Matriculation
Academic Year
AssessementSERVICES
Academic Advisement
Arrendale Library
Foxfire Partnership
The LyceumREGULATIONS
Academic Integrity
Normal Study Load
Classification
Class Attendance
Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses
Credit by Examination or Experience
Advanced Placement
College Level Examination Program
Foreign Language Exemption
International Baccalaureate
Military Credit
Experiential Credit
Directed Independent Study
Auditing a course
Declaration of Major and Minor
Grade Requirements for Majors and Minors
Grades
Appeals Quality Points
Grade Point Average
Undergraduate Student Academic Status
Academic Honors
Posthumous Degree
Repeating a Course
Incompletes
Grade Changes
Dual Enrollment
Transient Permission
Dropping a Course
Withdrawal from College
Medical Withdrawals
Non-Academic Dismissal
Graduation Requirements
Graduation Fees
Transcripts
Student RecordsMatriculation
Matriculation at Piedmont College establishes a covenant between the student and the College. Through its faculty and administration, the College agrees to do its best to assist the student’s intellectual and personal development. The student agrees to study and work conscientiously, as well as to abide by the College’s rules and regulations.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Academic Year
The regular academic year is divided into fall and spring semesters, each approximately 16 weeks in length. The College offers both day and evening classes, with limited weekend offerings. During the fall and spring semesters, evening and weekend classes are offered in two eight-week sessions each semester in Athens and Demorest. A schedule of classes is also available for those wishing to attend college during the summer. Students may be admitted at the beginning of any semester. However, for the best orientation to college life and to take advantage of the planned sequence of courses, fall admission is recommended.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Assessment
To ensure the realization of its mission, Piedmont College is involved in continuous assessment to measure, and to improve where needed, the quality of the learning experience. Since learning is not limited to classroom experiences, neither is assessment. Assessment is systematically administered throughout the College.Assessment includes evaluation of departmental programs, evaluation of the general education requirements and evaluation of the overall College environment.
Academic departments design and implement their own assessment procedures to evaluate the quality of their programs.
In addition, student and alumni surveys and other assessment techniques are regularly conducted in order to ascertain the overall quality of the educational experience at Piedmont..
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SERVICES
Academic Advisement
The College is committed to the developmental model of academic advising. As such, advising is viewed as a partnership of shared responsibility between the student and advisor, with the advising process as an extra-classroom, teaching-learning experience that emphasizes the importance of personal and social factors that contribute to the quality of the student’s academic experience and the achievement of life goals.Upon entering the College, a student is assigned either a freshman advisor or a major advisor, depending on class standing and declaration of a major. The advisor works with the student not only in the choice of courses and with academic matters in general, but also to ensure a rich and rewarding educational experience that will lead to the fullest realization of a student’s potential as an individual.
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Arrendale Library
The Arrendale Library is housed in a modern facility that includes a collection of more than 100,000 volumes, a computer lab, study rooms and carrels, conference facilities, and the College archives. The Mayflower, the library’s electronic catalog, is a state-of-the-art, web-accessible library system. The library provides access to multiple electronic databases; participates in GALILEO, a statewide electronic research resource; and also provides access to its collections and services via its web page (www.library.piedmont.edu). The Athens Campus Resource Center provides references resources, reserve services, access to electronic resources, and a specialized circulating collection.The purposes of the Arrendale Library are to:
• Provide the facilities, tools and resources necessary to support the work of the faculty, staff and students in fulfilling the educational mission of the College;
• Provide access to the world of resources both inside and outside of the bounds of the library that will support the College’s academic programs of study;
• Provide beyond the immediate needs of the academic program a selection of resources that portrays the intellectual heritage of humanity;
• Provide an environment that encourages the most effective use of the library by faculty, staff and students; and
• Stimulate and encourage students to develop scholarly research skills from which they will benefit throughout their lives.The Library is open to all faculty, staff, students and alumni of Piedmont College.
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Foxfire-Piedmont Partnership
In 2003, Foxfire sought a college whose School of Education had a conceptual framework and community outreach program that was clearly aligned with Foxfire’s overall mission and Core Practices. The result was a formal, contractual agreement between Foxfire and Piedmont College, which transferred the management of Foxfire’s Programs for teachers to Piedmont’s School of Education.
These programs consist of Foxfire courses for K-12 teachers and a Foxfire course for college instructors, offered at Piedmont, other institutions, and school districts.The Lyceum
A series of lectures, concerts, and plays is presented to develop the student’s appreciation of literature, music and the other art forms. Programming has included performances of masterworks by Bach, Haydn, Mozart and Mendelssohn; various theater productions, and lectures by artists and writers from across the United States.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
REGULATIONS
Academic Integrity
In accordance with the mission statement at Piedmont College, it is the responsibility of each member of the Piedmont community to promote an atmosphere of academic integrity and an understanding of intellectual honesty that adheres to the highest standards of professional and personal conduct.To protect intellectual and scholarly integrity, the college imposes strict penalties for academic dishonesty, which is defined as follows.
• Cheating — intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise.
• Fabrication — intentional and unauthorized invention or falsification of any information or citation in an academic exercise or altering official college records or documents.
• Facilitating academic dishonesty — intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty.
• Plagiarism — intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.HONOR PLEDGE
All students, by their enrollment at Piedmont College, commit to the Honor Pledge:The Piedmont College community emphasizes high ethical standards for its members. Accordingly, I promise to refrain from acts of academic dishonesty including plagiarism and to uphold the Academic Integrity Policy in all endeavors at Piedmont College.
Academic Dishonesty Procedure
A student found responsible for any act of academic dishonesty, including a first offense, will be subject to harsh sanctions unless specific and significant mitigating factors are present. Details on administrative procedures for resolving academic dishonesty cases may be found in the Online Student Handbook (www.piedmont.edu/student_life).A student who earns a grade of “D” or “F” as a result of a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy may repeat the course. However a “D” or “F” received because of a violation of Academic Integrity is not eligible for the grade forgiveness as described above. All course grades would count in computing the cumulative GPA.
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Normal Study Load
The normal study load is five courses or 15 semester hours per semester (fall, spring) for students attending day classes and four courses or 12 semester hours for those taking accelerated evening classes. Students taking a minimum of 12 semester hours are considered full time. Students who wish to take more than 19 semester hours must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 and receive the permission of the dean of the appropriate school. A student may take no more than 21 hours during any semester.Summer classes are offered in an accelerated format. Thus the selection of courses and the total number of credit hours taken must be chosen judiciously by the student with the help of his or her advisor. As during the regular academic year, full-time status is based on 12 semester hours of course work.
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Classification
Thirty semester hours is the normal amount of academic work completed in each of the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years with a minimum grade of “D” (1.0 on a 4.0 scale). A student must have completed 30 semester hours to be classified as a sophomore, 60 to be a junior, and 90 to be a senior.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Class Attendance
Attendance, timeliness, and participation are required and part of your grade. More than the allotted number of absences for any reason will result in failure of the course. The maximum allotted number of excused absences is as follows:• Day classes meeting three times a week for entire semester: 6 absence
• Day classes meeting two times a week for entire semester: 4 absences
• Day or evening classes meeting one time a week for the entire semester: 3 absences
• All eight-week classes: 1 absence
• Courses operating under a different format (4 week, online, etc.) determined by the professor of the course.
• All absences for participation in recognized school events (e.g., athletics, drama, field trips) will count against the teacher’s announced absence policy. The number of absences an individual teacher may permit in a class, therefore, will not be in addition to the excused absences.”A request for an exception to this policy must be submitted in writing to the appropriate Dean for consideration.
Undergraduates Taking Graduate Classes
Students who have achieved senior standing at Piedmont College, i.e., who have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours, with a cumulative academic grade point average of 3.0 or better (or permission of dean), may register for graduate courses during the final two semesters of undergraduate work under the following conditions:1. No more than a total of nine semester hours may be taken for graduate credit, and not more than six semester hours of graduate courses may be taken in a given semester.
2. Students registering for one or more graduate courses must obtain permission in advance from the course instructor, the academic advisor, and the academic dean of the school in which the course is taken.
3. Graduate courses available to undergraduate student are limited to those courses scheduled for the Demorest and Athens campuses.
4. Permission to take graduate courses is contingent upon the availability of classroom space and does not in any way imply admission to a graduate program at Piedmont College.
5. Graduate courses used to meet a requirement in an undergraduate program may not be used to fulfill required hours in a graduate program or vice versa.
Please note that students may count these hours either toward their undergraduate degree requirements or toward a graduate degree, if accepted into the graduate program at Piedmont.
Taking graduate courses while an undergraduate student does not guarantee admission to a graduate program at Piedmont College. In order for course work to be credited at the graduate level, students must be accepted into a Piedmont College graduate program.
Note: Undergraduate students are prohibited from taking all M.B.A. foundation and/or core phase courses.
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Credit by Examination or Experience
Students can establish proficiency in subject areas through several College-approved programs. Students may be awarded a maximum of 30 semester hours in any one or any combination of these sources.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Advanced Placement (AP)
Entering students who wish to receive advanced placement credit may do so by completing an advanced placement examination in high school and earning a minimum score as established by the College Board. Students should request that a copy of the score report be sent to the Registrar at Piedmont College. A list of acceptable AP courses and minimum scores can be found at www.piedmont.edu/reg.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
College-Level Examination Program ( CLEP)
CLEP is designed to measure knowledge acquired through non-traditional means such as the workplace, as well as through formal study. Credit is awarded for satisfactory scores earned on certain subjects and selected general examinations. A list of courses for which CLEP credit may be awarded at Piedmont College is available at the registrar’s webpage (www.piedmont.edu/reg). For more information or to schedule a CLEP exam, send an e-mail to the test administrator at dtaylor@piedmont.edu.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Foreign Language Exemption
Students for whom English is not their first language may contact their advisor to petition the Curriculum and Programs Committee for an exemption from the foreign language requirement. As part of the petition, students must demonstrate that they have met the cultural knowledge outcomes of the foreign language requirement. This exemption will allow these students to take other classes in their major or electives to meet their eight-hour requirement. Rationale: Students who speak English as a second (or third) language and are taking classes in English demonstrate a mastery of reading, writing, speaking, and listening in a language other than their first language. International students living in the U.S. are immersed in a culture different from their native culture. Therefore, students have already met the linguistic proficiency and cultural knowledge outcomes of the foreign language requirement.Students entering Piedmont College with substantial language ability and/or established placement from another institution may complete only the 102-level course to fulfill the foreign language general education requirement. Additionally, if a student’s first foreign language course is a 200-level or higher, the 101-102 requirement is considered satisfied.
International Baccalaureate Program (IB)
Piedmont College recognizes the quality of the International Baccalaureate Program, and credit towards the undergraduate degree will be awarded on a course-by-course basis. Course credit will be given for scores of 5, 6, or 7 on the Higher level examinations. No credit will be awarded solely for earning a Diploma, for the results of any Subsidiary-level examinations, or for scores below 5 on higher-level examinations. Students should request a copy of the official score report be sent to the Registrar at Piedmont College. IB credits do not fulfill residency requirements.Military Credit
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and members of the military reserve may receive academic credit for military training based on recommendations of the American Council of Education (ACE). Contact the Registrar for additional information.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Experiential Credit
Learning acquired outside of classroom participation can be a valuable contribution to a liberal arts education, and Piedmont provides an opportunity for students to receive academic credit for such learning.
The portfolio is the method used whereby students can demonstrate learning prior to and during their time at the College. Because portfolio assessment is competence based, students need to demonstrate mastery of transferable skills acquired through the professional work experience and/or community service. An application for experiential credit is available in the registrar’s office. The fee for experiential credit is $50 per credit hour. For experiential credit for education practicum, consult your advisor.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Directed-Independent Study (DIS)
DDirected independent study leads to the completion of a regular college course and receipt of academic credit, but the DIS is completed by the student under the direction of the course instructor independently of scheduled class hours. While Piedmont recognizes that there is, at times, legitimate need for such study, its policy is to keep this practice to a minimum; thus, the following criteria are carefully observed:1. Directed independent study is offered only for those courses that are listed in the
current Piedmont College Catalog.
2. A directed independent study course is taught only in the semester preceding graduation, entry into a professional program, or student teaching, and must be the last course needed to complete the requirements for the above. In the case of a special (non-degree) student, directed independent study is approved only for a course that will not be offered during the entire forthcoming academic year. Only one course may be taken by independent study.
3. The request for permission must be based on a schedule conflict or difficulty arising from the academic schedule and not from the student’s non-academic routine.
4. No student is permitted to undertake directed independent study until the Request for Directed Independent Study Form is approved. This form and all required documentation must be submitted to the Dean of the appropriate school before the beginning of the drop/add period of the semester in which the directed independent study is to be undertaken. Failure to obtain any one of the required signatures or to provide any of the documentation listed on the checklist on the back of the form will result in automatic rejection of the request.
5. After approval by the Dean of the appropriate school, all materials will be forwarded to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for final approval. A letter approving or denying the DIS will be mailed to the student, advisor, Dean, and Registrar. If approved, the student will be registered for the DIS by the Registrar’s office.
6. To receive academic credit, the student must meet all the requirements of the course as it is regularly taught.
7. Upon completion of the directed independent study, a portfolio containing the syllabus, all written assignments and evaluations is kept on file in the registrar’s office.
8. No directed independent studies are conducted in the period between academic semesters.
9. A grade of ‘I’ (Incomplete) is not given except for medical reasons.The Request for Directed Independent Study Form is available in the registrar’s office.
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Auditing a Course
A student who wishes to audit a course must register for the course and pay the established tuition rate. Audited courses are subject to the same registration and drop/add policies as courses taken for credit. As such, credit courses may not be changed to audit status or vice versa once the initial drop/add period is over. Students who wish to receive credit for courses in which they were registered as auditors must repeat the course for credit.Courses taken on an audit basis cannot be used for certification for financial aid, Social Security, Veterans Administration benefits, or athletic eligibility.
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Declaration of Major and Minor
MMajors and/or minors are listed and described along with the courses in each area. The following are definitions of some terms as they are used at Piedmont College.Major: A major is a sequence of courses in an academic area or two or more related areas. The minimum number of credit hours required for each major is listed with that major. Each course in the major must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
Minor: A minor is a short sequence of courses taken in an academic area which complements a student’s major and provides a second field of in-depth study. Each minor specifies a minimum number of hours to be earned and the courses required. Each course in a minor must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
Concentration: A concentration is a required part of some academic majors. Concentrations allow students to specialize within the major from one or more options. Each course in a concentration must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
A major and a minor or concentration as appropriate should be officially declared as early as possible, but no later than the beginning of the junior year. To do so, a student should obtain a copy of the Declaration of Major/Minor/Concentration Form from the Registrar and complete it in consultation with his or her academic advisor. Upon completion, the advisor should return the form to the Registrar.
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Grades
Grades are based on the following grading system. A — Excellent1. Scholarship — Strong, exceeding requirements of instructor.B — Good
2. Initiative — Contributions exceeding the assignment, showing independent resourcefulness.
3. Attitude — Proper and beneficial to class.
4. Cooperation — Active in all group activities, constant and spontaneous.
5. Individual Improvement — Marked and growing.1. Scholarship — Accurate and complete, meeting all requirements of instructor.C — Fair
2. Initiative — Good when stimulated by some desirable achievement.
3. Attitude — Proper and beneficial to class.
4. Cooperation — Good in group work.
5. Individual Improvement — Showing marks of progress.1. Scholarship — Barely meeting requirements and showing evidence ofD — Poor, but passing
need of encouragement.
2. Initiative — Uncertain and apparent only at times.
3. Attitude — Generally neutral but not objectionable.
4. Cooperation — Minimal required or ineffective and irregular.
5. Individual Improvement — Very ordinary, definite marks lacking.1. Scholarship — Not meeting all assignments and requirements of instructor.F — Failure
2. Initiative — Lacking.
3. Attitude — Indifferent.
4. Cooperation — Just fair at times and lacking at other times.
5. Individual Improvement — Unnoticeable.Work unsatisfactory, a failing grade.P — Pass1. Scholarship — Meeting all requirements of instructor.NP — No Pass
2. Initiative — Good.
3. Attitude — Positive.
4. Cooperation — Good.
5. Individual Improvement — Progressing.Work unsatisfactory, a failing grade and hence not defined.
NS — No Show
Registered, did not attend, drop, or withdraw
W — Withdrawal
WF — Withdrawal Failing
AU — Audit — No Credit
I — Incomplete
IP — In Progress
Each instructor establishes the quantitative and/or qualitative basis and procedures by which he or she computes grades. Such information is published in each syllabus.
At the end of each semester, a complete report of academic achievement is furnished to the student.
Grade Appeals
Students who wish to dispute a final grade and are prepared to present evidence to support a grade appeal must initiate the procedure by speaking first with the instructor who assigned the grade in question. If there are no errors in the computation of the grade or other substantial evidence to support an appeal, the student is encouraged to accept the grade assigned. However, in cases where there are substantial grounds for a review of the grade and a resolution cannot be reached between the student and the instructor, the student has the following recourse:1. Within two weeks of the beginning of the term following the one for which the grade was posted, the student must submit to the appropriate department chair a letter of appeal with evidence supporting the need for an external review of the grade in question. A form, which describes the supporting material required, is available from the academic deans offices. The department chair will review the student’s material and consult with the instructor before deciding if the assigned grade should stand. The department chair must provide a written response to the student with a copy to the school dean.
2. If a student does not accept the decision of the department chair, there is one additional level of appeal. The student may submit documentation to the appropriate academic dean (in the school where the course was taught) who will determine if new information or insufficient consideration of the student’s case merits further review of the assigned grade. The dean’s decision to proceed or not to proceed will be final in all cases.
3. If the dean determines that further review is warranted, the dean will review the material and consult with the student and the instructor. The dean may exercise discretion to consult other faculty or students who can provide relevant information. The dean’s decision will be final.
4. The entire appeal process must be completed within four weeks of the date the grade was appealed.
5. When the dean or department chair is the teacher of record, the dean will substitute for the department chair and the vice president for academic affairs will replace the dean.
Quality Points
A quality point is a numerical unit of value that indicates the quality of work performed. Each final grade in a course shall be assigned a quality point value as follows:
In an instance where a course has been repeated (R), the course is counted only once, and only the highest grade is used in the computation of the cumulative GPA.
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Grade-Point Average
A grade-point average (GPA) is calculated as a ratio of the number of quality points earned to the number of credit hours attempted. The computation of the GPA is based only on courses taken and grades received at Piedmont College and does not include transfer grades. Three types of GPA are calculated: semester, cumulative, and honors. The semester GPA is based on the student’s record for a given semester. The cumulative GPA is based on the student’s record to date. In an instance where a course has been repeated, the course is counted only once and only the highest grade is used in the computation of the cumulative GPA. For students who reentered the College under the Forgiveness Policy, courses taken at Piedmont College prior to reentry are not included in the computation of the cumulative GPA.
The Honors GPA is used only to determine the award of degrees with honors. It is based on all the courses a student has taken at Piedmont minus those courses taken prior to reentry for students who reentered under the Forgiveness Policy. It includes all attempts a student has made to complete any particular course; i.e., the initial time a course was taken as well as all repeat times.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Undergraduate Student Academic Status
Certain terms are used to indicate student academic status in the College community.Good Standing signifies that the student is eligible to return to the College and is on neither academic nor conduct probation. To be in good standing academically, a student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Academic Probation denotes failure to maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
Conditional Standing is accorded a student who has been conditionally admitted to the College based on placement scores and transfer GPA, or who, after being academically excluded or dismissed, is readmitted on a conditional basis by the dean of the appropriate school.
Academic Exclusion affects those who do not meet the following minimum standards as computed at the end of each semester.
1. Minimum cumulative GPA for freshman students
(up to 30 total credit hours) of 1.5.
2. Minimum cumulative GPA for sophomore students (31 to 60 hours) of 1.8.
3. Minimum cumulative GPA for junior students (61 to 90 hours) of 1.9.
4. Minimum cumulative GPA for senior students (91 to 121 hours) of 2.0.
5. Minimum cumulative GPA for senior students (121 or more hours) of 2.0. A 2.0 cumulative GPA is required for graduation.A student who has been excluded from the College for academic deficiencies may appeal the decision to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and, in turn, to the President if warranted. If excluded, the student may be readmitted on a conditional basis at any time with the permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. If readmitted, the student will be required to attend tutorial sessions, study skills clinics, advisement sessions and/or be involved in other academic support activities as deemed appropriate.
A readmitted student must show satisfactory progress in moving toward academic good standing and meeting the minimum academic standards of the College. The Registrar will monitor the semester GPA of the conditional student. Should the semester GPA fall below 2.0 without the minimum standards being achieved, the student’s work will be reviewed to see if dismissal is warranted. The dean of the appropriate school makes the final decision as to continuation, exclusion or dismissal of the student.
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Academic Dismissal results in involuntary separation of the student from the College for an extended time period for academic reasons based upon the recommendation of the appropriate dean to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students may appeal the decision to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and, in turn, to the President if warranted. A student so dismissed may petition for readmission after a reasonable period of time, usually a year. The second academic dismissal is permanent. Specific schools may have different requirements—consult the specific school for requirements.
Readmission After Dismissal
Students who have been dismissed for any reason by Piedmont College must complete an Application for readmission form and submit it to the Registrar. In addition to sending the Application for readmission form to the Registrar, the student must also write a letter to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and attach this letter to the Application for Readmission. These documents will then be directed to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Business Office. A determination will be made to approve or deny readmission on a conditional basis. The student will be notified of the decision in writing.Academic Honors (Undergraduate Only)
Various types of academic honors at Piedmont College are based on the student’s GPA. The requirements for these honors and their designations are as follows.Dean’s List: Full-time status (minimum of 12 semester hours) with a semester GPA of 3.50-3.99.
Dean’s Scholar: Full-time status (minimum of 12 semester hours) with a semester GPA of 4.0.
Degree With Honors: Undergraduates with at least 48 semester hours at Piedmont College with an honors GPA of 3.50-3.69 (cum laude), 3.70-3.89 (magna cum laude), 3.90-4.00 (summa cum laude).
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Posthumous Degrees
In the event of a student’s death during his or her final term of study, a member of the student’s family will be invited to accept the diploma during commencement exercises. In order to receive a posthumous degree, the student must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours.
Repeating Courses
A student who earns a grade below a “C” in a Piedmont College class may repeat that class as many times as necessary to meet graduation/degree requirements; however, only one grade forgiveness per course will be allowed. All courses taken shall remain on the transcript and repeated courses will only count once toward total hours earned for graduation. Grades and credit earned from repeat coursework at other institutions cannot be used in calculating the grade-point average at Piedmont College. Students must submit a “Request to Repeat a Course” form with the Registrar.Veterans’ benefits can not be received for repeated courses. The policy does not apply to course work repeated at other colleges.
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Incompletes
For reasons such as illness or other extenuating circumstances, a student may receive an Incomplete “I” upon the approval of the course instructor and the dean of the appropriate school. Assignment of an Incomplete grade is appropriate only when a substantial amount of work (at least one-half) in the course has been completed. A request for Incomplete grade is not appropriate until after the official date for withdrawal without academic penalty has passed. Application forms may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office. Failure to remove the “I” by the end of the next semester (if the student continues to be enrolled) at Piedmont College will result in an “F”. For students who do not return to Piedmont College, the “I” must be removed within one calendar year or the “I” will be changed to an “F.”Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Grade Changes
Grades reported to the Registrar and recorded shall not be changed except under the following specified circumstances:1. A written statement by the instructor that the grade recorded was a factual error;
2. Change of grade of “I,” as previously outlined;3. Students who receive a grade of “F” or “D” in a course taken during their final semester shall have the privilege of one retake of a final examination provided there is no opportunity to repeat the course prior to commencement. Grades in not more than two courses may be changed by this method; and
4. Recommendation by the dean of the school in which the student is enrolled and/or the Curriculum and Programs Committee.
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Dual Enrollment
Piedmont College allows students to enroll at other institutions of higher education with special permission. Individual cases are only approved if extenuating circumstances are present. These circumstances can include, but are not limited to, completing courses not offered when needed and to register for prerequisite courses. To request permission, students must submit a letter in writing to the Registrar. Such a request must be approved by both the Registrar and the Director of Financial Aid.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Transient Permission
Piedmont College students who wish to take courses at other institutions may do so only with the written permission of the Registrar. To request permission for transient status, students should obtain a letter of Transient Permission from the registrar’s office. Classes with a grade below “C” will not be accepted for credit. Students are reminded of the graduation requirement that all senior work (the last 30 hours) must be course work completed at Piedmont College.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Drop/Add; Withdrawal
The drop/add period is the first five days of Fall and Spring semesters and the first three days of Summer semester. During this time students may drop and add courses with the permission of their advisor. After the initial drop/add period, a student may withdraw from a class by completing a drop/add form which must be signed by the advisor and the professor. The professor must fill in the last date of attendance on the drop/add form.Students who withdraw from a course on or prior to the date noted in the College’s official calendar as the “last day to withdraw without receiving academic penalty” shall receive a “W” for the course and the hours will not be counted in the calculation of GPA. Students will still have to pay for the course and the hours do count against Hope eligibility. Classes dropped after this date will result in a grade of “WF” and the hours will be counted in the calculation of GPA. Students who stop attending but do not submit appropriate forms to withdraw will receive an “F.”
Students may not add an 8-week class after the first class meeting has been held.
Freshmen and Joint Enrollment students are not permitted to change schedules without permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Withdrawal from College
Students who are found to be in violation of College regulations, in violation of local and/or state laws, or for circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the College, may, upon the recommendation of the chief academic officer and concurrence of the president, be removed from a residence hall and/or dismissed from the College. The exit interview process must be completed with Financial Aid and the appropriate forms signed and filed with the Registrar before refunds (if applicable) can be made or transcripts forwarded.Students who withdraw from all courses at Piedmont college after the last day to drop a course without academic penalty shall receive a “WF” in each course.
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Medical Withdrawals
Under extenuating circumstances, the Vice President for Academic Affairs may approve a withdrawal for medical reasons.Return to Academic Program Table of Contents
Non-Academic Dismissal
Students who are found to be in violation of College regulations, in violation of local and/or state laws, or for circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the College, may be removed from a residence hall and/or dismissed from the College. Students may appeal the decision to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and, in turn, the President, if warranted. Grades of “W” or “WF” may be assigned. Grades of “W” after midterm require the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and will be approved only in cases of acceptable extenuating circumstances.Graduation
Piedmont College holds three graduation ceremonies each academic year. Each year’s class consists of students graduating in December, May and July. Example: The Class of 2008 includes graduates from December 2007, May 2008 and July 2008. A baccalaureate service is held on the Sunday immediately preceding graduation in May each year and is for undergraduate students only. Students will march into the service in caps and gowns and will sit together to be recognized as graduates. Baccalaureate services are not held during fall or summer semester graduations.Please check the Academic Calendars posted on the web at www.piedmont.edu/reg for ceremony dates and times and also for application deadlines for each semester’s graduation. Mailings will be sent each semester with graduation details and participation forms that must be returned in order to participate in the ceremony or to have diplomas mailed after the ceremony.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the candidate must:• Complete a minimum of 120 credit hours exclusive of the Intro to College Life and Liberal Arts Tradition;
• Fulfill the minimum requirements for a major. Half the required courses for the major (and for a minor if one is chosen) must be completed at Piedmont College;
• Complete all senior work (the last 30 hours before graduation, exclusive of the Intro to College Life and Liberal Arts Tradition requirement) at Piedmont College;
• Meet the College’s English and math proficiency requirement. (“C” or better in ENG 101 and 102 and the general education math requirement.);
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 or higher (specific majors may require a higher GPA);
• Have a satisfactory conduct record;
• Apply for graduation by posted application deadlines (see academic calendar); and
• Be current on all College bills.
It is the responsibility of all seniors to apply for graduation by posted deadlines. Application forms for graduation may be obtained from the Registrar. See academic calendars at www.piedmont.edu/reg. Applications for graduation must be received by the Registrar’s Office in order to register for capstone/senior seminar classes.
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Graduation fees
A fee of $50 ($75 for the graduate program) is due at the time of application for graduation.* It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with application deadlines which are posted on the academic calendars. All college bills must be paid before the degree is conferred.* A late fee of $100 will be assessed on applications for graduation received in the Registrar’s Office after the posted due date for each term. (See academic calendars at www. piedmont.edu/reg.) Applications will not be accepted later than four weeks prior to the graduation ceremony for each term. Students applying after that date will be required to graduate at the end of the following term.
Transcripts
A transcript is a record of all courses taken and grades received at the College, as well as those transferred into the College. As such, it includes all initial and repeat courses and all courses that fall under the Forgiveness Policy.All requests for transcripts must be submitted to the Registrar in writing and must include the student’s signature. Transcript Request Forms may be found at www.piedmont.edu/reg. The charge for official transcripts is $5.00 each. There is no charge for unofficial transcripts. No transcripts shall be issued for students whose accounts are not paid in full.
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Student Academic Records (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act - FERPA)
SECTION A: Student Academic Records
The Registrar has a master roster of all students which lists high school grades, SAT scores, etc. Copies of students’ permanent records are furnished to advisors. Faculty members may examine student records on request to the Office of the Registrar.After appropriate training and with the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, faculty members may access student records via computer on the campus network.
SECTION B: Confidentiality of Student Records
Piedmont College complies with all requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Complete information is available in the Office of the Registrar and on the web page at www.piedmont.edu/reg/FERPA.html.The law defines student education records to include “records, files, documents, and other materials which contain information directly related to a student and are maintained by a university or by a person acting for a university.” Within 45 days of receiving a request, universities must allow students to inspect those education records. Excluded from the definition of student education records are records made about students by teachers and administrators for their own use and not shown to others.
Confidential letters of recommendation or evaluations which were in the records prior to January 1, 1975, need not be made available to students. For letters after that date, the law allows students to waive rights of access if the letters have to do with admission, employment, or honors, if the letters are used only those purposes, and if students are told, on their request, the names of all letter writers. No student or applicant may be required to execute a waiver.
Students have the right to challenge the contents of their educational records and to secure correction of inaccurate or misleading information. Students may insert into their records a written explanation respecting the content of such records. Students may challenge a grade in their records only on the ground that it was inaccurately recorded, not that it was different than the instructor ought to have recorded.
Teachers, administrators, and similar professional personnel (in the same institution) may look at the record if they have a “legitimate educational interest.”
The university may transfer information to other educational institutions in which the student intends or seeks to enroll, in connection with a student’s application for, or receipt of, financial aid, and to public officials enumerated as follows:1. State and local officials to whom state law in effect on November 19, 1974, required information to be reported.
2. Organizations like ETS and CEEB in connection with developing, validating, or administering predictive tests, administering student aid programs, and improving instruction.
3. Accrediting organizations in order to carry out their accrediting functions.
4. Parents of a student who is a dependent for income tax purposes.
5. Appropriate persons in the case of health and safety emergencies.
Directory information may be released without the consent of a student unless the student specifically asks that prior consent be obtained. Requests for non-disclosure will be honored for only one academic year; therefore, authorization to withhold directory information must be filed annually in the office of the Registrar. Directory information includes a student’s name, address, telephone listing, e-mail address, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weights and heights of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational institution attended by the student. A university must publish a list of what it designates as directory information and give each student a reasonable period of time to ask that any and all such information not be released without prior consent.
Other than in the exceptions listed, or in the case of directory information, or in responding to judicial process, employees of a university may not release personally identifiable information in education records or allow anyone access to those records, unless the student has given written consent specifying records to be released, the reasons for such release, and to whom, and a copy of the released records is furnished to the student.
No information concerning a student’s education record may be disclosed over the telephone to anyone, even to the student.
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Dr. James F. Mellichamp, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Kenneth E. Melichar, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs – Planning
Dr. Sandra B. Dickson, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
Dr. A. Melton Palmer, Vice President for Athens CampusThe College faculty is responsible for the academic program of the College and functions under the direction of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. However, the individual disciplinary programs of study offered by the College are managed on a day-to-day basis through a school structure comprised of four schools. Each school includes closely related disciplines. Within each school, departments are responsible for specific disciplinary areas.
School of Arts and Sciences
Dr. James F. Mellichamp, Dean
Dr. Viviane Daigle, Associate Dean
Office of Interdisciplinary Studies: Dr. Viviane Daigle, Director
Department of Art: Lori Leigh Phillips, Chair
Department of Humanities: Dr. Stephen Whited, Chair
Department of Mathematics and Physics: Dr. Humphrey Hardy, Chair
Department of Mass Communication: Dr. Betsey S. Blakeslee, Chair
Department of Music: Dr. C. Wallace Hinson, Chair
Department of Natural Sciences: Dr. Debra Dooley, Chair
Department of Social Sciences: Dr. Kenneth E. Melichar, Chair
Department of Theatre: Dr. Richard M. Rose II, ChairWalker School of Business
Dr. William E. Piper, Dean
Dr. Patricia S. Sherrer, Athens Campus: Director of Undergraduate Business Programs, and M.B.A. Program Coordinator
Dr. Edward C. Taylor, Demorest: M.B.A. Program Coordinator
Department of Marketing, Management and Economics: Dr. Edward Taylor, Chair
Department of Accounting, Computer Information Systems and Decision Sciences:
Dr. Keith Nelms, ChairSchool of Education
Dr. A. Jane McFerrin, Dean
Dr. J. Robert Cummings, Associate Dean
Department of Art: Lori Leigh Phillips, Chair
Department of Early Childhood Education: Dr. Charles H. Lucado Jr., Chair
Department of Middle Grades Education: Dr. Madge H. Kibler, Chair
Department of Music: Dr. C. Wallace Hinson, Chair
Department of Physical Education: Dr. Ellen C. Briggs, Chair
Department of Secondary Education: Dr. H. Hilton Smith, Chair
Department of Special Education: Dr. Donna G. Andrews, Chair
Department of Theatre: Dr. Richard M. Rose II, Chair
Coordinator of Undergraduate Secondary Education: Dr. William Frech
Director of Education Specialist Program: Dr. J. Robert CummingsR.H. Daniel School of Nursing
Dr. Linda Scott, Dean
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