Kennesaw State University’s Paulding Instructional Site provides exceptional educational opportunities to the residents of Paulding County and surrounding areas through an undergraduate transfer program in Early Childhood Education, as well as a variety of classes in other subject areas such as Art, Criminal Justice, Inclusive Education, Music and Spanish. Many of the students go on to utilize the
ir knowledge and perspectives as teachers within the Paulding County School District. The university’s scholarship and creative activities contribute greatly to the economic development of Paulding’s regional area, through intentional outreach efforts in Paulding County schools. These efforts include enrichment opportunities for elementary school classes, professional development programs for teachers, and sponsorships for participation in volunteer ecological research programs, by both Paulding teachers and Kennesaw State University Early Childhood Education students. In August of 2009 the Paulding County Instructional Site was opened as a joint project of Kennesaw State University and Georgia Highlands College in order to make higher education more accessible to the residents of the Paulding County area. The former four-story Bagby courthouse building, which was donated by Paulding County, underwent nearly $1 million in renovations. It features state-of-the-art classrooms, computer and science labs, a media library, administrative offices and meeting rooms. Expansion is currently being planned into the nearby Winn Building, which was another gift from Paulding County. In spring 2010, about 40 classroom seats were filled by Kennesaw State University students at the Paulding Instructional Site. As of summer 2012, at least three Kennesaw State University academic departments are exploring the possibility of establishing transfer programs at the Paulding Instructional site, similar to the “2+2” joint program in Early Childhood Education between Kennesaw State University and Georgia Highlands College.