New Student Orientation - Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

New Student Orientation

ACCREDITATIONWiregrass Georgia Technical College is accreditedby the Commission on Colleges of the SouthernAssociation of Colleges and Schools to awardassociate degrees, diplomas, and technicalcertificates of credit. Contact the Commission onColleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questionsabout the accreditation of Wiregrass GeorgiaTechnical College.

Equal Opportunity InstitutionWiregrass Georgia Technical College does not discriminate on the basis ofrace, color, national origin, gender or disability. Any violation or questionsshould be directed to Shalonda Sanders, Executive Director for HumanResources, Title IX Coordinator, Room 114, 4089 Val Tech Rd, Valdosta,GA 31602, or call 229-333-5356 ext. 3014; or Keren Wynn, VPAdministrative Services, Room 535, 4089 Val Tech Rd, Valdosta, GA31602, or call (229) 333-2103; or Deborah Smith, Director of HumanResources, Room 630C, 667 Perry House Road, Fitzgerald, GA 31750 orcall (229) 468-2027; or Sabrina Cox, Director of Distance Education, Room132, 706 W Baker Hwy, Douglas, GA 31533, or call 229-468-2022; or IvoryGates, Director of Evening Operations, Room 120, 4089 Val Tech Road,Valdosta, GA 31602 or call (229) 333-2100 ext. 1369; or Sherry Veal,Executive Director for Student Support, ADA & Section 504 Coordinator,Room 628D, 667 Perry House Road, Fitzgerald, GA 31750, or call 229-468-2030. Telephone numbers are accessible to persons who are deaf or hardof hearing through the Georgia Relay by dialing 711 or 1-800-255-0056from a TTY/TDD.

WGTC Campuses & TeachingLocationsCampusBen Hill Irwin CampusCoffee CampusCook County WorkforceDevelopment CenterWilcox CampusMoody Air Force BaseValdosta CampusLocationFitzgerald, GADouglas, GASparks, GARochelle, GAMoody Air Force BaseTechnical Education Center– Valdosta, GAValdosta, GA

Student Calendar/Handbook• Handbook lists college policies and procedures• Calendar lists important college dates• Handbook is alsoavailable on our website

Admissions OfficeThe Admissions staff atWiregrass GeorgiaTechnical College isavailable to assist studentswith admissionsapplications, dual majorrequests, program changerequests, and voterregistration applications.Student ID cards are alsomade in the AdmissionsOffice.OpenMonday-Thursday7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.Fridays8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Except during quarterbreaks when the entirecollege closes early

Changing Programs•Change of Program Request formavailable in the Admissions Office•May affect financial aid, graduation date,etc.

WGTC offers:• Pell Grant• HOPE Grant (no HSGPA requirement)• HOPE Scholarship• Work-studyFinancial Aid• All students are encouraged to complete aFederal FAFSA application each year todetermine eligibility for Financial Aidprograms.• Students should be aware that the number ofhours that the HOPE Grant and the HOPEScholarship will pay is limited, and it is thestudent’s responsibility to know andunderstand where he or she stands inrelationship to these limits.• Additionally, students must successfullycomplete at least 67% of the credit hours thatthey attempt in order to remain eligible forFinancial Aid.• Work-study jobs are posted on the WGTCwebsite under “Employment.”For complete information about Wiregrass Georgia TechnicalCollege’s financial aid programs, please visit our college’sweb site at www.wiregrass.edu.

Workforce Investment Act(WIA)Additional financial aidoption awarded toqualified students whoare:•Dislocated workers•Displacedhomemakers•Other qualifiedindividuals who areunable to pay to attendWGTC

Workforce Investment…•Has specially allocatedfunds for individuals whohave been laid off or arerecently divorced•May be used in conjunctionwith HOPE and Pell•Covers the cost of tuition,fees, books, and any otherrequired school expenses notcovered by other financial aid•Offers limited financialassistance to help withchildcare, transportation, etc.Need more info?Visit the WIA Office

Office of the RegistrarThe Office of the Registrar assists studentswith the following:•Registration questions•Drop/Add•Transfer of credit•Grades•Transcripts•Enrollment verification•Etc.

FERPA(Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act 1974)Wiregrass Georgia Technical College also adheres to theFamily Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974,otherwise referred to as FERPA. In summary, FERPAentitles parents of dependent students and eligible studentsthe right to inspect and review the student’s educationalrecords and contest inaccurate or misleading informationcontained in those records. The college must have writtenpermission from the student before information from astudent’s records can be released to any person other thanthe student. For complete information about FERPA,please refer to the Wiregrass Georgia Technical CollegeStudent Handbook.

Transfer & Articulated Credit• Course credit may be awarded for courses completed with a "C" or better atother regionally accredited colleges or universities. Students are responsiblefor providing official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions previouslyattended. When transcripts are received, they are automatically reviewed fortransfer credit.• Credit may also be awarded for certain high school courses completed. Inorder to be eligible for this credit, students must enroll at Wiregrass GeorgiaTechnical College within 18 months of their high school graduation and musthave earned a grade of 80 or higher in the high school course. Onceadmitted to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, the student will berequired to pass a competency test for the course in order to receive creditfor the course.• Complete information about transfer of credit can be found in the college’sStudent Handbook.

Grading Policies•Standard A-F gradingsystem•C or better required inprerequisite courses•2.0 GPA required toremain in good academicstanding (2.5 required insome medical programs)

Academic DishonestyAcademic dishonesty or cheating will not betolerated at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.All WGTC students are required to complete theirown work. Students caught cheating will be subjectto severe penalties including immediate dismissalfrom all classes for the remainder of the quarter,receiving an “F” in the course in which the cheatingoccurred, and/or having to appear before thecollege’s Readmission Committee to determinereadmission to the college.

Dropping Classes & Withdrawing•Talk to your advisor &Student Affairs staff prior todropping a class orwithdrawing from college•It may affect your financial aidand academic standing•Follow correct procedurewhich is outlined in theStudent Handbook

BanwebBanweb allows students to do thefollowing:•Register for classes•View class schedules•View grades•View unofficial transcripts•Check application status*If your mailing address is incorrect in Banweb, we cannotissue financial aid refunds or contact you by mail withimportant information concerning your enrollment.

Graduation•Keep track of coursesrequired for graduation – useour website!•Stay in touch with youradvisor.•Apply for graduation prior toregistering for your last quarterof classes.

Online Courses• Students are required tolog into each onlinecourse within the firstthree days of thequarter. If the studentdoes not, he/she will beconsidered a “No Show”and will be droppedfrom the course.• If a student logins(even only once),he/she is consideredan active student andmust contact his/herinstructor or advisor todrop the course.• Refer to the coursesyllabus for specificattendanceinformation.

Online CoursesANGELhttp://wiregrass.angellearning.com•Username: 48_900XXXXXX(X’s represent WGTC student ID)•Password: 48_900XXXXXX(X’s represent WGTC student ID)Password will have to be changed at first login.Email online@wiregrass.edu if you have anyquestions or problems!

WGTC LibraryThe Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Libraryhas countless resources that will help you in yourprogram of study, and all students are encouragedto use the library and its resources.

Cooperative Agreement withVSU and SGC’s LibrariesFor additional research and resourceneeds, Wiregrass Georgia TechnicalCollege students, faculty, and staffmay also use Valdosta StateUniversity’s Odum Library and SouthGeorgia College’s Library. YourWGTC student ID card is required atboth the Valdosta State Universityand South Georgia College libraries.

WGTC BookstoresWiregrass GeorgiaTechnical College’sBookstores carry allof the textbooksrequired for yourclasses. WGTCbookstores also offera wide selection ofschool supplies andWGTC spirit items.

Direct Deposit Benefits• No lost checks in the mail• Quicker availability of funds• Fill out the form and turn in to theBookstore or the Business Office

Academic Support CenterFree tutoring!Learning support, core, and certain entrylevel occupational coursesFree career guidance& testing!Including the exploration ofnon-traditional careersStudy skills!

Services for Special Populations StudentsSpecial Populations students are:•Single parents•Economically disadvantaged•Single pregnant women•Displaced homemakers•Students with disabilities•Students with limited Englishproficiency•Students enrolled innontraditional programs

Services for Students withDisabilitiesStudents with documented disabilities may beeligible to receive reasonable accommodations toassist them in meeting their personal, educationaland career goals. The Special PopulationsCoordinator is available to provide services forstudents with disabilities to help maximize eachstudent’s opportunity for success.Appointments to discuss eligibility requirements arerecommended, but every effort will be made toaccommodate walk-ins.

Create Success….Achieve your Healthcare Career Goal…GET THE HELP YOU NEED Tutoring Life Skills Support Services Financial AssistanceSEE YOUR ALLIED HEALTH ADVISOR TODAYA Community-Based Job Training InitiativeU. S. Department of Labor - Employment and Training Administration

Counseling Referral ServicesHelp is available!Special Populations Coordinator or the Academic Support Center

Student ActivitiesGET INVOLVED!Student Leadership CouncilPhi Beta LambdaDelta Epsilon ChiSkillsUSANational Technical HonorSocietyWiregrass Georgia TechCollegiate FellowshipProgram Clubs

Workforce DevelopmentThe Workforce Development Officeoffers the following services forstudents:• Georgia Work Ready Certificates• KeyTrain - Internet-based WorkplaceSkills Training

Career Services• The Career Services Office offers thefollowing services for students:• Job Referrals• Job Fairs• Resume Preparation• Wage Information

Work EthicsThe U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 80 percent of workerslose their jobs, not because of lack of occupational skills, but becauseof poor work ethics. All WGTC students receive a work ethic grade foreach of their courses, as well as an academic grade. Both of thesegrades are recorded and appear on students’ WGTC transcripts.WGTC teaches 10 work ethic traits:AppearanceAttendanceAttitudeCharacterCommunicationCooperationOrganizationProductivityRespectTeamwork

Dress CodeDress appropriately foryour specific programWear shoes at all timesNO:Clothing, jewelry, oraccessory displayinglewd or distastefullanguage, gestures, orpicturesNO:• Short or tight shorts, haltertops, swimsuits, tank tops, ordisplay bare midriffs• Under clothing that is visible onthe outside

PERSONAL CONDUCTZero tolerance for…Drugs & AlcoholWeaponsFighting

Safety and SecuritySafety & emergencyprocedures postedin each classroomand lab areaPolice and Securitypersonnel oncampus during theday and eveningBecome familiarwith what to do inthe case of anemergencyPlease report anyincidences tocampus police oran administrator

Smoking and Smokeless TobaccoWGTC is a tobacco-controlled campus!Smoking and smokeless tobacco use is onlypermitted in designated areas that are markedoutside.INSIDE THE BUILDINGS!

Parking• Parking decals are required!• Parking applications are available on each campus location. Must know themake, model, and tag number of your vehicle in order to get a decal.• If driving a temporary vehicle, get a temporary passStudents who arrive after 5:00 p.m.may park in unmarked spacesand spaces marked “Faculty”.

Parking, cont.• Tickets are $10-$25depending on offense• Double if not paid orappealed within 7 days• Continued parkingviolations could result in:• Wheel locks• Towing• Holds placed onrecords• Privilege to drive oncampus may berevoked

Grievance &Disciplinary AppealsCommunication is essential between the students, faculty andstaff at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. You, as astudent, have the right to appeal decisions made by theadministration or sanctions imposed on you by them.Please review the Student Handbook for WGTC’s Grievanceand Appeals Policy.

Quarter To Semester (Q2S)• Beginning in August 2011, the Technical CollegeSystem of Georgia (TCSG) will convertfrom the quarter to the semester system, achange made in the best interests of our students• http://www.tcsgsemester411.com/index.cfm

Thank you for your attention duringthis presentation!Please do not forget to download, print, and sign the“Acknowledgement of Orientation Form” found here:Acknowledgement of New Student OrientationThis form must be submitted to an Admissions Office.Failure to do so will result in your having to repeat thisorientation presentation.

GOOD LUCK AND WELCOME!CHECK US OUT ON…