Admission to Piedmont

Freshmen (First Time in College-FTIC)

A First Time in College (FTIC) is defined as an individual who has not enrolled in any college courses with the exception of dual enrollment courses. FTIC must submit the following items in order to be considered for admission:

1. An application for admission;
2. An official transcript of all high school diploma course work or an official home-school transcript. Applicants should have completed at least 23 high school units. Suggested units include:

   Subject Area	Units
   Language Arts	4
   Math	4
   Social Studies	3
   Natural Science	3
   Foreign Language	2 (recommended)

3. If an applicant satisfied the requirements for a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), the official assessment scores report.
4. An official transcript of all dual enrollment credits from each college or university attended, if applicable, will be required when student enrolls.
5. Optional) An official score report of the results of the SAT or the ACT.

Home-Schooled Students

At Piedmont, we encourage academically talented students from home schools to join our learning community. Admission requirements for home-schooled students are the same as Freshmen (FTIC).

Transfer Students

A transfer student is defined as an individual who, having attended another institution of higher learning after high school graduation, is applying for admission to Piedmont University.

All transfer students should submit the following items in order to be considered for admission:

1. An application for admission;
2. Official transcripts from every college, university, or technical college attended. Transfer applicants must present a satisfactory academic record from each institution attended and must be in good standing at their most recent institution attended;
3. If the transfer student has less than 30 transferable semester credit hours from previously attended institutions, an official, final high school transcript or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) assessment scores report is required.
4. Undergraduate degree completion programs are available to students who have started, but not finished, a four-year undergraduate degree. See full details under Degree Completion below.
5. Students who have completed an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree at an accredited college or university are deemed to have completed the general education requirements at Piedmont University. This exemption does not apply to other associate degrees (e.g. AAS or AAT).

Other policies applicable to transfer students include the following:

• Students may receive transfer credit for courses taken at accredited institutions and foreign institutions approved for semester(s) abroad.
• Students who attended colleges not accredited at the time of attendance may be asked to provide additional materials including course syllabi, college catalog course descriptions, and instructors' credential information before transferability of the courses may be determined.
• Only grades of “C” or higher are transferred in all courses.
• For more information on what classes will transfer specifically, please refer to the transfer equivalency tool here: https://www.piedmont.edu/registrar/transfer-credit/.
• Developmental, orientation, student-assembly, and cultural-events credits are non- transferable.

Transfer applicants who are enrolled at other institutions and plan to enroll for courses at Piedmont University prior to the completion of course work at another institution must appeal in writing to the dean of the respective college for which they are being admitted for permission to complete coursework at the previous institution.

Admission to Piedmont University does not guarantee admission to a specific school or department. Certain programs have additional admission requirements which must be met before a student can begin taking the upper division classes in their degree program. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the appropriate academic department for additional admission requirements upon acceptance to the University granted by the Office of Admissions.

Admission to Piedmont University-Athens Campus is limited to students with previous college or university experience. Students must have completed at least 30 hours of transferable credit to be considered; those hours may have been completed as a dual enrollment student, while enrolled full-time at another college or university and/or by receiving a ‘3’ or better on final AP tests. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Degree Completion

A degree completion program is specifically designed for students who have started, but not finished, a four-year undergraduate degree. By accepting some or all credits a student has already earned from their previous education, degree completion programs offer students a faster and often less expensive alternative to starting an undergraduate education from scratch. In addition to accepting students who have started and not finished a bachelor’s degree, some degree completion programs cater specifically to students who have already earned an associate degree.

Athens and Demorest Campuses
To enter a degree completion program, Piedmont University must accept a minimum of 45 semester units of college-level credit from an accredited college or university or nationally recognized examination credit (CLEP or similar). First-time in college students who have earned 45 hours or more in dual enrollment and/or advanced placement courses are not eligible for the degree completion program and must enter as traditional freshmen. Students with fewer than 45 hours may appeal to the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences to enter the program.

Those who have completed an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree at an accredited college or university are deemed to have completed the general education requirements at Piedmont University. This exemption does not apply to other associate degrees (e.g. AAS or AAT).

Applicants who have not earned an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree will need to complete the degree completion general education requirements as outlined in the university catalog.

Credit is transferrable only for courses in which a grade of C or above is earned.

Special Populations
(Paraprofessional to Teacher)

Paraprofessionals working in a school system who wish to complete a Bachelor’s degree may enter a specifically designed degree completion program. These applicants must have earned at least 60 semester hours of college-level transfer credit from an accredited college or university or nationally recognized examination credit (CLEP or similar). Students with fewer than 60 semester hours may appeal to the Dean of the College of Education to enter the Degree Completion Program.

Those who have successfully completed an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree are also eligible for this degree completion program. Those who have completed an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree at an accredited college or university are deemed to have completed the general education requirements at Piedmont University. This exemption does not apply to other associate degrees (e.g. AAS or AAT).

Applicants with 60 hours of transferrable credit but who have not earned an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree may need to complete some required general education coursework. These applicants would follow the degree completion general education requirements as outlined in the university catalog.

Credit is transferrable only for courses in which a grade of C or above is earned.

Transient Students

A transient (visiting) student is defined as a student that is still currently enrolled at another accredited college or university in the United States and intends to apply their Piedmont University credit(s) to a degree from their home institution.

Transient students should submit the following items in order to be considered for admission:

1. The Transient student application
2. A Letter of Permission or Enrollment Verification form, showing student in good standing, available from their home institution’s Registrar’s office.

Failure to Disclose Official Transcripts

Students may not disregard their records from other institutions of higher education. Failure to disclose previous college attendance is sufficient cause for cancellation of a student’s admissions or registration and of any semester credits earned at Piedmont University. Non- disclosure of previous college or university attendance can compromise the ability to qualify for financial aid.

Dual Enrollment

A Dual Enrollment (DE) student is a high school student who registers for college courses while attending high school or home school. DE students may take a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester, with a maximum of 30 credit hours total. Courses must be on the list of approved courses from the State of Georgia. If a DE student chooses to take a course not approved by the State of Georgia, enrolls in more than 15 credit hours in a given semester, or exceeds 30 total credit hours, the student will be charged the typical undergraduate per credit hour tuition rate. Tuition for eligible DE students is provided through the GA Futures program. DE students are not eligible for federal financial aid.

DE students are eligible to take approved online courses. DE students are not eligible to take evening or hybrid courses. Any appeals to this restriction must be made in writing to the dean of the college in which a course is offered.

To be eligible for the DE program at Piedmont University the student must:

• Be enrolled as a Junior or Senior high school student in a public or independent high school or home study program.
• Apply and be accepted through the Undergraduate Admissions process, meeting the specific requirements for DE students.

Students wishing to participate in the DE program must submit to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions the following documents:

• Application for admission
• Official high school or home study transcripts with a 3.0 or higher grade point average (GPA)
• Completed Teacher Recommendation Form signed by a parent and a school official or home school administrator.
• Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in DE classes to be allowed to return for another semester.

International Students

An international student is defined as a student who is a non-U.S. citizen, not a permanent resident, and is not participating in DACA. Piedmont University welcomes international students as active members of the University.

In addition to the application requirements described in the catalog, the following additional admission documents must be submitted before an international student will be allowed to enroll:

1. Submit a course-by-course analysis of all secondary and post-secondary credits earned outside the U.S. We recommend utilizing the services of World Educational Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. or any current member of NACES (http://www.naces.org/). If submitting a secondary course work evaluation that reflects credits still in progress, the applicant must have a final official transcript submitted from the institution attended when available.
2. An official score report of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the University Entrance Examination Board or the American University Test (ACT) of the American University Testing Programs is required if available.
3. Non-native English speakers must also provide proof of English proficiency. Students may submit official scores of one of the following: 1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A satisfactory TOEFL score is 550 or higher on the paper-based version, 213 or higher on the computer-based version, or 79 or higher on the Internet-based version. A TOEFL score more than two years old will not be accepted. 2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A satisfactory IELTS band score is 6 or higher. 3. Georgia Tech Language Institute’s Intensive English Program (GTLI-IEP). Students must complete GTLI-IEP’s 700 Upper Advanced Level with a grade of “B” or higher in each of the four required classes and take the Michigan Test and receive a minimum score of 80 to show that they have successfully exited the ESL program. 4. Duolingo English Examination. Students must score a minimum of 100 on the Duolingo exam, as well as submit the video requirement. Scanned score reports of the above examinations are not acceptable for admissions consideration. Scores more than 2 years old will not be accepted.
4. A completed health form, along with proof of health insurance and immunizations.
5. A financial statement showing sufficient availability of funds and the source of these funds for the first year of college.
6. When all items listed above are received and if the student has been accepted to the university, a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status – For Academic and Language Students (I-20) can be released to the student.

Due to the time required for sending the additional documents needed for acceptance consideration, international students are urged to complete their application file at least 45 days prior to the semester they wish to enroll.

Non-Degree Status

Non-Degree (NDG) status is available for applicants who wish to take undergraduate or graduate level courses for personal or professional enrichment. No more than 15 semester hours may be taken as a non-degree student. Applicants who wish to enroll in more than 15 semester hours as a non-degree student must apply for permission from the Dean of the appropriate college.

Students applying for non-degree status who have not earned any degree will apply through Undergraduate Admissions as a Non-Degree seeking student. Students who already hold a Bachelor’s or other degree will apply through Graduate Admissions.

The non-degree student must meet prerequisite course requirements for any course taken. Non-degree undergraduate students are not assigned an academic advisor and are allowed to register for courses on a space-available basis.

Courses taken as a non-degree student may not be applied to a degree until the applicant has completed the admissions requirements for that degree, including any required admissions test. These courses will be evaluated by the Registrar and the program director or chair. Policies regarding transfer courses will apply.

Tuition for undergraduate courses taken as a non-degree student is charged at the undergraduate tuition rate. Tuition for graduate courses taken as a non-degree student is charged at the graduate tuition rate.

Non-degree students should submit the following to be considered for admission:

1. An application for admission; and
2. Official transcripts from all the colleges/ universities where the student attended or completed an undergraduate degree

Readmission

(Note: Graduate Students - see Graduate Readmission )

Undergraduate students who have not been enrolled at Piedmont University for less than two academic years and have not attended another institution must apply for readmission. To reapply, submit an Application for Undergraduate Readmission form available from the registrar's office. To reapply, submit an Application for Undergraduate Readmission form at least three weeks prior to the beginning of the semester for which you are seeking readmission. This form is available from the Registrar’s Office or www.piedmont.edu/registrar.

Undergraduate students who have been away from Piedmont University for more than two consecutive years or, who have attended other institutions since last attending Piedmont University, must go through the complete admissions process. The student will need to submit a new application available at piedmont.edu/apply.  They must provide necessary documentation, including transcripts from all institutions, which must be presented to and accepted by the Admissions Committee. They will be required to pay a $100 matriculation fee upon enrollment.

Students who are readmitted may follow the program of study outlined in the current Piedmont University catalog or if no more than five years have elapsed, may continue the program outlined in the catalog in effect at the time they initially enrolled. Program requirements and procedures are subject to change pending requirements of accrediting organizations.

Academic Forgiveness Policy

Academic Forgiveness allows former Piedmont students and prospective transfer students who experienced academic difficulty in the past to make a fresh start by removing roadblocks to being admitted and thus providing the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Undergraduate students seeking admission or re-admission to complete a degree and who have been out of any post-secondary institution for a period of at least five years may petition for Academic Forgiveness. Academic Forgiveness will initiate a new grade point average (GPA) that will be used to determine academic standing.

Guidelines for Academic Forgiveness:

• A transfer or former student who desires Academic Forgiveness may have his/her transcript(s) evaluated for Academic Forgiveness upon written request to the Dean of Admissions. The written request should be sent with the Application for Admission. The Dean of Admissions will consult with the dean of the appropriate college and an admissions recommendation will be made to the Admissions Committee.
• Only grades of “C” or higher will be used in determining academic standing; however, all coursework will remain a part of the transcript. All attempted coursework will be used in calculating honors for graduation.
• Academic Forgiveness will be granted only one time.
• Granting of Academic Forgiveness does not supersede financial aid policies regarding satisfactory academic progress.

Admissions Appeal

An applicant who is denied admission may appeal to the Vice President for Student Life and Leadership. The appeal must be made in writing and submitted electronically. Once this is submitted, the original file and the letter of appeal will be submitted to the Admissions Committee for a decision.