Welcome Hurricanes! We are excited that you chose Georgia Southwestern State University. Attending GSW means more than just getting a degree to hang on the wall. It’s a springboard forward to build fresh skills, unlock new wisdom, and create lasting relationships that will steer your dreams and shape your path for years to come.
Whether it’s a challenge from a professor to push a little farther or the encouragement of a peer who is just as eager as you are, GSW offers the support you need to achieve your goals and rise to your potential. For every obstacle you hit or challenge you face, you know you’ll have the tools, the mentors, and the teammates that will help you take tomorrow by storm. As you begin your college journey, this guide will help you navigate campus and discover all that life as a Hurricane has to offer. Welcome to GSW - and go Hurricanes!
Table of contents FROM THE ADMINISTRATION
2
COLLEGE LINGO
4
LIFE AT GSW
6
First-Year Experience Thunder Camp New Student Orientation UNIV 1000 Residential Living Student Involvement Canes Connect Merit Pages Campus Publications Recreation & Wellness Career Readiness Canes Harvest Athletics Counseling Services Care@GSW Experiential Learning Accommodations and Access Health Services
UNIVERSITY SERVICES Financial Aid Student Accounts Public Safety Parking & Transportation Emergency Notifications Canes Card Dining Services Library Services Writing Center Tutoring Bookstore Campus Post Office CanesQ Testing Center Student Rights & Responsibilities Technology Support
COLLEGES College College College College
of of of of
6 6 6 6 7 9 9 10 10 12 13 13 14 14 15 16 16 16
18 18 19 20 21 22 22 22 24 24 25 25 25 25 26 26 26
28 Arts and Sciences Nursing and Health Sciences Business and Computing Education
ACADEMIC ESSENTIALS Academic Advising Attendance Earn Credit for What You Know Core Curriculum Class Registration Momentum Approach Transfer Credit RAIN Academic Standing Windows to the World Calculating Your GPA
28 28 29 29
30 30 30 30 30 32 32 32 32 34 34 35
INDEX
36
CAMPUS MAP
37
W
elcome to Georgia Southwestern State University! I am counting on you to make this a great first year full of learning opportunities, rewarding experiences, and intellectual challenges. The faculty, staff, and administration are here to support you every step of the way through your academic and social transition into the University. Your college experience will be what you make it, and your opportunities will only be limited by the limits you place on yourself. I challenge you to engage in all that campus and the Americus community have to offer. GSW has a legacy of leadership among many prominent and successful alumni, which includes the oldest living U.S. president, a former first lady, and a former U.S. Attorney General. I encourage you to get involved on campus by taking part in the many leadership opportunities provided by the Division of Student Engagement and Success. During the year, you can also listen to my podcast “What’s in the Cup?” – an opportunity for me to share what is going on around campus and in the community and to speak with a different guest each week. This valuable guide will provide you with important information about the many opportunities and resources we offer as part of the “total collegiate experience.” Please explore these opportunities and find those that are right for you. Our student organizations and activities provide not only valuable entertainment and educational venues, but also chances to make lifelong friendships. Supporting your success is central to our mission at GSW. We are here to guide you as you become the best version of yourself. I wish you great success! Sincerely,
Neal Weaver, Ph.D. President
1
FROM THE ADM I
am excited to be among the many people welcoming you to Georgia Southwestern State University. You have taken the first step towards a college degree by being here today, and now you have a team of people to support you throughout the process. I am confident in your ability to succeed through perseverance and hard work, and I look forward to shaking your hand and celebrating with you as you cross the stage at commencement. Your time in the classroom, and the expectations faculty have of you, will be different than what you experienced in high school. It might take you some time to adjust to both the increased academic rigor and the newfound freedom that attending college brings. Your faculty will be a great resource for you, so visit them often to talk about what’s going on in your classes, where you are struggling, and what you need to do in order to achieve your future career goals. We also have tutors available when you need classroom support, advisors to help you stay on track, career services to ensure you are building the skill set you need to move forward, and counseling services when life becomes complex. Always feel free to come see me, and I can either help you figure things out, or point you in the direction of someone with the expertise you need to be successful. Remember to work hard, go to class, seek help when needed, regroup when things don’t go the way you thought they would, and remain focused on your final goal. GSW is a special place where you can thrive. I’m excited to see what the future holds for you! See you around campus, Suzanne Smith, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
W
elcome Hurricanes! The Office of First-Year Experience (FYE) is here to assist you in an exciting educational journey that will help you find your place at Georgia Southwestern State University and build strong social and academic foundations. Our goal is to prepare you to succeed not only as a student, but as an individual as you begin to acquire new knowledge and skills and open yourself up to new challenges and opportunities. I hope that your first year will be a memorable one as you engage in experiences that strengthen your understanding of what it means to be a contributing member of the GSW community. As you transition through your first year, remember FYE is here to ensure your success through a thoughtful and intentional series of activities, events, academic advising, orientation, peer mentorship, and your UNIV 1000 course. I look forward to seeing you on campus! Go Canes! David Jenkins, Ed.D. Director of First-Year Experience
2
INISTRATION T
he Hurricane family and I welcome you to Georgia Southwestern State University. This is a special time in your life. The start of something new. Some of you follow family member footsteps by attending GSW. Many of you are the first person in your family to seek a higher education degree at a four-year university. This journey requires a network of people to encourage you throughout the process. Know that GSW staff and faculty are in your support network. We believe in you. We know that you can and will be successful at GSW. It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it. Our job is to challenge and support you. We strive to help you reach your potential, achieve your goals, and fulfill your dreams. The GSW New Student Guide is designed to be a resource throughout your first year and beyond. GSW has a strategic approach to preparing you for college success. Our three-prong approach includes Storm Day, Thunder Camp, and Orientation Week. Each program is designed to build your knowledge of the ins-and-outs of student life. I encourage you to commit to getting the most out of all three programs. Georgia Southwestern awaits your arrival. I look forward to taking tomorrow by storm with you! Sincerely, Laura Boren, Ph.D. Executive Vice President for Student Engagement and Success
Student Engagement and Success
The Division of Student Engagement and Success (SES) focuses on creating a campus environment which engages students to develop academically, socially, and culturally through intentional programming and services while encouraging interactions with students, faculty, staff, and others. It is the goal of SES to foster leadership skills within each student through service learning and civic engagement opportunities. SES is dedicated to serving the student body by building an open, inclusive, intellectual, and collaborative community. Division of Student Engagement and Success P Student Success Center E student.engagement@gsw.edu q (229) 928-1387 | p (229) 931-2835 a gsw.edu/SES
Academic Affairs
The Division of Academic Affairs is responsible for developing policies and procedures which govern the instructional programs and academic life of GSW. Academic Affairs aims to encourage and facilitate academic excellence, supervises academic personnel, and oversees the fiscal affairs of GSW’s colleges, schools, and other academic units. Division of Academic Affairs P Wheatley Administration Building q (229) 928-1361 | p (229) 931-2835 a gsw.edu/AcademicAffairs
3
COLLEGE LINGO Academic Achievement List: an honors list released each semester that includes students who are in Good Academic Standing, have previously completed 12 hours at the University, are enrolled in 3 to 11 hours for the semester, and earn an average GPA of 3.5 or better
Cum laude: Latin phrase meaning “with honors;” distinction given to graduates who have earned a minimum GPA of 3.5
Academic advisor: a faculty or staff member assigned to individually advise students on course selection, career goals, and academic issues
Dean: the academic head of a college
Academic Probation: the end-of-term academic standing given to a student who began the semester on Academic Warning and failed to reach the required minimum 2.0 GPA for Good Standing. The student must return to Good Standing by the end of the following semester or will be placed on Academic Suspension. Academic Suspension: the end-of-term academic standing given to a student who failed to return to Good Standing after two semesters with a GPA below the required minimum 2.0 GPA. Students must take one semester off or stay enrolled under a Restricted Enrollment status. Academic Warning: the end-of-term academic standing given to a student whose GPA fell below the required minimum 2.0 GPA for Good Standing. The student should seek tutoring during the next semester. Add/drop period: the period of time during the first week of each semester when schedules can be adjusted without penalty Associate degree: undergraduate degree received after two to three years of study Bachelor’s degree: undergraduate degree received after four years of study College: an academic unit that includes programs of more than one discipline (Ex: College of Arts and Sciences)
Curriculum sheet: a document that lists the degree requirements in an academic program
Dean’s List: an honors list released each semester that includes students who complete at least 12 hours in a semester and earn an average GPA between 3.5 and 3.99 Department chair: full-time professors who have been given administrative duties within a specific discipline in addition to their teaching responsibilities Department: an academic unit that includes a single area of study (Ex: Department of English and Modern Languages) FAFSA: short for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the form used to apply for federal and state financial aid (pg. 18) Freshman Convocation: a ceremony to officially welcome first-year students into the GSW community (pg. 6) Full-Time/Part-Time: full-time students are those enrolled in 12 or more credit hours in a semester. Part-time students are those enrolled in less than 12 hours. Good Academic Standing: the end-of-term academic standing of a student who earned a GPA of 2.0 or higher Grade point average (GPA): a number, typically 0.0-4.0, that indicates how well you scored in your classes on average. (pg. 35)
Convocation: a large formal assembly
Intramural: non-collegiate sports or activities which provide competition among students from the same university
Core curriculum: the 42 hours of general education courses plus 18-19 hours of courses related to the major students are required to take
Magna cum laude: Latin phrase meaning “with high honors;” distinction given to graduates who have earned a minimum GPA of 3.7
Credit: what a student receives upon completion of a course. One semester credit hour is defined as one in-class hour and two out-of-class hours per week for the duration of the semester or the equivalent in lab, studio, or field work.
Major/Minor: a major is a student’s chosen field of study. It usually requires the successful completion of a specified number of credit hours. A minor is designated as a specific number of credit hours in a secondary field of study.
4
Master’s degree: graduate degree received after a student completes a bachelor’s degree Orientation: a program designed to assist all new students in adjusting to college (pg. 6) Prerequisite: a course requirement that needs to be completed before enrolling in another course
GSW TERMS
The Breeze: GSW’s intracampus newsletter (pg. 10) Caf: the cafeteria or dining hall
President: the person in charge of running the University as a whole
Canes Central: building that houses student resources including Admissions, First-Year Experience, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, tutoring and more
President’s List: an honors list released each semester that includes students who complete at least 12 hours in a semester and earn an average GPA of 4.0
Canes Harvest: food pantry open to all students on campus (pg. 13)
RSO: recognized student organization Registrar: office which evaluates and regulates student transcripts, records, grades, and classes Residential Leader (RL): a student who lives in the residence halls and enforces rules and regulations while providing support to students (pg. 7)
CLCs: Canes Leading Canes are student leaders selected to participate as RLs, Storm Spotters, etc. who take leadership courses for first and second year leaders The Commons: the courtyard between Wheatley Administration and Jackson Hall FYE: the Office of First-Year Experience
Restricted Enrollment: status that allows a student on Academic Suspension to remain in school if granted by the Division of Academic Affairs
Hello Walk: the pathway that stretches from the library to the Storm Dome. It’s tradition to say “hello” to everyone you meet.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): a standard set by federal law that determines whether a student can receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid and State Financial Aid (pg. 18)
Mag: Magnolia I & II residence halls
School: an academic unit that includes programs of a single discipline (Ex: School of Nursing) Semester: unit of time used to break down the academic year, with new classes starting at the beginning of each semester Specialist degree: the highly specialized degree received when a student completes study beyond a master’s degree Summa cum laude: Latin phrase meaning “with highest honor;” distinction given to graduates with who have earned a minimum GPA of 3.9
MSC: the Marshall Student Center SES: the Division of Student Engagement and Success SET: the Student Engagement Team, a group of student leaders who plan campus events The Sou’Wester: GSW’s student newspaper (pg. 10) SSC: the Student Success Center, also known as the Storm Dome Storm Spotter: student leaders who assist and mentor first-year students (pg. 6) Surge: GSW’s mascot
Syllabus: a document that includes the assignments, schedule, and instructor’s policies for a specific course. Syllabi are typically given during the first week of class. Withdrawal: leaving a course after the drop period with a final grade of Withdrawn (W). If a student leaves a course after the no-penalty date published on the academic calendar, they will receive a final grade of Withdrawn Failing (WF) that will negatively affect GPA calculations.
Zephyr: student tour guides that work within the Office of Recruitment and Admissions, named after the west wind, which is also known as a zephyr 913: your GSW ID number. All ID numbers begin with 913.
5
L I F E AT G S W First-Year Experience
The Office of First-Year Experience (FYE) assists students as they transition into GSW. Through the FYE program, students are given an introduction to college life to help them build a firm foundation for a strong future of learning. FYE is designed to support the successful academic and social transition of new students through connecting students to GSW with a sense of belonging and promoting academic success and self-discovery through major selection and career exploration. FYE coordinates with faculty, staff, and students to create engaging opportunities for students through New Student Orientation, academic advising, UNIV 1000, and parent/family programs. FYE offers tutoring and supplemental instruction, providing students with extra opportunities to learn study skills and develop effective study habits. FYE is located in Canes Central and is here to help you take your first year by storm by: • Connecting with people and opportunities • Focusing on academic life • Propelling you toward academic success • Elevating your GSW experience with a solid foundation Office of First-Year Experience P Canes Central, 1st floor | E fye@gsw.edu q (229) 931-2724 | a gsw.edu/FYE fc @GSWFYE | t @GSW_FYE
Thunder Camp
Thunder Camp is an extended orientation program for incoming freshmen. This three-day, two-night program focuses on learning the ins-and-outs of college life from Thunder Camp Counselors (TCCs) who are upperclassmen student leaders. New students will get to know each other through group activities. Guest speakers
6
and customized programs will build students’ knowledge of what it takes to be successful at GSW. Thunder Camp P SSC | E thundercamp@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/ThunderCamp c @gsw_thundercamp
New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation (NSO) establishes university and academic expectations of being a student at GSW. This four-day program introduces students to academic resources, first-year preparations, social connections, and all things needed for a successful first year. FRESHMAN CONVOCATION Freshman Convocation is GSW’s formal academic ceremony welcoming new freshmen to GSW. This typically occurs at the end of New Student Orientation.
univ 1000
Each new student at GSW is registered for University 1000, a one-hour course designed to develop your skills to make you a better college student, both academically and socially. The course, also called the GSW Experience, covers the basics of life at GSW, introducing you to campus and the many services and resources available to students. UNIV 1000 also helps you identify your strengths as a student and find opportunities to build upon those strengths. STORM SPOTTERS Storm Spotters are student leaders who assist with New Student Orientation, support programming for first-year students, and co-instruct the UNIV 1000 course for incoming first-year students. Storm Spotters play a vital role in the life of first-year students, helping to promote a smooth transition into college life.
Residential Living
Living on campus enables you to share in educational pursuits with your classmates while learning to live within a welcoming community. It also provides opportunities for individual growth through community involvement, interpersonal relationships, and social interaction. The Office of Residence Life staff provides a variety of events for residents throughout the year. These include programs supporting academics, leadership and service, wellness, social justice, and sustainability, as well as community-building events in each residence hall. Look for flyers posted around your hall and let your Residential Leader (RL) know what activities interest you. All first- and second-year students are required to live on campus. Exceptions to this policy may be made for transfer students with over 60 credit hours or who lived on campus for two years at a previous institution, students living with family within 50 miles of campus, married
residence halls amenities oaks Private suites shared suites loftable beds bunkable beds high-speed internet furnished carpeted bedrooms living room & kitchen
magnolia
pines
LIFE AT GSW
Residential living is an integral part of your educational experience for your first two years and beyond and can provide valuable learning opportunities unique to life at Georgia Southwestern.
students, students with children, and students 21 years old or older. If you fall into one of these categories and wish to live off campus, please contact the Office of Residence Life.
SOUTHWESTERN OAKS Freshmen housing is located in Southwestern Oaks I and II, which have a combined capacity to house 414 residents. Both three-story buildings, connected by a courtyard with outdoor seating, are comprised of two hallways per floor. Oaks offers shared and private bedroom floor plans with semi-private bathrooms in each. A computer lab is located on the second floor of both Oaks I and II; both buildings also contain a common kitchen on their third floors. Students can check out items like board games and moving carts at the front desk of each building, which are staffed by Desk Assistants who can answer any questions about housing and GSW. SOUTHWESTERN MAGNOLIA GSW’s newest residential buildings, Southwestern Magnolia I and II have a combined capacity to house 301 residents, primarily sophomores, in 2 (private) bedroom/1 bathroom suites. A courtyard with outdoor seating and green space is located between the two buildings. Each floor is divided into two halls and includes a common area used for group study, social activities, and educational programs. Both Magnolia buildings feature a common kitchen and laundry facilities on
the first floor, as well as a computer lab on the third floor. The lobby of Magnolia I also includes an office for Residence Life staff. SOUTHWESTERN PINES Southwestern Pines has the capacity to house 237 upperclassmen residents. The three-story residence hall offers 4 (private) bedroom/2 bathroom apartments. Each apartment in Southwestern Pines includes a furnished kitchen and living room. A large lobby, laundry facilities, and an office are located on the building’s first floor. Its second and third floors include laundry facilities, computer labs, and two large common areas for group study, social activities, and educational programs. FRESHMAN MOVE-IN DAY Freshman Move-In Day is a designated day for new freshmen students to move into the residence halls. GSW and community volunteers assist new students and their families with efficiently moving belongings to their assigned rooms before the fall semester begins. Office of Residence Life P SSC, 3rd floor | E housing@gsw.edu q (229) 931-2375 | p (229) 931-2835 a gsw.edu/ResLife
Student involvement
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS With a wide array of clubs and student organizations, there are many opportunities to find your place on campus. From honor societies and academic clubs to social groups and interest-based organizations, there truly is something for everyone, with new organizations being established by students each year. GREEK LIFE GSW’s Greek community includes 12 nationally affiliated Greek letter organizations in the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Council, and the National Pan-hellenic Council (NPHC). Becoming a member of the fraternity and sorority community provides experiences that will help you prepare for not only a career, but also for life. These advantages include developing leadership skills by chairing a committee or assuming an executive board position, succeeding academically with the help of organized study hours, and developing enduring friendships and memories that last long after graduation. GSW ENGAGE Managed by the Department of Residential and Campus Life, the GSW Engage social media accounts are your go-to for all things campus life. From upcoming events to leadership opportunities on campus, GSW Engage keeps you up-to-date on the latest from Greek Life, Residence Life, Recreation and Wellness, Student Engagement, Intramurals, and more. fc @GSWEngage GSW DROP GSW Drop, short for “raindrop,” is the student marketing team for the Division of Student Engagement & Success (SES). Their mission is to keep all students engaged with
fc ts @GSWDrop Department of Residential and Campus Life P SSC, 3rd floor | q (229) 928-1387 E student.engagement@gsw.edu
Canes Connect
Canes Connect is GSW’s student engagement platform that can be used to browse and join student organizations, vote in online elections, browse and register for campus events, and fill out student life forms. Your personal Canes Connect profile also tracks your activities and memberships on campus to showcase your involvement. Log in with your CanesNet credentials (pg. 27) to get started. CORQ APP Download Corq to have access to the Canes Connect calendar of events when you’re on the go. Corq is also used at campus events to allow students to digitally check in and track event attendance. Corq is available for download in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store. Canes Connect a canesconnect.gsw.edu
9
LIFE AT GSW
Student involvement is a critical aspect of learning about yourself, connecting to others, and finding your passion. GSW has a large number of recognized student organizations (RSOs) and student activities available to help you do just that.
campus activities throughout the year. GSW Drop is made up of talented and driven students with art and marketing majors and/or experience in similar fields. They produce flyers, posters, videos, social media content, and more for major SES areas.
Merit Pages
Campus Publications
Students can receive recognition for a variety of achievements, including being named to the President’s List, earning a scholarship, or studying abroad.
SOU’WESTER The Sou’Wester is GSW’s campus newspaper, edited and managed by students. All students are invited to work on the newspaper staff. The Sou’Wester is being distributed digitally, so keep an eye on your Radar email for the latest issue.
Merit is an online recognition system GSW uses to acknowledge and share student achievements. With Merit, GSW can construct a verified and public profile of a student’s educational and professional accomplishments called a Merit Page.
When students claim their Merit Page, an online profile is generated that compiles achievements and accomplishments posted by GSW, building a verified record of that student’s accomplishments, much like building a resumé. Achievements generate a short story about your accomplishment that can then be shared on social media.
GSW and its students produce a number of publications throughout the year, including newspapers, magazines, and podcasts.
Sou’Wester E souwester@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/SouWester
Stories of significance, such as honors lists and graduation, may also be sent directly to your hometown newspapers for publication as another way to recognize your achievements.
THE BREEZE The Breeze is a monthly intracampus e-newsletter that focuses on GSW’s faculty, staff, and students. The newsletter aims to keep the campus community informed and recognize excellence where it is deserved with categories like student recognitions, news, publications, presentations, awards and grants, and features. A monthly call for submissions is sent out via email.
Merit Pages E univrel@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/Merit
The Breeze E univrel@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/Breeze
10
LIFE AT GSW
SIROCCO Sirocco, a magazine of the arts, is published each year by its student staff. The magazine includes literary works, art, and music that are submitted by GSW students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Sirocco E gswsirocco@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/Sirocco WHAT’S IN THE CUP? What’s in the Cup? is a weekly podcast hosted by President Neal Weaver that covers campus news and updates with a new guest each episode. Download the latest episode and subscribe to the podcast at podcasts.com. AEOLIAN The Aeolian magazine is published annually by the Department of University Relations to share alumni updates and university news from the past year. The name “Aeolian” is Greek and derives from Aeolus, the mythological keeper of the winds; an allusion to our Hurricane mascot. Aeolian E aeolian@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/Aeolian
SOCIAL MEDIA Following GSW accounts on social media is a great way to stay up to date on campus events and news! Georgia Southwestern f @GeorgiaSouthwestern c @georgiasouthwestern t @GaSouthwestern y Georgia Southwestern i Georgia Southwestern State University President Neal Weaver t @CanesPresident Surge c t @GSWSurge GIFs Show off your Hurricane spirit with GSW GIFs on Instagram stories and Snapchat! Search for keywords like “Surge,” “GSW Canes,” or “Georgia Southwestern” to add some blue and gold flair to your posts.
11
Recreation & Wellness
The Office of Recreation and Wellness is dedicated to serving the GSW community by promoting and encouraging a balanced and healthy lifestyle through educational programming, leadership, and inclusive recreational opportunities. Recreation and Wellness offers a variety of recreational activities that are included with student tuition and fees (except personal training and outdoor adventure trips). FLORRIE CHAPPELL GYMNASIUM Florrie Chappell Gymnasium is GSW’s newly renovated recreation and wellness facility, which is free for students to use with a valid Canes Card. The facility features a variety of state-of-the-art equipment for cardio, strength training, and functional fitness including treadmills, ellipticals, a functional fitness turf area, free weights area, and more. Florrie Chappell also focuses on health and nutrition, mental health, and wellness. Two unique spaces separated from the fitness area by partition boards - The Helms Family Sports Bar and the Chill Lounge allow students to recharge mentally and physically. Both spaces include televisions, charging stations, and seating areas.
12
ADDITIONAL FITNESS OPPORTUNITIES The Student Success Center (SSC) houses a number of indoor recreation and fitness activities. On the main level of the SSC, you’ll find the Intramural Gym, Racquetball Courts and Climbing Wall. The Intramural Gym can be used for basketball, volleyball, badminton, and many other indoor campus activities. There are four, multiuse Racquetball Courts available any time the facility is open. Racquets, balls, and goggles can be rented from Florrie Chappell using your Canes Card. The Climbing Wall features three different climbing levels and a trained staff member to assist in the safety techniques. Group Fitness Classes are held at various times during the week. Classes are designed for all fitness levels. Certified Group Fitness Instructors will lead you through formats specific to the class and will offer modifications to support participants’ needs. INTRAMURAL SPORTS Intramural sports give GSW students the opportunity to participate and compete against other students and staff in a variety of sporting events. Participants can pick activities based on interest and team availability. Male, female, and co-ed divisions
are offered for many of the sports. The facilities, most equipment, and officials are provided.
GAME ROOM On the second floor of the SSC, you’ll find the Game Room activity area. Complete with ping-pong tables, pool tables, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and board games, the Game Room allows you to disengage from your day-to-day stresses and relax with your friends. DERISO POOL The 190,000-gallon, heated Deriso Pool has an expansive shallow end. The six lane pool has at least two lanes designated for lap swimmers during open swim times. The remainder of the pool can be set up for open swim or water exercise classes. Shower rooms and a chair lift for disability access round out the facility’s amenities. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES Recreation and Wellness opportunities on campus include the Outdoor Challenge Course, walking trails, and frisbee golf course. Outdoor adventure trips are also offered for students free of cost.
A career search doesn’t just begin with creating a resume your senior year. It starts with self discovery. If you start early, study wisely, and use GSW’s services and resource, you can position yourself to act strategically and land rewarding opportunities. WORKSHOPS Throughout the year, GSW offers a number of workshops that cover topics such as personal finance, resumés and cover letters, searching for jobs, and interview skills. CANES CAREER CLOSET GSW has a collection of professional attire available for loan including suits, ties, socks, and more. The Canes Career Closet is a great resource for students who may be attending career fairs or going to interviews. Students may contact the Division of Student Engagement and Success to schedule a visit to the closet in Canes Central. Career Readiness E career@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/CareerReadiness
Canes Harvest
Office of Recreation and Wellness P Florrie Chappell Gymnasium E recreation.wellness@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/Recreation | q (229) 931-2111
The Canes Harvest food pantry, located on the 3rd floor of the Student Success Center, is available to all GSW students on campus. Canes Harvest stocks a variety of items year-round, including: • Non-perishable foods • Personal care items • Cleaning supplies • Paper products • Household items • School supplies
Career readiness
Canes Harvest is typically open during regular business hours each semester.
GSW offers counseling, workshops, and classes that build the foundation for success on campus and in the workplace. Career readiness can help you choose a major, explore career options, find internships or
Canes Harvest P SSC, 3rd floor
13
LIFE AT GSW
The program offers league sports, which can last between three and six weeks, and tournaments, which last one or two days. Teams can be formed by common bonds or interests within the GSW community. Friends, classmates, residence halls, and campus organizations are all welcome to create a team. Participants who do not have a team can sign up and can be selected by captains of other teams.
jobs, apply to graduate school, or prepare for the workplace.
Athletics
Looking for something to do on campus? GSW Athletics has you covered! Admission to all games is free for students with a valid Canes Card. Keep up with all things Athletics on social media and online at gswcanes.com. f @GSWHurricanes c @gswhurricanes t @GSWAthletics
Counseling services
The transition to college can be intimidating. Some students make the adjustment easily, while others become overwhelmed at the pressures. The Office of Student Health and Counseling Services provides a variety of free resources and services to help students effectively cope with stressors associated with college life. The counseling center has an open door policy, but appointments are also accepted. The • • • • • • •
short-term services offered include: Personal counseling Academic and educational counseling Conflict mediation Group therapy Social counseling Crisis intervention Educational workshops and presentations • Grief and loss support
MEN’S SPORTS Baseball | t c Basketball | t Cross Country Golf | t c Soccer | t c WOMEN’S SPORTS Basketball | tf c Cross Country | c Soccer | t c Softball | tfc Tennis | fc
Surge has been GSW’s mascot since 2009. He debuted his new “refreshed” look in Fall 2018. c t @GSWSurge
Some issues that are addressed include alcohol-related problems, date rape, domestic violence, and sexual abuse/ violence. If Counseling Services is unable to provide the necessary services for a client, alternative recommendations are discussed and appropriate referrals are made.
24-hour
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT LINE A 27/7 mental health support line is available for in-themoment support regardless of time of day or your location. The support line offers no-cost telehealth and in-person treatment sessions that are provided by a diverse network of licensed mental health clinicians.
mental health
support line
(833) 855-0079
GSW TALKSPACE Talkspace is an online therapy service that connects you to a dedicated therapist from a secure, HIPAA compliant platform. You can send your therapist text, voice or video messages. Register with your GSW email address at talkspace.com/GSW.
14
LIFE AT GSW
PROTOCOL After hours emergency services are also available through Protocol, a telephonic behavioral health service. If Counseling Services is closed, call (229) 931-2708 for seamless access to crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization. WELLNESS HUB GSW’s online wellness magazine offers articles and videos on mental health and wellness including sleep habits, study tips, new recipes and even fitness routines. Access the Wellness Hub at gswwellnesshub.com or by downloading the CampusWell app on Apple or Android. CONFIDENTIALITY Counseling staff adheres to standards of confidentiality as set forth by the American Counseling Association. Generally, information about a student is not released without written permission. Exceptions include instances of suspected child abuse or when students are in danger of harming themselves or others. Sharing of information is done in compliance with FERPA.
Care@GSW
With so many factors that can affect your health, safety, academic success, and overall well-being, the Care@GSW initiative was created to make sure students have resources they need. Care@GSW encompasses a number of programs and resources that work together to foster an environment for student success, including: • Mental health • Physical health • Recreation and wellness • Academics • Safety • Peer mentor program Care@GSW a gsw.edu/Care | E care@gsw.edu
Counseling Services P Carter I | q (229) 931-2708 p (229) 931-2835 | a gsw.edu/Counseling
15
Experiential Learning
The Office of Experiential Learning works to build relationships across campus to support academic and co-curricular experiential learning opportunities, including but not limited to study abroad, domestic study away, faculty-mentored research, service-learning, internships, leadership opportunities, and other creative endeavors that will enhance the learning experience of students at GSW. Through these experiences, students will develop the ability to think critically, solve problems, work appropriately with diverse populations, and figure out how to solve multifaceted, real-world problems. Office of Experiential Learning P Wheatley Administration, Room 120 a gsw.edu/ExperientialLearning
Accommodations and Access
The Office of Accommodations and Access is committed to making sure any student with a disability receives equal access and an equal educational opportunity. Staff members are responsible for providing reasonable accommodations and services to students with a documented disability. SERVICES Common accommodations that may be provided as required by a student’s specific need include, but are not limited to: • Textbooks in an alternate format • Notetakers • Readers • Testing accommodations • Use of adaptive equipment • Housing accommodations WHO IS ELIGIBLE? To receive services and accommodations, students must present official documentation of their disability, which is generally defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, e.g., walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, caring for oneself, and/or performing manual tasks.
16
These disabilities may include, but are not limited to: • Attention deficit disorder • Blindness or visual impairments • Cerebral palsy • Chronic illnesses (AIDS, arthritis, cancer, cardiac disease, diabetes, Lyme disease, etc.) • Deafness or hearing impairments • Epilepsy or seizure disorders • Learning disabilities • Psychiatric disabilities • Orthopedic impairments • Speech disorders • Traumatic brain injury Find the Accommodation Request Form at gsw.edu/Accommodations. Office of Accommodations and Access P Sanford Hall q (229) 931-2661 | p (229) 931-258 a gsw.edu/Accommodations
Health services
Dedicated staff in the Office of Student Health and Counseling Services provide a wide variety of on-campus services at the Herschel Smith Health Clinic to all currently enrolled students. SERVICES • Treatment of illness and injury • COVID and flu testing • Over-the-counter medications • First aid and supplies • Health and wellness counseling • Immunizations and flu shots • Physicals and general health screenings • STI testing and treatment • Pregnancy testing and counseling • Contraceptive prescriptions and counseling • Recommendations and referrals • Blood pressure checks • Laboratory tests • X-ray services The Health Clinic is open to students on a walk-in basis or by appointment. Free HIV testing can also be scheduled off campus. If a student needs emergency medical
A student who utilizes the Health Clinic’s medical services is expected to visit at times that do not conflict with academic classes and/or responsibilities. By GSW policy, an excuse from class can only be accepted or denied by the professor of that class. Visit gsw.edu/Health to find Health Clinic hours for the current semester. WHAT DOES MY HEALTH FEE COVER? Students currently enrolled in four or more credit hours on campus are required to pay a Health Fee at the beginning of each academic year. This fee entitles the student to be seen by the professional Health Clinic staff for a number of services. Some lab tests, medications, procedures, and supplies are not covered by the student Health Fee. Any additional costs are the financial responsibility of the student. Students who take less than four hours or are only online may utilize the Health Clinic after paying the Health Fee. Services and prices may vary and are subject to change without notice.
IMMUNIZATIONS All students applying for admission will receive a certificate of immunization and a health history form which should be submitted using the Med+Proctor site prior to enrollment. For more information about immunization requirements, visit gsw.edu/Immunization. STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN It is recommended that all students carry major medical insurance to provide supplemental coverage in the event of an injury or illness requiring hospitalization. A Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is available to GSW students. For SHIP information, contact the Office of Student Accounts at (229) 931-2013. GSW requires that all international students submit proof he/she (and all dependents) are covered by an approved health insurance plan. International students must present proof of coverage each semester to the International Student Coordinator prior to registration. If there is no proof of insurance, enrollment in SHIP is automatic. Herschel A. Smith Health Clinic P Carter I | q (229) 931-2236 p (229) 931-2666 | E health@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/Health
LIFE AT GSW
assistance when the Health Clinic is closed, the student should contact emergency medical services by dialing 911 or GSW Public Safety at (229) 931-2245.
UNIVERSITY SE Financial aid
The Office of Student Financial Aid provides financial assistance through loans, grants, and scholarships. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the correct award year at fafsa.gov to apply for federal and state aid. Students interested in assistance only through the state of Georgia may apply at gafutures.org. GSW’s school code is 001573. Once your FAFSA has been submitted, you will be notified that it is being processed. If the U.S. Department of Education selects your application in a process called verification, you’ll be notified that GSW may require additional documentation. Additional notices from the Office of Student Financial Aid will follow in any combination of RAIN updates, email, and/or text messages. SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP) In accordance with federal law, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), both in quality and quantity, to receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid and
State Financial Aid. The SAP standards for remaining in Good Academic Standing for the purposes of receiving financial aid at GSW are as follows: • Qualitative (GPA): Undergraduate students must earn a graduating GPA of 2.0. • Quantitative (67% pace of completion): Students must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of all classes attempted at GSW and classes that transfer in from other institutions. • Maximum Time Frame: Students are allowed to attempt up to 150% of the hours required for their degree level
Failure to meet the SAP standards will result in the loss of financial aid. Students have the right to appeal if there are documented mitigating circumstances. Visit gsw.edu/FinancialAid for additional information regarding policies and forms. Office of Student Financial Aid P Canes Central, 2nd floor q (229) 928-1378 | p (229) 931-2061 E finaid@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/FinancialAid
RVICES Student Accounts
The Office of Student Accounts assesses, bills, and collects University receivables and issues refunds from credit balances on your student account.
HOW TO PAY ONLINE Payments may be made via the Touchnet payment portal at gsw.edu/PayFees by: • Credit card: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express are accepted with a 2.85% convenience fee • Webcheck (electronic check): routing and account information required; no convenience fee HOW TO PAY IN PERSON OR BY MAIL The Student Accounts office also accepts: • Cash • Check: made payable to Georgia Southwestern State University with the student’s ID number and phone number noted on the check ○ Accepted: personal checks, travelers checks, cashier checks, and money orders ○ Not Accepted: counter or starter checks, 3rd party checks, or credit card checks
Tuition and fee charges for each semester will be available on your RAIN account and in the Touchnet payment portal. PAYMENT PLANS Nelnet payment plans are a flexible way to plan and budget educational expenses over multiple payments. Your number of payments varies based on the plan selected and the date enrolled. A small enrollment fee applies. Visit gsw.edu/PaymentPlan for more information. EXCESS FINANCIAL AID GSW delivers your refund with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. For more information and details on refund options, visit gsw.edu/BankMobile. Find the disbursement dates and refund status in the RAIN announcement column at rain.gsw.edu. Office of Student Accounts P Canes Central, 1st floor q (229) 931-2013 | p (229) 931-2768 E stuaccts@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/StudentAccounts
If you are paying by mail, send your payment to: Student Accounts 800 GSW St. Univ. Dr. Americus, GA 31709
19
UNIVERSITY SERVICES
FEE PAYMENT INFORMATION It is the student’s responsibility to determine the balance due on their account and render payment by the fee payment deadlines. The online Touchnet payment portal is available at all times for this purpose. To view/print an invoice, log in to the Touchnet portal at gsw.edu/PayFees, where all electronic Statements will be listed. You may use the On-Demand feature for an updated statement. GSW does not issue paper statements by mail.
If you are paying in person, visit the Office of Student Accounts on the 1st floor of Canes Central.
Public safety
The Office of Public Safety is a state certified law enforcement agency. It is responsible for the on-campus enforcement of the Georgia criminal and motor vehicle code, the ordinances of the City of Americus, and the University’s Code of Conduct and parking code. Public Safety operates 24 hours a day, including weekends and all holidays, and is located in the Nicholas Smarr & Jody Smith Memorial Building. Public Safety services include: • Campus patrol • Escorts • Traffic & parking enforcement • Vehicle assistance • Safety programs • Event security Public Safety investigates all crimes which occur on campus and prosecutes these cases in state and superior court when warranted. Public Safety also refers cases to Student Services for disciplinary action as needed. Public Safety offers educational programs dealing with various crime and fire prevention topics upon request. Current crime statistics and personal safety information are located within the office as well as on the Public Safety webpage.
20
PATROLLING The Patrol Division is made up of certified law enforcement officers. All Public Safety patrol officers have powers of arrest on GSW’s campus and authority within 500 yards of any property under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Officers have completed Georgia Basic Peace Officer training and attend a minimum of 20 hours additional training annually.
24-hour
Duties of a patrol officer include everything that might be expected of a city police officer, such as traffic control, working vehicle accidents, taking reports of crimes as they occur, and general safety of the campus community and property.
emergency # (229) 931-2245
Office of Public Safety P Smarr & Smith Memorial Building q (229) 931-2245 | p (229) 931-2711 E public.safety@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/PublicSafety fc @GSWpublicsafety
Parking & transportation
PARKING Campus parking decals are required for all visitors, students, faculty, and staff. Decals can be obtained from the Office of Public Safety during regular office hours for $18 (included automattically in your student fees). Decals are valid through the end of the academic year.
Parking decals must be attached to the outside of the lower left corner (driver’s side) of the vehicle’s rear window or on the bumper. • If the vehicle is a convertible, the decal can be placed on the left corner of the back bumper. • If the vehicle has a tool box, the decal must be placed on the left side clearly visible above the tool box. • Vehicles with improperly displayed stickers may be ticketed. Parking is organized by zones as follows: • B zone is for residential students only • X zone is for commuter students only • Staff zone is for faculty, staff and other GSW employees • Open zone is for all registered vehicles (residential, commuter, faculty/staff, or visitors) • Visitors may park in “X” or “B” zones or in designated visitor parking areas Visit map.gsw.edu to view an interactive campus map and explore parking options. Parking zones are enforced on regular business days Monday-Friday, between 8:00am and 5:00pm with the exception of no parking zones (yellow curbs, Chickfil-A visitor parking, handicapped parking spaces, etc.).
PARKING FINES All parking violations on campus are $25 per citation. In the case of handicapped space violation, a Uniform Traffic Citation will be issued and will have to be settled with the Municipal Court of Americus. Fines can be paid at the Public Safety office in the Nicholas Smarr & Jody Smith Memorial Building or in the Student Accounts office in Canes Central. SHUTTLE SERVICES GSW’s Office of Student Engagement provides free transportation to and from campus to many different locations around Americus, including area banks, local pharmacies, Wal-Mart, and Downtown Americus. The shuttle picks up GSW students outside the SSC parking lot near Chick-fil-A and drops them off at the locations above. The shuttle runs daily and students are expected to get to their drop-off and pickup locations approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled time. The shuttle is a ten-passenger vehicle, so space is limited. Students are expected to show their Canes Card to the shuttle driver and list where they are going when they board the shuttle. The shuttle cell phone is (229) 815-9689 and is only on when the shuttle driver is available. BIKE SHARE PROGRAM GSW offers bikes to enrolled students on a daily basis. Bikes and helmets may be checked out with a valid Canes Card from Florrie Chappell Gymnasium. Students are encouraged to use the new bike route between GSW’s campus and Downtown Americus, which runs through the Historic District. Learn more at gsw.edu/BikeShare.
21
UNIVERSITY SERVICES
Visitor parking permits may be obtained at the Public Safety office at no charge. Temporary parking permits can also be obtained should a registered vehicle be inoperable. Each student is allowed three temporary parking permits per semester, each for two weeks. After that point, a decal must be purchased for the vehicle.
A copy of the Parking Code is available in the Public Safety office and online. It is the responsibility of the driver to read and comply with the parking code.
Emergency notifications
BLACKBOARD CONNECT GSW’s emergency mass notification system, Blackboard Connect, sends alerts to students, faculty, and staff through emails, phone calls, text messages, and social media. Students can add up to five phone numbers to the system at a time, allowing family members to receive campus emergency notifications as well. Alerts may be issued for: • Severe weather • Campus closings • Campus lockdowns Students can sign up for emergency alerts in RAIN. Select “Personal Information” and then “GSW Notification System” to enter your information. Remember that you must verify and submit this information at the beginning of every semester to continue receiving alerts. ALERTUS Download the Alertus app on your mobile device to quickly and easily send geotagged incident reports to Public Safety with the click of a button. Find the Alertus app in the iTunes App Store or the Google Play Store and use the credentials below to get started. Organization code: gsw Organization PIN: canes
Canes card
GSW provides every student with a student ID called the Canes Card. Your Canes Card is used to: • Make purchases at dining locations ○ Dining Hall ○ Café Campesino ○ Chick-fil-A ○ Tryon Market ○ Surge’s Street Eats • Access GSW facilities ○ Residence halls ○ Florrie Chappell Gymnasium ○ Game room ○ Deriso Pool
22
•
• • •
Attend GSW events free of charge ○ Athletic events ○ Music performances Make purchases in the bookstore with Financial Aid Check out materials in the Library Use the GSW shuttle services and Bike Share Program
For new students, Canes Cards will be made on Storm Day. If a Canes Card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, cards can be replaced for a small fee in the Office of Student Accounts. Canes Card Office P Canes Central | q (229) 931-5091 p (229) 931-2768 | E canescard@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/CanesCard
Dining services
GSW Dining Services provide students with quality and variety at an economical price. The campus food service is contracted with Aladdin, an internationally recognized management corporation. Five dining locations are located on campus, including the Dining Hall, Chick-fil-A, Tryon Market, Café Campesino, and Surge’s Street Eats. DINING HALL Students with a meal plan are provided a wide selection of all-you-can-eat meals. The Dining Hall, often called “the caf,” offers a produce market, self-serve deli, grill station, pizza/pasta station, comfort food station, assorted baked goods, and desserts. CHICK-FIL-A Chick-fil-A, a quick-service chicken restaurant chain, serves chicken sandwiches, nuggets, salads, entrees, and side dishes. TRYON MARKET Tryon Market is an on-campus convenience store that offers students microwaveable meals, snacks, beverages, candy bars, and many health & beauty items as well as paper and cleaning supplies to fill those gaps between your regular shopping trips.
CAFÉ CAMPESINO Whether you need a nice morning pick-meup, a delicious pastry, or an espresso to help you get through studying, Café Campesino has the perfect solution for you. GSW is proud to partner with this Americus-based business known for their commitment to ethical and free-trade business.
MEAL PLANS Meal plans can be purchased through the Office of Residence Life. Flex Cash added to your plan rolls over from Fall to Spring semesters, but does not roll over from Spring to the following Fall semester. Only one meal per meal time period is permitted with a meal plan. Flex Cash and Dining Dollars may be used to purchase items at Chick-fil-A, Tryon Market, Café Campesino, or Surge’s Street Eats or additional meals in the Dining Hall. This type of account is also offered to commuting students who would like to take advantage of the convenience of eating on
campus. Students who add at least $100 in Dining Dollars to their account get a 10% bonus. Meal plans may be purchased during registration or by visiting the Office of Residence Life. Dining Services P MSC | q (229) 924-2732 a gsw.edu/Dining
UNIVERSITY SERVICES
SURGE’S STREET EATS Spice up your week with a quick bite from Surge’s Street Eats food truck! The rotating menu items include various street-style fare offered multiple times a week. Dining Dollars and credit cards are accepted.
Library Services
The James Earl Carter Library is named in honor of the father of former President Jimmy Carter. It contains over 200,000 volumes and currently subscribes to 136 journals. As a selective United States Government Depository, the Library also houses over 300,000 federal government publications in various forms. The Library maintains a video collection and special collections such as the Dr. Harold Isaacs Global South Collection, the GSW Historical Collection, Oral History Collection, and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Collection. FEATURES & SERVICES • Group and individual study rooms • Computer lab with 30 computers • Additional computers and printers on both levels • WiFi access • Materials available for check-out ○ Video recording equipment ○ Popular DVDs ○ Books and other publications • Gil Express and interlibrary loan • Reserves • Reference assistance • Group and individual library instruction • Tutorials • Consultations
24
Through participation in GALILEO, the Library provides access to over 200 databases. The Library’s online catalog, GilFIND, provides records of all the materials available at the Library. The Library is also home to the Music Listening Library, Fine Arts Gallery, and the GSW Writing Center. James Earl Carter Library P James Earl Carter Library q (229) 931-2259 | E library@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/Library | c @james.carterlibrary f @JamesECarterLibrary | t @GSWLibrary
Writing center
The Writing Center aims to create better writers and better papers by working with students on their papers and assisting writers in building on the process that works best for them. At no cost to students, trained consultants provide resources and feedback both in person and online in a positive and supportive environment. The • • • • •
Writing Center helps students: At all writing levels In any part of the writing process Of all majors For whom English is a second language With creative pieces
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT? • One-on-one consultation and conversation about the paper with a trained writing consultant • Discussion of what was effective in the paper as well as what may need more clarification or attention • Explanation of various strategies for different stages of the writing process • Focus on authorship and ideas
Tutoring
Peer tutoring and supplemental instruction provides students with extra opportunities to learn study skills and develop good study habits. The Tutoring Center is a walkin resource for students needing extra support in general education courses such as world languages, math, social sciences, and humanities. Online tutoring is available through GeorgiaView. For information on tutoring, students should contact the Office of First-Year Experience. Tutoring P Canes Central | a gsw.edu/Tutoring
Bookstore
The campus Bookstore carries new and used textbooks, with rentals also available on many titles. In addition to course materials, the Bookstore stocks: • Laptops and tablets • Computer books • School and office supplies • GSW t-shirts, jackets, and hats • Coffee mugs and other drinkware • Seasonal gift items and popular books • Other gift and apparel items Bookstore P MSC | q (229) 931-2366 E books@gsw.edu | a gswbookstore.com c @gswbookstore
GSW’s Office of Postal Services is an official contracted unit of the United States Postal Service. They offer most of the services available in your city post office, including stamps, money orders, Express Mail, and Priority Mail. Student mailboxes are also located at the Post Office. HOW DO I GET A GSW MAILBOX? A GSW mailbox is assigned to each student living in the residence halls. You will receive your mailbox assignment on Move-In Day, or you can stop by the GSW Post Office for your assignment. This mailbox will be active as long as you are living on campus. If you are not living in the residence halls (including during Summer semester), a forwarding request form must be submitted to the GSW Post Office to continue receiving your mail. If you do not submit a forwarding address, all mail will be returned to the sender according to the rules and regulations of the US Postal Service.
Mail must be addressed to students in the format below. Note that mail must be addressed with “GSW Box” and not “P.O. BOx” to avoid misdelivery to boxes at the main Downtown Americus Post Office. Surge GSW Box 000 800 GSW State University Dr. Americus, GA 31709 GSW Post Office P MSC | q (229) 931-2364 E postoffice@gsw.edu
CanesQ
CanesQ lets you join a virtual line from your phone, computer, or the Canes Central kiosk. This allows you to wait for any of the Canes Central services - Admissions, FirstYear Experience, Financial Aid, and Student Accounts - from anywhere. CanesQ will send you personalized messages when it’s your time to meet with
25
UNIVERSITY SERVICES
Writing Center P James Earl Carter Library q (229) 931-4305 E writing.center@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/WritingCenter
Campus post office
a staff member, allowing you to maximize your time and control your schedule. Join the line one of three ways: • Text GSW Canes to (229) 280-5132 and follow the prompts • Download the QLess app and select Georgia Southwestern • Complete the form at gsw.edu/CanesQ
Testing Center
The Testing Center provides a secure environment that is professional for the campus and community, maintaining professional testing standards and practices as well as confidentiality of student records. The Testing Center offers a comfortable, quiet, secure environment with 20 computers and professional staff. The Testing Center provides secure testing, accurate scoring, clear reporting and responsive service. Offered tests include the GACE, TEAS, HESI, TOEFL, MAT, CLEP, COMPASS, ACCUPLACER, eCore, and proctoring services of tests. Testing Center P Sanford Hall, 3rd floor | q (229) 931-2933 a gsw.edu/Testing
Student Rights and Responsibilities
The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities promotes a campus culture of safety and well-being through education and awareness initiatives focused on individual responsibility and adherence to community standards outlined in the Student Conduct Code. Services provided include student conduct, student advocacy, wellness and life coaching, mediation, behavioral intervention, mental health first aid training, and other preventative and wellness program initiatives. Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities P SSC, 3rd floor | q (229) 931-2676 a gsw.edu/StudentRights
26
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
GSW’s Office of Information and Instructional Technology (IIT) supports GSW with professional expertise in the use of information technology for both administrative processes and academic pursuits. IIT maintains a variety of networks and computers as well as a multimedia, distance learning, and faculty development classrooms. IIT also supports campus email, financial and student information and other administrative systems, online course development, and student testing, along with academic and residential computer labs. RAIN Log in to RAIN by clicking the RAIN link on the GSW website or by visiting rain.gsw.edu. Students can use RAIN to view information such as holds on their account, grades, account summary and fee assessments, financial aid status, and much more. • •
Username: your GSW ID number PIN: initially your six digit birthday (ex: 110495 for November 4, 1995)
See pg. 33 for more information about logging into RAIN for the first time. For assistance logging in to RAIN, contact the Office of the Registrar at gswreg@gsw.edu or (229) 928-1331. RADAR STUDENT EMAIL GSW has set up an email account for every enrolled student. Email serves as the primary official means of sending information to students by faculty and staff. To verify your Radar email address: • Log in to RAIN. • Click on “Personal Information” and then click on “View Email Addresses.” One of the email addresses listed should be username@radar.gsw.edu. This is your Radar email address. • Username: the part of your email address before the @ symbol • Password: your CanesNet password To access your email, log in at outlook.com/gsw.edu.
GEORGIAVIEW GeorgiaVIEW is used for accessing online course material and for taking online courses. To log in to GeorgiaVIEW, go to gsw.edu/GeorgiaVIEW. • •
Username: your Radar email address (ex: jdoe3@radar.gsw.edu) Password: your CanesNet password
Student accounts are created automatically the morning after a student is accepted, are disabled one year after the student leaves GSW, and are deleted one year later. For more information regarding your CanesNet account, visit gsw.edu/CanesNet. RESIDENCE HALLS Residents in Southwestern Oaks I and II, Southwestern Pines, and Southwestern
Residents should use the “GSW-Device” WiFi connection to connect their gaming devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, etc. MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENT COMPUTERS • Virus software installed and set for automatic updates • Virus check conducted • Critical updates for operating system installed and set to automatic updates COMPUTER REPAIRS IIT is not permitted to work on personal equipment, including desktop or laptop computers, printers, smart phones, etc. For repairs needed to your computer, visit gsw. edu/TechSupp for a listing of local vendors. For more information about getting started with campus technology, visit gsw.edu/CampusTech. Office of Information and Instructional Technology P Morgan Hall | q (229) 931-2074 E techsupp@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/IIT
UNIVERSITY SERVICES
CANESNET LOGIN Every student at GSW has a CanesNet account, which is a set of credentials used to log in to: • Computers on campus • Wireless networks • Your Radar email account • GeorgiaVIEW • Canes Connect • DegreeWorks
Magnolia I and II are provided with WiFi access. Students will need their CanesNet credentials to use the “Canes” WiFi on their phones, laptops, and tablets.
COLLEGES College of arts and sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences provides educational opportunities that emphasize intellectual development, knowledge, leadership, and skills that allow students to prosper throughout their lives. Within the College, intellectual, personal, and social growth for students, faculty, staff, and the community are fostered through active programs of creative and scholarly work, co-curricular opportunities, and engagement with the community. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES • Art • Biology • Chemistry • Communication and Emerging Media • Criminal Justice • English • General Studies • History • Mathematics • Music • Political Science • Psychology • Sociology Dr. Mark Laughlin, Interim Dean q (229) 931-2250 E mark.laughlin@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/ArtsAndSciences
28
College of Nursing and Health sciences
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences is dedicated to the education of individuals to become health professionals committed to health-related practice, leadership, and service. The programs provide undergraduate education in nursing and health science professions as well as graduate education in nursing. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES • Exercise Science • Long-Term Care Management • Nursing - Traditional BSN • Nursing - 2nd Degree BSN • Nursing - LPN to BSN • Nursing - RN to BSN • Nursing - ASN GRADUATE DEGREES • Nursing - Informatics • Nursing - Leadership • Nursing - Nurse Educator • Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner Dr. Sandra Daniel, Dean P Carter I, Room 148 q (229) 931-2280 E sandra.daniel@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/NursingAndHealthSciences
College of business And computing
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES • Accounting • Computer Science • Human Resource Management • Information Technology • Management • Marketing GRADUATE DEGREES • Business Administration • Computer Science Dr. Gaynor Cheokas, Dean P BHP, Room 212 q (229) 931-2090 E gaynor.cheokas@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/COBAC
A career in education is multi-faceted, offering challenges, personal satisfaction, and interaction with individuals from diverse backgrounds. The College of Education faculty and staff are dedicated to the preparation of future educators and professional growth. Partner school systems provide real-life experiences in the preparation of teachers so that College of Education graduates are ready to meet the opportunities to positively impact P-12 student learning. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES • Elementary Education • Health and Physical Education • Middle Grades Education • Special Education • Secondary Education GRADUATE DEGREES • Elementary Education • Middle Grades Language Arts • Middle Grades Mathematics • Special Education • Teacher Leadership Dr. Rachel Abbott, Dean P Education Center, Room 202 q (229) 931-2173 E rachel.abbott@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/COE
29
COLLEGES
The College of Business and Computing (COBAC) is dedicated to offering quality academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Double Canes program allows students to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years or less. The College is committed to attracting and maintaining academically and professionally qualified faculty dedicated to academic excellence. Business programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
College of Education
ACADEMIC ES Academic advising
Core curriculum
Attendance
HOW IS THE CORE CURRICULUM RELATED TO MY MAJOR? The Core Curriculum provides the knowledge, skills, and experiences you need to succeed in college and in life. Whatever your academic or career goals, the Core Curriculum can help you to launch a successful future.
Students will be advised by a faculty member from the college or department of their declared major. Students who have chosen a focus area rather than a major will be advised by the Focus Area advisor.
Since attendance is the number one indicator of whether a student will succeed in college classes, GSW expects that you will attend all classes. Each instructor will have a course-specific attendance policy that can be found on the course syllabus. Students who do not attend class during the roster verification period, usually the first week or so of classes, will be administratively dropped from any classes for which an instructor marks them as not attending. Administrative drops can negatively affect financial aid.
Earn college credit for what you already know
GSW offers several ways to earn credit for what you already know, including: • CLEP (College Level Examination Program) • PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) • AP (Advanced Placement) • IB (the International Baccalaureate Program) Courses you complete through CLEP, AP, IB, or PLA will show on your transcript with a grade of K rather than a traditional letter grade and will not be included in GPA calculations. Credit earned through alternative means is limited to 10 credit hours in a major and 30 hours toward your degree. If you want to take a CLEP test, contact the GSW Testing Center, but be aware that any CLEP test must be taken before you attempt the class for which you wish to receive credit by alternate means.
30
GSW’s Core Curriculum is a set of focused courses, broken into five areas, that build a strong foundation for each student’s chosen area of study. These classes cultivate critical thinking and build analytical skills.
Find the full general Core Curriculum sheet and the curriculum sheet for you major online at gsw.edu/Curriculum.
SENTIALS
• •
•
Minimum grade of “C” is required in Area A. If MATH 1120 is taken in Area A, the extra credit hour earned will count in Free Electives. Hours from Area B plus hours from Area D must equal 15 hours. If more than 15 hours are earned, the extra hours will count in Free Electives.
AREA D NOTES • • •
BIOL 1107/1107L and 1108/1108L are not open to students with credit in BIOL 2107 or 2108. PHYS 1111 and 1112 are not open to students with credit in PHYS 2211 or 2212. PSYC 3301 and SOCI 3301 cannot be used to meet Core Area D requirements.
31
ACADEMIC ESSENTIALS
UNIVERSITY POLICIES & PRACTICES
Class registration
REGISTERING FOR CLASSES The first step in registering for classes is meeting with your academic advisor. With your advisor, you will review your major or focus area Degree Pathway, Degree Works, and possibly a major or minor curriculum sheet to determine which classes you should register for during the subsequent term. After consulting with your advisor, you will register yourself for classes using RAIN and the plan you and your advisor determined for you. You will be shown how to use RAIN at Storm Day and again in your UNIV 1000 class. ADDING AND DROPPING COURSES Students may add or drop courses during the published add/drop period, usually the first week of the semester. Classes dropped are not listed on your transcript, and you are not charged for them. Once the add/ drop period ends, you must follow the withdrawal process to discontinue a class without receiving a failing grade. Students who add courses after the first day of class are responsible for completing all class work regardless of whether it was assigned before they added the class. New first-year students cannot drop or add courses during their first term at GSW without getting approval from the Office of First-Year Experience. WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE Once add/drop period ends, your only option if you don’t want to continue in a course is to withdraw. If you withdraw from a course before the “deadline to withdraw without penalty,” which is published on the Academic Calendar for each term, your grade for the class will be “W,” and it will not affect your GPA. Courses from which you withdraw will still be shown on your transcript as a class you attempted. If you withdraw from a class after the published deadline, you will receive a grade of “WF,” or withdrawn failing. You will also receive no refund for classes from which you withdraw before or after the published deadline. Courses from which you withdraw count as attempted hours, and may affect your
32
financial aid. It may be better to withdraw from a course than to fail it, but you should weigh all the considerations mentioned above before making the decision to withdraw. You should also consult your academic advisor before deciding to withdraw.
Momentum Approach
Evidence-based research confirms that college students are most successful when they start out their college careers by making a purposeful choice in a focus area or program, enter with a productive academic mindset, and follow clearly sequenced program maps that include nine credits in the student’s academic focus area and 30 credits in their first year. Put together, these three elements create a momentum approach for students - a starting point that helps students find their path, get on that path, and build velocity towards their degree and career goals.
Transfer credit
Transfer credit is normally awarded for all college credit earned in courses at a college or university that is regionally accredited, provided the courses have comparable learning outcomes to those of GSW courses and meet to GSW’s Transfer Credit Policy. For more information regarding transfer credit, please contact the transfer evaluation specialists in the Office of the Registrar. Office of the Registrar P Sanford Hall, 2nd floor | q (229) 928-1331 E gswreg@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/Registrar
Rain
RAIN is the Registration and Academic Information Network that provides a convenient method for students to obtain information via the internet. WHY USE RAIN? Students can use this system to view information such as holds on their
account, semester grade reports, unofficial academic transcripts, account summary and fee assessments, financial aid status, registration status, and current schedule.
•
HELPFUL TIPS • Log out of RAIN to ensure your information is kept private and secure. You can also clear the cache of your web browser for added security. • Use the tabs across the top of the pages instead the “back” or “forward” buttons. • If you find that any of your personal information is incorrect, contact the Office of the Registrar to have it corrected. • If you are locked out of RAIN, please contact the Office of the Registrar or email gswreg@gsw.edu from your Radar email account to reset your PIN.
33
ACADEMIC ESSENTIALS
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIRST-TIME USERS • Visit rain.gsw.edu or find the link at the very bottom of the gsw.edu homepage • At the RAIN main menu, select the “Secured Login” option from the dropdown menu on the right. • Enter your User ID (GSW ID #). If you do not know your GSW ID #, you can find it by clicking “gswID# Lookup” in the drop-down menu. • Enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN). The first time you login, your PIN will be the six digits of your birthdate (ex: if your birthdate is April 18, 2000, your PIN would be 041800). Once you have entered your PIN, click “Login.” • The first time you log in, you will be notified that your PIN has expired. Re-enter the original PIN (the six digits of your birthdate, MMDDYY). Next, create your own PIN. Remember, the PIN must be six numeric digits. • The “Terms of Usage” page will appear the first time you log in to RAIN. Review the terms and then click “Continue.” • The “Update Ethnicity and Race” page is next. You may choose to answer and
•
click “Continue” or click “Ask Me Later” to move forward. You will then be asked to create a security question in case you forget your PIN. Create your question and answer and click “Submit.” The next page is the GSW Notification System opt-in page. You may provide contact numbers to receive GSW emergency text messages and phone calls. See pg. 22 for more information on GSW Emergency Notifications.
Academic standing
Students must maintain at least a 2.0 institutional GPA to be in Good Academic Standing with the University. After the first semester in which a student drops below a 2.0, the student’s standing becomes Academic Warning. After the second semester that a student’s GPA remains below 2.0, the student’s standing becomes Academic Probation. Students on Academic Warning or Probation have holds on their accounts and must see an advisor to register for classes or adjust their schedules. After the third term that a student’s GPA remains below 2.0, the student’s standing becomes Academic Suspension. Students on suspension must typically remain out of school for at least one semester before appealing to the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs for Academic Reinstatement so they can return to GSW. While a 2.0 is high enough to remain in Good Standing, it is not high enough to be accepted into professional programs such as Business, Education, or Nursing. Be sure to check the admission requirements for your major program.
Windows to the World
The Windows to the World (W2W) offers programs and experiential activities to help students learn about and explore cultural diversity and inclusion. The goal of W2W is to help prepare GSW graduates to engage successfully in the diverse world in which we live. The W2W adventure begins with your UNIV 1000 class and extends across your four-year degree program. All entering first-year, fulltime students will attend at least six W2W seminars and complete the W2W Capstone course to meet graduation requirements.
Calculating your gpa
Your grade point average (GPA) is calculated using the number of credit hours attempted and your final grades per semester. To figure out your GPA for a particular semester, you first have to determine how many quality points correspond with each of your final grades. There are 4 quality points associated with an A, 3 with a B, 2 with a C, 1 with a D, and none with an F or a WF. There are no quality points associated with other grades, such as W, I, S, U, or K, so these grades and the credit for courses where you received these grades will not be part of your GPA calculation.
grade
quality points
a
4
b
3
c
2
d
1
f
0
Use the example below to calculate your own GPA at the end of your first semester.
course
grade
quality points
credit hours
univ 1000
a
4
1
4
psyc 1101
b
3
3
9
thea 1100
a
4
3
12
pols 1101
d
1
3
3
engl 1101
c
2
3
6
15
34
34 15 hours course
grade
2.27 gpa quality points
credit hours ACADEMIC ESSENTIALS
hours
gpa 35
Index academic advising, 30 Academic Affairs, Division of, 2-3 academic standing, 4-5, 34 Accommodations and Access, Office of, 16 adding/dropping courses, 32 administration, 2-3 Advanced Placement (AP), 30 Aeolian, 11 Alertus, 22 Arts and Sciences, College of, 28 Athletics, Department of, 14 attendance, 30 BankMobile Disbursements, 19 Bike Share Program, 21 Blackboard Connect, 22 Bookstore, 25 Breeze, The, 5, 10 Business and Computing, College of (COBAC), 29 Café Campesino, 23 Canes Card, 22 Canes Career Closet, 13 Canes Central, 5, 6, 13, 18-19, 22, 25-26 Canes Connect, 9 Canes Harvest, 5, 13 CanesNet, 27 CanesQ, 25-26 Care@GSW, 15 career readiness, 13 Chick-fil-A, 22 College Level Examination Program (CELP), 30 core curriculum, 30-31 Corq, 9 Counseling Services, 14-15 Deriso Pool, 13 Dining Hall, 22 Dining Services, 22-23 disabilities, 16 Drop, GSW, 9 Education, College of, 29 emergency notifications, 22 Engage, GSW, 9 Experiential Learning, Office of (FYE), 16 Federal Application for Student Financial Aid (FASFA), 4, 18 Financial Aid, Office of Student, 18-19 First-Year Experience, Office of, 2, 5, 6-7, 32 Florrie Chappell Gymnasium, 12, 21 food pantry, 5, 13 Freshman Convocation, 4, 6 Game Room, 13 GeorgiaView, 27 GIFs, 11 grade point average (GPA), 4, 35 Greek life, 9 GSW Experience, The, 6 Health Services, 16-17 immunizations, 17 Information & Instructional Technology, Office of, 26-27 International Baccalaureate Program (IB), 30 internships, 13, 16 Intramural Gym, 12
36
intramural sports, 12-13 Library, James Earl Carter, 24 mailbox, 25 meal plans, 23 mental health, 12, 14-15, 26 Merit Pages, 10 Momentum Approach, 32 Move-In Day, 8, 25 Nelnet, 19 New Student Orientation, 6 Nursing and Health Sciences, College of, 28 parking and transportation, 21 parking zones, 21 payment plans, 19 payments, 19 Post Office, 25 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), 30 Protocol, 15 Public Safety, Office of, 20-21 Qless, 25-26 Radar, 26-27 RAIN, 19, 22, 26, 32-33 recognized student organizations (RSOs), 5, 9 Recreation and Wellness, Office of, 12-13 refunds, 19 registration, 32 residence halls, 8, 27 Residence Life, Office of, 7-8 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), 5, 18 Sirocco, 11 shuttle services, 21 social media, 9, 11, 14 Sou’Wester, 5, 10 Storm Spotters, 5, 6 Student Accounts, Office of, 19 Student Engagement and Success, Division of (SES), 3, 9 student organizations, 9 Student Rights and Responsibilities, Office of, 26 study abroad, 16 Surge, 11, 14 Surge’s Street Eats, 23 Talkspace, GSW, 14 technology support, 26-27 Testing Center, 26 textbooks, 25 Thunder Camp, 6 Touchnet, 19 transfer credit, 32 Tryon Market, 22 tutoring, 25 UNIV 1000, 6 Wellness Hub, 15 What’s in the Cup?, 11 wifi, 24, 26-27 Windows to the World (W2W), 34 withdrawing, 32 Writing Center, 24-25