Admission Policies

Application Deadlines

The application for admission must be submitted by the dates below for each semester.

All documents must be submitted by the dates below for each semester.

Admission Policy

It is the policy of Georgia Gwinnett College to create admissions requirements that fulfill the stated mission of the college, by encouraging students of diverse levels of preparation, ethnicity and age to attend this institution and develop their full potential as individuals and members of the community. These guidelines are in keeping with Georgia Gwinnett College’s strong commitment to student success, a process that begins when students first apply to the college and continues through graduation and job placement. Georgia Gwinnett College complies with the access mission institution admission standards established under University System of Georgia Board of Regents policies and is committed to ensuring that the admissions procedures implement these standards.

Application Procedures

All students applying for admission to Georgia Gwinnett College must complete the following procedures:

1. Complete an electronic Application for Admission. To complete an application, you may apply here. Students who are unable to complete the electronic application should contact the Georgia Gwinnett College Admissions Office at 678-407-5313.
2. Submit the required $30 application fee electronically with the application.
3. Freshmen and applicants with fewer than 30 transfer hours must request that their most recently-attended high school submit an official high school transcript to Georgia Gwinnett College.
4. Applicants who have attended any college (as a transfer student or as a HOPE-Dual Enrollment student) must request official college transcripts from all colleges previously attended. These official transcripts must be sent directly to Georgia Gwinnett College.
5. Applicants who indicate that they have a criminal conviction or criminal charges pending will be asked to provide supplemental information in consideration of the applicant’s eligibility for admission to Georgia Gwinnett College. Failure to provide this information may impact the applicant’s eligibility for admission.
6. Admission of students with disabilities follows Board of Regents policy. Because the core curriculum of each institution requires students to complete college-level courses in English, mathematics, social science and science, all students must complete the Required High School Curriculum in these areas. Students with disabilities that preclude the acquisition of a foreign language may petition for admission without this requirement according to procedures established by the System. Students with disabilities are expected to meet the sector’s minimum SAT or ACT score requirements but should request the appropriate testing accommodations from the agencies administering the SAT or ACT.
7. The mailing address for submission of all documents (except the electronic admissions application) is:

Georgia Gwinnett College
Office of Admissions
1000 University Center Lane
Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Applicants will create a Grizzly Profile Account which allows the student to check their application status. A final decision on your acceptance into the College will be made after all application materials have been received.

Admission Requirements for Programs Leading to the Baccalaureate Degree

Freshman Requirements

Applicants who have never attended or who have earned fewer than 30 transferable semester hours from previous colleges are classified as freshman. The following requirements are in effect for freshman applicants:

High School Diploma/Required High School Curriculum

Freshmen must have a diploma from a high school accredited by a regional accrediting association (such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools), or the Georgia Accrediting Commission or from a public school regulated by a school system and state department of education. Certificates of attendance or special education diplomas are not acceptable. High school students with a general diploma must have a minimum 2.00 grade point average based on the grades in the 17 units of Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) as defined by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.

As part of the admission process, each student will be evaluated to determine satisfactory completion of the following 17 units of the University System of Georgia RHSC. Following is information on courses that satisfy these requirements.  More specific information on this requirement and courses that satisfy these requirements is referenced under Related Regulations, Statutes, and Policies.

1. MATHEMATICS:  Four (4) units of Mathematics, including Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry.  For students who graduate from a Georgia public school in 2012 or later, the 4 units of Mathematics must include a course at the level of Math 3 or higher.
2. ENGLISH:  Four (4) units of English which have as their emphasis grammar and usage, literature (American, English, World), and advanced composition skills.
3. SCIENCE:  Four (4) units of science, which include at least one (1) unit of biology, one (1) unit of physical science or physics, and one (1) unit of chemistry, earth systems, environmental science, or an advanced placement course. 
4. SOCIAL SCIENCE:  Three (3) units of social science, with at least one (1) course focusing on United States studies and one (1) course focusing on world studies.
5. FOREIGN LANGUAGE/ AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE/ COMPUTER SCIENCE:  Two (2) units in the same foreign language emphasizing speaking, listening, reading, and writing or two (2) units of American Sign Language or two (2) units of Computer Science.

Admissions requirements are determined annually in conjunction with USG policy, the Vice President for Enrollment Management, and the President.  The current admissions requirements can be found on the GGC website at https://www.ggc.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/

Addressing RHSC Deficiencies

Students with RHSC deficiencies shall be required to satisfy those deficiencies using one of the following methods:

Address Deficiency Prior to Enrollment
Applicants, including those coming from other states, who have Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) deficiencies but can demonstrate competency in the deficient area(s) will be deemed as meeting the RHSC requirements. Provided these students meet all other requirements for regular admission, GGC will not be required to admit them under the Limited Admissions category.
A student can satisfy an RHSC deficiency by demonstrating competency in the subject matter area(s) considered deficient or by addressing the deficiency through an appropriate course successfully completed prior to enrollment at another institution.

Option 1: Demonstrate Subject Matter Proficiency through Approved Standardized Tests

A student may demonstrate competency through standardized examinations such as the SAT, ACT, CLEP, DSST, Accuplacer, COMPASS or other comparable examinations approved by the BOR.

Students must complete four Board of Regents-approved science units, including two units with a laboratory component, as outlined in the Staying on Course document. Additionally, Georgia public high school students are required to complete coursework in four areas of science (see “Required High School Curriculum” for science in the previous section). Students with a science deficiency may address the deficiency prior to enrollment through a standardized examination provided the examination demonstrates competency in an area not already reflected in their high school coursework.

1. A student whose SAT or ACT score in the deficient area is at or above the average SAT or ACT score of the previous year’s fall semester first-time freshmen admitted to GGC indicates competency in the area.

2. A student may use the following SAT Subject Tests to demonstrate competency in a deficient area: English, Writing, Literature, Foreign Languages, Math Level 1 or Math Level 2, American History & Social Studies, World History, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students may use SAT Subject Tests to demonstrate exposure and competencies for areas not reflected in their course work.

3. A student may use the CLEP and DSST subject examination to demonstrate competency in a deficient area.

4. Students with an English deficiency and who are required to have an English Placement Index (EPI) calculated may satisfy the deficiency by earning an EPI sufficient to exempt Learning Support English. Students with a mathematics deficiency and who are required to have a Math Placement Index (MPI) calculated may satisfy the deficiency by earning an MPI sufficient to exempt Learning Support mathematics.

5. Students with an English deficiency and placed into Learning Support English will satisfy the deficiency upon successfully exiting Learning Support English. Students with a mathematics deficiency and placed into Learning Support mathematics will satisfy the deficiency upon successfully exiting Learning Support mathematics.

Option 2: Demonstrate Subject Matter Proficiency Through Approved Coursework.

A student may address the deficiency prior to enrollment by taking a USG-approved high school course in the deficiency area(s) or a three credit collegiate course (with a course grade of “C” or better) in the appropriate subject area(s). A student who has taken a terminal course in a subject area (for example, a student who has completed calculus in the 11th grade) will be deemed as meeting the RHSC requirement in that subject area.

Address Deficiency After Enrollment

Students who have RHSC deficiencies, which are addressed after enrollment, can be admitted under the Limited Admissions category.

Students who have RHSC deficiencies and who successfully complete collegiate courses addressing all of their deficiencies within their first 30 credit hours will be considered as having satisfied the deficiency or deficiencies. These students will receive collegiate credit that can count towards the student’s degree program. If a student does not address the deficiencies within the first 30 credit hours, then the student may not register for other courses, unless they also register for the appropriate deficiency course or courses. Successful completion (“C” or better) of a three credit collegiate course in the appropriate subject area demonstrates collegiate-level preparedness and is sufficient for satisfying an RHSC deficiency in that subject area.

Admission Scores
 

Test scores will be required for all freshman applicants. Students must meet testing requirements before an admissions decision can be made. The testing requirement can be satisfied by meeting the minimum scores on 1 of 3 tests:

1. Minimum SAT Scores:

Minimum SAT scores for SAT taken prior to March 2016 - Critical Reading: 430, Math 400

Minimum SAT scores for SAT taken on or after March 2016 - Reading: 24, Math 22 or Math Section 440

Beginning Fall 2020

Minimum SAT scores for SAT taken on or after March 2016 - 480 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) , 440 on the Math Section

2. Minimum ACT Scores:

English: 17

Math: 17

Beginning Fall 2020

English: 17 or Reading: 17

Math: 17

3. Required Minimum Accuplacer Scores:

Learning Support English Exempt Cut Scores

Next-Generation - both Write Placer and Reading scores are required

Classic - both Write Placer and Reading Comprehension scores are required

Learning Support Math Exempt Cut Scores

GGC will continue to take the Classic Accuplacer until January 31st, 2020. If a student does not meet the minimum SAT/ACT scores, they are required to take the Accuplacer test.

Beginning freshmen must also meet the minimum 2.00 high school GPA based on the 17 units of required High School Curriculum.

Students who attend a high school outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES-approved evaluation service such as Joseph Silny and Associates; World Education Services; or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. or other BOR-approved services.  The student must submit transcripts to an evaluation service and request that an appropriate evaluation be submitted directly to the Georgia Gwinnett College Admissions Office.

Applicants with Fewer than 30 Transfer Hours of College Credit

The college transcripts of students who have attended other colleges (but earned fewer than 30 semester hours of eligible transfer credit) will be considered as part of the admissions process. If a student meets the freshman requirements listed above and their cumulative combined GPA from previous college work is at or above a 2.00, the candidate will be admitted without condition; those who fail to meet both these requirements will be denied admission.

 An applicant who has fewer than 30 semester hours of college credit will be admitted on Academic Probation, if one of the following two conditions occur:

a) the applicant meets the freshman admission requirements listed above but has a cumulative combined GPA from previous college work below a 2.00 or

b) the applicant does not meet the freshman admission requirements listed above but has a cumulative combined GPA from previous college work above a 2.00.  Furthermore, applicants will be required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by their academic classification in order to be placed in good academic standing at Georgia Gwinnett College.

Admission Appeals

Any applicant denied admission to Georgia Gwinnett College may appeal the decision by submitting a written Request for Admissions Appeal to the Admissions Committee. The Committee will review an appeal to determine the applicant’s potential for college-level academic work; an interview with the applicant may also be required. If an appeal is approved the applicant will be admitted conditionally with a probationary status and must complete any prescribed conditions as specified by the Committee. Any exceptions to this policy must be appealed to the Vice President for Enrollment Management Services.

The letter must be typed and include the applicant’s electronic or handwritten signature, and it should be delivered to the Office of Admissions.

The letter should provide details that will help the Committee make an informed decision to help the student achieve success at the College.  Such information may include:

• Reasons why the applicant’s previous academic work may have suffered
• How the applicant intends to perform better academically
• The applicant’s weekly work and/or family commitments
• Any other information the applicant would like the committee to consider

Limited Admissions Category

In recognition of the fact that a limited number of applicants do not meet established standards but do demonstrate special potential for success, Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) grants admission to a limited number of such students. Multiple measures are used whenever possible, such as interviews, portfolios, and records of experiential achievements, for applicants being considered for Limited Admission. The number of applicants who may be granted Limited Admissions is restricted and cannot exceed 33%.

Applicants who enter under the Limited Admissions category (including Presidential Exceptions as described below) must make up any Required High School Curriculum units deficiencies in accordance with University System of Georgia procedures. They must also be screened, as applicable, for placement in Learning Support courses based on their standardized test scores and must meet University System of Georgia criteria for exemption or exit of Learning Support in reading, English, and mathematics.

Presidential Exceptions 

The President of GGC is authorized by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents to grant Presidential Exceptions to the Required High School Curriculum units and requirements for Limited Admissions if the student shows promise for academic success in college and has at least a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED), Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) approved by the Board of Regents. College officials are required to report to the University System of Georgia chief academic officer on those students granted Presidential Exceptions. Presidential Exceptions must be included as part of GGC’s maximum percentage for Limited Admissions.

Home School Applicants

Applicants graduating from non-accredited home schools or high schools must meet the admission criteria required of other applicants and criteria set forth in the Home School Portfolio Review. Students must have completed each of the 17-unit RHSC areas as documented in the portfolio (or as documented by the SAT II Subject Tests) and have achieved the minimum SAT/ACT scores.

Required High School Curriculum Requirements (RHSC) - Home School and Non-Accredited High School Applicants

All home school and non-accredited high school applicants must demonstrate equivalent RHSC competence as required by Board of Regents policy.  Home school applicants who receive credit from accredited institutions and curriculum providers can demonstrate compliance by submitting official transcripts from these providers.  These transcripts will be evaluated for RHSC completion based on the general RHSC requirements detailed in Freshman Requirements. 

Home school applicants who have credits from non-accredited institutions and curriculum providers, as well as applicants from non-accredited high schools, will submit a Home School/Non-Accredited High School College Preparatory Credit Evaluation Form (or a transcript in similar form) and one of the following:

• SAT II or CLEP scores in Biology, Chemistry or Physics, American History and World History, and a foreign language. Applicants should contact the Admissions Office for the minimum score criteria
• A detailed description of course work completed in each subject area that includes the subject title, course description, texts or program used, and primary teacher as well as writing samples, reading lists, major projects and assignments, exceptional learning experiences, and additional standardized test scores such as the Iowa Assessments that can be used to evaluate RHSC compliance.  Each subject should be representative of one Carnegie Unit (or academic year) of study. 

The Admissions Committee will review the portfolio for RHSC compliance, and at its sole discretion can recommend that an applicant has met some, all or none of the RHSC requirements.

Applicants who do not satisfy these requirements may still be admitted, but will be required to enroll in the appropriate courses outlined in the Freshman Requirements.

Home School Portfolio Review

The committee will review the student portfolio with the primary goal of determining the applicant’s potential for success at the college level.  If the committee is not satisfied with the material submitted in the portfolio, it will seek additional information from the applicant as a condition for admission.  If the committee’s request is not satisfied, the applicant will be denied admission.  Information regarding how applicants can satisfy the portfolio requirement and guidance in preparing their portfolio is contained on the Home School/Non-Accredited High School College Preparatory Credit Evaluation Form on the GGC website.

Hone School/Non-Accredited High school Preparatory Credit Evaluation Form

General Educational Development (GED)

Persons over 18 years of age (or whose class has already graduated from high school) whose secondary schooling was interrupted may be admitted by presenting General Educational Development (GED) equivalency.  Official GED test score reports must be mailed directly from the Technical College System of Georgia Office of Adult Literacy/GED Testing Service to the Georgia Gwinnett College Admissions Office. GED applicants are required to take either the College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT),  the American College Test (ACT) or Accuplacer, the results of which will be made part of the applicant’s portfolio.  GED applications may be reviewed by the Admissions Committee, and an interview with the candidate may be required. In addition, all GED applicants must meet the regular freshman admissions test scores. 

Dual Enrollment

The Dual Enrollment program provides eligible high school students with the opportunity to take college courses to satisfy high school graduation or home study completion requirements while earning college credit.

Eligibility Requirements

Participants in the dual enrollment program must:

• Be a high school student entering the junior or senior year and be age 15 or older by the first day of the semester of enrollment.

Meet minimum SAT or ACT test requirements.  The Next Generation Accuplacer test scores cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. Required SAT scores prior to March 2016 are 480 Critical Reading and 460 Math and a combined SAT of 970; and on or after March 2016, a minimum 26 Reading test and 500 Math Section are required.  The Reading test score will be converted to the comparable 480 Critical Reading listed above and the Math Section will be converted to the comparable 460 Math score listed above. The sum of these converted scores must meet or exceed a combined score of 970.

• Have a high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher in 17-unit Required High School Curriculum. 
• Homeschooled students may be considered if they are enrolled in Non-traditional Educational Centers that are recognized by GAPSAC or by state departments of education. Students attending non-accredited home school programs or non-accredited high schools may also be eligible to participate if they meet all general admission requirements for dual enrollment and have validated they are on-track for completing the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) unites according to the policy of the institution to which they are applying.

• Submit a Dual Enrollment Student Participation Agreement  

• Follow a plan to complete the University System of Georgia College Preparatory Curriculum requirement on schedule.
• Take courses from the approved courses directory.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements for Transfer Students

Applicants admitted from other colleges are required to meet all general requirements regarding examinations and application deadlines. Students planning to transfer from other colleges must request that the Registrar’s Office at each college previously attended forward an official transcript to the Admissions Office at Georgia Gwinnett College. Official transcripts are required whether or not the applicant receives transfer credit. Documents must be mailed directly or electronically through one of the approved electronic services.

Transfer Admission Requirements

Transfer applicants must present a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or above (based on a 4.00 scale) on all work attempted and must be in good academic standing at the last institution attended in order to be admitted to Georgia Gwinnett College in good academic standing. Transfer students with a GPA of 1.99 or below will be denied with the option to appeal their decision.

Dismissals from Other Institutions

If an applicant has been permanently suspended from another institution, the Admissions Committee will process the student like any other transfer applicant who appeals the denial of admission to Georgia Gwinnett College. Any exceptions to this policy must be appealed to the Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs/Provost.

Transfer of Credit

Evaluations of transfer credit are available for student viewing on their account on Banner Web upon completion of the admissions process and attendance at an orientation session.

Credit earned in regionally accredited colleges may be transferred at full value to Georgia Gwinnett College provided the course content is comparable to that of a course offered by Georgia Gwinnett College or, for non-comparable courses, those that satisfy the guidelines of the University System of Georgia.

Transfer students are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in all Area A requirements (ENGL 1101 , and ENGL 1102 , MATH 1001 , MATH 1101* , MATH 1111 , or equivalents) in order for those courses to transfer to Georgia Gwinnett College. In addition, a grade of “C” or better is required in all courses used in Area F and in the major.

Other courses earned at regionally accredited institutions may be permitted to transfer with grades of “D,” to the extent that the grades on all credits accepted for transfer average to at least 2.00.

The transfer grade-point-average (GPA) will not be included in the applicant’s institutional GPA at Georgia Gwinnett College but will be included in the total GPA used to determine academic honors and used by certain financial aid sources (i.e., HOPE scholarship).

The total number of combined hours through military experiences shall not exceed 15 semester hours. In order to determine military credit, the student must submit discharge paperwork (DD-214) or a military course transcript (AARTS, SMART, CCAF, etc.).

Transfer credit from colleges and universities outside the United States must be evaluated by an approved National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) evaluation service.  The student must submit transcripts to an evaluation service and request that an appropriate course by course evaluation be submitted to the Georgia Gwinnett College Admissions Office.

Transfer students must complete requirements in United States History and Constitution as well as Georgia History and Constitution prior to graduation. Completion of American History and American Government at a previous University System of Georgia institution will transfer to Georgia Gwinnett College. Completion of American History and American Government at a non-University System of Georgia institution (including out-of-state institutions) will satisfy the U.S. History and Constitution requirement upon transfer, but not the Georgia History and Constitution requirement. A proficiency examination in these legislative requirements is available for the student to complete prior to graduation. See the Testing Center for additional information.

Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) with Georgia State University

Georgia Gwinnett College has entered into an agreement with Perimeter College (PC) of Georgia State University to admit students who have completed an Associate’s degree from Perimeter College of Georgia State University.

The agreement will guarantee general admission to Georgia Gwinnett College to Perimeter College of Georgia State University students who fulfill the criteria listed below; it does not necessarily assure admission to a specific major. Georgia Gwinnett College and Perimeter College of Georgia State University will form an oversight committee charged with evaluation and review of this agreement.

This committee will meet on a biannual basis during March to review the agreement and reconfirm it for the next academic period. Either institution may terminate this agreement for any reason by providing written notice before August 1st of the academic year in which the transfer agreement shall terminate.

To qualify for the Transfer Admission Guarantee, a applicant must:

• Complete the Intent to Transfer Form signed by both the student and a Perimeter College of Georgia State University Transfer Admission Guarantee counselor.
• Submit a Georgia Gwinnett College Undergraduate Application for Admission during the application filing period for the semester for which the student wishes to transfer.
• Complete, with a grade of C or better, the English composition and mathematics courses required for admission at least two semesters preceding the term the student plans to transfer to Georgia Gwinnett College.
• Earn an Associate’s degree at Perimeter College of Georgia State University by the end of the semester preceding transfer.
• Complete the last 30 of their 60 or more Georgia Gwinnett College transferable units at Perimeter College of Georgia State University.
• Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.3 in all Georgia Gwinnett College transferable course work by the end of the current semester and maintain a 2.3 GPA or higher in all courses taken prior to transfer.
• Meet conditions of Georgia Gwinnett College Code of Student Conduct.

Terms of the Agreement

• Apply for admission to GGC during the application filing period for the semester for which the student wishes to transfer.
• Complete the required courses in English composition (English 1101 and English 1102) and one mathematics course (Math 1001 or Math 1111 or Math 1113 (Precalculus) or Math 2431 (Calculus I)) NB: Math-based majors and future Science and Technology majors are required to take Math 2431.
• Earn an Associate’s degree by the end of the semester preceding transfer.
• Complete the last 30 of r 60 or more GGC transferable units at PC of Georgia State University; and
• Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.3 in all GGC transferable course work by the end of the current semester and maintain a 2.3 GPA or higher in all courses taken prior to transfer.
• Meet conditions of Georgia Gwinnett College Code of Student Conduct.
• You must earn a grade of C or better in each course of the core at PC of Georgia State University.

Required Course Pattern

Completion of the core curriculum at Perimeter College of Georgia State University is required. Once the student has successfully completed the core curriculum at PC of Georgia State University and has met all of the terms of the agreement outlined above, the credits earned successfully at PC of Georgia State University will be accepted as credits in the core at GGC.

Non-Traditional Freshmen

Non-traditional freshmen are defined as individuals who meet all of the following criteria:

1. Have been out of high school at least five (5) years and whose high school class graduated at least five (5) years ago;
2. Hold a high school diploma from an accredited or approved high school as specified in the High School Diploma/Required High School Curriculum Section  of this Policy Manual or have satisfactorily completed the GED; and,
3. Have earned fewer than 30 transferable semester credit hours.

All non-traditional freshmen must be evaluated for learning support status in English (reading/writing) and mathematics using GGC placement criteria.

For applicants transferring from a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)-accredited Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) college, placement test scores using Accuplacer from the TCSG college may be used if test scores are not more than one (1) year old at the time they are submitted to GGC.

As an alternative, GGC will allow non-traditional freshmen who have within the past seven (7) years posted SAT scores of at least 500 on the Critical Reading test (27 on the Reading Test if taken March 2016 or after) and 500 on the Mathematics test (530 on the Math Section/26 on the Math Test if taken March 2016 or after); or ACT scores of at least 21 on both English and Mathematics to exempt the placement test.

Non-Traditional Transfers

Non-traditional transfer students are defined as individuals who meet all of the following criteria:

1. Have been out of high school at least five years or whose high school class graduated at least five (5) years ago; and,
2. Have earned thirty (30) or more transferable hours of college credit.

Placement evaluation for English and Mathematics will be required if students have not yet completed these requirements.

Persons Aged 62 or Over

Persons 62 years of age or older may be admitted to GGC. . To be eligible for enrollment, applicants:

1. Must be residents of Georgia, 62 years of age or older at the time of registration, and shall present a birth certificate or other comparable written documentation of age to enable the institution to determine eligibility.
2. May enroll as a regular or auditing student in courses offered for resident credit on a “space available” basis without payment of fees, except for supplies, laboratory, or shop fees.
3. Will meet all University System of Georgia and institution undergraduate or graduate admission requirements; however, GGC officials may exercise discretion in exceptional cases where circumstances indicate that certain requirements such as high school graduation and minimum test scores are inappropriate. In those instances involving discretionary admission, GGC staff will provide diagnostic methods to determine whether or not participation in Learning Support will be required prior to enrollment in regular credit courses. Reasonable prerequisites may be required in certain courses.
4. Must meet all GGC and legislated degree requirements if they are degree-seeking students

Course Credits for International Baccalaureate Diploma Completion

System-wide Implementation Guidelines:

In recognition of the fact that a strong predictor of college success is a rigorous high school curriculum, USG institutions will award academic credit for appropriate courses in the USG core curriculum for corresponding subject areas in a completed International Baccalaureate (“IB”) Diploma Program in which the student obtained designated end of course assessment scores.

Both Standard Level (college preparatory) and Higher Level (college comparable) courses will be considered for credit in a completed Diploma Program, as the program does not allow students to take all Higher Level courses. Higher Level end- of-course assessment scores of four or more and Standard Level scores of five or better suggests that the IB Program work is comparable to a college course.

The course credit schema in the table below will be used system-wide, with allowances made for variable credits in each category to account for labs and on occasion, for depth of material covered in the IB Program subject area that may be comparable to more than one college level course.

The particular courses for which students receive college credit may vary from institution to institution, depending on what courses the institution offers. Determinations of course comparability will be made by the respective departments. Institutions shall, however, attempt to have consistency across the USG on common numbered core courses.

The total college course credits awarded for IB assessments may not exceed 24.

All institutions shall have a widely disseminated policy governing the award of course credits for IB assessments. The policy will apply to both resident and non-resident students.

Institutions will collect data on IB students, analyze the data and recommend revisions to the policy if warranted. A student may opt not to accept credits if he/she sees that acceptance of credits may disadvantage him/her. Further, if a student believes that the assessment of his/her work from the IB Diploma Program and subsequent awarding of credits for such is in error, he/she may file an appeal with the appropriate department chair and request a re-assessment. As with other academic matters, if the issue is not satisfactorily resolved at the department level, the student may then appeal to the dean of the respective college, with a final appeal to the vice president for academic affairs, whose decision in the matter will be final.

Individual Institution Implementation Guidelines: Along with the system-wide policy, individual institutions may choose to offer additional benefits. After the appropriate core courses are credited, if the student (diploma completer) has additional acceptable IB assessment scores (4 or better for HL, 5 or better for SL) that have not been awarded course credits, individual institutions may award credit for other lower-division courses outside of the core for up to a maximum of 24 credits (total).

Institutions may choose to award other benefits to diploma completers as well (e.g. early registration, parking pass, etc.). If that is the case, details will be available on the institution’s website.

Institutions may choose to award credit to students who did not complete the diploma program but were awarded a certificate for completion of a specific subject area for Higher Level courses with an assessment score of 4 or better.

Notes about Admission

An applicant may be declared eligible for admission, registration, enrollment or re-enrollment at University System institution only after satisfying all requirements established by the University System of Georgia and the institution concerned. The institution shall have the right to examine and appraise the character, personality and qualifications of the applicant. In order that this examination and appraisal may be made, the applicant shall furnish to the institution such biographical and other information, including references, as may be required. Each unit of the University System reserves the right to refuse admission to a non-resident of Georgia, to an applicant whose admission would cause the institution to exceed its maximum capacity, to an applicant whose request for admission is only to a program that is already filled, to an applicant whose transcript(s) are from unaccredited institution or who is otherwise ineligible for admission. Applicants seeking additional information on referral of students to other institutions, right to limit admissions, limited admissions/Presidential exceptions, or the use of social security numbers, should refer to the Board of Regent’s manual: www.usg.edu.

Readmission

Students who must apply for readmission include transients and students who have not been enrolled for 12 consecutive months (3 terms) as well as students changing classification. If the student does not enroll, the process must be repeated. The application for readmission is online at https://start.ggc.edu/Datatel.ERecruiting.Web.External/Pages/Welcome.aspx. The readmission application must be submitted along with the non-refundable processing fee and any required supporting credentials fees by the deadline for the term of the desired re-enrollment.

Academic Credit for Prior Learning

Georgia Gwinnett College accepts college credit by examination through the United States military, the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, and the International Baccalaureate (IB). For information regarding testing, please refer to Testing Service’s website. For additional information regarding experiential learning credit, please refer to the AP-CLEP link on the Registrar’s website. The following rules govern the awarding of credit by examination:

1. The maximum credit that can be earned by any alternative credit is limited to 30 semester hours (15 military, 24 IB).
2. A student who is currently enrolled in the course or has earned a grade other than a W in the course may not earn CLEP credit for the course.
3. CLEP, AP, IB, and military credits carry no academic grade and are not computed into the grade point average (GPA).
4. Credits earned through CLEP may be transferred from other institutions in the University System of Georgia upon verification that CLEP scores are equal to or higher than those required by Georgia Gwinnett College. Students are responsible for verifying the score by having the College Board send an official score to Georgia Gwinnett College.
5. Students who failed to achieve the CLEP score necessary to receive credit must wait six months before being allowed to re-test.

Information about specific test scores may be found on the Testing Services Website, at GGC Testing Services, or in the Registrar’s Office.

The process for determining if credit should be awarded is:

1. Faculty members in the academic discipline will review the topic areas covered in the test and compare those with corresponding GGC courses. Based on this comparison, they will identify an appropriate test score for which credit will be awarded and then recommend those test scores to the dean of the school.
2. The dean will review the faculty recommendations and approve or disapprove the recommendation.
3. If the courses impacted are general education courses, the General Education Committee will also review the recommendation.
4. If approved by the dean and the General Education Committee (if necessary), the recommended test scores will be forwarded to the Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs/Provost for review and final decision.
5. If approved by the Provost, the test scores will be forwarded to the Executive Director of Enrollment Management for inclusion in the policy for Alternative Credit Options and credit will be given.

The process of approving credit for military experience will include a review of the student’s SMART, AARTS or CCAF transcript or the DD 214.

All students applying for admission to Georgia Gwinnett College must complete the following procedures:

1. Complete an electronic Application for Admission, available online. Students who are unable to complete the electronic application should contact the Georgia Gwinnett College Admissions Office at ggcadmissions@ggc.edu for assistance.
2. Submit the required $20 application fee electronically with the application. Effective spring 2020, submit the required $30 application fee electronically with the application.
3. Freshmen and applicants with fewer than 30 transfer hours must submit an official high school transcript from their most recently-attended high school.
4. Applicants who have attended any college (as a transfer student or as a HOPE-ACCEL student) must request official college transcripts from all colleges previously attended. These official transcripts must be sent directly to Georgia Gwinnett College.
5. Students must submit an immunization record signed by a physician. For more details on the specific immunizations required for enrollment to Georgia Gwinnett College, consult the MedProctor Immunization Requirement available on the Georgia Gwinnett College website.
6. Applicants who indicate that they have a criminal conviction or criminal charges pending will be asked to provide supplemental information in consideration of the applicant’s eligibility for admission to Georgia Gwinnett College. Failure to provide this information may impact the applicant’s eligibility for admission.
7. Applicants must submit official proof of lawful presence.
8. Documents are to be sent to the office of Admissions.

Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Programs Not Leading to the Baccalaureate Degree

Auditors

Students who submit evidence of graduation from a high school or a GED certificate may register to audit a course as space in the course permits. Under extraordinary circumstances, the president may waive the requirement of high school diploma or equivalent. Students registered as auditors shall be required to pay the regular tuition and fees for enrollment.

Non-Degree Students

Students may enroll as non-degree students for a maximum of 12 semester credit hours (including institutional credit). Students may not enroll in any course for which there is a learning support prerequisite unless they have been screened for and have exempted the relevant learning support course.

Georgia Gwinnett College will not allow students to apply under this status, but will permit the Director of Admissions to allow students to be admitted under this category on an as needed basis.

Post-Baccalaureate Students

Students who have earned the baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution may enroll as non-degree students in courses with no limitation on the number of hours of undergraduate credit these students can earn.

Transient Students

Transient Students from Other Institutions

A student enrolled in a degree program at another accredited college or university may apply to Georgia Gwinnett College for transient status. Such a student is one who expects to return to the college or university where previously enrolled and must have the permission of the home institution to attend Georgia Gwinnett College. The applicant who desires transient status must submit an application and a transient letter from the home institution. Transient students are admitted on a semester basis only. Georgia Gwinnett College does not guarantee that a transient student will be able to secure the courses desired, nor is Georgia Gwinnett College responsible for advising a transient student of courses that are applicable to their program of study at the home institution. Transcripts are not automatically forwarded to the home institution. Transient students must submit a written request to have a transcript sent back to the home institution.

Out-of-State Enrollment

See Board of Regents Policy Manual Section 4.3.1

Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes

See Board of Regents Policy Manual Section 4.3.2

Tuition Differential Waivers

See Board of Regents Policy Manual Section 4.3.3

Verification of Lawful Presence

Each University System institution shall verify the lawful presence in the United States of every successfully admitted person applying for resident tuition status, as defined in Section 7.3 of this Policy Manual, and of every person admitted to an institution referenced in Section 4.1.6 of this Policy Manual.

See Board of Regents Policy Manual Section 4.3.4

International Students

International student: At GGC, an international student is an individual who meets one of the following criteria:

• Currently living outside the U.S. and will require an F-1 or a J-1 visa to study in the U.S.
• Not a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident and is currently in the U.S. on an F-1 visa
• Currently in the U.S. on another non-immigrant visa classification which permits part-time or full-time study

Admission of Degree-Seeking International Students

All international students must meet GGC admission requirements, which can be found in APM 4.2.

Freshman Students

International applicants who have never attended other colleges or who have earned fewer than 30 transferable semester hours from a regionally accredited college or university are classified as freshman students. The following requirements are in effect for international freshman applicants.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Applicants may submit one of the following minimum required English proficiency scores: TOEFL IBT 74, IELTS 6, SAT Critical Reading 430/Reading Test 24, and ACT English 17. Additional University System of Georgia-approved methods for English proficiency may be submitted instead of the above. For a full list of acceptable evidence of English proficiency, see BOR Academic and Student Affairs Handbook section 3.2.6 Admission of Students with Non-U.S. Academic Credentials/ Admission of Students Whose First Language Is Not English.

Students who are required to take Compass or Accuplacer placement tests may be exempt from the English proficiency requirement if the calculated EPI places them directly into college-level English with no required co-requisite.

Test Scores 

Test scores will be required for all freshman applicants. Students must meet testing requirements before an admission decision can be made. See APM 4.2.1.1 Freshman Requirements for a list of acceptable tests and required minimum scores.

Students whose native language is not English and whose scores qualify them for admission but do not place them into college level English are required to satisfactorily complete coursework through English for Academic Purposes (EAP).

Foreign Credentials

Students must submit official records from secondary school and all college(s) attended. Transcripts from foreign institutions must be evaluated by a NACES-approved evaluation service such as Josef Silny and Associates; World Education Services; or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. or other BOR-approved services.  Students must submit transcripts to an evaluation service and request that an appropriate evaluation be submitted directly to the Georgia Gwinnett College Office of Internationalization.

Students who have college-level coursework are required to submit course-by-course evaluations. Some non-postsecondary credit and/or examinations may be considered for college credit and may require a course-by-course evaluation.

Presidential Exceptions

International students may also be admitted as Presidential Exceptions. See APM 4.2.1.2 Exceptions to Freshman Admissions Requirements for Special Groups of Students for more information.

Transfer Students

Applicants who have earned 30 or more transferable semester hours from a regionally accredited college or university are classified as transfer students. Students admitted from other colleges are required to meet all general requirements regarding examinations and application deadlines. See APM 4.2.1.3 Undergraduate Admission Requirements for Transfer Students.

Transfer students who are non-native speakers of English and who transfer from an institution of higher education outside the U.S. where English was not the language of instruction must submit proof of English proficiency as listed in the BOR Academic and Student Affairs Handbook section 3.3.2 English Proficiency and Transfer Students. Foreign credentials must be evaluated through an approved evaluation service.

English and Math admissions criteria, including the SAT or ACT, and placement criteria are required for international students.

Admission of International Students for Undergraduate Programs Not Leading to the Baccalaureate Degree

International students who want to be admitted but are not seeking a degree must comply with the criteria found in APM 4.2.2.

Financial Requirements

International students requesting the Form I-20 or DS-2019 from Georgia Gwinnett College must provide documentation showing sufficient resources to cover tuition, room and board, health insurance and other living expenses. In accordance with the payment policy of the College, students agree to pay all tuition and fees when due to Georgia Gwinnett College (including, but not limited to, tuition, mandatory student fees, and College Housing fees). Failure to pay a student account in full by the published deadline may result in a student being dropped from classes, which could jeopardize the student’s ability to maintain valid immigration status.

Health Insurance

International students holding F or J visas are required to have student health insurance that meets the minimum standards set by the University System of Georgia. Students in these categories who are not covered by a policy held by a parent, spouse, employer or if the policy does not meet the minimum standards will be charged for a USG Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) policy. Students who are already covered by an insurance policy (i.e., through parent plans, family plans or employer-sponsored plans) can opt out of the plan. Once the information has been verified, the requirement for SHIP health insurance will be waived and the moneys paid to Georgia Gwinnett College for insurance will be refunded. Students must apply for the waiver each semester for which they are enrolled in classes, and this must be done during the waiver period. Students who do not apply for and receive the waivers during the enrollment period will be responsible for the insurance fees. Students who fail to submit comparable health insurance information by the end of the waiver period will automatically be enrolled in the SHIP insurance plan. Students should not purchase insurance from their home country until they have reviewed information on the insurance waiver policy and are sure they will qualify for a waiver. Students should verify that the insurance policy they are considering meets the waiver minimums before they purchase it. Additional information is available through this website.

Housing for International Students

On-campus housing is not available year round. If students choose not to return home during semester breaks, they must make alternative off-campus living arrangements.

Related Regulations, Statutes, Policies, and Procedures

University System of Georgia International Student Resources, Handbooks, and Forms