT/Toolkit/
    UC launches 'TAP into KSU' pilot program
     
    University College formally launched the "TAP Into KSU" pilot program, an interdisciplinary effort to work with employers to develop their existing workforces and build talent pipelines for the future.

    "TAP into KSU" consists of two programs, Corporate Tuition Assistance Partnership (CTAP) and Corporate Access to Student Talent (CAST).

    CTAP offers employers the opportunity to help their existing  employees by sponsoring their education while CAST enables companies to develop a talent pipeline within the existing KSU/University College student body.

     "I recognize that today's companies are struggling to fill entry-level positions with qualified candidates and that University College has  students who are uniquely qualified to meet those needs," said the program's founder, Loretta Daniels, director of Communication and Marketing.

    This innovative pilot leverages University College's programs such as the Integrative Studies Degree, Leadership Studies Certificate, and Thrive as a talent source to enable employers to foster relationships with students in real-world environments.

    Denis Brosnan, part-time instructor in First-Year and Transition Studies, is contributing his years of experience in the corporate arena to partner with Daniels.

    The success of the program will rely on strong partnerships with the Career Services Center and the Office of Advancement to assist in identifying existing KSU corporate partners as well as sharing their areas of expertise.

    The first CAST cohort is expected to graduate in August 2015.  Read more
    The Math Lab is now the SMART Center
     

    The KSU Math Lab has a new name, Science and Math Academic Resources and Tutoring (SMART) Center and will provide tutoring services on both campuses. "We decided to change the name to reflect more accurately who we are and what we do. We are available throughout the week to help with math, chemistry, physics and engineering courses," said SMART Center Director Robert Jordan.

     

    The Kennesaw campus center sees approximately 7000 visits a year while the Marietta campus has seen 150 visits per week since it opened in January.

    While the name has changed, the commitment to helping students succeed in their courses remains the number one goal. Please visit the website for more information.
     

    NEST Advisers scheduled to present at NACADA 
     
    Teresa Dize will present at the upcoming NACADA Regional Conference. Dize's presentation titled "Advising IS Teaching: Tips & Tricks for the Adviser who Teaches a Course" looks at how to merge NACADA practices within a course's requirements, specifically that of a first-year seminar course.  

     

    Dize will discuss the success and failures that can occur in the classroom and how to make the course more rewarding for the  instructor, as well as the students.

     

     

    Sara Matta is also scheduled to present "What's in a Name? Rebranding your Advising Center." The presentation will highlight the process and outcomes associated with changing the name of the office from First-Year and Undeclared Advising (FY&UAS) to the Advising office for New, Exploratory and Students in Transition (the NEST), and help inform those who are considering rebranding their offices to more accurately reflect their function and how to best share that message with students and campus partners.

       



    Antwuan Holloway
    will present "I'm a New Adviser, Now What? ... Challenges and Helpful Tips You Can See to Positively Impact and Contribute to the Team Dynamic." Holloway's presentation will focus on new advisers to better enhance their careers and interactions with students and other faculty/staff members.

     

    All three advisers are presenting at the three-day NACADA Conference, which consists of concurrent sessions, conference workshops, and luncheons providing information and new strategies, tips, and methods relevant to professional advisers and faculty members who have advising responsibilities.   

    February 2015
    UC to host first INTS alumni event
    Save the Date: University College will host the first Integrative Studies Alumni Lunch and Awards celebration Saturday, April 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m..

    The event will be held at the KSU Alumni House.

    Safe Space training location change 

    Linda Lyons announced a location change for the March 3 Safe Space Training. The training will be held in Willingham Hall, Room 226 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  

     

    Safe Space identifies and educates individuals who will affirm and support all persons regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/ expression.  

     

    Becoming a Safe Space ally offers a visible message of inclusion, acceptance and support to lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender individuals on campus. 

    UC announces new YouTube channel
    Earlier this month University College announced the new additions to the website, which includes the University College YouTube channel. The channel is designed to increase visibility of the college's programs, faculty and staff.  

     

    At least four videos can be viewed on the "Video" page of the main UC website.

     

    All UC videos should be housed on the college's official YouTube channel for public viewing.   

     

    Please contact the Communication and Marketing office to add  existing videos to the YouTube channel or the website. 

    KSU updates safety initiatives

             

    Lisa Bauer, one of two crisis coordinators in the UC building, shared recent  security concerns.

     

    When the university is open, closed or delayed, this information needs to be dispersed throughout the community, and Kennesaw State University uses its resources wisely. There are several websites and social media outlets that KSU uses to get the information out.  Read more to determine whether the university is open, closed or delayed due to inclement weather.


    Mark your calendars for the UC Town Hall meeting

    Interim Dean Keisha Hoerrner will be facilitating the next Town Hall meeting March 17, from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. in UC127.

     

    The meeting is designed to offer faculty and staff members an opportunity to receive important updates about the college and to directly engage with the Interim Dean regarding topics of interest.

     

    Please drop your confidential questions in the locked drop box located in your department by March 9. Check with the following individuals who represent your department to determine when the box will be available: Chris Hutt, Natasha Lovelace Habers, Debbie Smith, Judy Craven or Jake Gross.  

    UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
    Kennesaw State University | 430 Bartow Ave., MB #2401, Kennesaw, Georgia  30144-5591

    Editor - Loretta Daniels, MSCM
    Communication and Marketing Director 
    p: 470/578//3550 | e: [email protected]