Admissions

ADMISSIONS
Anyone desiring an Application for Admission or information concerning programs offered by South Georgia Technical College should contact:

Admissions Policy
The admissions policy and procedures of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia and South Georgia Technical College assure the citizens of Georgia equal access to the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for them to secure personally satisfying and socially productive employment. By design and implementation, the policy and procedures governing admissions to South Georgia Technical College will:
• Be nondiscriminatory to any eligible applicant regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age or marital status;
• Increase the prospective student’s opportunities;
• Guide the implementation of all activities related to admission to South Georgia Technical College and its programs, to student financial aid, and to the recruitment, placement and retention of students; and
• Complement the instructional programs of SGTC.

Admissions Procedures
1. Complete an online application.
2. Pay a one-time non-refundable application fee of $25.
3. Submit official high school/GED/college transcript(s).
4. Provide proof of residency and picture ID.*
5. Receive an appointment to take the placement test if needed.**
6. Take the placement test as scheduled (contact the Admissions Office if there is a conflict and reschedule testing).
7. Receive results from admissions personnel.
8. Applicant is accepted for admission when all requirements are met.
9. Apply for Financial Aid.
10. Report for orientation and registration.

* Effective January 1, 2012, all students applying for in-state tuition must provide validation of lawful presence in the United States. The following documents will serve as proof of lawful presence in the United States and documentation will be required before you are eligible for consideration of in-state tuition:
• A current Driver’s License issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008.
• A current ID issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008.
• A current Driver’s License or ID issued by a state that verifies immigration status and only issues to persons lawfully present in the United States.
The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) will accept the following:
• Alabama: Issued after August 1, 2000
• Florida: Issued after January 1, 2010 AND have a gold star in the upper right hand corner.
• South Carolina: Issued after November 1, 2008
• Tennessee: Issued after May 29, 2004.
• A certified U.S. Birth Certificate showing the student was born in the U.S. or a U.S. territory. A photocopy is not acceptable.
• An approved completed FAFSA for the current financial aid year.
• A current, valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form 1-151 or 1-551).
• A current, valid military identification card for active duty soldiers or veterans.
• A U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (DS-1350) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240).
• A current U.S. Passport.
• A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS form N-560 or N-561).
• A U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570).
Any student who cannot be verified as lawfully present in the United States is not eligible to be considered for in-state tuition, regardless of how long he or she has lived in Georgia. In addition to being lawfully present in the United States, students must meet the in-state tuition requirements as outlined in TCSG Board Policy and Procedure V.B.3 to warrant an in-state classification. Students that are initially classified as out-of-state and successfully petition to have their residency changed to in-state also have to meet the verification requirement.
**Contact the Admissions Office at 229-931-2273 for current acceptagle placement test options and scores.

Admissions Requirements

• AGE: Students applying for admission must be 16 years or older. Practical Nursing and Medical Assisting applicants must be 17 years or older. Students must be 21 or older to enroll in Commercial Truck Driving.
• EDUCATION: A high school diploma or its equivalent is required for entry into most programs. Applicants having less than a high school diploma may be admitted on a conditional basis into certain programs provided they demonstrate an ability to benefit from training. All students, however, must earn a high school diploma or GED prior to receiving a diploma from South Georgia Technical College. All persons will be offered the opportunity to receive remedial instruction, if required.
• DOCUMENTATION OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED: An official transcript from the last high school attended and all postsecondary schools is required of all students. Certificates of Attendance or Special Education diplomas are not recognized for admissions purposes. Evidence of high school graduation or its equivalent (GED) is mandatory for enrollment in most programs at SGTC. For details, please call the Admissions office for individual program specifics.
• HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS: Applicants from home schools located in Georgia who did not attend a recognized accredited program must adhere to the following alternative path for admission:
  • Submit a Certificate of Attendance form from the local superintendent’s office or a Delcaration of Intent to utilize a Home Study Program from the Georgia Department of Education verifying that the parent or legal guardian complied with the requirements of home study programs as referenced in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.
  • Submit annual progress reports or a financial transcript for the equivalent of the home-schooled student’s junior and senior years. The final progress report should include the graduation date.

Applicants who have been homeschooled outside the state of Georgia, who have not attended a recognized accredited program, must adhere to the following alternative path for admission:

• Submit annual progress reports or a final transcript for the equivalent of the homeschooled student’s junior and senior years. The final progress report should include the graduation date
• Submit SAT or ACT scores that meet the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) minimum requirements.
  
• PLACEMENT TEST: The applicant must make qualifying scores on the placement test for the course of training that he/she has chosen. Students may also be admitted on the basis of acceptable SAT or ACT scores. Reasonable accommodations are made during testing for those who need them. The examiner should be notified prior to testing if special accommodations are needed.
• HEALTH: Applicants must be physically able to attend college. In some programs, a student who has a physical condition that would limit participation in a class/lab should provide the instructor(s) and the Special Services and Disabilities Coordinator with a written statement indicating the student’s ability to perform all class/lab requirements.
• APPLICATIONS AND ACCEPTANCE: Applications are processed and the names of applicants are placed on a list for programs on a firstcome, first-served basis, except in competitive admissions programs. Because of the increasing demand for technical training, the chances of being accepted in the desired program are better if a student applies early.

The student’s name is placed on the list for programs for the next available term when these items are in the student’s file:
1. Signed application
2. Acceptable placement test scores
3. Transcript(s) from last high school attended and any post-secondary school(s) attended or GED documentation.

Vaccination Policy
South Georgia Technical College does not require vaccination records to be submitted for admitted students.

Types of Program Admission

Regular Admission
1. Regular admission of students to a diploma or degree program is contingent upon their meeting college admissions requirements established for that specific program and upon their proper completion of application, assessment, and placement procedures.
2. Regular admission of transfer students to a diploma or degree program is contingent upon proper completion of application and related procedures.

Regular admission of a student to a Technical Certificate of Credit Program is based upon the admission requirements for that particular program.

Provisional Admission
Provisional admission of students to a degree program or a diploma program is based on an evaluation of test scores and other admissions file data by admission officers and upon proper completion of application procedures. Provisionally-admitted students will take Provisional courses as designated in the program-specific standards.

All degree or diploma program students initially admitted on a provisional basis must meet regular admissions requirements for that program within twelve (12) months. Students who drop provisional classes will be withdrawn from school.

Special Student Admission
The Special Student admissions category is designed to be an admissions method for non-diploma seeking students who desire credit for the coursework which they may complete. Special admission status must be approved by the Director of Admissions.

A student may obtain a maximum of 15 credit hours while in this status. Special status students may request that their status be changed to regular diploma seeking before or upon reaching the maximum 15 credit hours permitted in the special category. The student must pass the placement test to become a regular student or successfully complete the designated English or math class for his/her desired program.

Transient Admission
A student may be permitted to enroll as a transient student on a space available basis in order to complete work to be transferred to a home college. A student from another college wishing to take a traditional class at SGTC should apply for transient status at his/her home school. An application marked “Transient” should be sent to SGTC along with the application fee. The home school approves or disapproves the transient status and will forward a transient agreement for those students approved. A transient student should be advised by his or her home college advisor concerning recommended courses.

An SGTC student wishing to take a traditional class at another college is required to complete a Transient Request form located in the admissions office. A student must be in good standing, must have regular admitted status, must not have holds place on their account, and the courses they are applying for must be in their curriculum. Once approved by the Registrar and Financial Aid Director, a transient agreement will be sent to the host school. The student is responsible for applying and paying all application fees to the host school. Student may not be a beginning (first term) student. Transient students may not take classes at another institution that are currently offered at their home school.

An SGTC student wishing to take an online class at another college should apply for transient status through GVTC and follow the online procedures. Students must meet the same requirements as stated above. Please see the paragraph below for SGTC online procedures for more information.

Online (GVTC) Admission
SGTC offers courses online through the Georgia Virtual Technical Connection. Persons interested in enrolling in online classes should go to www.southgatech.edu and click on Online Learning to review the Student Information Page for online learning. Students who have completed admissions requirements may register for an online course through their program advisor after verifying the hardware/software requirements and viewing all the information under online learning on the SGTC website. Contact the Admissions Office for an application or you may apply online. For more information regarding online courses, contact the Distance Education Coordinator at (229) 931-2705.

International Students
Applicants to South Georgia Technical College from foreign countries who need issuance of an I-20M or I-20F to obtain a student VISA must:
1. Submit an application for admissions with the one-time, nonrefundable $25 (US dollars) application fee.
2. Submit an official English translated high school transcript which has been evaluated by an outside agency showing that the requirements of the secondary institution have been met.
3. Have acceptable scores on SAT, ACT, Compass Exam, Accuplacer, and/or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) within the last 60 months. Proficiency in English is required for acceptance.
4. Submit a certified statement that finances are available to cover the year’s educational expenses. For more information regarding F-1 and/or M-1 I-20’s, please refer to http://www.ice.gov/sevis.

Admission of Special Needs Students
Within a framework of personal guidance and evaluation, special services are provided for the disadvantaged and/or disabled student. These services include aiding students in setting realistic goals, placement assistance, and suggesting community service agencies for additional assistance.

Rehabilitation Services
Rehabilitation Services provides assistance to qualified students who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. Application is made through the local office of the Department of Labor Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

Competitive Admission
Contact the Admissions Office at 229.931.2273 for information regarding the competitive admissions program.

High School Initiatives
SGTC’s high school programs provide an opportunity for high school students to receive postsecondary instruction and possible advanced placement into their program of choice. High school students in SGTC’s service area have five opportunities to participate in seamless education with the ACCEL Program, Dual Enrollment HOPE Program, and Joint Enrollment Program.

ACCEL Program
ACCEL gives Georgia high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to enroll in college and take college coursework. Credit for the coursework, if completed satisfactorily, is applied toward the student’s high school course requirements and toward a college degree program. To be eligible for ACCEL, a student must meet all Georgia and U.S. citizenship requirements for HOPE Program eligibility. Residency and citizenship eligibility will be determined by South Georgia Technical College.

Courses must be in one of the five College Preparatory Course areas: English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and Foreign Language. A complete, approved course listing can be found on the Georgia Student Finance Commission website at www.gsfc.org, or call 1-800-505- GSFC.

ACCEL is not available during the summer term. The ACCEL Program is administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

Dual Enrollment Hope Program
Through the Dual Enrollment Hope Program (for diplomas and/or technical certificates of credit) postsecondary educational opportunities are provided to Georgia students who are still in high school. A student must first meet the requirements of his/her local school system to establish eligibility for participation in any dual enrollment program with South Georgia Technical College. A student who successfully completes courses through this program can earn both high school Carnegie unit credit and South Georgia Technical College credit hours. Students should be on track for graduation and must meet all South Georgia Technical College admission requirements for the selected program of entry, and must complete advisement with his or her high school counselor and a college advisor.

This dual enrollment program allows eligible high school students to work toward the completion of their Georgia High School diploma by enrolling full time in an eligible college or university or public technical college—like South Georgia Technical College—to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously.

Dual enrollment students will not be required to pay tuition and fees out of pocket or through the state’s HOPE grants and scholarships. Instead, Georgia Department of Education funding will cover these costs. Transportation and other incidental costs will be the responsibility of the student and his or her parent/guardian.