This particular handbook is prepared for the convenience of students and does not constitute an official publication of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. In case of any divergence from or conflict with the bylaws or policies of the Board of Regents, the official Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents shall prevail.
The statements set forth in the handbook are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as the basis of a contract between a student and this institution. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the material stated herein, Georgia College & State University reserves the right to change, without actual notice to individual students, any provision listed in this handbook including but not limited to academic requirements for graduation. Every effort will be made to keep students advised of such changes.
Information regarding academic requirements for graduation is available in the offices of the director of admissions and records and the deans of major schools/colleges. It is the responsibility of each student to keep himself apprised of current graduation requirements for a degree program in which he is enrolled.
The responsibility for knowing the information presented in this handbook rests ultimately with the student.
[Note: The use of the male terminology is meant to reflect both male and female student, faculty, and staff at GCSU]
Student Academic Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
(For all students enrolled at GCSU)
Section I. Student Academic Bill of Rights
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Student Government Association of Georgia College, that university policies and procedures shall be interpreted so as to afford students enrolled at Georgia College the following academic rights:
- The right to receive a syllabus for each course at the beginning of every semester that documents the expected learning outcomes, grading criteria, and course rules; being informed by the professor of any changes or modifications made to the syllabus with ample time to adjust to new modifications.
- The right to attend classes during regularly scheduled times without penalty if the student is absent from instructional, lab, or examination times scheduled outside of the originally agreed upon times, unless cited in the original syllabi.
- The right to consult with an assigned and qualified advisor for a reasonable amount of time each term.
- The right to consult with faculty outside usual classroom times such as regularly scheduled office hours, by appointment, or online.
- The right to receive a realistic evaluation of academic standing and performance in a class prior to the point at which one may withdraw from the course without penalty.
- The right to have graded work returned in a fashion deemed appropriate by the syllabi.
- The right to have time, as allocated by the syllabus, to complete a course requirement.
- The right of each student to receive access to any of his/her records kept by the institution.
- The right of each student to have access to his/her graded course materials.
- The right to be informed of the grade appeals process.
- The right to be informed of the university-approved definition of academic dishonesty.
- The right to an intellectually diverse learning environment that exposes students to and provides the free exchange of ideas regarding a variety of political, ideological, and other perspectives.
Section II. Student Academic Responsibilities
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Student Government Association of Georgia College, that, in consonance with the Student Academic Bill of Rights, students bear the following academic responsibilities:
- The responsibility to read and be familiar with all syllabi.
- The responsibility to come to class having all needed materials and assignments completed for that class period.
- The responsibility to consult a designated advisor when appropriate.
- The responsibility to approach faculty with questions or concerns.
- The responsibility to complete assignments on time.
- The responsibility to share your thoughts and input in-class discussion.
- The responsibility to be attentive in class and to participate where needed/appropriate.
- The responsibility to show respect to faculty and fellow students inside and outside of the classroom.
- The responsibility to network with your classmates in the event of an absence.
- The responsibility to utilize campus facilities to enhance the learning experience.
- The responsibility to know and follow the Georgia College Honor Code and Code of Conduct.
Approved by the Georgia College University Senate, April 5, 2006
Student Roadmap
GCSU students are expected to set their own personal development goals, take responsibility for their learning, take advantage of the opportunities available to help them develop and implement their career plans, and to be meaningfully engaged and involved in the campus community. This link to the student road map checklist should serve as a useful guide to students in meeting these expectations.
Academic Information and Policies
If the information listed below does not address a particular concern, please contact the Dean of a College or the Provost. The paragraphs below contain brief explanations of the content of the various topics. The official information is found in the current catalog and links have been provided to that source.
- Academic Policies
- Advising Goals of the program, assignment of advisors, and responsibilities for meeting requirements.
- Academic Dishonesty
- Statement of policy and procedures for appeal (Also see Student Academic Appeals Process)
Official Class Attendance Policy Although it is recognized that absences will sometimes be necessary, students are expected to attend classes regularly. It is the responsibility of students to be cognizant of their own record of absences and to consult the instructor regarding work missed. The decision to permit students to make up work rests with the instructor. At any time during the semester, an instructor has the right to drop a student from the course and assign a grade of F for excessive absences when a student exceeds the number of allowable absences specified in the instructor’s attendance policy distributed to the student in the instructor’s course syllabus. If a student is representing the university in an official capacity, as verified on a list released from the Office of the Provost, the instructor will not penalize the student for those absences. However, students should consult their instructor before anticipated absences.
Class attendance is required by most faculty. The student is always responsible for what happens in each class. Each class and professor differs, so students should be certain they understand the attendance requirements for each course taken. The student should communicate directly with the instructor concerning any absences to determine what is required to remain current with instruction. Best advice: GO TO CLASS.
Course Catalog The GCSU Catalog is prepared for students, parents, and high school counselors and is available online at the above link. It is also used as the basic resource document for faculty advisement once a student has been admitted to GCSU. All the information in it should be considered very important to prospective and current students.
Drop-Add Students may change class schedules or late register during specified times, but this critical activity known as Drop-Add should be avoided whenever possible. To drop or add a class, follow the procedures outlined in the current catalog. Students should be aware that courses dropped after the initial drop-add period are considered attempted hours for the purposes of figuring financial aid, including the HOPE scholarship.
New Student Orientation New students and their families have many questions when they first arrive at GCSU. The Orientation Program is designed to answer those questions and help the newest members of the GCSU community feel at home. Current upper-class students are selected and trained to help ease the transition of new students to the college.
Registration Information about selecting and signing up for classes each term.
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) Students have the right of assurance that their academic records, compiled and maintained by GCSU, will be recorded accurately, and retained in confidence.
Staying in School
Those students whose academic performance falls below the standards prescribed in the catalog will be placed on academic warning, probation, and may even receive notice of dismissal (see the catalog for details). If students realize they are getting behind in classes or having problems studying, they should ask for assistance. The first source of support is the professor in a particular course. A student may also want to talk with a faculty adviser, the learning center, or a counselor.
Withdrawing
A student cannot officially withdraw during the course of a semester without going through the Office of the Registrar. At that time a student will be given further instructions for completing the withdrawal process. Withdrawing without going through the proper procedures will result in all "Fs" for the term.
Office of the Registrar | 107 Parks Hall
Office: 478-445-6286 | Fax: 478-445-1914
International Services And Programs
The International Education Center is directed by the assistant vice president for international education. The office provides information and counseling to international students on immigration regulations and procedures, medical insurance, financial assistance, taxes, adjustment to life in the U.S., and academic concerns, advises the GCSU International Club, and organizes community and campus activities.
The assistant vice president for international education promotes the internationalization of the curriculum by directing the International Studies Minor and the core international studies course. The office also organizes the international lecture series, coordinates visits by foreign scholars and visits abroad by GCSU faculty, and advises students on study abroad opportunities.
Freedom of expression policy
Georgia College & State University (GCSU) holds the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and the right to assemble peaceably as essential cornerstones to the advancement of knowledge and the right of a free people. GCSU remains firmly committed to affording every member of the university community the opportunity to engage in peaceful and orderly exercise of these rights. Such opportunities must be provided on an equal basis and support the principle that the university should remain neutral to the views of public expression.
In order to achieve this objective, and subject to the applicable policies of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents Policies, while at the same time ensuring that the university fulfills its educational mission, the university has the responsibility to maintain a peaceful, safe environment for its campus community as well as visitors to campus. This institutional policy will help to ensure that individuals’ or groups’ rights are not abridged, while also supporting a means to maintain safety. Assuming responsibility for the use of university facilities includes ensuring that the university does not restrict the First Amendment rights of the public, students, staff, and faculty, including protecting the rights of speakers to be heard, the rights of the university community to hear speakers, and the reputation of the university as a center for free speech and scholarly inquiry.
The law permits reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions to allow for reasonable regulation of use of campus facilities to support university missions for teaching, education, research, student success, providing residential communities and other forms of learning. This policy is intended to make it possible to support the university’s goals by implementing balanced procedures.
Assembly on Campus
A. Campus Community Members
Students, faculty, staff, and their invited guests are supported in their right to assemble in unrestricted outdoor areas of the campus. They can publicly assemble on campus in any unrestricted outdoor areas of the campus under this policy and the following conditions:
- “Restricted” outdoor areas include all areas designated for athletic or intramural competition, parking lots, campus sidewalks and stairs, porches of any building,
- Amplified sound levels may not disrupt the central academic mission or normal operations of the University or the residential communities of the campus.
- No assembly, camping or use of the unrestricted outdoor areas of the GCSU campus are allowed after 9:00 p.m. or overnight without prior approval from the Office of the Dean of Students.
- No assembly can block, impair or disrupt access to or from any GCSU facility.
While reservations of unrestricted out areas are not required by members of the campus community, individuals and groups may reserve an unrestricted outdoor area by calling Facility Reservations at (478) 445-2749 or sending an email message to facilityreservations@gcsu.edu.
B. Members of the Public
As a public institution, and pursuant to Board of Regents Policy 6.5.2, individuals and groups who are not part of the campus community may access the campus for assembly purposes under this policy and the following conditions:
- By making a reservation through the GCSU Facility Reservations Office at (478)445-2749 or facilityreservations@gcsu.edu, use of the Front Campus area bordering Hancock Street and in front of Terrell Hall and Atkinson Hall, between the flag pole and the central granite Bobcat Head medallion, is allowed between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- Amplified sound levels may not disrupt the central academic mission or normal operations of the University or the residential communities of the campus.
- No assembly, camping or use of the unrestricted outdoor areas of the GCSU campus are allowed after 9:00 p.m. or overnight without prior approval from the Office of the Dean of Students.
- No assembly can block, impair or disrupt access to or from any GCSU facility.
- Use of the campus area described herein by nonmembers of the campus community is available without regard to the content or viewpoint of expression to be conveyed during the assembly.
Use of Campus Property
GCSU is an historic campus with irreplaceable facilities and grounds; accordingly no signs, painting, or other materials may be affixed to or placed on any GCSU facility, tree, lamp post, flag pole, fountain or other such property without approval and permission of the Office of the Dean of Students. (This policy does not apply to GCSU campus offices that need to post signage in the ordinary course of their work.)
There is a custom at GCSU of writing messages in chalk on campus sidewalks at various times of the year. This practice is acceptable to announce campus events, advocate for campus competitions, notify students of campus services and deadlines, or offer messages of support to the student body so long as water-soluble chalk is used. Other messages will be removed and are not deemed an appropriate use of campus property. Chalking, painting, or writing is not permitted on benches, trees, windows, buildings, fountains, art installations, fences, classroom chalkboards or whiteboards, in the proximity of the Front Campus Bobcat Head, or on other institutional signage or markers.
Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted as preventing Georgia College & State University from prohibiting student-on-student harassment as defined by Georgia law; from complying with federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment; or from prohibiting, limiting, or restricting expression that is not protected under the Georgia Constitution or the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, including, but not limited to, true threats or expressive activity directed to provoke imminent lawless actions and likely to produce it.
The Freedom of Expression Policy is published in the GCSU Student Handbook, made available publicly online through the GCSU website, and incorporated into various programs that onboard and orient new faculty, staff and students to GCSU. The University will share this policy with students, faculty, and staff on an annual basis.
Questions about the Freedom of Expression Policy may be directed to the Office of the Dean of Students by calling (478) 445-2090 or via email at dos@gcsu.edu.
Last Revision: July 2024
Next Review: June 2025
Effective Date: July 2022
Cabinet Approval: June 2022
Review University System of Georgia Policy (6.5)
6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom
The rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, to the U.S. Constitution including the right to freedom of speech, the right to the free exercise of religion, and the right peaceably to assemble peaceably are of the utmost importance, and the University System of Georgia (USG) is committed to protecting those rights. In the context of higher education, the constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech includes both academic freedom and freedom of expression. USG and all of its institutions shall vigorously protect those freedoms.
USG and its institutions shall foster an environment where all members of the USG community are free to share ideas and opinions, even those that some may find offensive. Ideas and opinions should be openly and freely debated and discussed, both inside and outside of the classroom, without fear of suppression or reprisal. The USG community should promote intellectual debates, not close them off, and must uphold the values of civility and mutual respect while doing so.
While narrow restrictions to freedom of speech will apply for expression that violates the law or USG or institutional policies, freedom of expression protections are broad. Any necessary limitations will be enforced by USG or institutional administration. Individual members of the USG community shall not attempt to prevent or otherwise interfere with the free expression of others, no matter how objectionable they may find the expressed ideas or opinions.
Similarly, USG is strongly committed to protecting the academic freedom rights of faculty and students. Along with those rights comes an individual responsibility to fulfill obligations in the classroom, in research, and as public citizens.
6.5.1 Academic Freedom
As a public system of higher education, USG is committed to protecting the academic freedom rights of faculty and students in teaching, research, publishing, and other academic activities. All institutions within USG must vigorously promote the open exchange of ideas and protect academic freedom on their campuses.
USG values diversity of intellectual thought and expression for all. While faculty and students must be encouraged to exercise their rights to academic freedom, they must also understand that, along with those rights comes the responsibility to respect the individuality and beliefs of all. Members of the USG community should always seek to foster and defend intellectual honesty, freedom of inquiry, and instruction on and off campus.
Academic freedom is a bedrock of higher education, but it is not unlimited. Faculty academic freedom extends only to classroom material and discussions, research, publications, and other academic activities that are germane to the subject matter being taught, researched, written about, or presented. Faculty members must be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matters that have no relation to their subject.
Students should be provided an environment conducive to learning, be free from faculty or institutional coercion to make personal political or social choices, and be evaluated based on their academic performance, not factors that are irrelevant to that performance such as their personal beliefs. Similarly, faculty and staff have the right to be unburdened by irrelevant factors such as ideological tests, affirmations, and oaths, and should instead be hired and evaluated based on relevant factors such as their achievement and the success of students.
Finally, faculty hold a special position in the community that carries both privileges and obligations. Because faculty are scholars and educators, the public may judge their profession and their institutions by their utterances. Therefore, faculty should always strive to be accurate, exercise appropriate restraint, show respect for the opinions of others, and make every effort when they are expressing their personal opinions to indicate that they are speaking for themselves as private citizens rather than on behalf of their institutions.
This commitment to protecting the academic freedom rights of all faculty and students, as well as ensuring that all faculty and students respect the academic freedom rights of others, is crucial to USG’s mission of providing the best educational opportunities to all Georgians.
6.5.2 Institution Freedom of Expression Policies
As public institutions of higher education, USG institutions must promote free expression and academic freedom on their campuses. To that end, the unrestricted outdoor areas of institutions are deemed public forums for the campus community of each institution. For purposes of this policy, the campus community means students, faculty, staff, and their invited guests. While institutions may need to enact policies to promote campus safety, to ensure the proper functioning of the academic environment and institution activities, or to further other important institution objectives, those policies should not unduly burden the free expression rights of students, faculty, and staff.
Institutions may maintain and enforce reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions narrowly tailored to serve a significant institutional interest. Such restrictions must employ clear, published, content- and viewpoint-neutral criteria, and provide for ample alternative means of expression. Finally, any such restrictions may include reservation requirements, if needed, but must also allow for members of the campus community to spontaneously and contemporaneously assemble or distribute literature.
Institutions can designate accessible, high-traffic locations on campus as public forum areas for individuals or groups who are not members of the campus community and can require these individuals or groups to comply with reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions, including reservation requirements. Institutions may not consider the content or viewpoint of expression when requiring or assigning use of public forum areas.
USG institutions must place their student free expression policies and procedures in the student handbook and make the same publicly available online. These policies and procedures must also be incorporated into student orientation programs. Finally, institutions must develop materials, programs, and procedures to ensure that faculty and staff understand the institutional policies and duties regarding free expression on campus.
Student Organizations
GCSU recognizes that co-curricular activities are important in the educational development of the individual and therefore encourages students to participate in student organizations.
The President of GCSU is charged by the Board of Regents with the responsibility and authority for the registration and operation of all organizations on the GCSU campus. This responsibility has been delegated to the Department of Student Engagement through the Vice President for Student Life
See Student Organizations for specific details related to registering an organization, policies pertaining to Registered Student Organizations (RSO), list of RSOs at GCSU, etc.
History of Georgia College & State University
Presidents and their terms
1889-1905 – J. Harris Chappell
1905-1926 – Marvin McTyeire Parks
1926-1934 – J. Luther Beeson
1934-1953 – Guy Herbert Wells
1953-1956 – Henry King Stanford
1956-1967 – Robert E. Lee
1967-1981 – J. Whitney Bunting
1981-1997 – Edwin G. Speir, Jr.
1997-2004 – Rosemary DePaolo
2004-2011 - Dorothy Leland
2012-2021 - Steve Dorman
2021 - present - Cathy Cox
Photo and Video Release
As a student at GCSU, from time to time you will be on campus, in class, or at a university-designated activity where our campus photographer and/or videographers are present and working to capture visual images. These videos and photos will be used across multiple platforms (i.e. social media, university websites, university print materials, etc.) to help tell the GCSU story. If you do not want to be a part of these photos or videos, let the videographer or photographer know, and they will exclude you from the shots. If you do not say that you wish to be excluded, you consent to be a part of the photos or video to be used by GCSU.
Services for Students
Find information about the Bobcat Card, meal plans, parking permits, career advising, public safety, and getting involved on campus.
Bobcat Card
The Bobcat Card is an essential key to campus life and a handy tool for managing your money. As your official Georgia College identification card, the Bobcat Card gives you access to facilities, services, and fun.
You can also use your Bobcat Card for making purchases at participating locations. The Bobcat Card is truly an all-inclusive card, serving as your:
• Debit card to access available funds in a CatCash Account
• Meal plan card
• CatCash dining card (for purchases at retail dining facilities)
• Library card
• Access card to residence halls
• Access card to gated parking
• Ticket to Georgia College Athletic events
• Laundry card
• Snack and beverage vending card
• Copier card
• Bookstore debit card
• Computer lab pay-for-print card
• Debit card for use with off-campus merchants
Email questions or concerns to bobcat.card@gcsu.edu.
Meal Plans
For a list of meal plans that are available visit the GCSU Dining Website.
Parking Permits
Each student is required to register and obtain a parking permit from the Parking and Transportation Office (located at West Campus) for any vehicle which he operates on campus. This permit is required 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For detailed information, visit Parking and Transportation.
In order to obtain a handicapped parking permit, you must go to the Office of Disability Services to complete the required paperwork. For more information contact Disability Services.
Career Advising
The University Career Center (located in Lanier Hall) provides placement assistance to students and graduates who are seeking employment through on-campus interviewing programs, current listings of job notices, and a variety of employment resources like the College Placement Council Annuals. While the office does not function as an employment agency, the staff seeks to assist students in identifying potential employers, developing resumes, and preparing for job interviews.
In addition, the University Career Center hosts a number of Career Days each academic year which enable students to meet with college recruiters from business, industry, and government agencies to gather information and develop job prospects.
The University Career Center also offers education majors an opportunity to develop and maintain a credentials file of reference letters, transcripts, and other career-related materials that would be sent at the student's request to prospective employers. All students participating in interviews scheduled during Teacher Placement Day must have a completed credentials file in The University Career Center. Additionally, a resume resource service exists for student use. Students are strongly encouraged to become familiar with placement resources and to establish their credentials files at the beginning of their senior year.
Students who are unsure of their career direction may wish to visit the Counseling Services office for assistance with choosing a major or a career. A variety of career assessment instruments and literature are available with assistance from the counseling staff.
Public Safety
The Georgia College Department of Public Safety wants to get to know you as friends, and we encourage you to help us by learning and abiding by established university regulations, municipal, and state laws. The Department of Public Safety, in turn, pledges to perform law enforcement duties and various services consistently and effectively. By working together, we can enjoy a safe and successful year.
The Public Safety office is located in Miller Hall at 300 N. Wayne Street and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The department employs 16 trained officers who are certified by the Peace Officers Standards and Training Council of Georgia. This is the same certification that any city police officer or county deputy sheriff receives before they can be certified as law enforcement officers in Georgia. The sworn officers and communications staff are proud to serve the Georgia College community.
As Georgia College officers, we enforce the state laws as well as local ordinances. We issue citations, make arrests, and work vehicle accidents. Some of our other duties include the locking and unlocking of campus buildings, assisting motorists, and patrolling the campus on foot, bicycle, or in marked patrol vehicles.
Please feel free to stop by Miller Hall to learn more about the Public Safety operations, or call the office and speak to an officer or one of the staff. Whether you are representing yourself or a group, we encourage you to let us know how the Georgia College Police Department can best serve you.
Getting Involved on Campus
There is Something for everyone.
The Department of Student Engagement supports the institutional mission by offering students the opportunity to participate in social, recreational, educational, and cultural activities. In addition, Student Engagement acts as an advocate for students by providing a variety of services that cater to individual and organizational needs of students.
Non-Academic Grievance or Appeal Process
Policy Statement
Georgia College recognizes the importance of providing a prompt and efficient procedure for fair and equitable resolutions of a nonacademic grievance or appeal. A non-academic grievance or appeal alleges discrimination by a university employee on the basis of race, color, sex (sexual orientation or gender identity), religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or involves personal behavior and/or university policy. Accordingly, students are encouraged to use the nonacademic grievance or appeal process without fear, prejudice, or reprisal for initiating the process or participating in its resolution.
A non-academic grievance or appeal is an allegation by a student concerning (1) a university employee, (2) administrative policies, procedures, regulations or requirements of the university, (3) actions impeding a campus climate of intellectual diversity, (4) student employment, or (5) a university program, service or activity. Students shall have the right to file a grievance or appeal according to established procedures.
Procedures
The following are the proper procedures for resolving a nonacademic grievance or appeal:
- The student shall submit a complaint in writing to the appropriate university official responsible for the action which forms the basis of the grievance or appeal. If the student is uncomfortable addressing the complaint to the university official responsible for the action, the student may, as an alternative, address the complaint to the university's Director of Institutional Equity. The complaint shall contain a clear and concise statement of the grievance or appeal, the remedies sought and a request for a meeting with the involved person or persons. The complaint must be submitted within five days of the event, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
- The respondent shall schedule a meeting with the student within ten class days of receiving the written grievance or appeal, to discuss the matter. A written reply by the respondent to the student indicating the results of the meeting and including further action, if any, to be taken shall be attached to the written grievance or appeal.
- If the student is not satisfied with the results of the discussion and/or the reply, and wants the grievance or appeal to be considered further, the student shall appeal in writing to the respondent's supervisor to seek a resolution. This consultation must begin within ten class days after the conclusion of the discussion with the respondent. A written reply by the respondent's supervisor to the student indicating the results of the meeting and including further action, if any, to be taken shall be attached to the written grievance or appeal.
- If the student is not satisfied after seeking consultation at the supervisor's level and wants the grievance or appeal to be considered further, the student shall appeal in writing to the secondary supervisor to seek a resolution. This consultation must begin within ten class days after the supervisor has completed consideration of the grievance or appeal. A written reply by the secondary supervisor to the student indicating the results of the meeting and including further action, if any, to be taken shall be attached to the written grievance or appeal.
- If the student is not satisfied and wants the grievance or appeal to be considered further, the student shall appeal in writing to the next appropriate supervisor. This grievance or appeal must be filed within ten class days after the secondary supervisor has completed consideration of the grievance or appeal. A written reply by the next appropriate supervisor to the student indicating the results of the meeting and including further action, if any, to be taken shall be attached to the written grievance or appeal.
- The decision of the president will become the final campus decision on the grievance or appeal. A written reply by the president to the student indicating the results of the meeting and including further action, if any, to be taken shall be attached to the written grievance or appeal. The student and appropriate university officials shall be notified in writing of the decision within ten class days after the last consideration of the grievance or appeal.
Students should be aware that their faculty advisors, the Office of Counseling Services, the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Affairs may be resource areas where students may receive assistance on a grievance or appeal. The time limit may be extended upon approval of a written request submitted to the vice president and dean of students.
Traditions and Georgia College
Please see a complete, updated list of Georgia College Traditions at: gcsu.edu/traditions.