KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 11, 2019

Initiatives result in summer enrollment increase

Kennesaw State University is seeing the results of increasing its summer course offerings and spreading the word to students that taking summer classes helps them earn their degrees more quickly.

Expansion of the summer curriculum, combined with a targeted marketing campaign promoting the benefits of taking summer classes, boosted Kennesaw State’s summer 2019 enrollment to 17,577 students. That represents an 8.5 percent increase over last year’s summer enrollment of 16,201 students and a 15.4 percent jump from 15,236 in 2017.

“Summer coursework offers real benefits for students, such as accelerating progress toward their degrees, providing easier access to high-demand classes and offering courses in a condensed format,” KSU President Pam Whitten said. “Enhancing the summer experience is an important aspect of Kennesaw State’s commitment to student success. The increase in enrollment reflects the commitment of our faculty and staff to make the summer beneficial for our students.”

Kennesaw State’s summer enrollment included 15,488 returning students, a 7.3 percent increase from last summer. New students also were a factor, as a total of 2,089 incoming freshmen and transfers marked a 17.8 percent jump from 2018 in that category.

KSU held several activities to keep its two campuses active for summer students. Those included Walk-In Wednesdays with Career Planning and Development on both campuses for on-the-spot career and internship advice; Chill Day Thursdays in the Wilson Student Center on the Marietta campus with free games and snacks; Free Movie Wednesdays in the Carmichael Student Center on the Kennesaw campus; and Sports and Recreation summer swim lessons in both campus pools.

– Paul Floeckher

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.