The Kennesaw State University Cultural Awareness Resource Center covered the difficulties of student life, the expenses of education, the application of a degree after graduation and more during its meeting Tuesday, Jan. 7.
Associate Director of the Cultural and Community Centers Brandon Jackson detailed the purpose of “CARC-versations” as a dialogue series dedicated to having conversations about topics and events impactful to students both at KSU and on a global scale.
Program attendees shared tips for success and frustrations they have endured. They were also given a platform useful for applauding the strengths and expressing their concerns about KSU academics to CARC faculty members.
At the meeting, the group considered the pressure of supporting a family while pursuing a degree. The group found student loans intimidating and a burden to be shouldered with caution. All attendees agreed that the expense of education was a paramount obstacle.
Another point of conflict was the perception of misallocated tuition and school resources. The new KSU signs and field at the front of the university were used as examples. These students mentioned they would have instead preferred the money be used to reduce KSU fees, such as parking or bookstore prices.
Positive aspects of KSU were discussed as well, like the networking opportunities available. The students agreed that the internship initiatives and study-abroad programs were instrumental to upcoming professionals. The students praised the exemplary quality of campus staff and its resource centers.
Senior mechanical engineering major Brenda Robertson said that CARC is where she made most of her friends at the school. Thanks to CARC, she was able to go on a sponsored community service trip to New Orleans, a downtown Atlanta visit to museums of American History and a leadership conference in Texas. Roberston says they benefitted her tremendously.
“CARC gives me the opportunity to go to events inside and outside of my major without having to pay for the experience,” Robertson said.
CARC coordinator Brian Cornelius said that the center operates with three goals in mind. These are academic enrichment, a sense of belonging, and cultural competence for all involved there. CARC focuses on academic engagement, culturally relevant topics, and catering to the needs of their students regardless of background.
“It is our hope that we can increase cultural awareness and competency as KSU grows so that our students can be prepared to live in a unified community,” Cornelius said.
The resource centers at KSU were previously a separate set of entities that now operate under the unified umbrella of the Department of Culture and Community. This includes the Women’s resource center, the LGBTQ resource center and the global village. The Cultural and Community Centers provide programs and support initiatives for multicultural students and for the KSU community as a whole.
There are several CARC-versations planned for spring which will focus on equal representation, defining leadership and applying past experiences to tomorrow’s opportunities.
For more on these upcoming events, visit ccc.kennesaw.edu.
