For more information,
contact Melissa Lach at (706) 864-1433
or come by 222 Barnes Hall.
What is learning support?
The learning support program is a System-wide program which enables entering
students who are ineligible for admission to the regular college curriculum
to develop their basic skills to the point at which they will be able to undertake
college work. The program also gives regularly admitted students who believe
they need skill development in English, reading, and/or mathematics prior to
enrolling in related core curriculum classes, or who have experienced difficulty
in these core classes, the opportunity to enhance their basic skills in the
college environment. Back to the top.
What are the courses?
Required learning support students should enroll in LANG
0099 and/or MATH 0099; regularly admitted students
who want to enhance their English, reading, and/or mathematics skills should
enroll in courses with "ACA (E, R, M)" designators.
Back to the top.
Do I really belong in learning support?
Prior to registration, students designated as learning support students are
given the COMPASS test to assess skills required for regular English and math college courses. If
students achieve satisfactory scores on the placement tests, they may be recommended
for unconditional admission. However, if students do not achieve satisfactory
scores, they are placed in learning support courses, and their status remains
conditional until they have successfully completed the prescribed program. Back
to the top.
How do these courses affect my academic standing and financial aid?
Learning support students must enroll
in their required learning support courses the first semester of attendance.
Learning support courses do not carry college-level credit leading to graduation;
however, the courses do carry institutional credit, which counts toward eligibility
for sorority/fraternity membership, for being excused from military quarters,
and for various other college activities that require a certain number of credit
hours and a certain GPA. Being in learning support classes does not affect one's
eligibility for the HOPE grant or for financial aid, provided a student meets
all other HOPE grant and financial aid requirements. Back
to the top.
How long will I be in the program?
Learning support students are evaluated at regular intervals by their academic
instructors as to performance, attitude, motivation, and other relevant factors.
The program is structured so students can complete their requirements in one
semester, but they will not be allowed more than three semesters to complete the
program. Back to the top.
What must I do to complete the program?
Learning support students must fulfill all their learning support requirements
in order to be transferred to the status of "regularly admitted." Students must
achieve a minimum of a C average and an established, approved score on the COMPASS test in each course before they will be permitted
to exit learning support language arts (LANG 0099) and
mathematics (MATH 0099). Students in learning support language arts must also pass an in-class final essay. Learning support reading (DSRD
0099) is restricted to those students who have completed LANG 0099 but have
not passed the University System exit reading examination. Students will
have a maximum of three (3) semesters to complete their learning support requirements.
Back to the top.
Are grades in these courses just like grades in other courses?
Eight grading symbols are approved for use in the learning support program:
A, B, C, F, WF, and IP. A grade of IP (in progress) is assigned if required
students have not achieved a minimum of a C average in the course(s) or do not
pass the exit examination; the grade of IP indicates students will be retained
in the course(s) without penalty of grade assignment. Required students who
have not successfully completed the course(s) in the allotted three semesters
receive a grade of F and are subject to academic suspension. Students who volunteer
for the program receive grades of A, B, C, D, F, or WF. Back
to the top.
What about class attendance?
Students required to enroll in learning support course(s) are not allowed more
than four unexcused absences (LANG 0099, MATH 0099, DSRD
0099) and will be dropped with a grade of WF when they exceed the allowed
number of unexcused absences. Excused absences are those for which students
have documentation for illnesses and other medical matters and for official
leaves of absence for college-sponsored activities. The official college wide
attendance policy will apply to excused absences for required students and to
volunteer students who enroll in ACAE 0099, ACAM 0099,
and ACAR 0099. Back to the top.
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This page last modified on August 1, 2007, by Ramona Robinson
