Southern Polytechnic State University: A Legacy of Applied Innovation

Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU), affectionately known as Southern Poly, was a public, co-educational state university located in Marietta, Georgia, approximately 20 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. Before its consolidation with Kennesaw State University (KSU) in January 2015, SPSU carved out a distinctive niche in Georgia's higher education landscape, emphasizing hands-on, career-oriented education in applied science, engineering, and engineering technology. Its legacy continues to shape technical education in the region.

Origins and Early Years

The institution's roots trace back to March 1948 with the establishment of The Technical Institute, a two-year division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). This initiative was a response to the post-World War II demand for skilled technical workers, particularly among returning veterans. The Georgia Business and Industry Association had requested expanded training in applied technologies to support industrial growth in the region, aligning with a national surge in technical education enrollment under the G.I. Bill.

The Technical Institute, later renamed Southern Technical Institute (STI) in 1949, initially operated from a repurposed Naval Air Station in Chamblee, Georgia, which later became the site of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. The first classes were held with 116 students. In 1962, STI moved to its present campus in Marietta, Georgia, on land that was formerly part of Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

Evolution and Independence

The Southern Technical Institute became accredited as a four-year college in 1970, offering the Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree. This marked a significant step toward independence, which was achieved in the summer of 1980 when STI officially separated from Georgia Tech and became the fourteenth senior college and the thirty-third independent unit of the University System of Georgia (USG). Concurrently, Dr. Stephen R. Cheshier of Purdue University was appointed as the college's first president.

Under President Cheshier's leadership, the institution underwent two name changes: Southern College of Technology in 1987, often called Southern Tech, and Southern Polytechnic State University in the summer of 1996, when it achieved university status. Dr. Cheshier retired in June 1997, and Dr. Daniel S. Papp served as interim president from July 1997 to August 1998, followed by Dr. Lisa A. Rossbacher, who presided from August 1, 1998, to 2014.

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Leadership

Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) and its predecessor institutions were led by a series of directors and presidents who oversaw its evolution from a technical institute affiliated with the Georgia Institute of Technology to an independent state university focused on applied sciences. The early leadership emphasized technical education and campus development under the directorship model.

Lawrence V. Johnson served as the first director of the Southern Technical Institute (STI), appointed on October 15, 1947, and holding the position until 1959, during which the institution transitioned from its founding as The Technical Institute in 1948 to a recognized college-level entity by 1949. Hoyt L. McClure succeeded as acting director from July 1, 1959, becoming permanent director around 1961 and serving until 1971; he guided significant physical expansion, including eight new buildings on a 120-acre campus in Marietta. Walter O. Carlson served as Dean/Executive Director from 1970-1976+.

The shift to presidential leadership occurred with SPSU's independence in the University System of Georgia. Stephen R. Cheshier became the first president on September 1, 1980, when STI was renamed Southern College of Technology and elevated to senior college status; he led until his retirement in June 1997, during which the institution expanded academic programs and achieved university designation as SPSU in 1996. Daniel S. Papp served as interim president from July 1, 1997, to August 1998, bridging the transition. Lisa A. Rossbacher then presided from August 1, 1998, to 2014, overseeing growth in enrollment, facilities, and graduate offerings while navigating the eventual consolidation process. Ron Koger acted as interim president starting July 1, 2014, until the merger with Kennesaw State University on January 1, 2015.

Academic Focus and Programs

Southern Polytechnic State University primarily offered Bachelor of Science degrees in applied science, engineering, and engineering technology fields. This reflected its polytechnic mission of hands-on, career-oriented education. The university's academic divisions were composed of its School of Architecture and Construction Management, School of Computing and Software Engineering, School of Engineering Technology and Management, School of Arts and Sciences, and Division of Engineering.

SPSU also offered master's-level graduate programs primarily in engineering, technology, computer science, construction, and management fields. These programs were designed for both recent undergraduates and working professionals, often incorporating cooperative education, industry projects, and flexible delivery options, including evening and online courses. The programs emphasized technical proficiency, systems integration, and quality management, reflecting SPSU's roots in technical institute training.

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Admission typically required a bachelor's degree in a related field, GRE or GMAT scores for select programs, and a minimum GPA, with provisions for provisional admission to bridge gaps in undergraduate preparation. The most popular programs of study for undergraduate students were Architecture, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering. The university's construction engineering program was one of nine in the nation, and its mechatronics engineering program was the first in Georgia.

SPSU introduced a number of new programs and degrees into the University System of Georgia. The architecture program offered the university system’s only nationally accredited Bachelor of Architecture degree. SPSU also created Georgia’s first master’s programs in construction, technical and professional communication, and the management of technology. In addition, the university also offered Georgia’s only master’s programs in electrical engineering technology and in quality assurance. The quality assurance program, which trained students to provide quality control of products, processes, and systems, was offered on campus and via the Internet; it was the first Master of Science program offered online in Georgia.

Campus and Facilities

The physical layout of the SPSU campus emphasized practical, hands-on learning environments, with academic buildings clustered around central green spaces and pathways for pedestrian access. The Joe Mack Wilson Student Center, located near the front entrance on the northern side of campus, included resources such as a University bookstore, a game room, eateries, various lounge areas, and many of KSU's departments and offices.

The Engineering Technology Center, completed in 2011 at a cost of $30 million, served as a cornerstone facility with 12 classrooms, faculty offices, an auditorium, and 36 laboratories, including dedicated computer labs and workshops emphasizing practical engineering applications. This building supported core disciplines in mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering through equipped spaces for fabrication, testing, and project-based learning.

Supporting academic resources included the L.V. Johnson Library, providing access to a wide array of technical and academic publications.

Faculty and Staff

In Fall 2008, Southern Polytechnic State University employed 173 full-time faculty members, with a gender composition of 126 males (72.8%) and 47 females (27.2%). Earlier data from Fall 2007 indicated 158 full-time faculty, comprising 48 full professors, 42 associate professors, 48 assistant professors, 9 lecturers, and 11 temporary positions, with 52% holding tenure. The gender breakdown remained male-dominated at 73% male and 27% female, while racial data showed 122 white, 13 black, and 33 other.

By Fall 2010, full-time equivalent instructional staff reached 229, supporting a student-faculty ratio of approximately 20:1 amid 4,576 full-time equivalent students. This enabled hands-on polytechnic instruction but strained resources in growing STEM programs. Staff composition data, encompassing administrative and support roles, was less granular but followed similar patterns of majority male and white representation, consistent with the university's industrial-era origins and enrollment in technical fields.

SPSU faculty collectively emphasized hands-on contributions to engineering and technology education, with internal awards such as the Outstanding Faculty Award recognizing excellence in instruction and service.

Student Life

Southern Polytechnic State University maintained student-run media outlets that served the campus community. The primary newspaper, The Sting, operated from 1948 until 2016, evolving from its original title, The Technician, and covering university news, events, and student perspectives. WGHR, a noncommercial radio station nicknamed the Green Hornet Radio, was exclusively managed by SPSU students and broadcast programming tailored to the institution's technical focus.

Campus organizations at SPSU emphasized professional development in engineering and technology fields, reflecting the university's polytechnic orientation. Southern Polytechnic State University provided limited on-campus housing during much of its history, with most students opting for off-campus apartments in the Marietta area due to the commuter-oriented nature of the institution.

Athletics

The Southern Poly (SPSU) athletic teams were called the Runnin' Hornets. The university was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) from 1999-2000 to 2013-14.

The Ragin' Hornets athletic program achieved multiple conference titles across baseball, basketball, and soccer. Athletic facilities centered on on-campus venues suited to the program's scale, including the Athletic Gymnasium for indoor sports like basketball and the Walter J. Kelly Jr. Field for baseball and soccer matches. The Recreation and Wellness Center, opened in 1996, further supported training and recreational activities tied to varsity efforts.

Student Performance and Outcomes

Southern Polytechnic State University garnered a reputation for delivering practical, technical education tailored to industry demands, particularly in engineering, construction, and architecture. It consistently ranked among the top three institutions in the University System of Georgia (USG) for average SAT scores among entering freshmen, reflecting selective admissions for a polytechnic-focused student body. Freshmen cohorts also ranked second in the USG for retention of HOPE scholarships, indicating strong initial student persistence. Nationally, the university placed in the top 10 for the number of engineering-related degrees awarded to minority students, underscoring its role in broadening access to STEM fields.

Despite high-caliber entrants, SPSU's six-year graduation rate for bachelor's degrees stood at 37 percent, with four-year rates at 10 percent, outcomes typical of career-oriented institutions serving many non-traditional and part-time students. Retention efforts emphasized academic support and experiential learning, yet systemic challenges like balancing work and study contributed to extended completion times. Graduates benefited from SPSU's emphasis on applied skills, fostering employability in technical roles; successor programs at the consolidated Kennesaw State University Marietta campus report nearly 100 percent job placement within six months for engineering and engineering technology majors. Alumni have advanced in STEAM professions, with the institution's legacy preserved through dedicated societies honoring contributions to innovation and industry leadership.

Southern Poly graduates entered the job market with a distinct advantage-their education aligned closely with employer needs. Starting salaries for SPSU graduates consistently exceeded state averages. Engineering graduates often secured positions starting at $60,000-$70,000, with computer science majors sometimes exceeding these figures in Atlanta's competitive tech market.

Consolidation with Kennesaw State University

On November 1, 2013, the Georgia Board of Regents announced plans to consolidate Southern Polytechnic State University and Kennesaw State University into one university. The decision sparked opposition from faculty, students, and alumni who valued SPSU's distinct polytechnic identity and its focus on applied learning.

Administrative decisions by the USG Board of Regents proceeded despite the backlash, with approval of the consolidation on November 12, 2013, framing it as a cost-saving measure amid state budget constraints and enrollment growth pressures. Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. Opposition extended to symbolic acts, such as the November 5, 2013, toppling of SPSU's iconic campus globe sculpture-adorned with "Save SPSU" signage-interpreted by some as a protest gesture amid heightened tensions. Faculty and alumni voiced concerns in open letters and media, emphasizing SPSU's historical role in producing industry-ready graduates without the merger's perceived risks to accreditation and program rigor, though USG officials maintained that safeguards like retained STEM designations would mitigate such issues.

Post-approval administrative actions included appointing interim leadership for the combined entity under KSU President Daniel S. Papp. On January 6, 2015, the Georgia Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved the consolidation of Southern Poly and Kennesaw State, with Kennesaw State as the surviving institution. Ron Koger acted as interim president starting July 1, 2014, until the merger with Kennesaw State University on January 1, 2015.

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