The Center for Student Leadership attended the SGA meeting on September 18 to discuss their
newest programs of interest. Their programs are primarily to aid students in different areas of their
college paths. Mentioned on the SGA minutes are the following programs. President Emerging
Global Scholars, which provides international travel and research opportunities, while THRIVE
helps first year students with HOPE scholarship to maintain the scholarship and provides extra
support. Other programs listed include L.E.A.D OWLS is for athletics teaching students athletes
better leadership on and off the field, LINK which helps with peer editing, and Engaged Owl
Leadership for students assuming leaderships roles such as SGA or Residence Assistant.
CSL also announces their new FLY workshops, a series of different free workshops throughout the
year focusing on developing better personal leadership skills. The CSL state on their website that the
workshops are committed to "help each participant to become a better leader on KSU's campus and in
the global community."
Each student attending twelve of the twenty scheduled meetings will be recognized as a FLY
graduate and will receive a completion certificate.
The CSL will come out to classes and events to teach about the CSL and offer leadership counseling
for students who are unaware what to do if they would like to get involved. It will be an advisor to
help get students connected and keep them involved over their college career.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
College payment options unheard of
Lindsay Knox currently serves as Director of Student Affairs for the Kennesaw State Student
Government Association. She is currently a senior at KSU majoring in Early Childhood Education.
Despite her rank on the SGA, however, Knox does not pay for school with any scholarships.
"I tookout my first loan this semester, and the rest of it my parents pay for" Knox said. "I applied for
many scholarships, but I wasn't awarded any from the university." This is the plight Knox describes
for most students she comes across, whether it pertains to herself, her friends, or the students that
may come to her for advice.
Rising tuition rates make college financially burdening to both traditional and non-traditional
students. Most students have either their parents pay for school, or the means of student loans.
Student loans are always expected to be paid back, occasionally over a long period of years, and can
accumulate into a massive amount of debt. Unbeknownst to many, there are scholarship
opportunities that often go unnoticed.
Many colleges hold what is called a Scholarship Day. Students with over a 3.5 GPA in high school
are eligible to be awarded scholarships with amounts of money able to rise depending on grades of
the applicant. This is the means by which Marissa D'Onofrio, a Physics Major at Berry College, is
able to pay for a private college education.
"I attended a Scholarship Day, and if you had a 3.5 you were able to win about 7K. I would up
walking away with $14,500." Berry College's scholarship day in particular receives a lot of funding
from alumni and important big names such as Henry Ford to be made possible. D'Onofrio's success
in high school also helped her achieve many other scholarships and aid to cover expenses for her
private school education. Most universities will provide the chance for students to win several small
scholarships to add up to paying the entire bill.
D'Onofrio also qualified for a Berry Needs Based Grant of $5,000, which is provided for students
with eligible parental income, and a Georgia Tuition Equalization of $700. Georgia Tuition
Equalization provides non-repayable grants to eligible full time students in the state of Georgia
attending private schools. The goal is to provide an equal opportunity for private schoolers to obtain
aid when the HOPE Scholarship does not include funding for private school education. In addition,
she receives room and board half off for working as a Residence Assistant. RA positions at most
campuses can have similar benefits, not only discounted or free housing but also free parking passes,
reduced meal costs, and lower tuition. Resident Assistant jobs often come with heavy responsibilities,
from mentoring younger students to solving roommate and neighbor conflicts depending on the
university. D'Onofrio also received a scholarship from Delta through her father's work and received
added benefits by working in the dining hall. She is enrolled in a student work program which is
helping her pay back her lone student loan of $5,000.
Students also may receive scholarships from being involved in on-campus clubs most notably
fraternities and sororities. Senator at large Vivian Okere earned money for her enrollment in an on-
campus sorority "I received a scholarship from the sorority I am in, Alpha Kappa Alpha, which is
available only for people in the sorority." Okere said "Most of it is merit based, you qualify if you
have a three point five but if you have a 4.0 you are more likely to receive the aid."
Alpha Kappa Alpha offers a multitude of scholarships for both high school and college students
providing information about the donor, amount of the scholarship, and specific criteria for eligibility.
Scholarships are limited to one per student and require the students to be high achieved, hence
placing a strong emphasis on grade point average. All of the scholarships listed on the AKA website
honor former members of the sorority and are focused on giving applicants an opportunity for a
higher education.
Some students may not make the grades for these opportunities, and even more so have learning
disabilities that prevented them from excelling in high school. Through the help of a government
agency, students can not only acquire much needed costs for college but also benefits for the future.
The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Division provides services to people with disabilities to help
them in their transition into the work force and also help them to get hired by employers seeking
those with disabilities. Anyone with a disability that can affect their work in two or more ways are
eligible to apply, and each case is considered individually. In addition to this, they provide tuition
payments for college students with disabilities.
Jerica Dixon, a representative of GVRA, said "We provide help to all people with disabilities that
cause an impediment in your work. Whether it be physical, mental or developmental, all people with
disabilities are eligible to apply." The school system will usually identify a student as a potential
candidate and if a student is either interested or referred by a teacher, the teacher will later make
contact with the parents or legal guardian to enlist support. Much like most financial aid, however,
GVRA only pays for a percentage of the final bill in a system called Call Sharing. This is done
through a precalculated percentage based on parent's or your own income shown on taxes, the
FAFSA, and any other aid that the student has been awarded by the university.
GVRA's main priority, however, is to get disabled people into the workforce. "What we do is we
help meet your vocational goal." said Dixon. "You set up a plan and we help you go over your plan
and check up on the progress." Services will only be given to those that hope to achieve a vocational
goal in a career of their choice and to become employed based on that goal. Services do require you
meet financial eligibility and all paid expenses by the agency must be approved by a VR counselor in
advance.
When an applicant and a VR counselor agree that the applicant is ready to work, the VR staff will
help the applicant to become employed. Services provided include resume development, interview
preparation, and job referrals. The services that GVRA or any Vocational Rehabilitation agency does
not stop at college, but helps those with disabilities put their foot in the door of being a success in the
workforce. VR staff believes that finding the right job is the chief goal in providing aid to disabled
people and the active participation that is needed from the individual financially is an essential part
of making the process possible.
A various amount of scholarships are also available to students who are not disabled but do not
have the highest grade point average either. Scholarships.com provides lots of different bizarre
nontraditional opportunities to receive funds for school. Such opportunities include scholarships for
writing an essay or studying abroad, or there are scholarships available based on the applicants race,
religion, or marital status. Examples of these include the ABA Diversity Scholarship or the ACHE
Albert W Dent scholarship to aid minorities or the Jeanette Rankin Fund scholarships that are a
benefit to single mothers. Each of the scholarships have different qualifications and requirements
which makes it possible for more people in certain circumstances to get a college education.
Best Buy once offered a scholarship opportunity for students, but has since permanently closed.
Since it began in 1999, the program's website reports that it awarded nearly $22 million to more than
17,600 students in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company will continue to be focused on
teens preparing for college by providing opportunities for teens to improve their tech skills to further
future career and education opportunities. They currently hold Teen Tech centers and Teen Tech
summits that provide an opportunity for teens to explore different technology to acquire the
necessary skills. The company does these programs as a way to add service to the community.
Though various alternatives to the loan process exist, they do serve as an important gateway to a
student's success. It may be the last resort and Lindsay encourages anyone who may ask her that the
payoff is worth the risk. "Being around my friends, I've noticed that most students use loans and
work to pay" said Knox. "When someone is considering taking out a loan, I try to tell them that
although it is considered going into debt that loans aren't bad if it means you are getting an
education. Then it's worth it because education is priceless and the key to success."
Government Association. She is currently a senior at KSU majoring in Early Childhood Education.
Despite her rank on the SGA, however, Knox does not pay for school with any scholarships.
"I tookout my first loan this semester, and the rest of it my parents pay for" Knox said. "I applied for
many scholarships, but I wasn't awarded any from the university." This is the plight Knox describes
for most students she comes across, whether it pertains to herself, her friends, or the students that
may come to her for advice.
Rising tuition rates make college financially burdening to both traditional and non-traditional
students. Most students have either their parents pay for school, or the means of student loans.
Student loans are always expected to be paid back, occasionally over a long period of years, and can
accumulate into a massive amount of debt. Unbeknownst to many, there are scholarship
opportunities that often go unnoticed.
Many colleges hold what is called a Scholarship Day. Students with over a 3.5 GPA in high school
are eligible to be awarded scholarships with amounts of money able to rise depending on grades of
the applicant. This is the means by which Marissa D'Onofrio, a Physics Major at Berry College, is
able to pay for a private college education.
"I attended a Scholarship Day, and if you had a 3.5 you were able to win about 7K. I would up
walking away with $14,500." Berry College's scholarship day in particular receives a lot of funding
from alumni and important big names such as Henry Ford to be made possible. D'Onofrio's success
in high school also helped her achieve many other scholarships and aid to cover expenses for her
private school education. Most universities will provide the chance for students to win several small
scholarships to add up to paying the entire bill.
D'Onofrio also qualified for a Berry Needs Based Grant of $5,000, which is provided for students
with eligible parental income, and a Georgia Tuition Equalization of $700. Georgia Tuition
Equalization provides non-repayable grants to eligible full time students in the state of Georgia
attending private schools. The goal is to provide an equal opportunity for private schoolers to obtain
aid when the HOPE Scholarship does not include funding for private school education. In addition,
she receives room and board half off for working as a Residence Assistant. RA positions at most
campuses can have similar benefits, not only discounted or free housing but also free parking passes,
reduced meal costs, and lower tuition. Resident Assistant jobs often come with heavy responsibilities,
from mentoring younger students to solving roommate and neighbor conflicts depending on the
university. D'Onofrio also received a scholarship from Delta through her father's work and received
added benefits by working in the dining hall. She is enrolled in a student work program which is
helping her pay back her lone student loan of $5,000.
Students also may receive scholarships from being involved in on-campus clubs most notably
fraternities and sororities. Senator at large Vivian Okere earned money for her enrollment in an on-
campus sorority "I received a scholarship from the sorority I am in, Alpha Kappa Alpha, which is
available only for people in the sorority." Okere said "Most of it is merit based, you qualify if you
have a three point five but if you have a 4.0 you are more likely to receive the aid."
Alpha Kappa Alpha offers a multitude of scholarships for both high school and college students
providing information about the donor, amount of the scholarship, and specific criteria for eligibility.
Scholarships are limited to one per student and require the students to be high achieved, hence
placing a strong emphasis on grade point average. All of the scholarships listed on the AKA website
honor former members of the sorority and are focused on giving applicants an opportunity for a
higher education.
Some students may not make the grades for these opportunities, and even more so have learning
disabilities that prevented them from excelling in high school. Through the help of a government
agency, students can not only acquire much needed costs for college but also benefits for the future.
The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Division provides services to people with disabilities to help
them in their transition into the work force and also help them to get hired by employers seeking
those with disabilities. Anyone with a disability that can affect their work in two or more ways are
eligible to apply, and each case is considered individually. In addition to this, they provide tuition
payments for college students with disabilities.
Jerica Dixon, a representative of GVRA, said "We provide help to all people with disabilities that
cause an impediment in your work. Whether it be physical, mental or developmental, all people with
disabilities are eligible to apply." The school system will usually identify a student as a potential
candidate and if a student is either interested or referred by a teacher, the teacher will later make
contact with the parents or legal guardian to enlist support. Much like most financial aid, however,
GVRA only pays for a percentage of the final bill in a system called Call Sharing. This is done
through a precalculated percentage based on parent's or your own income shown on taxes, the
FAFSA, and any other aid that the student has been awarded by the university.
GVRA's main priority, however, is to get disabled people into the workforce. "What we do is we
help meet your vocational goal." said Dixon. "You set up a plan and we help you go over your plan
and check up on the progress." Services will only be given to those that hope to achieve a vocational
goal in a career of their choice and to become employed based on that goal. Services do require you
meet financial eligibility and all paid expenses by the agency must be approved by a VR counselor in
advance.
When an applicant and a VR counselor agree that the applicant is ready to work, the VR staff will
help the applicant to become employed. Services provided include resume development, interview
preparation, and job referrals. The services that GVRA or any Vocational Rehabilitation agency does
not stop at college, but helps those with disabilities put their foot in the door of being a success in the
workforce. VR staff believes that finding the right job is the chief goal in providing aid to disabled
people and the active participation that is needed from the individual financially is an essential part
of making the process possible.
A various amount of scholarships are also available to students who are not disabled but do not
have the highest grade point average either. Scholarships.com provides lots of different bizarre
nontraditional opportunities to receive funds for school. Such opportunities include scholarships for
writing an essay or studying abroad, or there are scholarships available based on the applicants race,
religion, or marital status. Examples of these include the ABA Diversity Scholarship or the ACHE
Albert W Dent scholarship to aid minorities or the Jeanette Rankin Fund scholarships that are a
benefit to single mothers. Each of the scholarships have different qualifications and requirements
which makes it possible for more people in certain circumstances to get a college education.
Best Buy once offered a scholarship opportunity for students, but has since permanently closed.
Since it began in 1999, the program's website reports that it awarded nearly $22 million to more than
17,600 students in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company will continue to be focused on
teens preparing for college by providing opportunities for teens to improve their tech skills to further
future career and education opportunities. They currently hold Teen Tech centers and Teen Tech
summits that provide an opportunity for teens to explore different technology to acquire the
necessary skills. The company does these programs as a way to add service to the community.
Though various alternatives to the loan process exist, they do serve as an important gateway to a
student's success. It may be the last resort and Lindsay encourages anyone who may ask her that the
payoff is worth the risk. "Being around my friends, I've noticed that most students use loans and
work to pay" said Knox. "When someone is considering taking out a loan, I try to tell them that
although it is considered going into debt that loans aren't bad if it means you are getting an
education. Then it's worth it because education is priceless and the key to success."
Thursday, September 4, 2014
New connector bridge eases transportation
The Cobb County Department of Transportation is working on constructing the new Skip Spann Connector bridge to cut down traffic for Kennesaw State students. The project is aiming to provide a better and safer route to not only Kennesaw State but also Towne Center Mall and other local destinations. "KSU is growing, and Chastain Road becomes maxed out. So the bridge will offer an alternative to going down Chastain." said James Hutchens from the Department of Transportation.
Kennesaw State's 25,000 commuter students no longer have to share the same route bringing motorists from I-75 to U.S. 41, causing a vast amount of congestion in the morning hours. The bridge is a $17.5 million project which according to the Cobb County DOT model will reduce traffic on Chastain Road by 19 percent.
The Skip Spann Connector will be over I-75 north of Chastain Road. The bridge is also a roundabout at Busbee Drive and TownPark Lane. Roundabout have a history of being a safer way to drive. Reduced delay time for vehicles passing means less confusion about four-way stops and also calms down traffic by slowing down the speed limit and directing cars in a little circle to their intended destination. Speeds at roundabouts are generally 25 MPH or lower causing shorter break time and longer decision making time.
"When the South finally adopted roundabouts, Cobb County saw a huge decrease in traffic. Now there are about 5 or 6 roundabouts in the West Cobb area." said James Hutchens "There's no traffic light and everyone moves at slower speeds."
Some commuter students are reticent to the development. " I don't think that they would decrease it because in a roundabout people don't signal or use it properly so people sometimes have no idea where they are going." Said Alyssa Wright, a KSU commuter student from Marietta. "Also, our roundabouts have plants or other things in the center so it makes it more difficult to see, therefore making it more dangerous."
A roundabouts purpose is to be a safe way to direct traffic. In a roundabout, the driver can easily navigate through a roundabout simply by seeing if there is another driver currently in the circle. If there is no car in the circle or the other driver has just moved into the circle, the first driver may pass with quick reaction time. If there is a wreck in a roundabout, the damage will be slim to none. The worst on average is perhaps a fender bender or a dent that is much less dangerous and costly than a crash involving injury or fatality.
According to the Cobb County DOT Website, a 2002 study reflects these facts, reporting a 60% decrease in total crash rates, an 82% reduction in injury crashes, and a 100% reduction in fatality crashes. The roundabout also benefits from lower electricity and maintenance cost that come with traffic lights and also a very unique aesthetic look.
Roundabouts have also been known to be environmentally friendly by reducing air pollution. Because the flow of traffic is improved, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions are also reduced. They are also safer for pedestrians, who have a lot of walking room on sidewalks across the perimeter and cross only one direction of traffic.
More information about roundabouts and the construction process can be found at the Cobb County
website at http://www.cobbcounty.org/images/documents/dot/SkipSpann/roundabout_march2013_flyer.pdf.
Kennesaw State's 25,000 commuter students no longer have to share the same route bringing motorists from I-75 to U.S. 41, causing a vast amount of congestion in the morning hours. The bridge is a $17.5 million project which according to the Cobb County DOT model will reduce traffic on Chastain Road by 19 percent.
The Skip Spann Connector will be over I-75 north of Chastain Road. The bridge is also a roundabout at Busbee Drive and TownPark Lane. Roundabout have a history of being a safer way to drive. Reduced delay time for vehicles passing means less confusion about four-way stops and also calms down traffic by slowing down the speed limit and directing cars in a little circle to their intended destination. Speeds at roundabouts are generally 25 MPH or lower causing shorter break time and longer decision making time.
"When the South finally adopted roundabouts, Cobb County saw a huge decrease in traffic. Now there are about 5 or 6 roundabouts in the West Cobb area." said James Hutchens "There's no traffic light and everyone moves at slower speeds."
A roundabouts purpose is to be a safe way to direct traffic. In a roundabout, the driver can easily navigate through a roundabout simply by seeing if there is another driver currently in the circle. If there is no car in the circle or the other driver has just moved into the circle, the first driver may pass with quick reaction time. If there is a wreck in a roundabout, the damage will be slim to none. The worst on average is perhaps a fender bender or a dent that is much less dangerous and costly than a crash involving injury or fatality.
According to the Cobb County DOT Website, a 2002 study reflects these facts, reporting a 60% decrease in total crash rates, an 82% reduction in injury crashes, and a 100% reduction in fatality crashes. The roundabout also benefits from lower electricity and maintenance cost that come with traffic lights and also a very unique aesthetic look.
Roundabouts have also been known to be environmentally friendly by reducing air pollution. Because the flow of traffic is improved, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions are also reduced. They are also safer for pedestrians, who have a lot of walking room on sidewalks across the perimeter and cross only one direction of traffic.
More information about roundabouts and the construction process can be found at the Cobb County
website at http://www.cobbcounty.org/images/documents/dot/SkipSpann/roundabout_march2013_flyer.pdf.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
SGA Beat 8/26
Following the Fall Retreat, the Student Government is looking to enter the year with a bang. During the retreat, it was decided that the main focus of this year was governance, particularly reaching out to students so that their voices would be heard by faculty and administration. Using the tagline "Speak up: Let Your Voice Be Heard", the current goal to approach the topic of consolidation is to work closely with SGA officers at Southern Polytechnic to establish one consolidated Student Government. This includes the students at Southern Polytechnic as well, as the KSU SGA is currently creating a governance document for the new consolidated SGA. This document will be submitted by Sept. 30, so all students even the new up and coming ones will be represented.
The SGA also would like to notify students of the new tobacco policy administered by the Board of Regents that all tobacco products are not permitted on any University system of Georgia campuses. The ruling will be in effect on Oct. 1st. In addition to implementing this new policy, KSU has developed a "Breathe Easy" campaign that will promote healthy lifestyles for all students. Guest speakers will also be invited around this time to speak at general body meetings to discuss the policy and implementation. Rachel Martini said the dates for the sepakers will be determined soon.
The first Student Government meeting of the Fall Semester is August 28th at 3:30 p.m. in the University Rooms. Be there to show your support and raise any concerns you may have.
The SGA also would like to notify students of the new tobacco policy administered by the Board of Regents that all tobacco products are not permitted on any University system of Georgia campuses. The ruling will be in effect on Oct. 1st. In addition to implementing this new policy, KSU has developed a "Breathe Easy" campaign that will promote healthy lifestyles for all students. Guest speakers will also be invited around this time to speak at general body meetings to discuss the policy and implementation. Rachel Martini said the dates for the sepakers will be determined soon.
The first Student Government meeting of the Fall Semester is August 28th at 3:30 p.m. in the University Rooms. Be there to show your support and raise any concerns you may have.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Consolidation updates: SGA going into Fall Semester
The Student Government at Kennesaw State is looking to form a single student government with Southern Polytechnic following the school's joining together in 2015. The SGA has posted a link on their website to the new up and running consolidation website. The site shows the month by month progress of the consolidation between Kennesaw and SPSU as one Student Government after the schools combine in 2015, which has slightly gone forward since June.
The Consolidation Implementation Committee handles the decision making process regarding the new university's structure, vision, and mission statement. Their membership has expanded, adding twelve faculty members representing the academic schools of SPSU and the degree granting colleges of KSU. This helped extend the CIC from 28 members to 47 members handing the selection process. Two academic deans and department chairs were also added from each school.
The CIC has approved 191 recommendations regarding the 81 Operational Working Groups (OWG's), who is responsible for most of the work on the consolidation. The groups are divided into categories such as Faculty Affairs, Overall University Structure, and Academic Degrees and Programs. 48 of the OWG's were completed in May. Due to long term requirements, the CIC and Expanded Consolidation Implementation Committee (ECIC) have asked for extensions in their work on the other 33 yet to be completed. The list of the people involved with the OWGS can be found at http://www.ksuspsuconsolidation.com/committee-members/working-groups/working-groups-leadership-and-responsibilities/.
Changes have been made to ensure the transition of the consolidation moves as quickly as possible. Dr. Ron Koger was named interim president of SPSU by University System of Georgia chancellor Hank Huckaby in late May and Professor Richard Cole, dean of the School of Architecture and Construction Management, was chosen to serve as interim vice president for Academic Affairs. This is following former president Dr Rossbacher and former VPAA Zvi Szafran's decision to accept presidential positions at other universities. In addition, director of recreational sports Karl Staber will serve as interim VP for Student Enrollment Services and Jim Herbert, director of information technology, will serve as interim chief information officer (CIO). Their biographies can be found at http://www.ksuspsuconsolidation.com/june-12-2014-interim-president-vice-presidents-cio-named-for-spsu/.
The Consolidation Implementation Committee handles the decision making process regarding the new university's structure, vision, and mission statement. Their membership has expanded, adding twelve faculty members representing the academic schools of SPSU and the degree granting colleges of KSU. This helped extend the CIC from 28 members to 47 members handing the selection process. Two academic deans and department chairs were also added from each school.
The CIC has approved 191 recommendations regarding the 81 Operational Working Groups (OWG's), who is responsible for most of the work on the consolidation. The groups are divided into categories such as Faculty Affairs, Overall University Structure, and Academic Degrees and Programs. 48 of the OWG's were completed in May. Due to long term requirements, the CIC and Expanded Consolidation Implementation Committee (ECIC) have asked for extensions in their work on the other 33 yet to be completed. The list of the people involved with the OWGS can be found at http://www.ksuspsuconsolidation.com/committee-members/working-groups/working-groups-leadership-and-responsibilities/.
Changes have been made to ensure the transition of the consolidation moves as quickly as possible. Dr. Ron Koger was named interim president of SPSU by University System of Georgia chancellor Hank Huckaby in late May and Professor Richard Cole, dean of the School of Architecture and Construction Management, was chosen to serve as interim vice president for Academic Affairs. This is following former president Dr Rossbacher and former VPAA Zvi Szafran's decision to accept presidential positions at other universities. In addition, director of recreational sports Karl Staber will serve as interim VP for Student Enrollment Services and Jim Herbert, director of information technology, will serve as interim chief information officer (CIO). Their biographies can be found at http://www.ksuspsuconsolidation.com/june-12-2014-interim-president-vice-presidents-cio-named-for-spsu/.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Headline
The sentence describing the story. Maybe two sentences. No more than that.
I really don’t want a lot here.
Headline for sidebar one
Assume that your reader did not read the main story. Reintroduce your interviewees. Tell them again the main topic. And make sure you have a nut graph that tells them the point of the sidebar.
Your sidebar should be about 200-300 words long. One page or a page and a half is plenty.
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