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Academic Policies and Procedures

Continued

TRANSCRIPTS AND TRANSFER OF RECORDS

A transcript is a document containing the student’s permanent academic record. It contains a minimum amount of personal data about the student and a chronological account of the student’s academic achievements.

Any student or former student who wishes to have a transcript of his/her record at the college released must make the request in writing to the Enrollment Services Office one week prior to the date the transcript is needed. This request may be submitted by mail, fax, or in person and must include complete name and address of the individual or agency to receive the transcript. The request must be signed and dated by the student. A statement describing the purpose for which the transcript is to be used may save the student time and money, since some agencies have special regulations for receiving transcripts.

Transcripts are usually mailed within 3 business days of the date a written request is received. ABAC does not charge for sending transcripts unless a student requests more than 10 copies in one calendar year or unless a student requests our rush transcript service. There is a $2.00 per transcript charge if more than 10 copies are requested in a calendar year. We provide a rush, or same day, transcript service for a charge of $20.00 per transcript. Rush transcript requests submitted and paid for by 3:00 pm, will be available for pick up between 4:30 - 4:45 pm on the same business day.

PRESIDENT’S HONOR LIST

Superior achievement in academics is recognized each semester by the publication of a President’s Honor List, which includes those students who complete 12 or more academic hours (non-Learning Support) with a Regents’ grade point average of 4.0.

The President’s Honor List is provided to the hometown newspapers of those students whose names appear on the list.

DEAN’S HONOR LIST

Excellence in scholastic achievement is recognized each semester by the publication of a Dean’s Honor List naming those students who complete all academic work for which they are registered during the semester with a minimum Regents’ grade point average of 3.3, and who carry at least 12 hours of academic (non- Learning Support) work.

The Dean’s Honor List is provided to the honor students’ hometown newspapers.

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT LIST

The Distinguished Achievement List, published at the end of each semester, recognizes excellence in scholastic achievement among part-time students. To be included on the Distinguished Achievement List, a student must have completed between six and eleven semester hours of academic (non-Learning Support) course work with a term Regents’ grade point average of 3.3 or higher.

HONORS PROGRAM

The Abraham Baldwin Honors Program is a combination of special experiences during the freshman and sophomore years which together provide a more meaningful college career for academically talented students than would otherwise be the case.

All courses in the Honors program encourage student participation through interactive classroom techniques; all classes require the students to engage in some substantial research and/or use of sources beyond the assigned textbook to supplement and enhance the students’ understanding of the course material and assignments.

The Honors Program consists of two Honors Seminar courses and six specifically modified Core Curriculum courses (additional Honors Seminars can be offered as needed). Honors Program students take the two Seminar courses as freshman and two of the Core courses each year. These courses are scheduled alongside other courses required for completion of the student’s degree.

Upon completion of the Honors Program, a student should be better prepared to undertake junior and senior level work at institutions to which he or she transfers after leaving ABAC.

Normally, membership in the Honors Program is gained by invitation from or application to the Honors Coordinator. For further information, contact the Honors Program Coordinator in the Division of Humanities.

CORE CURRICULUM HONORS COURSES

COMM 1100H Human Communication (Honors)................. 3 hours

ENGL 1102H Composition II (Honors)...................... 3 hours

ENGL 2132H Survey of American Literature II (Honors).... 3 hours

HIST 2112H United State History II (Honors)............. 3 hours

POLS 1101H American Government (Honors)................. 3 hours

SCIE 1005H Environmental Science (Honors)............... 4 hours

HONORS SEMINARS

HNRS 1101 Honors Seminar................................. 1 hour

HNRS 1102 Honors Seminar................................. 1 hour

HNRS 2101 Honors Seminar................................. 1 hour

HNRS 2102 Honors Seminar................................. 1 hour

HONORS DAY

Honors Day was introduced to give public recognition to students who achieve high scholastic records. A student is selected for honors on the basis of the following criteria:

1. completing 15 non-institutional semester hours at Abraham Baldwin with a 3.2 cumulative Regents’ grade point average qualifies a student as an Honor Student.

2. completing 15-44 non-institutional semester hours at Abraham Baldwin with a 3.75 cumulative Regents’ grade point average qualifies a student as a Superior Honor Student.

3. completing 45 non-institutional semester hours at Abraham Baldwin with a 3.75 cumulative Regents’ grade point average qualifies a student as a Distinguished Honor Student.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

Associate degrees in Arts, in Science, and in Applied Science are awarded in a graduation ceremony at the end of the Spring and Fall Semesters to those students meeting requirements. Participation in the graduation ceremony is encouraged.

Students must meet the graduation requirements as listed in a single ABAC catalog which is not more than five years old at the time of their graduation and which is in effect for a term during which they earned academic credit at ABAC. There will be no exceptions unless specifically approved by the Vice-President and Dean of Academic Affairs.

In order to meet the graduation requirements at Abraham Baldwin, a student must:

1. complete the required courses and credit hours outlined in the catalog for the degree and major for which he/she is a candidate.

2. have a 2.0 or higher graduation grade point average and have completed a minimum of 60 semester hours of academic work plus physical education courses.

3. earn at least 20 semester hours at Abraham Baldwin which are applicable to the A.A. or A.S. degrees or 30 hours at Abraham Baldwin which are applicable to the A.A.S. degree for which he/she is a candidate.

4. satisfactorily complete all parts of the Regents’ Exam as required by the specific program requirements.

5. satisfy minimum computer competency through successful completion of, or exemption from, CISM 2201 or equivalent.

6. satisfy speech competence requirement through successful completion of COMM 1000 or COMM 1100.

7. comply with the Georgia law which requires a minimum level of competence in Georgia and U.S. History and in Georgia and U.S. Constitution through examination or through specified courses.

8. complete required physical education or have a specifically approved exemption filed with the Office of Enrollment Services (see PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS section).

9. successfully complete Freshman Seminar, ABAC 1000 or any Honors Seminar in addition to HNRS 1101. HNRS 1101 alone will not satisfy the Freshman Seminar requirement.

10. meet all financial and other obligations to the college.

11. apply for graduation with the Enrollment Services Office by November 1 for May graduation and by April 1 for July or December graduation.  Applications received after the ceremony will be evaluated with the following semester’s applications.

12. pay $20 graduation fee before turning in application to the Enrollment Services Office. A late charge of $10 is required if the application is turned in after the deadlines in item 11 above.

13. If a student is completing graduation requirements at another institution, he/she must have the other institution send an official copy of the transcript to ABAC within one week of the graduation date. In order for the student to participate in ABAC’s graduation ceremony, the Enrollment Services Office must receive verification that the student remains enrolled in the required course(s) after the other institution’s mid-term withdrawal deadline.  This verification should be received no later than the last day of classes for the ABAC graduation term.

A student who is a candidate for a certificate must:

1. complete the required courses prescribed in the catalog for the certificate for which he/she is a candidate.

2. have a 2.0 or higher graduation grade point average.

3. earn at Abraham Baldwin at least 2/3 of the coursework required for a certificate program.

4. meet all financial and other obligations to the College.

5. apply for graduation with the Enrollment Services Office by October 1 for May graduation and by March 1 for July or December graduation.  Applications received after the ceremony will be evaluated with the following semester’s applications.

6. pay $20 graduation fee before turning in application to the Enrollment Services Office. A late charge of $10 is required if the application is turned in after the deadlines in item 5 above.

7. for certificate programs requiring more than 19 hours of coursework, students must comply with the Georgia law which requires a minimum level of competence in Georgia and U.S. History and in Georgia and U.S. Constitution through examination or through specified courses.

A student who does not satisfy the graduation requirements in the term specified on the graduation application should contact the Enrollment Services Office and inform us of plans for completing the degree requirements. The graduation application of these students will be kept in the Enrollment Services Office for one calendar year. If a student does not meet all of the graduation requirements within one calendar year of the original intended term of graduation, the student will be required to submit another graduation application and pay another graduation application fee.

HONOR GRADUATES

Students who graduate with a high Regents’ GPA and a high Overall GPA are recognized as honor graduates.

Honors – Regents’ and Overall GPA’s of 3.3 to 3.74.

High Honors – Regents’ and Overall GPA’s of 3.75 to 3.94

Highest Honors – Regents’ and Overall GPA’s of 3.95 to 4.0

STATUS OF GRADUATES

The Associate Degree is awarded to students who fulfill a two-year organized curriculum of college work either in a career program or in a parallel or transfer program. The degree, however, does not in itself entitle a student to transfer to advanced standing in a four-year college or university. Each institution prescribes its own admission requirements. A student who wishes to transfer to a higher-level institution must satisfy the course and grade requirements of the college to which he/she intends to transfer.

REGENTS’ TESTING PROGRAM

Board Policy

An examination (the Regents’ Test) to assess the competency level in reading and writing of all students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs leading to the baccalaureate degree in University System institutions shall be administered. The following statement shall be the policy of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on this examination.

The formulation and administration of the Regents’ Test shall be as determined by the Chancellor.

Each institution of the University System of Georgia shall assure the other institutions, and the System as a whole, that students obtaining a degree from that institution possess certain minimum skills of reading and writing. The Regents’ Testing Program has been developed to help in the attainment of this goal. The objectives of the Testing Program are: (1) to provide System-wide information on the status of student competence in the areas of reading and writing; and (2) to provide a uniform means of identifying those students who fail to attain the minimum levels of competence in the areas of reading and writing.

Students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs leading to the baccalaureate degree shall pass the Regents’ Test as a requirement for graduation. ABAC requires all transfer degree students to pass the Regents’ Test in order to graduate. The Agricultural Business Technology and Plant Science Technology degrees do not require the Regents’ Test if students earn “C” or better in both English 1101 and 1102.

The following Technology Program degrees do not require the Regents’ Test: Fashion Merchandising, Children and Family Services, Interior Design, Agricultural Engineering Technology, Golf Turf Management, Commercial Turf Management, Sports Turf Management, Landscape Design and Grounds Management, Ornamental Production, Golf Clubhouse Management, and Nursing (ADN).

Students must take the test in their first semester of enrollment after earning 30 credit hours if they have not taken it previously. (Institutions may not prohibit students who have earned at least 30 credit hours from taking the test for the first time.) ABAC students may take the test during a semester in which they are not enrolled. ABAC students are eligible to take the test after they have completed English 1101 with a “C” or better. ABAC encourages students to take the Regents’ Test during the semester in which they are taking English 1102.

Each institution shall provide an appropriate program of remediation and shall require students who have not passed both parts of the test by the time they have earned 45 credit hours to take the appropriate remedial course or courses each semester of enrollment until they have passed both parts.

Students with 30 or more semester credit hours transferring from outside of the System or from a System program that does not require the Regents’ Test must register for the test during their first semester of enrollment in a program leading to the baccalaureate degree or an ABAC program leading to all transfer degrees, or an ABAC program that requires passing the test in order to graduate (see above). Those who have not passed before their third semester of enrollment are subject to the remediation requirement.

A student holding a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education will not be required to complete the Regents’ Test in order to receive a degree from a University System institution.

Scores on other standardized tests as specified by the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academics and Fiscal Affairs may be used to fulfill Regents’ Test requirements. Such scores must be from a national test administration and must indicate a very high probability (at least 0.95) of passing the Regents’ Test. Tests used to fulfill the essay requirement must include an externally graded writing sample. A student who attains the Verbal score of 510 on the National SAT or 23 on the National ACT has fulfilled the requirement for the Reading portion of the test. A student who attains the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition scores of at least 3, International Baccalaureate (IB) higher-level English scores of at least 4, or National SAT II English Writing scores of at least 650 will be considered as having fulfilled the essay requirement of the Regents’ Test and do not need to take the essay portion of the Regents’ Test.

REGENTS’ TESTING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

These procedures implement the Policy on the Regents’ Testing Program of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

i. Testing and Remediation Requirements

a. Students in programs leading to the baccalaureate degree who have not met the Regents’ Test requirement must take the test during the semester of enrollment immediately following the completion of 30 college-level semester credit hours. ABAC requires students in programs leading to the associate degree to take the test after earning 30 college-level semester credits. Degree exemptions are listed above. (College-level credit hours include all credit with the exception of institutional credit.) This requirement applies regardless of whether the student has taken or passed specific courses, including English courses, or completed any other institutional requirements.

b. Passing the Regents’ Test is defined as having passed both parts of the test by scoring at or above the minimum passing score specified for each part. On a scale of 1 to 99, the passing score for the Reading Test is 61. The passing score for the Essay Test is “2” on a scale of 1 to 4. Students will also be considered as having passed a part of the test if they achieve a score on another standardized test as specified by the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academics and Fiscal Affairs (effective summer semester, 2003 for students graduating from a USG institution in summer semester, 2003 or later). Such scores must be from a national test administration and must indicate a very high probability (at least .95) of passing a part of the Regents’ Test. Tests used to fulfill the essay requirement must include an externally graded writing sample. The following tests and scores are approved, and other tests will be considered as data become available:

1. Students with SAT- I Verbal scores of at least 510 or ACT Reading scores of at least 23 will be considered to have fulfilled the reading comprehension requirement of the Regents’ Test and do not need to take the reading portion of the Regents’ Test. Scores must be from a national administration of the SAT or ACT. (Scores from institutional SAT or residual ACT tests will not be acceptable for this purpose.)

2. Students with College Board Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition scores of at least 3, International Baccalaureate (IB) higher-level English scores of at least 4, or SAT II English Writing scores of at least 650 will be considered as having fulfilled the essay requirement of the Regents’ Test and do not need to take the essay portion of the Regents’ Test. (There is no implication that such students should be given any course credit or exemption in English.)

c. Students who have earned 45 college-level semester credit hours and have not met the Regents’ Test requirement (have not passed either part of the test) are required to take the appropriate non-degree credit course(s) in remedial reading and/or remedial writing in each semester of attendance until they have passed both components of the test. The only exception that may be made is for part-time students taking one remedial course and no college-level credit courses.

d. ABAC students are required to take remediation each time a portion of the test is failed.

e. Institutions may not prohibit students who have earned at least 30 credit hours from taking the test for the first time.

1. ABAC students are required to take the test before they have earned 30 hours.

2. ABAC students are eligible to take the Regents’ Test after they have completed English 1101 with a “C” or better. ABAC encourages students to take the Regents’ Test during the semester in which they are taking English 1102.

3. ABAC students may be permitted to take the test during a semester in which they are not enrolled. (For example, non-enrolled students from associate degree institutions who are otherwise eligible to take the test and not subject to a remedial requirement might be encouraged to take the test during the summer administration.)

4. ABAC students who have failed both parts of the Regents’ Test are allowed to take the reading and essay portions of the test in separate semesters.

f. Having passed the Regents’ Test shall not be a condition of transfer into an institution. All transferring students from programs leading to the baccalaureate degree within the System shall be subject to all provisions of this policy. Students with 30 or more semester credit hours transferring from outside of the System or from a System program that does not require the Regents’ Test should take the test during their first semester of enrollment in a program leading to the baccalaureate degree or associate degree at ABAC (see exemptions above). Those who have not passed before their third semester of enrollment are subject to the remediation requirement. Students entering with AP credit, credit from other advanced placement programs or examinations, and/or joint enrollment credit may take the Regents’ Test during their first two semesters of enrollment. They are not subject to System-mandated remediation requirements unless they have earned at least 45 hours.

g. The Regents’ Test is to be administered in accordance with the instructions provided in the Regents’ Testing Program Administration Manual.

h. Institutions are responsible for enforcing the requirements related to the Regents’ Testing Program. Institutions may increase these requirements provided that such increased requirements are authorized by the Chancellor and provided further that such requirements are published in the official catalog of the institution prior to implementation. Such additional requirements shall in no way affect the transfer of students from one institution to another or the readmission of students to University System institutions.

ii. Guidelines for Remedial Courses

a. Required remedial work shall be in keeping with regulations in satisfaction of federal and state student financial assistance and other such eligibility programs. Federal monies cannot be used to pay for Regents’ Test remediation classes. Thus, Federal loans and the Pell Grant cannot be used to pay for these classes. However, HOPE Scholarship monies can be used to pay for the remediation classes.

b. Separate courses in remediation for the reading and the essay portions of the test are to be provided. Courses developed for other purposes, such as those for Learning Support students or for regular credit English, may not be used to fulfill the Regents’ Test remediation requirement.

c. Each required Regents’ Test remedial course is to consist of a minimum of 25 hours of classroom/laboratory instruction provided before students retake the test.

d. Regents’ Test remediation courses are to be classified as a regular part of the student’s academic load, resulting in institutional credit, and should be handled as part of the regular registration procedure. However, Federal Financial Aid cannot be used to pay for the Regents’ Test remediation classes.

iii. Special Categories of Students

a. A student holding a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher education will not be required to complete the Regents’ Test in order to receive a degree from a University System institution.

b. Each institution may develop special procedures for certifying the competence of students whose native language is not English. These procedures shall require a formal examination of competence in English. At a minimum, the examination shall include the writing of an essay. The testing procedures may be locally developed and administered. The grading of the essay may be local and shall involve multiple raters, of which at least two of three must pass the essay. The use of culturally neutral topics, the granting of extended time, and the use of translation dictionaries are permissible accommodations for the essay examination. To qualify for the International administration of the Regents’ Test, ABAC students must have graduated from a non-U.S. high school and earned a “C” or better in English 1101. ABAC students whose first language is not English receive double time on the test. These students are subject to the remediation requirements:

1. Each time a portion of the test is not passed, students must take the appropriate Regents’ Test Reading Remediation and/or Essay Remediation course(s).

2. Any non-native speaker of English who has not passed both parts of the Regents’ Test before earning 45 hours must take remediation every semester until student passes both parts of the test.

c. Each institution shall develop special procedures, in accordance with the description of procedures and requirements (see appended “Special Administration of the Regents’ Test”) for certifying the competence of students with disabilities. Such procedures shall include provision for remediation if needed and formal examination prior to certifying competency. Such examination shall equal the standards of the Regents’ Testing Program. Refer to the following section on “Special Administration of the Regents’ Test.”

d. Students who have moved out of state after completing all requirements for graduation with the exception of the Regents’ Test requirement may be permitted to have the Regents’ Test administered out of state if they have fulfilled remediation requirements and follow the procedures outlined in the Regents’ Testing Program Administration Manual.

iv. Essay Review

   A student may request a formal review of his or her failure on the essay component of the Regents’ Test if that student’s essay received at least one passing score among the three scores awarded. The review procedures shall be as follows:

a. A student must initiate the review procedure by mid-term of his/her first semester of enrollment after the semester in which the essay was failed. The review must be initiated, however, within one calendar year from the semester in which the failure occurred.

b. All applicable requirements of the Regents’ Test Policy remain in effect for those students whose essays are under review, including those regulations relating to remediation and to retaking the test.

c. The review will be initiated at the campus level. Students need to contact the Chair of the Humanities’ Division (Dr. Bobbie Robinson) to initiate the process. The on-campus review will be conducted by the three faculty members designated by the institution as a review panel. The on-campus review panel may (1) sustain, by majority opinion, the essay’s failing score, thus terminating the review process, or (2) recommend, by majority opinion, the re-scoring of the essay by the Regents’ Testing Program central office. The student will be notified concerning the results of the on-campus review. A decision by the on-campus review panel to terminate the review process is final.

d. If the on-campus panel recommends re-scoring of the essay, that recommendation will be transmitted in writing, along with the essay, to the office of the System Director of the Regents’ Testing Program. The Director will utilize the services of three experienced Regents’ essay scorers other than those involved in the original scoring of the essay to review the essay, following normal scoring procedures for the essay component of the Regents’ Test. The decision of the panel on the merits of the essay will be final, thus terminating the review process. The student will be notified through the institution concerning the results of the review.

v. Reading Review

a. A student must initiate the review procedure by mid-term of his/her first semester of enrollment after the semester in which the essay was failed. The review must be initiated, however, within one calendar year from the semester in which the failure occurred.

b. All applicable requirements of the Regents’ Test Policy remain in effect for those students whose tests are under review, including those regulations relating to remediation and to retaking the test.

c. The Reading Test scantron answer sheet is machine scored two times. However, a student may request the Reading Test scantron answer sheet to be handscored.

d. To initiate the process, ABAC students need to contact the Regents’ Test Administrator (Dr. Maggie Martin) to obtain the appropriate reading test review form. Students complete the form and mail it to the address listed on the form. There is a $10 charge for the reading test review.

SPECIAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE REGENTS’ TEST

STUDENTS WITH VISUAL, HEARING, OR MOTOR IMPAIRMENT

An alternative means of certifying the competence of students with visual, hearing, or motor impairment may be used. Such examination shall equal the standards of the Regents’ Testing Program. In most cases, the Regents’ Test would be administered with accommodations determined by the institution on the basis of the student’s needs.

The Regents’ Reading Test administration for a student with a visual, hearing, or motor impairment should correspond as closely as possible to the student’s usual means of obtaining information from text. A visually impaired student, for example, could use the Braille, large-print, or recorded version of the Reading Test. If it is necessary for the Reading Test to be scored locally rather than submitted to the Regents’ Testing Program Office for scoring, Form 21 of the Regents’ Reading Test may be used.

If an ABAC student with a visual, hearing, or motor impairment is unable to handwrite an essay on the regular Essay Test form for rating, the essay may be copied from the format produced by the student (e.g., typed or written on enlarged paper), to the regular Essay Test form by a proctor and submitted to the Regents’ Testing Program Office for rating. The Regents’ Testing Program Office cannot obtain ratings for essays that are not written on the regular test form or that are otherwise identifiable as special administrations.

The Regents’ Testing Program Office does not have to be informed when a student with a visual, hearing, or motor impairment takes or passes an alternative test. However, the SIRS record submitted by the Office of Enrollment Services must indicate that alternative procedures have been used. The documentation for each student is to be evaluated and maintained by the institution and summarized in the institution’s Annual Report on Learning Disorders. The remediation requirements apply to all ABAC students, with or without a disability or disabilities.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES, TEST ANXIETY, OR OTHER DOCUMENTED NEEDS

The following procedure is for the accommodation of students who are competent in the skills required on the Regents’ Test but are unable to demonstrate competence in a standardized administration of the test because of a learning disability, severe test anxiety, or other documented problems. A diagnosis of learning disability must include evidence of a discrepancy between ability and achievement in the area affecting test performance and must be consistent with the definition and criteria for evaluation provided in Section 2.22 of the Academic Affairs Handbook. For students to be eligible on the basis of test anxiety, there should be evidence that the student has the skills required for passing the test but is unable to display the skills during a regular test administration. Students who perform well in remedial classes but continue to fail the test should be evaluated for test anxiety. Except in unusual circumstances when strong clinical evidence of test anxiety is available, students would not be accommodated on the basis of test anxiety unless they have enrolled in remedial courses at least twice. ABAC allows students, with or without test anxiety, to receive double time on the test after they have failed and remediated a part (Reading and/or Essay) of the test twice.

The documentation for each student is to be evaluated and maintained by the institution. An Annual Report on Learning Disorders will be made of the types of accommodations made and diagnoses on which the accommodations were based.

All ABAC students with or without special needs or disabilities are required to follow the remediation requirements.

Allowable Accommodations and Restrictions

The accommodations that may be made are limited to the following:

extended time

separate room for test administration

large-print test format

use of a word processor, typewriter, or scratch paper for composing the essay (The student must handwrite the essay on the regular essay form for grading, or, if the student’s diagnosis indicates an inability to copy the essay, the test administrator or proctor must copy the essay as written by the student with no changes and send both the original and copied essay to the Regents’ Testing Program Office.)

reading of the essay to the student (If the student’s diagnosis indicates a visual processing deficit that prevents the student from reading his or her own essay accurately, the proctor may read the essay aloud exactly as written while the student makes corrections to the essay.)

transcription of reading test responses to the scanner sheet

Essays must be rated through the usual rating process, which does not allow for the provision of any information about the student to the raters. Raters cannot be asked to take a student’s disabilities into account when rating an essay. Instead, appropriate modifications in the test administration process must allow the student’s essay to be rated through the usual process.

All test administrations must meet the following conditions:

The Essay and Reading Test responses must be submitted to the Regents’ Testing Program Office for scoring.

The product submitted must be in the standard format for grading: the essay must be handwritten on the regular Essay Test form with no extra paper, and the Reading Test responses must be recorded on the student’s scanner sheet.

Except as indicated above under allowable exceptions for students who are unable to copy or read their own essays, the product submitted for grading must be produced by the student with no assistance provided or changes made by any other person.

The test must be administered under secure conditions, and all work must be completed under supervision.

Accommodations other than those described above may be made only upon recommendation of a Regents Center for Learning Disorders. The Centers will make recommendations for students with learning disabilities or acquired brain impairment. The procedures used by the Centers are described in Section 2.22.

REMEDIATION REQUIREMENT

The remediation requirement may not be waived for students with disabilities. However, the institution will determine whether the regular Regents’ Test remediation course or another remedial experience is needed to accommodate the student. The student must complete the remediation requirement prescribed by the institution prior to retaking the test.

THE LEARNING SUPPORT PROGRAM

The Learning Support Program offers courses in English, reading, and mathematics. All learning support courses numbered below 1000 carry institutional credit only. All entering students are required to take the COMPASS placement tests in writing, reading, and mathematics to determine whether they are required to take learning support courses.  Exception:  Students who graduated high school less than 5 years ago with a College Preparatory Diploma may not be required to take all parts of the placement test if they also: 

Scored 480 or above on SAT Verbal or

Scored 400 or above on SAT Math or

Scored 20 or above on ACT English or

Scored 17 or above on ACT Math

Non-traditional students must take all three areas of the COMPASS placement test. A student scoring below the minimum score on the writing, reading, and/or mathematics placement test, must take the appropriate learning support courses since these courses are designed to teach skills needed for success in college level work. Placement test scores, ACT or SAT scores, and high school records are used to determine whether a student is placed in learning support courses, regular college courses, or advanced college courses. Below is a summary of the learning support requirements from the Learning Support Policy of the University System of Georgia.

A. Until learning support requirements have been satisfied, students shall not be permitted to take credit courses which require the content or the skills of the prerequisite courses. Students with learning support placement must:

1. exit or exempt learning support reading as a prerequisite for social, natural, and physical science courses;

2. exit or exempt learning support English and reading as prerequisites for college-level English;

3. exit or exempt learning support mathematics as a prerequisite for mathematics, physics, and chemistry;

B. The following requirements apply to those students who have learning support requirements:

1. During each semester of enrollment a student must first register for all required learning support courses before being allowed to register for other courses. This policy also applies to part-time students. Two exceptions are possible:

  When two or three learning support areas are required and a student is enrolled in at least one learning support course, a freshman seminar course or physical education or other activity or performance courses may be taken that semester instead of one of the required learning support courses.

  In the event that a required learning support course is not available, a student may enroll in a course for degree credit if the student has met the course prerequisites, subject to the written approval of the division chair.

1a. A third exception applies to students in Career-Tech programs at ABAC

  If career tech students need all three learning support areas, they may take English and reading with other college level courses that do not have a learning support prerequisite. The following semester, the student should enroll in MATH 0090.

2. Students who have accumulated 20 semester hours of college-level credit and have not successfully completed required learning support courses may enroll only in learning support courses until requirements are successfully completed.

3. Students with learning support requirements who are enrolled in both learning support courses and credit courses may not withdraw from the required learning support courses with a “W” unless they also withdraw from credit courses.

4. To exit a learning support area, students must successfully complete (C or better) the exit level learning support course in that area, meet any established institutional standards, and attain at least the University System minimum score on the appropriate part of COMPASS. An exit writing sample shall also be required in learning support English.

C. If a student does not complete requirements for an area in twelve semester hours or three semesters, whichever occurs first, the student will be suspended. The student may not be considered for readmission within three years of the suspension.

  Prior to suspending a student who has not exited a learning support area within the twelve-semester hour or three semester limit, an institution may allow the student to appeal for one additional course. The student must:

  be individually evaluated and determined to have a reasonable chance of success

  be in an exit level course

  have reached the limit in only one learning support area

  If granted the additional course, the student may enroll in only the learning support course.

D. Students who have been suspended from the institution without completing learning support requirements may not be exempted from their learning support requirements through transfer of course credit unless they are eligible for transfer admission under the institution’s regular transfer admission policies.

E. Students who have not taken any college work in the University System for three years may be retested with COMPASS (in any unsatisfied area) and readmitted without a learning support requirement if they meet the institutional criteria for exemption. Students who do not exempt on the retest may appeal for readmission. Students readmitted under this provision are subject to the 20-hour limit on college-level course work and may not take credit work if they had earned 20 credit hours during their previous period(s) of enrollment.

F. Students with learning disorders who are required to enroll in learning support must fulfill all stated requirements, including the COMPASS requirements. These students should be provided with appropriate course accommodations.

     Appropriate course and testing accommodations will be made for students with visual, hearing, or motor impairment.


EVENING AND OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Abraham Baldwin’s Evening and Off-Campus Programs seek to accommodate both traditional and non-traditional students through flexible programming designed to provide educational opportunities when and where students need them. Through the on-campus evening program a student may obtain one of eight different associate degrees entirely by attending classes at night. Several off-campus locations offer evening core curriculum classes from all 53 programs of study at the college.

A student may attend classes at the Moultrie off-campus location and earn an associate degree either in early childhood education or business administration. In addition, through a cooperative agreement with East Central Technical College, a student may earn an associate of applied science degree in one of 9 different areas.

ABAC also offers advanced degrees from area universities for associate of science graduates. The universities include Albany State University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Macon State College, and Valdosta State University. The courses are delivered on the ABAC campus through lecture, distance learning, and online classes. These programs permit area residents to receive four-year and graduate degrees without leaving the ABAC campus.

ADULT COLLEGE ENTRY (ACE) PROGRAM

Adults who want to enter college after being out of school for a number of years may opt to participate in the Adult College Entry (ACE) Program. During the eleven-week program, ACE participants

  complete each step in the admissions, placement, financial aid, advising, and registration processes;

  learn how to take notes, how to study, how to manage their time, and how to master other skills that will contribute to success in college; and

  brush up on math skills in a program tailored to individual needs and goals.

Prospective students who want more information about the ACE Program should call the Evening & Off-Campus Programs Office at ABAC or the Public Service & Business Outreach Center.

NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS

Abraham Baldwin has long been known as an academic institution that is willing to help those who are willing to help themselves. This is evidenced by a rapidly growing segment of the student body, non-traditional students, who wholeheartedly embrace both the work ethic and a creed of self-improvement. In turn, the college endorses their efforts, believing that those who are willing to help themselves add a special dimension to the learning process and should be encouraged to do so.

Abraham Baldwin is committed to accommodating the needs of non-traditional students by offering college transfer, career, and developmental programs at times and places which are convenient. It acknowledges that most non-traditional students are adult learners who have family and work responsibilities. Because of this, many have special needs but quite often possess unique strengths and experiences which enhance the classroom environment.

Because of its commitment to the non-traditional student, ABAC has established the Office of Evening and Off-Campus Programs to coordinate and administer the college’s evening and off-campus credit programs. The Director serves under the Vice-President and Dean of Academic Affairs as chief administrator for the planning, improvement, development, implementation, marketing, and management of these programs. The Office of Evening and Off-Campus Programs works to foster an environment which enhances the partnership among administrators, faculty, staff, and non-traditional students, recognizing that achievement can accrue on a part-time schedule, that there is more than one way to achieve a degree than the traditional path from high-school student directly to day full-time college student, and that learning is often enhanced by the richer context of experience that adults bring to their studies.

ON-CAMPUS EVENING DEGREE PROGRAMS

Through Abraham Baldwin College’s Evening Program a student may take advantage of eight different degree programs available during the evenings on campus or may choose to take courses to satisfy a personal interest or a job-related need. The degree programs available through night classes are as follows:

Associate of Arts Liberal Arts

Associate of Science Criminal Justice

Associate of Arts Psychology

Associate of Arts Sociology

Associate of Science Business Administration

Associate of Science Early Childhood Education

Associate of Science Human Services (Social Science)

Associate of Applied Science Cooperative programs with East Central Technical College

In addition to these, all core curriculum courses required in each of the 40 college parallel (transfer) programs at Abraham Baldwin are offered through the evening program. Also, because of a unique agreement with other units of the University System in this area, ABAC offers cooperative programs leading to four-year and graduate degrees in several areas.

OFF-CAMPUS DEGREE PROGRAMS

At ABAC on the Square in Moultrie, students can complete the following degree programs:

   Associate of Science Business Administration

   Associate of Science Early Childhood Education

Core curriculum classes required for transfer degrees in a number of other majors are also available.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid is available to evening and off-campus students who qualify. Special scholarship opportunities are available for deserving non-traditional, part-time students as well. Scholarship applications may be obtained from the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The deadline for submitting scholarship applications is March 1 each year. For specific information on financial aid, contact the Financial Aid Office.

  

COLLEGE-WIDE COURSE DESIGNATION ABBREVIATIONS

ABAC    Orientation/Study Skills      HNRS   Honors

ACCT    Accounting                    HORT   Horticulture

AECO    Agricultural Economics        HUMN   Humanities

AENG    Agricultural Engineering      ITEC   Information Technology

AENT    Agricultural Technology       JRNL   Journalism

AGRI    Agriculture                   MATH   Mathematics

AGRP    Agricultural Pest Mgmt.       MGMT   Management

AGRY    Agronomy                      MKTG   Marketing

ARTS    Art                           MUSC   Music

ASLH    Animal Husbandry              NURS   Nursing

BIOL    Biology                       PHED   Physical Education

BUSA    Business Administration       PHIL   Philosophy

CHEM    Chemistry                     PHSC   Physical Science

CISM    Computer Information System   PHYS   Physics

COMM    Communications                PNUR   Pre-Nursing

CRJU    Criminal Justice              POLS   Political Science

CRSS    Plant Science                 PSYC   Psychology

CSCI    Computer Science              READ   Reading

ECON    Economics                     RELG   Religion

EDUC    Education                     RGTR   Regents’ Reading Rem

ENGL    English                       RGTE   Regents’ Essay Rem

ENGL    English                       ROTC   Air Force ROTC

FACS    Family and Consumer Sciences  SCIE   Science

FRSC    Forestry                      SOCI   Sociology

GEOG    Geography                     SOSC   Social Science

GNDR    Gender Studies                SPAN   Spanish

HIST    History                       THEA   Drama

HMSR    Human Services