Academic Policies

Academic Advisement

Atlanta Technical College assigns each student a student success advisor and program advisor. The student success advisor provides first semester advising for new students, promotes academic success skills such as time management and test-taking strategies, and offers referrals to assist students. Program advisors guide students through their program of study to prepare for graduation and their respective workforce. Program advisors begin advising students during their second semester. To ensure academic success, program advisors and students should meet each semester until the student graduates.

Students are introduced to their student success advisor during new student advisement and registration, which takes place before they begin their first semester. Students are assigned student success advisors and program advisors according to their program of study. An advisement list can be found on Atlanta Technical College’s website and/or in each divisional dean’s office.

 

Good Standing

A student who achieves a semester GPA of 2.00 is considered to be in good standing.

Academic Warning

A student who fails to achieve a semester GPA of 2.00 is placed on academic warning. The purpose of an academic warning is to alert the student there is a need to improve academic performance.

Academic Probation

A student who fails to achieve a semester GPA of 2.00 is placed on academic warning. The purpose of an academic warning is to alert the student there is a need to improve academic performance.

Academic Suspension

A student who fails for the third consecutive semester to achieve a semester GPA of 2.00 is placed on academic suspension. A student placed on academic suspension must stay out of school for one full semester before applying for readmission.

Academic Discharge

A student who fails to achieve a semester GPA of 2.00 for four or more consecutive semesters is placed and/or remains on academic discharge, or ‘Suspension 2’.  A student placed on academic discharge must stay out of school for one full academic year before applying for readmission.

Academic Dismissal Appeal Procedures

If students are dismissed from a program of study for academic reasons, they may appeal by following step one (1) and two (2) of the grade appeal procedure.

Alternative Credit

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit

Students who receive scores of three or higher on College Board Advanced Placement tests for which the college offers equivalent courses will be awarded the appropriate credit at Atlanta Technical College. This credit is designated as TR on academic transcripts, is included in students’ earned hours, and is not included in the calculation of semester, cumulative, and graduation grade point averages. Applicants must have official test scores mailed directly from the College Board to Atlanta Technical College. Students should direct questions to the Enrollment Services Office about credit for AP courses.

AP Equivalency Chart

Area I: Language Arts and Communication
ATC Course	AP Exam	Min. AP Score
ENGL 1101	English Language & Composition	3
ENGL 1102	English Literature & Composition	3
Area II: Social/Behavioral Science
ATC Course	AP Exam	Min. AP Score
ECON 2105	Macroeconomics	3
ECON 2106	Microeconomics	3
PYSC 1101	Psychology	3
POLS 1101	U.S. Government and Politics	3
HIST 2112	U.S. History	3
HIST 112	World History	3
Area III: Mathematics and Natural Science
ATC Course	AP Exam	Min. AP Score
MATH 1127	Statistics	3
MATH 1131	Calculus AB	3
BIOL 1111& L	Biology	3
CHEM 1151 & L	Chemistry	3
CHEM 1211 & L	Chemistry	4

College-Level (CLEP) Credit

College-Level Examination Program tests are nationally recognized exams developed by the College Board that allow students to receive credit in subject areas in which they have expertise from previous experiences or studies. Exam scores must be at the 50th percentile or higher in order to receive CLEP credit. This credit is designate as TR on academic transcripts, is included in students’ earned hours, and is not included in the calculation of semester, cumulative, and graduation grade point averages. Students who wish to receive CLEP credit for these courses must register for the exams on the College Board website. They must have official test scores mailed directly from the College Board to Atlanta Technical College. Students should direct questions to Enrollment Services Office about CLEP credits.

CLEP Equivalency Chart

Area I: Language Arts and Communication
ATC Course	CLEP Exam	Min.CLEPPercentile
ENGL 1101	College Composition	50
ENGL 1102	Analyzing and Interpreting Literature	50
Area II: Social/Behavioral Science
ATC Course	CLEP Exam	Min.CLEPPercentile
POLS 1101	American Government	50
HIST 2111	History of United States I: Early Colonization to 1877	50
HIST 2112	History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present	50
PSYC 1101	Introductory Psychology	50
SOCI 1101	Introductory Sociology	50
ECON 2105	Principles of Macroeconomics	50
ECON 2106	Principles of Microeconomics	50
Area III: Mathematics
ATC Course	CLEP Exam	Min.CLEPPercentile
MATH 1111	College Algebra	50
MATH 1113	Pre-Calculus	50
MATH 1131	Calculus	50
Area IV: Humanities and Fine Arts
ATC Course	CLEP Exam	Min.CLEPPercentile
ENGL 2301	English Literature	50
ENGL 2130	American Literature	50
HUMN 1101	Humanities	50

Credit-by-Examination

Atlanta Technical College offers students the opportunity to earn credit for certain courses through credit-by-examination. This process allows students who can demonstrate mastery of course competencies to receive credit without enrolling in the course.

• Students must consult with their academic advisor and the Registrar’s Office to confirm that exam credit will apply toward graduation requirements.

• In addition to CLEP exams, students may request course-specific examinations in subject areas where CLEP does not apply.
  •  Acceptable evidence of prior knowledge may include work experience, non-credit coursework, equivalent study at non-accredited institutions, or military training.

• Restrictions:
  •  Students may not attempt exams for courses previously taken at Atlanta Technical College or courses with grades of W, WP, WF, or AU.
  • Students must take exemption exams before the semester begins.
  • Students must obtain program chair or coordinator approval before attempting an exam.
  • The same exam may not be attempted more than once.
  • A non-refundable testing fee equal to 25% of the course tuition is required.
  • Exams are graded by the instructional department and reported to the Registrar’s Office. Students earning a grade of B (80) or higher will receive credit.

Transcript Notation: Credit earned by examination is recorded as EX, counts toward earned hours, but is not included in GPA calculations. Students should verify awarded credit through their unofficial transcript in the student portal.

• Important:
  •  Institutional credit-by-exam credits are not guaranteed to transfer outside Atlanta Technical College.
  • Students may not attempt credit-by-exam for FYES 1001 – First Year Experience Seminar. 

Essential Learning/Prior Learning Assessment

Atlanta Technical College recognizes that students may achieve mastery of course competencies through non-traditional educational experiences, such as employment, training, professional certifications, non-credit courses, or other life experiences. These methods of learning are referred to as prior learning.

Credit for prior learning will be awarded only when equivalency is validated through academically sound and rigorous assessment. Credit is granted for demonstrated college-level learning, not for experience alone.

Students may demonstrate mastery of course competencies through:

• Standardized testing (e.g., CLEP or departmental examinations)

• Documented evidence, such as professional certifications, licenses, or portfolios

Students interested in receiving credit for prior learning should schedule an appointment with the Registrar’s Office. 

Credit for High School Coursework

High school students are eligible to receive articulated college credit for high school coursework by demonstrating mastery of competencies in appropriate college courses. Students who achieve minimum grades of 70 in related courses at the high-school level are eligible to earn exemption credit. This credit is designated as AC on academic transcripts, is included in students' earned hours, and is not included in the calculation of semester, cumulative, and graduation grade point averages. Students must pay a $10 fee for each course in which college credit is sought. The College Registrar will award credit up to 24 months after students graduate from high school.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit

Students who have taken appropriate high school courses determined and achieved scores of three or higher on International Baccalaureate examinations will receive credit for equivalent courses offered by the college. IB Examinations are offered by the International Baccalaureate Examination Board. Applicants must have official test scores mailed directly to Atlanta Technical College. This credit is designated as TR on academic transcripts, is included in students earned hours, and is not included in the calculation of semester, cumulative, and graduation grade point averages. Students should direct questions to the Registrar’s Office about IB credit. 

International Students with Graduate Degrees from US Institutions

If a student has a foreign undergraduate degree from which an equivalent English course cannot be articulated but has a graduate degree (Masters or Doctorate) from an accredited US institution, that student can be exempt from ENGL 1010/1101 on the grounds that completion of an advanced degree demonstrates a proficiency in the English language that is equivalent to the content that would be covered in a freshman-level composition and rhetoric course.

Military Credit

Atlanta Technical College awards credit for courses completed at military service schools. The awarding of credit is based American Council of Education (ACE) recommendations as listed in A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Military-Guide-Online.aspx.

Transfer Credit

Atlanta Technical College recognizes that it is necessary to establish reasonable and definitive policies for the acceptance of transfer credit. The college developed these guidelines in accordance with the standards set by the Technical College System of Georgia, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

While the College Registrar is responsible for evaluating transcripts to determine transfer credit, the ultimate authority for the transfer evaluation rests with the instructional faculty and division deans in the discipline. For example, the mathematics coordinator and dean of general education are the ultimate authorities on the transferability of math courses to the college.

The College Registrar, instructional faculty, and division deans determine the transferability of courses taken at other postsecondary institutions by considering the educational quality of the learning experience for which students seek transfer credit; the comparability of the nature, content, and level of the learning experiences to the courses offered at Atlanta Technical College; and the appropriateness and applicability of the learning experiences to the programs offered at Atlanta Technical College.

The college has established the following procedures to guide the awarding of transfer credit: 

Transfer Credit Policy

Atlanta Technical College (ATC) establishes clear guidelines for the acceptance of transfer credit in accordance with the standards of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). As part of the admissions process, any official transcripts received are evaluated for possible transfer of credit on a course-equivalent basis. The Office of the Registrar evaluates all transcripts for transfer credit and may consult with academic faculty and division deans as needed; however, final authority and approval for the awarding of transfer credit rest with the Registrar. Only undergraduate coursework will be evaluated, and in order to meet the 25% residency requirement, no more than 75% of the credits in a program of study may be transferred from other institutions. Students should be aware that the awarding of transfer credit by ATC does not guaran

General Rules for Transfer Credit

• Transfer credit may be awarded for coursework completed at regionally accredited colleges, universities, or other postsecondary institutions.
• A minimum grade of “C” or higher is required for consideration.
• Courses must equal or exceed the semester credit hours established at ATC.
• General Education courses (English, Math, Arts/Humanities and Social Sciences) do not have time limits for transfer.
• Program-specific time limits apply to certain areas (see below).
• Transfer credit is recorded on the student’s ATC transcript as TR, TRA, TRB, or TRC (the third letter denotes the original grade earned) and is not calculated into the student’s academic GPA.
• Credit earned through credit-by-exam at other institutions is not transferable to ATC.
• Transfer credit evaluations will be completed and posted to the student’s academic history, which can be accessed through BanWeb, Ellucian Experience, or DegreeWorks.

Time Limits by Discipline

• Computer Science, Networking, and Information Technology: Courses must typically be completed within the last 10 years.
• Allied Health/Science and Occupational Courses (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy/Physiology): Must typically be completed within the last 5 years.
• Health Information Management Technology (HIMT): Transfer credit may be awarded only from programs accredited by CAHIIM and must fall within a 5-year time limit.
• Paralegal Studies (PARA): Transfer credit is accepted only from ABA-approved programs.
• To remain competitive, ATC does not award transfer credit for courses requiring a licensed examination to enter the career field (including but not limited to Nursing, Radiology, Dental Sciences, and Physical Therapy).

Additional Policies

• Fine Arts & Humanities: Transfer is considered on a case-by-case basis. Approved courses are transcribed as ARTS 11XX, HUMN 11XX, MUSC 11XX, or ENGL 11XX.
• Quarter System Coursework: Converted to semester credit hours using the formula quarter hours × 0.6667. Students may need to complete additional coursework to meet degree requirements.

Transcript Submission and Reevaluation

• Students must submit official transcripts with final grades from all colleges attended.
• Transcripts showing in-progress coursework must be resubmitted after grades are posted.
• Students are notified via their @student.atlantatech.edu email when transfer credits have been posted.
• To request a reevaluation, email ATCRegistrar@atlantatech.edu and include the course syllabus for review.
• The Office of the Registrar evaluates all transcripts for transfer credit and may consult with academic faculty and division deans as needed; however, final authority and approval for the awarding of transfer credit rest with the Registrar

Financial Aid Note

Grades earned for transferred courses are not included in institutional GPA calculations but are included in HOPE Scholarship GPA and in Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) evaluations for financial aid purposes.

Computer Information Systems (Computer Support Specialist and Networking Specialist)

Appropriate faculty and administrators review course competencies and the date of completion (typically within five years) before awarding transfer credit for courses in computer science, microcomputers, or networking.

Credit-By-Examination Awarded at Other Colleges

Atlanta Technical College does not award transfer credit for credit-by-examination tests administered at other postsecondary institutions.

Fine Arts and Humanities

Students who have taken courses in art, music, and/or English literature may receive transfer credit to satisfy General Education Requirement Area IV provided the courses are comparable in scope, nature, content, and level of learning experiences to the ARTS, MUSC, and ENGL courses offered at Atlanta Technical College. This type of transfer credit is entered on academic transcripts as ARTS 11XX, MUSC 11XX, or ENGL 11XX. Transferability of these courses will be determined by the executive vice president for academic and student affairs in consultation with deans and faculty on a case-by-case basis.

Health Information Management Technology

Atlanta Technical College will award transfer credit for Health Information Management Technology (HIMT) courses taken at postsecondary institutions holding CAHIIM accreditation provided the courses are comparable in scope, nature, content, and level of learning experiences to the HIMT courses offered at Atlanta Technical College.

Learning Support Coursework

Learning support coursework taken at other colleges is used to determine whether students are eligible to enroll in credit-bearing coursework. Learning support coursework grades are not counted in students' earned hours or in the calculation of semester, cumulative, and graduation grade point averages.

Health and Public Safety Technologies Courses

The College Registrar does not automatically award transfer credit for courses specific to Health Sciences programs in Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Paramedicine, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Radiology. The College Registrar consults with faculty from those programs to determine transfer credit based on course competencies, program accreditation, and date of completion (typically within two to five years).

Official Transcripts with Final Grades

Students must submit official transcripts from all colleges attended in the past. All official transcripts must include final grades. Students who submit transcripts with in-progress coursework must submit official transcripts again once they complete the in-progress coursework and receive final grades before college officials can determine whether to award transfer credit.

Paralegal Studies

Atlanta Technical College will award transfer credit for Paralegal Studies (PARA) courses taken at postsecondary institutions holding American Bar Association (ABA) approval and institutions within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Transfer credit from other Colleges will be accepted provided that the courses are comparable in scope, nature, content, and level of learning experiences to the PARA courses offered at Atlanta Technical College.

Quarter System Coursework

The College Registrar converts credit hours for courses taken on the quarter system to semester credit hours by multiplying the quarter hours by 0.6667. This conversion may result in students receiving fewer credit hours for coursework offered at Atlanta Technical College. Students may need to complete additional coursework in order to satisfy the graduation requirements at Atlanta Technical College.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Grades earned for courses transferred to Atlanta Technical College are not included in the calculation of semester, cumulative, and graduation grade point averages. The Financial Aid Office includes grades earned for all courses taken at all postsecondary institutions when calculating HOPE scholarship grade point averages and for determining satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes.

Social Sciences

Students who have taken courses in history or political science may receive transfer credit to satisfy General Education Requirement Area II provided the courses are comparable in scope, nature, content, and level of learning experience to the HIST and POLS courses offered at Atlanta Technical College. This type of transfer credit is entered on academic transcripts as HIST 11XX and POLS 11XX. Transferability of these courses will be determined by the executive vice president for academic and student affairs in consultation with deans and faculty on a case-by-case basis.

Transcript Notation of Transfer Credit

Transfer credit is noted as TR, TRA, TRB, or TRC on academic transcripts. Transfer credit is not included in the calculation of semester, cumulative, or graduation grade point averages. The Dean of Enrollment Services records transferred coursework on students' academic transcripts and notifies students via their @student.Atlantatech.edu email address when transfer credits have been posted. Students should access their student records on Banner Web to verify the transfer credit awarded.

Transferable Coursework

Students may receive transfer credit for courses taken at regionally accredited colleges and universities. Students who attended colleges that were not regionally accredited at the time of attendance may be asked to provide additional materials including course syllabi, college catalog course descriptions, and instructors' credential information before the College Registrar can determine whether the courses are transferable. Students must have earned final grades of A+/-, B+/-, or C+/- for courses to be transferable. Course must equal or exceed to the number of semester hours established for similar courses at Atlanta Technical College.

Transferring from Other Technical Colleges in Georgia

Courses taken under state-approved standards at other Technical College System of Georgia colleges are transferable provided the technical colleges were accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at the time of attendance. Students who attended technical colleges that were not regionally accredited at the time of attendance may be asked to provide additional materials including course syllabi, college catalog course descriptions, and instructors' credential information before the director or registration and records can determine whether the courses are transferrable.

Assignments Missed Due to Military Duty

A student who must be absent for military reserve or National Guard duty should inform their instructors and the Financial Aid Office, if appropriate. Such students must provide a copy of their orders, signed by the appropriate military authority. Instructors will assign a grade of "I" for any course(s) not completed due to military duty.

Attendance Procedure

The educational programs at Atlanta Technical College reflect those requirements and standards that are necessary for future successful employment in business and industry. Employers expect their employees to be present and to be on time for work each and every day. Likewise, Atlanta Technical College expects each student to be present and to be on time each and every day for all classes. Absences prevent students from receiving full course benefits, disrupt orderly course progress, and diminish the quality of group interaction in class. The college considers both tardiness and early departure from class as forms of absenteeism.

Instructors have both the right and the responsibility to develop reasonable attendance expectations appropriate to the type, level, delivery method, and frequency of class meetings for their courses; communicate the expectations to students clearly via their syllabi addenda; and apply the consequences of failing to meet the expectations fairly and consistently to all enrolled students.

Instructors are responsible for determining whether work missed may be made up, and any make-up work allowed is scheduled at the discretion of instructors. Procedures for make-up work are detailed in syllabi addenda.

Documented absences for military duty, observed religious holidays, judicial proceedings in response to a subpoena, summons for jury duty, or other court-ordered process which requires the attendance of the student at the judicial proceeding are excused. Students absent from class for any reason are still responsible for all work missed. Students should enroll only in those classes that they can reasonably expect to attend on a regular basis.

Students who stop attending classes without officially withdrawing from class will receive a final grade of F. If a student does not officially withdraw the instructor My issue a final grade of F and the last date of attendance, which will be last day that the student attended class or participated in an academically related activity.

In the event of severe weather or other emergencies, students are expected to continue participating in learning activities via Blackboard, @student.atlantatech.edu email account, or another modality. Instructors provide information on their continuation of instruction plans in their syllabi addenda.

Failure to attend class the first week may result in students being turned in as no-shows. 

Change of Address

Students are required to notify the Office of Enrollment Services of address changes. Accurate address information allows for timely correspondence with students. The Change My Data Form is available in the Office of Enrollment Services.

Course Load

Students may register for a maximum of 18 credit hours per semester. 

In exceptional circumstances, students may be approved to enroll in more than 18 credit hours. Approval must be obtained from the appropriate Academic Dean and will be based on factors such as program requirements, demonstrated academic performance, and the student’s ability to manage an increased course load.

Double Majors

At this time double majors are not allowed at Atlanta Technical College.

Drop/Add Period

The first five days of a semester (or the first three days of the third mini-mester/summer semester) is considered the official add/drop period, in which a student can adjust their schedule to best fit their interests and academic goals, without any academic or financial penalty. 

A student may amend their schedules during the drop/add period each semester by utilizing their secure student portal. 

The student is responsible for the outcomes of dropping a class. These outcomes may include financial aid award reductions, extension of the student’s expected completion date, or the inability to re-register for any additional courses (or semester). 

Once the drop/add window closes, you must withdraw from a course if you are no longer attending. Students who withdraw from a course before midterm will receive a W in the course. Withdrawals do not absolve you from paying all tuition and fees associated with that particular course. Please refer to the withdrawal section of the catalog for additional information. 

Enrollment Definitions

A student who is enrolled in:

• 12 or more credit hours is classified as full -time.

• 6-11 credit hours is classified as part-time

• 1-5 credit hours is classified as less than part-time

This is an academic classification and may differ from the full-time calculation of federal credit hours use for financial aid purposes.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”), a Federal law, requires that Atlanta Technical College, with certain exceptions, obtain a student’s written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from that student’s education records. Find out what FERPA is and how the laws change for parents and students when they enter college at the U.S. Department of Education.

However, Atlanta Technical College may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent unless the student has advised Atlanta Technical College to the contrary. Public Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without the student’s prior written consent. The following pieces of information are considered "public directory information:"

• Student’s Name
• City and Country
• Major and field(s) of study
• Enrollment Status (full time, part-time, etc.)
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees and awards and date receive

If a student does not want Atlanta Technical College to disclose directory information from his or her student education records without prior written consent, the student must notify the Office of the Registrar, in writing, by the first day of the semester at the registrar’s office. A student needs to only file this notification once during his or her enrollment. However, if there is a break in enrollment or transfer to another TCSG technical college, a new notification must be filed.

Even if a student elects to prohibit the release of directory information, Atlanta Technical College may still implement policies requiring the student to wear or present a student ID badge.

Non-public directory information is not available to the public but is available to any college official. If the student has indicated to restrict their data, then college officials can only access the information when it is needed for educational purposes.

Additionally, certain state and federal laws require the release of certain student information without prior notification to the student. Questions concerning the release of student information should be addressed to the Office of the Registrar via email ATCRegistrar@atlantatech.edu.  

TCSG Connect

Atlanta Technical College participates in TCSG Connect, a system-wide initiative that allows students to register for courses offered by any of Georgia’s 22 technical colleges. This collaboration expands access to programs and courses that may not be available at a student’s home college.

Through TCSG Connect, students can:

• Seamlessly register for courses across participating colleges without additional paperwork or fees.
• Access a broader range of programs while earning credit at their home college.
• Receive advising support to ensure timely progress toward graduation.

Courses offered through TCSG Connect follow the TCSG Connect academic calendar. Some courses may require proctored assessments. 

Student Grievances

Student Grievances may be submitted on the college website: Student Grievances

The procedures for grievances can be found in the student handbook: Student Handbook

Grade Appeal Procedures

Final Grade Appeals must be made within three months after the semester the grade was assigned.

STEP 1. If a student receives a final grade and desires to clarify questions about a grade, program standard, or grading practice, the student should first discuss the concern with their instructor and have supporting documentation (e.g., tests, assignments, and quizzes).

STEP 2. When an agreement is not reached at step one and a student wishes to appeal the decision of an instructor, the student has ten business days to submit a written appeal via the Student Concern Tracking Form to the Academic Division Dean’s Office. The student’s appeal must be signed and dated to be accepted. The Dean must respond within ten business days upon receiving the appeal and Student Concern Tracking Form. The form is available at https://atlantatech.edu/student-concerns-grievances/.

STEP 3. If an agreement is not reached in the previous steps and a student wishes to appeal the decision of the Academic Division Dean, the student has ten business days from the decision to submit copies of the original appeal and Student Concern Tracking Form to the Office of the Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. The EVP of Academic and Student Affairs will review and respond to the appeal within ten business days. The decision of the Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs is final.

Class Types

Class Type Codes:

On Campus (Banner code "CA"): Courses that are taught primarily in the classroom or lab with 50 percent or less of instruction online. On campus courses may include lecture, labs, internships, clinicals and other in-person instructional modalities. On campus courses are not considered distance learning courses.

Blended (Banner code "BL"): Blended courses are distance learning courses with the majority of the course content, activities and interactions occurring online (>50% but <100% online) but may require students to come on campus for specific labs, assignments, activities, or events. Blended courses must detail any on-site course components in the course catalog.

Online Synchronous (Banner code "OS"): Courses taught fully online synchronously with course content, activities and interactions occurring entirely online. This delivery method requires students to be online at specific dates/times during the term. Online synchronous courses may require proctored events, which must be detailed in the course catalog.

Online Asynchronous (Banner code "OA"): Courses taught fully online asynchronously with course content, activities and interactions occurring entirely online. This delivery method does not require students to be online at specific dates/times, and students may participate in class activities and complete course assignments asynchronously.

Flex courses that that allow students the option of coming on campus, taking the course online synchronously, or taking it online asynchronously should be coded as online asynchronous ('OA') provided that the student is not required to be online or on campus at specific dates or times during the term. Online asynchronous courses may require proctored events, which must be detailed in the course catalog

Grading System

A grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in order to graduate from the college. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, the Graduation Grade Point Average (GGPA) will instead be calculated using only those courses required for graduation within the student’s program of study, all of which must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.  The college does not forgive any grades when courses are repeated. The GGPA does not include credits earned at other colleges, credits associated with learning support classes, credits earned through the credit-by-examination process, credits for which the college does not assign quality points, or courses otherwise excluded by college policy.

Make-Up Work

The student is responsible for arranging make-up work with his/her instructors in accordance with procedures set forth in the Course syllabus.

No Show Policy

The definition of a “no-show” is a student who is registered for a class but does not establish academic participation during the first week of the semester. Atlanta Technical College has designated certain assignments (such as the Start Strong Quiz or syllabus acknowledgment) as the official No Show Assignment. Completion of this assignment constitutes attendance for all course formats, including face-to-face, hybrid, web-enhanced, and fully online courses. Students who do not complete the required assignment during the first week of the semester will be reported as “no-shows.”  

Any student reported as a “no-show” will be administratively removed from the class and, in some cases, may not be eligible for reinstatement in the current semester. Students should also be aware that being reported as a “no-show,” as well as course withdrawals, can jeopardize current and future financial aid eligibility.

Privacy of Student Records

Release of student information is governed by the guidelines FERPA. Within certain limits a student has the right to prohibit the release of personal data without their permission. A student can obtain a ‘Request to Suppress Directory Information Form’ in the Registrar’s Office Services. This form should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office at the beginning of each semester of enrollment.

Registration

Students who have received an official letter of acceptance from the Office of Enrollment Services and continuing students who are not on academic suspension may register for classes. Students enrolling under the special admission provisions are also eligible to register for certain classes.

Prerequisite and test score restrictions are maintained on individual courses and programs to prohibit students from registering for course-work outside of their program of study for which they have not completed the appropriate prerequisite work.

Upon advisement, eligible students may register for the upcoming semester. After registering, students must confirm their intent to attend by paying assessed fees. New students are notified about specific dates for registration. Students must complete the proper forms and procedures for registration and verify that their schedules of classes are correct. Registration is complete when all fees are paid.

Release of Student Records

Documents submitted by or for students in support of their application for admission or for transfer credit will not be returned to students or sent elsewhere at their request. For example, a transcript from another technical school, college, or high school, will not be sent to a third institution. Students should request another transcript from the original institution. In exceptional cases, however, where another transcript is unobtainable, or can be secured only with the greatest difficulty, copies may be prepared and released to prevent hardship to students. Students must present a signed request for this procedure. The copy sent will be marked as a certified copy of what is in the students' files.

Repeating a Course

A course may be repeated a maximum of two times. Under extenuating circumstances, a student may request permission to enroll in the course again with the written approval of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.

Students who wish to request an additional attempt beyond the maximum must submit a written statement to their divisional dean. This request must include:

• The course the student wishes to repeat
• An explanation of the challenges or circumstances that prevented prior success
• A plan outlining the steps the student will take to be successful in the future

The divisional dean will review the request and make a recommendation. The request, along with the dean’s recommendation, will then be forwarded to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs through the office’s administrative assistant.

If the request is approved, the Executive Vice President will forward authorization to the Office of Enrollment Services/Registrar so the student may register for the course. If the request is not approved at any stage in the process, the student will be notified in writing by the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.

Exceptions to this policy may be outlined in specific program requirements. 

Student Records

Students who wish to examine their files should contact the Registrar’s Office. Students have the opportunity for a hearing by appropriate officials to challenge the content of their student record to ensure that the records are accurate, not misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other right and to provide an opportunity for the correction or deletion of any inaccurate or misleading or otherwise inappropriate data contained within.

Student Withdrawal Procedure

The sole responsibility to officially withdraw from any class(es) or the College lies with the student. The effective date of withdrawal is the date the student notifies the college of the withdrawal.

Students have the privilege of dropping a course during the first five days of a semester (or the first three days of the third mini-mester or summer semester), through their student portal, without the drop becoming a part of your permanent academic record and without it affecting your financial aid.

Please remember, any amount charged against student financial aid (PELL/Scholarships...etc.) in the bookstore will be owed back to the College.

The following criteria has been established for students who elect to withdraw after the fifth/third day of classes:

• Beginning the sixth day (full term) or fourth day (third mini-mester or summer) and through 60% of the term, students can withdraw from classes via their student portal. Students who elect to withdraw during this period will receive a grade of “W” on the official academic record and will not receive a refund of applicable tuition and fees.

• After the “W” (or 60%) through the end of the term (last day of class), students can withdraw from classes via their student portal. Students who elect to withdraw during this period will receive a grade of “F” on the official academic record and will not receive a refund of applicable tuition and fees.

• Students are prohibited from withdrawing from any class(es) during final exam week.

Students who choose not to withdraw from classes will be classified as abandoning the course. Abandoning a course instead of following official withdrawal procedures may result in a failing grade assigned by the instructor and financial aid adjustments to the student’s account, if applicable. 

Hardship Withdrawal Request

The intent of a “Hardship Withdrawal” is to remove the negative effect of absences that are beyond the control of the student - if those absences affected the student’s ability to withdraw by the deadline or occurred after the posted withdrawal deadline.

The hardship withdrawal submission period opens after the final grades are posted. A hardship withdrawal, if approved, is defined as a withdrawal after the 60% deadline. A student may petition for a hardship withdrawal by submitting the “Hardship Withdraw Request Form” from the Office of the Registrar. Hardship withdrawals MUST be requested no later than the 3rd week of the following semester for which the withdrawal is requested.

• (e.g.- to submit a request for a Spring Semester course, the Office of the Registrar must receive the request no later than the 3rd week of the Summer Semester).

Examples of a reason to submit a hardship withdrawal includes, but is not limited to, hospitalization of the student, death in the immediate family, or military duty. A request must include verifying documentation of the extenuating circumstances.

If a hardship withdrawal is requested/granted, it will include all classes for the given term. Only one hardship withdrawal is allowed per student while enrolled at ATC. The final decision as decided by the Office of Academic & Student Affairs regarding the hardship withdrawal is final and not subject to appeal. 

Web Registration

New students are given instructions and a demonstration on how to use our registration system, student portal during their first advisement/registration session.

Currently-enrolled students are encouraged to meet with their program advisor prior to completing registration. After being advised, currently-enrolled students can register for their classes, on or off campus via student portal.

Workplace Essential Skills

A Workplace Essential Skills grade will be given each semester for specified courses. The Workplace Essential Skills grade will not affect the academic grade point average (GPA) of a student; that is, Workplace Essential Skills grades remain separate from academic grades. Workplace Essential Skills grades will be reported each semester.

The Workplace Essential Skills program is designed to evaluate and encourage good work habits that ensure job retention and career advancement.

Employability skills refer to the basic academic, interpersonal, reasoning, problem solving skills, and Workplace Essential Skills that, when transferred to the occupational settings, facilitate job acquisition, retention, and advancement.

The Essential Workplace Skills:

1. Leadership
2. Communication
3. Organization
4. Productivity
5. Teamwork
6. Professionalism
7. Resourcefulness

Students of core and program courses will receive a Workplace Essential Skills grade. Instructors will give Workplace Essential Skills assignments throughout the semester. Workplace Essential Skills grades are optional for developmental courses and for grades of W, WF, or WP. Workplace Essential Skills grades will not be used for grades of AC, AU, EX, I, IP, or TR.

Approved Workplace Essential Skills Grades

3 = Exceeds Expectations

2 = Meets Expectations

1 = Needs Improvement

0 = Unacceptable