Academic Affairs Information
Each student at West Georgia Technical College must be a responsible partner in the learning process and should observe all current published regulations and procedures required by the College and by the program in which he or she is enrolled. A current published regulation will not be waived nor will an exception be granted because a student pleads ignorance of the regulation or asserts that he or she was not informed of a specific requirement by a faculty advisor or by a College staff member.
Students must become especially familiar with the offerings and requirements of their individual majors or programs of study and the content of the quarterly schedule of classes, which may contain notices of changes in academic regulations or procedures. West Georgia Technical College will make a reasonable effort to keep students advised of any such changes, and information on changes made by the College will be available in the Student Affairs Office. Students must be aware that it is their own responsibility to remain informed about current graduation requirements for their particular programs.
A candidate for graduation is normally subject to the catalog requirements that are in effect at the time of initial enrollment. However, in consultation with his or her advisor, a student may elect to satisfy the graduation requirements specified in any of the catalogs in effect subsequent to the time of initial enrollment, with the following exception: a student not enrolled for one or more consecutive quarters is subject to the requirements in effect at the time of reentry.
Academic Advising System
Full-time instructors are responsible for advising students within their departments. Each student is assigned to an academic advisor at enrollment and works with that advisor throughout enrollment at West Georgia. Enrolled credit students may access Banner Web at any time to identify their advisors. Status or program changes may involve advisor reassignment, so students making such changes should check Banner Web or with the Office of Admissions.
The role of an academic advisor is to assist students in the development of meaningful educational plans that are compatible with their life goals. The ultimate responsibility for making informed decisions about life goals and educational plans rests with the individual student. However, the academic advisor can assist by working with students to identify and assess alternatives and consequences of decisions.
An academic advisor’s responsibilities include helping students to design a program of study, interpret catalogs and degree requirements, and choose among academic alternatives. Advisors also monitor academic progress and recommend appropriate resources to answer questions or solve problems related to academic and career matters. They are also valuable sources of information about College policies, procedures, resources, and programs.
Academic advisors keep regularly scheduled office hours and consult with students quarterly to plan appropriate class schedules. Students are encouraged to contact advisors during the first two weeks of the announced registration period for academic counseling. Advisors’ schedules are posted on the College web site, and students receive information regarding quarterly advisement and registration via their student email accounts.
If you need to contact your advisor for academic counseling during the returning student registration period, you may complete the Student Advisement Information Form and email it to your advisor, along with any questions you may have. This form will give your advisor the opportunity to verify that your choices are a requirement within your program of study, or to suggest acceptable substitutes if they are not.
Course Availability
A listing of quarterly course offerings at West Georgia Technical College is available on the website. The College reserves the right to cancel classes due to low enrollment or other reasons. A full refund is made for any class canceled by the College.
Course Progression
To meet academic requirements, students may not make a grade of D in their program courses, including program-specific electives. (This policy excludes core courses, unless a grade of C or better is required as a prerequisite to other courses.) Students who make a D must repeat the course and obtain a final grade higher than D. When a course is repeated, the higher grade will be used in calculating the grade point average for graduation. The first grade will, however, still be recorded on the transcript. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required for graduation.
To fulfill the academic requirements of all health services programs, a minimum grade of C is required for progress from specified courses to more advanced courses. Students unable to meet the academic requirements for continuation in any health services program will not be allowed to continue until the requirements are met. Upon completion of these requirements, the student will be allowed to continue when course sequence permits. A second D or F in any required program-specific course would result in dismissal of the student from the program.
Course Numbering System
Courses numbered 0-099 are preparatory courses and do not carry credit toward graduation. Courses numbered 100 and above carry credit toward graduation. General education courses carrying a course number of 1100 and above (e.g., ENG 1101) are taught in associate degree programs.
Elective Courses
Program elective courses may be inside or outside the program of study, based on the list of approved electives provided in each program description. Program majors may include three types of electives:
1. Occupational/technically-related electives are those that are relative to the student’s chosen academic major. These electives are generally satisfied by courses found in the student’s academic major area or in a major related to the student’s chosen field of study.
2. General core electives must be taken from the general core course offerings. General core electives just be selected from the general core class offerings available at the award level of the academic program in which the student is enrolled. Degree general core electives must come from degree level academic courses. Diploma level general core must come from diploma level general education offerings. However, if a student’s placement score in a particular diploma program meets the degree level, the student may substitute the higher level degree course for the lower level diploma course. For example, if a student’s diploma level program requires ENG 1010 but the student’s placement score in English is at the degree level (or higher), the student may take the higher degree level ENG 1101 Composition and Rhetoric course. Diploma level courses cannot be used as electives in degree programs.
3. General electives may be satisfied by either a technically-related occupational course or a general education course. When a general education class is used to satisfy this elective, it must be selected from offerings available at the award level of the academic program in which the student is enrolled. Degree general education electives must come from degree level general education course offerings. Diploma level general education electives must come from diploma level general education offerings. However, if a student’s placement score in a particular diploma program meets the degree level, the student may substitute the higher level degree course for the lower level diploma course (see example in paragraph above).
Learning support classes cannot be used to satisfy any elective requirement. Students should consult with their program advisors before registering for any elective course to ensure that the course selection will meet program graduation requirements.
Grading System
The following grade system is used to report student progress in credit courses:
| Grade A B C D F WF I WP NG AU EX TR W AC |
Nature of Work (90-100) Excellent (80-89) Good (70-79) Satisfactory (60-69) (Below 60) Failing Withdrew Failing Incomplete Not Computed Withdrew Passing Not Computed No Grade Not Computed Audit Not Computed Credit by Competency Exam Not Computed Transfer Credit Not Computed Withdrew Not Computed Articulated Credit Not Computed |
Grade Points 4 3 2 1 0 0 |
Learning support courses are graded on an A* through F* scale. The following learning support grades are not computed in a student’s institutional GPA but do apply toward Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress.
| A* = 90-100 B* = 80-89 C* = 70-79 D* = 60-69 F* = 00-59 WF* = 00-59 |
Not Computed Not Computed Not Computed Not Computed Not Computed Not Computed |
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A grade point average (GPA) is calculated by (1) multiplying the credits for each course by the grade points associated with the grade earned, (2) totaling the points earned for all courses, and (3) dividing the total points by the total number of credits attempted.
I (Incomplete) The grade of I is given to students only in extenuating circumstances. It signifies that a student has not completed all required course work by the end of the quarter. Student and instructor must request a grade of I before grades are posted. If the required make-up work is not completed by the end of the first three weeks of the following quarter, the I will automatically become an F. If a student received a grade of I in a course which is a prerequisite to other courses, the student must complete the required make-up work to determine the final grade and eligibility to enroll in other courses.
AU (Audit) By registering as an auditor, a student is permitted to audit a course/program and attend classes without receiving credit. Students are not permitted to change from audit to credit after the drop/add period or from credit to audit after the drop/add period at the beginning of each quarter. Students who audit a class must pay regular tuition and fees for enrollment in any course(s).
W (Withdraw) This grade signifies that a student has officially withdrawn by the midpoint of the quarter.
WF (Withdraw Failing) This grade indicates that a student officially withdrew after the midpoint of the quarter. The WF has zero quality points and is calculated in the grade point average (GPA).
WP (Withdraw Passing) The grade of WP is given only to students with extenuating circumstances. This grade indicates that a student was passing when he or she officially withdrew after the midpoint of the quarter.
Transcripts and grade reports contain two grades for each occupational course. The first grade is the letter grade assigned for academic work and skill development in the course. The second grade reflects the work ethics of the student in the course. (See section on Work Ethics.)
Attendance
Students are expected and encouraged to attend each scheduled class. Absences and tardies will become a part of the student’s record through the work ethics grade (detailed in the catalog section on Work Ethics Procedures). It is recognized that there may be times when a student will not be able to attend class. In such cases, it is the student's responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor concerning the completion of work missed. All make-up work will be at the discretion of the instructor, under the guidelines of the work ethics policy and procedures.
A student may be dropped from a course in which the number of his or her absences, whether excused or unexcused, exceeds 20 percent of the total number of course meetings in the quarter, according to the following guidelines:
| Number of course meetings per week 1 2 3 4 |
May be dropped if absences exceed 2 4 6 8 |
If there are extenuating circumstances, the teacher's discretion will be considered in the final decision for an exception. The grade of withdraw passing (WP) or withdraw failing (WF) will be assigned after the midpoint of the quarter. The grade of WP is given only to students with extenuating circumstances.
Health Services programs and all online or hybrid courses have attendance guidelines specific to those methods of instructional delivery. These guidelines will be detailed in individual course syllabi for Health Services and for online/hybrid courses.
Work Ethics Procedures
The Technical College System of Georgia and WGTC believe it is extremely important to identify, evaluate, and encourage good work habits as an integral part of the instructional program. Therefore, a system to evaluate "work ethics" in each course has been developed. Work ethics grades (3, 2, 1, 0) areearned in each completed credit hour course and are included on the student's permanent record and transcript.
Characteristics
The following work ethics characteristics are emphasized:
1. Attendance 6. Productivity
2. Character 7. Organizational Skills
3. Teamwork 8. Communication
4. Appearance 9. Cooperation
5. Attitude 10. Respect
Weekly emphasis is given to each of these characteristics or traits. A trait of the week will be emphasized campus wide in all credit courses. Each instructor will present a brief lesson on the trait, or activities featuring the trait may be introduced in classes or labs.
Grading
Grading is performed “by exception.” Instructors record a grade for students who display either poor work ethics or exceptional work ethics behaviors. A plan of improvement is given to the student who displays a poor work ethic, and a review date is set.
There are two formal reports—the Mid-Quarter Report, a progress report given to those students who need an opportunity to improve, and the Final Report, a quarterly work ethics grade to be displayed on the student's academic record.
Evaluation Process:
3 points = Exceeds expectations
2 points = Meets expectations
1 points = Needs improvement
0 points = Unacceptable
NOTE: The work ethics credits do not count toward graduation requirements or in calculating eligibility for financial aid.
Excused Absences
No points are deducted from the attendance portion of the work ethics report if the student must be absent under any of the following conditions and follows the outlined procedures:
- Jury duty (prior notification of instructor with written proof).
- Death of immediate family member (mother, father, sister, brother, spouse, or child; notify instructor during the first day of absence with maximum of three days excused).
- Court summons (prior notification of instructor with written proof).
- Military duty (prior notification of instructor with written proof).
- Job interview (prior approval of instructor and a job interview verification form to be signed by the employer—may be obtained from the job placement specialist).
- Doctor's official work/school release form (completed and signed by attending physician and provided for the instructor the first day of return; a maximum of three days in a given quarter will be excused for medical reasons, but only with proper documentation).
NOTE: Students are expected to follow individual instructors’ make-up policies, and the excused absences outlined above are included in the total allowable 20% of course absences. Absences above 20% of the total number of course meetings may result in the student‘s withdrawal from the course.
Academic Honors
The College recognizes the following academic honors for students enrolled in credit programs:
Honor Graduate - These individuals are recognized as having maintained a 3.5 or above program grade point average (GPA). Students are recognized in the following the categories: Highest Honors (4.0 GPA), High Honors (3.8-3.99 GPA), and Honors (3.5-3.79 GPA).
President’s List - Students achieve a 4.0 grade point average for the quarter.
Dean’s List - Students who achieve a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.99 for the quarter.
Qualifying students will receive a certificate from the President.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students are considered to be in good standing and making satisfactory academic progress if they maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is also required for graduation. This designation appears on the quarterly grade report and the official transcript. Students who earn a GPA of less than 2.0 for a quarter are placed on academic probation. Additional information about SAP is included in the Financial Aid section of the catalog. Additional information about Academic Probation and Dismissal is included in the Registrar Services section of the catalog.
NOTE: Students enrolled in the Health Services programs should refer to the specific academic requirements for these programs.
NOTE: Health Services students who fail to earn a C or better in any course required for their selected program of study may repeat a course one time only. A second D or F in any required program-specific course will result in dismissal of the student from the program.
Academic Integrity
West Georgia Technical College encourages an academic culture of honesty and personal integrity
among its faculty, staff, and student body. Academic integrity is defined by the Center for Academic
Integrity as “a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, trust,
fairness, respect and responsibility.” In this context, academic honesty means performing all academic
work without plagiarizing, cheating, lying, tampering, stealing, receiving assistance from any other person
or using any source of information that is not common knowledge (unless authorized by the instructor).
The work of another person represented as one’s own is dishonest and does not fairly measure the
competence, knowledge, and achievement of the individual. Academic dishonesty is contrary to the
standards, ethics, and goals of higher education and is unacceptable in the technical college community
and in this course. West Georgia Technical College promotes and expects each member of the College
to conduct himself or herself with professional behavior and intellectual integrity.
Prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Plagiarizing any assignment. “Plagiarism” means using someone else’s ideas or words without using quotation marks and/or giving credit by citation of source(s).
- Copying/submitting another person’s work.
- Unauthorized taking of someone else’s work.
- Using unauthorized notes or equipment (including programmable calculators) during an examination.
- Stealing an examination or using a stolen examination.
- Allowing another student to have access to your work, thereby enabling that student to represent the work as his or her own.
- Having someone else take an assessment in your place.
- Fabricating information such as data for a lab report.
- Falsifying a patient’s medical record or a student’s clinical record.
- Using another person’s file or diskette or copying another student’s computer program.
- Depending on the severity of the situation, any student found to be in violation of any of the above
prohibitions will be subject to a range of disciplinary actions, which may include the following:
- A zero for the assignment
- An F for the course
- Dismissal from the program
- Dismissal from the College
The Student Code of Conduct (see the Student Handbook) is enforced for traditional, hybrid, webenhanced, and online classes. If an online student is suspected of dishonesty, the instructor may require completion of onsite tests or other assessments.
Students have the right to appeal any decision of the instructor regarding academic dishonesty through the academic appeals process detailed in the WGTC Catalog and Student Handbook.
Academic Overload
An acceptable course load will vary depending upon the academic program and course taken. Please contact your advisor to make an informed decision about a reasonable course load when working full or part-time.
Students wishing to register for more than 20 credit hours in any quarter must obtain prior approval from the Dean of the division in which the student’s program is included. In general, a student must have been at West Georgia Technical College for at least two quarters and have achieved an overall GPA of at least 2.5 before an overload will be approved.
Online Learning
Types of Courses
The following terms describe the delivery methods of online courses offered at West Georgia:
Online—A course in which all instruction occurs online, and testing may occur online or in a proctored environment.
Hybrid—A course in which 25 percent-50 percent of the learning activities are conducted online. Traditional class meeting times will vary within these guidelines, depending on coursecontent and instructor discretion. Meeting times will be predetermined and specified in the quarterly class schedule.
Web-enhanced—A traditional classroom course that uses the Internet as a component of the course. That component supports classroom instruction and may require students to use the Internet in order to interact with one another and the instructor, do research, complete and/or submit assignments, or take tests.
Requirements
The content, assessments, and student learning outcomes of online courses are the same as those of
their traditional counterparts. The primary difference is that online courses offer students an alternative
form of course delivery that is more flexible and convenient than traditional classroom attendance. As a
trade-off, however, online courses require a greater time commitment than traditionally delivered
courses. Students who take online courses need strong skills in studying, time management, Internet
navigation, and reading comprehension to be successful. Individual courses may require additional
specific skills, such as proficiency in word processing. Following instructions, working independently, and
submitting assignments by due dates are an important part of online learning. Students must have
frequent access to a computer (preferably at home) and a reliable Internet provider as some providers
are not compatible with the online platform. (For more information on appropriate providers and online
requirements, see our Online Learning web page.)
Students admitted in provisional status should not register for online courses; learning support and online courses are both demanding, and trying to do both decreases a student’s chance of academic success. Students enrolled in learning support reading courses cannot register for online courses. Students who failed a specific course or withdrew failing from a specific course will not be allowed to take an online version of that course.
Online learning may not be the right choice for all learners, but for those who meet the requirements, it is an exciting and viable alternative to traditional classes. Students interested in pursuing online learning opportunities should visit the Online Learning page of the West Georgia web site or contact their advisors for more information.
Academic Support Services
West Georgia Technical College is committed to student success and to assisting students in achieving their individual goals. The following resources for academic support are offered to all students studying in credit program areas:
College Success (COL 099) is a three-credit course designed to assist students to develop effective study skills, become acquainted with the programs and services of the College, and adjust to life as a college student. COL 099 is required for any student who, upon taking the admissions placement exam, is required to enroll in two or more learning support courses, or for any student readmitted after academic probation.
Learning Resource Labs available on each campus include a computer lab equipped with instructional software, DVD/VCR player for instructional videos, and a tutoring area for all levels of English and math classes. A basic computer literacy tutor is also available for students enrolled in SCT 100 classes. Tutorial services are provided free to students enrolled in credit courses. Students are encouraged to access tutors early in the quarter in order to receive the most benefit from the free tutoring services.
Independent Study
With approval of the instructor and the Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee, a course may be taken as an independent study during a student’s last quarter or next to last quarter. Independent study will be allowed only under extenuating circumstances in which a course is not available through a normal schedule. A student may not take through independent study a course in which he/she has previously received a grade of D, F, or WF. Students wishing to request independent study should contact their advisors the quarter before the course is needed in order to begin the process.
Institutional Course Exemption
For students with previously acquired knowledge and skills, course credit may be obtained by demonstrating mastery of the subject through written and/or performance tests. Exemption examinations are available for several, but not all, courses at West Georgia Technical College. Students should contact the Dean of the division which includes the course in question to verify whether an exemption exam exists.
The following procedures for course exemption exams are to be followed:
- Student must be accepted to or currently enrolled as a credit student at West Georgia Technical College and must take the exemption exam prior to enrolling in the course. (Exemption exams may be taken only once.)
- Student presents evidence to the Dean of the appropriate division indicating that prior education, training, or work experience is similar to that of the course being challenged.
- Student meets with program advisor and obtains an Exemption Exam Request form. The dvisor verifies the student’s eligibility and signs the form, which lists all course exemption information and scheduled dates/times/locations of the exam.
- Student presents Exemption Exam Request form to the campus cashier for fee payment. Exemption exam fee is 25% of tuition costs.. This fee is nonrefundable and is not covered by financial aid.
- Student presents Exemption Exam Request form and photo ID to exam proctor at scheduled time of exam, on predetermined campus.
- Student completes exemption exam. Student must receive minimum score of 80% to be awarded exemption credit.
- The Dean of the appropriate division submits official exam score to the Registrar for academic recording.
- Registrar notifies the student of exemption exam results by mail and student email.
- If the student has passed the exam, the Registrar records the grade as EX on the student’s
transcript. (EX grades are not included in the calculation of the student’s grade point average.) - No more than 10 credit hours may be earned by course exemption.
Internship
The internship program provides related work experience in a student’s program of study prior to graduation. Internship is an option as an elective or as a required part of several diploma and degree programs. It is taken upon completion of prerequisites and with advisor approval. Students should see their advisors for more information.
Student Right to Appeal
A student who wishes to contest a final course grade must first institute an informal appeals process through the instructor who awarded the grade or made the decision. A student must make every effort to resolve the appeal through initially contacting the instructor by phone, email, or personal visit before filing a formal appeal.
If consultation with the instructor does not resolve the appeal, the student may appeal to the Assistant Vice President for Instruction by filing a written request for review. The written appeal must state the class in which the grade was received, the instructor of the class, the reason for the appeal, and the action requested based on the appeal. (Forms for the appeal may be requested from the Office of Academic Affairs.) This request must be filed within four weeks from the date that the grade was originally posted.
The AVP for Instruction will respond to the student within two weeks of receiving the written request. If the student is not satisfied with the AVP’s decision, the student may appeal in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs within two weeks of receiving the AVP’s decision. The Vice President will respond to the student's request within one week. The decision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs shall be final.
The College assures that a student will not face retaliation for filing a formal grievance.
The previous appeal procedures do not apply to equity issues (i.e. race, age, national origin, or gender discrimination.) See the Non-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Procedure section of this catalog for an explanation of other grievance procedures.
Notification to Students Regarding Testing As a Degree Requirement
Students finishing Associate of Applied Science degrees must complete the three-part Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) during either the last quarter or next to last quarter prior to graduation. The CAAP assesses mathematical reasoning, writing skills, and critical thinking skills. Those in Health Services AAS degree programs (Dental Hygiene, Clinical Laboratory Technology, Registered Nursing, and Radiologic Technology) will also be required to take the Science Reasoning portion of the CAAP. Unless otherwise provided for in an individual program, no minimum score or level of achievement is required for graduation. The CAAP will be given multiple times during the seventh or eighth weeks of fall and spring quarter to accommodate all graduating students.
Students may also be asked to participate in one or more satisfaction surveys designed to measure institutional effectiveness. Participation in testing may be required for all students, students in selected programs, and for students selected on a sample basis.
Licensure Programs
Certain programs are designed to satisfy the educational requirements for licensure examinations. However, the licensing board may change these requirements prior to the completion of the course of study. While reasonable efforts will be made to enable students to satisfy additional requirements, no assurances can be made that the College will be able to offer these additional courses or, if taken, that such courses will entitle students to take or pass licensure examinations.
Embedded Certificate/Diplomas
Any student enrolled in a diploma/degree program will be recorded as a graduate of a lower level program (diploma, TCC) when the following conditions have been met:
- Student has met all of the admissions requirements for the diploma/TCC
- Student has successfully completed all coursework for the diploma/TCC
- Student requests to receive a diploma/TCC
- The College chooses to award a diploma/TCC with acknowledgement from the student
Data recording practices must represent an accurate history of student participation in programs. Students formally enrolled in a major will remain in that major until they formally change majors, graduate from that major, or leave the College. They may, however, simultaneously receive awards for diplomas/TCCs for which the requirements have been met.
Intellectual Property
The College encourages the development, writing, invention, or production of intellectual property designed to improve the productivity of the College or to enhance the teaching/learning environment. Intellectual property includes, but is not limited to, any copyrightable subject matter or material(s), patentable inventions, online courses, computer software or materials, or works of art that might be normally developed on a proprietary basis. Intellectual property also includes the common meaning, definition and description of intellectual property as established by the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). Intellectual and creative works that can be copyrighted or patented, such as literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, computer software, multimedia presentations, inventions, etc., are “intellectual property.”
Unless otherwise provided in a separate agreement, the College owns all rights to a copyrightable or patentable work created by the employee or student with College support. The ownership of a copyright or patent resulting from the development of intellectual property and any rewards or recognition attributed to the copyright or patent will be determined according to the following conditions:
Ownership resides with the employee or student if the following criteria are met:
- The work is the result of individual initiative, not requested or required by the College.
- The work is not the product of a specific contract or assignment made as a result of employment or enrollment with the College.
- The work is not prepared within the scope of the employee’s job duties or course/program requirements.
- The work is not completed using equipment or resources provided by the College.
Ownership resides with the College if the above criteria are not met and/or if the following criteria apply:
- The work is prepared within the scope of the employee’s job duties or course/program requirements.
- The work is the product of a specific contract or assignment made in the course of the employee’s employment or student’s enrollment with the College.
- The development of the work involved facilities, time, and/or other resources of the College including, but not limited to, released time, grant funds, College personnel, salary supplement, leave with pay, equipment, or other materials or financial assistance.
- Ownership refers to a legally binding agreement specifying the named party or parties to whom the intellectual property belongs and who will be attributer as the owners of the intellectual property in the general public.
- College resources include, but are not limited to, offices, computers, standard office equipment and supplies, libraries, labs, funds, and personnel.return to top
