PAAA

Academic Standing

Academic Standards
Students will be evaluated each semester on the basis of cumulative grade point average and the total number of credit hours attempted. Click here for more information.

Student Classifications 
Under the provisions of the academic policies of West Georgia, students are classified as follows:

Academic Warning
All students who fail to meet academic standards will be on Academic Warning the next semester of enrollment. Students on Academic Warning may be required to meet certain conditions to be eligible to register for future terms. Such conditions may include a reduced course load, meeting with an academic advisor, attending student success seminars, and/or other academic support interventions. There are three possible outcomes from a semester on Academic Warning:

(1) A student who raises his/her institutional grade point average to meet the Academic Standards outlined above, will be removed from Academic Warning.

(2) A student who receives a term GPA of 2.0 but does not raise the institutional GPA enough to meet above standards, will remain on Academic Warning.

(3) A student who fails to achieve a semester grade point average of 2.0 while on Academic Warning will be placed on Academic Probation.

Academic Probation
All students who fail to meet the conditions to be removed from or stay on Academic Warning will be on Academic Probation the next semester of enrollment. Students on Academic Probation may be required to meet certain conditions to be eligible to register for future terms. Such conditions may include a reduced course load, meeting with an academic advisor, attending student success seminars, and/or other academic support interventions. There are three possible outcomes from a semester on Academic Probation:

(1) A student who raises his/her institutional grade point average to meet the Academic Standards outlined above, will be removed from Academic Probation.

(2) A student who receives a term GPA of 2.0 but does not raise the institutional GPA enough to meet above standards, will remain on Academic Probation.

(3) A student who fails to achieve a semester grade point average of 2.0 while on Academic Probation will be placed on Academic Suspension. Once on Probation, a student will not return to Academic Warning, but will remain on Academic Probation unless he/she meets outcome 1 or 3.

Academic Suspension
Students who do not earn a minimum semester grade point average of 2.0 while on Academic Probation regardless of the institutional GPA will be suspended for one semester. Readmission on Probation will be automatically allowed after one semester of suspension. Students on probation who do not make satisfactory progress after returning from an initial suspension will again be suspended, this time for one calendar year. An appeal is possible only if plausible evidence is provided that an error has been made or that a course grade was unjustly assigned. A student who is suspended for the second time may apply for readmission on probation one calendar year from the date of suspension.

Academic Dismissal
Students on probation after a second suspension who do not make a 2.0 on all work attempted in each subsequent semester of enrollment regardless of the cumulative GPA will be dismissed. Dismissed students are eligible to return only when they have earned an associate degree or are granted Academic Renewal after a five-year absence from any post-secondary institution.

Grade Replacement

A student may repeat a course taken at West Georgia in order to replace an earlier grade earned in a course taken Fall 1996 or later. Grades earned in courses taken at other institutions cannot replace grades earned in courses taken at the University of West Georgia. In the case of courses with variable course titles, the repeated course must have the exact same title as the original course. Beginning Summer Semester 2001, students can repeat XIDS 2001, 2002, and 2100 and use the grade replacement rules regardless of the titles of the courses taken. The academic standing and graduation GPA will be based on the last attempt at all courses taken at the institution. Note that the original grade remains on the transcript, although it is not included in the GPA.

Limited Course Withdrawals

Undergraduate students may withdraw from courses with a grade of “W” (Withdraw Passing) a maximum of six times during their entire undergraduate enrollment at the University of West Georgia. Click here for further details regarding Limited Course Withdrawals.

Complete Withdrawals

Types of Complete Withdrawals

Formal Withdrawal
Formal Withdrawal from the University of West Georgia includes the following rules:

1. The student will be awarded a withdrawal grade (W or WF) in each course based on the withdrawal period deadline. (See The Scoop.)
2. The student record will be marked inactive.
3. The student must apply for readmission if he/she wishes to return to the University of West Georgia.

Term Withdrawal
Term Withdrawal from the University of West Georgia includes the following rules: 

1. The student will be awarded a withdrawal grade (W or WF) in each course based on the withdrawal period deadline. (See The Scoop.)
2. All W grades Will Count towards the student’s maximum withdrawal limit. (See Limited Withdrawal Policy.)
3. The student’s account will remain active for one year from the term of the withdrawal.
4. The student must meet with my Academic Advisor prior to the beginning of Open Registration for the term in which he/she decides to return.
5. The student will not be eligible to register until the Open Registration period begins. (See The Scoop.)

Hardship Withdrawal Policy

1. Students may request a hardship withdrawal after the official Drop/Add deadline published in the UWG semester term calendar until the Friday immediately prior to the final week of the term. A hardship withdrawal is an exception based on unusual or emergency circumstances beyond the student's control.

2. A hardship withdrawal may be granted based on special circumstances. The following conditions apply:

• The student must initiate a hardship withdrawal using the Request for Hardship Withdrawal form found on the website of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. The student should be prepared to present documented evidence to substantiate the hardship being claimed. See rule 3 below for examples of documentation. If a psychological assessment is required, the assistant/associate dean may require the student to meet with the Director of the Counseling Center (in Row Hall 123).
• The student must withdraw from all classes during the current term. He or she may not select only certain classes from which to withdraw. See rule 4 below for exceptions.
• If the student is recommended for hardship withdrawal by the Director of the Counseling Center and approved by the student's assistant or associate dean, the student will receive a W for each course.
• Hardship withdrawals requested after the Friday immediately prior to the final week of the term will be treated as a retroactive hardship withdrawal. Retroactive hardship withdrawals will not be allowed if the student has completed all course requirements such as a final exam and/or a final project. Students seeking a retroactive hardship withdrawal must initiate the withdrawal through his or her assistant or associate dean. If a student is recommended for a hardship withdrawal, the grade(s) will be changed to W (Withdrawal/s).
• Approved hardship withdrawals do not result in a tuition refund. Approved hardship withdrawals may affect a student’s financial aid eligibility. The student should consult with the Enrollment Services Center for confirmation of the impact if the request is approved.

3. Documentation for a hardship withdrawal is based upon the category of hardship claimed by the student. Examples of documentation might include the following:

• Medical: Physician's report, including name, address, phone number, nature of illness or accidents, dates of treatment, prognosis, and recommendation.
• Psychological: Memo from the Counseling Center counselor, letter from private psychological, or psychiatric service, illness, and dates.
• Personal/Familial: Copy of divorce papers, police reports, obituaries, other as relevant.

4. Under unusual circumstances, a student may be granted a hardship withdrawal from only one class, while being allowed to remain in others. An example would be a student who is passing an applied piano course and injures a finger, thus being unable to play the piano the rest of the semester. A student would be allowed to complete the other courses being taken concurrently. The student requesting the hardship withdrawal from one course must take all documentation to the assistant or associate dean of the college offering the course.

5. The following do not constitute valid reasons for a hardship withdrawal:

• Poor performance in one or more courses
• Registration for the wrong course

Georgia History and Constitution Requirements

Georgia state law requires that any person receiving a degree from a state-supported institution of higher learning must pass examinations in the histories of the United States and Georgia and on the Constitution of the United States and Georgia.

Students may meet these requirements by passing HIST 2111 or 2112 and POLS 1101 at West Georgia. The U.S. and Georgia history requirements may also be satisfied by passing examinations developed by the History Department and administered by the Testing Office. The Georgia Constitution requirement may also be satisfied by passing an examination developed by the Political Science Department and administered by the Testing Office.

Transfer students who have fulfilled any or all of these requirements will be notified of that fact at the time of admission on the "Evaluation of Transfer Credit" form. Students transferring from institutions outside the state of Georgia who receive credit for HIST 2111 or 2112 and/or POLS 1101 will not have satisfied the Georgia history and constitution requirements. The Georgia history and constitution requirements can be satisfied by passing examinations administered each semester by the Testing Office.

Student Handbook

This handbook provides information about our campus and its resources. In addition, it contains an overview of University policies and procedures, the Honor Code, and Student Code of Conduct