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Schools

New University Chancellor Visits KSU

Henry Huckaby said he's amazed at the changes to the Kennesaw university.

University System of Georgia Chancellor Henry Huckaby spent Thursday morning touring with KSU President Daniel Papp, saying he was "very surprised at all the changes to this campus."

Huckaby said he knew KSU's first president, Dr. Horace Sturgis, and remembers when the college first began in the mid-1960s. Huckaby is touring all USG campuses to take a look at measures to cut costs while enhancing students' educations. He also toured Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta today. The University System of Georgia oversees 35 colleges and universities in the state.

"We're looking at how to do education more efficiently and effectively, and we want to make sure our students have every opportunity we can provide," said Huckaby, who said he met with Papp to discuss many issues regarding the Kennesaw campus—including the fact that it is landlocked and needs more land to grow.

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He said the original founders of the school 50 years ago probably never could have imagined the dynamic growth that would occur. "They (current administration) have identified land acquisitions, but the last thing we need to do is talk about real estate transactions right now." KSU is the third-largest university in Georgia, with more than 24,100 students.

Huckaby said the economic downturn in Georgia has hit the University System and its students hard. "Budget cuts have put a crimp in the plans of the University System, but I'm cautiously optimistic that our 2013 budget will be funded," said Huckaby, adding the General Assembly did not approve the System's proposed budget at last year's session.

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Answering questions from KSU students at the event, Huckaby talked about the decrease in funding of the HOPE scholarship and how that has impacted the enrollments of Georgia's colleges and universities. He said one major concern of his is the growing student debt to pay for their education. "This is an issue we must give attention to," said Huckaby, adding he is looking into a program that offers a one-percent loan to students.

He ended his comments by applauding the administration and staff of KSU. "I'm not surprised things are going well here," said Huckaby, adding he has known Papp for many years. "But it's not yet what it should be in order to meet the needs of a growing student population."

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