President's visit heralds good news

By Cheryl Anderson Brown




Photos by Joshua Stone
Kennesaw State University President Daniel S. Papp spent Friday, April 25 with the faculty and staff of the College of the Arts, sharing the university's plans and answering questions about current and future issues. Following a one-on-one meeting with Dean Joseph Meeks, Papp met with the COTA faculty and staff in the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center.

In his opening, Papp announced that the university has received word that it will receive a $12 million budget increase for FY2009; this is the largest increase in its history. He also announced that construction on the 1,740-spot Central Parking Deck and the 913-bed residence is ahead of schedule and should be completed in the next two or three months. Earlier that morning, he received news that a donor is possibly going to help fund graduate teaching and research assistantships. The cabinet is seeking opportunities for off-campus teaching locations and is hoping to have the proposed 1,000-seat dining hall on the Board of Regents agenda in June. Finally, he shared that of the 7,000 students who responded to a survey about football, 78% said they wanted football and 30% said they would be willing to pay $105 per semester to support it.

As for challenges facing the university, Papp said that football still faces many hurdles including funding and location. Likewise, the university has many facilities needs that is trying to address in a number of ways, including $100 million in new construction and new acquisitions that are being secured by the KSU Foundation. He revealed that a proposed addition to the Visual Arts Building is not in the $100 million and is still many years from being funded. The university is also working to bring down the faculty-student ratio, which may benefit from the projected flat growth for the next fall although the university still anticipates rapid enrollment growth over the next several years.

"I appreciate his honesty," said Assistant Professor of Theatre & Performance Studies Jane Barnette, who asked about possible partner benefits. Papp recommended that the most appropriate plan would be for the University of Georgia to lead the way.

On the whole, Papp was optimistic about the university's future as one of three institutions tagged by the Board of Regents as "robust," a designation which will likely mean continued growth in financial support.

"Things are looking very, very good for Kennesaw State," Papp said, "and the College of the Arts is doing absolutely wonderful things. Keep up the good work."





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From what I have read and seen, Dr. Papp really has his head on straight. He seems to understand the importance of athletics, without ever sacrificing the mission of university - to educate. It is a juggling act for a new Division I school, but so far so good. I am sure we will have some bumps along the way, but it is encouraging to have a president who is honest and forthright with his comments.

Football!

Papp's a good guy. I hope we can keep him for a while. He sure looks like he knows how to work with big dollars and growth moreso than the last few years of Siegels marathon career.

I'm sure in a few years he'll do something unpopular and someone can put my comments up then. That's the nature of being a university president. Right now though he's doing a good job.