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    Academic and Student Support

    ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES
    TESTING SERVICES
    STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
    SPECIAL PROGRAMS

     

    ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES

    In its efforts to maintain a commitment to excellence in developing the academic skills of all students, Georgia Perimeter College is keenly aware of the need to offer academic support services that will enable students to have a successful college experience. Therefore, the college offers a variety of services to students designed to enhance classroom learning and to provide a technologically advanced learning environment. To create this environment requires that the college make connections among communities, campuses, students, faculty, and cultures.

    Academic Computer Labs and Classrooms
    The Office of Information Technology (OIT) operates open computer labs and computer classrooms on each campus to provide students and faculty the support necessary for the academic programs. OIT realizes the dynamic changes in the computer industry and offers services using the latest technology within its reach. The college encourages students to be competent in the use of computers for analyzing and solving problems in order to increase productivity.

    Higher Education Seminar (HEDS 1011)
    Georgia Perimeter College offers a special course (HEDS 1011) to assist students in adjusting to college. With classes often conducted in a seminar format, this course provides an introduction to important academic skills in higher education. Though primarily designed to enhance the academic and social integration of first year and returning students, it can be beneficial for all students. This course assists students' adjustment to college, increases their understanding of the learning process, and helps develop the study skills that will enhance academic performance. NOTE: This course is required of students who place into two Learning Support courses at the lower level (READ 0097, ENGL 0098, or MATH 0096 or 0097).

    Learning and Tutoring Center (LTC)
    On each campus, the Instructional Support Services facility offers academic support and assistance in most courses with written or mathematical components to Georgia Perimeter College students. Each LTC facility provides a stress-free environment to support the college curriculum and offers alternative tutorial methods for diverse learning styles. One-on-one tutoring conferences or small group sessions on particular skills are available by appointment or drop-in with experienced mathematics and writing tutors. LTC offers access to computer technology, including computer-assisted instruction in mathematics, grammar, and reading, and editing. All centers are supplied with helpful handouts, and reference materials are readily available. All campuses also offer on-line tutoring through access to OWL (Online Writing Lab) and MOL (Math Online Lab).

    Learning Communities
    The Learning Community Program is designed to help students succeed in college by providing a formative, integrated academic experience that builds strength, perspective, and commitment. Students in a learning community take several classes together, get to know each other, and find support for their goals in college. Teachers work together to create a dynamic learning environment for their students.

    Learning Communities (LCs) are interdisciplinary clusters of courses that explore a particular theme or shared academic interest. LC courses emphasize the relevance of studies to the "big picture." Students see connections among different courses and how they relate to important topics in life. They also have a unique opportunity to become a member of a supportive learning environment. Students in LCs typically have an easier time developing study groups and other peer support systems. For further information and for a schedule of Learning Communities, go to the Learning Communities page of the GPC website.

    Learning Resources Services
    Georgia Perimeter College's online catalog of collections is available through Georgia Interconnected Libraries (GIL). Databases that provide citations, abstracts, and full-text information in the humanities, social sciences, general sciences, business, and management are available through GALILEO. GIL and GALILEO are accessible at all GPC campuses, the Alpharetta Center, and Georgia Gwinnett College, and as well as remote sites. Materials not housed at a particular campus are provided to students through intercampus courier delivery, usually within 24 hours. A statewide courier service delivers materials from other University System libraries. Library faculty provides a full range of reference and library instruction services.

    Testing Services

    Georgia Perimeter College offers its students a full range of testing services at each campus. Testing Centers are located on the Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody and Newton Campuses.

    College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
    This testing program permits students to test and receive college credit by examination.

    Exit Testing
    This testing program serves students exiting from Learning Support classes.

    National Testing Programs
    Georgia Perimeter College serves as a national testing site for the national SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test), the national ACT (American College Testing Program), and the national Dental Hygiene Certification Test.

    Placement Testing
    Placement testing allows the college to determine the appropriate level of beginning instruction for newly admitted students. Students will take either the computerized Computer-Adaptive Assessment and Support System (COMPASS) or the computerized Computer-Adaptive Assessment and Support System/ESL (COMPASS/ESL) if the students are non-native English speakers. For all students, placement in mathematics is determined by COMPASS unless the student is exempted by ACT or SAT scores. (See section on Academic Procedures/Academic Placement.)

    Proof of English Language Proficiency
    Applicants whose first language is not English and/or whose secondary education took place in a predominantly non-English speaking country (See a list of countries considered predominantly English speaking on the International Admissions page of the GPC website) must provide evidence of English language proficiency prior to being considered for admission to the college. An applicant's citizenship or immigration status has no bearing on the language proficiency requirement. Proficiency may be established by submitting one of the following:

    1. Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Prospective students must earn a minimum of 460 on the paper TOEFL or 140 on the computerized TOEFL (CBT), or 48 on the TOEFL Internet Based Test (iBT). Applicants may contact the Educational Testing Services at (609) 921-9000 for information or to schedule the TOEFL. Students overseas can consult the American Embassy for TOEFL information. (Georgia Perimeter's TOEFL College Code is 5165). More information can be found on TOEFL's website. Please note: Georgia Perimeter College will not accept institutional TOEFL scores for admissions purposes .

    2. Scores from other tests: Non-native speakers of English who have attained a minimum national SAT Verbal score of 330 or a minimum national ACT English score of 12 will satisfy the English language proficiency.
    Additional information may be found on the International Admissions page of the GPC website.

    Regents' Testing
    The University System of Georgia requires that all students enrolled in A.A. and A.S. degree programs must successfully complete both parts of the Regent's Test, which measures competency in reading and composition. Some career programs at GPC also require the Regents' Test. The Regents' Test is administered once during the fall and spring semesters and during the summer session. (Students are directed to the Regents' Test section of this catalog.) More information can be found on The Regents' Testing Program website.

    Student Support Services

    Advising and Counseling Services (ACS)

    Advising and Counseling Services offices at Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody, and Newton Campuses assist students in meeting their educational and career goals. At Georgia Perimeter College, academic advisement is a shared responsibility among the student, advisor and college community to promote individual growth by developing a dynamic plan to reach the student's educational, career and life goals.  The following services are provided.

    Advisement
    The Advising and Counseling Services offices aid students in exploring life goals, exploring career and educational goals, selecting an education program, and scheduling courses. Students are encouraged to schedule regular conferences with their advisers to evaluate their progress.

    Career Development and Job Information
    The Advising and Counseling Services offices provide individual and group counseling and testing, computer-based career guidance systems, a career resource library, postings of local employment opportunities, and seminars. Through these services, students can gather current information about the world of work, define career objectives, choose majors, and obtain assistance with job searches.

    Counseling
    The Advising and Counseling Services offices offer personal, academic, and career counseling services to all students. Students can receive academic or vocational assessment, assistance in adjusting to college life, and referrals to outside agencies or resources.

    First-time Full-time Freshmen
    If a student enrolls at Georgia Perimeter College in the summer or fall after having graduated from high school in the spring and registers for 12 or more semester hours, they will be members of the First-Time Fulltime Cohort.  A student in the cohort will not have credits from any college.  Members of the First-Time Fulltime Cohort will be assigned a faculty advisor.  Students will receive a letter from the Dean of Advising and Retention early in the fall semester apprising them of who their faculty advisor is.  The cohort students should communicate often with his/her faculty advisor.  There will be a hold placed on the cohort student's account during his/her freshman year that will prevent him/her from registering for classes.  Only the faculty advisor can remove the cohort hold.  Students should see their faculty advisor 2-3 times per semester the freshman year.

    Orientation
    All new students should participate in an orientation session. Students may attend an orientation session on any campus. If there are extenuating circumstances, the student may be approved by the campus to complete orientation online.  On-campus orientations are encouraged and benefit students by welcoming them to the college and their primary campus, introducing them to available services, and helping them begin a successful career at Georgia Perimeter College. During orientation, students learn about academic requirements, receive advisement and registration assistance, learn about financial aid opportunities, gain tips for success in college, and meet other new students.

    To assist in the successful transition of new and transfer students to Georgia Perimeter College, peer student orientation leaders are hired on each campus. The STAR orientation leaders are selected annually on each campus through the Student Life office based on academic achievement, interpersonal skills, co-curricular involvement, and leadership potential. STAR leaders receive extensive training and gain skills for lifelong success. Interested students are encouraged to contact the Student Life office on their campus.

    International Student Admissions and Advising
    International Student Admissions and Advising provides assistance and support services to Georgia Perimeter College's international students. Services include admissions counseling, admissions document processing, orientation for students in F-1 status, immigration advisement, outreach, and cultural programming. The staff is also available to assist students with matters related to obtaining Social Security cards, drivers' licenses, and international student insurance coverage. In addition, supportive counseling is available to students who need assistance making the cultural transition to the United States. While the International Student Admissions and Advising is located on the Clarkston and Dunwoody Campuses, programs are offered on several Georgia Perimeter College campuses.

    Center for Disability Services (CDS)
    The Center for Disability Services coordinates accommodations for students who self identify with a disability. This includes but is not limited to students with learning disabilities; students who are deaf and hard of hearing; and students with mental, visual, mobility, and other physical disabilities. Each campus has a disability specialist who provides compensatory strategies that are individualized, flexible, and confidential based on the nature of the disability and the educational environment.

    Specialized Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
    In addition to classroom accommodations for students who are deaf or hard of hearing such as sign language interpreters, c-print captionists, and notetakers, CDS provides enhanced services: a deaf and hard of hearing specialist certified in American Sign Language who provides counseling services; three nationally certified interpreters on staff; an individualized reading and writing course for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing; and SOTAC, a state-wide outreach program that provides technical assistance and training on accommodations, services and education for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

    CDS as a Resource
    Staff members of the CDS are available to provide in-service training and orientation to faculty and staff working with students with disabilities. Anyone who would like more information about the programs at CDS or who would like to receive a brochure can contact the District Center for Disability Services, Georgia Perimeter College, 555 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021, (678) 891-3385 (Voice/TDD).

    Health and Wellness
    The college is committed to providing opportunities for students, faculty, and staff members to enjoy good health, emphasizing the importance of creating positive life changes in the physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, occupational, and social aspects of wellness.

    To assist the college community in achieving and maintaining good health, the Wellness Center on each campus provides a variety of programs and current information on health-related topics such as substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, stress, depression, eating disorders, and nutrition. Guest speakers, videos, books, informational brochures, and referral listings are available to the college community.

    Multicultural Advising Program (MAP)
    The Multicultural Advising Program office offers a variety of programs and activities to the campuses to help prepare all GPC students to live, learn, work and succeed in a multicultural society. We envision GPC as an institution of higher learning where administrators, faculty, staff, and students cooperate and collaborate to establish, build and maintain culturally and racially inclusive campus communities that foster respect and appreciation for people of all backgrounds.

    Our programs are focused on enhancing the academic and social life of all multicultural students. The programming is centered on cultural awareness activities, educational seminars, and social gatherings.

    Special Programs

    Gateway to College Academy
    The Gateway to College Academy is a DeKalb County Charter School located on the Clarkston Campus of Georgia Perimeter College. It is a joint partnership between Georgia Perimeter College and the DeKalb County School System, designed to target students who have not been successful in a traditional high school environment. Modeled after Portland Community College's Early College Program, the Gateway to College Academy serves DeKalb County students ages 16 through 20 years old.

    A Gateway to College Academy student completes a high school diploma while simultaneously accumulating college credits toward an associate's degree or certificate. After the first semester, students are enrolled in the same classes as other GPC students (based upon college placement scores and other academic requirements), earning dual credits until completion of the high school diploma.

    Students are admitted to the Gateway to College Academy every fall and spring semester on a space-available basis. A student admitted to the Gateway to College Academy is also admitted to GPC in a special dual enrollment status until the student leaves the Academy for any reason. For more information about the program or admission to the Gateway to College Academy, contact the Academy office.

    HP MESA
    This program is part of a 2004 nationwide initiative launched by MESA USA, a nationally renowned education program, and Hewlett-Packard (HP). MESA, which stands for Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement, is a national program that supports educationally disadvantaged students through the education pipeline to excel in math and science and go on to attain degrees in engineering, science and math fields.

    Housed on the Clarkston Campus, the HP MESA Program is based on the highly successful MESA Community College Program (MCCP) in California. The program includes academic tutoring and advising as well as career counseling and college transfer information for students interested in majoring in mathematics, science, engineering and computer science. Students interested in learning more about this program should contact the MESA staff.

    The Center for International Education (CIE)
    The Center for International Education, located on the Clarkston Campus of Georgia Perimeter College, coordinates college-wide international program activities. Highlights include the following:

    • Study abroad opportunities across the disciplines to multiple countries throughout the world, as offered through the University System of Georgia Study Abroad consortium and GPC
    • Cross-cultural communication workshops for faculty, staff and students
    • Faculty development opportunities through the USG Area Councils and the GPC Internationalizing the College Committee.
    • Maintenance of an online directory of faculty and staff international expertise, including language proficiency
    • International and community outreach
    • Negotiation and implementation of international grants
    • Career advisement and counseling for students interested in adding a global dimension to undergraduate studies

    International Certificate
    This certificate represents a concentration of courses from the core curriculum that prepares GPC students to better understand and take part in an increasingly connected global community and to prepare for transfer to four-year programs in majors with an international focus (International Business, International or Comparative Politics, Foreign Language, Area Studies, etc.)

    Students in any major, who are completing an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree are eligible.  Students are encouraged to begin as early as possible.  There are no extra credit hours required for most majors; the requirements for the certificate can be completed while completing core course requirements.  However, a specific set of core courses must be completed.

    Study Abroad
    Studying abroad allows students to combine academic coursework with an overseas experience, making their education even more globally relevant.  GPC students can find an array of study abroad opportunities through the CIE.  Short and long-term programs are available.  Financial Aid can be applied towards the costs, and scholarships are available for approved programs.  Students should plan at least six to twelve months in advance and work closely with a study abroad advisor throughout the process.

    To be eligible to study abroad, students should have completed any required learning support/ESL coursework and have maintained a 2.0 or better during at least two semesters of courses

    Contact the Center for International Education for additional information about current programs 678-891-3231.

    Joint Enrollment
    Georgia Perimeter College offers qualified high school seniors and juniors at least 16 years of age the opportunity to take college courses for both high school and college credit. HOPE funds provide tuition for students in Georgia public and private high schools who are admitted to attend Georgia public colleges and universities to take courses full-time or part-time after being accepted into the Joint Enrollment Program. After advisement at their high schools, students must submit an application directly to the college's Admissions and Records office for admission to the program.

    Special Note: All grades issued to Joint Enrollment students will be recorded as letter grades based on the college grading system. College instructors will not issue numerical grades.

    Leadership Academy
    Located on the Clarkston Campus, this program is designed to improve post-secondary access, retention and graduation rates among underserved student groups. The Leadership Academy provides academic support, personal support and development, opportunities to earn scholarships and other experiences shown to help support the success of students in college. Students interested in learning more about this program should contact the Leadership Academy staff.

    Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (PSLSAMP)
    The Peach State Alliance is a National Science Foundation funded collaborative effort sustained by several higher education institutions: Georgia Perimeter College, Fort Valley State University, Savannah State University, Southern Polytechnic University, and the University of Georgia. The goal of the alliance is to increase the number of underrepresented minority students statewide who complete undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. For information, please visit the GPC PSLSAMP web site.

    TRIO Programs
    TRIO Programs were established in 1964 to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate, and move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life. While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers, TRIO Programs overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education. TRIO Programs are funded by the Department of Education to enrich the academic and social experience of students in the nation. There are five TRIO Programs: Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Centers, and Ronald E. McNair Scholars. Georgia Perimeter College currently hosts two of the federal TRIO Programs: Student Support Services (SSS) and Upward Bound (UB)

    Student Support Services (SSS)
    Located on the Decatur Campus, the SSS Program helps low-income students to stay in college until they earn their associate degree and then to transfer to a four-year institution to earn their baccalaureate degree.  GPC's SSS Program provides eligible participants with academic advising, counseling, tutoring, transfer counseling, cultural exposure activities, student development workshops, supplemental grant aid and access to technological equipment.

    Upward Bound (UB)
    The Upward Bound program provides academic enrichment to low-income and first-generation college students.  In preparation for post-secondary studies, participants receive intrusive academic advisement, tutoring, counseling, and academic instruction.  The mission of the program is to help participants graduate from high school, enroll in college and complete a baccalaureate degree.  Participants in UB take classes at Georgia Perimeter College on Saturdays during the academic year and also take part in a six-week Summer Institute.

    Georgia Perimeter College hosts Upward Bound on both Clarkston and Newton campuses.  High school students are selected from one of the six target schools: Avondale, Cross Keys, Monroe Area, Newton, Rockdale or Social Circle.  For more information about the program, please contact 678-891-3515 for the Clarkston Campus or 770-278-1458 for the Newton Campus.  You may also visit the GPC Upward Bound website.

    TRIO Programs at Georgia Perimeter College are committed to assisting students as they progress through their educational journey. For more information, please visit the GPC TRIO website.