Learning Support Policies

The Division of Humanities and Learning Support offers the Associate of Arts degree. The philosophy of the Division of Humanities/Learning Support is that all students benefit from the broadest possible exposure to the great heritage of world civilization and culture. Thus, the Division offers courses in art, music, and theater appreciation; English composition; French and Spanish; speech communications; world literature; American and British literature, philosophy and humanities. The Division also offers courses in practical work in journalism and creative writing.

All learning support programs are housed in the Division. The Regents' Testing Program and the Costa Rica Study Abroad Program are also administered by the Division.

POLICIES

Learning support policies established by the Board of Regents for all System institutions require placement in learning support courses for students who have academic deficiencies in reading, English, and/or math for those programs of study which have learning support prerequisites. At South Georgia College, any one or more of the following indicate that deficiencies may exist and that further testing is needed: (a) reentered SAT scores of less than 430 verbal or 400 math (or ACT equivalent scores); (b) a high school grade point average of less than 2.0; (c) College Preparatory Curriculum deficiencies in English or math. COMPASS examinations in reading, English, and/or math are administered for final placement determination.

Students enrolled in A.A. or A.S. transfer degree programs are subject to reading, English, and/or math learning support placement should exam scores. Students enrolled in A.A.S. and A.S.N. career degree programs are subject to reading and/or English learning support course requirements; however, math placement depends upon the major.

Students must enroll each semester in required learning support courses. While completing these required courses, they may enroll in regular credit courses which do not have learning support prerequisites or learning support corequisites. If a student is enrolled in learning support courses and regular credit courses and withdraws from a learning support course, he/she will be withdrawn from all regular credit courses.

University System of Georgia policies require completion of all learning support course work prior to the accumulation of twenty (20) semester hours of credit. Students failing to do so will be restricted to enrollment in learning support courses until all requirements are met. Students who do not complete requirements for a learning support area (reading, English, mathematics) after twelve semester hours or three attempts may appeal for one or two additional attempts in certain circumstances; otherwise they shall be suspended and cannot be considered for readmission for three years.

All time spent in learning support course work shall be cumulative within the University System. Additional information regarding these regulations may be obtained by contacting the Chair of the Division of Humanities/Learning Support.

Math Learning Support Students who are required to begin Math 0097 are eligible to appeal for a second additional math attempt in certain circumstances.

S - This symbol indicates that credit has been given for completion of degree requirements other than academic course work.
IP - This symbol indicates that the student has completed all coursework, but is not prepared to proceed to the next level, and must repeat the course. This symbol cannot be substituted for an "I" (Incomplete).
U - This symbol indicates unsatisfactory performance in learning support courses, on the Regents' Test, in Regents' Test remediation courses, and in SSCL 0099.

STANDARDS OF PROGRESS FOR LEARNING SUPPORT STUDENTS

Students enrolled in three learning support courses who receive grade symbols of "S" or "IP" in at least two of three courses are considered to be making satisfactory progress and in good standing at the College. The student who receives grade symbols of "U" in two or more of three learning support courses is not considered to be making adequate progress and is therefore not in good standing at the College. Learning support students enrolled in fewer than three learning support courses must attain a grade symbol of "S" or "IP" in at least one course to remain in good standing at the College. Students not in good standing will be placed on learning support probation and will not be eligible for financial aid. Failure to exit learning support after twelve semester hours or three attempts in an area (English, math, or reading), whichever occurs first, shall result in a student's learning support suspension from the College. Fourth and fifth attempts may be possible by appeal and only in special circumstances. A student who earns 20 hours of degree credit before exiting all learning support courses may enroll only in learning support courses until all learning support requirements are successfully completed. (See Division Chair of Humanities/Learning Support.)

The student enrolled in a combination of learning support courses and degree credit courses is subject to both the Academic Standards of Progress and the Standards of Progress for Learning Support.

Details on learning support suspension may be obtained by contacting the Chair of the Division of Humanities/Learning Support.

COMPASS scores

COMPASS scores are required for determination of subsequent learning support placement. Students my exempt the COMPASS English and reading tests with an SAT verbal score of 430 (ACT English of 17) and completion (if applicable) of Georgia's College Preparatory Curriculum in English. Students may exempt the COMPASS math test with an SAT math score of 400 (ACT math of 17) and completion (if applicable) of Georgia's College Preparatory Curriculum in math. Please see section on learning support on page 29.

All students applying for admission to A.A. or A.S. degree programs must be tested for placement in learning support in English, reading, and mathematics. Students who have SAT or ACT scores may exempt placement testing if they meet the following requirements:

SAT Verbal score of 430 or an ACT English score of 17 and completion of the CPC in English in high school (where applicable*) to exempt placement testing in LS English and reading;
SAT Math score of 400 or ACT Mathematics score of 17 and completion of the CPC in math in high school (where applicable*) to exempt placement testing in math.