Papp Speaks on State of the University, addressing KSU’s achievments and upcoming changes.
On March 28 and 29, President Dan Papp issued his annual State of the University Address. He briefly discussed the university’s history, highlighted current projects in each college and department and introduced six initiatives and challenges the university will face in the coming year.
Dr. Papp emphasized that KSU has gone through dramatic changes in its 49-year history, and is continually changing and growing.
He continued with a long list of current achievements and projects currently underway, including but not limited to: several new buildings, numerous accolades accumulated by KSU faculty, high rankings for the MBA programs, several new graduate programs and overwhelming success with last year’s Capital Campaign.
Six major initiatives and challenges were presented to demonstrate the direction the university will take this year.
KSU will work to raise graduation rates in compliance with Governor Nathan Deal’s program, Complete College Georgia, which aims to raise the percentage of Georgians with college degrees from 42 to 60 percent.
The 2012 to 2017 Strategic Plan is currently being formed and will be presented on Aug. 15, 2012.
KSU is currently in the midst of several senior level personnel changes. Dr. Papp recognized recently hired faculty and noted that positions for Chief Diversity Officer and Faculty Executive Assistant are currently open. There are also three colleges currently searching for a new dean, including the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Math and the Coles College of Business.
KSU is in the process of re-accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Next March, KSU’s interim report will be submitted. Between 2013 and 2014, KSU will also be deciding on its next Quality Enhancement Plan.
Dr. Papp noted issues with space will be addressed by the several new buildings that are both under construction and in the planning stages, including a new culinary services building, $35 million student recreation activities center and $20.3 million education building. KSU will also move to a five-day-a-week schedule next fall- a move that Dr. Papp said will help KSU receive more state funding.
In regards to parking challenges, The Big Shanty connector will be finished by next school year to alleviate traffic on Chastain. The Busbee-Frey Connector is a future project that was also cited, as a remedy to congestion. The shuttle service will be expanded next year and parking fees will be increased slightly.
Dr. Papp asked “What has happened to the word Academic?” He explained that the community has come to think of academic work as impractical and useless, a problem that must be fixed through community engagement. Engage KSU is an initiative that will further this goal through teaching, research, and service.
Dr. Papp ended his address with optimism.
“I am extremely proud of this university and its faculty, staff and students. With this kind of faculty and staff, no wonder students want to come to KSU. No wonder that KSU is one of the fastest growing universities in Georgia, and, I daresay, in the country. So I’ll end this State of University address with a simple observation that the state of this university is excellent and getting even better.”
