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    What is Learning Support?

    What are the Courses in Learning Support?

    Do I really have to take these courses?

    What happens if I withdraw from my Learning Support class?

    How do I exit out of Learning Support?

    What is the writing sample?

    When do I take the exit exam?

    What if I don't pass the exit exam?

    Do the grades in these courses affect my grade point average?

    How many times can I take these courses?

    How many courses do I have to take?

    How do I know where I place?

    What is HEDS 1011? Do I have to take it?
     
     
     

    What is Learning Support?

    In keeping with the admissions policy of the University System of Georgia and 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. 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.


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    What are the Courses in Learning Support?

    There are three areas of Learning Support - English, Reading, and Mathematics.
    English and Reading have two courses; Math offers three courses but only two of the three courses are taken.  The courses are:

    ENGLISH

    ENGL 0098 – BASIC COMPOSITION (4credits)
    Prerequisite: Placement by examination.
    This course is an introductory study of the essay, emphasizing idea generation, paragraph development, and effective sentence construction. The course includes a one-hour-per-week laboratory component for more individualized instruction.
     

    ENGL 0099 – PRE-COLLEGE COMPOSITION (4credits)
    Prerequisite: ENGL 0098 with a grade of C or better or appropriate placement
    This is a course in the writing of essays, with particular attention given to expanding the paragraph into the essay, ordering ideas, and using transitional devices. Emphasis is given to grammar and usage within the composition. This course includes a one-hour-per-week laboratory component for more individualized instruction.

     


    READING

    READ 0097 – BASIC READING SKILLS (4credits)
    Prerequisite: Placement by examination
    This course is designed to meet the needs of students who have weaknesses in knowledge acquisition, comprehension strategies, and application skills in college-level print materials. This course emphasizes vocabulary strategies, communication skills, and comprehension competencies using expository and narrative writing.

    READ 0098 – ADVANCED READING SKILLS     (4 credits)
    Prerequisite: READ 0097 with a C or better or appropriate placement
    This course emphasizes inferential, interpretive, and critical reading comprehension strategies. It also focuses on analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of text as well as efficient reading, study, and test-taking skills. Lecture and group participation methods are used in this course.
     

    MATHEMATICS

    The sequence of Learning Support mathematics courses effective fall 2006 is one of the following:

    MATH 0096 MATH 0098
                         or
    MATH 0097 MATH 0098

    MATH 0096 - ESSENTIAL ALGEBRA     (6 credits)
    Prerequisite:  Placement by examination
    Includes the basic skills students need from prealgebra as well as the entire content of Beginning Algebra - Math 0097.

    MATH 0097 – BEGINNING ALGEBRA (4 credits)
    Prerequisite: Placement by examination
    This course is designed to help students learn the basic algebra necessary for college-level mathematics. Topics include real-number concepts, selected geometry concepts, linear equations and inequalities in one variable, problem solving involving linear or factorable quadratic equations as models, operations on polynomials, factoring polynomials, integral exponents, and graphing linear equations in two variables. Additional topics include the study of rational expressions and the use of the scientific calculator.

    MATH 0098 – INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA (4credits)
    Prerequisite: MATH 0097 with a C or better or appropriate placement
    This course is designed to prepare students for college-level mathematics. Topics include graphing lines and parabolas; function notation; integar and rational exponents; solving absolute value and quadratic equations and inequalities; solving radical equations; problem solving involving linear equations, quadratic equations, and systems of equations in two variables; and writing equations of lines. Additional topics include operations with radicals and complex numbers, geometric concepts, and calculator usage.
     

    Do I really have to take these courses?

    Students who place into Learning Support based on the scores from the Placement Test are required by the Board of Regents to take the required courses and exit from the program. LS courses have priority over CPC or collegiate courses. Students must register for all LS courses before considering selected collegiate courses.
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    What happens if I withdraw from my Learning Support class?

    LS students who are also taking college-level courses will be withdrawn from their college-level courses (regardless of  their grades and attendance) if they withdraw or are withdrawn from LS course before mid-semester. Students taking only LS courses who officially withdraw by the mid-point of the course will receive a 'W.'
    LS students who withdraw themselves after the mid-point will receive a 'WF' (counted as an attempt), but they are allowed to remain in collegiate courses. An LS student who exceeds the absence policy for a class after the mid-point will receive an 'F' for the course.
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    How do I exit out of Learning Support?

    To exit a Learning Support area, students must complete the exit level Learning Support course in that area ( ENGL 0099, READ 0098, MATH 0098) with a "C" average or better and attain a passing score on the COMPASS exit exam. Passing scores for the COMPASS exam are as follows:

    SUBJECT       COMPASS

    English                    64 *

    Reading                  78

    Math                      37

        *An exit writing sample is also required for Learning Support English.
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    What is the writing sample?

    Students in Learning Support English are required to take and pass a writing sample at the end of the exit level English course to be eligible to take the exit CPE/COMPASS exam. The writing sample is an in-class writing assignment. Students will have the opportunity to submit two samples. The writing sample is read by various English instructors who give a pass or fail rating. The paper must be passed by two out of three readers. If the first paper does not pass the second paper will be read.
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    When do I take the exit exam?

    The exit exam is taken at the end of the term once a student has completed the exit level course in an area with a "C" or better.
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    What if I don't pass the exit exam?

    Students who do not take or pass their required exit examination(s) must repeat the course.

    EXIT EXAM RE-TESTING POLICY:
     

    English or Reading

    A student who has an extenuating circumstance that can be documented may contact the Humanities Department Chair to request a retest of the Compass exit test in English or Reading.

    Mathematics

    Any Learning Support mathematics student who fails the COMPASS exit exam may retake it once each term they register for and earn an A, B, or C in MATH 0098.  The student must request a retake from the Mathematics Department Chair on the campus on which the exit test was taken within 3 business days of the first failed test. The Department Chair will coordinate the retest with the student and the Testing Center.  If arrangements to retest are not made within 3 business days, then the option to retest is forfeited.   (Effective Summer 2005) 


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    Do the grades in these courses affect my grade point average?

    Grades in Learning Support are A, B, C, IP, F, W and WF. These grades do not affect your grade point average for graduation purposes but they may affect any financial aid or Hope Scholarship you receive. Check with the Financial Aid office to make sure. 
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    How many times can I take Learning Support courses?

    Three (3) attempts are allowed in each Learning Support discipline (English, Reading, Math).  The exception is that only two (2) attempts are allowed in MATH 0096.  An appeal for fourth attempt in English and Reading and an appeal for a fourth or fifth attempt in Math may be possible but is not guaranteed.

    Appeal forms are available through the Advising and Counseling Services office on each campus. For the additional attempt, the student must

    ·          be individually evaluated and determined to have a reasonable chance of success,

    ·          be in an exit level course, or in Math 0096 and passed on the 2nd attempt, and

    ·          have reached the limit in only one learning support area. (This includes English, Reading, and Mathematics.)

     English and Reading

    If granted the 4th additional attempt, the student may enroll in only the Learning Support course involved. Exception: Students on their fourth attempt in English or Reading may register for two activity PE classes or HEDS 1011 in order to have 6 hours for financial aid purposes. Note that students on their fourth attempt may not register for the required LS class in the first half semester along with other classes in the second half semester to make a full class load.

     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 3 years. (Effective 200405) A student who does not successfully exit the area after the additional attempt will be suspended for three years.

    A student whose appeal for the fourth attempt is denied will be suspended for three years. 

    Mathematics

    During the semester of the first additional attempt, the student may enroll in courses other than Learning Support (subject to the 20-hour limit on the number of credit hours a student may earn before exiting Learning Support). If granted the appeal for the second additional attempt in mathematics, the student may enroll in only MATH 0098. Exception: Students on their fifth attempt in mathematics may register for two activity PE classes or HEDS 1011 in order to have 6 hours for financial aid purposes. Note that students on their fifth attempt may not register for the required LS class in the first half semester along with other classes in the second half semester to make a full class load.

     A student who is granted an appeal for a fourth or fifth 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 3 years. (Effective 200405) A student who does not successfully exit the area after the second additional attempt (the fifth attempt) will be suspended from all Regents colleges in Georgia for three years.

    A student whose appeal for the fourth attempt or for the fifth attempt is denied will be suspended for three years.

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    How many Learning Support courses do I have to take?

    The number of courses you are required to take will depend on what level you place in. There are two courses in each area, English, Reading and Math. Check your placement scores using the Learning Support placement chart. http://www.gpc.edu/~acadaff/Schedules/placement.php3
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    How do I know where I place?

    You are placed according to your scores on the COMPASS placement exam. Check your placement scores using the Learning Support placement chart.
    http://www.gpc.edu/~acadaff/Schedules/placement.php3
     

    What is HEDS 1011? Do I have to take it?

    HEDS 1011 - Higher Education Seminar - Guide to College Success

    This course is designed to promote student success in college. It introduces students to the various opportunities available at the College, examines the purpose and value of higher education, and assists students in personal and social development and in acquiring the necessary skills for academic success.

    The course is required for students who place into two Learning Support courses at the lowest level (READ 0097, ENGL 0098, MATH 0097, or MATH 0096).

    HEDS 1011 homepage

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