Student Handbook 2016 - 2017

Contents
Catalog Links
Share

Admissions Requirements for Applicants

Age  

Applicants must be 16 years of age or older for college admission. The minimum age for admission in certain programs is greater than 16 years of age. The age requirement for certain programs may be different due to professional accreditation standards or applicable state or federal laws. Consult the Program Descriptions section for specific age requirements for each program of study.

Required Academic Criteria

Applicants must satisfy one of the four academic readiness paths unless otherwise specified by the program’s standards.

  1. A high school diploma (verified by an official transcript, including graduation date) which has met the attendance, academic, and/or assessment requirement for the state’s board of education, or equivalent agency, or a state-authorized examination the state recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma.
    • Secondary schools must be accredited by an agency included on the Technical College System of Georgia approved accreditation agency list.
    • Students with diplomas from secondary schools located outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated for equivalency by an approved outside evaluation organization (suggested agencies).
    • High school diplomas from unaccredited institutions, Certificates of Attendance or other certificates, credentials or other documents where the student did not complete all required coursework or testing required for a high school diploma in that state are not recognized for admission purposes.
  2. Applicants who have successfully completed (C or better) a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours at the degree level may submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges accredited by an accepted accrediting agency in lieu of a high school diploma or a state-authorized examination the state recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma as described above.
  3. Applicants of home schools located in Georgia who did not attend a recognized program:
    • Submit a Certificate of Attendance form from the local superintendent’s office or a Declaration of Intent to utilize a Home Study Program from the Georgia Department of Education verifying that the parent or legal guardian complied with the requirements of home Study programs as referenced in O.C.G.A. 20-2-690.
    • Submit annual progress reports or a final transcript for the equivalent of the home-schooled student’s junior and senior years. The final progress report should include the graduation date.
  4. Applicants of home schools located outside the state of Georgia who did not attend a recognized program:
    • Submit annual progress reports or a final transcript for the equivalent of the home-schooled student’s junior and senior years. The final progress report should include the graduation date.
    • Submit official SAT or ACT placement test scores that meet the minimum regular level placement score requirements.

Placement Testing

All program applicants must meet minimum placement testing requirements to determine regular, provisional, or learning support admission status. Most program applicants will take the COMPASS or ACCUPLACER placement test offered by West Georgia Technical College. Applicants may submit recent (within the last five years) SAT, ACT, ASSET, COMPASS or ACCUPLACER scores for review for placement status. Previous college or technical school course work completed at an accredited institution may be submitted for review of placement status.

Non-program seeking students are required to meet placement test score requirements per individual course registration.

Retest Policy

Applicants who complete the COMPASS or ACCUPLACER placement test with West Georgia Technical College are eligible to retest after a minimum waiting period of seven days. The retest fee is $15 per test section. All testing must be completed prior to Late Student Registration for the initial term of admission. Placement test scores received after Late Student Registration may not be accepted and will not be used for placement purposes.

Health

All applicants should be physically able to perform ordinary class and laboratory functions that are required by the program of study. Some programs require special immunizations or the submission of medical reports.

Transfer from Other Institutions

An official transcript is required for each college previously attended. Students who have attended college outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an outside professional credential evaluation service before any credit will be considered for transfer (suggested agencies).

In-State Residents

A student must be a United States Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen and a resident of the state of Georgia for 12 months before initial enrollment at the college to qualify as an “in-state resident” for admission and tuition purposes.

Residents of Chambers, Cleburne and Randolph counties in Alabama will be considered “in-state residents” for admission and tuition purposes.

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

  • A current Driver's License issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008.
  • A current ID issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008.
  • A current Driver’s License or ID from:
    • Alabama: Issued after August 1, 2000
    • Florida: Issued after January 1, 2010
    • South Carolina: Issued after November 1, 2008
    • Tennessee: Issued after May 29, 2004
  • A certified U.S. Birth Certificate showing the student was born in the U.S. or a U.S. territory. A photocopy is not acceptable
  • An approved completed FAFSA for the current financial aid year. 
  • A current, valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form 1-151 or 1-551).
  • A current, valid military identification card for active duty soldiers or veterans.
  • A U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (DS-1350) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)
  • A current U.S. Passport.
  • A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS form N-560 or N-561).
  • A U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570).

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

Out-of-State Residents

An out-of state resident must be a United States Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen but has not been a resident of the state of Georgia for 12 months before initial enrollment at the college. An out-of-state resident shall be enrolled on a space available basis and shall not displace any student desiring to enroll who is a resident of the State. An out-of-state resident will be charged tuition at two times the rate of in-state residents. A student initially enrolled as an out-of-state resident may complete a Change of Residency Request Form with the Office of Student Affairs 12 months after becoming a resident of the state. Official documentation of state residency will be required. In-state residency for admission and tuition purposes will begin the academic semester following the one-year anniversary date of documented initial Georgia residency.

International Students

Eligible Non-Citizens may qualify as an “in-state resident” or “out-of-state resident” for admission and tuition purposes as defined in the In-State Residents and Out-of-State Residents sections of this catalog.

Eligible Non-Citizens must meet the Federal Title IV definition, a United States permanent resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551); or a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or the holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Parolee (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired); “Victim of human trafficking,” T-Visa holder (T-1, T-2, T-3, etc…), or Cuban Haitian Entrant. Persons with a F1 or F2 student visa, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa do not meet the definition of an Eligible Non-Citizen. West Georgia Technical College is not approved by the Department of Homeland Security to accept students residing in the United States while on a student visa. Any other international student, determined eligible for admission, shall be enrolled on a space available basis and shall not displace any student desiring to enroll who is a resident of the State. An international student will be charged tuition at four times the rate of in-state residents.

International students residing outside the United States who are enrolled exclusively in online courses are not required to provide residency documentation.

Up one level