Interactive Guide for International Faculty

You can find below a number of resources organized within three different periods of time that we believe are going to be key in your transition to the KSU/BCOE community and Atlanta area. If you have any question or doubt, please send us an email to <email@kennesaw.edu> and we will be more than glad to help you. In addition to the resources below, you can also benefit from the International Faculty Mentoring Program that aims to provide support for newly-hired international faculty (IF) at the BCOE by identifying colleagues who will serve as mentors through phases of relocation, orientation, and the first year of adjustment.

  • Orientation I. Getting ready: The following set of resources might help you get a better understanding of what KSU, the BCOE and the sorroundings will offer you. We recommend having a look at the provided resources so you can get ready to make relevant decisions upon arrival. 

    • Knowing Kennesaw State University & Surroundings
      • Welcome to KSU: The clip below provides an aerial view of our beautiful campus, so you can get a better idea of the environment in which you will be working soon. 

    • Discover KSU (2018): The following clip provides an overview of the opportunities KSU provides to our over 36,000 students.

    • CETL Welcoming video series: The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) promotes research based pedagogies that foster student academic engagement, learning, and success. CETL supports the integrated professional development of students, faculty, and administrators throughout their careers. In this link you will find a variety of short clips regarding the services provided by CETL. 
    • Campus maps: In this link you will find the maps for our two campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta. 
    • Big Owl bus routes: In this link you will find the Big Owl Bus routes inc ase you need to come to campus and still don;t have your own vehicle. 

    Knowing a little about the BCOE

    • Overview: The Bagwell College of Education at Kennesaw State University leads with excellence in the teaching profession. Recognized for its master’s, specialist and doctoral degree programs, the BCOE is a leading preparer of teachers in the state of Georgia. Focused on culturally responsive practices, student achievement and 21st century technology, we offer online, hybrid and face-to-face graduate degrees, endorsements and MOOC’s for teachers and leaders.

      To accommodate our rapid growth, a 78,756 square-foot addition to our facility opened during 2015. The Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Education Building houses 12 general classrooms, three computer labs, eight model classrooms, student study areas, the Center for Literacy and Learning, conference rooms, the dean's office, two departments and a research suite. The addition connects with our existing space in Kennesaw Hall. 

      As a vital part of Georgia’s third largest university serving more than 32,000 students from 132 countries, the Bagwell College of Education is creating a future in which all of Georgia’s educators and students are poised to achieve excellence. More information about the BCOE can be found in this link. 

    • Research Consortium (RCC): The Research Consortium is a faculty-driven organization intended to provide support to BCOE faculty and graduate students for research design, implementation, and data analysis. This clip summarizes the aims, scope and services provided by the RCC. 

    City of Kennesaw & Atlanta

    • Atlanta: Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. With an estimated 2017 population of 486,290, it is also the 38th most-populous city in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, home to 5.8 million people and the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the nation.

    Housing

    Transportation

    Finances

    • Bank Accounts: There are two basic types of bank accounts: checking accounts and savings accounts. With a checking account you can deposit your money in the account and access those funds using your Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card or by writing personal checks. Most likely you will pay your rent and bills with your checks, but most stores do not accept personal checks for purchases anymore. The bank will provide you with a checkbook and checks (there may be a fee depending on how you want to personalize your order). The ATM card is provided for free, but there are often fees for using your ATM card at banks other than the one where you hold an account. Additionally, most checking accounts have a minimum balance requirement. If you go below the minimum, you will be charged a fee. If you have money that you do not need to use immediately, you may want to open a savings account. The advantage of a savings account is that money in the account earns interest. You can usually deposit and withdraw money from a savings account as you wish. As with checking accounts, there is normally a minimum account balance requirement.When you go to open your account, take your passport and immigration documents along with any and all U.S. identification that you possess. It is very helpful to get your bank account set up soon after you arrive so you can have your paychecks directly deposited into your accounts. In this link you can find a list of banks in Kennesaw.
    • Taxes: Nearly everyone who works in the U.S. must pay federal income tax. Some states and cities including Georgia also collect income taxes. There may be a tax treaty between your country and the United States. The University Payroll, and Human Resources can assist you with your tax-related questions.

    Health Care & Retirement plans

    • Benefits 101 Videos: In this video series you will be able to learn about the different health care options provided by the University Sytem of Georgia. In the previous link you will find information regarding the folloiwng aspects: preventative Care, coinsurance, deductible, copay, telemedicine, and where to get care.
    • USG Benefits - New Hire Enrollment

    • Retirement options: The following clip summarizes the retirement options you will have as an employee of the University System of Georgia. It is important for you to know the different options that are available since you will have to make a decision during your orientation week.

    Documents and Immigration Information

  • Orientation II. What to expect upon arrival: The following set of resources might assist you in making informed decisions during your initial week at KSU/BCOE. We recommend having a look at the provided resources upon arrival. We also encourage you to discuss any question or doubt you may have with your assigned mentor. 

    • Orientation week-New Faculty Success Program: To reduce some of the pressures from transitioning to new surroundings, KSU's Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) coordinates a New Faculty Success Program to provide Full Time & Support Faculty with an introduction to the University to help establish a strong foundation for your future success at KSU. The New Faculty Success Program starts with a series of
      Campus Introduction Videos available to you in this link. You will get information about orientation week 2-3 weeks before the beginning of the semester. 
    • Campus maps: In this link you will find the maps for our two campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta.
    • Teaching & Teaching load at KSU/BCOE: The Bagwell College of Education (BCOE) serves multiple stakeholders, including B-12 partners, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC), and several external accreditation agencies. The BCOE has established a college-wide baseline for faculty workload that ensures equity, accountability, and transparency within BCOE. Multiple workload options described below are intentionally designed to ensure the BCOE and KSU achieve their instructional needs and educational mission and allow the BCOE to manage appropriate staffing of graduate and undergraduate programs. Variations to the baseline workload models (i.e., 60-20-20 or 60-30-10) may be made on a case-by-case basis and may change year-to-year. The workload of a faculty member is negotiated by the faculty and the chair with approval of the Dean during the Faculty Performance Agreement (FPA) process, reflecting the faculty member’s long-term career objectives and performance, as well as the needs and goals of the relevant department and the College. Performance reviews will reflect the faculty member’s success in achieving the requirements of the assigned workload during the evaluation period.
      All tenured and tenure-track faculty seeking promotion in rank will be expected to start from the baseline workload models. However, it is recognized that the needs of the faculty and individual departments may vary. The following table shows examples of potential workload configurations.

    workload

    culture shock

    Housing

    • Finding your place:
      • Georgia Housing Search: Sponsored by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, GeorgiaHousingSearch.org provides detailed information about rental properties and helps people find housing to best fit their needs. The service can be accessed at no cost online 24 hours a day or through a toll-free, bilingual call center at 1-877-428-8844, available M-F, 9:00 am - 8:00 pm EDT.
      • Apartments for rent near Kennesaw State University
    • Utilities: In this link you can find a list of the major utility companies that serve the City of Kennesaw (electricity, gas, water, gas, internet, phone, etc)

    Transportation

    • Driving in Georgia: Generally, you may drive in Georgia for up to one year on a valid foreign or International license. However, if a non-US citizen establishes residency in Georgia, he or she must obtain a Georgia driver's license within thirty (30) days. You can get more information in the Georgia Department of Driver Services website. 
      • Where to get your Drivers licence: This site shows the different locations in which you can get your driver license and the state of Georgia ID. 
      • Requirements & documentation: Please check this website to learn about the documentation you will need to get your drivers license. 
    • Zipcar: Zipcar at Kennesaw State offers the KSU community the ability to rent vehicles by the hour or by the day. Zipcar provides the benefits of car ownership without all the cost or hassle. The folloiwng clip summarizes the way in which Zipcar works.

    Finances

    • Open a bank account: This article summarizes some key information regarding the process you will have to follow to open a bank account as a Non-resident. The following credit union and bank might be convenient for you. 

      • Credit Union of Georgia: Credit Union of Georgia was founded by Educators to serve Educators. They are a not-for-profit financial institution owned by their members and offered to you as an employee of KSU. A $10.00 deposit into a share account allows you to take advantage of low loan rates and higher than average dividends on share accounts. Credit Union of Georgia offers Checking, Savings, Loans, Visa Credit Cards, Mortgages, and much more. Convenient Banking on Campus!

      • Fifth Third Bank: Fifth Third Bank is proud to be the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics!  As a member of the Kennesaw State University family, you are eligible for Fifth Third Bank's Membership Advantage program.  With Membership Advantage, you have the opportunity to select a personalized checking package and receive exclusive benefits designed to save you time and money.  Valid KSU ID is required. 

    Health Care & Retirement plans

    • Benefits 101 Videos: In this video series you will be able to learn about the different health care options provided by the University Sytem of Georgia. In the previous link you will find information regarding the folloiwng aspects: preventative Care, coinsurance, deductible, copay, telemedicine, and where to get care.
    • The following clip summarizes the information you will find in the University System of Georgia Retirement site. Please pay special attention to the new employee section.

    Documents and Immigration Information

  • Orientation III: What to expect in your first year at KSU/BCOE

    Enjoying Kennesaw State University & Surroundings

    • Campus Life: A university education is not complete without activities and programs to develop one’s social and personal life. Get to know interesting people, become a part of our community, and create a niche. Campus Life is an integral part of the KSU education and the experiences and development of our students is important.
    • 21 things to do in Atlanta

    Promotion & Tenure at KSU/BCOE

    Annual Reviews

    Finances

    Documents and Immigration Information

    Other useful information

    • Measurements: The United States is moving very slowly toward adopting the metric system. In most non-scientific settings, weights and measures are not discussed in metric terms. Many websites offer free conversion calculations between measurement systems, such as onlineconversion.com.
      • To change Centigrade (C) to Fahrenheit (F), multiply the C reading by 9/5 and add 32 to that amount. To change F to C, subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9.
      • To change kilograms to pounds, multiply by 2.2 pounds.
    • Holidays: Official holidays are usually recognized throughout the U.S. On those days, schools, offices, banks, post offices and many stores are closed. The list below includes official holidays. 

      • New Year’s Day (January 1) – Official
        New Year’s Eve, December 31, is more important in the U.S. than New Year’s Day itself. On New Year’s Eve many people go to parties or watch firework displays. Popular activities on New Year’s Day include watching televised parades and football games.

      • Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday (Third Monday in January) – Official
        Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. organized and led the civil rights movement in the U.S. during the 1960s. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and was assassinated in 1968. Many people perform community service on this day to commemorate Dr. King’s contributions to social justice.

      • Presidents’ Day (Third Monday in February) – Official
        This holiday commemorates George Washington’s birthday (February 22) and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12). George Washington was a General during the American Revolution and the first President of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln was President during the Civil War, 1861-1865. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

      • Mother’s Day (Second Sunday in May)
        On this day, Americans honor their mothers by sending them flowers, buying small gifts, sending cards, or taking them out for meals.

      • Father’s Day (Third Sunday in June)
        Fathers are honored on this day with cards and gifts.

      • Memorial Day (Last Monday in May) – Official
        Memorial Day is dedicated to the memory of all Americans who died in wars. Many families visit graves and decorate them with flowers, and the day is also marked with patriotic parades. This day is considered the beginning of the summer season.       

      • Independence Day/Fourth of July (July 4) – Official
        This is the U.S. National Day. It commemorates the day the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776. This holiday is celebrated all over the country with picnics, parades, political speeches and community get-togethers that culminate in firework displays.

      • Labor Day (First Monday in September) – Official
        This holiday was established in recognition of the labor movement’s contribution to the productivity of this country. This day is the last holiday of the summer season and is celebrated with picnics and other events.

      • Columbus Day (Second Monday in October) – Official
        Columbus reached the West Indies in 1492, and is popularly referred to as the explorer who “discovered” America, although the continent was already populated by Native Americans and had been visited by earlier seafarers. Americans observe the holiday with parades and festivals. In the Northeast, the long weekend is the high point of the season for viewing the brilliantly colored fall leaves.

      • Halloween (October 31)
        This was originally a religious holiday, the day before All Soul’s Day, but its religious character has been lost in the U.S. Traditions include carving out pumpkins, dressing in costumes, and going house to house to “trick or treat.” Traditionally, children dress in costumes, walking from house to house, and adults give the costumed children small bars of candy. If you do not wish to have children ring your doorbell, just turn off your porch light for the evening. Adults often use the occasion for costume parties.

      • Veteran’s Day (November 11) – Official
        Originally established to commemorate Armistice Day of the First World War, the holiday was changed after World War II to serve as an occasion to pay tribute to veterans of all wars. It is marked by parades, speeches, and the laying of wreaths at military cemeteries and war memorials.

      • Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
        In 1621 the pilgrims of Plymouth colony in Massachusetts prepared a feast that they shared with Native Americans to give thanks for the bountiful harvest. It was made an official holiday in 1863. Many Americans give thanks for the good life they enjoy by getting together with family and friends to eat traditional food such as turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.

      • Christmas Day (December 25) – Official
        Although religious in origin, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is a holiday celebrated either in a secular or religious way by most of the country. Family members travel great distances to be together for this day on which gifts are exchanged and a traditional dinner is shared. Many houses are decorated with Christmas trees and lights.

     

 

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