Undergraduate Academic Policies

Academic Calendar

The University of West Georgia is on a semester system, with academic credit being awarded at the end of each semester. The fall and spring semesters are approximately 16 weeks and include a final exam period.  The summer semester is approximately 10 weeks and is composed of four short sessions:  one two week, two four-week, and one seven week.  Each session includes a separate final exam period.  A student may take up to 18 total hours per semester.   For information regarding exceptions granted to complete above 18 hours in a semester, please refer to Academic Load.

Academic Credit by Examination

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is available through many high schools and enables a high school student to earn credit toward college in a variety of subjects. Usually these courses are equivalent to college freshmen/sophomore-level courses such as American Government, American History, Composition, and so forth. College credit will be awarded based on standardized exams administered at the high schools in mid to late May.

High school students who earn AP exam scores of 3 or higher (on a scale of 1-5) on most exams and who submit official score reports to West Georgia’s Admissions office will automatically receive credit for coursework. Scores of 4 or higher are required to receive credit for history exams.

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is offered at West Georgia by appointment and allows persons to earn college credit by achieving appropriate cutoff scores on nationally standardized exams. Exams available cover a range of courses including math, history, government, literature, and sciences. Test registration information is available through Academic Testing Services (678-839-6435).

As with AP testing, CLEP is a great way to earn college credit. Not only will a person save time by not having to take a course containing material they already know, but the student will also save money by not having to pay for a college class. Thus, CLEP enables a student to move through their freshman and sophomore years at a faster pace.

A few of the academic departments at West Georgia also offer the opportunity for credit by examination. The Department of English, Film, Languages, and Performing Arts, for example, allows persons who feel confident about their writing skills to write an essay evaluated by a departmental committee. If a passing credential is earned, the person will be allowed to exempt English 1101 and/or 1102, depending on the score. The Department also allows students to exempt certain introductory foreign language courses. To receive credit by examination, the student must pay a fee of $6/credit hour fee.

Test dates vary, so interested persons should contact the department at 678-839-6512 for details.

Advanced Placement Policy (AP)

Advanced Placement (AP) scores must be reported to the University of West Georgia directly from the College Board. The UWG college code is 5900. More information can be found by visiting the College Board’s website at https://apscore.collegeboard.org/scores.

Please refer to the chart below to determine course equivalency, credit earned, and exemption information.

Scores of 4 or 5 on AP exams are granted “Honors credit” for the UWG course equivalents. These courses count toward the honors classes required for Honors College graduation.

Questions concerning the policy should be directed to the Registrar’s Office Transfer Team by emailing transfer@westga.edu or calling (678) 839-6438.

*UWG awards credit for both the English Literature or English Language exam, if both are passed..
 

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores must be reported to the University of West Georgia directly from the College Board. The UWG college code is 5900. Test registration information is available through the UWG Academic Testing Services 678-839-6435.

Please refer to the chart below to determine course equivalency and credit earned.

Questions concerning the policy should be directed to the Registrar’s Office Transfer Team by emailing transfer@westga.edu or calling 678-839-6438.

*The CLEP College Composition Modular exam is a two-part exam consisting of a multiple-choice section and an essay section.  The UWG English department creates the essay prompt and scores the essay.

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)

Departmental Exams for Credit, Exemption, or to Meet Georgia Requirements

Students should contact the academic department for additional information, to include test dates and times.

The exam score determines the amount of credit awarded and a fee of $6 per hour is assessed to transcript the credit. For the ALEKS placement exam the cost is $20.

International Baccalaureate Policy (IB)

Students may be awarded UWG “K” credit for Standard Level-SL (college preparatory) courses if the student obtained an IB Diploma as well as for Higher Level-HL (college comparable) courses, regardless of whether an IB Diploma was obtained. Credit is awarded based on University System of Georgia recommendations for assessment scores and provided that the academic departments determine the examinations to be comparable to courses at UWG. For more information please visit: https://www.westga.edu/student-services/registrar/credit-by-exam.php

International Baccalaureate (IB) scores must be reported to the University of West Georgia directly from IBO North America. To request an official transcript, visit rrs.ibo.org. Transcripts should be addressed to: University of West Georgia, Registrar’s Office, 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, Georgia 30118.

Please refer to the chart below to determine course equivalency, credit earned, and exemption information. Total credits awarded for IB may not exceed 24.

Syllabus evaluation is used to determine course credit award for Economics. Contact the Economics department at 678-839-6477 or http://www.westga.edu/econ/.

Questions concerning the policy should be directed to the Registrar’s Office Transfer Team by emailing transfer@westga.edu or calling 678-839-6438.

*May Consider ART 1008 in place of ART 1009
**Full credit is dependent on departmental review of student’s portfolio.

Mathematics - Credit-by-Exam (SAT Score) for Determining Course Placement and Credit

Students who earn a score of 650 or higher on the Math-SAT are placed into MATH 1413 or MATH 1634. If a final grade of C or higher is earned in the UWG course on the first attempt, the student is awarded credit for the prerequisite math course. A fee of $6 per hour is assessed to transcript the credit.

Academic Honor Code

At West Georgia, the student is expected to achieve and maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and excellence. Not only does academic honesty preserve the integrity of both the student and the institution, but it is also essential in gaining a true education. The West Georgia student, therefore, pledges not to lie, cheat, steal, or engage in plagiarism in the pursuit of their studies and is encouraged to report those who do. See Connection and Student Handbook, Appendix E, Academic Dishonesty. The Pledge follows:

Pledge:

Having read the Honor Code for UWG, I understand and accept my responsibility to uphold the values and beliefs described and to conduct myself in a manner that will reflect the values of the Institution in such a way as to respect the rights of all UWG community members. As a West Georgia student, I will represent myself truthfully and complete all academic assignments honestly. I understand that if I violate this code, I will accept the penalties imposed, should I be found guilty of violations through processes due me as a university community member. These penalties may include expulsion from the University. I also recognize that my responsibility includes willingness to confront members of the University community if I feel there has been a violation of the Honor Code.

Academic Load (Course Load Limits)

Although a typical course load is 15 semester credit hours, a student may register for 18 semester credit hours without special permission (see summer exceptions below). A student on the Dean’s List may register for 20 hours without special permission. Students within 30 credit hours of graduation with a cumulative average of 2.0 may carry up to the maximum of 21 credit hours for two semesters without special permission. A student who is required to enroll in Regents’ Test remediation may not carry more than 18 credit hours. During the semester of student teaching, students may take one additional course. Students are advised not to take more than 10 credit hours if they work full time. Special permission must be obtained from the appropriate academic dean before any student may exceed loads authorized above. Academic deans may approve course loads of up to 25 semester credit hours in justifiable circumstances.

Due to varying session lengths for summer semester, the following schedule presents the maximum hours that can be taken by a student without special permission given by their dean. The maximum total load permitted for any combination of sessions without the permission of the appropriate dean is 18. If the student attends Session I for six hours, they can only enroll in an additional 12 hours total for the remaining sessions.

Please note that some insurance and loan agencies require that students be enrolled full time (12 or more semester hours) in order to qualify for their services.

Academic Renewal

The Academic Renewal Policy allows students who are enrolled in a University System of Georgia (USG) institution to have a fresh start if they have had academic difficulties in the past.

Requirements for Eligibility

• Current or former students must apply for Academic Renewal by contacting Student Solutions. New students must contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• Students must apply for Academic Renewal, if they choose this option, by the end of their third semester of enrollment or by the end of one calendar year from enrollment or reenrollment, whichever comes first.
• Academic Renewal may be granted only once by a USG college or university.
• Students must have experienced their academic difficulties at the University of West Georgia or be a transfer student from a regionally accredited institution of higher education to be eligible for Academic Renewal.

About the Policy

1. All previously attempted coursework continues to be recorded on the student’s official transcript.
2. An Academic Renewal Grade Point Average begins when the student resumes taking coursework following the three-year period of absence once Academic Renewal has been granted. The institution will place a statement on the student’s transcript indicating the Academic Renewal status and the beginning of a separate Academic Renewal GPA in addition to an overall UWG GPA.
3. The Academic Renewal GPA will be used for determining academic standing and eligibility for graduation. At least 50% (60 hours) of course work must be completed after the granting of academic renewal for a student to be eligible for graduation with honors.
4. Academic credit for completed coursework during the period of absence, including transfer coursework, will be retained only for courses in which an “A”, “B”, “C”, or “S” grade was earned. Retained grades are not calculated in the Academic Renewal GPA but are counted in Academic Renewal hours earned.
5. To earn a degree, a student must meet the University of West Georgia’s residency requirements. UWG will apply the retained hours earned prior to Academic Renewal toward the residency requirement.
6. A student can be granted Academic Renewal status only once.
7. Any previous notation of academic probation, suspension, and dismissal will remain recorded on the student’s transcript.
8. A student re-enrolling after an absence of three or more years must apply for Academic Renewal within three semesters of enrollment or within one calendar year, whichever comes first.
9. The Academic Renewal GPA begins with the first term following awarding of renewal.
10. Admission or re-entry into any specific degree program (such as teacher education, nursing, business majors, selected majors in the College of Arts, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry is not automatic. Admission criteria for specific programs are determined by the department where the program is housed.
11. The granting of Academic Renewal does not supersede financial aid policies regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress.
12. United States and Georgia history and constitution requirements and Regents’ Test scores met prior to the granting of academic renewal will remain on the student’s transcript even though the courses may not count in the Academic Renewal GPA or Academic Renewal hours earned.
13. Students desiring to enroll must submit a letter explaining why they should be considered for Academic Renewal along with the Academic Renewal application.

Readmitted students

• Readmitted students must be absent from the University of West Georgia for three (3) years, the required period of absence.
• The period of absence is calculated based on the period of time between the date of last enrollment at the University of West Georgia and the date of return to the University of West Georgia.
• Only coursework completed prior to the period of absence may be considered for Academic Renewal. If Academic Renewal is granted, all coursework completed prior to the period of absence will be renewed.
• Students may attend other institutions during the period of absence; however, that coursework will not be eligible for Academic Renewal and will be used to determine admissibility to The University of West Georgia. Transfer credit for any coursework taken during the period of absence shall be granted in accordance with the prevailing USG and West Georgia policies and procedures regarding the awarding of transfer credit.

Transfer students

• Students who previously attended a USG institution or any regionally accredited institution of higher education and transfer to the University of West Georgia may be eligible for Academic Renewal for coursework taken three (3) or more years prior to the term of enrollment at the University of West Georgia.
• If Academic Renewal is granted, all coursework completed three (3) years prior to the term of enrollment at the University of West Georgia will be renewed. Courses taken less than three (3) years prior to the term of enrollment at the University of West Georgia are ineligible for consideration for Academic Renewal and will be utilized to determine admissibility, as outlined in the General Admission Policies section of the undergraduate catalog.

Academic Standards of Progress

The University of West Georgia seeks to provide an environment suitable for promoting the systematic pursuit of learning. To ensure this primary goal, the University requires reasonable academic progress of its students. The retention of those students who repeatedly demonstrate a lack of ability, industry, maturity, and preparation would be inconsistent with this requirement.

Students will be evaluated each semester on the basis of cumulative grade point average and the total number of hours attempted. Hours transferred will be included in determining the total hours attempted; however, the cumulative grade point average will be computed only on the work completed at West Georgia (institutional grade point average (GPA). The academic standing for a semester is not adjusted when a course taken that semester is subsequently repeated during a later semester and the first grade earned is removed from the calculation of the grade point average. The cumulative grade point average required for the total number of hours attempted is given below:

Under the provisions of the academic policies of West Georgia, students are classified as follows:

Academic Warning

All students who fail to meet academic standards will be on Academic Warning the next semester of enrollment. Students on Academic Warning may be required to meet certain conditions to be eligible to register for future terms. Such conditions may include a reduced course load, meeting with an academic advisor, attending student success seminars, and/or other academic support interventions. There are three possible outcomes from a semester on Academic Warning:

(1) A student who raises their institutional grade point average to meet the Academic Standards outlined above will be removed from Academic Warning. (2) A student who receives a term GPA of 2.0 but does not raise the institutional GPA enough to meet above standards will remain on Academic Warning. (3) A student who fails to achieve a semester grade point average of 2.0 while on Academic Warning will be placed on Academic Probation.

Academic Probation

All students who fail to meet the conditions to be removed from or stay on Academic Warning will be placed on Academic Probation the next semester of enrollment. Students on Academic Probation may be required to meet certain conditions to be eligible to register for future terms. Such conditions may include a reduced course load, meeting with an academic advisor, attending student success seminars, and/or other academic support interventions. There are three possible outcomes from a semester on Academic Probation:

(1) A student who raises their institutional grade point average to meet the Academic Standards outlined above will be removed from Academic Probation. (2) A student who receives a term GPA of 2.0 but does not raise the institutional GPA enough to meet above standards will remain on Academic Probation. (3) A student who fails to achieve a semester grade point average of 2.0 while on Academic Probation will be placed on Academic Suspension. Once on Probation, a student will not return to Academic Warning but will remain on Academic Probation unless they meet outcome 1 or 3.

Academic Suspension

Students who do not earn a minimum semester grade point average of 2.0 while on Academic Probation regardless of the cumulative GPA will be suspended for one semester. Readmission on probation will be automatically allowed after one semester of suspension. Students on probation who do not make satisfactory progress after returning from an initial suspension will again be suspended, this time for one calendar year. A student who is suspended for the second time may apply for readmission on probation one calendar year from the date of suspension. An Academic Suspension Appeal (term or one year) may only be reviewed through a grade appeal or hardship withdrawal.

Academic Dismissal

Students on probation after a second suspension who do not make a 2.0 on all work attempted in each subsequent semester of enrollment regardless of the cumulative GPA will be dismissed. Dismissed students are eligible to return only when they have earned an associate degree or are granted Academic Renewal after a five-year absence from any post-secondary institution. An Academic Dismissal Appeal may only be reviewed through a grade appeal or hardship withdrawal

Academic Advising and Course Selection (Course Level Rule)

Academic advising is considered an important element in a student’s program of study, and West Georgia makes every effort to provide the service; however, students must ultimately be responsible for their own choices, their own course and program selections, and their own deadlines. Each student is responsible for completion of all requirements of their program. Advisors provide guidance. Any exception to a published program of study is not valid unless specifically authorized in writing by the dean of the college or department chair in which the major is housed.  Advisee records are compiled from admissions documents, grades and quality points, and test results.

Students who have declared a major within the Richards College of Business or the College of Education are assigned to a professional advisor in that college’s advising center. Students who intend to apply to the Nursing Program are advised in the Tanner Health School of Nursing. Students up to 60 credit hours in the College of Arts, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry are assigned to a professional advisor in the Advising Center and students in those colleges with 60 or more credit hours are advised by a faculty member in their department.  Students who have declared a major in the Department of Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology are assigned to a professional advisor in the Advising Center.  Dual enrolled students are advised by a professional advisor in the Office of New Student Programs.

Every undergraduate student must officially declare a major at or before the completion of 60 semester hours (this includes transfer credits). A hold will be placed on registration until a major is declared.  It is important that students see their advisors prior to registration each semester. Each student is responsible for contacting their individual department to determine specific advisement procedures for that department. Freshmen and sophomores are required to consult with their advisors in order to register.

Students are advised to select courses appropriate for their classification, i.e., stepping up or down no more than one level of course numbers. For example, a freshman may step up to a 2000-level course or a junior may step down to a 2000-level course.

Air Force ROTC

University of West Georgia students may participate in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps through the ARCHE cross-registration program. It involves an elective curriculum taken alongside required college classes. Students participating in the program attend Air Force ROTC classes and training taught weekly at the Georgia Institute of Technology on Tuesdays and Thursdays in addition to courses taken to complete a degree at UWG. Students must balance their course schedule to allow for travel time to and from Georgia Tech. Students earn a college degree and an officer’s commission in the U.S. Air Force at the same time. A student who completes the Air Force ROTC Program qualifies as a commissioned officer and will be allowed to enter active duty in the U.S. Air Force. Air Force ROTC offers competitive four, 3.5-, three-, 2.5-, and two-year college scholarships to qualified college students based on merit. Non-competitive scholarships are also available based on major to include foreign languages. Scholarships vary from $3,000, $9,000, $15,000, and all the way up to full tuition and required fees. Scholarship winners also receive a stipend of up to $400 for each academic month in addition to a $900 allowance for books and other educational items. Non-scholarship students also receive the stipend and book allowance as contracted cadets in the program.

Audit of Courses

Regulations are listed in the “Auditors” section or Admissions and in this section under “Grades, Grade Points.”

Class Absence

Instruction begins the first day of class. In face-to-face courses, if students fail to attend the first day and have not contacted the instructor to explain their absence, they may be dropped during the Drop/Add Period to make room for other students.

In fully online or hybrid courses each instructor has the authority to specify in the syllabus what qualifies as attendance at the first-class meeting and during the Drop/Add Period to drop students who fail to meet that requirement. Instructors may require students to attend a face-to-face meeting, to log in to the online course-delivery system by a specified date, or to take other specified steps at the beginning of the session.

For those courses that meet for the first time after the end of the Drop/Add Period, see Faculty Handbook Section 204.

Class attendance policies are determined by each instructor for their courses and may be found in the syllabus. Since course policies differ, students are responsible for understanding attendance requirements for each course. Failure to comply with those requirements may significantly affect grades.

Students are expected to attend each class meeting. Students absent from class while officially representing the University or observing religious holidays should generally not be penalized in the calculation of final grades, as long as they provide advance notice and expeditiously make arrangements to complete any missed work.

University-sponsored activities include but are not limited to the following: intercollegiate athletic competitions, musical/theatrical/art performances or exhibitions associated with a degree program, debate competitions, and research conferences. Activities not considered to be university-sponsored include participation in clubs, even if they are affiliated with UWG, or events associated with social organizations such as fraternities or sororities.

Regardless of the reason for the absence, each student is responsible for the material covered in class, for completing any assignments, and for making specific arrangements with the instructor for any work missed. The degree to which missed work can be made up will depend upon the nature of the work and its intended purpose. Make-up is at the discretion of the instructor.  However, instructors should be aware that students missing classes for university-sponsored activities or religious holidays should be given all appropriate courtesies and opportunities to make up missed work.  Students are responsible for alerting their professors about any expected absences prior to those absences

Any student who must be absent for more than one week of class should notify the Patient Advocates in Health Services, telephone 678-839-6452. The student should also notify the instructor or department.

College Preparatory Curriculum Deficiencies

Students who are admitted with College Preparatory Curriculum/Required High School Curriculum Deficiencies in the areas of social science, science, or foreign language are required to complete with a grade of “C” or better one additional course in each area of deficiency (Social Science deficiency is satisfied with ANTH 1102  only). Credit will be given for courses used to satisfy College Preparatory Curriculum/Required High School Curriculum Deficiencies, and such credit earned after Fall 2015 may be eligible to satisfy Core Curriculum or degree requirements. Students who earned credit for these courses prior to Fall 2015 may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if the course is needed to satisfy Core Curriculum or degree requirements. 

Students with College Preparatory Curriculum/Required High School Curriculum Deficiencies in English must take and clear the English and reading portions of the placement test. Those with College Preparatory Curriculum/Required High School Curriculum Deficiencies in mathematics must take and clear the mathematics portion of the placement test. Students with English and mathematics deficiencies who are required to enter learning support are not admissible.

Deficiencies in science, social science, or foreign language should be satisfied during the student’s first semester of enrollment. CPC/RHSC deficiencies must be completed before the student has earned 30 hours of credit. Students who earn 30 hours of credit and have not satisfied these deficiencies will not be permitted to enroll in any other university-level courses unless the deficiencies are included in their schedules.

Course Changes (Drop-Add, Grade for Course Withdrawals)

Routine changes in the student’s schedule must be made during the scheduled adjustment/drop/add periods for the semester or term. The precise deadlines can be found in the university academic calendar.

Except for Learning Support courses and Regents’ Test remediation, a student may withdraw up to the midpoint of the semester without academic penalty. A grade of W is entered for such withdrawals. Except for cases approved by the dean of the college offering the withdrawn course, the only grade that is given after the mid-semester deadline is WF.

Credit by Prior Learning (CPL)

1. Prospective students who fit the following criteria are eligible to participate in CPL:
   1. They are adults; typically, 25 years of age or older.
   2. They are non-traditional students.
   3. They have learning experiences that could be reflected in an academic program’s curriculum.
2. Course credit via CPL by Portfolio may not replace existing credit assessments. Course credit acquired through these means cannot be used to satisfy the minimum number of hours that must be completed in residence at UWG, nor toward minimum hours in the major field (See SACS 3.5.2, and University catalog requirements for undergraduate degrees).
3. Students may not conduct PLA by departmental examination, standardized test, or portfolio for any courses for which they have previously completed at UWG as a regular or audit student.
4. Students are required to complete CPL Prior Learning Documentation in preparation for developing portfolio(s) for credit evaluation, preferably prior to their last semester. Students will earn two hours credit and a letter grade of A-F for this course.
5. Students must register for Portfolio Assessment in the appropriate department(s) in the term that they will submit a portfolio for evaluation.
6. Credit may be awarded after the first submission, in which case the student will be notified that credit has been granted. The assessors may specifically outline areas for improvement and allow students to resubmit their documentation one time during the next semester. The assessors will provide a report giving specific feedback to students. Students may resubmit a revised portfolio only once for reassessment and must include the original portfolio submission and previous assessor’s feedback.
7. Individual departments determine how many, if any, CPL credits may be awarded.
8. Students may appeal the outcome of the CPL assessment through the University’s Grade Appeal process.
9. Students can pursue Credit for Prior Learning through a variety of pathways, to include CLEP exams, departmental exams, and portfolio assessment. Portfolio assessment is available for select courses and cannot be used for courses for which CLEP and/or departmental exams are available.

Dean’s List

Students who achieve a grade point ratio of 3.5 on a minimum of 12 semester hours of college level courses in which grades of A-F are given are placed on the Dean’s List for that semester.

English and Mathematics Requirements

Students must complete ENGL 1102  and MATH 1101 , MATH 1111 , MATH 1113 , or MATH 1634  by the time they have accumulated 30 semester credit hours or must register for these courses and continue registering for them each semester of enrollment until they have been completed. Students should plan to complete ENGL 1101 , if needed, by the time they accumulate 30 semester credit hours. All students must earn a grade of C or better in ENGL 1101  in order to enroll in ENGL 1102 . They must also earn a grade of C or better in ENGL 1102 . Unless this grade requirement is met, such courses will not be credited toward graduation.

Learning Support and Corequisite Labs for English and Math

Required Learning Support Courses in English and Math for UWG Students (ENGL 0999, MATH 0996, MATH 0997, and MATH 0999)

Learning Support courses are to be offered exclusively in “corequisite” format. The corequisite format means that students requiring Learning Support will enroll in both a collegiate course (ENGL 1101, MATH 1001, MATH 1101, MATH/STAT 1401, or MATH 1111) and a Corequisite Support course that is designed to support mastery of the skills and concepts needed to pass the collegiate course.

Students will exit Learning Support (LS) requirements in English and/or mathematics by passing the college-level course in the Learning Support area with a grade that satisfies the minimum grade requirement for the collegiate course at that institution (typically a “C” or higher).

Students requiring Learning Support in both English and mathematics may defer enrollment in Corequisite Learning Support and the paired collegiate course in one or the other area but must be continuously enrolled in one or both pairs until the college level courses have been passed. In cases where students cannot take courses in both Learning Support areas simultaneously, enrollment in ENGL 1101 with Corequisite Learning Support should take priority. All Area A requirements must be completed within the first 30 collegiate credit hours, including college-level and Corequisite Learning Support requirements in both English and mathematics.

English

All entering students will be enrolled in ENGL 1101 (English Composition I) and the Corequisite Learning Support course, ENGL 0999 (Support for English Composition I), unless they meet one of the exemption criteria listed below or are enrolled in a program for which ENGL 1101 is not required. If students enroll in programs that do not require ENGL 1101, but they choose to take this course, standard assessment and placement rules will apply. The exemption criteria below apply to the requirement to enroll in the Corequisite Learning Support course, not to the ENGL 1101 course requirement. Institutions may set higher exemption criteria.

Students meeting any of the criteria on the list below may enroll in ENGL 1101 without the Corequisite Learning Support course, ENGL 0999:

• Student already has credit for an Area A English course (must meet the minimum grade requirement for the course at the institution - which may be a “C” or higher).
• Student has an English Placement Index of 4230 or higher.*
• Student has a final high school GPA (HSGPA - this is the same HSGPA that is used in calculation of the Freshman Index) of 3.1 or higher and has completed the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) in English. If the RHSC in English has not been completed, HSGPA may not be used to exempt this requirement.
• Student has an ACT English or Reading score of 17 or higher.
•  Student has an SAT Verbal/Critical Reading score of 430 or higher on the “old” SAT. **
• Student has a score of 480 or higher on the “new” SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section. **
• Student has a Classic Accuplacer Reading Comprehension score of 61 or higher AND an Accuplacer WritePlacer score of 4 or higher.
• Student has an Accuplacer Next-Generation Reading score of 237** or higher AND an Accuplacer WritePlacer score of 4 or higher.

* At the institution’s option, the English Placement Index (EPI) may continue to be used for students who have at least two of the following: 1) High school grade point average, 2) (Old) SAT or ACT scores, 3) Classic Accuplacer scores.

** “New” SAT scores and Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading test scores may not be used to calculate the English Placement Index.

Mathematics

All entering students will be enrolled in one of four standard Area A college-level credit-bearing mathematics courses-MATH 1001 (Quantitative Reasoning), MATH 1101 (Introduction to Mathematical Modeling), MATH/STAT (1401 Elementary Statistics), or MATH 1111 (College Algebra)-and a Corequisite Learning Support course unless they meet one of the exemption criteria listed below or are enrolled in a program for which a mathematics course is not required. If students enroll in programs that do not require a mathematics course, but they choose to take a mathematics course, standard assessment and placement rules will apply.

Note: MATH 1111 has higher placement and exemption criteria than MATH 1001, MATH 1101, and MATH/STAT 1401.

The exemption criteria below apply to the requirement to enroll in a Corequisite Learning Support course, not to the college-level mathematics course requirement. Institutions may set higher exemption criteria.

MATH 1001 (Quantitative Reasoning) and

MATH 1101 (Introduction to Mathematical Modeling) and

MATH/STAT 1401 (Elementary Statistics)

Students meeting any of the criteria on the list below may enroll in MATH 1001, MATH 1101, or MATH/STAT 1401 without the corequisite Learning Support courses (MATH/STAT 0996, MATH 0997 or MATH 0998):

• Student already has credit for an Area A mathematics course (must meet the minimum grade requirement for the course at the institution, which may be a “C” or higher).
• Student has a Mathematics Placement Index of 1165 or higher. *
• Student has placed in Pre-Calculus or a higher mathematics course (e.g., College Trigonometry or some form of calculus).
• Student has a high school GPA (HSGPA - this is the same HSGPA that is used in calculation of the Freshman Index) of 3.2 or higher and has completed the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) in mathematics. If the RHSC in mathematics has 27 not been completed, HSGPA may not be used to exempt this requirement.
• Student has an ACT Mathematics score of 17 or higher.
• Student has an SAT Mathematics score of 400 or higher on the “old” SAT.
• Student has an SAT Math section score of 440 or higher on the “new” SAT. **
• Student has a Classic Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 67 or higher.
• Student has an Accuplacer Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics score of 258** or higher.

* At the institution’s option, the Mathematics Placement Index (MPI) may continue to be used for students who have at least two of the following: 1) High school grade point average, 2) (Old) SAT or ACT scores, 3) Classic Accuplacer scores.

** “New” SAT scores and Next-Generation Accuplacer scores may not be used to calculate Mathematics Placement Indices (MPI).

MATH 1111 College Algebra

Students who do not qualify for initial enrollment in MATH 1111 (with or without corequisite Learning Support) may enroll in MATH 1001 or MATH 1101 (with or without corequisite support) and may later enroll in MATH 1111 after successfully completing MATH 1001 or MATH 1101.

Criteria for Placement into MATH 1111 with Corequisite Learning Support:

Students meeting any of the criteria on the list below may enroll in MATH 1111 with Corequisite support, MATH 0999. (Institutions may set higher requirements to enroll in MATH 1111 with corequisite support.)

• Student has a Mathematics Placement Index of 1165 or higher. *
• Student has a high school GPA (HSGPA - this is the same HSGPA that is used in calculation of the Freshman Index) of 3.2 or higher and has completed the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) in mathematics. If the RHSC in mathematics has not been completed, HSGPA may not be used to meet this requirement.
• Student has an ACT Mathematics score of 17 or higher. o Student has an SAT Mathematics score of 400 or higher on the “old” SAT.
• Student has an SAT Math section score of 440 or higher on the “new” SAT. **
• Student has a Classic Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 67 or higher.
• Student has an Accuplacer Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics score of 258** or higher.

Criteria for Direct Placement into MATH 1111:

Students meeting any of the criteria on the list below may enroll in MATH 1111 without the Corequisite Learning Support course (MATH 0999). Institutions may set higher requirements for direct enrollment in MATH 1111.

• Student already has credit for MATH 1001 Quantitative Reasoning or MATH 1101 Introduction to Mathematical Modeling (must meet the minimum grade requirement for the course at the institution, which may be a “C” or higher).
• Student has a Mathematics Placement Index of 1265 or higher.
• Student has placed in pre-calculus or a higher mathematics course (e.g., College Trigonometry or some form of calculus). 28*
• Student has a high school GPA (HSGPA - this is the same HSGPA that is used in calculation of the Freshman Index) of 3.4 or higher and has completed the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) in mathematics. If the RHSC in mathematics has not been completed, HSGPA may not be used to exempt this requirement.
• Student has an ACT Mathematics score of 20 or higher.
• Student has an SAT Mathematics score of 470 or higher on the “old” SAT.
• Student has an SAT Math section score of 510 or higher on the “new” SAT**
• Student has a Classic Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 79 or higher.
• Student has an Accuplacer Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics score of 266** or higher.

* At the institution’s option, the Mathematics Placement Index (MPI) may continue to be used for students who have at least two of the following: 1) High school grade point average, 2) (Old) SAT or ACT scores, 3) Classic Accuplacer scores.

** “New” SAT scores and Next-Generation Accuplacer scores may not be used to calculate Mathematics Placement Indices (MPI).

Examinations

Final examinations are held at the end of each term in accordance with a published schedule. No final examinations may be given in advance of the date scheduled unless authorized by the dean of the appropriate college. If a student has more than two final exams scheduled in a single day, they may reschedule all but two of them through the cooperation of faculty members, department chairs, college deans, and, if necessary, the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. During the term of their graduation, an undergraduate student may be excused from final examinations at the discretion of the instructor of each course in which the student is doing passing work.

Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act (FERPA): Confidentiality Of Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include the following:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request an amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of their right to a hearing regarding the request for 39 amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing. The hearing body shall be a subcommittee appointed by the chair of the Senate Committee on Student Services.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person, including a student, serving on an official committee, such as disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing their tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility. With no attempt to make this list exhaustive, other types of disclosures that do not require prior consent of the student include these:

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University of West Georgia to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202-45605.

University officials may provide Directory Information concerning a student unless the student files a Non-Disclosure Form with Student Solutions. This form must be filed annually by September 15 to assure that locator information not be published in the student directory. Directory Information includes name, address, telephone listing, major field of study, dates of attendance, previous institutions attended, degrees and awards received, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, height and weight of members of athletic teams, photograph, and full- or part-time status.

Focus Area

Federal financial aid rules indicate that students must be enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree, but they do not need to have a declared major. U.S. Department of Education staff suggest that undeclared students be reported as being in General Studies (CIP code 24.0102) until they declare a major. Thus students who select a focus area are eligible for federal financial aid under the same terms as other students. 

Students who transfer to a USG institution enter by declaring or major (or, if appropriate, a focus area).  If the student is not changing programs as well as schools, it is possible, but not guaranteed, that the focus area will be the same at both the old and new institution.  Regardless, there is no expectation that the student’s previous focus area will persist at the new institution, and it is more meaningful for the student to be aligned into the new institution’s academic focus areas, since this alignment drives curricular, co-curricular, advising and career counseling communications and offerings.

• Focus Area-Arts
• Focus Area-Business
• Focus Area-Education
• Focus Area-Health Professions
• Focus Area-Humanities
• Focus Area-Social Sciences
• Focus Area-STEM
• Focus Area-Wellness & Sport

Foreign Language

Students who have completed more than two years of a foreign language in high school should begin their college language study at the 1002 level or higher. Since high school programs vary in content and quality, those in doubt about the appropriate language program class should consult with the International Languages and Cultures program faculty before registration.

Please note: Students may retake a foreign language course for credit at the 1000 or 2000 level only if they have not completed a course with a higher number for credit.

Grade Appeal

Students have the right to appeal a course grade. Grade appeals must be submitted in writing, using the UWG Student Grade Appeal Form found on the Registrar’s website at https://www.westga.edu/student-services/registrar/forms.php and following the procedures outlined below. All grade appeals, regardless of their nature, shall be initiated no later than the following semester after cause for the appeal occurred and concluded no later than one year (12 calendar months) after the assignment of the grade. There are two types of grade appeals:

1. Dishonesty Grade Appeal - If the faculty member assigned the grade due to an allegation of cheating, plagiarism, or some other act of academic dishonesty and the student wishes to pursue the appeal, their case should be considered a Dishonesty Grade Appeal. Appeals of grades assigned due to an allegation of Academic Dishonesty may be made as soon as a grade penalty on the grounds of academic dishonesty has been levied against a student.
2. Grade Determination Appeal - If the reasons underlying the appeal are based on policy disagreements or alleged charges of arbitrary or unfair treatment by the involved faculty member, the appeal should be considered a Grade Determination Appeal. Grade determination appeals must be initiated during the semester immediately following the semester in which the course grade is assigned.

Grade Appeal Review and Decision Process

1. Student Initiates the Grade Appeal: The student must complete and sign the Student Grade Appeal Form, attach a short memo or letter stating the exact nature of the appeal and reason, attach any supporting documentation, and submit the entire packet to the Department Chair of the department in which the course is taught.
2. Department Level: The Chair consults with the student and with the faculty member and determines whether the appeal is a Dishonesty Grade Appeal or Grade Determination Appeal.
   1. The Chair examines the available evidence and renders a decision: Either grant the appeal and change the grade, or deny the appeal. The Chair notifies the student of their decision.
   2. If the appeal is granted, the Chair submits the grade change in writing to the Registrar and notifies the student that the appeal is granted.
   3. If the appeal is denied, the student may accept the Chair’s decision and end the appeal process, or they may request that the appeal and all associated documentation be forwarded to the Dean’s office (dean or designee) for further review.
3. College Dean Level: The Chair forwards the appeal to the Dean/designee. The appeal packet should include the Student Grade Appeal Form (complete information, decision indicated, and signatures/initials from both the student and the Chair) and all associated documentation provided by the student and the faculty member, along with a brief statement from the Chair regarding her/his decision.
   1. The Dean/designee reviews the appeal and all associated documentation and available evidence and renders a decision: Either grant the appeal and change the grade, or deny the appeal.
   2. The Dean’s Office notifies the student of their decision.
   3. If the appeal is granted, the Dean’s Office submits the grade change in writing to the Registrar.
   4. If the appeal is denied, the student may accept the decision and end the appeal process, or s/he may request that the appeal and all associated documentation be forwarded to the Provost’s office for submission to the Grade Appeals Subcommittee.
4. Grade Appeals Subcommittee Level: An appeal forwarded to the Provost’s office for referral to the Grade Appeals Subcommittee should include the Student Grade Appeal Form (complete information, decisions indicated, and signatures/initials from the student, Chair, and Dean/designee), documentation, and decision statements from the previous levels.
   1. The subcommittee’s review purpose is described here:
      Dishonesty Grade Appeals: The purpose of the subcommittee in hearing this type of appeal is to (1) determine if academic improprieties did take place and (2) to review the appropriateness of the faculty member’s corrective action as it related to the final grade assignment. Grade Determination Appeals: The purpose of the subcommittee in hearing this type of appeal is to review the totality of the student’s performance in relationship to their final grade.
   2. The chairperson of the subcommittee will submit in writing to the Provost/designee the conclusions and recommendations of the subcommittee.
      If the appeal is granted, the Provost’s office submits the grade change in writing to the Registrar and notifies the student that the appeal is granted.
      If the decision of the subcommittee is to return the appeal to the department for further action, it is the responsibility of the Department Chair to follow through with the instructions of the subcommittee. The Provost/designee notifies the student that the appeal was returned to the department for further action. After re-examining the student’s performance, the Department Chair notifies the student of the final grade and notifies the Registrar of a grade change, if warranted. If the appeal is denied, the student is notified of the subcommittee’s decision.
   3. In unusual circumstances, the Provost/designee may review the decision of the subcommittee for further action (e.g., judicial sanctions).

Fairness and Procedural Safeguards Governing Cases of Academic Dishonesty

In order to guarantee fairness and proper procedural safeguards for all concerned, the subcommittee shall be guided by the following procedures:

1. The subcommittee will hear a case only if the student has exhausted all administrative remedies through the appropriate department chair and their college dean.
2. The subcommittee chairperson will consult with both the faculty member and student concerning the hearing procedures, the time, date, and place of the hearing and will ensure relevant materials reach all parties in a timely fashion.
3. The burden of demonstrating a preponderance of evidence shall rest upon the officials or faculty member who originated an action against a student or assigned for cause a particular grade.
4. The student appearing before the committee shall have the right to be assisted by an advisor of their choice.
5. During the hearing the student shall have the opportunity to testify and to present evidence and witnesses own their behalf. They shall have opportunity to hear and question adverse witnesses. In no case shall the subcommittee consider statements against a student unless the student has been given an opportunity to rebut unfavorable inferences that might otherwise be drawn.
6. All matters upon which a decision will be based must be introduced at the proceeding before the subcommittee. Any conclusions drawn by the subcommittee shall be based solely upon such evidence.
7. In the absence of a transcript, an audio recording of the hearing shall be made.
8. Appellants who fail to appear after proper notice will have their cases heard in absentia.
9. The chairperson of the subcommittee will submit in writing to the Provost/designee the conclusions and recommendations of the subcommittee.
10. See the Board of Regents Policy Manual for more information.

Fairness and Procedural Safeguards Governing Grade Determination Appeals

In order to guarantee fairness and proper procedural safeguards for all concerned, the subcommittee shall be guided by the following procedures:

1. The subcommittee will hear the case only if the student has exhausted all administrative remedies through the appropriate department chair and their college dean.
2. The subcommittee chairperson will consult with both the faculty member and student concerning the hearing procedures, the time, date, and place of the hearing and will ensure relevant materials reach all parties in a timely fashion.
3. The burden of demonstrating a preponderance of evidence of arbitrary or unfair grading rests on the student. The student should realize such a charge is a serious one and refrain from taking capricious action.
4. Both the student and faculty member shall be given an opportunity to present their case and to refute the case presented by the other.
5. All matters upon which a recommendation will be based must be introduced during the hearing before the Subcommittee. Recommendations shall be based solely upon such evidence.
6. Appellants who fail to appear after proper notice will have their cases heard in absentia.
7. The chairperson of the subcommittee will submit in writing to the Provost/designee the conclusions and recommendations of the subcommittee.

Grades, Grade Points

The institution grade point average is calculated by dividing the number of hours scheduled in courses attempted in which a grade of A,B,C,D,F, or WF was received into the number of grade points earned on those hours scheduled with adjustments for repeated courses according to the policies in place when the course was initially attempted. A grade of WF counts as an F. GPAs are truncated, not rounded up. The institution grade point average is recorded on the student’s permanent record. Remedial credit shall in no way affect the institutional grade point average.

Graduation Policies

The University of West Georgia awards degrees and stand-alone certificates two times a year corresponding with the end of each semester and only to the students who have applied and who are meeting all graduation requirements at the time final grades are posted. How to Apply:

Bachelor’s Degree

Students seeking a baccalaureate degree should submit the Graduation Application along with the $40 (per degree) application fee through the online application in BanWeb by the appropriate deadline listed below.

Nexus Degree

Students seeking a Nexus degree should submit the Graduation Application along with the $40 (per degree) application fee through the online application in BanWeb by the appropriate deadline listed below.

Stand-Alone Certificate

Students seeking stand-alone certificates should submit the Graduation Application along with the $20 (per stand-alone certificate) application fee through the online application in BanWeb by the appropriate deadline listed below.  Certificate students do not attend the graduation ceremony.

Graduation Application Deadlines:

Spring Graduation - October 1

Fall Graduation - August 1

Graduation Applications are available six months prior to the application deadline.  Application instructions are available on the UWG Graduation website (http://www.westga.edu/graduation).

Students must submit a graduation application and fee for each degree or stand-alone certificate they are pursuing. The graduation application and non-refundable application fee (per degree or stand-alone certificate) can be deferred up to one year from the initial term of scheduled graduation. For example, a student who applies for Spring 2024 graduation would have until Spring 2025 to graduate without having to complete another application for graduation or pay an additional graduation fee. If the student does not graduate within one year from the originally scheduled graduation date, the student must reapply for graduation and pay the required application fee again.

Graduation Policies:

1. Candidates may choose to meet the degree requirements of the current catalog or any catalog within six years prior to graduation, provided that the candidate was enrolled in the degree program during the year of the catalog chosen.
2. A student’s graduation will be delayed one semester if:
   • all incomplete (I) grades are not removed and a grade recorded in the Registrar’s Office by the grade deadline of the term in which the student is graduating;
   • transient, study abroad, credit by exam or any other type of credit is not recorded in the Registrar’s Office by the grade deadline of the term in which the student is scheduled to graduate;
   • the student is not meeting graduation requirements after grades are posted for the term in which the student is scheduled to graduate.

Commencement

Students are encouraged to attend commencement. If attendance is not possible, the student should notify the Registrar’s Office. A student may participate in only one commencement ceremony per degree earned.

University of West Georgia hosts commencement ceremonies twice a year, in the Fall and Spring semesters.  Students completing degree requirements in the Summer semester may participate in either the Fall or Spring ceremony based on their remaining credit hours for degree completion. Any student with 6 credit hours or less for degree completion in the Summer semester may participate in the Spring ceremony immediately preceding. Any student with more than 6 credit hours for degree completion in the Summer semester may participate in the Fall ceremony immediately following.

Graduation with Honors

The University of West Georgia awards baccalaureate degrees with honors to those undergraduates who have earned a minimum of a 3.50 grade point average at UWG (institutional GPA). Those candidates who have transferred from other institutions will qualify for honors if they have earned a minimum of a 3.50 institutional GPA and a combined 3.50 GPA for institutional and transferred courses (overall GPA). Course repeats are calculated into the institutional & overall GPAs as stated in the Repeat Policy. Baccalaureate degrees are awarded with honors based on the following grade point average range for all courses attempted:

• 3.50 - 3.79 GPA - honors (cum laude)
• 3.80 - 3.89 GPA - high honors (magna cum laude)
• 3.90 - 4.00 GPA - highest honors (summa cum laude)

Because grades are not official until after the commencement ceremony, the initial honors designation is based on the student’s honors GPA at the end of the semester prior to the graduating semester. Students who have not met the GPA requirements to be designated as an honors recipient at the time of commencement will not be allowed to walk as an honors recipient or to purchase honors cords from the University Bookstore. Official honors designation will be determined after the commencement ceremony when term grades are official and the honors GPA is recalculated. GPAs are truncated to the second decimal place and will not be rounded (example, a 3.49 will not be rounded to a 3.50). Students who graduate with honors will have their honors status (cum laude, etc.) notated on their official academic transcript and their diploma. This policy is effective beginning in the fall 2020 semester. 

Hardship Withdrawal Policy

A Hardship Withdrawal is an exception that permits a student to withdraw from all courses after the official Drop/Add period during the semester. It is intended for the student who has experienced an acute, traumatic event that prevents them from completing the semester. That same event also makes it impossible for the student to take an I (incomplete) and finish the work the next semester. Thus, the Hardship Withdrawal is based on unusual or emergency circumstances beyond the student’s control. Such circumstances are categorized as follows:
Physical

• Examples include bodily injury or invasive surgery resulting in prolonged absences from class or unexpected physical disability preventing completion of course work. Necessary documentation to support such claims would include a physician’s report, including name, address, phone, nature of illness or accidents, dates of treatment, prognosis, and recommendation.

Psychological

• Examples include extreme mental duress suffered from traumatic experiences of the severity and frequency to prevent completion of course work. Necessary documentation to support such claims would include a memo from a Counseling Center counselor that includes dates of treatment and a clear recommendation of whether a hardship withdrawal be given.

Personal

• Examples include significant change in financial status or personal tragedy, such as the death of a loved one or domestic disruptions, to the degree to prevent completion of coursework. Necessary documentation to support such claims might include copy of divorce papers, financial statements, police reports, obituaries, or other pertinent documents.

The following list is illustrative of invalid reasons for a hardship withdrawal. A request using these reasons will not be approved.

• Poor performance in one or more courses
• Registration for the wrong course
• Preference for a different professor or class section
• Failure to drop course during the drop/add period
• Failure to withdraw by the published deadline using normal procedures

Under what conditions may a “Request for Hardship Withdrawal” be approved?

A Hardship Withdrawal is intended as relief for extreme circumstances and is granted only in special instances. The following conditions apply:

1. Students may request a hardship withdrawal after the official Drop/Add deadline published in the semester term calendar until the Friday immediately prior to the final week of the term. Hardship Withdrawals requested after the Friday immediately prior to the final week of the term will be treated as a Retroactive Hardship Withdrawal.
   • Retroactive Hardship Withdrawals will not be approved if the student has completed all course requirements such as a final examination and/or a final project.
   • Retroactive Hardship Withdrawals will not be approved for terms occurring more than six months prior to the time the request is made.
2. The student must withdraw from all classes during the current term, and may not select only certain classes from which to withdraw.
   • Under unusual circumstances, a student may be granted a hardship withdrawal from only one class, while being allowed to remain in others.
   • An example of unusual circumstances would be a student who is passing an applied piano course and injures a finger, thus being unable to play the piano the rest of the semester. A student would be allowed to complete other courses being taken concurrently.

Students should be aware of the following four points when a hardship withdrawal is approved:

• A hardship withdrawal does not remove courses from the academic record. Course grades are converted to W for the hardship withdrawal semester.
• The W grades do not count against the overall grade point average.
• The W grades will impact the Financial Aid Pace of Progression calculation because none of the courses in the hardship withdrawal semester are completed. See the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for financial aid eligibility at https://www.westga.edu/student-services/financialaid/satisfactory-academic-progress.php for more information.
• Students who are granted a hardship withdrawal do not receive refunds of expenditures associated with the hardship withdrawal term.

See this link for information on how to request a hardship withdrawal: https://www.westga.edu/assets/registrar/docs/Hardship_Withdrawal_Form_RevJun2021_Fillable.pdf 

Independent Studies

Some departments may offer independent studies, directed readings, and individual research projects. These are not substitutes for scheduled courses (though department chairs may authorize such substitutions in exceptional circumstances). When offered, independent studies are intended to provide students who are well advanced in their majors with the opportunity to explore research projects on their own with limited faculty supervision.

Limited Course Withdrawals

Undergraduate students may withdraw from courses with a grade of “W” (Withdraw Passing) a maximum of six times during their entire undergraduate enrollment at the University of West Georgia. Students must withdraw from courses during the Withdrawal “W” Period, as noted on the Registrar’s Calendar in The Scoop. Retroactive withdrawals for prior terms are not permitted. The Withdrawal “W” Period typically begins after Drop/Add and closes at mid-term. Grades of “W” do not count toward the grade point average.

It is recommended that students consult with the instructor, academic advisor, Financial Aid, and Office of Student Accounts and Billing Services, as applicable before making the decision to withdraw from a course, since undesirable consequences may follow.  International students on F1/J1 visas must also consult with the International Student Admissions and Programs (ISAP) office as failure to do so could also affect their immigration status and lawful presence in the U.S.

 For example:

• Student athletes must maintain full-time status to retain athletic eligibility.
• International students on an F-1 or J-1 visa must maintain full-time enrollment to avoid termination of status and other benefits.
• Withdrawing from a course will delay progress toward graduation.

Students who attempt to withdraw from a course after reaching their maximum of six withdrawals will continue to be enrolled and will receive a grade at the end of the term, unless the Dean (or Dean’s designee) approves the exception. See Petition for Exceptions below.

Automatic Exceptions

The following exceptions do not count toward the maximum of six course withdrawals:

• Grades of W placed on the transcript prior to Fall 2013
• Grades of W included in transfer work
• Withdrawals from courses taken during Summer terms
• Hardship withdrawal
• Military withdrawal
• Administrative withdrawal
• Formal withdrawal from the university

Petition for Exceptions

After the limit of six withdrawals is reached, students are permitted to request exceptions only for circumstances beyond their control. Students appeal in writing to the Dean (or Dean’s designee) of the college or school that houses their major. Undeclared students should appeal in writing to the Dean of the Honors College (or Dean’s designee). The written request (typewritten) should include the following: (1) description of the exact nature of the appeal, (2) reason for the appeal, and (3) supporting documentation, if applicable. Appeals are not heard unless the student has reached the maximum number of withdrawals allowed.

Orientation

To assist new students in becoming adjusted to college life as quickly as possible, West Georgia conducts an orientation program that consists of testing, preregistration advisement, special lectures, and social gatherings. All new students are required to participate.

Physical Education Policy

University policy allows each of the six colleges to set its own physical education requirements. For this catalog year, the requirements are as follows:

• The College of Arts, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry has no physical education requirement.
• The College of Education requires 3 hours of physical education that must include one 2-hour Health and Wellness course and one 1-hour activity course.
• The Richards College of Business has no physical education requirement.
• The Tanner Health System School of Nursing has no physical education requirement.
• The School of Communication, Film, and Media has no physical education requirement.
• University College has no physical education requirement.

All students are required to satisfy the physical education requirements of the college from which they graduate (not the college in which the student was first admitted as a degree candidate). The physical education activity requirement will be waived for veterans with two years of active military duty. No PWLA course credit may be applied toward the number of academic hours required for a degree.

For detailed requirements and exceptions, see the specific degree program description section of the catalog.

Registration

Registration for a future semester is held for continuing students and new fully admitted graduate students during the preceding semester. Course listings are available on BanWeb, http://banweb.westga.edu under Public Access, Class Bulletin. The Scoop gives detailed instructions for registering and paying fees.

Late Registration is held during the drop/add period of the semester. A $75 late fee is charged to continuing students who did not participate in on-time registration.

Repeating a Course to Replace a Grade

A student may repeat a course taken at West Georgia in order to replace an earlier grade earned in a course taken Fall 1996 or later. Beginning Fall 2020, the academic standing and institutional GPA will be based on the highest grade earned. If a student repeats a course and earns a lower grade, the highest grade from a previous attempt will be used in calculating the academic standing and institutional GPA.

• In the case of courses with variable course titles, the repeated course must have the exact same title as the original course.
• Students may repeat XIDS 2001, 2002, and 2100 and use the grade replacement rules regardless of the titles of the courses taken. (Effective Summer 2001)
• All course attempts will remain on the official transcript. The highest grade earned will be designated by an “I” (include in GPA); all other attempts will be designated by an “E” (exclude from GPA).
• This policy applies only to undergraduate students repeating coursework prior to graduation. If a student has graduated with a bachelor’s degree from West Georgia, coursework repeated after graduation will not replace coursework taken prior to graduation. Students who are repeating courses that were previously transferred or who plan to repeat a course as a transient student should review the transfer repeat policy in this catalog. 

Student Classification

Student classification is based on the number of earned semester hours of academic credit. The classifications are as follows:

Study Abroad

The University offers a range of study abroad options for students at all levels of their academic careers. Studying abroad allows students to combine academic coursework with an overseas experience. Students may select programs taught in English or may participate in language immersion or exchange programs in Spanish, French, and German. The Office of Education Abroad provides advising to help each student choose the program and coursework that best fits their academic needs and interests.

Short-term program offerings vary from year to year, and students should visit the study abroad website (http://studyabroad.westga.edu) or the Office of Education Abroad (Mandeville 115) for a complete list of opportunities. Many short-term programs are designed for students who have not traveled extensively and provide a mix of classroom instruction and site-specific field trips, with airfare, housing, and some meals usually included in the program fee. For upperclassmen interested in specialized semester-long programs, the university offers exchange programs in several European countries, South America, Asia, and Australia. Exchange students generally pay on-campus tuition and fees while studying at the exchange partner institution.

Students who participate in study abroad programs or semester exchanges may apply their current financial aid, including Hope scholarship funds, to their study abroad program fees. In addition, students may apply for study abroad scholarships through the study abroad website.

Technology Access Policy

The University of West Georgia requires all students to have ready access to a computer as students will be expected to use a computer for coursework. A personal computer is recommended but not required. The University provides some computer labs on campus;  access to these labs at times may be limited. The University also provides access to virtual labs at https://www.westga.edu/its/virtual-computer-lab/.  A list of current software in the virtual labs can be found at https://www.westga.edu/its/virtual-computer-lab. Students are responsible for making plans necessary for timely completion of their class assignments. The University provides all students access to email, word processing, spreadsheet, and web browsing software. For more details on what is recommended, see https://www.westga.edu/its/sits/new-students-faq.php.

Transfer Credit Evaluation Policy

Transfer credit is generally accepted from regionally post-secondary accredited institutions, so long as similar credit is offered at the University of West Georgia. Credit earned at a non-regionally accredited institution may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The following stipulations on the evaluation of transfer credit will be upheld:

1. Undergraduate coursework may not substitute or transfer more than one level (e.g., a 1000‐level course may not be substituted or accepted in transfer to replace a 3000level course or vice versa). In rare cases and for some disciplines, there may be alignment between the learning outcomes and rigor of a transferred course and a UWG course that is two levels higher or lower. UWG may allow an exception to this policy for such cases if approved by the program coordinator, department chair or equivalent administrator, and the institution’s Chief Transfer Officer. 
2. Academic credit allowed for work done at another institution within a given period of time may not exceed the normal amount of credit that could have been earned at this University during that time. Students are required to complete a minimum of 33 academic credit hours at UWG to satisfy academic residence, dependent upon degree requirements.
3. According to Board of Regents policy, if a student transfers to UWG with an A.A. or A.S. degree from an institution within the University System of Georgia, the student will receive full credit for having completed Core Areas A - E. If the major differs between the A.A. or A.S. degree program and the major the student decides to pursue at UWG, there may be additional courses required at the 1000 or 2000 level that are specific to that degree major and/or are prerequisite for higher level courses that the student would have to take (example: Some majors require the student to have had Precalculus or Calculus I to enroll in some higher-level courses in the program of study. If the student had College Algebra as a part of their A.A. or A.S. program, they would still receive credit for having completed the Math section of Area A of the Core, but they would still be required to take Precalculus or Calculus I to complete the requirements of the major.). The Core credit policy does not apply to career degrees (A.A.S. and A.S.); in those cases, each course is evaluated individually and credit is given in areas where comparable courses are offered at West Georgia, including some courses that may be counted as Core or electives.
4. Dual/Joint Enrollment Credit: College credit earned at an accredited institution prior to high school graduation will be considered as transfer credit if the student was enrolled as a joint enrollment/early admission student.
5. The Board of Regents and the Technical College System of Georgia have established the Complete College Georgia Articulation Agreement between USG institutions for the transferring of General Education Courses. UWG has created a more expansive agreement with West Georgia Technical College (see Transfer Equivalency Tool to view transferable courses).
6. A student that previously attended a non-regionally accredited institution will need to provide a course syllabus for the UWG department chair of the respective transferring course to review for possible UWG credit. The faculty credentials who taught the transferring course may be requested. There is no appeal beyond the department chair decision on UWG equivalents. Contact the Office of the Registrar for additional information.
7. Provided all other stipulations regarding transfer credits are met, UWG will grant transfer credit for all transferable courses with a grade of “D” or higher, except for ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102, which require a minimum grade of “C”. Not all transferable courses may be eligible to count in the degree program per program regulations (see specific degree program for more information). a. Examples of courses that are not transferable: practicums, fieldwork, workshops, internships, capstones, directed studies, upper-level seminars, career courses (i.e., cosmetology), developmental courses, and education extension and correspondence. b. Transfer course equivalencies may be viewed at http://westga.edu/transfer. Courses listed reflect results from previously reviewed transcripts and is not a formal evaluation of credits. An official transcript must be sent from each institution that a student has attended for transfer credits to be evaluated.
8. For transfer and Readmitted students admitted Fall 2020 or later who have repeated a transferable course at a previous post-secondary institution(s), only the highest grade will be transferred and calculated into the Transfer GPA. For transfer courses that are repeated at UWG, and a higher grade is achieved, the repeated transfer course will be excluded from the Transfer GPA. a. UWG students who are approved to convert to transient status, please refer to the Transient Student Status policy in this catalog for additional information.
9. A student who previously attended a regionally accredited institution of higher education and transfers to UWG may be eligible for Academic Renewal for coursework taken three or more years prior to the term of enrollment at UWG. Students have two options to apply for Academic Renewal: a. Contact Undergraduate Admissions during the admissions process. b. Contact Student Solutions before the end of their third semester of enrollment or by the end of one calendar year from enrollment or re-enrollment, whichever comes first.
10. Students who experience problems with the transfer of credit should contact the Office of the Registrar to determine the nature of the problem. If the problem is not resolved, students should contact the University Chief Transfer Officer in the Office of the Provost to seek resolution to the problems. 
11. The University System of Georgia Board of Regents authorizes the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs to make decisions about exceptions on a case-by-case basis when questions arise about course substitutions in the Core Curriculum.

Transient Student Status

Students wishing to complete classes at another college or university to count toward their degree at the University of West Georgia (UWG) must maintain good academic standing at UWG and hold active student status at UWG for the transient term. Prior to taking the course(s), students must complete a Transient Status Permission Form, which includes the signatures of their advisor, the chair of the department in which the credit shall be granted, and the dean/designee of their major college. If the transient status involves study abroad, students must also obtain the signature of the Director of Education Abroad. International students must also obtain the signature of the Director of International Student Admissions and Programs (ISAP).  It is each student’s responsibility to consult the Undergraduate Transfer Student Policy, Transfer Course Equivalency Tool on the Registrar’s website, or contact the Registrar’s Office to determine if the course will be accepted as transfer credit at UWG. If a student repeats an institutional course as a transient student and receives a higher grade in the transient course, the previous grade will be excluded from the institutional (UWG) GPA. The highest grade received will be the grade to count in the institutional or transfer GPA. Transient status is given for one semester at a time, and students must have the host institution send an official transcript of the completed coursework to the Registrar’s Office at UWG to receive credit for the coursework. For final semester transient status restrictions, see Graduation Policies in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Two-Year College Graduates/Former Students

Students who have been academically suspended or dismissed from West Georgia may, as two-year graduates of accredited colleges or universities, be readmitted as degree candidates. This is a one-time option.  A minimum of 60 academic hours after the associate degree with at least a 2.0 grade point average is required for the bachelor’s degree.

Students accepted as transients from a two-year college to complete one or more courses needed for graduation at a two-year college will not be permitted to complete other work while enrolled as transients or to include the transient credit in the 60 hours of work required at West Georgia.

The following notation shall be placed on the official transcript of two-year college graduates readmitted to West Georgia:

“Readmitted as two-year college graduate; must complete a minimum of 60 additional hours with at least a 2.0 average for a bachelor’s degree.”

The University Year and Definition of a Credit Hour

The University is organized on the semester system. There are two semesters of approximately 15 weeks, a three-week term in May, and summer semesters of approximately four and eight weeks.

The University of West Georgia grants one semester hour of credit for work equivalent to a minimum of one hour (50 minutes) of in-class or other direct faculty instruction AND two hours of student work outside of class per week for approximately fifteen weeks of instructional time. For each course, the course syllabus will document the amount of in-class (or other direct faculty instruction) and out-of-class work required to earn the credit hour(s) assigned to the course. Out-of-class work will include all forms of credit-bearing activity, including but not limited to assignments, readings, observations, and musical practice. Where available, the university grants academic credit for students who verify via competency-based testing, that they have accomplished the learning outcomes associated with a course that would normally meet the requirements outlined above (e.g. AP credit, CLEP, and departmental exams).

U.S. and Georgia History and Constitution Requirements

USG institutions shall give instruction in the history of the United States, in the history of Georgia, and in the essentials of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia.  No undergraduate student shall receive a certificate of graduation or a degree without successfully completing coursework or passing a satisfactory examination on the history of the United States, the history of Georgia, and the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia.

Students may meet these requirements by passing HIST 2111  or HIST 2112  and POLS 1101  at West Georgia. The U.S. and Georgia history requirements may also be satisfied by passing examinations developed by the History program and administered by Academic Testing Services. The Georgia Constitution requirement may also be satisfied by passing an examination developed by the Political Science Department and administered by the Testing Office.

Students transferring from a non-USG or a non-TCSG Georgia institution or attended an institution outside the state of Georgia who receives credit for HIST 2111   or HIST 2112   or POLS 1101   will not have satisfied the Georgia history and constitution requirements unless the course description/syllabus states that the GA history or constitution was part of the course. The same applies to students who earn credit for HIST 2111  or HIST 2112   or POLS 1101  through International Baccalaureate testing, AP testing, CLEP testing, or DSST testing. The Georgia history and constitution requirements can be satisfied by passing examinations administered each semester by the Academic Testing Office.

Complete Withdrawal

Formal withdrawal from the University must begin with a written request to the Registrar’s office. At the time the request is presented, specific instructions are given to the student for the completion of formal withdrawal. Failure to officially withdraw may result in grades of F for the semester.

The Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management may administratively withdraw a student from the University after consulting, when appropriate, with the student’s parents or spouse, the Director of the Counseling Center and the University Physician.  Such action is taken when it is determined that the student suffers from a physical, mental, emotional, or psychological health condition that (a) poses a significant danger or threat of physical harm to the person or property of others, (b) causes the student to interfere with the rights of other members of the university community or with the proper activities or functions of the University or its personnel, or (c) causes the student to be unable to meet institutional requirements for admission and continued enrollment as defined in the Student Conduct Code and other publications of the University.

Except in emergency situations, a student shall, upon request, be accorded an appropriate hearing prior to a final decision concerning continued enrollment at the University.

See Hardship Withdrawal Policy.

Types of Complete Withdrawal:

Term Withdrawal

•  Student will be awarded a withdrawal grade of W or WF in each course based on the withdrawal period deadline (See Registrar’s Calendar).
•  All W grades Will Count toward maximum withdrawals limit of six (6). o Student’s account will remain active for one year from the term of the withdrawal.
•  Student will need to meet with their academic advisor prior to the beginning of Open Registration for the desired term for returning to the University of West Georgia.
•  Student will not be able to register until Open Registration begins (See Registrar’s Calendar).

Formal Withdrawal

•  Student will be awarded a withdrawal grade of W or WF in each course based on the withdrawal period deadline (See Registrar’s Calendar).
•  Student’s account will be marked inactive.
•  Student must apply for readmission to return to the University of West Georgia (Readmission policy).