ACADEMIC ADVISING

Excessive Absences

It is the responsibility of each faculty member to determine for his or her class what constitutes an absence, what constitutes "excessive absences", and the relationship of absences to final course grades.  It is also the responsibility of each faculty member to inform each student of his/her policy in writing at the beginning of the course.

 The options of a faculty member for assigning a grade to a student with excessive absences include the following:

··         Assign a grade of "F" at the end of the term.

·         Request administrative withdrawal of the student with the assignment of a grade of" WF".

If a faculty member intends to assign a grade of "F" for excessive absences, then no further action is required by the faculty member other than to be sure the absences are documented.  The last date the student attended class must be entered on R.A.I.N. when the instructor inputs final grades.

 If a faculty member wishes to request administrative withdrawal from a course of a student with a grade of "WF", the faculty member should take the following actions:

1.   Send a letter or email to the student to remind the student of the policy on absences and inform the student that he/she must contact the faculty member within one week or action will be initiated for administrative withdrawal and the assignment of a grade of "WF".  Please note that this step might allow some reconciliation in the event that the student contacts the faculty member.  The guidelines issued at the beginning of the term should reflect the possibility.  The letter should be addressed to the student at the campus post office address and to the student's home address.

2.   If the student does not contact the faculty member within one week, the faculty member should address a memorandum to the Registrar requesting that the student be administratively withdrawn with a grade of WF and send a copy to the student at the campus post office address and to the student's home address.

Student Absence Policy for University Sanctioned Events

Faculty members will set policies for absences from class and the effect absences may have on final grades. They will make their expectations concerning absences known to their students in writing during the first week of class.

However, a student who is absent from a class as a result of representing this institution at a University-sanctioned event will not be penalized for the absence. In these cases, the student will be given an opportunity to complete any work that may have been missed as a result of the absence. It is the student's responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of an anticipated absence.

For an event to be sanctioned by the University, approval by the Office of Academic Affairs must be obtained in advance of the event.

Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Note:  This policy applies to GSW varsity athletes as they represent GSW at athletic events.

GRADING STANDARDS

A grade of "I" indicates that the student was doing satisfactory work but, for non-academic reasons beyond his/her control, was unable to meet the full requirements of the course during the term scheduled. The individual faculty member assigning the "I" has the responsibility for documenting the work to be completed. This documentation is to be filed with the Academic Dean or Department Chair at the time grades are submitted. An incomplete grade must be removed before the end of the following term; otherwise, the grade will be recorded as F. Requests for an extension of an additional term must be made by the instructor and approved by the dean/chair and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Students who for non-academic reasons stop attending class prior to midterm should withdraw from the course. A grade of "I" cannot be assigned in this situation.

Graduate students enrolled for thesis or directed study credit will receive an S for satisfactory performance or a U for unsatisfactory performance.

Grade Point Average for Undergraduate Students

The grade point average is the ratio of quality points earned to the number of credit hours for which the student is accountable. The grade point average will be calculated for each student at the end of each term and will be printed on the grade report as follows:

1.      The Semester Grade Point Average is the ratio of quality points earned to credit hours attempted that semester in courses numbered 1000 or above.

2.      The Cumulative/Institution Grade Point Average is the ratio of quality points earned to credit hours attempted in courses numbered 1000 or above for which a final grade has been earned. Normally, a course is counted only once for credit hours. For this type of courses, the latest grade earned replaces all previous grades and determines the quality points assigned.

A grade of WF is treated as an F in calculating grade point averages.

Grade Point Average for Graduate Students

The grade point average (GPA) for graduate students includes all attempts on all graduate courses. It is a true cumulative GPA.

Policy on Repeating Courses for Undergraduate Students

Normally, a course is counted only one time for credit hours. If a student wants to repeat a course that falls into this category, he/she may do so with the understanding that the latest grade earned replaces all previous grades. The number of quality points awarded and credit hours earned is determined by this final grade.

Policy on Repeating Courses for Graduate Students

Normally, a course is counted only one time for credit hours toward a degree. If a graduate student wants to repeat a course that falls into this category, the student may do so with the understanding that credit hours attempted and quality points earned in all attempts of the course will be counted in the student's grade point average (GPA).

Required Minimum Grade Point Average for Undergraduate Students

A grade point average of 2.00 (C average) is required for graduation from Georgia Southwestern State University with a baccalaureate or associate degree. (Some curricula may require a higher average.) A student whose performance is below this level exhibits academic deficiencies. The University uses the cumulative/institution grade point average as determined on the BANNER Student Records software to determine academic standing. The following table shows the minimum graduating grade point average a student must achieve to make acceptable progress toward the 2.00 average and graduation.

For a transfer student, the hours transferred from previous institutions are included with the hours earned at GSW to determine the required minimum grade point average, but grades earned before transferring are not included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Total Hours Earned  -   Required Minimum GPA
(including hours accepted in transfer)

The grade point average is calculated each term and appears on the online R.A.I.N. grade report to inform the student of his/her progress. The academic standing of the student will be indicated on the grade report also.

Required Minimum Grade Point Average for Graduate Students

The grade point average (GPA) for graduate students includes all attempts on all graduate courses. It is a true cumulative GPA.

ACADEMIC STANDING FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

A student's academic standing appears at the end of each term on the student's online R.A.I.N. grade report. It is also entered on the student's transcript with the grades for each term. Each status is defined below.

Good Standing

A student will be placed in Good Standing when his/her cumulative/institution GPA is equal to or above the required minimum GPA for the number of hours the student has earned (Including transfer hours).

Academic Warning

A student will be placed on Academic Warning at the end of the first term in which the cumulative/institution GPA falls below the required minimum for the total hours earned. The student will have only one semester in which to raise the GPA to the required minimum and return to Good Standing. If not, the student is placed on Academic Probation. Students on Academic Warning are encouraged to take advantage of Supplemental Instruction resources, available in the Academic Skills Center.

Academic Probation

A student will be placed on Academic Probation if the student fails to return to Good Standing at the end of the semester in which the academic standing of the student was Academic Warning. The student will have only one term to raise the GPA to the required minimum and return to Good Standing. If not, the student is placed on Academic Suspension. Students on Academic Probation are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Academic Assistance resources available in the Academic Skills Center.

Academic Suspension

A student will be placed on Academic Suspension if the student fails to achieve Good Standing while on Probation. The student must stay out of school for one semester or choose to remain in school with Restricted Enrollment status.

To return to school after the term of suspension, the student must write a letter of appeal to the Office of Academic Affairs. When the student returns, the academic status of the student is Academic Warning and the Warning-Probation-Suspension process starts over. That is, the student will have two semesters of enrollment at most to raise the GPA to the Required Minimum and return to Good Standing, or the student will be suspended again. The maximum number of suspensions allowed is two. At the third suspension, the student will be suspended from GSW for a minimum of one calendar year.

Normally a student will not be reinstated after the third suspension. The student may, however, appeal this dismissal by stating his/her case to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Appeals relative to dismissal after the third suspension will be considered on a case by case basis with no guarantee of readmission.

A student on Academic Suspension will not be allowed to register for courses offered by the University, unless the student has been granted Restricted Enrollment Status.

Courses taken at other institutions while a student is on Academic Suspension from Georgia Southwestern will not be accepted in transfer.

Students returning to GSW after the first suspension are required to enroll in and successfully complete ACSK 1100, Academic Skills, during the first term of re-enrollment.

Restricted Enrollment

As an alternative to suspension, a student may request from the Dean of Academic Services and Special Programs to remain in school with Restricted Enrollment Status. This status means that the student will stay in school but may enroll primarily in repeated courses and ACSK 1100, Academic Skills, in order to improve the student's GPA to return to Good Standing. Restricted Enrollment is the only alternative available to students who are suspended but wish to remain in school.

Not returning to Good Standing by the end of the Restricted Enrollment term will result in an additional suspension for the student, and the student will remain out of school for a minimum of one semester. The student accepting this status will be advised by his/her assigned academic advisor. A Restricted Enrollment Agreement will be signed by the student, the advisor, and the Dean for Academic Services and Special Programs before the student is allowed to register. A student on Restricted Enrollment may drop or add courses only with the approval of the Office of Academic Affairs.

The Restricted Enrollment status is not available to Learning Support students.

Learning Support

Students who are taking one or more Learning Support courses will be given this academic status until those students exit all required Learning Support courses. The policies of the Board of Regents and GSW will have precedence over the policies of GSW concerning Academic Suspension. The Restricted Enrollment academic status is not applicable to Learning Support students.  For more information about Learning Support status, see the GSW website at http://gsw.edu/main/.

Readmission of Students on Suspension

A student on Academic Suspension who wishes to be readmitted to the University must write a letter to the Dean for Academic Services and Special Programs requesting readmission. The letter must include all factors which the student wishes to be considered. Each request for readmission will be considered individually and nothing in this section should be interpreted to mean that readmission is automatic. Any student requesting readmission should complete a readmission form from the Registrar's Office. Students returning from the first suspension must take and successfully complete ACSK 1100, Academic Skills, during their first term of re-enrollment.

ACADEMIC STANDING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Students pursuing a Master's degree must maintain the following standards:

1. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better

2. Only two courses with grades of C can be applied to the degree

3. No course with a grade below a C will be applied toward a degree

4. In any graduate degree program, all requirements, including course work at Georgia Southwestern State University, transfer credit and transient credit course work, must be completed within seven (7) calendar years from the date of initial enrollment in course work, without regard to the initial admission status and without regard to credit hours earned.

 Graduate students pursuing the Specialist degree must maintain the following academic standards:

1. Maintain an overall graduate GPA of 3.25

2. No course with a grade below a B will be applied toward the degree

3. Only one course with a grade of C may be repeated one time

4. Degree requirements must be completed within seven (7) calendar years from the time of first enrollment.

Each School with a Graduate Program may have other academic requirements; please check the School website or the appropriate section of the current Bulletin.

Students Under Review

1. Graduate students who fail to maintain academic standards will be placed under academic review at the end of the semester in which their status falls below the required standards.

Students who have been placed under review will have early registration cancelled for the following semester. These students will not be able to register on-line and must report to their advisor.

2. The Registrar will send the names of students under review to the Director of Graduate Studies, the Deans of each School, the Department Chairs with graduate courses, and the graduate advisors.

3. Students under review must meet with their advisor to develop an Individual Remediation Plan (IRP) to demonstrate how the student can be returned to good standing. The plan will be forwarded to the Dean of the School for his or her signature before being placed in the student's file. A copy of the form will also be sent to the Director of Graduate Studies and the Registrar's Office.

4. At the end of the probationary semester, if the student is not successful in returning to good standing, the Dean of the School, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, will send a certified letter of dismissal to the student with a copy to the student's advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Registrar's Office.

5. Graduate students who are dismissed from the School may write a letter of appeal within ten class days from the receipt of the dismissal letter to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students re-admitted on appeal will have one additional semester to return to good academic standing.

6. Re-admitted students who do not return to good standing after the initial probationary semester will be dismissed from the program and the university.

7. Dismissed graduate students may re-apply for admission to the program after three calendar years. If the student is re-admitted, he or she must meet all requirements for the degree program at the time of re-enrollment. The years completed prior to dismissal will count towards the total seven (7) years to complete the degree. Re-admission is not automatic. Each application will be considered individually.

Advising Students with Poor Academic Performance

A student whose grade point average falls below the required minimum for the number of hours earned should be advised to repeat courses in which low or failing grades were earned.  Repeating courses is the most efficient way to increase a GPA if better grades are earned.  Two words of warning:  (1) Do not allow the student to overload on repeated courses during a semester.  Tell the student that a repeated course is not going to be any easier just because he or she has taken it before.  (2) Remind the student that if a lower grade is earned in the repeated course, that grade will be the one calculated in his or her GPA.  The latest grade replaces all earlier ones earned in a course.

Final Examinations

A student who has three final examinations scheduled for the same day may request a change of date for one final through the Office of Academic Affairs.

Times and dates for final examinations may not be changed to accommodate students' travel plans. Permission for a student to change his/her final exam time and/or date must be obtained from the Office of Academic Affairs. The final exam schedule is available in the printed schedule of classes.

Re-examinations for Seniors

A senior preparing for graduation within two (2) semesters who earns a final grade of F or D may have the opportunity of one re-examination in that course. After reviewing the eligibility requirements for re-examination with the instructor of the course (based on the conditions listed below), the student must request permission for the re-examination in writing from the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The instructor will be informed in writing whether permission has been granted. Conditions for re-examinations include the following:

a.      The original course grade earned must not be the result of a violation of the Policy of Academic Integrity or the instructor’s written policy on course attendance.

b.      It must be mathematically possible to achieve the necessary passing grade in the course using the result of the re-examination.

c.      The course must be a non-core course numbered 2000 or above which is necessary for graduation.

d.      There must be no opportunity to repeat the course before the scheduled graduation.

e.      Graded assignments for which a re-exam may occur include an examination, a project, a presentation, a paper, or another assignment as defined by course requirements. The assignment to be repeated will be determined by the instructor of the course.

f.        A student cannot apply this re-examination policy in more than two courses.

g.      The request for the re-examination must be made within thirty (30) days of the end of the term in which the grade was received.

h.      Graduating seniors who fail the tests given by the Department of History and Political Science to meet the geography, U.S. history/Georgia history, and U.S. Constitution/Georgia Constitution requirements are entitled to a single retest in the deficient area during the term immediately preceding their graduation date. Retests are limited to two areas. Students in this situation should contact the secretary of the Department of History and Political Science.

i.        According to the Board of Regents procedures, this policy does not apply to the Regents’ Testing Program.

Re-examinations for Graduate Students

Graduate students will not be allowed a retest on any final examination.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses

A student with senior standing at Georgia Southwestern State University with an overall academic grade point average of 3.0 or higher may register for graduate courses during the final two terms of undergraduate work subject to the following regulations.

No more than nine hours of graduate credit may be earned.

The maximum course load when enrolled in one or more graduate courses is 15 hours per semester.

Courses taken for graduate credit cannot be counted toward meeting undergraduate degree requirements.

Permission to register for graduate courses must be granted first by the Director of Graduate Studies and then by the Vice President for Academic Affairs prior to registration.

Permission forms are available in the Registrar's Office or on RAIN

ACADEMIC HONORS - UNDERGRADUATES

President's List
During any semester, a student who completes a load of at least fifteen semester hours of credit and earns an average grade of 4.00 will be named to the President's List.

Dean’s List
During any semester, a student who completes a load of at least fifteen semester hours of credit and earns an average grade of 3.50 through 3.99 will be named to the Dean's List.

Academic Achievement List
During any semester, a student is on the Academic Achievement List if he/she is in Academic Good Standing, has previously earned at least 15 hours of credit at Georgia Southwestern, is enrolled in 3 to 14 hours of credit, and earns a semester GPA of 3.5 or better.

Graduation with Honors - Undergraduates
In order to be eligible to graduate with honors from Georgia Southwestern State University, the following two requirements must be met:

A student must earn a total of at least 54 semester hours of academic credit at Georgia Southwestern State University.

The grade point average for honors will be determined by adding the points and hours from all work completed at all accredited colleges and universities to the graduating points and hours earned at GSW. The cumulative grade point average must fall into one of the following categories to be considered graduating with honors:

Graduation cum laude requires a minimum grade point average of 3.50;

Graduation magna cum laude requires a minimum grade point average of 3.70;

Graduation summa cum laude requires a minimum grade point average of 3.90.

Only candidates for baccalaureate degrees are considered for academic honors at graduation.

GENERAL BACCALAUREATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

In addition to specific requirements of the major and minor fields of study, the following requirements must be satisfied by all students seeking the baccalaureate degree:

1.  Candidates for a baccalaureate degree must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours of academic credit and complete three specified courses in physical education. A transfer student who has completed an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree in a transfer program will not be required to fulfill the physical education requirements. All fulltime freshmen baccalaureate students must complete UNIV 1000 - The GSW Experience.
NOTE: A student who changes major may have to complete additional hours of course work beyond those required for completion of the program.

2.  All baccalaureate programs require at least 21 hours of upper division courses in the major field and at least 39 hours of upper division work overall.

A quality grade point average of 2.00 or higher is required for graduation. Some curricula require a higher average. Grades from transfer credit are calculated for graduation with honors purposes only.

3.  A candidate must earn in residence at least twenty-seven of the forty hours of credit earned immediately preceding graduation. Candidates admitted to the University for the final year of work must be in residence for a minimum of two semesters and must complete at least thirty hours of credit including fifteen hours of upper division credit in the major field. If less than a normal load of academic credit is carried, each three-hour course counts as one fifth of a semester toward residence requirements.

4.  Degree candidates may earn credit by correspondence, or through transient credit, but not more than ten hours in the major discipline and not more than thirty total hours of credit earned in this manner will count toward degree requirements.

5.  All candidates for baccalaureate degrees must satisfactorily complete the General Core Curriculum requirements.

6.  Candidates for the B.A. degree must present credit for at least six hours of a single foreign language sequence at the level specified by individual majors. College Preparatory Curriculum foreign language deficiency requirements do not count as part of this sequence.

7.  Candidates for the B.S. degree in some majors (See Bulletin requirements for specific major or the appropriate curriculum sheet available on RAIN) must present semester credit for a foreign language sequence. College Preparatory Curriculum foreign language deficiency requirements do not count as part of this sequence.

8.  Certain multi-lingual students may have the foreign language requirement waived if they can demonstrate proficiency in a third language other than English and other than their native tongue.

9.  A candidate must complete English 1101 with a grade of C or higher or must demonstrate proficiency on the CLEP test. A baccalaureate or associate degree candidate must earn a grade of C or higher in English 1102.

10. Candidates are required to satisfy the provisions of the Georgia State Code 32-171 as amended by The General Assembly, which requires all candidates for a degree to pass either courses in or an appropriate examination on the history of the United States, the history of Georgia, the United States Constitution, and the Constitution of Georgia.

11. Candidates for the bachelor's degree must make a satisfactory score on the Regents' Test, the University System of Georgia reading and writing skills test or be exempted from the test according to Regents' policy.

12. Students following a curriculum sheet dated Fall 2002 or earlier must receive a passing grade in one of the following courses: SOSC 1000, SOSC 1101, GEOG 1101, GEOG 4550, POLS 4550.

13. Candidates for the B.A. degree must complete a minor field of study or a certificate program. The minor or certificate will consist of 15-19 semester hours in the field of study with at least nine hours at the upper division course level.

14. Students in some degree programs and majors are required to take an exit examination prior to graduation. A minimum score may be required. Students should contact their advisors for specific details.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

All baccalaureate students are required to take PEDS 1010, PEDS 2000 and one activity course from the PEDS activity courses. Students enrolled prior to Fall 2007 are required to pass the swimming proficiency exam. Students enrolled for the first time during Fall 2007 and later will not be required to complete the swimming requirement. A student who fails the swimming proficiency exam in PEDS 1010 must enroll in PEDS 1100 (Beginning Swimming) to complete the physical education requirements. Students should complete all the requirements during their first two years of enrollment. A transfer student who has completed a transferable Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree will not be required to fulfill the physical education requirements.

Exceptions are granted to veterans with at least one year of active duty reservists with at least one year of service, students barred by a physician's recommendation, and students entering the B.S. Nursing Program. There is no requirement for veterans with at least one year of active duty or for reservists with at least one year of service. Veterans and reservists must present documentation to the Registrar's Office in the form of a DD214 in order to be awarded the P.E. exemption. Students barred by a physician's recommendation are required to complete PEDS 2000 and HPER 2040. For graduation, all B.S. Nursing Program students are required to have credit for one PEDS course.

P.E. courses taken at another institution and showing on the student's transcript will count toward this course requirement.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Catalog for Graduation Evaluation

Under the guidance of the academic advisor, a student may select to be evaluated for graduation from any catalog in effect during the time of enrollment provided the enrollment has been continuous.

Students readmitted or reinstated will be evaluated for graduation from the catalog in effect at the time of readmission or reinstatement or any catalog in effect during subsequent periods of continuous enrollment.

Students changing majors will be evaluated for graduation from the catalog in effect at the time of the change or any catalog in effect during subsequent periods of continuous enrollment.

Each student is responsible for determining the appropriate catalog to be used for academic advisement and for evaluation of graduation requirements. Catalog selection applies only to the course requirements of that catalog. All other academic procedures and graduation requirements must be satisfied according to regulations in effect at the time of graduation. Students desiring further information on the selection of an appropriate catalog may contact their major department chair/academic dean or the registrar.

UNIV 1000 - The GSW Experience

Georgia Southwestern State University requires a one credit hour course (UNIV 1000) of all new, full-time freshmen. New entering transfer students with less than nine hours of transfer credit must also enroll in UNIV 1000. This highly structured freshman orientation/advisement program has been instituted at Georgia Southwestern State University to facilitate the new student's transition to college-level work.

Grades in ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102

A candidate for any undergraduate degree offered by GSW must complete English 1101 with a grade of C or higher or must demonstrate proficiency through AP or on the CLEP Test. Completion of English 1101 is a prerequisite for English 1102.

Degree candidates must earn a grade of C or higher in English 1102.  A student cannot enroll in English 1102 until he/she has successfully completed English 1101 requirements with a grade of C or better.

"The University System Uniform Grading Policy is reaffirmed with the provision that a C or higher in freshman English composition courses is required to guarantee transferability to institutions that require C or higher in English composition of their native students; however, no distinction is to be made between the Core Curriculum subject matter areas insofar as the acceptability of credits earned with D grades is concerned."
- The Core Curriculum Handbook, University System of Georgia

Georgia and United States History and Constitution Requirements

Degree candidates must satisfy the provisions of the Georgia State Code 32-171 as amended by the General Assembly, which requires all candidates for a degree to pass either courses in or an appropriate examination on the history of the United States, the history of Georgia, The United States Constitution, and the Constitution of Georgia.

History and Constitution Requirements

The following chart indicates which courses will satisfy history and constitution requirements.

Course      U.S. History    Ga. History  U.S. Constitution  Ga. Constitution
HIST 2111         X                     X
HIST 2112         X                     X
HIST 3810                                 X                                                    X
POLS 1101                                                       X                             X
POLS 3110                                                                                       X

American history courses and American government courses do not satisfy the Georgia history requirements and constitution if taken at an out-of-state institution. Transfer students in this situation can take the appropriate class(es) listed above or take the examination listed below to meet the requirement(s). The Registrar's Office will evaluate transcripts of transfer students.

Students may satisfy the requirement in either area by passing an examination in that area. These examinations are given each semester by the Department of History and Political Science. A student is allowed two attempts to pass the examination in each area before being required to take an appropriate course. Test dates and information concerning review sessions may be secured from the Department of History and Political Science. Students should be encouraged to satisfy the history and constitution requirements as early in the college career as possible. Students who meet either requirement by passing the examination do not receive a grade or credit for a course.

Foreign Language Placement and Requirements

The exact requirements for foreign language in any specific field of study can be found in the current GSW Bulletin and in the Curriculum Sheets available on RAIN.

Students who have had two years of a particular foreign language in high school may not receive degree credit for the 1001 level course of that language, SPAN 1001 or FREN 1001.

Students who have taken more than two units of the same foreign language in high school or who have exceptionally strong backgrounds in foreign languages may take a test for placement into an intermediate course. For information regarding placement, contact the Department of English and Foreign Languages.

Candidates for the B.A. degree must present credit for at least six hours of a single foreign language sequence at the level specified by individual majors. College Preparatory Curriculum foreign language deficiency requirements do not count as part of this sequence.

Candidates for the B.S. degree in some majors (See Bulletin requirements for specific major or the appropriate curriculum sheet available on RAIN) must present semester credit for a foreign language sequence. College Preparatory Curriculum foreign language deficiency requirements do not count as part of this sequence.

Multi-lingual students may have the foreign language requirement waived if they can demonstrate proficiency in a third language other than English and other than their native tongue.

Minor Programs

All B.A. degrees require a minor field of study. A minor may be required for other degrees and is encouraged where appropriate. As a multi-purpose device, the minor should be in a field of interest to the student; it should be one that meets the student's needs; and should complement the major, adding depth and/or breadth.

A.     The minor will consist of a minimum of 15-18 semester hours in the field of study with at least 9 hours at the upper division course level.

B.     A student's minor should be planned through consultation with the dean/chair/coordinator of the major and minor school/department. A program of study form should be completed, signed by each dean/chair/coordinator, and filed with the Registrar. The completion of minor requirements by a student should be approved by the college/school/department offering the minor.

C.    A minimum grade of C is required in all courses credited toward a minor.

D.    Any course counted in Areas A-E of the Semester Core Curriculum (Areas I, II, III of the Quarter Core) may not be counted as a part of the minor.

E.     A minor may be taken in the same department or school as a major but not in the same discipline (as defined by catalog prefix symbol).

Curriculum sheets for all minors are available on R.A.I.N.

Certificate Programs

In place of a minor, a student may earn one of the undergraduate certificates listed below:

GSW offers undergraduate certificate programs in the following areas:

·         European Union Studies through the Department of History,

·         Caregiving through the Department of Psychology and Sociology and the School of Nursing,

·         Latin American Studies through the Department of English and Modern Languages,

·         Web Design through the School of Computer and Information Sciences and Department of Visual Art,

·         Women's Studies through the Department of Sociology,

·         Criminal Justice through the Department of Political Science.

Curriculum sheets for the above are available on R.A.I.N.  Contact the appropriate college, school, or department for additional information.

Double Major

A student who wishes to meet the requirements for more than one major within the same baccalaureate degree classification is pursuing a double major. Requirements for completion of a double major follow:

A.     All degree requirements must be met for both majors.

B.     Once major course requirements, exclusive of elective and minor requirements, have been met, a minimum of twenty semester credit hours must be completed for the second major.

C.    The twenty hours (minimum) of credit for the second major may be taken in lieu of minor and elective requirements for the first major.

D.    A minimum of nine of the additional hours for the second major must be at the upper division level.

Approval to complete a double major must be granted by the appropriate department chairs, coordinators, and/or academic deans and be on file in the Registrar's Office no later than the date of application for graduation.  The two advisors must work closely to assure that the student meets all requirements for both majors.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

A student who has completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution may earn a second baccalaureate degree at Georgia Southwestern of the same or different designation (B.S., B.A., B.B.A., B.S.Ed., B.F.A., etc.) conferred on the same or later date by meeting the following requirements:

A.     All degree requirements in the second degree must be met. Courses completed for the first baccalaureate degree can be combined with courses completed after admission for the second degree to meet degree requirements for the second degree.

B.     A minimum of thirty semester credit hours must be earned at Georgia Southwestern State University in addition to those required for the first baccalaureate degree.

C.    A minimum of nine semester credit hours of the above thirty hours must be upper division courses in the major for the second degree.

D.    The Georgia Legislative History and Constitution requirements must be met. A student whose first baccalaureate was earned at an institution in the State of Georgia should have completed that requirement prior to conferring of the first degree and will not be required to repeat that requirement.

REGENTS' TESTING PROGRAM

Georgia Southwestern State University and all units of the University System of Georgia participate in the Regents' Testing Program. The policy of the Board of Regents concerning this examination of reading and writing competency is as follows:

An examination (the Regents' Test) to assess the competency level in reading and writing of all students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs leading to the baccalaureate degree in University System institutions shall be administered. The following statement shall be the policy of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on this examination.

The formulation and administration of the Regents' Test shall be as determined by the Chancellor.

Each institution of the University System of Georgia shall assure the other institutions, and the System as a whole, that students obtaining a degree from that institution possess certain minimum skills of reading and writing. The Regents' Testing Program has been developed to help in the attainment of this goal. The objectives of the Testing Program are (1) to provide System-wide information on the status of student competence in the areas of reading and writing; and (2) to provide a uniform means of identifying those students who fail to attain the minimum levels of competence in the areas of reading and writing.

Students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs leading to the baccalaureate degree shall pass the Regents' Test as a requirement for graduation.

Students who are not exempt from the Regents' Test and students who are not enrolled in Learning Support English or Reading courses must officially register for and take the test during their first semester at GSW and must continue to register each term thereafter until both portions are satisfied. Students who have two unsuccessful attempts at passing the Regents' Exams are administratively enrolled in the Regents' Skills course(s) and must complete the course(s) to be considered eligible to take the test again. An unsuccessful attempt for the Regents' Test is defined as any attempt in which the student has not passed the Regents' Test, either by not taking the test or taking it but not passing it.

Transfer students who do not take or pass the Regents' Test in their first semester and students who score 50 or lower on the Regents' Test will be administratively enrolled in the Regents' Skills course(s) in their second semester.

GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY POLICY FOR THE PROGRAM

Students must attempt the Regents' Test during their first term at the University they have not previously satisfied both requirements.

Students transferring into Georgia Southwestern State University must attempt the Regents' Test during their first term of enrollment at GSW unless they have previously satisfied the requirements.

Permission to attend another institution as a transient student will neither be authorized nor recognized if the transient term does not include Regents' remediation classes that would be required by Georgia Southwestern State University. Any exceptions to this procedure must be approved by the Regents' Testing Program Coordinator in the Registrar's Office prior to the transient term. Students desiring to attempt the Regents' Test on another campus while in transient status must obtain written permission from the Regents' Testing Program Coordinator in the Registrar's Office prior to taking the test.

Students who have been classified as non-native speakers of the English language by the Regents' Testing Program Coordinator are required to pass the alternative version of the Regents' Test.

The Regents' Test is a University System requirement. It is the student's responsibility to plan for the Regents' Test Program; to sign-up for the test; to take the test; to follow procedures outlined above for remediation and retesting if either section of the test is failed; and to enroll for only remediation classes after reaching 100 semester credit hours if either or both sections of the test have not been passed.

Special Categories of Students

A student holding a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education will not be required to pass RGTR 0198 or RGTE 0199 in order to receive a degree from Georgia Southwestern State University.

Students whose native language is not English are given an alternative essay test and follow special institutional procedures. Under the special procedures, students are allowed extended time and may use a translation dictionary that they supply themselves. The essay test is locally developed and uses topics not requiring knowledge specific to American culture. The essays are reviewed locally by three raters selected from Georgia Southwestern State University faculty who use scoring procedures comparable to those used for the standard test.  All other procedures for the Regents' Writing and Reading Skills requirements apply to this group of students.

Georgia Southwestern State University follows the approved procedures for special administration of the Regents' Test for students with test anxiety, learning disabilities, or other documented needs. In most cases, students with visual, hearing, or motor impairment take the Regents' Test with appropriate accommodations based on the students' needs. If any accommodations in the test administration are to be made because the student has a disability, the student must contact the Office of Student Support Services or the Regents' Testing Program Coordinator, in the Registrar's Office, as early in the semester as possible to discuss necessary arrangements.

The Regents' Writing and Reading Skills course may not be waived for students with disabilities. However, appropriate accommodations will be provided.

Students who live out of state may be permitted to have the Regents' Test administered out of state if they have fulfilled course requirements and follow procedures outlined in the Regents' Testing Administration Manual.

Essay Review

A student may request a formal review of his or her failure on the essay component of the Regents' Test if that student's essay received at least one passing score among the three scores awarded. The review process is as follows:

A student must initiate the review procedure with the English and Modern Languages Department by mid-term of his/her first semester of enrollment after the semester in which the essay was failed. If a student does not maintain continuous enrollment, the review must be initiated within one calendar year of the semester in which the essay was failed.

Students who have requested that their Regents' essay be reviewed are required to enroll in the Regents' writing skills course if they have earned 45 credit hours or more.

A panel of three faculty members designated by the institution will conduct the on-campus review. The on-campus review panel may (1) sustain, by majority opinion, the essay's failing score, thus terminating the review process, or (2) recommend, by majority opinion, the re-scoring of the essay by the Regents' Testing Program central office. The student will be notified concerning the results of the on-campus review. A decision by the on-campus review panel to terminate the review process is final.

If the on-campus panel recommends re-scoring of the essay, that recommendation will be transmitted in writing, along with the original essay, to the office of the System Director of the Regents' Testing Program. The Director will utilize the services of three experienced Regents' essay scorers other than those involved in the original scoring of the essay to review the essay, following normal scoring procedures for the essay component of the Regents' Test. The decision of the panel on the merits of the essay will be final, thus terminating the review process. The student will be notified through the institution concerning the results of the review.

REGENTS' TEST EXEMPTIONS

Upon admission to GSW, students with the appropriate minimum test scores listed below on nationally administered standardized tests will have satisfied the Regents Testing requirements. In order to exempt the Regents Reading Test Requirement, students must have one of the following scores:

Students may exempt RGTR 0198 (Reading) by scoring at or above specified scores on the following examinations:

Regents' Reading Test exemption score: 61

SAT-I Verbal exemption score: 510

ACT Reading exemption score: 23

Students may exempt RGTE 0199 (Writing) by scoring at or above specified scores on the following examinations:

Regents' Essay Test exemption score: 2

College Board Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition exemption score: 3

College Board Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature and Composition exemption score: 3

International Baccalaureate (IB) higher-level English exemption score: 4

SAT II English Writing exemption score: 650

SAT Reasoning Test, Writing Section exemption score: 560

SAT Reasoning Test, Writing Section exemption score: 500 (only for students who also have at least a 510 on the SAT Reasoning Test, Critical Reading Section).

A score of at least 24 on the ACT Combined English/Writing exam;

A score of at least 22 on the ACT Combined English/Writing for students who also earned an ACT Reading score of at least 23.

The following four exemptions for RGTE 0199 are available only for students entering USG institutions before Summer 2008:

SAT Reasoning Test, Critical Reading Section score of at least 530 and a grade of "A" in English 1101, or

SAT Reasoning Test, Critical Reading Section of at least 590 and a grade of "B" in English 1101, or

ACT English score of at least 23 and a grade of "A" in English 1101, or

ACT English score of at least 26 and a grade of "B" in English 1101

(SAT or ACT scores must be from a national administration. Scores from institutional SAT or residual ACT tests will not be acceptable for this purpose.)

Students are not permitted to re-test after the point of admission. If a student exempts one part of the Regents Test Requirements, the student must satisfy the remaining part. Students can review their status on the GSW transcript that is available on RAIN. Students who were admitted to GSW through an Institutional administration of the SAT exam will not be eligible for this exemption.

Students who are not exempt from the Regents' Test and students who are not enrolled in Learning Support English or Reading courses must officially register for and take the test during their first semester at GSW (this includes transfer students and must continue to register each term thereafter until both portions are satisfied. Students who have two unsuccessful attempts at passing the Regents' Exams are administratively enrolled in the Regents' Skills course(s) and must complete the course(s) to be considered eligible to take the test again. An unsuccessful attempt for the Regents' Test is defined as any attempt in which the student has not passed the Regents' Test, either by not taking the test or taking it but not passing it. Transfer students who do not take or pass the Regents' Test in their first semester and first semester students who score 50 or lower on the Regents' Reading Test will be administratively enrolled in the Regents' Skills course(s) in their second semester.

Advising for the Regents' Test

·        Although students have full responsibility in complying with the Regents' Test requirements, the advisor is often blamed for not providing the information to them at the appropriate time.  Please make it a practice to mention the Regents' Test each time you advise students.

·        Students who have attempted the Regents’ Test twice without passing both parts or have reached 45 credit hours earned will be placed in the appropriate Regents’ remedial courses, RGTR 0198 (reading) and RGTE 0199 (essay), by the Registrar’s Office.  For students in this situation, other courses may be dropped to allow enrollment in the remedial courses.  If the dropped course or courses are not scheduled to be offered before the student is scheduled to graduate, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs to discuss a possible exemption for the semester.

·        Regents’ Test results can be found on the students’ GSW Advisor Transcript on RAIN.

Transfer students entering GSW from a University System of Georgia institution will have their Regents Test Requirements updated based on the information from the official transcript of the prior school.

Transfer students from private institutions or out-of-state schools will be required to produce one of the following types of documents in order to exempt Regents:

Official SAT or ACT scores

Official letter from the Registrar of the prior institution, including the school seal, verifying test scores were from a nationally administered test.

Application Process for Graduation

Catalog for Graduation Evaluation

A student may select to be evaluated for graduation from any catalog in effect during the time of enrollment provided the enrollment has been continuous.

Students readmitted or reinstated will be evaluated for graduation from the catalog in effect at the time of readmission or reinstatement or any catalog in effect during subsequent periods of continuous enrollment.

Students changing majors will be evaluated for graduation from the catalog in effect at the time of the change or any catalog in effect during subsequent periods of continuous enrollment.

Each student is responsible for determining the appropriate catalog to be used for academic advisement and for evaluation of graduation requirements. Catalog selection applies only to the course requirements of that catalog. All other academic procedures and graduation requirements must be satisfied according to regulations in effect at the time of graduation. Students desiring further information on the selection of an appropriate catalog may contact their major department chair or coordinator/academic dean or the Registrar.

Application for Graduation – Undergraduate Students

Students apply for graduation in the Registrar's Office. The Application for Graduation for Fall Semester must be completed on or before December 1 prior to the academic year in which the degree is expected. The Application for Graduation for Spring Semester must be completed on or before May 1 prior to the academic year in which the degree is expected. Students who plan to graduate at the completion of Summer Term must apply on or before September 1 prior to the year in which the degree is expected. Applications for graduation are available at the Registrars office and on R.A.I.N.

Application for Graduation - Graduate Students

The application for graduation for graduate students must be completed one full semester prior to the academic term in which the degree is expected.

Advising for the Graduation Application Process

By applying early, students will have time to complete any outstanding requirements.  Your advisees who are graduating within the next year should schedule an appointment with you to complete the Application for Graduation form found under the Student Forms listing on the drop-down box on the GSW home page, www.gsw.edu, and under GSW Faculty Forms on RAIN.  Please be sure to verify the student's degree information.

You are to conduct a review of the student's curriculum at the time of application and complete the appropriate curriculum sheet (available on RAIN in the public domain section).  Use the GSW Advisor's Transcript on RAIN and the CAPP Degree Audit accessible through the Advisor Menu on RAIN to assist you with this task.  It is very important that you use the correct curriculum sheet based on the catalog term listed on the GSW Advisor Transcript.  The catalog term on the GSW Advisor's Transcript should fall within the effective catalog year of the curriculum sheet.

Next, complete the Advisor Graduation Checksheet found under GSW Faculty Forms on RAIN.  Be sure to fill it out completely and use it as a resource for advising the student in subsequent terms.  The Registrar's office will review the checksheet prior to late registration of the term the student is planning to graduate in order to determine any remaining outstanding requirements.

Below is a list of all documents that comprise the Graduation Application Packet.

·         Application for Graduation

·         Advisor Graduation Checklist

·         Curriculum Sheet

·         Course Requirement Substitution Form(s)

Once all the above have been completed, please deliver the packet to the Registrar's Office.  The student must not be given the packet to take to the Registrar's Office; only GSW employees are to make the delivery.

 IMPORTANT FOR ADVISORS:  It is critical that you send in the graduation application packet as soon as it is completed.  By turning it in on time, you allow the Registrar’s Office to review the application for outstanding requirements before it is too late for the student to meet them prior to the scheduled graduation date.

Confidentiality of Student Records Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

1.  Georgia Southwestern State University is covered by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, which is designed to protect students' rights in regard to education records maintained by the institution. Under the Act, a student has the following rights:

    a. the right to inspect and review education records maintained by the institution that pertains to you;

    b. the right to challenge the content of records (except grades which can only be challenged through the Grade Appeal Process) on the grounds that they are inaccurate, misleading or a violation of your privacy or other rights; and

    c. the right to control disclosures from  your education records with certain exceptions.

2.  Any student who is or has been in attendance at Georgia Southwestern State University has the right to inspect and review his or her educational records within a reasonable period of time (not to exceed 45 days) after making a written request. However, the student shall not have access to:

    a. Financial records of parents.

    b. Confidential letters of recommendation placed in record prior to January 1, 1975.

    c. Letters of recommendation concerning admission, application for employment or honors for which the student has voluntarily signed a waiver.

3.  Directory information will be treated as public information and be generally available on all students and former students, at the discretion of the university. Directory information includes the student's name; telephone number; major field of study; participation in officially recognized sports; height; weight; dates of attendance; degrees, honors and awards received; level, and full or part time status. Participation in officially recognized sports; height, weight, age, home-town and general interest items of members of athletic teams is also included in Directory Information.

4.  Requests for Education Records should be made in writing to the Registrar, Georgia Southwestern State University. "Education Records" means generally any record maintained by or for Georgia Southwestern State University and containing information directly related to the students' academic activities.

5.  Students who challenge the correctness of student educational records shall file a written request for amendment with the Registrar. The student shall also present to the Registrar copies of all available evidence relating to the data or material being challenged. The Registrar shall forward the information to the custodian of the record who will consider the request and shall notify the student in writing within 15 business days whether the request will be granted or denied. During that time, any challenge may be settled informally between the student, or the parents of a dependent student, and the custodian of the records, in consultation with other appropriate University officials. If an agreement is reached it shall be in writing and signed by all parties involved. A copy of such agreement will be maintained in the student's record. If an agreement is not reached informally or, if the request for amendment is denied, the student shall have the right to challenge through the Grievance Procedure outlined in the Student Handbook.

6.  Release of protected information in the student's educational record without consent will be allowed to:

    a. Institutional personnel who have a legitimate educational interest.

    b. Officials of other schools where the student seeks to enroll. Efforts will be made to notify the student of the release of such information.

    c. Representatives of Federal agencies authorized by law to have access to education records, and state education authorities.

    d. Appropriate persons in connection with a student's application for or receipt of financial aid.

    e. State and local officials to whom information must be released pursuant to a state statue adopted prior to November 19, 1974.

    f. Organizations conducting studies for the institution.

    g. Accrediting organizations.

    h. Parents of a dependent student, as determined by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.

    i. Persons necessary in emergency situations to protect health and safety.

    j. Persons designated in subpoenas or court orders.

7.  If a request for Education Records is not covered by the Annual Disclosure Statement provided by the Registrar, the written request for release of information should be submitted to the Registrar and contain the following information:

    a. Specific records to be released.

    b. Reasons for such release.

    c. To whom records are to be released.

    d. Date.

    e. Signature of the student.

8.  Records will be released in compliance with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. However, reasonable efforts will be made to notify the student in advance of compliance.

9.  Students have the right to obtain copies of official transcripts provided all financial obligations to the University have been met. Students will be charged at the prevailing rate for each certified transcript obtained. Copies of other information in the student's education record will be provided at a cost of $0.25 per page of copy.

10. Students who feel that their rights have been violated under the provisions of the Family Educational and Privacy Act should write to the following office: Department of Education, 330 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20201.

11. Georgia has an Open Records Act. All records kept by Georgia Southwestern State University, except those protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, are subject to public open records requests. Requests for public open records should be submitted in writing to the Director of Human Resources, Georgia Southwestern State University.

Advising Students According to FERPA Guidelines

As an advisor, you have access to your advisee's academic records, but the academic history of a student should never be discussed in public.  If a parent/guardian contacts you asking for information about his or her student, before you discuss anything related to the student's academic performance, including class attendance, you must contact the Registrar's Office to determine if the student has given GSW permission to talk about academic issues with his parents or guardians.  If not, you may not discuss anything with them.  If the student is a dependent, the parents/guardians may take a copy of their income tax return to the Registrar to verify this status, thus allowing GSW to talk with them about their student's situation.  The Registrar will notify you when this occurs.  If the parent/guardian comes to see you with his or her student, before you say anything about the student, ask the student for permission to discuss academic performance in front of the parent/guardian.

If a student has chosen for his or her records to be kept private from parents/guardians, the "confidential" flag on RAIN will appear when any record is pulled up for this student.  For example, the word "confidential" is listed under the student's name on the Class List.  All discussions with this student about academic performance must take place in person.  You should not talk with them over the phone or through email.

POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students at Georgia Southwestern State University are expected to conform to high standards of intellectual and academic integrity. The University assumes as a basic and minimum standard of conduct that students be honest and that they submit for credit only the product of their own efforts. Scholastic ideals and the need for fairness require that all dishonest work be rejected as a basis for academic credit. They also require that students refrain from all forms of dishonorable conduct in the course of their academic careers.

Dishonest work will be treated as a serious offense by the faculty and administration of Georgia Southwestern. Multiple infractions may be cause for permanent expulsion from the University. An instructor who receives dishonest work from a student has several options. At a minimum, the work should be rejected as a basis for academic credit. At the discretion of the instructor, the student may be given a score of zero on the assignment in question, may be required to rewrite the assignment, may be given a grade of F in the course, may not be recommended for admission to Teacher Education or the Nursing programs, or may be penalized in some intermediate way. A student found guilty of submitting dishonest work will have this information and the instructor's course of action placed on file in the Office of Academic Affairs so that if future instructors receive dishonest work from that same student, the student may be penalized by the institution, resulting in possible expulsion. Academic integrity violations may be placed on the student's academic transcript. In the event that a student is suspended from the University for violations of academic integrity, courses taken at other institutions while a student is on Academic Suspension from Georgia Southwestern will not be accepted in transfer.

Given the serious nature of infractions of this policy, students have a right to know what constitutes academic dishonesty and have a right to a fair and consistent procedure before severe penalties are imposed. The examples given below are intended to clarify the standards by which academic integrity is judged. They are meant to be illustrative and are not exhaustive. There may be cases which fall outside of these examples and which are deemed unacceptable by the academic community.

Definitions and Examples of Dishonest Behavior

Plagiarism

It is a violation of academic honesty to submit plagiarized work. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, asking someone to write part or all of an assignment, copying someone else's work (published or unpublished), inadequately documenting research, downloading material from electronic sources without appropriate documentation, or representing others' works or ideas as the student's own.

The student is responsible for understanding the legitimate and accurate use of sources, the appropriate ways of acknowledging and citing academic, scholarly or creative indebtedness, and the consequences of violating this responsibility.

Cheating on Examinations

It is a violation of academic integrity to cheat on an examination. Cheating on an examination includes, but is not limited to, giving or receiving unauthorized help before, during, or after an in-class or out-of-class examination. Examples of unauthorized help include using unauthorized notes during an examination, viewing another student's exam, and allowing another student to view one's exam.

Unauthorized Collaboration

It is a violation of academic honesty to submit for credit work, which is the result of unauthorized collaboration. It is also a violation to provide unauthorized collaboration. Unauthorized collaboration includes giving or receiving unauthorized help for work that is required to be the effort of a single student, such as the receiving or giving of unauthorized assistance in the preparation of any academic or clinical laboratory assignment.

Falsification

It is a violation of academic honesty to falsify information or misrepresent material in an academic work. This includes, but is not limited to, the falsification of citations of sources, the falsification of experimental or survey results, and the falsification of computer or other data.

Multiple Submissions

It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once without the explicit consent of the instructor(s) to whom the work is submitted for additional credit. If a work product is to be substantially revised or updated, the student must contact the instructor in advance to discuss necessary revisions. The faculty member may require a copy of the original document for comparison purposes.

Obligations to Report Suspected Violations

Members of the academic community (students, faculty, administration, and staff) are expected to report suspected violations of these standards of academic conduct to the appropriate authority: the instructor, department chair, academic dean, or Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Evidence and Burden of Proof

In determining whether or not academic dishonesty has occurred, the standard which should be used is that guilt must be proven by the instructor with a preponderance of evidence. That is, it should appear to a reasonable and impartial mind that it is more likely than not that academic dishonesty has occurred.

Procedures for Resolving Matters of Academic Dishonesty

When an instructor believes that academic dishonesty has occurred, the instructor will inform the student that academic dishonesty is believed to have taken place. The instructor will explain to the student what the penalties will be should the guilt be proven by a preponderance of evidence. If the student maintains that academic dishonesty did not take place, the student should discuss the matter with the instructor and present evidence (if possible) demonstrating that the work was done in an honest manner. Should the instructor and student not resolve the matter, then they will bring the matter to the Department Chair or Coordinator. If the matter is not resolved at this level, then the matter will be brought to the Academic Dean. If the matter is still unresolved, it will be brought to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The decision of the Vice President may be appealed to the President, who would then refer it to the Committee on Academic Grievance for its recommendation before rendering a decision. The President's decision is final and binding.

Advising Students Who Have Been Accused of Violating the Academic Integrity Policy

A students who has violated the Academic Integrity Policy or been accused of doing so should contact the instructor making the judgment as soon as possible.  Faculty have a clear statement written on their syllabi regarding this policy; refer the student to it.  If the student has contacted the instructor already, the next step would be to speak to the appropriate academic department chair or dean.

ACADEMIC RENEWAL POLICY - UNDERGRADUATE ONLY

Any degree-seeking student who has experienced academic difficulty, who has not attended any post secondary institution for a period of five years and who wishes to make a fresh start may apply for Academic Renewal. Former Learning Support students may apply for Academic Renewal with the Registrar only if they successfully completed all Learning Support requirements prior to the commencement of the five year period of absence.

A student re-enrolling after a five year absence from post secondary institutions must apply for Academic Renewal within two semesters after re-enrollment or one calendar year, whichever comes first.

If a student is granted Academic Renewal, a new grade point average will be established according to the following guidelines: 

1. A Renewal GPA is begun when the student receives approval for Academic Renewal and includes all course work completed following the re-enrollment.

2. The Academic Renewal GPA will be used for determining academic standing and eligibility for graduation. 

3. All previously attempted course work continues to be recorded on the student's official transcript. 

4. To earn a degree, a student must meet the GSW residency requirements after acquiring Academic Renewal status. 

5. At least 50% of work toward a baccalaureate degree must be completed after the granting of Academic Renewal status for a student to be eligible for honors at graduation.

6. Academic credit for previously completed course work -- including transfer course work -- will be retained only for courses in which an A, B or C grade has been earned.

7. Retained grades are not calculated in a Renewal GPA. Such credit is considered in the same context as transfer credit, credit by examination, and courses with grades of "S". 

8. Courses with D or F grades must be repeated at Georgia Southwestern if they are required in the student's degree program. Further, all remaining courses for the current degree objective must be completed at Georgia Southwestern, i.e., no transient credit will be accepted. 

9. Applicability of retained credit to degree requirements will be determined by the degree requirements currently in effect at the time Academic Renewal status is conferred on the student. Specific institutional program regulations must also be met.

10. A student can be granted Academic Renewal status only one time.

11. Transfer Credit.

a.      A student who has been suspended from GSW and has attended one or more other System institutions during the period of suspension will not be eligible for Academic Renewal.

b.      A student who has not been suspended from GSW but who has been absent from this institution five years or more and who has attended a school other than GSW may choose only one of the following options: 

(1)  A student may return to GSW subject to all relevant transfer and reentry policies. No renewal GPA is calculated and transfer credit will be granted for applicable courses taken during the absence.

(2)  A student may apply for Academic Renewal. If Academic Renewal status is approved, no transfer credit will be granted for course work completed during the absence. 

12. Any scholastic suspensions which occurred in the past shall remain recorded on the student's permanent record. 

13. The Renewal GPA begins with the term following re-enrollment. If a student is denied Academic Renewal and subsequently does not re-enroll, he/she may resubmit an Academic Renewal application after no less than one calendar year has passed since the initial petition.

14. The granting of Academic Renewal does not supersede financial aid policies regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress.

15. The granting of Academic Renewal does not supersede the admissions requirements of certain programs, e.g., teacher education, nursing, which require a specific minimum grade point average based upon all course work. 

Advising for Academic Renewal

If you have an advisee who is returning to GSW and has been out of school for at least five years, send the student to the Registrar to discuss Academic Renewal.  It is usually in the student’s best interest to pursue Academic Renewal.

REFERRAL SYSTEM

Academic advisors are not expected to "know all the answers," but advisors are able to refer students to someone who can answer a question that the advisor is unable to answer. The following Referral List will be helpful to students and advisors in referring students to the appropriate office or person. 

The recommended procedure for referring students is to make a phone call to ask the question or alert the office that the student is being referred. This may prevent sending the student to an office only to be referred elsewhere. It also indicates to the student a sincere willingness to help.

REFERRAL LIST

DEGREES OFFERED BY GSW

For a list of degrees offered at GSW, go to the list of curriculum sheets on RAIN, https://rain.gsw.edu/curr.htm .