POUNCE
POUNCE is the registration process for all newly admitted freshmen. Using preferences a student indicates on an online POUNCE form, an advisor registers the student for classes based on those preferences, chosen major and available courses. Students receive POUNCE instructions and information via regular mail. For more information on POUNCE, contact the Center for Student Success at success@gcsu.edu or 478-445-2361.
INTRO
INTRO is the registration process for all newly admitted transfer students. Incoming transfer students will use the INTRO form to accept their offer of admission and to provide their advisor with information needed to properly advise the student for his or her first semester of study at Georgia College. Transfer students receive INTRO information and instructions after acceptance.
Registration
Continuing students may register for the upcoming term on line from their PAWS account. Registration instructions, including information on viewing holds, are available on line. See the University Calendar for registration dates or visit the Office of the Registrar in Parks Hall, 107. Students may not register if they have holds on their record that block them from registering.
Adding Courses
A student may add courses to his/her schedule through the last day of Add on the Academic Calendar for the term or part of term. Students may add classes via PAWS or by submitting an Add/Drop form to the Registrar’s Office for processing during this period. Students with an advisor hold must obtain approval from their academic advisor to add a class; no additional approvals are required during the add period. Changing sections of the same course does not require the approval of the advisor when using the Add/Drop form.
To add courses after the add period, a student must submit an Add/Drop form to the Registrar’s Office. During this period, the approval of the department chairperson for the course, the student’s academic advisor (only if an advisor hold exists), and the instructor of the course are required on the Add/Drop form. Following the last date to drop without academic penalty (last day to drop with a W), the signature of the dean of the college is also required.
Courses added after the payment deadline must be paid for in full on the day that the course is added to the student’s schedule.
Students may not attend, participate in, or receive credit for courses in which they are not properly registered.
Dropping Courses
Dropping courses refers to reducing one’s course load for a single term or discontinuing enrollment in one or more courses while remaining registered in others courses for the same term. For information on withdrawing from all courses, see Withdrawal from the University.
There are three distinct drop periods for each term. Specific dates for each period are included in the Academic Calendar.
Dropping courses with no penalty: A student may drop courses from his/her schedule with no penalty through the last day to drop without penalty as published in the academic calendar for each term or part of term (usually the fifth of classes in the fall/spring and the second day of classes in the summer). Students with an advisor hold must obtain approval from their academic advisor to drop a class; no additional approvals are required during the add period. Courses dropped during this period do not receive a W grade, do not count in the student’s 5W count, do not count in the student’s attempted hours and do not appear on the academic transcript. Students will not be charged tuition and fees for courses dropped during this period.
Dropping courses with a W grade: After the last day to drop a course with no penalty, but on or before the last day to drop a course with a W grade as published in the academic calendar for each term or part of term, students may drop courses by submitting an Add/Drop form to the Registrar’s Office. Approval of the instructor and academic advisor (only if an advisor hold exists) are required. Students will receive a W grade for courses dropped during this time period, and these courses will count in the student’s 5W count. Courses dropped during this time will also count in the student’s attempted hours, which will affect the student’s financial aid and HOPE eligibility. They will also appear on the academic transcript. No refunds will be issued for courses dropped during this period. Students may not drop courses during this period if they have previously been assigned a grade of F for excessive absences by their instructor.
Dropping courses with a WF: After the last day to drop a course with a W grade, students may drop courses and receive a WF by submitting an Add/Drop form to the Registrar’s Office. Approval of the instructor and academic advisor (only if an advisor hold exists) are required. A student who drops a course after the last day to drop a course with a W will receive a grade of "WF" (Withdrew Failing) for the course. A grade of WF counts the same as a grade of F in the student’s grade point average. Courses dropped during this time will count in the student’s attempted hours, which will affect the student’s financial aid and HOPE eligibility. They also appear on the academic transcript. No refunds will be issued for courses dropped during this period. Students may not drop courses during this period if they have previously been assigned a grade of F for excessive absences by their instructor.
Students attending classes that do not meet until after the published drop/add dates are allowed 24 hours following their first class meeting to adjust their course load.
Limit to Dropping Courses (5 W Policy): Undergraduate students may accumulate no more than five W grades. Once a student has accumulated five W grades, all subsequent drops will be recorded as WF. If a student withdraws from the university or drops a class due to an approved documented hardship, those W grades will not be counted as part of the five maximum.
Auditing Courses
Any student may audit any course with the permission of the instructor and registration for course as Audit. Audited courses will not be counted as part of the normal course load and no grades will be awarded. Instructors may set special conditions for students who audit their courses. Audited courses are designated with a grade of V. Auditing a course will not prevent a student from taking the course for credit at a later term. Students must register in the Registrar's Office for the course as an audit student and pay regular tuition and fees. Changes from audit to credit or vice-versa cannot be made after the last day to add courses.
Withdrawal from the University
To withdraw from the University, a student must complete a Withdrawal Request. Failure to withdraw officially will result in the grade of ‘F’ in all courses.
A student who withdraws from the University either temporarily or permanently at any time after the last day to drop a course without academic penalty (unless previously assigned an ‘F’ by the professor for excessive absences) will receive a grade of ‘WF’ (Withdrew Failing) for each course being carried at the time of withdrawal. However, the student may petition for a ‘W’ (Withdrew) if the withdrawal is due to nonacademic extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control and the student is passing all courses at the time of withdrawal.
The timing of withdrawals in order to avoid academic penalty is the responsibility of the student. Deadlines are published in the University Calendar.
Involuntary Medical Withdrawal Policy
A student may be administratively withdrawn from the University and/or from University housing when, in the judgment of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students and a professional member of the University’s Health Services or Counseling Services staff, it is determined that the student’s physical, mental, emotional or psychological health:
- poses a significant danger or threat of physical harm to the student or to the person or property of others; or
- causes the student to interfere with the rights of other members of the University community or with the exercise of any proper activities or functions of the University or its personnel.
Except in emergency situations, a student shall, upon request, be accorded a meeting with a University official or a hearing prior to a final decision concerning his or her continued enrollment at the University. If the student requests a hearing on such a matter, the Georgia College Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students shall appoint a hearing body, consisting of students and faculty.
Individual Instruction
Departments may offer courses by individual instruction only in an emergency situation in which a student must have the course immediately and only with the consent of the appropriate instructor and department chairperson.
Independent Study
Independent study offerings are found in the undergraduate course description section of the Catalog. Independent study courses include those areas of research, study, or investigation beyond those normally offered in the department curriculum.
Pending Payment Compliance
In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Georgia College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. Georgia College will not:
- Prevent the student’s enrollment;
- Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
- Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
- Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.
However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:
- Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
- Provide a written request to be certified;
- Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.