Course Catalog

Admissions Standards

Admissions

The admissions policies and procedures of the Technical College System of Georgia and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College assure our citizens equal access to the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to secure personally satisfying and socially productive employment. By design and implementation, the policies and procedures governing admissions to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College will:

Be nondiscriminatory on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, genetic information, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law);
Increase the prospective student’s opportunities;
Complement the instructional programs of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College;
Support the timely processing of applications and admission to the college.

Admission Categories

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College admission requirements are based on the minimum standards set forth by the Technical College System of Georgia for each degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit program. A student’s admission status will fall into one of the following categories:

Regular Admission Status

A student will be granted regular admission status into a degree, diploma, or technical certificate program when he or she meets program and institutional admission requirements. Regular admission status is based on the credential (degree, diploma, or technical certificate of credit) being sought as declared by the student. Any status change will require the student to meet the admission requirements of the new credential.

Provisional Admission Status

Provisional admission is based on an evaluation of placement test scores and other criteria. Students classified in this category may be required to enroll in either short-term remediation or learning support classes that are designed to assist students in improving basic language, reading, and mathematical skills. Provisionally admitted students must satisfy learning support and/or placement testing requirements prior to enrolling in or while enrolled in occupational courses as designated in the program-specific standards.

Special Admission/ Non - Degree Seeking Status

Special admission status may, under certain circumstances, be granted to students who are not pursuing a diploma, degree, certificate, or other award. Students admitted under this status may take an unlimited number of courses, but can transfer only 25 quarter hours or 17 semester hours toward a specific program for award seeking purposes. Regular admission status may be obtained upon achievement of regular admission requirements. Students admitted under special admission status are not eligible for Pell Grant, HOPE Grant or HOPE Scholarship, or other traditional forms of financial aid. Special-admit students must meet course prerequisite requirements.

Auditing Courses

Students who wish to audit a course must obtain approval from the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs or Dean prior to registration and payment of course fees. This audit status should be clearly noted on the Admission Application at the time of registration. Students may not change from audit to credit status or vice versa once the semester begins. Auditing students will be required to meet all of the course requirements such as prerequisites, attendance, examinations, and assignments. Auditing students will receive a grade of “AU” (non-credit) upon completion of the course. Audit students will be required to pay all tuition and fees for any course(s) in which they enroll. Audit students are not eligible for any financial assistance.

Admissions Appeal

Students who believe that their admission decision is unfair or has been administered in error may appeal directly to the Dean of Student Affairs. If the applicant and the Dean of Student Affairs cannot reach an agreement, the applicant may appeal to the Vice President for Enrollment Management or his/her designee.

Pending Admit Status (High School Seniors only)

Applicants who are in their final year of high school and are applying for a college term immediately after they graduate are granted Pending Admit Status. Applicants must submit a transcript showing the applicant is on track for completing all required high school courses before the semester they wish to enroll. A letter from the high school confirming the pending completion is encouraged to be sent with the transcript. Applicants will be allowed to register for courses after course placement requirements have been met. These applicants are not eligible for federal financial aid until a final high school transcript has been received.

Transient Status

Students who submit a Transient Agreement Letter from their home institution are granted Transient Admissions Status. The Transient Agreement Letter must verify that the student is in good standing and must list the courses the student is eligible to take. A current Transient Agreement Letter is required for each term of enrollment.

Readmission Good Standing

Students who withdraw in good standing and want to re-enter, must visit the Office of Admissions. Applicants who have been out for a year or more must complete a new application and meet the requirements of the new catalog year. Students who are dismissed for academic, attendance, or disciplinary reasons, or who voluntarily withdraw while not in good standing should visit the Office of Admissions for information. Some students may be required to meet with the Advising and Retention Center to create an academic recovery plan before being re-admitted. Students who want to change programs will visit their ARC advisor. Transfer credits will be reviewed by the Office of the Registrar and notated in myBanWeb and DegreeWorks.

Academic Dismissal

Students on Academic Dismissal will be required to meet with an Advising and Retention Center Advisor during the term of their dismissal. In making a determination of the student’s eligibility for re-admission, the ARC will consider the following criteria:

Prior enrollment data including academic record, attendance, work ethics, conduct, input from instructors and other staff, etc.
Prospects for successful completion of the program
Unusual or mitigating circumstances

Upon review, the student may be allowed to return on probation. As a condition to return on probation, the ARC may recommend no future online classes, career counseling and/or career assessment in the Testing Center, a limit of maximum credit hours, or any other action that is deemed in the best academic interest of the student. Recommendations of the Advisement and Retention Center (ARC), where applicable, must be met prior to re-admittance. Students allowed to attend on probation will not be allowed to register for the subsequent term until final satisfactory mid-term grades are received. Students may not be eligible for financial aid until they have successfully passed the required credits, after which financial aid eligibility will be reviewed upon request. (See Satisfactory Academic Progress.)

Upon readmission, the student must attain a minimum 2.0 GPA for the semester to return to satisfactory academic standing. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a subsequent dismissal.

Disciplinary Dismissal

A student who was dismissed for disciplinary reasons under the student code of conduct procedures outlined in the catalog (see pages General policies and Procedures) must complete all requirements imposed as part of their sanctions. The welfare and safety of the student body and staff will be considered when sanctions are imposed.

Admission Requirements for Associate Degree, Diploma, and Technical Certificate Programs

Admission to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a multi-step process which consists of evaluation of prior academic experience and assessment for postsecondary readiness of eligible applicants. The first step to becoming a Wiregrass Georgia Technical College student is completing the Application for Admission. Students may apply online through www.wiregrass.edu. Applicants may also complete a hard copy application by printing it from the WGTC website, or by picking it up at any campus location. A one-time $25 non-refundable application fee is required and must be received before the application can be processed.

Below is the general list of all requirements for admission to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.

Complete an Application for Admission/Readmission.
Pay a one-time, non-refundable $25 application fee.
Submit a government-issued ID or Driver’s License for proof of lawful presence (alternatives available). Students seeking in-state tuition may be required to submit other documents.
Submit ALL official (high school/equivalency and postsecondary education) transcripts. Opened or faxed transcripts are not official.
Official entrance exam scores from a valid testing instrument (ACCUPLACER, COMPANION, COMPASS, ASSET, GED, ACT, PSAT or SAT). The test score requirement may be overridden with an official transcript documenting equivalent program-level English and/or Math coursework successfully completed with a ‘C’ or better, completion of an associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution, or a HOPE GPA of 2.6 after completion of the 10^th grade. Students may be accepted for entry level workforce certificates if they have a high school GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Age

For most programs, individuals must be 16 years of age or older, or be a dually enrolled high school student in the 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade, who seek access to quality instruction at the post-secondary level. The minimum age for designated Health and Professional Services programs may be higher. Please check specific program requirements for more information.

Health

Applicants must be physically able to attend school regularly, whether on campus or online, and be able to perform the “essential functions” of the occupation for which they plan to train. Physical examinations, lab tests, and immunizations are required for students in designated programs, after acceptance to the program and prior to participation in clinical training at an affiliated site, or before operating motor vehicles or other equipment required in training.

Required Academic Criteria - Education

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College requires applicants to provide documentation of previous academic experience prior to admission.

Secondary Education

A high school diploma, GED® or approved high school equivalency assessment (verified by an official transcript, including graduation date) will be required for admission to the college or to a program as specified by the program’s standards.

High School Graduates

High school diplomas from unaccredited institutions, Certificates of Attendance or special education diplomas (including those with other names) are not recognized for admission purposes. High school diplomas must have been awarded by a secondary school that is accredited by an agency included in the Technical College System of Georgia’s list of approved accreditation agencies.

Homeschool Graduates

Applicants of homeschools located in Georgia who did not attend a recognized accredited program must adhere to the following alternative path for admission:

Submit a Certificate of Attendance form from the local superintendent’s office or a Declaration of Intent to utilize a Home Study Program from the Georgia Department of Education verifying that the parent or legal guardian complied with the requirements of home study programs as referenced in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.
Submit annual progress reports or a final transcript for the equivalent of the homeschooled student’s junior and senior years. The final progress report should include the graduation date.

Applicants of homeschools located outside the state of Georgia who did not attend a recognized accredited program must adhere to the following alternative path for admission.

Submit annual progress reports or a final transcript for the equivalent of the homeschooled student’s junior and senior years. The final progress report should include the graduation date.
And one of the following:
PSAT, SAT or ACT scores that meet or exceed the TCSG system and college minimum score requirements for program readiness
ACCUPLACER or Compass placement scores that meet or exceed the TCSG system and college minimum score requirements for program readiness.
HOPE GPA of 2.6 or higher after 10^th grade.

General Educational Development (GED®) or Approved High School Equivalency Assessment

Individuals who do not meet the above requirements may be admitted to the college by obtaining a GED® or completing an approved high school equivalency assessment. Submittal of an official GED® transcript or an official transcript from an approved high school equivalency assessment is required.

International Student Graduates

Applicants with diplomas from secondary schools located outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated for equivalency by an approved outside evaluation organization (see the ‘International Student Admission Requirements’ section of the catalog for more information). The international transcript evaluation must be sent directly to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in a sealed evaluation service agency envelope.

Military Service Members

Service members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, or Navy may submit an official copy of their DD Form 214 indicating high school graduate or equivalent. Exception: The President of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College has the authority to waive the high school diploma/high school equivalency requirement for those pursuing a high school equivalency who are otherwise eligible to enroll in a specific program of study.

Postsecondary Education

Students who are currently attending or have previously attended one or more regionally accredited colleges or universities (including while in high school), must submit an official transcript from each institution attended. Students who have attained an associate degree or higher, or successfully completed (C or better) a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours at the degree level from a regionally accredited college or university, may be exempt from the requirement of submitting high school, homeschool, GED® or approved high school equivalency assessment documentation. Notes: Wiregrass Georgia Technical College will not accept faxes or photocopies as official transcripts. Documents must be received in a sealed issuing institution envelope or sent through a WGTC-approved, secure electronic sending service. If an envelope has been opened prior to receipt by the Office of Admissions, the documents are considered unofficial and will not be accepted. Any costs associated with submitting official transcripts (high school, GED®, high school equivalency assessment, international, or other college) for admission at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College are at the discretion of the sending institution or evaluation agency and are the sole responsibility of the applicant.

Assessment

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College requires all applicants to submit appropriate test scores, transfer college credits, completion of an associate degree or high credential, or a HOPE GPA of 2.6 or higher after 10^th grade to determine program readiness. A high school GPA of 2.0 or higher may be accepted for specific basic entry level workforce certificates.

To serve this purpose, the ACCUPLACER test evaluates skills in reading, writing and math. The ACCUPLACER tests is proctored, and is available by appointment or during posted assessment hours. In lieu of ACCUPLACER scores, applicants may submit official PSAT, SAT, ACT, GED®, Milestones, COMPASS or ASSET scores. Students with appropriate transfer of credit in English and/or math from a regionally or nationally accredited postsecondary institution recognized by the United States Department of Education documenting equivalent program-level English and math coursework successfully completed (C or better) may use those credits in lieu of taking the ACCUPLACER or COMPANION placement exam.

If an applicant’s PSAT, SAT, ACT, GED®, Milestone scores or transfer credit does not meet the college’s minimum program requirements for entry, he or she must take the ACCUPLACER test. ACCUPLACER scores indicate areas of strength and areas requiring remediation. If scores are not high enough for placement directly into the program of study, students may retest after 48 hours. If test scores are not high enough after the retest, Learning Support coursework is generally required. Students who score below the provisional requirements for a program are not able to be accepted, and must complete remediation with the Tutoring Services before being allowed to retest.

Purpose for Assessment: Scores are used to determine a student’s readiness for college-level general core courses for a given program of study. Each program of study has its own score requirements. In general, diploma programs have higher score requirements than certificate programs, and Associate of Science/Associate of Applied Science degree programs are typically higher than diploma programs.

Additional Admission Requirements for Allied Health Programs

Beginning Fall 2017, some allied health programs will require completion of a technical certificate of credit program prior to enrollment in the corresponding diploma or degree program. Certain allied health programs only accept students once or twice per year; however, students may enroll in core courses during any semester. Information for program specific admission requirements can be found in the program section of this catalog. Some programs require students to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA); students whose cumulative GPA falls below the required minimum will be removed from the program list and referred to the Advisement and Retention Center.

Certain medical programs utilize a competitive admissions process. Please refer to the program section of the catalog for specific information about these programs.

Transfer Students

A student who has previously attended another postsecondary institution and who has completed less than 75 percent of a program of study at the previous institution is considered a “transfer student.” Students whose academic standing was probationary or dismissal at the point they left the last institution will be admitted to WGTC on academic probation. Placement testing requirements for a transfer student may vary according to the actual courses taken at the previous institution. Official transcripts from a regionally or nationally accredited postsecondary institution, recognized by the United States Department of Education documenting equivalent program-level English and/or math coursework successfully completed (C or better) will replace the requirement of placement test scores. For more information on
transfer credit, please see the “Credits Earned Outside the College” section of the catalog.

Transient Students

A student in good standing may be permitted to enroll as a transient student on a space-available basis at another accredited postsecondary institution in order to complete work to be transferred back to the student’s home institution. The home and host postsecondary institutions should sign a Transient Student Agreement. A new transient agreement must be completed for each semester of attendance and should include the student’s academic standing and the course(s) the student is approved to take.

Procedures for Transient Students with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College as the Home School
Students wishing to take a course at another accredited postsecondary institution to be applied toward their program of study should obtain permission through a transient agreement form for each semester in which the student plans to enroll. The student must also obtain verification of financial aid from the other college each term. Students desiring to attend another college as a transient student must be in good academic standing. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Office of the Registrar, in coordination with the Office of Financial Aid, will initiate a transient agreement form to the host college. The same above rules apply to a transient student who designates Wiregrass
Georgia Technical College as his or her home college.

Procedures for Transient Students with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College as the Host School

Submit an Application for Admission to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.
Submit a one-time $25 non-refundable application fee.
The Office of Admissions or Office of the Registrar at the home or previous college must submit a transient agreement each term stating the student’s academic standing and the course(s) the student is approved to take at WGTC.

Residency Requirement

A student’s legal residence shall determine the tuition rate paid by the student. Residency also affects financial aid eligibility. There are three residency categories: in-state, out-of-state, and non-citizen.

In-State: Students who are lawfully documented residents of the United States, and otherwise qualify as Georgia residents, shall pay tuition and fees prescribed by the Technical College State Board for in-state residents.
Out-of-State: Students who are lawfully documented residents of the United States but do not qualify as Georgia residents, shall pay tuition (at a rate of twice that charged to in-state students) and fees as prescribed by the Technical College State Board.
Non-Citizen: Students who are lawfully documented residents of a country other than the United States and wish to study at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College shall pay tuition (at a rate four times that charged to in-state students) and fees as prescribed by the Technical College State Board.

Verification of Lawful Presence in the United States

Effective January 1, 2012, all students applying for in-state tuition must provide validation of lawful presence in the United States. The following documents will serve as proof of lawful presence in the United States and documentation will be required before becoming eligible for consideration of in-state tuition:

A current Driver’s License issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008
A current ID issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008
A current Driver’s License or ID issued by a state or commonwealth that verifies immigration status and only issues to persons lawfully present in the United States. See list of compliant states at http://law.ga.gov/vgn/images/portal/cit_1210
A certified U.S. Birth Certificate showing the student was born in the U.S. or a U.S. territory. A photocopy is not acceptable
A current, valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form 1-151 or 1-551)
A U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (DS-1350) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)
A current U.S. Passport
U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS form N-560 or N-561)
A U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570)
A current military ID (service members only, not dependent) A photocopy is not acceptable.

Any student who cannot be verified as lawfully present in the United States is not eligible to be considered for instate tuition, regardless of how long he or she has lived in Georgia. In addition to being lawfully present in the United States, students must meet the in-state tuition requirements as outlined in TCSG Board Policy and Procedure V.B.3 to warrant an in-state classification. Students that are initially classified as out-of-state, and successfully petition to have their residency changed to in-state also have to meet the verification requirement.