KSU continues to expand on award winning residential housing
By Jace White
Nestled in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, Kennesaw State University is relatively unheard of around the nation, but the institution continues to strive to become one of the leading universities in the state of Georgia as well as the region. Recent accolades and expansions to campus housing suggest KSU is well underway to achieving recognition throughout the Southeast. However, there is far more to be done if university officials wish to outlive the university’s humble beginnings as a junior college.
KSU’s Department of Residence Life recently launched construction on its newest installment of dorms to advance its award-winning program despite recent conflict with private apartment ventures and budgeting.
Construction of new apartment-style dorms cut a deep scar into the pine forest on the south side of campus as Kennesaw State University begins to prepare for the opening of the newest phase of student housing. The Department of Residence Life slated this 451 bed expansion to open in time for next fall—KSU’s ten year anniversary of on-campus housing and the department. Advancements within the department and expansions throughout the campus over the last decade netted KSU regional merit as well as national recognition.
Most recently, CampusSplash.com, a leading blog for prospective college students, presented its annual Dormy Award to Kennesaw State University for having the best dorm hall in the entire nation for 2011. The University Village Suites secured the coveted honor despite being the youngest of Kennesaw’s four dorm communities due to its innovative attention to student involvement and interaction. To many students and professionals, this focus on developing the residents’ investment in the university dictates the overall quality of their experience at KSU.
After attending KSU for just over four years and serving over two of those years as a resident assistant in KSU Place, Bobby Hinsdale has witnessed Kennesaw grow into the school it is today. “A lot of my commuter friends have no idea what they are missing. Living on campus is really an irreplaceable experience,” said Hinsdale.
Justin Cruz, a college freshman and club lacrosse player, chose an individual dorm in the University Village Suites because he was interested in the individual responsibility but found something more. “I was ready to get my own place when I came to college… But, living on campus has given me a chance to get involved around campus and meet new people," said Cruz.
With the most recent phase of University Place well underway, talks have already progressed to consider where the university should expand next. The primary focus remains on the south end of campus in attempt to balance out the on-campus environment between the north and south residential areas. Furthermore, land is still available at this location unlike the other, which is surrounded by private residences. Talks have also suggested renovating or rebuilding entire portions of KSU Place, which consists of the oldest apartments available to residents. However, none of the additional plans have been finalized or approved for construction due to the dwindling economy and uncertainty around campus.
Despite the accolades, KSU Housing still suffers from many shortfalls around campus including parking, which has plagued students and faculty for the entire year. Parking has become such a irritation for commuters, officials have opened residential parking venues like the North Parking Deck and KSU Place’s residential lots to open student parking. Worse yet, the university installed a simple gravel parking lot within KSU Place, replacing a green that was once used for outdoor movies and more.
“It will take some time, but I think KSU’s infrastructures… like parking… will catch up to its growth. I think the university is finally realizing how big it’s really become,” Hinsdale said.
With the status of premier residential dorms in the Southeast and the nation, competition is sure to follow. The two most recent contenders consist of U Club on Frey and the Lofts of Kennesaw, two private student-based apartments. With them, the two businesses bring questionable advertising and marketing practices. Officials like Jeff Cooper, Director of Residence Life, feel that both U Club and the Lofts intentionally employed misleading and outright false advertisements that suggested both had genuine ties to the university. This could not be further from the truth. Instead the two companies have left a large number of current residents, prospective students, and parents confused and the Department of Residence Life running damage control. However, when asked if KSU would be taking any legal measures against either complex, Cooper refused to comment.
Despite the controversies and shortfalls, Kennesaw State University’s Department of Residence Life and housing continues to advance itself beyond competing institutes in the region and solidify itself as a premier university of the Southeast. The university is gradually shedding its commuter school sense and exchanging it for a more traditional outlook. Many will be watching as KSU nears two more major milestones: NCAA division one football and the university’s fifty year anniversary of operation. Regardless if KSU will match the atmosphere of its competitors like the University of Georgia or Georgia Institute of Technology, it solidified itself as new standard of education and student life for both commuter and resident students.
