Kennesaw State University President Daniel S. Papp and Georgia Military College President Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV signed an articulation agreement between the two schools December 10, 2015.
The agreement allows GMC graduates with associate of arts or associate of science degrees to have guaranteed admission to KSU after meeting minimum admissions requirements. These requirements include earning 30 semester transferable hours or 50 quarter transferable hours, earning a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and submitting all required materials within the appropriate deadlines for application.
The agreement also allows associate degree credits earned at GMC to transfer toward completion of baccalaureate degrees at Kennesaw State. Transferring GMC students with such degrees would enter into KSU with areas A through E of their core curriculum requirements already completed.
The agreement will provide a smooth transition for GMC students to continue their education and is consistent with Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal’s Complete College Georgia initiative. The initiative is committed to providing an improved educational path from high school through college graduation.
“One of the objectives outlined as part of the Consolidated Strategic Plan for Kennesaw State University was to expand educational opportunities for students via articulation agreements,” says Kim West, associate vice president of enrollment services at KSU. “This agreement will benefit both institutions as we provide pathways for the successful transfer of students from GMC to KSU.”
However, the agreement has some KSU students worried. Total enrollment at KSU in fall 2015 stood at 33,000 students, an increase by 1.7 percent, or an additional 5,228 students, from the previous year. Recently, many students have voiced their complaints about lack of parking and housing for the increasing number of KSU students.
Although there is no clear indication of how much this new agreement is likely to increase KSU enrollment by, it is expected to bring an even greater annual increase in students to the university in the coming years.
“This agreement will have a positive impact on enrollment numbers, as more GMC students select KSU,” said Cindy Gillam, administrative assistant to West.
When asked how she would respond to those students who fear that the agreement will create larger problems in the future, she added that the university expects a slow increase in enrollment over time. She also emphasized the importance of the agreement in terms of students’ educational success.
“This agreement is important because it assists in establishing best practices in statewide articulation and transfer systems that ultimately improves educational outcomes for students,” Gillam said.
“Further, the importance of forming this agreement will prove to benefit students. Following specific transfer course plans provides for a smoother transfer experience for students pursuing a four year degree.”
Papp said he hopes to expand educational opportunities through agreements like this.
“We look forward to working with the Georgia Military College and their graduates as we work together towards creating a more educated Georgia,” Papp said.
