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Academic
Policies
The philosophy of Lanier Technical College is to allow
every student the maximum opportunity to graduate. The
Technical College System of Georgia implemented a policy
effective Spring Quarter 1992 which required that, prior
to graduation from Lanier Technical College, all students
must receive a GED or a high school diploma. The Adult
Education component of Lanier Technical College can advise
students on preparation and testing for the GED. For further
information, contact their office at 770.531.6363.
- The nature of the training programs at Lanier Technical
College is such that it is necessary for every student
to attend class regularly. Students are being trained
to enter the "world of work" as an employee,
and are expected to be present and on time every day,
just as they would on their jobs.
- Students who are unable to attend class or who will
be late for class should make every effort to call
the college 770-531-6300 (Main Campus) or 770-781-6800
(Forsyth Campus), 770-307-1190 (Winder-Barrow Campus),
706-216-5461 (Dawson Campus), or 706-335-1931 (Jackson
County Campus) and inform their instructor of their
absence or tardiness and give the reason.
- Attendance policies vary by program. It is the responsibility
of each student to clarify the exact attendance policy
of his/her particular program of study. No pro gram
of study allows absences in excess of 20% of the scheduled
class time, no matter the reason for the absences.
- Attendance policy for Practical Nursing is based
on the state board requirement of 1400 hours and is
more stringent than the regular policy. Other programs
which require licensing may have different attendance
policies. Students will receive a copy of the policy
from the program instructor when they enroll.
- Students will receive a grade of zero (0) for any
class work missed until the work is made up. Arrangements
for make-up work must be made with each instructor
upon the student's return to class.
Students who are terminated for attendance violations
may appeal only if they feel their program attendance
policy was not administered equitably to all students.
These students must present evidence that this is the
case in order to schedule an appeal. The appeal committee
will support appropriate implementation of each program's
attendance policy. Requests for a hearing must be made
within three (3) days of the termination. The appeal should
be scheduled through the Vice President for Student Affairs'
Office. The student will then be informed as to whether
or not he/she is to return to class until the hearing.
This hearing committee will have access to the student's
prior attendance records and information as needed to
make a fair decision regarding the case.
Each student who leaves class prior to the end of the
regular college day or before the end of any class must
secure the approval of the instructor or instructors and
will be counted tardy. In case of illness, the student
must check out of college through his/her instructor.
Students will be expected to adhere to the policies of
their respective departments. Failure to do so may result
in termination.
Questions and concerns about grades are often the result
of misunderstandings about grading practices and expected
standards. Direct communication between the instructor
and the student, including review of the course syllabus,
usually resolves these misunderstandings. If a student
receives a course grade which he/she believes is incorrect,
the student should contact the instructor no later than
the end of the first week of the following quarter to
discuss the concern. If conversation with the instructor
does not resolve the matter, the student will follow
the grade appeal procedure:
- The student will contact the Dean of Academic Affairs
to file the "Academic
Appeal Form" and to request a meeting to discuss
the issue. The Dean will conduct an investigation
in an effort to resolve the appeal and will give the
student an interpretation of the grade.
- If no solution is found after meeting with the Dean
of Academic Affairs, the student may file an appeal
with the Vice President of Academic Affairs or Vice
President of Campus Operations before the mid-term
of the quarter following the quarter in which the
grade was received, or the student may lose his/her
right to appeal.
- Upon receiving the completed appeal form, the Vice
President of Academic Affairs or Vice President of
Campus Operations will review the appeal, notify the
instructor that an appeal has been made, and activate
the Academic Appeals Committee to hear the student’s
appeal. Membership of this committee includes:
- Dean of Academic Affairs – Chair of Committee
- Student Government Representative
- A faculty member from a department not involved
in the appeal appointed by the Vice President
- A faculty member selected by the student making
the appeal
- A faculty member selected by the instructor whose
grade is being appealed
- Since the hearing conducted by the Academic Appeals
Committee is an in-house procedure and not a court
of law, no legal counsel or any other person may be
present except the student, the instructor, and appointed
members of the committee. Exceptions to this would
be granted by the Vice President only in the case
of a disabled student requiring some highly specialized
extraordinary assistance that could not be routinely
provided by the chair or another member of the committee.
- A meeting of the Academic Appeals Committee is scheduled
by the Vice President within two weeks of receiving
the appeal.
- On the date of the hearing, the Academic Appeals
Committee convenes at the appointed place with the
aggrieved student and involved faculty member. The
chair of the committee presides at the meeting. The
committee examines the evidence, calls witnesses as
necessary, and keeps informal minutes of the proceedings
that shall be available to the Vice President and
President.
- The faculty member involved in the appeal presents
his/her case to the committee (no longer than 15 minutes).
The aggrieved student is not present during this presentation.
The committee may question the faculty member concerning
his/her testimony. Following completion of the testimony,
the faculty member is dismissed.
- The student involved in the appeal presents his/her
case to the committee (no longer than 15 minutes).
The faculty member involved in the appeal is not present
during this presentation. The committee may question
the student concerning his/her testimony. Following
completion of the testimony, the student is dismissed.
- Following the hearing of all testimony, the committee
convenes to discuss the evidence and make a decision
as to the disposition of the appeal. A formal vote
will be taken by the chair to determine the outcome
of the appeal.
- The chair notifies the Vice President of the committee’s
recommendation within two working days of the hearing.
- The Vice President will notify the student and faculty
member in writing as to the disposition of the appeal
within five working days of the hearing date.
- Further appeal, if desired by either party, will
be presented to the President and Vice President.
- Decisions of the president are final.
Students are tardy if they are not in the classroom when
the class begins. Three tardies count as an absence. It
is the responsibility of the student to keep an account
of tardiness and absences. Excessive tardiness may result
in dismissal.
Students who transfer or withdraw from school must inform
the Student Affairs Office. All information should be
in writing so as to protect the student's scholastic record
and facilitate transfers to other colleges or employment.
The college's standard termination form is completed by
the student and the instructor. A reason for withdrawal
should be given. If the student plans to reenter, he/she
must complete a Re-Entry Request Form and return it to
the Admissions Office before the anticipated registration
date. An honorable dismissal cannot be given to any student
who has not satisfactorily accounted for all property
and financial obligations.
The TCSG Work Ethics program is designed to promote positive
work behaviors and to prepare students to be better, more
productive workers. Evaluation is based on the following
identified set of ten work ethics traits: Attendance,
Character, Teamwork, Appearance, Attitude, Productivity,
Organization, Communication, Cooperation, and Respect.
Students will receive a Work Ethics grade for all courses
except Learning Support. This includes Internet and
Web Enhanced/Hybrid classes. Work Ethics grades will
be reflected on student transcripts but will not be
computed into the grade point average (GPA).
Students may be eligible for advanced placement through
two methods: transfer credit and exemption credit.
Students may transfer between programs within Lanier Technical
College if they meet the individual requirements of acceptance
into those programs. Credit will be granted for previous
training as determined by the Technical College System
of Georgia policies, Registrar's Office, and program instructors.
Students transferring to Lanier Technical College from
another postsecondary institution will be considered for
admission if they are in good standing at their previous
institution, meet entrance requirements, and follow regular
admission procedures. Transfer applicants who are on academic
probation at their previous institution may be considered
for admission on academic probation.
Lanier Technical College recognizes previous postsecondary
course work by accepting credits that are applicable to
the student's program of study earned from other regionally
accredited institutions. The awarding of credit does not
guarantee that institutions subsequently attended by the
student will accept those credits. A student may receive
credit for courses taken at another postsecondary institution
if:
- Students desiring transfer credit submit a Transfer
of Credit Form to the Registrar;
- The course taken is essentially the same content
or at a higher level as the course at Lanier Technical
College;
- An official transcript is on file in the student's
admission file from all postsecondary institutions
attended;
- The course has the same number of credit hours (or
greater) as the course at Lanier Technical College;
- A grade of "C" or higher has been earned
for the course to be transferred;
- Departmental approval is required when specified
by the Registrar.
Students receiving VA benefits must submit a transfer
of credit request if courses are available for transfer.
A grade of "TR" will be entered on the permanent
record if credit is awarded. The hours will not be computed
in the grade point average or appear on the quarterly
grade report.
Armed Services Credit may be awarded for education/training
experiences in the Armed Services. Such experiences must
be certified by the American Council on Education (identified
in the Council's publication, Guide to the Evaluation
of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services). Credit
will be given on the basis of individual evaluation. Creditable
military experience must closely correspond in content
and competencies to courses in the Lanier Technical College
curriculum.
Foreign Earned Credit may be awarded based upon an evaluation
performed by an independent evaluation service. The Registrar
will make the final decision regarding the award of transfer
credit. Grade points will not be assigned to transfer
credit.
Exemption Credit earned by examination, in courses
where available, may be awarded when the student requests
course exemption by examination. The student must present
satisfactory evidence that he or she has prior knowledge
of a particular subject before being eligible to test.
A student interested in credit by examination should
confer with his/her advisor and the instructor of the
course to be exempted. However, a student cannot
take an exemption test for a course in which he/she
is currently or was previously enrolled.
If the student successfully passes the exemption test,
he or she will receive an "EX" on his/her
transcript. The grade will count in total hours earned
but will not be calculated in the student's grade point
average. Courses that are exempted may not be counted
in the calculation of a student's total credit hours
for determination of financial aid benefits, including
the HOPE Book Allowance.
An Exemption Credit Payment Form must be completed
by any student interested in attempting credit examination.
These forms as well as a listing of courses currently
available for exemption are available upon request in
the Office of Student Affairs.
The student will sign up to take the exam with the
exam instructor; his or her advisor must approve the
attempted exam and sign the Exemption Credit Payment
Form. The exemption fee(s) of $5 per credit hour for
the course(s) to be exempted must be paid at the Business
Office before the student will be allowed to
test.
When the exam is graded, the student will receive the
test results and a copy of the Exemption Credit Payment
Form. If a student passes the exemption test and would
like to add an additional course during the five (5)
day add period, he or she should see his or her advisor.
If a student fails the exemption test and would like
to add this course during the five (5) day add period,
he or she should see his or her advisor. If space is
available in the course to be added, fees for the added
course must be paid by cash, check or invoice before
the course will be added to the student's registration.
Academic and grading requirements are established in accordance
with state requirements. However, minimum standards for
training at Lanier Technical College become a permanent
record of the Georgia School System and are available
to other colleges, state officials, and potential employers
with the student's written approval through the Student
Affairs Office.
When a course is repeated, the highest grade is used in
the computation of the student's overall GPA. Exceptions
are grades of "W", "WP", and "AU."
When a "W", "WP", or "AU"
is the most recent grade, the previous grade is used in
the computation of the student's overall GPA.
Students' academic standing is updated quarterly and may
be viewed via Banner Web.
Grades will be recorded in letter grades. An overall 2.0
GPA (Grade Point Average) is required for graduation.
A minimum grade of "C" may be required for progress
from specified courses to more advanced courses. The following
grading scale is used for all Lanier Technical College
students:
|
90
- 100 |
|
=
|
|
A
(4.0) |
|
80
- 89 |
|
=
|
|
B
(3.0) |
|
70
- 79 |
|
=
|
|
C
(2.0) |
|
60
- 69 |
|
=
|
|
D
(1.0) |
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59
or below |
|
=
|
|
F
(0) |
|
WF |
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Withdrawn
Failing = F (0) after 25 class days |
|
WP |
|
Withdrawn
Passing after 25 class days |
|
w |
|
Withdrawn during first 25 class days |
|
I |
|
Incomplete |
|
AU |
|
Audit
(Non-Credit) |
|
EX |
|
Exemption |
|
AC |
|
Articulated
Credit |
|
TR |
|
Transfer
Credit |
An Incomplete (I) must be converted
to a grade before mid-term of the following quarter
from the date the Incomplete was recorded or it will
be converted to a punitive failing grade.
Withdrew (W) during the first 25 school
days. This grade does not affect GPA but may affect
financial aid eligibility.
WP and WF students
who withdraw after 25 school days will receive a "WP"
(Withdrawn Passing) or a "WF" (Withdrawn Failing)
depending upon his/her actual grades. The grade of "WF"
will be calculated as an "F" in the GPA. These
grades may affect financial aid eligibility.
Calculation of Grade Point
Average (GPA)
For calculating GPA, each letter grade has a point value.
Listed below are the values:
|
A |
|
= |
|
4 |
|
B |
|
= |
|
3 |
|
C |
|
= |
|
2 |
|
D |
|
= |
|
1 |
|
F |
|
= |
|
0 |
|
WF |
|
= |
|
0 |
The grade points are determined by multiplying the
number of points a grade is worth times the credit hours
a course carries. Thus a grade of an "A" (4
points) in a 5 credit hour course (4 x 5) equals 20
points. The same grade "A" in a 3 credit hour
course (4 x 3) equals 12 points. Example: An "CIS"
student's grades may appear as follows:
|
|
Credit
Hours |
|
Grade |
|
Points |
| SCT
100 Intro to Computers |
|
3 |
|
B
(3) |
|
9 |
| CIS
173 Operating Systems Concepts |
|
6 |
|
A
(4) |
|
24 |
| CIS
106 Computer Concepts |
|
5 |
|
D
(1) |
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total
Points |
|
|
|
|
|
38 |
Individual course points are added together to determine
total points. To determine the GPA, divide total points
by total credit hours: 38 / 14 = 2.71 GPA
A student who fails to maintain a 2.0 GPA in any quarter
will be placed on academic probation. The purpose of academic
probation is to alert the student that his/her academic
performance is not acceptable and to point out the possible
consequences if improvements are not made during the next
quarter of enrollment. A student placed on academic probation
(or admitted on probation) must attain a minimum 2.0 GPA
during the next quarter in attendance to remove himself/herself
from probationary status. A student who fails to do so
is subject to academic dismissal.
A student who fails to attain a minimum 2.0 GPA the next
quarter in attendance after being placed on probation
is subject to academic dismissal. A student who is academically
dismissed must stay out of school one full quarter before
petitioning for readmission. A second academic dismissal
could constitute a final dismissal from the student's
current program of study.
Waiver
Request Procedure for Academic Dismissal
Students placed on academic dismisssal that desire to
request a waiver (of the one quarter absence from the
college) may petition the Vice President of Academic Affairs
or the Vice President of Campus Operations. The waiver
request should include the reason for the decline in GPA
and the steps taken to correct the problem or situation
President's List
Students who maintain a 4.0 GPA attain the President's
List.
Students must have completed at least 12 credit hours
in the current quarter to be eligible for the President's
List.*
Honor Graduate with Distinction
Students who complete their program of study with
a program GPA of 4.0 will be designated as Honor Graduates
with Distinction. 4.0 graduates will receive a gold
honor card to wear at the Graduation Ceremony.
Students desiring to change their program of study must
complete a Change of Program Form available in the Admissions
Office. The requirements for the new program will be checked
against the student's test scores and/or former course
work. Retesting and/or Learning Support course work may
be required. Once the form is completed and approved,
copies will be distributed to the appropriate department
and the Financial Aid Office. Program changes may significantly
impact a student's educational and career goals. Students
should discuss this change with their academic advisor
prior to initiating the change process.
Career counselors are a valuable resource in assisting
students with career choices. Students who are receiving
benefits under student assistance programs (federal
student aid, veterans benefits) should discuss the possible
impact of the change on the receipt of benefits. These
programs have specific guidelines concerning changes
of program. Not all credits earned under one program
may necessarily apply to the new program. In some cases,
changing programs may lengthen the time required to
complete a program. The decision concerning transferability
of credits is made by the receiving department head
and the Registrar. Students must fill out a Request
for Transfer Credit form and submit the form to the
Registrar.
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The
Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act
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The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974,
as amended, is a federal law which states (a) that a written
institutional policy must be established and (b) that
a statement of adopted procedures covering the privacy
rights of students be made available. The law provides
that the school will maintain the confidentiality of student
educational records.
Lanier Technical College accords all the rights under
the law to its students. No one outside the college
shall have access to nor will the college disclose any
information from student's educational records without
the written consent of students except to personnel
within the college,
to officials of other institutions in which students
seek to enroll, to persons or organizations providing
student financial aid, to accrediting agencies carrying
out their accreditation function, to persons in compliance
with a judicial order, and to persons in an emergency
in order to protect the health or safety of students
or other persons. All these exceptions are permitted
under the Act.
Within the Lanier Technical College community, only
those members, individually or collectively, acting
in the students' educational interest are allowed access
to student education records. These members include
personnel in the Offices of the Registrar, Administrative
Services, Financial Aid, Admissions, and Academic Affairs
within the limitations of their need to know.
At
its discretion, the college may provide directory information
in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The following
information is considered by Lanier Technical College
as Directory Information:
- Name
- Address
- Telephone
Number
- College
Assigned E-mail Address
- Dates
of Enrollment
- Enrollment
Status (Full/Part-Time, not Enrolled)
- Major
- Advisor's
Name
- Academic
Awards and Honors Received (Including President's
List)
- Class
(Freshman/Sophomore)
- Degree,
Diploma, or Certificate Conferred, Including
Dates
- Date
of Birth
- Place
of Birth
- Previous
Institution(s) Attended
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This
information may be given without the student's consent
unless the student notifies the Office of Student Affairs
and requests the information be held. Social Security
Number may be verified, but will not be dispersed as
directory information.
The law provides students with the right to inspect
and review information contained in their education
records, to have a hearing if the outcome of the challenge
is unsatisfactory, and to submit explanatory statements
for inclusion in their files if the decisions of the
hearing panels are unacceptable.
The Registrar at Lanier Technical College has been
designated by the school to coordinate the inspection
and review procedures for student education records,
which include admissions, personal, academic, and financial
files, and academic, cooperative education, and placement
records. Any student wishing to review his/her education
record must make written request to the Registrar listing
the item or items of interest. Only records covered
by the Act will be made available within forty-five
days of the request. Students may have copies made of
their records with certain exceptions (e.g., a copy
of the academic record for which a financial "hold"
exists or transcript of an original or source document
which exists elsewhere).
Copies will be made at the student's expense at prevailing
rates. Education records do not include records of instructional,
administrative, and educational personnel which are
the sole possession of the college, records of the law
enforcement unit, student health records, employment
records or alumni records. Health records, however,
may be reviewed by physicians of the student's choosing.
Students may not inspect nor review the following as outlined
by the Act: financial information submitted by their parents;
confidential letters and recommendations associated with
admissions, employment or job placement, or honors to
which they have waived their rights of inspection and
review; or education records containing information about
more than one student, in which case the college will
permit access only to that part of the record which pertains
to the inquiring student. The college
is not required to permit students to inspect and review
confidential letters and recommendations placed in their
files prior to January 1, 1975, provided those letters
were collected under established policies of confidentiality
and were used only for the purposes for which they were
collected.
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Records
Correction Procedures
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Any student who believes that his/her education record
contains information that is inaccurate or misleading,
or is otherwise in violation of his/her privacy or other
rights may discuss his/her problems informally with the
Registrar. If the decisions are in agreement with the
student's request, the appropriate records will be amended.
If not, the student will be notified within a reasonable
period of time that the records will not be amended; and
he/she will also be informed by the Registrar of his/her
right to a formal hearing.
Student requests for a formal hearing must be made
in writing to the Vice President for Student Affairs
who, within a reasonable period of time after receiving
such requests, will inform the student of the date,
place, and time of the hearing. Students may present
evidence relevant to the issues raised and may be assisted
or represented at the student's expense. The hearing
panel which will adjudicate such challenges will be
the Vice President for Student Affairs, representatives
from the Office of Student Affairs, and a faculty representative
from the student's program of study.
Decisions of the hearing panel will be final, will
be based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing,
will consist of written statements summarizing the evidence
and stating the reasons for the decisions, and will
be delivered to all parties concerned. The education
records will be corrected or amended in accordance with
the decisions of the hearing panel, if the decisions
are in favor of the student. If the decisions are unsatisfactory
to the student, the student may place with the education
records statements commenting on the information in
the records or statements setting forth any reasons
for disagreeing with the decisions of the hearing panel.
The statements will be placed in the education records,
maintained as part of the student's records, and released
whenever the records in question are disclosed.
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Appeal
Process for Records Correction
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Any student who believes that adjudication of his/her
challenge was unfair or not in keeping with provisions
of the Act may request, in writing, assistance from the
President of the college to aid him/her in filing complaints
with The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act Office
(FERPA), Department of Education, Room 4074, Switzer Building,
Washington D. C. 20202. Revisions and clarifications will
be published as experience with the law and school's policy
warrants.
Each
potential graduate must complete an Application for Graduation
Form the quarter prior to the student's completion of
graduation requirements. The application deadline will
be posted quarterly at each campus. The student's faculty
advisor and the Registrar will complete a graduation audit
to insure that all requirements for graduation have been
successfully completed. Degrees, Diplomas or Technical
Certificates of Credit cannot be ordered until final grades
are submitted and the graduation audit is completed.
An
overall 2.0 grade point average is required for graduation.
Students must apply and be accepted into a program prior
to completing requirements for that program. Students
cannot graduate from a program unless they have been
accepted into that particular program. Lanier Technical
College awards technical certificates of credit or diplomas,
which are "embedded" within a program of study.
Contact the Office of the Registrar for information.
A
formal graduation ceremony is held once each year for
graduates during the academic year. Students are encouraged
to participate in the ceremony. Specific information
on each year's graduation is mailed to all students
eligible to graduate. Students participating in the
ceremony will be required to pay a $25 graduation fee
which is non-refundable and is not covered by HOPE.
Students who achieve a final GPA of 4.0 are provided
honor cords to wear at graduation.
Definition
Plagiarism is a dishonest act that occurs when a student
submits someone else's work (from as little as a sentence
or phrase to an entire document) as his or her own. This
act can range from not citing an author for ideas and/or
published material (including work from the Internet)
to copying and pasting information from websites or any
other publications, as well as paying for a paper written
by someone else. Using someone else's words or ideas in
an oral presentation without giving credit is yet another
form of plagiarism.
The temptation to commit plagiarism is greater than ever
with all the information from the Internet. In addition,
it is now easier to identify plagiarized material than
ever before. Some instructors have access to the program
Turnitin.com,
a good resource for flagging plagiarism. Everyone has
access to the Internet, and a copied and pasted sentence
or section into Google will reveal if the information
has been published elsewhere. In other words, detection
of plagiarism is easy for instructors.
If a student is not sure what is correct and acceptable,
guidance from your instructor should be sought. There
are also many websites available giving specific examples
of how to avoid plagiarizing.
Procedure
This is the procedure Lanier Technical College will follow
in regards to plagiarized work received from a student.
- When
an instructor identifies plagiarized material,
he or she will assign a grade of zero to the
submission. The zero may be considered a consequence
of not meeting the stated criteria for the task
as well as of plagiarizing.
- A
copy of the assignment in which the plagiarism
took place with documentation of the source
of the original material will be given to the
student and sent to the dean of academic affairs
or campus director to be filed.
- If
there is a second infraction by the student
in any class during his/her remaining tenure
at Lanier Technical College, the dean/director
will contact the individual and counsel the
student regarding academic repercussions. Penalties
for the second act of plagiarism will be the
same as the first, plus the instructor's option
of giving the student an F in the course. See
Code of Conduct from Student
Handbook for the full scope of expected
student conduct and penalties for infractions.
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