Partners in Education: Kennesaw State and Marietta High School
Multiple institutions join in student success initiative under broader Cobb County
educational…
Georgia
(Feb 23, 2016) —
Multiple institutions join in student success initiative under broader Cobb County
educational partners plan
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (Feb. 23, 2016) — Kennesaw State University signed a formal partnership agreement with Marietta High
School (MHS) on Monday to identify opportunities and create initiatives that support
greater student learning and success. The new partnership is part of a broader “Partners
in Education” initiative sponsored by the Cobb Chamber, the Cobb County School District
and Marietta City Schools to match businesses and organizations with K-12 schools
to provide extra funding, unique services and volunteer support.
“Kennesaw State has shared a long and fruitful relationship with Marietta City Schools
over the years, and this agreement with Marietta High School will only strengthen
that connection,” said Kennesaw State University President Daniel S. Papp. “This signing
reflects the University’s deep commitment to community engagement. It also illustrates
the strategic importance we place on assuring that students have access to high-quality
learning experiences at all levels of their education — a goal we share with our partners
at the Cobb Chamber and with the other educational partners in this initiative.”
Under the new yearlong agreement, representatives of Kennesaw State’s Office of Community
Engagement within the new Division of Economic Development and Community Engagement
will meet regularly with Marietta High School leaders. They will review existing projects
and explore new pathways for learning, opportunities for engagement, and avenues for
student support.
Several projects are already underway between Kennesaw State and Marietta High, including:
- A collaborative container-building project in Haiti, through which KSU faculty provide
students with STEM learning experiences to support development of a test site for
sustainable technologies and container building;
- A culinary partnership agreement that awards MHS culinary students academic credits
at Kennesaw State for exemplary academic performance in specified coursework at the
high school;
- Collaboration between the Student Success Center at Marietta High School and key Kennesaw
State units, including KSU’s Office of Multicultural Retention Services, Center for
Young Adult Addiction and Recovery, Center for Conflict Management, Department of
Social Work and Human Services, and the Bagwell College of Education.
Additional projects also are being developed by Kennesaw State and MHS representatives,
including plans to expand the Student Success Center’s efforts to provide mentors
for African-American males, mediation training for student leaders, expanded opportunities
for KSU education majors to student-teach in the district, and opportunities for members
of the University’s faculty and staff to serve on key advisory boards at MHS.
“We are fortunate to have quality education for grades K-12 and post high school opportunities
extending from an associate’s degree to a doctorate degree in one county,” said Marietta
City Schools Superintendent Emily Lembeck. “These newly formed partnerships are a
key component to fostering our students’ goals for life success after high school,
which is an important part of the Marietta City Schools mission. We are enthusiastic
about the possibilities that will result from our collaboration with each institution
for this common goal.”
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers close to 200 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
