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Academic Policies and Procedures
General Information
Academic Year
The academic year is divided into two semesters that are each approximately 15 weeks long. Accelerated class terms that last approximately half the semester are offered during the 15-week semester on some campuses. The
academic calendar for 2008-2010
is available on the Web site. Students
who meet published application deadlines may be accepted to enter Georgia
Perimeter College at the beginning of any semester or
session.
Summer Session
The summer session operates on an accelerated calendar. Multiple sessions
may be offered within the semester, and students may register for a combination
of sessions.
Half-Semester Classes
Some departments offer accelerated classes that meet for seven weeks during
the fall and spring semesters. These classes cover the same material that
is covered in the regular full-term 15-week classes in the fall and spring
semesters,
Academic Credit Units
The unit of credit is the semester hour. A semester hour represents one hour of class meeting per week for one semester or its equivalent in other forms of instruction. Two or more hours of laboratory work are considered the equivalent of one semester hour. In the course description section of this catalog, the number of credit hours is listed beside the title of the course.
Classification
Students at Georgia Perimeter College are classified as freshmen or sophomores. A student who has completed fewer than thirty hours of college-level credit is classified as a freshman. Students are classified as sophomores when they have completed 30 hours of academic work.
Catalog Editions
Students will normally satisfy the curricular degree requirements of the Catalog in effect at the time they enter Georgia Perimeter College, although revisions to the requirements may be required to provide effective programs. The term "curricular degree requirements" refers to the courses and grades required to earn the degree. (Changes in academic regulations affect all students, regardless of
Catalog edition. Examples of possible changes include the student discipline policy, procedures for removing incomplete grades, and appeal procedures.)
There are several instances, however, when students will be required to change Catalog editions. This means students will be required to satisfy the curricular degree requirements of the catalog in effect when/if they
- officially change majors or
- re-enter the college after a period of one year in which they have earned no academic credit at Georgia Perimeter College.
Students may choose to satisfy the curricular degree requirements of the current catalog rather than the catalog in effect at the time they entered GPC. If they choose to do this, they must meet all the requirements of the current catalog; the curricular degree requirements of more than one catalog edition cannot be combined. A degree will be awarded only to students who have satisfied all the academic and administrative requirements of Georgia Perimeter College.
Full-time Status
Students who enroll in 12 or more hours are considered full-time students. Students who wish to take more than 18 hours and who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement may apply to the campus Academic Dean for approval for an overload. This approval must be granted before the completion of the registration process.
Class Load/Working Students
Students who find it necessary to work in order to attend college are reminded that carrying a normal academic load of 12 or more hours is a full-time job. Some students may be able to work part-time and still do satisfactory work. It is strongly recommended that no full-time student work more than 20 hours per week. Students who do find it necessary to work more than this should not try to carry a full load of academic work. Those students who need financial assistance should contact the Financial Aid
office to inquire about the various opportunities for financial aid.
Changes to Students' Records
Applicants or currently enrolled students who desire to change their program of study (major), address, phone number, email address, or other information should complete and submit the appropriate Data Change Form available at any campus Office of Enrollment and Registration Services (Registrar's Office).
Academic Placement
Since every entering freshman may not need the same series of courses, the level of academic placement may vary. The College makes every effort to determine the appropriate level of beginning instruction for each student by requiring that students take appropriate placement examinations. After the assessment of strengths and weaknesses in English, reading, and mathematical skills, the student is placed in the proper sequence of courses. Placement examinations are given throughout the semester on all campuses. Students who have submitted an application for admission to the college will be mailed testing invitations indicating when they are eligible to take the examinations.
Non-native speakers of English should take the ESL Placement Tests in English and reading. They may take the mathematics section of the placement examinations during the same testing session as the ESL Placement Test.
Students with physical disabilities who need special testing assistance should call the College-wide Coordinator of Testing to discuss their needs.
Placement Tests
English and Reading
All entering students must take the English and reading sections of the COMPASS placement examination, except for the categories of students listed below:
- Non-native speakers of English
- Students with national SAT I verbal scores of 480 or above or national ACT English score of 20 or above and who do not have a College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) deficiency in English
- Students who have exited Learning Support English and reading at another University System of Georgia institution
- Students who have exempted Learning Support English and reading at another University System of Georgia institution within the last three years
- Students who have passed (grade of "D" or better) a transferable course equivalent to ENGL 1101 at any University System of Georgia institution and who do not have a CPC deficiency in English
- Students who have earned a "C" or better in a transferable course equivalent to English 1101 at a non-University System of Georgia institution and who do not have a CPC deficiency in English
- Students who have begun but not exited Learning Support English or reading at another University System of Georgia institution within the last three years and are not on Learning Support suspension from any USG institution
- Students who attended a SACS-COC accredited DTAE college and passed ENG 191 after January 2002, who met the minimum test score requirement for exemption from Developmental Studies at that college, and who do not have a CPC deficiency in English
- Students who attended a SACS-COC accredited DTAE college and successfully completed Developmental Studies, who met the minimum test score requirements for exit from Developmental Studies English and reading beginning January 2002, and who do not have a CPC deficiency in English
- Students who took a COMPASS or ASSET placement test in English and reading at a SACS-COC accredited DTAE College, who attended that college within the last three years, and have those placement scores recorded on their transcripts
Students who have begun but not exited Learning Support English and reading within the last three years must see an advisor to determine placement.
Students must exit or exempt both Learning Support English and reading to enroll in English 1101 or to satisfy a CPC deficiency in English.
Mathematics
All entering students must take the mathematics portion of the COMPASS examination to determine placement in mathematics, except for the categories of students listed below:
- Students who have exited Learning Support mathematics at another University System of Georgia institution
- Students with national SAT I math score of 440 or above or national ACT math score of 18 or above and who do not have a CPC deficiency in mathematics
- Students who have exempted Learning Support mathematics at another University System of Georgia institution within the last three years
- Students who have passed (grade of "D" or better) a transferable mathematics course at any University System of Georgia institution and who do not have a CPC deficiency in mathematics
- Students who have earned a "C" or better in a transferable mathematics course at a non-University System of Georgia institution and who do not have a CPC deficiency in mathematics
- Students who have begun but not exited Learning Support mathematics at another University System of Georgia institution within the last three years and are not on Learning Support suspension from any USG institution
- Students who attended a SACS-COC accredited DTAE college and passed MAT 190, 191, or 194 after January 2002, who met the minimum test score requirement for exemption from Developmental Studies mathematics at that college, and who do not have a CPC deficiency in mathematics
- Students who attended a SACS-COC accredited DTAE college and successfully completed Developmental Studies mathematics, who met the minimum test score requirements for exit from Developmental Studies mathematics beginning January 2002, and who do not have a CPC deficiency in mathematics;
- Students who took a COMPASS or ASSET placement test in mathematics at a SACS-COC accredited DTAE College, who attended that college within the last three years, and have those placement scores recorded on their transcripts
Students who have begun but not exited Learning Support mathematics within the last three years must see an advisor to determine placement.
Honors Program
The Honors Program is an academic and student services program for students in all programs of study who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and motivation. The program offers intellectually challenging courses taught by dedicated faculty, interaction with other students, and opportunities for recognition and service. The purpose of the program is to encourage students to achieve excellence in all areas of their experience at Georgia Perimeter College. The Honors Program fosters in its students a lifelong commitment to intellectual inquiry through their engagement with the academic community and society at large. The Honors Program seeks to promote the academic and personal growth of outstanding students at Georgia Perimeter College, helping to prepare then for leadership roles in careers of their choice.
As members of this unique learning community, students will engage in a stimulating Honors curriculum focusing on interdisciplinary investigation and independent research, further enhanced by the emphasis on small classes and seminars. Outside the classroom, Honors students benefit from a wide variety of Honors activities and programs.
Eligibility
Students with a demonstrated history of excelling academically are encouraged to participate in the Honors Program. Students who
do not meet the criteria below may become eligible based on the quality of their work done at Georgia Perimeter College. Entering freshmen with a
high school GPA of 3.50 or a composite national SAT score of 1800, a verbal score of 650,
or a math score of 620 are invited to participate in the program. A national ACT
composite score of 26, a national ACT English score of 29, or a national ACT mathematics score of 27 also qualifies a student for the Honors Program.
Others who are eligible include: National Merit semi-finalists, students who have earned an International Baccalaureate diploma, students eligible for Phi Theta Kappa, transfer students who have earned a minimum of nine credit hours with a GPA of 3.50, and students recommended by Georgia Perimeter College faculty and who have been approved by the Honors Program Campus Coordinators.
- Students at GPC who are not eligible to participate in the Honors Program when they first enroll may become eligible by earning a minimum of nine (9) credit hours with a GPA of 3.50.
- Students who transfer to GPC and have met the criteria listed above are eligible to apply to the Honors Program. Transfer students who have earned a minimum of nine (9) credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 are welcome to apply to the Honors Program.
Students in the Honors Program who receive an academic warning will be excluded from the program. Written permission from the Honors Program Coordinator will be necessary for such students to re-enter the program.
To earn an Honors Certificate, the student must have completed at least 45 semester hours of college credit work with a cumulative GPA of 3.30. Of these 45 semester hours, 15 must have been earned in Honors courses in which the student received a grade of "B" or higher.
To earn an Honors Program Diploma (an Associate of Arts Degree or Associate of Science Degree from the Honors program of GPC), students must have completed all the requirements for the program of study with a cumulative GPA of 3.50. Of these required semester hours, 30 must have been earned in Honors courses in which the student received a grade of "B" or higher, and the cumulative GPA for these Honors courses must be 3.30 or higher. As part of their Honors curriculum, students must complete Honors course in the following areas:
2 courses in English
1 course in Fine Arts/Humanities
2 courses in the Social Sciences
1 course in Mathematics, Science or Economics*
Students in some disciplines may also earn Honors Program Distinction in their major or Departmental Honors. This opportunity exists in many areas, including Business, Psychology, History and English. To earn this special recognition. students must fulfill all of the requirements for an Honors Program diploma and must complete as part of their course work a minimum of 9 credit hours in Honors courses that satisfy their major requirements in Area F. The cumulative GPA for these Area F Honors course must be a 3.50 or higher.**
* Students majoring in mathematics or science may fulfill this option by taking two Calculus courses or by completing a two-course science sequence required for earning a degree in that major.
** Two classes (6-8 credit hours) taken abroad may substitute for one Honors course required for the Honors Program diploma or certificate. Only one such substitution will be allowed for the Honors Program Certificate. Two courses required for the Honors Program Diploma may be replaced by four courses taken abroad (12-16 credit hours).
Honors courses are offered in the following subject areas:
| Accounting | English Composition | Music |
| Anthropology | Film | Philosophy |
| Art | Geography | Political Science |
| Astronomy | Geology | Psychology |
| Business | History | Religion |
| Communication | Literature | Sociology |
| Economics | English Composition | Spanish |
| Education | Mathematics | Theatre |
The Honors Program has a number of Articulation Agreements with private and public four-year institutions to provide guaranteed transfer scholarships and admission to their Honors Programs for students who graduate from GPC and have earned an Honors Program Certificate. Information about these Articulation Agreements, as well as other benefits, can be found on the Honors Program Web site or in the campus offices of the Honors Program.
Learning Support
In keeping with the admissions policy of Georgia Perimeter College, students who need a wide variety of Learning Support courses may be admitted to the College. Though many students qualify to enroll in credit courses along with Learning Support courses, others need a broad spectrum of Learning Support instruction and counseling to prepare them before they enroll in regular college-level course work.
Advisement
The Learning Support program provides a sequence of studies and academic support services. Consequently, a major purpose of the program is to assist students with developing their personal goals and appropriate curriculum plans. Special academic advisement and counseling are provided to speed the students' progress toward enrollment in college credit courses.
Registration
During each semester of enrollment, a Learning Support student must first register for all required Learning
Support courses before being allowed to register for other classes. This policy applies to full-time and part-time students.
Prerequisites for College-Level Classes
Students must exit or exempt Learning Support reading as a prerequisite for social, natural, and physical science courses; students must exit or exempt Learning Support English and reading as prerequisites for college-level English. Students must exit or exempt Learning Support mathematics as a prerequisite for physics and chemistry. Any science course with a prerequisite of college-level mathematics would also require exit or exemption from Learning Support mathematics. For specific course prerequisites, check the course descriptions.
20-Hour Rule
Students must be enrolled in required Learning Support courses before being allowed to take college-level course work, and students may not accumulate more than 20
GPA hours of college-level credit before completing all Learning Support requirements.
Credit hours are cumulative within the Regents' System.
Transfer students from non-University System of Georgia colleges may earn up to 20 additional GPA hours of college-level credit beyond college credit transferred to GPC before being required to take Learning Support courses only.
Withdrawal from Learning Support Courses
Students with Learning Support requirements who are enrolled in both Learning Support courses and college-level credit courses may not withdraw from the required Learning Support courses with a "W" unless they also withdraw from all college-level credit courses.
Exit Policy
To exit Learning Support, students must exempt or earn a "C" or better in ENGL
0099, READ 0098, and MATH 0098 and pass all appropriate exit criteria for these
courses. Any Learning Support student who does not earn a "C" or better in a
required Learning Support course must repeat that course.
Attempts
Students may take a maximum of 12 semester hours or three semesters, whichever occurs first, in any Learning Support area.
The only grade that does not count as an attempt in a Learning Support course is
"W."
Learning Support Suspension
Students who do not complete a Learning Support area (English, reading, or mathematics) in three attempts or twelve semester hours, whichever occurs first, will be suspended from Georgia Perimeter College and all University System institutions for three years. Attempts are cumulative within the Regents' System.
Learning Support Suspension Appeal Policy - English and Reading
Prior to suspending a student who has not exited Learning Support English or reading within the three attempts or twelve-semester hour limit, the student may appeal for one additional attempt. Appeal forms are available through the Advising and Counseling Services on each campus. To be eligible for an appeal, the student must
- be individually evaluated and determined to have a reasonable chance of success,
- be in an exit level course, and
- have reached the limit in only one Learning Support area. (This includes English, reading, and mathematics.)
A student who is granted an appeal for a fourth attempt in an area may continue attempting the Learning Support course with grades of "W" as long as the attempts are sequential. If a student sits out for more than one term, the appeal is invalid and the student is suspended for three years. A student who does not successfully exit the area after the additional attempt will be suspended for three years.
A student whose appeal is denied will be suspended for three years.
Learning Support Suspension Appeal Policy - Mathematics
Prior to suspending a student who has not exited Learning Support mathematics within the three attempts or twelve-semester hour limit, the student may appeal for
up to two additional attempts. For each additional attempt, the student must
- be individually evaluated and determined to have a reasonable chance of success,
- be in an exit level course, and
- have reached the limit in only one Learning Support area. (This includes English, reading, and mathematics.)
A student who is granted an appeal for a first or second additional attempt in mathematics may continue attempting MATH 0098 with grades of W as long as the attempts are sequential. If a student sits out for more than one term, the appeal is invalid, and the student is suspended for three years. A student who does not successfully exit the area after the additional attempts will be suspended for three years.
A student whose appeal is denied will be suspended for three years.
Readmission from Learning Support Suspension
Students admitted to GPC after completing a three-year suspension from any University System of Georgia institution will be retested for placement (in any unsatisfied Learning Support area) and placed without a Learning Support requirement if they meet the institutional criteria for exemption. Students who do not exempt on the retest may be admitted to GPC for up to three additional attempts per Learning Support area. Students admitted under this provision are subject to the 20-hour limit on college-level coursework and may not take credit work if they have earned 20 credit hours during their previous period(s) of enrollment.
Students suspended from the institution without completing Learning Support requirements may not be exempted from the Learning Support course requirements through transfer of course credit unless they are eligible for transfer admission under the institution's regular transfer admission policies. (Note: Transfer students must have 30 hours of college-level transfer credit.)
English as a Second Language
Students whose native language is not English must show proficiency in English before being admitted to the College as instructed by the Office of International Student Admissions and Advising. Students who graduated from a high school outside the United States must present a satisfactory TOEFL score. Students with scores that admit them to Georgia Perimeter College will be given the ESL Placement Test before advisement and registration. The score on this test will be used to determine appropriate placement into ENSL or English courses.
Criteria for Determining ESL Placement
All entering students who are non-native speakers of English must take the ESL sections of the COMPASS placement examination and the ESL placement writing sample, except for the categories of students listed below:
- Students with national SAT I verbal scores of 480 or above or national ACT English score of 20 or above and who do not have a College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) deficiency in English
- Students who have passed (grade of "D" or better) a transferable course equivalent to ENGL 1101 at any University System of Georgia institution and who do not have a CPC deficiency in English
- Students who have earned a "C" or better in a transferable course equivalent to English 1101 at a non-University System of Georgia institution and who do not have a CPC deficiency in English
English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
The English as a Second Language Program provides instruction in speaking, listening, reading, and writing for non-native speakers of English. The program is designed to prepare students in the language skills necessary for successful academic work at Georgia Perimeter College. ESL courses are available on the Clarkston
and Dunwoody Campuses. The following is a list of the courses that are offered in the ESL Program at Georgia Perimeter College:
| ENSL 0070 | Integrated Skills I | 4 hours |
| ENSL 0071 | Applied Grammar I | 3 hours |
| ENSL 0072 | Academic Communication Skills I | 3 hours |
| ENSL 0080 | Integrated Skills II | 4 hours |
| ENSL 0081 | Applied Grammar II | 3 hours |
| ENSL 0082 | Academic Communication Skills II | 3 hours |
| ENSL 0090 | Academic English | 6 hours |
| ENSL 0091 | Applied Grammar III | 3 hours |
Prerequisites for College-Level Classes
Students who are enrolled in ENSL courses are restricted by college policy
as to which other courses they may take while taking ENSL courses.
Students should consult this catalog to determine course prerequisites.
Students who take courses that violate the prerequisite requirements can be
withdrawn from those courses at anytime in the semester with loss of their
tuition and credit hours. This may adversely affect their full-time
status. In addition, students are subject to the student disciplinary
procedures as described in the Student Handbook for knowingly violating college
prerequisite policy.
Registration
During each semester of enrollment, ESL students must first register for all required ESL courses before registering for other courses. This policy applies to full-time and part-time students.
20-Hour Rule
Students in the ESL Program may not accumulate more than 20 hours of college-level credit before completing all ESL and Learning Support mathematics requirements. Any ESL student who accumulates 20 hours of college-level credit and has not successfully completed all ESL and Learning Support mathematics requirements is permitted to enroll only in ESL courses or only in Learning Support mathematics courses until the student has completed all requirements.
Transfer
Any ESL student who transfers credit hours to Georgia Perimeter College and who is required to take ESL courses or Learning Support mathematics courses may earn up to 20 additional hours of college-level credit. After earning 20 additional hours at Georgia Perimeter College without meeting ESL Program requirements and Learning Support mathematics requirements, the student may enroll only in ESL courses or in Learning Support mathematics courses.
ESL Withdrawal Policy
Any ESL student who is enrolled only in ESL or Learning Support mathematics courses may withdraw from one or more of these courses. Students with F-1 visas, however, are required to take at least 12 credit hours per semester and must see the International Student Adviser before withdrawing from any course. Any ESL student who is enrolled in both ESL/Learning Support mathematics and college-level courses and withdraws or is withdrawn from any ESL/Learning Support course before mid-term also will be withdrawn from all college-level
courses.
Academic Progress and Readmission Policy
Any ESL student who does
not earn a grade of “C” or higher in an individual ESL course (ENSL 0070, 0071,
0072, 0080, 0081, 0082, 0090, 0091) in a maximum of three attempts in the same
course is suspended from Georgia Perimeter College for one semester and is not
permitted to take any courses. After three attempts and the suspension of one
semester, students will have one additional attempt to pass the course. If such
a student does not pass the required course after the fourth attempt, he or she
will be excluded from the institution and will have one of the two options below
for readmission.
Option I. Readmission with Placement Testing: ESL students excluded from GPC may be readmitted after completing three full years of exclusion. Students must re-test and take any courses determined by that test, even if the courses are lower in level than those they were taking before the exclusion.
Option II. Readmission without Placement Testing: ESL students excluded from GPC may be readmitted without placement testing and without a designated time frame if they have all of the following:
- Transfer credit for English 1101 from a regionally accredited college or university, including SACS-COC (Commission on Colleges) accredited technical institutions.
and- 30 semester hours (or quarter hours equivalent) of acceptable college level credit from a regionally accredited college or university, including SACS-COC accredited technical institutions.
Exit Policy
To exit the ESL Program, students must be exempt from or have earned a "C" or better in all required ENSL courses. Any ESL student who does not earn a "C" or better in a required ENSL course must repeat that course.
Registration Procedure
Registration for classes is held prior to the beginning of each semester or term. Registration dates, times, procedures, and deadlines for fee payment are published on the
college Web site. Students are not officially registered for classes until all fees are paid. Prior to registration, continuing/returning students are encouraged to contact an academic advisor for assistance in selection of coursework that will lead to completion of their chosen degree. After advisement, students will register using the online web registration system. Any student who registers for a course section for which he/she is ineligible will be dropped from the course unless the student has received special permission to take the course.
Course Schedule Changes
Students may make changes in class schedules during registration periods published on the
college Web site. Students who do not need an advisor's assistance may make changes using the online web registration system. Students who need an academic advisor's assistance should see the advisor prior to making any changes.
Attendance
Students are responsible for regular and punctual attendance at all classes,
laboratories, and examinations as scheduled and in accordance with the class
attendance policy of the instructor. Students who do not plan to attend a class
that they register for are responsible to make these changes to their
registration during published registration times. All class attendance
policies are on file with the appropriate department chair and are part of the
course syllabus.
GPC no longer recognizes the practice formerly known as “Instructor-initiated withdrawals,” except for Learning Support, Regents’ Test Preparation, English as a Second Language courses and Drops for Non-Attendance (No Show) as described below:
Drop for Non-Attendance (No Show)
Students who never attend a class and never log-in for a distance learning class by one week past the last drop-add day will be reported for non-attendance, also referred to as a "no show." Students who do not drop a class during the schedule adjustment period (drop/add days) and are reported for non-attendance will be automatically dropped from that course. Neither the course(s) nor any grade(s) will appear on the student's permanent record. Students reported for non-attendance in a required Learning Support, English as a Second Language, or Regents' Test Preparation course will be withdrawn from all collegiate level (1000 or 2000-level) courses in which that student is concurrently enrolled (except HEDS 1011 and activity PE classes) and the grades will be recorded as a "W." Students who fail to attend a science class (BIOL, CHEM, PHYS) with a corresponding co-requisite class will be withdrawn from the co-requisite class with a grade of "W." There will be no reinstatements for students who do not attend class during the "no show" period.
Automatic Withdrawals
- Learning Support Courses
- Regents' Test Preparation Courses
- English as a Second Language Courses
- Science co-requisites (withdrawal from either lecture or lab will necessitate automatic withdrawal from the co-requisite in BIOL, CHEM, PHYS.)
Students enrolled in both required Learning Support courses (those numbered below 1000), English as a Second Language courses (those beginning with ENSL prefix), or Regents’ Test Preparation courses (beginning with a RGTR or RGTE prefix) AND collegiate level (1000 or 2000-level) courses must adhere to published attendance policies for Learning Support, English as a Second Language, and Regents’ Test Preparation courses in order to remain enrolled in their collegiate level courses. Any student who violates the published attendance policy of a required Learning Support course in English, Reading, English as a Second Language or Regents’ Test Preparation course before midterm will be automatically withdrawn with a grade of “W” from that course, along with all collegiate level (1000 or 2000-level) courses in which that student is concurrently enrolled.
Student Initiated Withdrawals
Georgia Perimeter College encourages students to complete all courses for which they enroll in order to achieve their educational goals. If a student is contemplating withdrawal from one or all courses in a given semester, the first action should always be to talk to a faculty member, department head, or advisor. Alternative solutions may be found in order to avoid the unfortunate decision to withdraw.
If all other options have been exhausted, withdrawal is available as a last resort. Two types of withdrawal processes are described below. The first is for students who are withdrawing from individual courses. The second is for students who are withdrawing from the college as a whole. Students who reduce their course load may be jeopardizing their financial aid status and must always consult with the Financial Aid office before making any withdrawal decisions. Due to the federal withdrawal calculation, a student could owe money to the Department of Education, Georgia Perimeter College, or to a lending agency/guarantor. Students enrolled in required Learning Support, (courses numbered below 1000), English as a Second Language (those beginning with ENSL prefix), or Regents’ Test Preparation courses (beginning with a RGTR or RGTE prefix) have additional considerations described below that may be affected by withdrawal decisions.
Students Attending on Student Visas
A student attending GPC on an F-1 (student)
Visa/Status may not withdraw from any class unless (a) the student will still
remain registered full-time (12 credit hours) for courses following the
withdrawal, or (b) the studetn receives permission from an advisor in the
International Student Admissions and Advising office.
Course Withdrawals
The responsibility for withdrawal from courses rests with the student. A withdrawal form cannot be processed if a student has an outstanding balance due to the college. Instructors will not withdraw students except as outlined under the Automatic Withdrawal section of the policy. Students who stop attending a course without formally withdrawing are subject to their instructors’ published attendance policies as stated in the course syllabus. In most cases, this will result in receiving an “F” for the course. In order to avoid grade reductions or failures, students must follow the procedures specified below:
- Consult the official Academic Calendar for the current year to determine whether the withdrawal date is before or after the midpoint of the course.
- Obtain a Withdrawal Form from the campus Enrollment and Registration Services office or download from the Student Forms page of the GPC Web site.
- Confer with the course instructor, department chair or a college advisor to determine if withdrawal can be avoided; this individual should sign the Withdrawal Form if withdrawal is found to be the only solution.
- Obtain a signature from the Financial Aid office if required.
- Submit Withdrawal Form with all required signatures to the Enrollment & Registration Services office.
Prior to midpoint of course
- Students who officially withdraw from collegiate level (1000 or 2000-level) courses receive a grade of "W."
- Students taking only Learning Support, English as a Second Language, and Regents’ Test Preparation courses who officially withdraw receive a grade of "W."
- Students taking a mixture of both required Learning Support, English as a Second Language, and Regents’ Test Preparation courses and collegiate-level courses will not be allowed to withdraw from any Learning Support, English as a Second Language, and Regents’ Test Preparation course unless they also withdraw from all collegiate level courses.
After midpoint of course
Students who withdraw after the mid-point have until 7 days prior to the
end of the semester to submit a Withdrawal Form for a grade of "WF."
During the last 7 days, no withdrawal forms will be accepted for processing.
There are circumstances whereby a student can petition for a hardship
withdrawal. See section on Hardship Withdrawals in this catalog.
Withdrawal from All Courses
Students withdrawing from all courses for which they
are registered are considered to be withdrawn from the college for that semester.
Students' records remain active for three consecutive semesters until their
status is considered "inactive." Students
considering withdrawing from the college should confer with an advisor. If a decision to withdraw is made, a Withdrawal Form must
be completed. Course withdrawal policies are
also applicable to college withdrawals.
Military Withdrawals
Students who are called to active military duty
during a term may be withdrawn from all courses with a 100% refund.
Students in this situation must submit a copy of their orders indicating
activation along with the Withdrawal Form.
Hardship Withdrawals
- Hardship Withdrawals are rare and will only be granted in extraordinary circumstances, in which the student is unable to complete his/her courses because of incapacity, tragic events, or some other grave matter. Hardship Withdrawals are not intended to allow a student to avoid a failing grade.
- A hardship withdrawal may be requested for all courses not yet completed in which the student is enrolled. In cases where the student has a medical condition that will require withdrawal from one or more but not all courses, an exception may be requested provided that the student submits a letter of support from an attending physician. For example, a pregnant student may not be able to continue a science lab, or a student may not be able to complete a PE as a result of a broken limb, etc.
- A request for hardship consideration must be made to the campus Dean of Academic Services, or designee, as soon as practicable after the hardship occurs, but no later than the third week of the following semester. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances.
- All requests for hardship consideration must be in writing, and include appropriate documentation of the hardship circumstance from a verifiable source, as well as a completed withdrawal form and an application for hardship withdrawal.
- The Dean of Academic Services in consultation with the department chair(s) and/or faculty member(s) teaching the course(s) for which the hardship withdrawal is being requested must approve all hardship withdrawals. Hardship withdrawals also require review by Financial Aid to determine if any repayment of funds may be required.
- If the hardship withdrawal is approved, the student will receive a grade of "W" in the relevant course(s) for the term requested.
- The decision on a hardship withdrawal by the campus Dean of Academic Services will be communicated to the student, faculty member(s), department chair, and the Office of Enrollment and Registration Services.
- The official date of withdrawal will be the last date the student attended class.
- If the campus Dean of Academic Services does not approve the hardship withdrawal, the student may appeal to the Vice President of Educational Affairs, whose decision is final.
Standards for Academic Honesty
In accordance with policies and procedures regarding Academic Honesty, cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable in attempting to fulfill academic assignments (see Student Handbook for definitions and examples, procedures followed as a consequence of cheating or plagiarism, and possible disciplinary actions). The college has established this policy to ensure due process in such cases.
State and federal laws involving computer fraud, software piracy, etc., as well as institutional policy, govern the use of the college's computer systems. (See the Student Handbook for a full explanation of these standards.) Special regulations are listed in the Student Handbook as these relate to usage of the Internet other than in support of research and educational objectives.