Undergraduate Policies and Procedures

Academic Alerts

Georgia Southern faculty submit academic alerts for students enrolled in ENGL 1101 , ENGL 1102 , FYE 1220 , and Area A MATH courses (MATH 1001 , MATH 1101 , MATH 1111 , MATH 1112 , MATH 1113 , MATH 1401 , MATH 1441 , or STAT 1401 ) and for students enrolled in key major-specific and program-specific gateway courses. Academic alerts are initial indications that students are not doing satisfactory work in one of several categories (i.e., grades, attendance, participation, missed assignments, lack of engagement, lack of engagement in the online environment, or some combination of academic concerns).

Early submission of academic alerts provides more time for students to make improvements and in some cases, for faculty, academic advisors, and academic success coaches to intervene meaningfully. Faculty may submit academic alerts for individual students at any point in the term using the “submit an alert” function in EAB Navigate. Academic alert report requests for core curriculum and other designated courses will be sent to faculty during the third week of the term. Faculty do not have to submit alerts for all students enrolled in their class(es); alerts are submitted only for those students who are at-risk of not succeeding in the course. Faculty submit academic alerts either through the “Instructional Resources” section of their My.GeorgiaSouthern portal or by using the link in the Academic Alert submission request email.

Students who receive academic alerts are advised to seek the counsel of their instructor(s), academic advisor, and other academic success team members to develop a plan for success.

Academic Intervention Policy

An undergraduate student with a total institutional GPA less than 2.0 will be placed on academic intervention until the total institutional GPA is 2.0 or higher. The student must complete an Academic Improvement Plan (AIP) under guidance of an assigned university official. The AIP is developed by the student and university official and may include, but is not limited to, participation in workshops, assessments, and progress meetings. If a student appeals academic suspension, failure to complete the AIP will weigh negatively toward the decision made by the Academic Standing Committee.

A student on academic intervention is limited to taking no more than 15 credit hours per semester.

Questions regarding requirements for the AIP or limit on credit hours should be directed to the Academic Success Center.

Academic Renewal Policy

Academic renewal is a provision that allows Undergraduate USG degree-seeking students who earlier experienced academic difficulty to make a fresh start and have one final opportunity to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate students receiving academic renewal receive a new grade point average to be used for determining academic standing.

Requirements for Eligibility

• Current or former students must apply for Academic Renewal by contacting the Office of the Registrar. New students must contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The granting of Academic Renewal is not automatic.
• Students must apply for Academic Renewal, if they choose this option, by the end of their third semester of enrollment or by the end of one calendar year, whichever comes first.
• Academic Renewal may be granted only once by a USG college or university.
• Students must have experienced their academic difficulties at Georgia Southern or be transfer students from a regionally accredited institution of higher education to be eligible for Academic Renewal.

Readmitted students

• Undergraduate students who return to a previously attended USG institution may be eligible for Academic Renewal.
• Readmitted students must be absent from Georgia Southern for three (3) years, the required period of absence.
• The period of absence is calculated based on the period of time between the date of last enrollment at Georgia Southern and the date of return to Georgia Southern.
• Only coursework completed prior to the period of absence may be considered for Academic Renewal. If Academic Renewal is granted, all coursework completed prior to the period of absence will be renewed.
• Students may attend other institutions during the period of absence; however, that coursework will not be eligible for Academic Renewal. Transfer credit for any coursework taken during the period of absence shall be granted in accordance with the prevailing USG and Georgia Southern policies and procedures regarding the awarding of transfer credit.

Transfer students

• Students who previously attended a USG institution or any regionally-accredited institution of higher education and transfer to Georgia Southern may be eligible for Academic Renewal for coursework taken three (3) or more years prior to the term of enrollment at Georgia Southern.
• If Academic Renewal is granted, all coursework completed three (3) years prior to the term of enrollment at Georgia Southern will be renewed.
• Courses taken less than three (3) years prior to the term of enrollment at Georgia Southern are ineligible for consideration for Academic Renewal. Transfer credit for any coursework taken three (3) or more years prior to the first term of enrollment at Georgia Southern shall be granted in accordance with the prevailing USG and Georgia Southern policies and procedures regarding the awarding of transfer credit. Retained grades are not calculated in a renewal GPA. Such credit is considered in the same context as transfer credit, credit by examination, and courses with grades of “S”.

About the Policy

• A student’s institution Grade Point Average (GPA) upon Academic Renewal will begin at their first semester of enrollment/reenrollment at Georgia Southern.
• All past academic suspensions and exclusions will remain on the student’s permanent record.
• All Georgia History, Constitution, Required High School Curriculum (RHSC), and other Board of Regents Policy requirements met prior to Academic Renewal will remain on the student’s permanent record and will count in regard to those policies.
• Graduation with honors will be based on the GPA as defined in the policies for determining graduation with honors. 
• Reentry into a student’s previous major program is not automatic.
• The granting of Academic Renewal does not supersede any financial aid policies.
• Academic Renewal will not supersede admissions requirements for certain programs which require a specific minimum GPA based upon all course work.

Total Institution GPA

• All past grades of D and F will be forgiven in the readmitted student’s total institution GPA upon Academic Renewal. The student will lose credit for courses in which they earned D grades.
• All past grades of A, B, C, and S will remain in the student’s hours earned toward graduation, but they will not be included in the readmitted student’s institution GPA upon Academic Renewal.

Transfer Institution GPA

• All past grades of D and F will be forgiven in the student’s transfer institution GPA upon Academic Renewal. The student will lose credit for courses in which they earned D grades.
• All past grades of A, B, C, and S will remain in the student’s hours earned toward graduation, but they will not be included in the student’s transfer institution GPA upon Academic Renewal.

Academic Standing Policy

An undergraduate student is considered to be in Good Academic Standing if they have an institution grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.

If a student has an institution GPA less than 2.0, one of the following academic standings will apply:

Academic Warning 1 (W1)

A student will be placed on Warning 1 (W1) status at the end of the first semester of enrollment in which their institutional GPA drops below 2.0.

• A student on W1 status will move from W1 when their institutional GPA is 2.0 or higher.
• A student on W1 status will remain on W1 status if they earn a term GPA of 2.25 or higher but the institutional GPA is below 2.0.
• A student who begins the semester on W1 will be placed on Academic Probation 1 (P1) if their term GPA is not 2.25 or higher at the end of the semester and the institution GPA is below 2.0.

Academic Probation 1 (P1)

A student will be placed on Probation 1 (P1) status if they were previously on Warning 1 (W1) status, they have a term GPA below 2.25, and their institutional GPA is below 2.0.

• A student on P1 status will move from P1 when their institutional GPA is 2.0 or higher.
• A student on P1 status will remain on P1 status if they earn a term GPA of 2.25 or higher for the term but the institution GPA is below 2.0.
• A student who begins the semester on P1 will be placed on Academic Suspension 1 (E1) if their term GPA is not 2.25 or higher at the end of the semester and the institution GPA is below 2.0.

Academic Suspension 1 (E1)

Academic Suspension (E1) results when a student who begins the semester on Academic Probation 1 (P1) does not earn either a term GPA of 2.25 or an institutional GPA of 2.0 at the end of the semester.

• A student on E1 status cannot be enrolled at Georgia Southern until they have not been enrolled for one full academic year (Fall, Spring and Summer in any order). 
• Any student suspended from the University may submit an appeal for the Fall and/or Spring semester to the Academic Standards Committee to be readmitted. If the academic standing appeal is denied by the Academic Standards Committee, the student may appeal to the Dean of their College.
• If a student’s academic standing appeal is approved by either the Academic Standards Committee or to the Dean of their College, the student will remain enrolled at the University and will be placed on an intermediate (01) status. A student will be allowed no more than one approved appeal to the Academic Standards Committee or to the student’s Dean.

Academic Warning 2 (W2)

A student will be placed on Warning 2 (W2) status at the end of the first semester after academic suspension (E1).

• A student on W2 status will move from W2 when their institutional GPA is 2.0 or higher.
• A student on W2 status will remain on W2 status if they earn a term GPA of 2.25 or higher but the institutional GPA is below 2.0.
• A student who begins the semester on W2 will be placed on Academic Probation 2 (P2) if their term GPA is not 2.25 or higher at the end of the semester and the institutional GPA is below 2.0.

Academic Probation 2 (P2)

A student will be placed on Probation 2 (P2) status if they were previously on Warning 2 (W2) status, they have a term GPA below 2.25, and their institution GPA is below 2.0.

• A student on P2 status will move from P2 when their institutional GPA is 2.0 or higher.
• A student on P2 status will remain on P2 status if they earn a term GPA of 2.25 or higher for the term but the institution GPA is below 2.0.
• A student who begins the semester on P2 will be placed on Academic Suspension 2 (E2) if their term GPA is not 2.25 or higher at the end of the semester and the institution GPA is below 2.0.

Academic Suspension 2 (E2)

Academic Suspension 2 (E2) results when a student who begins the semester on Academic Probation 2 (P2) does not earn either a term GPA of 2.25 or an institutional GPA of 2.0 at the end of the semester.

• A student on E2 status cannot be enrolled at Georgia Southern for three years.
• Any student suspended from the university for academic reasons may submit an appeal to the Academic Standards Committee to be readmitted any time during the three-year suspension period. If the academic standing appeal is denied by the Academic Standards Committee, the student may appeal to the Dean of their College.
• If a student’s academic standing appeal is approved by either the Academic Standards Committee or the Dean of their College, the student will remain enrolled at the University and will be placed on an intermediate (02) status. A student may appeal after receiving Suspension 2 (E2) if the student has not received an approved appeal after they received Suspension 1. A student will be allowed no more than one approved appeal to the Academic Standards Committee or to the student’s Dean.

Financial Aid Implications

A student’s ability to receive future financial funding and ability to meet the Federally mandated Standards of Academic Progress may be impacted by their academic standing. Furthermore, earning a 2.0 institutional GPA or higher does not necessarily meet financial aid requirements regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students should make an appointment with a financial aid counselor.

* Note: This Academic Standing Policy is effective Fall 2018. All students enrolled at Georgia Southern Fall 2018 will start the term in good standing at the institution.

** Students on Warning (W1 and W2) and Probation (P1 and P2) continue to be in good standing with the University. 

*** Institutional GPA is calculated using the courses enrolled in and completed at Georgia Southern University. 

Transfer courses are not included in this calculation. 

Additional Academic Standing Policies

Readmission

A student who has been placed on Suspension 1 (E1) may apply for readmission to Georgia Southern after remaining out for one year (three semesters). After a subsequent Suspension 2 (E2), a student may apply for readmission after remaining out for three years. An application should be submitted to the Office of Admissions for the semester readmission is desired. A student may have to be approved for Academic Renewal to be readmitted.

Readmission (Post-Baccalaureate)

A post baccalaureate student will only be allowed to take undergraduate classes. Post baccalaureate students will not be allowed to take any graduate classes. Post baccalaureate students who are degree seeking may use the following website for more information on how to contact an advisor and schedule an appointment for advisement: academics.georgiasouthern.edu/advisement.

Requirements After Readmission

Following any academic suspension and a subsequent readmission, a student will be allowed to continue enrollment while maintaining an institution GPA of 2.0 or higher or either a term GPA of 2.25 or higher.

Right of Appeal

In all matters concerning Suspension 1 or 2, the student may appeal to the Academic Standards Committee clearly stating the basis for an appeal. The student may appeal after receiving Suspension 2 if the student has not received an approved appeal after they received Suspension 1. A student will be allowed no more than one approved appeal to the Academic Standards Committee and/or to the student’s dean.

Academic Standing Appeal forms are available online at em.georgiasouthern.edu/registrar/students/forms/. Click “Student,” click “Forms for Students,” and scroll down to the Undergraduate Academic Standing Appeal Form. An Academic Standing Appeal Form must be received by the posted deadline. Individuals failing to satisfy the deadline may submit their appeal for the following semester. Supporting documentation may be uploaded during the appeal form process. Please be sure you have all documentation readily available when you fill out the form. Documentation cannot be uploaded after you submit the form.

Repeating Courses

An undergraduate student may repeat any course and the highest grade becomes the official grade for the course. Only the highest grade will be included in the institution grade point average (GPA) when a course is repeated. Undergraduate students who have retaken courses and earned a higher grade will have the lower grade excluded from their institutional GPA. The institutional GPA will be used to determine a student’s academic standing and graduation GPA requirements.

Attending Other Colleges or Universities

The University cannot request another institution to accept a student during any period of ineligibility at Georgia Southern, but we have no objection to another institution allowing a student to attend while on Suspension 1 or Suspension 2.

Classification

Students are classified at the beginning of each semester on the following basis:

Course Load

A student’s course load is computed on the credit hour value of all courses taken for credit during the semester whether taken on-campus, offcampus, or by correspondence. A normal load in a semester is fifteen (15) to eighteen (18) hours. Twelve (12) or more hours is considered a full-time load for undergraduate students. A student must take nine (9) to eleven (11) hours to be considered a three quarter time student or a student must take six (6) to eight (8) hours to be considered a half time student. An advisor may approve an overload for nineteen (19) to twenty-one (21) hours. The Dean of the College in which the student’s major is found may approve an overload for twenty-two (22) to twenty-three (23) hours. Under extraordinary circumstances, a student’s dean may recommend to the Provost that a student be allowed to take more than twenty-three (23) hours, but never more than twenty-five (25) hours. Students are allowed to take no more than seven (7) semester hours during Term A, B, D, and E. No more than twelve (12) semester hours during the Long Term or a combination of concurrent terms. During the summer session, a Georgia Southern undergraduate student must receive approval from their advisor to enroll in more than twelve (12) hours.

Dean’s and President’s Lists

Dean’s List

During any semester, an undergraduate or post baccalaureate student enrolled in 12 or more GPA hours and making a semester GPA of 3.5 - 3.9 will be placed on the Dean’s List. The Dean’s List Certificate will be awarded by the appropriate dean.

President’s List

During any semester, an undergraduate or post baccalaureate student enrolled in 12 or more GPA hours and making a semester GPA of 4.0 will be placed on the President’s List. 

Employment Programs

The University offers two student employment programs: Federal College Work-Study and Institutional Work Program.

Federal College Work-Study Program - The Federal College Work- Study Program (FWS) provides jobs for students who demonstrate financial need and who want to earn money to help pay for some of their educational expenses. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to establish financial need in order to be awarded FWS. The amount of the award depends upon demonstrated financial need and the amount of funds available. The standard award allows the student to work 8 to 10 hours per week for a 15 to 18 week period. Visit the Financial Aid website for more information.

Institutional Work Program - The Institutional Work Program helps students find part-time jobs in the various departments on campus. All currently enrolled students may participate, and no financial eligibility requirements apply. Interested students should visit the Student Employment Center website in order to review the various on-campus job openings and part-time job opportunities available in the surrounding area. Students must be enrolled in six or more credit hours to qualify for this program.

Graduate Credit for Seniors (Senior Privilege)

A Georgia Southern senior with no more than nine (9) credit hours remaining in completing the requirements for the bachelor’s degree may apply for Senior Privilege to enroll in graduate courses for graduate credit providing:

• The student submits a Senior Privilege Application Form;
• Permission to enroll in such courses is obtained from the chairperson of the department involved, the appropriate graduate program director, and COGS (College of Graduate Studies);
• The student is otherwise qualified for Regular Degree Admission to the COGS;
• The total term load does not exceed fifteen (15) credit hours, with no more than nine (9) credit hours of graduate credit.

** Under Senior Privilege, courses cannot be used for both graduate and undergraduate credit.

Grade Forgiveness Policy

This policy provides guidelines for undergraduate students to repeat a course for which credit has already been earned and the effect on the student’s institutional grade point average. 

Students are encouraged to use the forgiveness policy for grades of only D, F, and WF. 

Beginning Fall 2022, undergraduate students who repeat a course for which credit has already been earned, either at Georgia Southern University or by transfer of credits from another institution, forfeit all duplicate course credit except for the highest course grade earned. Only the highest grade will be included in the institutional grade point average (GPA) when a course is repeated. If repeating a course, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they understand all financial aid implications. Under the conditions outlined below, undergraduate students who have retaken courses and earned a higher grade will have the lower grade excluded from their institutional GPA. Grades for all attempts at the course will appear on the student’s official transcript and will be included in the student’s cumulative Regents GPA. The institutional GPA will be used for all purposes except for those mandated by financial aid regulations and other federal, state, or program-specific requirements, such as the GPA requirements set by the HOPE scholarship program. 

This policy is not the same as, and would not apply to, taking a “repeatable” course in certain programs of study for progress toward graduation. Please refer to the course description in the Academic Catalog to determine if a course may be repeated for credit. 

There are no exclusions to this policy. 

An undergraduate student may have a grade excluded from GPA computation under the following conditions: 
• The institutional GPA is maintained on the academic record. Only the highest grade will be included in the institutional GPA when a course is repeated. The institutional GPA is used to determine graduation with honors, secondary admission to certain academic programs, and academic standing; 
• Students must have either retaken the same undergraduate course (or the renumbered substitute for that course); 
• Students wishing to take a course that satisfies the same CORE requirement in Areas A-E (rather than the same course) must submit the CORE grade forgiveness form; 
• This policy does not apply if the original grade was assigned as a result of a violation of the Student Code of Conduct; 
• The Grade Forgiveness Policy is intended for degree-seeking students pursuing their first undergraduate degree.

Registration Time Tickets and RANs

Undergraduate students are allowed to register on Georgia Southern’s web system, Web Interactive Network for Georgia Southern (WINGS), each semester by means of their time ticket. A “time ticket” gives a student beginning and ending dates and times for registration. Time tickets are assigned on the basis of total cumulative credit hours earned. Students may view their time ticket on WINGS by going through their MyGeorgiaSouthern account. A Student’s time ticket can be viewable in WINGS by clicking on the “Student Information” icon and then going in to their “Student Profile”. In the right hand corner under “Registration Notices”, the students will see their time ticket for the term as the student profile is term specific.

Before any student at Georgia Southern registers for classes on WINGS, they must have a Registration Access Number (RAN). This number will be given to each student by the appropriate academic advisor during advisement each semester. Degree seeking post baccalaureate students will receive their RAN from their academic advisor. Non-Degree seeking Post Baccalaureate and transient students will receive their RAN from their MyGeorgiaSouthern account under the Registration Information channel and Lookup RAN.

Scholarship Programs

New Student Scholarships

Scholarships for first-time freshmen and transfer students are administered by the Office of Admissions. To review scholarship opportunities, please access the Admissions website at admissions.georgiasouthern.edu/.

Continuing Students

All continuing students are encouraged to apply for scholarships through their MyScholarships portal found on MyGeorgiaSouthern. Doing so qualifies the students for a wide variety of scholarships - including departmental, general, and study abroad. The site may also be accessed by visiting: georgiasouthern.academicworks.com/.

State Scholarships

The Georgia Student Finance Commission administers state scholarships and student grant programs. For information contact:

Georgia Student Finance Commission
2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 200
Tucker, GA 30084
(800) 505-4732
www.gafutures.org/ 

The HOPE Scholarship (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) and Zell Miller Scholarship are Georgia’s unique programs that reward hard-working Georgia students with matriculation scholarships in degree programs at any Georgia public college, university, technical college or eligible private institution. The programs are funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education and amounts are subject to change.

To qualify for HOPE, a student must be a legal resident of Georgia or be considered a Georgia resident for purposes of in-state tuition at the time of enrollment for the school term for which the scholarship is sought. Students who graduated from high school with a high school core curriculum GPA of at least 3.0 may qualify for the HOPE Scholarship as incoming freshmen.

Students who did not qualify for HOPE as incoming freshmen may still receive a HOPE Scholarship if they graduated from high school less than seven years ago, were a legal resident of Georgia at the time of enrollment for the school term for which the scholarship is sought, and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA after attempting 30, 60, or 90 credit hours of University course work.

HOPE eligibility is reviewed at various checkpoints during the academic year and all attempted credit hours are counted in the review. “Attempted hours” refers to all credit hours attempted in a degree program at a postsecondary institution after high school graduation, including classes that were dropped or failed. The deadline to apply for HOPE is the last day of class for the semester for which you are applying.

The Zell Miller Scholarship provides full-tuition funding to undergraduate Georgia residents who graduate from high school with a 3.7 or greater GPA and score at least a 1200 reading and math score on the SAT or an ACT composite score of 26. To remain eligible, students must maintain at least a 3.3 college GPA at the checkpoints (30, 60, 90 attempted credit hours and after every spring semester).

The Georgia HERO Scholarship (Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring) was created to provide financial aid to students seeking a post-secondary education, who are:

• Current members of the Georgia National Guard or United States Military Reserves who are deployed overseas on active service, on or after February 1, 2003, to a location designated as a combat zone; or
• The children of Georgia National Guard members or United States Military Reservists who were deployed overseas on active service, on or after February 1, 2003, to a location designated as a combat zone; or
• The spouses of Georgia National Guard members or United States Military Reservists who were deployed overseas on active service, on or after February 1, 2003, to a location designated as a combat zone, and who were killed in the combat zone, or died as a result of injuries received in the combat zone, or became 100 percent disabled as a result of injuries received in the combat zone.

The Georgia HERO Scholarship Program is funded by state appropriations. The maximum amount awarded to an eligible student is $2,000 per Award Year. The award amount is subject to change during the Award Year.

The Scholarship for Engineering Education for Minorities (MSEE) program offers financial assistance to Georgia residents who are enrolled in an engineering program of study approved by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accrediting Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). The purpose of the program is to attract minority undergraduate students into the engineering profession and to increase the number of qualified engineers in Georgia. MSEE is a service cancelable loan that can be used for tuition, room and board, or other educational expenses. In return, students agree to work in Georgia after graduation in an engineering-related field for a reduction in the loan’s balance. These funds are limited.

Dual Enrollment is a dual credit enrollment program for eligible high school and home study students who wish to earn high school and college credit for postsecondary coursework. Dual Enrollment funding is available during the fall, spring and summer terms of the school year. Dual Enrollment funding may cover the cost of standard undergraduate tuition, mandatory fees and a book allowance for a maximum of 15 semester hours.

Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Scholarship Program is a needs-based mentoring and scholarship program designed to ensure that Georgia’s academically promising students have the academic, social, and financial support needed to graduate from high school, attend college, and achieve postsecondary success. Private and public donations fund the scholarships.

Contact a financial aid counselor for other requirements and further information, (912) 478-5413. Additional restrictions may apply. The above is based on the most recent information from the Georgia Student Finance Commission and is subject to change.

Other Outside Sources of Financial Aid

Many foundations, companies, and other groups have established scholarships or loan programs for use by Georgia Southern University students. To review these, access the Georgia Southern University Financial Aid website at em.georgiasouthern.edu/finaid/types-of-aid/scholarships/. Other helpful websites to use in searching for external scholarships may be found on our Financial Aid website under “Types of Aid”.

Transient Students

Georgia Southern students (with a 2.0 or higher Georgia Southern total institutional GPA) who wish to take course work at another institution and receive academic credit at the institution may do so if the following conditions are met:

1. Student must have a total institutional grade point average of 2.0 or higher;
2. Student must complete a Transient Form obtaining the approval of their advisor;
3. If the student is within the last 25% of hours needed for graduation, the student must also obtain the written approval of their department chair and academic dean;
4. Students with learning support requirements must obtain permission from the Director of the Academic Success Center;
5. Students may be approved for transient status for only one semester at a time;
6. Students must make a minimum grade of “C” to assure that the course will be accepted in transfer;
7. Students attending another institution as a transient student must request that an official transcript of course work as a transient be sent to Georgia Southern’s Office of the Registrar once the semester is over;
8. A student who takes their last work for a degree as a transient student during any graduation semester may not be eligible for graduation that semester;
9. A student must apply for admission to the school they wish to attend;
10. A student must not have a financial hold (FH) and must not owe outstanding tuition and/or fees to the university;
11. International transcripts require an official comprehensive course-by-course evaluation provided by one of the following or an alternative credentials agency: World Education Services or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc.

Note: Courses taken as a transient will not be calculated in the Georgia Southern GPA. However, transient work may affect a student’s eligibility for graduation with honors.