Academic Policies and Procedures

College Calendar

The College operates on a fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30 of the following year. The instructional calendar is based on the semester system and contains three semesters in an academic year. Academic Year 2012 dates follow the general dates below:

Fall Semester
August 20, 2012 to December 12, 2012
Spring Semester
January 7, 2013 to April 30, 2013
Summer Semester
May 20, 2013 to July 31, 2013


Admissions and Financial Aid Deadline calendars can be found on the College's website in the Student Affairs section.

The current year calendar can be found in the General Information section.

Calendar, holidays and closure dates are posted on the College website. Students are admitted each semester based upon space availability or as announced.

Instruction is balanced between classroom activities and laboratory experiences and is relevant to the specific occupation in which the student is training. State standards for curricula and program structure are implemented in all credit programs.

Credit programs are offered in four primary areas:

Aerospace, Trade & Industry

Business & Computer Technologies

Health Sciences

Public Safety & Professional Services


Associate Degree Programs

An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree may be earned at CGTC in specified credit programs, as approved by the Technical College System of Georgia. The AAS degree includes a sequence of courses in the fundamental and specific occupational requirements which prepare the student for an advanced degree in his/her program choice. The AAS degree programs offer the academic, technical and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The associate degree programs emphasize theory and practical application. Electives pertaining to the student's chosen field of interest are also available.

Diploma Programs

CGTC offers diploma programs on a credit-hour basis on both day and evening schedules. These programs vary in length from 37 to 59 credit hours. These programs provide the theory, functions, and practical application of skills needed for entry-level employment and/or re-training to update marketable skills. Diplomas are awarded to those who successfully complete the program requirements.

Technical Certificate Programs

CGTC offers Technical Certificates of Credit (TCC). A technical certificate is a coherent grouping of courses taken from any state approved postsecondary standard curriculum. The technical certificate program must be at least 9 semester credit hours in length and may not exceed 39 semester credit hours.

Georgia Virtual Technical Connection

The Georgia Virtual Technical Connection (GVTC) is made up of contributing postsecondary technical colleges. The GVTC members work together to create courses and programs using the Internet as a delivery medium. The “hands-on” portion of the instruction (when required) is made possible through several local and regional centers located throughout the State of Georgia and the existence of a standardized curriculum among the technical colleges.

Central Georgia Technical College Online Courses

Central Georgia Technical College offers a wide range of online courses. These courses use the Internet to deliver online learning that is independent of time and location. For more information on distance education, visit our web site at www.centralgatech.edu/disted. This section includes registration procedures, specific course information, and a comprehensive class schedule.

Adult Education

This program delivers educational services responsive to the individual needs of students who are undereducated. It is designed to enable adult learners to acquire the necessary basic skills to compete successfully in today’s workplace, strengthen family foundations, and exercise full citizenship. English literacy classes are also available for those citizens who are not proficient in speaking and/or writing English.

General Education Core

General Education Core courses provide the academic foundation that supports an intensive program of specialized technical education at the certificate, diploma, and associate degree levels. They are planned to broaden and enrich the student's general education in preparation for a more enlightened and effective participation in society.

While the emphasis in technical education is on specialized occupational offerings, each Associate Degree program includes at least one General Education Core course from each of the areas of Language Arts/Communications, Social Sciences/Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences/Mathematics, and Humanities/Fine Arts. These courses are listed below.

Associate Degree General Education Core Courses

Area I - Language Arts/Communications

ENGL 1101 Composition and Rhetoric 3
ENGL 1102 Literature and Composition 3
ENGL 1105 Technical Communications 3
SPCH 1101 Public Speaking 3

Area II - Social/Behavioral Sciences

ECON 1101 Principles of Economics 3
HIST 2111 U.S. History I 3
PSYC 1101 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSYC 2250 Abnormal Psychology 3
SOCI 1101 Introduction to Sociology 3

Area III - Natural Sciences/Mathematics

BIOL 1111 Biology I 3
BIOL 1111L Biology Lab I 1
BIOL 1112 Biology II 3
BIOL 1112L Biology Lab II 1
BIOL 2113 Anatomy and Physiology I 3
BIOL 2113L Anatomy and Physiology Lab I 1
BIOL 2114 Anatomy and Physiology II 3
BIOL 2114L Anatomy and Physiology Lab II 1
BIOL 2117 Introductory Microbiology 3
BIOL 2117L Introductory Microbiology Lab 1
CHEM 1211 Chemistry I
3
CHEM 1211L Chemistry Lab I
1
CHEM 1212 Chemistry II
3
CHEM 1212L Chemistry Lab II
1
MATH 1100 Quantitative Skills and Reasoning
3
MATH 1101 Mathematical Modeling
3
MATH 1111 College Algebra
3
MATH 1113 Pre-Calculus
3
MATH 1127 Introduction to Statistics
3
PHYS 1110 Conceptual Physics
3
PHYS 1110L Conceptual Physics Lab 1

Area IV - Humanities/Fine Arts

ARTS 1101 Arts Appreciation 3
ENGL 2130 American Literature 3
HUMN 1101 Introduction to Humanities 3
MUSC 1101 Music Appreciation 3

 

Each diploma program also includes a set of General Education Core courses providing background in mathematics, communications, and interpersonal skills.

Mathematics

MATH 1011 Business Math 3
MATH 1012 General Mathematics 3
MATH 1013 Algebraic Concepts 3
MATH 1015 Geometry and Trigonometry 3

Communications

ENGL 1010 Fundamentals of English I 3
ENGL 1012 Fundamentals of English II 3

Interpersonal Skills

EMPL 1000 Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development 2
PSYC 1010 Basic Psychology 3

Academic Success Center and Tutorial Services

Tutoring and other academic support services are provided for students at no charge in the Academic Success Center (ASC) on the Macon and the Milledgeville campuses. Both faculty tutors and peer tutors are available for Math, English, Reading, Health Core, Computer, and various other courses. In addition to individual tutoring, study groups may be available.

The ASC also offers study skills workshops on such topics as Test Taking Skills, Reading Comprehension, and Note Taking. The tutoring staff also helps students with other academic difficulties such as test anxiety and time management.

Online course tutoring is available. In addition to face-to-face individual and group tutoring, an online tutoring service, Smarthinking® is also available for students.

ASC contact information:
Macon Campus (478) 757-3674
Milledgeville Campus (478) 445-2343

Or visit the ASC website: www.centralqatech.edu/success.

Learning Support Program

The Learning Support program provides educational opportunities to students that will enable them to achieve performance levels in English, math, and/or reading required to succeed in occupational/technical programs. To be enrolled in the Learning Support courses, students must be working toward the completion of a certificate, diploma, or degree program at CGTC. The Learning Support program serves any student who has declared a program of study and whose basic academic skills are below the minimum level recommended to complete the selected program successfully.

Each program of study has established a description of entry-level reading, language, and math competencies. The major purpose of Learning Support is to provide learning experiences in reading, language, and math that will aid the student in mastering the skills needed for the chosen program of study. Assignment to Learning Support courses is based on the results of standardized tests and the competencies needed for the prospective program of study. The courses are listed below.

Learning Support Courses

ENGL 0090 Learning Support English 3
ENGL 0097 English II 3
ENGL 0098 English III 3
MATH 0090 Learning Support Math 3
MATH 0097 Math II 3
MATH 0098 Elementary Algebra 3
MATH 0099 Intermediate Algebra 3
READ 0090 Learning Support Reading 3
READ 0097 Reading II 3
READ 0098 Reading III 3

 

Exit Testing for Learning Support

In accordance with Technical College System of Georgia State Standards, all students must achieve a required minimum score on the COMPASS or other approved placement test before being allowed entry into associate degree level coursework in English or Math. Students in MATH 0099, ENGL 0098, and READ 0098 who have met course requirements but who do not achieve a required minimum score on the COMPASS exit test during their first-semester attempt(s) are issued a grade of IP and must:

A. Have documented proof of remediation through tutoring from the CGTC Academic Success Center or other college tutoring center and receive permission for retesting

or

B. Repeat the course.

If either requirement is met, the student is allowed subsequent attempts to retest during the next scheduled COMPASS testing the following semester(s) to meet the minimum score required for associate level coursework. Students failing to meet the required minimum COMPASS score requirement may appeal utilizing the Student Recourse Procedure outlined in the Student Handbook section of the CGTC catalog.

Elective Courses

Elective courses are available to provide the student with extended opportunities to learn skills and competencies beyond the specific occupational curriculum. Additional electives may be specified in the occupational curriculum as required electives. These courses serve as support to the established curriculum and allow students to enhance the learning experiences relevant to their occupational/technical programs.

Grading System

Final course grades are entered by instructional faculty into BANNER, the Student Management Information System. The Registrar's Office processes the grades and academic standing. Students are responsible for viewing their grades, academic history, and academic standing online through BannerWeb using their user ID and personal identification number (PIN). The following grading system is used:

Grade Points Earned

A (90-100) Excellent 4
B (80-89) Good 3
C (70-79) Satisfactory 2
D (60-69) Poor 1
F (0-59) Failing 0

I Incomplete
IP In Progress
W Withdrew up to midterm
AU Audit

AC Articulated Credit
EX Credit by Course Competency Exemption Examination
TR Transfer Credit

I (Incomplete) - This grade may be given to a student that has satisfactorily completed a substantial portion of the coursework, but for non-academic reasons beyond the student's control, has not been able to complete all of the requirements of the course. The student must have instructor approval for an "I" grade to be issued. No credit is given and no grade points are calculated. An Incomplete must be removed within the first ten school days of the next semester, or a grade of "F" will be issued. If an "I" is received in a prerequisite course, as student may not register for advanced courses until the Incomplete is removed and a satisfactory grade has been obtained.

IP (In Progress) - In individualized credit-level courses, this grade indicates that a student is taking a course which requires coursework beyond the present semester. When students are issued an IP, no credit is given, and no grade points are calculated. There is a limit of two attempts to complete an IP course (i.e. If a student earns an IP in a course, he/she will need to reregister for the course and will have one additional semester to finish the incomplete assignments so that a grade will be calculated.) Based on program requirements, students may be able to receive only one IP grade per semester.

W (Withdrew) - This grade signifies that a student withdrew up to midterm. There is no academic GPA penalty, but it may affect academic standing.

AU (Audit) - Students who request and are approved to audit a course will receive no credit or financial aid.

EX (Exemption Exam) - Exemption credit is awarded based on course competency testing. Academic credit is awarded but not calculated in the GPA.

TR (Transfer Credit) - Indicates that the specific course was taken at an accredited postsecondary institution. An official transcript from that institution must be provided. Academic credit is awarded but not calculated into the GPA.

F (Failing) – A student who discontinues attending a course after final day for withdraw will be assigned a grade of F in the course.

Academic Appeal Policy

A student may appeal a final grade or other academic decision in accordance with the policy outlined below. If the student is appealing a final course grade, it is recommended that a student initially discuss their final course grade with the instructor who assigned the grade. If no solution to the concern is reached, a student has the right to file a written request for review. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the written request for review must be filed within twenty (20) business days from the date the student learned or reasonably should have learned of the grade or other action complained of.

Appeal Procedures

Appeals should be addressed in writing, using the Request for Appeal Form, available through the Academic Affairs Office. The appeal will be forwarded to the administrator who has the authority to resolve the matter. The administrator will resolve the complaint within ten (10) business days, notify the student of the decision in writing, and provide a copy of the record to the appropriate Academic Affairs office.

If the student is not satisfied with the resolution, the student may appeal the adjudication to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The appeal must be in writing and be filed within five (5) business days from the time the student has been notified of the earlier appeal decision. The written statement should clearly outline the student's concerns with the appeal decision and make a supported case for the requested resolution. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will report in writing to the student his or her decision within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the appeal. The decision of the Vice President is final.

NOTE: Communication of the results of the appeal will be provided to the student through their CGTC assigned and provided email address. Date requirements as outlined in this policy will be based on the date the written appeal is submitted by the student and the emailed decision is sent to the student by the appeal reviewing administrator.

Students in programs or courses directed by prerequisite courses may continue the next course in the sequence at their own risk. If a failing grade is not changed, the student must retake the class, if needed for completion of their program of study and must withdraw from the course requiring the pre-requisite. Tuition and/or fee refunds will be given only within the guidelines governing refunds.

Academic Misconduct

Central Georgia Technical College promotes and expects all members of the college community to conduct themselves professionally and with honesty and integrity. The college considers academic integrity an integral part of the learning environment. Any infraction of this policy is detrimental to the students' education and the integrity of the college. Cases of academic misconduct that are strictly forbidden include:

  • Plagiarizing any assignment or part of an assignment. Plagiarizing means to use someone else’s ideas or words as one’s own, without giving appropriate credit using quotation marks, if necessary, and citing the source(s).

  • Using unauthorized notes or equipment (programmable calculator, PDA, cell phone, etc.) during an examination.

  • Stealing an examination or using a stolen examination for any purpose.

  • Allowing another student to have access to your work, thereby enabling that student to represent the work as his/her own.

  • Having someone else take a quiz or exam in one’s place, taking an exam for someone else, assisting someone in any way during a quiz or exam, or using any unauthorized electronic device or other unauthorized method of support during a quiz or exam.

  • Falsifying or fabricating information such as data for a lab report.

  • Falsifying a patient’s medical record, a student’s clinical record, or any other student record, including a record of attendance.

  • Using or copying another person’s electronic file or copying any electronic information or computer program.

  • Other forms of cheating or misconduct are forbidden, even if not listed here specifically.

Students caught in actions of academic misconduct will, on the first offense, be given a grade of zero (0) on the exam or assignment. On the second offense students will be dismissed from class and assigned a grade of “F” for the course. Repeated offenses should be referred to the appropriate administrator for further disciplinary action, which may include suspension from the college

Academic Status

A Grade Point Average (GPA) will be calculated at the end of each semester based on the letter grades A, B, C, D, or F, and the credit hours carried. Grade point averages will be rounded to the nearest hundredth in determining the semester and the cumulative GPA. The following will establish status:

Good Standing

A semester-based grade point average of 2.00 or higher and satisfactory completion of at least 67% of course work attempted for the semester is required for satisfactory academic progress. Any student who is receiving financial aid must maintain satisfactory progress to retain eligibility. For more information on satisfactory academic progress and financial aid eligibility, please refer to the financial aid section of the catalog.

Academic Warning

A student who earns a semester-based grade point average below a 2.00 or fails to successfully complete at least 67% of the course work attempted for the semester will be placed on academic warning the next semester of enrollment.

Academic Probation

A student who earns a semester-based grade point average below a 2.00 or fails to successfully complete at least 67% of the course work attempted while enrolled on academic warning will be placed on academic probation for the next semester of enrollment and must appeal to the Office of Student Affairs to regain financial aid eligibility.

Academic Suspension

A student who earns a semester-based grade point average below a 2.00 or fails to successfully complete at least 67% of the course work attempted for the semester while enrolled on academic probation will be suspended for one semester and is no longer eligible to receive financial aid. A student who is academically suspended twice will be referred for academic and career counseling and may not be allowed to re-enter that program. Upon readmission, a student will be placed on academic probation for their next semester enrolled. Students placed on academic suspension have the right to appeal the suspension to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and to request reinstatement of eligibility.

Academic Reinstatement

To be reinstated, a student must submit a readmission application at the beginning of any term following the dismissal or suspension period. Students reapplying for admission after their program curriculum has changed will normally be required to meet the requirements of the new curriculum.

NOTE: Students enrolled in Health Technology programs should refer to the specific academic requirements for the Health Technology programs in the Health Technology section of the CGTC Catalog.

President's List

Students who earn a semester-based grade point average of 3.50 or higher with an earned course load of at least 12 credit hours for the semester will earn recognition on the President’s List for the semester.

Grade Point Average Computation

Grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted. To determine the total grade point for a specific course, multiply the grade value by the number of credit hours for the course. For example, if you take a three credit hour course and receive a grade of “A”, your total grade points would be 12 (3 credit hours x 4 grade points = 12).

To figure your GPA for specific courses total the number of grade points for each course and then divide by the total number of credit hours.

GRADE POINTS

A = 4 grade points
B = 3 grade points
C = 2 grade points
D = 1 grade points
F = 0 grade points

EXAMPLE:

Course
Grade
Grade Points
Credit Hours
Total Grade Points
ENGL 1010
B
3
x
3
x
9
MATH 1012
C
2
x
3
x
6
COMP 1000
A
4
x
3
x
12
Total Credits
9
Total Grade Points Earned
27

To find the Grade Point Average: 27 (total grade points earned) is divided by 9 (total number of credit hours) = 3.00 GPA.

Semester-Based Grade Point Average

The semester-based grade point average is the average of all grades earned in a single semester.

Cumulative Grade Point Average

The cumulative grade point average is the average of all grades earned in credit hour courses at Central Georgia Technical College. (Learning Support courses are not included in this calculation as they are for institutional credit only.) This average is calculated by dividing the number of hours in all courses attempted in which a grade of A, B, C, D, or F has been received into the number of grade points earned. The cumulative grade point average will be recorded on the student’s permanent record.

Graduation Grade Point Average

The Graduation Grade Point Average is calculated only on those courses required for graduation. When a course is taken more than once, the final grade will be used in calculating the grade point average for graduation. A 2.00 grade point average is required for graduation.

Graduation Information

To be eligible to graduate with a certificate, diploma, or degree from Central Georgia Technical College, a student must satisfactorily complete the program of study in which he/she is enrolled with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Programmatic courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. Unless otherwise stated, a grade of D is acceptable for elective courses. All students must have completed a high school diploma or GED certificate before graduating from Central Georgia Technical College.

A student's academic record will be evaluated by their advisor and the Registrar for any and all credentials earned to determine if graduation requirements have been met. If a student's enrollment has not been continuous since initial matriculation and more than one academic term has passed since their last enrollment and matriculation to the college, his/her record will be evaluated for graduation based on the catalog in effect at the time of readmission. If extenuating circumstances exist, students can appeal a graduation request decision through the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

It is the student's responsibility to submit an application for a degree, diploma, or technical certificate using the online Graduation Request Form upon completion of his/her instructional program. Degrees, diplomas, and certificates are not issued automatically. The Graduation Request Form may be found by logging into the Student Secure Area of the college's web site.

A graduation fee is required at the time of submission of the graduation petition. This fee is non-refundable.

Grade Change

The official grade change period is the first ten school days of the next semester following when the course grade in question was awarded. If a student has a course grade in question, they should see the appropriate course instructor or program chair/department head. If a grade change is warranted, the course instructor or program chair/department head will submit the official Grade Change Form to the Registrar's Office within the first ten days of the next semester.

Repeating a Course

To meet academic requirements, a student may be required to repeat a course. A student who unsuccessfully attempts a course two times may not be allowed to repeat the course for a period of one academic year (three semesters).

A student has two opportunities to pass any one level of Learning Support. If the student does not satisfactorily complete the course in two semesters, the student is referred to the Academic Success Center.

With academic advisor approval, students may repeat a course one time to improve their background in a subject area, raise their GPA for graduation, or ensure transferability of courses completed. All grades earned are included in the calculation of the GPA. A grade of “C” is recognized by most institutions as transferable.

Program Change

Students wishing to change their major must submit a Request for Program Change form which is available in the Admissions/Student Affairs Office. Students are only allowed one program change per semester; therefore the student should consult with a program advisor and financial aid to ensure they are making the best possible choice. Courses previously satisfactorily completed, which are applicable to the new major will be utilized. A change of major may impact the length of time required to meet program requirements. Students must meet the academic criteria for the new program requested and/or meet any Learning Support requirement for the new program of study. Financial Aid recipients' eligibility and award may be affected by a program/major change. When students have completed or graduated from a program, and they wish to enroll in another major, they are required to complete a readmission application. Program changes must be submitted prior to registration, and are allowed until the fifth day of the semester.

Auditing a Course

A student who wishes to register for a credit course for no credit may register to audit the course during the registration process and will be accepted on a space availability basis. Some courses may require documentation from the potential student’s employer or evidence of previous postsecondary training before approval for audit may be granted. Courses taken on an audit basis are non-credit and will not be used for certification for financial aid, WIA, Social Security, or Veterans Administration educational benefits. A student who audits a course cannot take an advanced standing or credit examination and receive credit for the audited course. Students auditing a course(s) must pay the regular enrollment fees. Approval to audit a course must be obtained from the Director of Admissions.

Withdrawal and Dropping Courses

Any student who registers for a course must either complete the course requirements or officially withdraw prior to the last day for withdrawal. To withdraw from one or more courses, the student must complete an official withdrawal form in the Registrar's Office. A student should not assume that non-attendance constitutes official withdrawal. The last date for official withdrawal will be published in the College calendar. It is recommended that students see their academic advisor before withdrawing or dropping from a course(s) or from the College. A withdrawal or course drop made during the designated drop/add period as indicated on the official College calendar will incur no academic penalty or tuition/fee charges. For withdrawals after the official drop/add period shown on the College calendar, full tuition and fees will be assessed. Refer to the "Academic Standing" section regarding academic penalty.

Students may use any of the methods below to complete an official withdrawal form with the Registrar’s Office:

* Online Withdrawal Form via the CGTC website through the Student Secure Area.
* By mail to: CGTC, Registrar's Office, 3300 Macon Tech Drive, Macon, GA 31206.
* By fax to: Registrar's Office, (478) 757-3454.
* In person at the Registrar's Office on the Macon Campus or the Student Affairs Office on the Milledgeville Campus.

A student who officially withdraws from a course by the official withdrawal date is assigned a grade of W. There is no grade point average (GPA) penalty assigned. A student who discontinues attending a course will be assigned a grade of F in the course.

Excessive withdrawals may penalize a student’s academic standing at the College. Withdrawal from any course in a Health Technology program at any level may affect progression in the chosen program.

A student who withdraws from all courses at the institution for two consecutive semesters will not be eligible for readmission for one academic year (three semesters). Additionally, such withdrawals may affect the student’s financial aid status.

Students who have voluntarily withdrawn and those who were dropped or terminated by the College must reapply if they wish to return. Readmission to a program will be granted under current curriculum requirements.

Learning Support Course Withdrawal Policy

Students electing to withdraw from Learning Support classes can do so without academic penalty if they meet all of the following:

a) Only one withdrawal within an academic year
b) Student must maintain satisfactory academic progress
c) Student must be placed at an 097 level or above
d) Student may not be enrolled under the ATB (ability to benefit) status.

Learning Support students not meeting the above requirements must appeal to the Registrar’s Office before attempting to withdraw.

Attendance

CGTC educates students for direct entry into the labor market. Therefore, CGTC stresses regular school attendance and evaluates attendance and punctuality as part of the Work Ethics grade for each credit course.

Attendance Requirements

Students should enroll only in those classes that they can reasonably expect to attend on a regular basis. Instructors have both the right and the responsibility to develop reasonable attendance policies appropriate to the type, level, delivery method, and frequency of class meetings for their course; to communicate the policies to students clearly via the course syllabus or addendum; and to apply the policies fairly and consistently to all enrolled students.

All make up work allowed will be scheduled at the discretion of the instructor. Policies for makeup work will also be detailed in the course syllabus. In case of classes canceled due to inclement weather or emergencies, the college will make every effort to reschedule classroom/lab hours missed.

NOTE: All enrolled day students are required to attend at least one of the first two days of class to maintain assurance of enrollment for any assigned class. All evening students are required to attend the first evening or night of class to maintain assurance of enrollment for any initial assigned class. Students not meeting this requirement may be dropped from the class. Online students must contact their online course instructor during the first week of classes to maintain assurance of enrollment, and throughout the semester must weekly contact their online course instructor to constitute continued enrollment in the online course.

Attendance Records

The class roll book maintained by the instructor is the official record of attendance for all students in a class. It is the official record in all matters pertaining to entrance, attendance, and completion.

Attendance Dismissal

Students who fail to meet the attendance policies will be dismissed from the class for which they exceeded the attendance policy. Re-entry into the College will vary according to the nature of the instructional program. The cause of the excessive absenteeism should be resolved prior to re-entry.

Advanced Placement

Advanced placement allows a student to receive course credit based on previous training and education or experience determined equivalent to courses offered at Central Georgia Technical College. Advanced placement includes:

Transfer Credit

See Transfer Students and Transfer Student Admission requirements.

Credit by Course Competency Exam

Courses may be exempted through competency testing or nationally normed exams such as College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) and Advanced Placement Examination of the College Entrance Examination Board. Institutional exemption exams for demonstrating written and/or performance mastery are available within the instructional programs for certain courses. The cost for the exemption examination is 25% of tuition and must be paid prior to attempting the exam. Some exemption examinations will also require the student to buy specific testing materials. Students should contact the Business Office to make payment for the exam.

The student must:

  1. Present evidence to indicate that past education, training and/or work experience has been acquired and was similar to that in the course being challenged,

  2. Submit a request to the course instructor to attempt competency exam no later than the end of the drop/add period of the semester in which the course to be exempted has been scheduled,

  3. Register and pay the exemption fee for the course which he/she is attempting to exempt.

  4. Earn a score of 75 or higher on the exam to receive course credit.

If a student has previously attempted, audited, failed, or withdrawn from a course after the drop/add period at CGTC, the student cannot receive credit for that course by exemption examination. The student will be allowed only one exemption attempt per course. If a given course has a prerequisite course requirement, the prerequisite must be satisfied by either exemption or successful completion of the course before exemption may be attempted.

If a student exempts a course, credit is given but no grade points are calculated for that course. Exemption credit earned is considered toward total hours earned but does not count toward hours carried for the semester. Course exemption may affect the full-time status of a student. A student may exempt no more than 75 percent of the program course work in order to be eligible for a CGTC degree, diploma, or technical certificate.

Students are responsible for the cost of the exempted classes and financial aid is not available for exempted courses.

*Students enrolled in Health Technology programs should refer to the specific academic requirements and transfer policies for the Health Technology programs in the Health Technology section of the CGTC Catalog.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Courses may be exempted through competency testing or nationally normed exams such as College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Proficiency Examination Program (PEP), and Advanced Placement Examination of the College Entrance Examination Board. The cost for the exemption examination is $5.00 per credit hour. Students are responsible for the cost of the exempted classes and financial aid is not available for exempted courses.

Declaration of a Major

A declaration of major is required on the Admission Application to ensure that the student's occupational goals and objectives can be met by the institution. Students may make a program change prior to enrollment without it counting as a program change. Once a student is registered, only one program change per semester is allowed. The student's admission status is determined by the major selected and the admission requirements for that major.

Course Progression

The Technical College System of Georgia has mandated the sequence of some courses in each program. These courses are identified in the course descriptions as prerequisite or co-requisite. A course identified as prerequisite must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better prior to taking certain courses. A course identified as co-requisite may be taken in conjunction with other courses. The Course Description Section in the catalog identifies the prerequisite and co-requisite courses for all courses offered. In addition, other requirements for taking each course are identified. These requirements include program admission and provisional admission. Courses are offered when enrollment and instructor availability make it feasible. Courses are subject to cancellation without prior notice. Every course is not offered every semester at any and/or all locations.

A student attempting over 18 credit hours a semester must receive prior approval from their advisor or the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs before registering for those courses. Twelve or more credit hours per semester constitutes full-time student status. Most programs will require registering for a minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours per term for timely completion of a program of study.

Academic Advisement

Upon entering CGTC, each student is assigned a faculty advisor to assist him/her in selecting appropriate courses of study and to supervise his/her academic progress while enrolled in a degree, diploma, or technical certificate program. The student should meet with the assigned advisor each semester before registering.

Although students may take courses at any campus, advisement should be done with the assigned program major advisor. To be eligible to take CGTC online courses over the Internet, the student must have approval from their advisor and complete the Online Orientation Agreement Form. Additionally, Student Affairs advisors provide needed advisement each semester to students. It is the student's responsibility, however, to be aware of courses required for graduation/completion of the chosen major, to meet all graduation/completion requirements, and to complete the registration process each semester.

Faculty Office Hours

All faculty (full-time and part-time adjunct) teaching technical certificate, diploma, and degree courses have advertised hours for providing assistance to students, academic advisement, counseling, and other appropriate services. Students seeking access to faculty should consult their course syllabi for available office hours or check the hours posted on office and/or classroom doors.

Curriculum Changes

Central Georgia Technical College is continuously updating and modifying instructional programs to stay abreast of the rapidly changing technologies in business and industry. Therefore, a curriculum may be changed while a student is enrolled in a program. If this should occur, the presently enrolled student will not be penalized, nor will the length of the program be extended for the student because of a curriculum change. However, the student will be converted to the new curriculum standards at the beginning of a new phase of training, course or semester, whichever is appropriate for the particular program.

Students who do not maintain continuous semester enrollment, then they will re-enter the College under the most recent curriculum for their program of study.

Departmental/Program Regulations

Each department and program has written rules and regulations affecting departmental and program activities. Each student will be issued a copy of these regulations during the departmental or program orientation. Students should be thoroughly familiar with the departmental and program regulations and the school catalog. Regulations contained in both documents are set forth to guide students in their daily activities while at CGTC.

Practicum, Internship, and Clinical Courses

Practicum, Internship, and Clinical Courses Information

Practicum, Internships, and Clinical courses provide valuable experiential learning opportunities for students to satisfy the credit requirements of a given program. In order to receive academic credit, the experience must be in an approved site and in the career field for which the student has trained. Students are required to meet all hour requirements for the duration of the approved work experience; to dress according to the standards set by the affiliating agency; and to abide by the regulations of the affiliating agency. Failure to meet any of these guidelines may result in a failing grade or withdrawal from the work experience.

Practicum, Internship, and Clinical Courses Travel

Students enrolled in off-campus practicum, internship, externship, or clinical courses will be required to travel to businesses, industries, and hospitals. All travel arrangements and costs must be provided by the student.

Practicum, Internship, and Clinical Courses Pay

The employer is under no obligation to pay the student wages or to offer the student a permanent position after the work experience has been completed.

Work Ethics Program

The Technical College System of Georgia and CGTC 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 credit course has been developed. Work ethics grades (3, 2, 1, 0) are earned in each completed credit hour course and are included on the student’s permanent record and transcript. A list of work ethics characteristics is detailed below and may include:

1. Attendance
2. Character
3. Teamwork
4. Appearance
5. Self-Esteem
6. Productivity
7. Organization
8. Communication
9. Leadership/Cooperation
10. Respect

Explanation of Work Ethics Grades

3= Exceeds Expectations: Work Ethics performance is exemplary. Student has consistently demonstrated characteristics that will stand out in the work environment

2=Meets Expectations: All work ethics standards are met. The quality of student’s work ethics performance is that of a good employee in the normal work environment.

1=Needs Improvement: Some standards were not met. Additional training in employability skills is recommended.

0=Unacceptable: Work ethics performance was below average. Additional training in employability skills is a must if the student is to survive in the work environment.

Course Schedule

Students can access each term's schedule of diploma, degree, and technical certificate classes on the CGTC website. Select the Current Students tab and then select Academic Affairs from the drop down menu. The link to the Schedule of Classes is on the right side of the page. The link can also be found here.

Academic Affairs Projects

Live work projects are approved for providing realistic training for students according to the guidelines of the Academic Affairs Projects Policy. Under this policy, college personnel and students may have personal property repaired in those programs and departments conducting live work. All live work must be approved by the instructor in the program or department where the live work is to be done. Appropriate paperwork must be completed.

The live work procedure for shop classes requires that the person requesting live work furnish all materials and parts and pay a minimum shop fee. A shop fee is not charged if a student is enrolled in the program where the live work is performed; however, a student work order must be completed. If live work is being performed on a vehicle, the work order must be visible through the front windshield of the vehicle or a parking fine may be issued. Barbering, Cosmetology, Dental Hygiene and other service-related programs perform live work utilizing slightly different procedures as outlined in program or departmental forms.

All live work services will be charged according to the service rendered. Seeking or performing live work must not interfere with the instructional program. Students wishing to receive services in Barbering, Cosmetology, or Dental Hygiene must follow regular sign out procedures during their regular class schedule.

All live work is done by students for the purpose of learning. No guarantee, either actual or implied, is furnished on live work. The College is not responsible for loss or damage to property.