Academic Information and Policies
If the information listed below does not address a particular concern, please contact the Dean of a school or the Vice President and Dean of Faculties. The paragraphs below contain brief explanations of the content of the various topics. The official information is found in the current catalog and links have been provided to that source.
Advising Goals of the program, assignment of advisors, and responsibilities for meeting requirements.
Statement of policy and procedures for appeal (Also see Student Academic Appeals Process)
Official Attendance Policy Although it is recognized that absences will sometimes be necessary, students are expected to attend classes regularly. It is the responsibility of students to be cognizant of their own record of absences and to consult the instructor regarding work missed. The decision to permit students to make up work rests with the instructor. At any time during the semester an instructor has the right to drop a student from the course and assign a grade of F for excessive absences when a student exceeds the number of allowable absences specified in the instructor’s attendance policy distributed to the student in the instructor’s course syllabus. If a student is representing the university in an official capacity, as verified on a list released from the Office of the Provost, the instructor will not penalize the student for those absences. However, students should consult their instructor before anticipated absences.
Class attendance is required by most faculty. The student is always responsible for what happens in each class. Each class and professor differs, so students should be certain they understand the attendance requirements for each course taken. The student should communicate directly with the instructor concerning any absences to determine what is required to remain current with instruction. Best advice: GO TO CLASS.
Catalog The Georgia College Catalog is prepared for students, parents, and high school counselors and is available online at the above link. It is also used as the basic resource document for faculty advisement once a student has been admitted to Georgia College. All the information in it should be considered very important to prospective and current students.
Drop-Add Students may change class schedules or late register during specified times, but this critical activity known as Drop-Add should be avoided whenever possible. To drop or add a class, follow the procedures outlined in the current catalog. Students should be aware that courses dropped after the initial drop-add period are considered attempted hours for the purposes of figuring financial aid, including the HOPE scholarship.
New Student Orientation New students and their families have many questions when they first arrive at Georgia College. The Orientation Program is designed to answer those questions and help the newest members of the Georgia College community feel at home. Current upper-class students are selected and trained to help ease the transition of new students to the college.
Registration Information about selecting and signing up for classes each term.
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) Students have the right of assurance that their academic records, compiled and maintained by Georgia College, will be recorded accurately, and retained in confidence.
Staying in School
Those students whose academic performance falls below standards prescribed in the catalog will be placed on academic warning, probation and may even receive notice of dismissal (see the catalog for details). If a students realize they are getting behind in classes or having problems studying, they should ask for assistance. The first source of support is the professor in a particular course. A student may also want to talk with a faculty adviser, the learning center or a counselor.
Withdrawing
A student cannot officially withdraw during the course of a semester without going through the Records Office. At that time a student will be given further instructions for completing the withdrawal process. Withdrawing without going through the proper procedures will result in all "Fs" for the term.
International Services And Programs
The International Education Center is directed by the assistant vice president for international education. The office provides information and counseling to international students on immigration regulations and procedures, medical insurance, financial assistance, taxes, adjustment to life in the U.S., and academic concerns, advises the Georgia College International Club, and organizes community and campus activities.
The assistant vice president for international education promotes the internationalization of the curriculum by directing the International Studies Minor and the core international studies course. The office also organizes the international lecture series, coordinates visits by foreign scholars and visits abroad by Georgia College faculty, and advises students on study abroad opportunities.
