UNCAVALOG Stude^ (Sulde to- f9^7-^^ Student ^fuuU to^ 7Ve^ ^eofu^ ^aUe<^ The contents of this student handbook are current as of the date of publication. Policies, regulations, programs and costs do change, however, and any revisions of such will supersede the contents of this book and will be broadly published to the college community. This 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 divergency 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 this handbook are for infor- mational purposes only and should not be construed as the basis of a contract between a student and this institu- tion. While every effort has been made to insure accuracy of the material stated herein, the College reserves the right to change any provision listed in this handbook without actual notice to individual students. Every effort will be made to keep students advised of such changes. Information regarding academic requirements for graduation will be available in the offices of the Registrar, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Deans of Schools. It is the responsibility of each student to keep himself or herself apprised of current graduation re- quirements for a degree program in which he or she is enrolled. West Georgia College is in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all other applicable federal and state regulations. This means that we don't discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or handicap, including disabl- ed and Vietnam "Era" veterans. WEST GEORGIA COLLEGE The Mcintosh Memorial, a granite block resembling narrow doorsteps, is the official logo of West Georgia Col- lege. The memorial came to the campus from the Mcin- tosh Reserve located south of Carrollton. Chief William Mcintosh had a large granite stone hewn into steps for his visitors to mount their horses when visiting his home and guest house. Mcintosh was chief of the Creek Indian nation in the early 1800's and rose to the rank of brigadier general in the American army under his friend General Andrew Jackson. The nearly 200-year old granite rock from which West Georgia College's new logo was designed has been on the campus since 1916 when it was moved from the Mcintosh reserve and used as the cornerstone in a girls' dormitory. It now rests in a park located on Front Cam- pus Drive. Published by the Office of the Vice President for Student Services, Summer 1987 West Georgia College Carrollton, Georgia 30118 A Unit of the University System of Georgia AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION ^iuMe O^ (^OHtCHt^ t^q^tf \^>*t^te>?f: j' . ft. t * tm ii!M&.-^^>..feafti WELCOME.............. page 3 1987-88 COLLEGE CALENDAR .......................page 4 ACADEMICS..................................................... page 6 Information, advice, and step by step instructions for surviving academically . . . Advisement, Registration, Add/Drop, Withdrawals, Transcripts, Credit Hours, and Staying in School. SERVICES FOR STUDENTS page 10 Find out vi^here to go for what by reading here about the many services, offices, recreational facilities, and opportunities highlighted in this section. ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES .........page 16 Good times to be had by anyone who seeks them. ..Here are ways to fill those leisure hours with fun and relaxation, healthful exercise, intellectual stimulation, and pro- fessional development. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ....................................page 22 Rules and regulations, I.D. cards, traffic code, smoking, drinking, hazing, park- ing. ..Find out about these and more in this section on the freedoms and respon- siblities of college students. DIRECTORY ......................................................................................................................page 27 See the "Problem Solving Guide" to find the location and telephone number of an office or person you need to contact. Also listed are all academic departments, other departments and offices, and telephone numbers for residence hall pay stations. APPENDICES .........................................................,.........................................................page 32 A. Student Conduct Code and Disciplinary Procedures B. College Hazing Policy C. Statement on Disruptive Behavior D. Procedures in Appeals on Grades E. Procedures for Appeals on Undergraduate Admission and Readmission F. Academic Requirements for Receiving Financial Aid G. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: Confidentiality of Student Records H. Confidentiality of Library Patron Records I. Procedures for Appeals in Cases of Academic Dishonesty J. Appeals to the Board of Regents 'Welcome Dear Students of West Georgia College: Each fall quarter at West Georgia College is a time of renewal. Whether you are a new student or a retur- ning student, your experiences at the College should contribute to a broader frame of reference. Hopeful- ly, your involvements in the classroom and in campus life will provide you with new insights, clearer percep- tions, and renewed convictions which can only come about from relating to the people and challenges to be encountered. Welcome to West Georgia College for Fall Quarter, 1987. Accept its challenges and be rewarded for the experiences you will have. Sincerely, / Maurice K. Townsend President Dear West Georgia College Student: On behalf of the Student Government Association and the student body of West Georgia College, I would like to welcome you to the finest four-year institution of higher education in Georgia. At no other college will you find the spirit of cooperation more evident among students, faculty, and administration than at West Georgia College. As you continue your higher education, remember that the sum total of your experience is not just text- books and classrooms, but people as well. Those in- teractions with professors and other students, par- ticularly evident at this institution, can enhance your knowledge and broaden your horizons further than you dream possible. I wish you best of luck in your future at West Georgia. Sincerely, Dr. Maurice K. Townsend President y/1^^^ Michael W. Nail, President Student Government Association Dr. John T. Lewis Wee President and Dean of Faculties Dr. Bruce Lyon Vice President of Student Services Mr. Kenneth Batchelor Vice President of Business and Finance i i Mr. Mike Nail Student Government President /4ccuieHic ^aie^ufUut f9^7-?^ i" SEPTEMBER 5 M T w T F s 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 OCTOBER NOVEMBER SMTWTFS SMTWTFS 12 3 12 3 4 5 6 7 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 DECEMBER SMTWTFS 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Fall Quarter, 1987 September 13 Residence Halls Open September 13-15 Orientation for New Students September 15 Registration September 15 New Student Convocation September 16 Glasses Begin September 16-18 Add/Drop and Late Registration September 29 Last Day to Withdraw from a Course with an Autonnatic Grade of W October 23 Last Day to Withdraw from a Course with a Grade of W, if Passing November 24 Last Day of Classes November 25-27 Thanksgiving Recess (Offices Closed November 26-27) November 30, Examinations December 1-4 December 6 Graduation December 6-Janua ry 1 Christmas Recess December 21-25 Offices Closed JANUARY S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 FEBRUARY SMTWTFS 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 MARCH SMTWTFS 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Winter Quarter, 1988 January 1 Holiday Offices Closed January 3 Residence Halls Open January 4-5 Orientation for New Students January 5 Registration January 6 Classes Begin January 6-8 Add/Drop and Late Registration January 18 M. L. King Holiday Offices Closed January 20 Last Day to Withdraw from a Course with an Automatic Grade of W February 11 Last Day to Withdraw from a Course with a Grade of W , if Passing March 14 Last Day of Classes March 15-18 Examinations March 20 Graduation March 21-27 Spring Recess MARCH 5 M T W T F S 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 APRIL MAY SMTWTFS SMTWTFS 12 12 3 4 5 6 7 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31 JUNE SMTWTFS 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Spring Quarter, 1988 March 27 Residence Halls Open March 28-29 Orientation for New Students March 29 March 30 Registration Classes Begin March 30, 31, April 1 Add/Drop and Late Registration April 12 Last Day to Withdraw from a Course with an Automatic Grade of W May 5 Last Day to Withdraw from a Course with a Grade of W, if Passing June 6 Last Day of Classes June 7-10 Examinations June 12 Graduation JUNE S M T W T F S 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 JULY SMTWTFS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 AUGUST SMTWTFS 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Summer Quarter, 1 988 June 19 Residence Halls Open June 20-21 Orientation for New Students June 21 Registration June 22 Classes Begin . June 22-24 Add/Drop and Late Registration July 4 Independence Day Holiday Offices Closed July 6 Last Day to Withdraw from a Course with an Automatic W, (for Classes Meeting throughout the Quarter) Grade of July 19 Last Day to Withdraw from a Course with a Grade of W, (for Classes Meeting throughout the Quarter) if Passing August 8 Last Day of Classes August 9-12 Examinations August 14 Graduation ^cacCcfHcc^ Departments and Professors Most students quickly become familiar with the classroom buildings as they find their way to classes and labs, but they may be less aware of how to find faculty and departmental offices. Printed in the direc- tory section of this handbook are the building and room number, telephone number, and chairman's name for each academic department on campus. Usually, other faculty offices within the department will be located in the same building and general vicini- Dr. Richard Dangle Dean, School of Arts and Sciences Dr. David Hovey Dean, School of Business Dr. Evelyn Fulbright Dean, School of Education Dr. Jack O. Jenkins Dean, Graduate School ^^lnypr ty as the departmental office, but there are some ex- ceptions. Inquire in the departmental office about the location of a specific faculty member's office if you have difficulty finding it. Normally, faculty members post on their office doors regular hours when they are available to see students, and most are willing to schedule additional times if the student is unable to come by during the posted hours. You should feel free to contact faculty members in their offices to discuss your progress, any particular problems you're having in one of their classes, your concerns about career and professional plans, or any matters of mutual concern. In 99 cases out of 100, you will find faculty members to be cor- dial, concerned and helpful. Quarters and Credit Hours West Georgia is on the quarter system with the calendar year divided into four approximately equal blocks of time the fall, winter, spring and summer quarters. A normal academic year of study consists of three quarters, but many students attend college year round or take breaks from school during other quarters than the summer. The credit value of a course is determined by the number of hours it meets each week. For example, a course with five 1-hour lecture sessions per week is a 5-quarter-hour course. As a rule of thumb in accoun- ting for credit hours, it takes two hours of laboratory to equal one hour of lecture, as is the case with a 5-hour science course which has three 1-hour lectures and two 2-hour labs each week. A full course load is considered to be 12 or more hours, but since most of the classes at West Georgia are worth 5 credit hours, people usually take 15 hours (three courses) or more per quarter. A typical freshman or sophomore course load consists of three 5-hour courses plus physical education. Therefore, in one academic year of 3 quarters a student will normally earn 45 credit hours, plus physical education credits. The Catalog The West Georgia College Bulletin or catalog con- tains a complete statement of academic policies and procedures, courses required for each program of study, retention and graduation requirements, and many more essential items of information for the suc- cessful student. It is a very important book to have, study and follow. If you don't already own a current copy of the Bulletin, you should get one now. The Admissions Office gives one free copy to each With over 1,000 individual course offerings, 70 or more undergraduate programs of study, and almost 300 teaching faculty, a student at West Georgia has a wide variety of learning experiences from which to choose. The faculty, whose members come from across the nation and around the world, is among the best anywhere, with approximate- ly three-fourths of its members holding doctoral degrees in their fields. new student, but if you've already received one, you'll need to purchase your next one in the bookstore. New students should keep a copy of this year's catalog for reference during their entire stay at West Georgia. Those restless nights, it's guaranteed to put you to sleep when nothing else will! Attending Class Best advice: Attend class regularly, but be sure to attend the first two class days each quarter. If there's a waiting list for a class and students don't attend the first two days and haven't been in touch with the pro- fessor to explain why, they may be dropped to make room for others who need it. Since classes and pro- fessors differ greatly, you should be certain you understand the attendance requirements for each course you're taking. Some profs lower grades for ex- cessive absences, and they may even drop a student who cuts frequently. Academic Advisement Each student is assigned a faculty member to assist in planning his/her academic program. Freshmen and sophomores and all business majors must see their advisors and obtain their signature on a registration form before completing registration each quarter. The Admissions Office notifies new students of the names of their advisors. Should you experience difficulty in locating your ad- visor, ask for assistance from the office of the academic department to which your advisor belongs. A directory of academic departments is given later in this handbook, and the location by building of all academic advisors is published in the quarterly Schedule of Classes. Registration for Classes Registration for classes is the quarterly process of seeing your faculty advisor, selecting the courses you wish to take, arranging these into a schedule to fit available time slots, signing up for these classes ac- cording to the prescribed procedure and paying fees. The quarterly Schedule of Classes lists all courses be- ing offered and gives step-by-step instructions for completing all registration procedures. Students In good standing may register early in a more leisurely fashion or on the afternoon before classes begin each quarter along with several thou- sand others. Early registration is definitely recom- mended for a better selection of classes, more freedom in obtaining the schedule you want, less has- sle in general, and little or no waiting in lines. Students occasionally do not obtain their desired class schedule during early registration. If this occurs, you may notify the Registrar's Office by the announc- ed deadline to cancel this schedule so that you can register the day before classes begin, or ydu may choose to keep this schedule and make adjustments and additions to it during the Add/Drop period the first three class days each quarter. No student, however, who has a schedule of classes from early registration is allowed in the registration arena at regular registra- tion when other students are attempting to register for the first time. See the Schedule of Classes for complete details on how to register, early register, and pay fees, and go by or call the Registrar's Office (836-6438, campus ext. 6438) for answers to particular questions. Add/Drop You may change your class schedule or register late during the first three days of class each quarter, but Financial Aid r \ Rick Lamberson, Director Carol Ferling Sue Myers ^ DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES Some students accepted to West Georgia are required to enroll in one or more Developmental Studies courses before entering an academic major. Charles Wilson coordinates these courses and advises Developmental Studies students about their programs of study. Go to see him if you have questions about Developmental Studies. Office in Mandeville Hall. Charles Wilson Developmental Studies Coordinator this is not a particularly easy thing to do. This is a critical time of the quarter, and the process of getting approval to enter classes late is fairly connplicated. The student must go to each academic department affected to obtain approval for whatever change is be- ing made in the schedule before turning in to the Registrar's staff the appropriate drop or add forms. A late fee of $15 is charged anyone who waits until these three days to register or who has early registered but fails to pay fees before this time. Withdrawals from Class After the first three days of class, if a student must "drop" or withdraw from a class, this course will re- main on the student's record for the quarter, and a symbol of W, indicating withdrawal without penalty, or a grade of WF, indicating the student was failing at the time of withdrawal, will be entered on the record. The first ten class days each quarter are a sort of grace period, and the student who withdraws dur- ing this time automatically receives a VJ for the course. After that time, however, and until the mid'- point of the quarter, the professor may assign a l/V or WF, depending upon the work the student has done in the class up to the time of withdrawal. After the mid- point of the quarter, the grade of \NF is automatically assigned unless the School Dean approves an excep- tion based on unusual or emergency circumstances beyond the student's control. At any rate, be certain to withdraw officially if you cannot complete a course. Withdrawals from School In case you find you must completely withdraw from college during the course of a quarter, contact the Registrar's Office in Mandeville Hall (telephone 836-6438, campus ext. 6438). if your reason for leaving is lack of funds, check with the Financial Aid Office in Mandeville Hall first. They may be able to help. Regardless, you cannot officially withdraw without talking with someone in the Registrar's Office. At that Nalda Otka Bonnie Stevens Dr. Gordon Finnie, Registrar Registrar's Office time you'll be given further instructions for com- pleting the withdrawal process. Who knows? You might even be due a refund. (The undergraduate catalog explains the refund policy in detail.) Staying in School Here's hoping it will never happen to you, but those whose academic performance falls below standards prescribed in the catalog are placed on "Academic Warning" or "Probation," or they may receive notice of "Suspension" or "Dismissal." See your catalog (Undergraduate Academic Policies) for complete in- formation on requirements for staying in good academic standing. By all means, if you realize you are getting behind in your work or are having problems studying, ask for assistance. The first person to turn to is your pro- fessor in a particular course, but you may also want to talk with your faculty advisor. You should also pay a visit to the Student Development Center in Mandeville Hall. Here you will find free tutorial assistance through the S.O.S. (Sink or Swim) tutorial service, computerized assistance in building study skills, and professional counselors who may be able to help you individually or in a small group to develop better study skills and habits. Changing Majors It's not unusual for students to change their majors several times during their college careers. If you entered WGC with an "undecided" major and now want to declare a major, or if you simply want to make a change, the procedure is simple: Go to the office of the academic department which offers the major you want and obtain a change-of-major form. Com- plete the steps indicated on the form and turn it in to the Registrar's Office for processing. You will be reassigned to a faculty advisor in your new area of study, but because these new assignments are pro- cessed only during certain times of the quarter, you may experience a delay of several weeks before your name shows up on the new department's list of majors. The Academic Record or Transcript The Registrar's Office maintains permanently for every student who has ever been enrolled at West Georgia an academic record card listing personally identifying information about the student, every Fran Boerner Coordinator of Testing and Assistant Director of Developmentai Studies TESTING If life seems to be one big test, guess what? Tests don't stop at college. Francie Boerner Is in charge of administering many of the tests required of all col lege students, such as the S. AT., G.R.E., and the Regents Test. She also maintains CLEP and G.E.D. testing programs. You have to take a test to get into college and to get out of college. Francie Boerner may be one of the first and last people you'll see at WGC. Office in Mandeville Hall. course the student has taken and the grade earned, quarterly and cumulative grade point averages, and a few special notations such as Developmental Studies requirements, withdrawal dates, graduation re- quirements met, degrees earned, etc. This record is commonly known as a "transcript," and it is a copy of this permanent record which is sent to other institu- tions, agencies, and employers when the student re- quests that a transcript of his/her record be sent. You have the right to review your educational records maintained by West Georgia, except for cer- tain types of confidential information which are defin- ed by law and by institutional regulations. For a listing of what records are kept where and by whom and a full explanation of how to review these records, see Appendix G in this handbook. You'll also find in this section how to "challenge the content" of your records as well as safeguards built into the record- keeping system to assure the privacy and confiden- tiality of your records. Appeals If, after getting your grades, you're not satisfied with them and believe that the instructor made a mistake with yours, go to the instructor immediately. It may have been a simple clerical error. If there is a dispute, try and work it out with the instructor. If that fails, see the department chairman and, if necessary, the school dean. After following these steps, if you are not able to resolve the issue, you may appeal the grade to a faculty committee. See Appendix D for details of the appeals procedure. Likewise, a student who has been academically dismissed from college may appeal to be readmitted through a sub-committee of the Faculty Senate. This appeal must be initiated in writing by the student through the Office of the Vice President and Dean of Faculties. See Appendix E for detailed procedures. Academic Requirements for Receiving Financial Aid In order to receive financial aid at West Georgia, students must be in good academic standing and must be making satisfactory progress towards their educational objectives. Any student placed on "pro- bation" by the Office of Vice President and Dean of Faculties runs the risk of losing certain types of finan- cial assistance because of this academic difficulty. These students are monitored closely, and if they do not make at least a 2.0 or C average during their pro- bationary enrollment, they lose their eligibility to receive certain funds. In order to be eligible for financial aid the follow- ing year, students must complete with passing grades at least 60% of all hours for which they register in a given year. This regulation is in part directed towards students who tend to withdraw regularly from courses, thereby prolonging their programs of study. In addition, there is a limit on the total number of hours for which students may receive financial aid. All programs of study have specified course re- quirements and total number of hours for completion, and after the student has attempted a pre-determined number of hours in a degree program, s/he simply may not receive additional financial assistance from cer- tain aid programs. See Appendix F for specific details of how all these policies may apply to you. If you have questions about them, contact the Financial Aid Office in Mandeville Hall (telephone 836-6421, campus extension 6421). ACADEMIC AFFAIRS As Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Pat Hughes coordinates many of the academic services with which students routinely come into contact. She serves as executive secretary to the Honors Program, coordinates the WGC 101 orientation class and academic advisement services, and advises all students who are jointly enrolled in high school and West Georgia. Office in Sanford Hall. - _ wjm^ Pat Hughes Assistant to Vice President for Academic Affairs EVENING STUDIES Mr. Andy Davis is Coordinator of Evening Studies. As his title in- dicates, classes are available from 5:30 until 10 p.m. for students who have family or career responsibilities and cannot attend daytime classes. Office in Continuing Education building across Maple Street from front campus. Andy Davis, Coordinator Evening Studies Sen