Admissions

The Office of Admissions is located in the Jean Anderson Morgan Student Activities Center and can be contacted by telephone at (478) 289-2017, by mail at East Georgia State College, Admissions Office, 131 College Circle, Swainsboro, Georgia 30401-2699 or by visiting our website (here).

Admissions Policy

It is the policy of EGSC to create admissions requirements that fulfill the stated mission of the College by encouraging students of diverse levels of preparation, ethnicity, and age to attend this institution and develop their full potential as individuals and members of the community. These guidelines are in keeping with EGSC’s strong commitment to student success, a process that begins when students first apply to the college and continues through graduation and job placement. EGSC complies with the access mission institution admission standards established under University System of Georgia Board of Regents policies and is committed to ensuring that the admissions procedures implement these standards.

Application Procedures

All students applying for admission to EGSC must complete the following procedures:

1. Complete an electronic Application for Admission. To complete an application, you may apply here. Students who are unable to complete the electronic application should contact the EGSC Admissions Office at 478-289-2017
2. Submit the required $20 application fee electronically with the application.
3. Freshmen and applicants with fewer than 30 transfer hours must request that their most recently-attended high school submit an official high school transcript to EGSC.
4. Applicants who have attended any college (as a transfer student or as a Dual Enrollment student) must request official college transcripts from all colleges previously attended for evaluation
5. Students must submit the EGSC Immunization Form completed and signed by a physician.
6. Applicants who indicate that they have a pending or prior criminal conviction or criminal charges will be asked to provide supplemental information in consideration of the applicant’s eligibility for admission into EGSC. Failure to provide this information may impact the applicant’s eligibility for admission.
7. The mailing address for submission of all documents (except the electronic admissions application) is:

East Georgia State College
Office of Admissions
131 College Circle
Swainsboro, GA 30401

Applicants will be able to check their admission’s status (here) 48 business hours, excluding weekends and holidays, after the application has been electronically submitted.  A final decision on your acceptance into the College will be made after all application materials have been reviewed.

General Admissions Information

Applicants are encouraged to apply or update prior applications as well provide all supporting documentation in advance of the deadline. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of the Director of Admissions, but in general, late applicants will be processed and, if admitted, enrolled in the next semester or mini-term open to them after the admissions deadline has passed.  All applicants will be assessed a $20 non-refundable application fee. In limited instances, a fee waiver may be allowed; see policy (here).

The College has the right to cancel admission prior to or following enrollment if the applicant becomes ineligible as determined by the standards of the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia. The Office of Admissions determines the final acceptance or denial of each applicant. This decision may be appealed by the applicant under provisions set by the College and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.  Applicants can check their admissions status on the Admission webpage under “Check Your Admissions/Financial Aid Status”.

An application is valid for the semester for which it is submitted. A student desiring to reactivate an application for a future semester must complete an Application Update form and return it to the Office of Admissions. If the applicant has attended another college during the past year, an official transcript must be sent from that college. The applications and records submitted to the College become the property of the College and will not be returned to the applicant or sent to another institution.

Background Check Information

Applicants have a responsibility to inform the College if they have been convicted of certain crimes. These convictions shall include: a finding of guilty by a judge or jury, or a plea of nolo contendre, irrespective of the pendency or availability of any appeal or application for collateral relief.  Students with criminal convictions must complete a CBI form with an attached explanation of the charges and pay the $20 processing fee. Applicants will not be admitted until documentation has been submitted pending review.

Students seeking careers and/or professional licensure in certain fields, including-but not limited to- nursing, education, criminal justice, social work, psychology, law, or medicine, may be required to submit an additional background check prior to a clinical assignment, internship, and/or professional licensure. It is the student’s responsibility to check the requirements of his or her degree program and professional licensing board. Successful completion of a degree program in any of the above fields at any University System of Georgia institution does not guarantee licensure or employment in that respective profession.

Lawful Presence

Please review the institution’s policy regarding Lawful Presence on the President’s Policies and Procedures webpage (here).

Student Immunization Policy

All beginning students (freshmen, transfer, and others) attending courses on campus or receiving resident credit are required to submit a Certificate of Immunization prior to attending classes. The Certificate of Immunization will be kept on file and will be valid throughout the concurrent enrollment of the student. Any lapse in enrollment of two concurrent semesters or more may require updated immunization records by the student.

Exceptions to the policy are students who have religious objections, taking online only courses, active duty military personnel within the past two years, and students whose physicians have certified that they cannot be immunized because of medical reasons. Students who have not presented evidence of immunization as set forth above will be denied registration for on campus courses at EGSC or other facilities of the University System until such time as they present the required immunization certificate.

The Certificate of Immunization must be on a form provided by the University System of Georgia and signed by a physician or an official of a County Health Department. The Certificate of Immunization form can be obtained here

Mandatory Orientation

EGSC requires all new incoming students to participate in an orientation prior to the beginning of each semester. Each new student will be charged a $25 Orientation Fee. The mandatory orientation acquaints new students with the staff, faculty, services and facilities of EGSC.

Enrollment Categories and Admissions Requirements

Freshman Applicants

A freshman applicant is a student who has not attended a college or university after high school graduation. Students who have completed less than 30 transferable hours after high school graduation are also considered freshman and must meet freshman admission requirements.

The following minimum requirements must be met for a student to be considered for admittance as a freshman:

1. Must submit a completed EGSC application for admission.
2. Submit the required $20 application fee electronically with the application.
3. Have graduated from an accredited or approved high school or have earned a high school equivalency diploma.
4. Provide a copy of high school transcript to be sent directly from the high school to the EGSC Office of Admissions or provide a copy of high school equivalency test scores to the EGSC Office of Admissions.
5. Must have completed and present high school credit for the Required High School Curriculum, which entails completion of seventeen (17) specified units for students who graduated from high school in the last five years. Please refer to the Required High School Curriculum section below.
6. Must have a 2.00 HSGPA calculated on the grades in the required 17 units of the RHSC (Required High School Curriculum) if graduating from high school in the past five years.
7. Test scores are no longer required for admission to EGSC, however, students will be placed into the co-requisite courses in English and Math in Area A Basic Skills of the Core Curriculum by default if they do not present test scores, or other qualifying materials. Please refer to the Learning Support Placement Policy for Mathematics, Reading and English Policy below. Students choosing to test in these exams in Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics, Reading Comprehension, and Writeplacer are to contact the Office of Admissions. There is no cost to take this exam in the first attempt if the application fee has been paid. Any additional attempts will result in a $15 testing fee.
8. Applicants must provide evidence of lawful presence in the United States to qualify for in-state tuition classification. *Students who are International or are considered undocumented must submit a Lawful Presence Opt-Out form verifying that they understand they will be charged out of state tuition.
9. Submit the required Certificate of Immunization Form to the Office of Admissions.

Home School/Non-Accredited High School

An applicant who completed high school graduation requirements under a home school program or graduated from a non-accredited high school may be considered for admission. According to the policies of the Board of Regents (BOR Policy Manual section 4.2.1.1) of the University System of Georgia, USG institutions may admit freshman applicants not meeting freshman requirements but showing evidence of college readiness using the following alternative categories.   

Home school applicants, regardless of age, must submit the following documents:

1. A completed EGSC application for admission.
2. Submit the required $20 application fee electronically with the application.
3. The required Certificate of Immunization Form to the campus the student plans to attend.
4. Home School Portfolio - Applicants who were home schooled must submit a Home School Portfolio Summary form along with supporting documentation.
5. Letter of Completion from the primary teacher or program administrator certifying completion of high school and date of high school graduation.
6. Official College Transcripts from any and all college, university, or technical college(s) attended.

Home school applicants who receive earned a high school equivalency diploma will need to submit official passing high school equivalency test scores as well as a Home School Portfolio for College Preparatory Curriculum Evaluation.

Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment provides high school students the opportunity to take college courses for both college and high school credit.  Dual Enrollment courses are primarily available for eligible 11^th and 12^th grade (in some limited cases 9^th-10^th grade) high school students.  Students may enroll full time or part time in approved credit bearing college level courses.  There is no residency or citizenship requirement to participate in the Dual Enrollment Program.

Approved courses for dual enrollment are listed in the Approved Course Directory found at www.gafutures.org. The Georgia Department of Education (DOE) has produced and provided to the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) a directory of eligible public high school courses that can be substituted with college level coursework and applied toward high school graduation requirements for dual credit students.

The Dual Enrollment Funding Program is a state funded program for high school (public, private, and approved home-study) students that provides dual enrollment tuition assistance in Georgia.  The Dual Enrollment Funding program covers 100% of tuition for approved courses, all mandatory, non-course related fees, and textbooks for approved courses.  Students may incur expenses for course related fees and supplies required for a course or optional fees.

Note:  All Dual Enrollment state policies are subject to change at any time per the State of Georgia Legislature and Georgia Student Finance Commission.

Dual Enrollment applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

1. Submit a completed East Georgia State College application for admission;
2. Earn a minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in Required High School Curriculum courses (RHSC) calculated by the Office of Admissions;
3. Must be “on-track” to complete the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) requirements.
4. Submit SAT scores of at least 1050 total (Evidence-Based Reading & Writing + Math on redesigned exam) or ACT scores of at least 20 Composite or ACCUPLACER scores of at least 237 Reading, 258 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, & Statistics and 4 WritePlacer.
5. Submit the Dual Enrollment Funding Application/Student Participation Agreement which provides permission from their high school guidance counselor and parents for student to participate in the dual enrollment program. 
6. Meet all other regular (non-provisional) admission requirements.

*NOTE: The Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) requirements for admission to a University System institution may be satisfied in English, Mathematics, and/or Social Science in the Dual Enrollment program. The RHSC requirements in natural science and foreign language must be completed in high school.

Application/Document Deadlines

Transfer Applicants

Students who have previously attended another college or university and are enrolling at EGSC for the first time are considered transfer students.  Students who are enrolled in other institutions are reminded that they must report all previously earned credit and/or attempted college course work to EGSC during the admissions process. Failure to report previous college attendance is considered sufficient cause for cancellation of the student’s admission and/or registration and may result in any credits earned being forfeited.

The following minimum requirements must be met for a student with 30 or more transferable credit hours:

1. Must submit a completed EGSC application for admission.
2. Submit the required $20 application fee electronically with the application.
3. Must provide official transcripts from all college and/or technical institutions previously attended. Prior post- secondary coursework earned from accredited institutions will be evaluated and the student will be notified of work accepted. Students who are not considered to be in good academic standing at prior institution(s) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
4. Must have completed any Required High School Curriculum deficiency requirements if transferring from a USG institution (BOR Policy 4.2.1.5).
5. Must be eligible to continue or return to sending institution.
6. Learning Support placement at a prior University System of Georgia institution will be honored and must be completed at EGSC. For the complete policy regarding Learning Support for Transfer/Returning students, please refer to the President’s Policies and Procedures webpage (here).
7. Courses accepted in transfer must have been earned at a Southern Association of Colleges (SACSCOC) accredited institution, or an institution accredited by another regional accreditation body recognized by SACS as an equal. Transfer credit is evaluated upon receipt of official college transcripts. Grades accepted for transfer will include grades of “D” or better in core curriculum courses except in ENGL 1101 and 1102; MATH 1001, MATH 1101, 1111, 1401, 1113, 1540, 2012 or 2013. A grade of ‘C’ or higher is also required of all students who enroll in EDUC 2110, 2120 or 2130 (see Course Descriptions section of the catalog). Grades below a “C” in these courses will not be accepted to satisfy a degree requirement. Learning Support courses from out-of-state and private colleges do not transfer to EGSC. Out-of-State students who have taken Political Science, United States or American History will need to take a proficiency exam to receive credit for the course(s) as well as satisfy the Georgia and United States History and Constitution requirements.
8. Must submit the required Certificate of Immunization Form to the Office of Admissions.

If a transfer applicant has less than 30 transferable credit hours, the student is required to meet freshman requirements. Please refer to the Freshman Applicant requirements.

Transient Student

Students who are regularly enrolled at another institution and who expect to return to that institution, but who desire to enroll temporarily at EGSC.

The following admission requirements must be met by transient applicants:

1. Must submit a completed EGSC application for admission.
2. Submit the required $20 application fee electronically with the application.
3. Must submit a letter of transient permission stating the student is in good academic standing at the home institution and be signed by either an Academic Dean or the Registrar.
4. Must submit the required Certificate of Immunization Form to the Office of Admissions.
5. Must provide documentation of lawful presence or documentation of an exception.

Credit earned at EGSC will be forwarded to the student’s home institution upon completion of a transcript request. Transient students desiring to continue enrollment as transfer students must submit a Former Student Application (here) and satisfactorily complete all transfer requirements. EGSC students desiring to attend another college as a transient student must initiate procedures with their advisor at EGSC prior to attending that institution. See policy (here).

International Student

In addition to the requirements for beginning students and transfer students as outlined in this catalog, students from countries other than the United States must meet the following requirements for admission to EGSC:

1. Present test scores that demonstrate proficiency in the English language if English is not the native language. Please refer to the Admissions International Student webpage, (here).
2. Must present official secondary (high school) or post-secondary (college or university) transcripts, diplomas, certificates including grade reports and courses completed. An official English translation must accompany all academic documents. Please contact the Admissions Office for approved agencies.
3. Must have achieved a level of education equivalent to high school graduation in the United States.
4. Must submit the appropriate “SEVIS Data Form.”
5. Must submit a financial statement outlining student’s ability to pay all EGSC expenses in full (at least $20,000). International students are not eligible for financial assistance. The College reserves the right to request funds for one year from countries in which students experience unusual difficulty in sending money out of their country.
6. Must present evidence of personally acquired health and accident insurance from an approved college agency. International students who have personal insurance coverage through private sources or sponsors and would like to apply for an exemption of the school plan may do so. Insurance must be acquired within 30 days of the first day of classes.
7. Test scores are no longer required for admission to EGSC; however, students will be placed into the co-requisite courses in English and Math in Area A Basic Skills of the Core Curriculum by default if they do not present test scores, or other qualifying materials. Please refer to the Learning Support Placement Policy for Mathematics, Reading and English Policy below. Students choosing to test in these exams in Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics, Reading Comprehension, and Writeplacer are to contact the Office of Admissions. There is no cost to take this exam in the first attempt if the application fee has been paid. Any additional attempts will result in a $15 testing fee.
8. It is the policy of EGSC not to issue any Certificate of Eligibility for  non-immigrant (F-1) student status (Form I-20) until all international student admission requirements have been met. Since no Form I-20 will be issued within thirty (30) days prior to the date of registration, international students are encouraged to have their admissions file completed at least 60 days in advance of the start of their semester of entrance.
9. International students with student (F-1) visas are required to take a full course load (12 semester hours) spring and fall semester.
10. EGSC reserves the right to admit only an international applicant who is academically qualified, who has proven his/her ability to meet the financial requirements while in attendance, and who has qualified for the appropriate visa type.
11. EGSC has on-campus housing. Any student interested in on-campus housing must submit their application 60 days prior to their term of entry. Students assume responsibility for their own housing.

1. Submit the required Certificate of Immunization Form to the campus the student plans to attend

International Student Application Deadline

Special Admission for Adult, Non-Traditional Students

Applicants for adult, non-traditional admission must have been out of high school or college for at least five (5) years and those applicants who attended college must have earned fewer than 30 semester hours of transferable college  credit.

The following admission requirements must be met by adult non-traditional applicants:

1. Must submit a completed EGSC application for admission.
2. Submit the required $20 application fee electronically with the application.
3. Provide a copy of high school transcript to be sent directly from the high school to the EGSC Office of Admissions or provide a copy of high school equivalency test scores to the EGSC Office of Admissions.
4. Provide official transcripts from all college and/or technical institutions previously attended. Prior post- secondary coursework earned from accredited institutions will be evaluated and the student will be notified of work accepted. Students who are not considered to be in good academic standing at prior institution(s) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
5. Test scores are no longer required for admission to EGSC, however, students will be placed into the co-requisite courses in English and Math in Area A Basic Skills of the Core Curriculum by default if they do not present test scores, or other qualifying materials. Please refer to the Learning Support Placement Policy for Mathematics, Reading and English Policy below. Students choosing to test in these exams in Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics, Reading Comprehension, and Writeplacer are to contact the Office of Admissions. There is no cost to take this exam in the first attempt if the application fee has been paid. Any additional attempts will result in a $15 testing fee.
6. Must submit the required Certificate of Immunization Form to the Office of Admissions.

Persons 62 Years of Age or Older

Applicants must be residents of Georgia, 62 years of age or older at the time of registration and present a birth certificate or other comparable written documentation of age to enable the institution to determine eligibility.   Individuals may enroll as regular or auditing students in courses offered for resident credit on a “space available” basis during the final former student registration date without payment of fees except for supplies, laboratory or shop fees.

These applicants must meet regular admission requirements as follows:

1. Must submit a completed EGSC application for admission.
2. Must request a copy of final high school transcript or a copy of high school equivalency test scores approved by the Board of Regents mailed from their test center to the EGSC Office of Admissions.
3. Must meet all University System of Georgia and Institutional admissions requirements, including completion of the Required High School Curriculum (see University System of Georgia Policy Manual section 4.2.1.1).
4. Must submit an official college transcript for each college attended.
5. Must submit a copy of their schedule to the Records Office each semester after registering to implement the waiver.
6. Test scores are no longer required for admission to EGSC, however, students will be placed into the co-requisite courses in English and Math in Area A Basic Skills of the Core Curriculum by default if they do not present test scores, or other qualifying materials. Please refer to the Learning Support Placement Policy for Mathematics, Reading and English Policy below. Students choosing to test in these exams in Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics, Reading Comprehension, and Writeplacer are to contact the Office of Admissions. There is no cost to take this exam in the first attempt if the application fee has been paid. Any additional attempts will result in a $15 testing fee.
7. Submit the required Certificate of Immunization Form to the campus the student plans to attend.

Auditors

Students who wish to enroll in regular academic classes but receive no college credit. Admissions requirements are the same as those expected of regular freshman and transfer students. Auditor applicants must submit an official transcript showing evidence of graduation from an accredited or approved high school or an earned high school equivalency diploma. Students may not change from audit to credit status, or from credit to audit status after the last day of late registration for that semester. The auditor may not use any audited course for credit unless he/she repeats the course for credit as a regularly enrolled student. The college will consider the acceptance of auditors only when their enrollment will cause no hardship or inconvenience to the institution or the regularly scheduled students. An auditor may or may not, as he/she wishes, participate in all activities of the course including taking examinations and submitting of papers for evaluation. Regular matriculation fees will be charged for courses that are audited. An application for admission must be filed with the Office of Admissions prior to the opening of the semester for which the auditor plans to enroll. Be aware that financial aid will not pay for audited courses.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

The Director of Admissions may, under special circumstances, allow students to enroll as non-degree seeking students when they are taking courses to pursue some special interest or for self-enrichment and do not wish to work toward a degree based on BoR Policy 4.2.2.2.

The following minimum admission requirements will be applied to non-degree admission students. Additional admission requirements may be required:

1. Must submit a completed EGSC application for admission.
2. Submit the required $20 application fee electronically with the application.
3. Must request a copy of final high school transcript or a copy of high school equivalency, HiSET or TASC test scores approved by the Board of Regents mailed from their test center to the EGSC Office of Admissions.
4. The Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) requirements and SAT/ACT test scores are not applicable.
5. Must submit a transcript from all prior college work is required.
6. Test scores are no longer required for admission to EGSC, however, students will be placed into the co-requisite courses in English and Math in Area A Basic Skills of the Core Curriculum by default if they do not present test scores, or other qualifying materials. Please refer to the Learning Support Placement Policy for Mathematics, Reading and English Policy below. Students choosing to test in these exams in Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics, Reading Comprehension, and Writeplacer are to contact the Office of Admissions. There is no cost to take this exam in the first attempt if the application fee has been paid. Any additional attempts will result in a $15 testing fee.
7. Students enrolled in this program are limited to eighteen (18) semester hours of coursework. Students may not enter degree programs until regular admission requirements for this institution have been satisfied.
8. Submit the required Certificate of Immunization Form to the Office of Admissions.

Presidential Exception Policy

EGSC is authorized to grant admission to a limited number of students that do not meet established standards but do demonstrate special potential for academic success in accordance with The University System of Georgia Board of Regents Policy 4.2.1.3 Exceptions to Freshman Admission.  Students considered under this category must demonstrate potential for academic success as described below. Students considered under this category must also meet learning support requirements as established by Board of Regents and East Georgia and outlined below. Recipients must demonstrate achievement of the Indicators for Academic Success outlined below to be offered a Presidential Exception.

Indicators for academic success:

• Official high school and/or college transcripts from accredited institution including rigor of courses and grade point average
• GED, HiSET or TASC applicants

• Students who graduated high school more than five years ago or earned a GED and do not have valid SAT or ACT scores: required Accuplacer assessment
• Students applying for readmission or transferring from another school without college‐level English/Math credit

See EGSC Presidential Exception Procedure (here).

Special Admission for Baccalaureate Programs

Baccalaureate Applicants - Biology 

Applicants are required to meet regular admissions requirements for the applicant’s student type. Please refer to the Enrollment Categories and Admissions Requirements section to determine the requirements for each student type.

Baccalaureate Applicants - Fire and Emergency Services Administration (FESA)

Applicants are required to meet regular admissions requirements for the applicant’s student type. Please refer to the Enrollment Categories and Admissions Requirements section to determine the requirements for each student type.

RN-BSN Bridge Program Students

The EGSC RN-BSN Bridge Program entails a total of 120 credit hours (including 42 core credit requirements from Areas A-E and 18 hours in Area F, 30 credit hours for transferred nursing courses, and 30 credit hours for nursing courses taken at EGSC). As reflected in the Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model, the 30 hours of transferred nursing credit will be held in escrow until students successfully complete 6.67 hours in the RN-BSN Bridge program. Successful completion of these 120 credit hours will make the RN-BSN Bridge Program student eligible for graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from EGSC.

Admissions Criteria: Students seeking admission into the RN-BSN Bridge Program must meet all admissions requirements and be accepted into East Georgia State College under regular admission status with the RN-BSN Bridge Program as the designated major. The student must complete an application for admission to EGSC and to the Nursing Department prior to the application deadline. At the time of application to the institution and to the nursing program, students must meet the criteria for full and unconditional admission to the college and satisfy all admission criteria for the RN-BSN Bridge Program for which the student seeks application. Students are admitted into the RN-BSN Bridge Program based on a competitive selection process and space availability.

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements for admission to the RN-BSN Bridge Program:

1. Regular unrestricted admission into EGSC with evaluation of transcripts.
2. Graduation from an associate degree or diploma registered nurse program.
3. Proof of an unrestricted registered professional nursing license that allows the student to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Georgia.
4. Submission of EGSC admissions application by the deadline.
5. Submission of EGSC Nursing Department application by the deadline.
6. Applicant must provide evidence of lawful presence in the United States to qualify for in-state tuition classification. *Students who are International or are considered undocumented must submit a Lawful Presence Opt-Out form verifying that they understand they will be charged out of state tuition.
7. Minimum 2.50 GPA (cumulative and nursing).
8. Minimum grade of ‘C’ or higher in all pre-requisite courses.
9. Completion of all required core courses. **NOTE: Students may petition the nursing program director for special consideration if all core courses are not completed.
10. Courses taken at other accredited institutions may be used to satisfy pre-requisite course requirements.
11. Pre-check® criminal background checks are required of all students accepted into the nursing program.
12. Substance (drug) screens including random screens are required of all students accepted into the nursing program. **NOTE: All screens must be completed at designated service provider only.
13. Students are admitted into the RN-BSN Bridge Program based on competitive selection and space availability.

Required High School Curriculum

All first-time freshman applicants and those who have not earned 30 semester hours of transferable post-secondary credit must have completed the USG’s Required High School Curriculum (“RHSC”) requirements and have graduated from a high school accredited by a regional accrediting association (such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) or the Georgia Accrediting Commission or from a public school regulated by a school system and state department of education (See the University System of Georgia Board of Regents Policy Manual section 4.2.1.1).

Students applying to any institution must present credit for sixteen (16) specified units. Students who graduate from high school in 2012 or later must present credits for seventeen (17) specified units.

The 16 (17 for students who graduate in 2012 or later) specified USG units are:

• MATHEMATICS: Four (4) units of Mathematics, including Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. For students who graduate from a Georgia Public School in 2012 or later, the 4 units of Mathematics must include a course at the level of Math 3 or higher.
• ENGLISH: Four (4) units of English that have as their emphasis grammar and usage, literature (American, English, World), and advanced composition skills.
• SCIENCE: Three (3) units of science, with at least one laboratory course from the life sciences and one laboratory course from the physical sciences. Students who graduate in 2012 or later must have four (4) units of science. Georgia Public High School graduates must have at least one (1) unit of biology, one (1) unit of physical science or physics, and one (1) unit of chemistry, earth systems, environmental science, or an advanced placement science course.
• SOCIAL SCIENCE: Three (3) units of social science, with at least one (1) course focusing on United States studies and one (1) course focusing on world studies.
• FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Two (2) units in the same foreign language( two years or levels I and II of the same language) emphasizing speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Two (2) units of American Sign Language or two (2) unites of computer science may be used to satisfy this requirement. Those students with RHSC deficiencies must take additional courses to fulfill the requirements. See below under “Required High School Curriculum” for  further information. Any student who does not have seventeen RHSC courses is encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students, graduating from high school within the past five years who have not followed the Required High School Curriculum, must complete the deficiencies in the following ways:

English: Students graduating with fewer than the four required Carnegie units of English will be required to take the placement exam in English and Reading.

Based upon the student’s score, the student would either:

1. Be exempt from Learning Support English and/or Reading OR
2. Be placed in Learning Support English and/or Reading at the co-requisite level. Upon completion of the Learning Support and co-requisite English and/or Math course, the deficiency would be satisfied.

Mathematics: Students graduating with fewer than the four required Carnegie units of mathematics will be required to take the placement exam in Mathematics.

Based upon the student’s score, the student would either:

1. Be exempt from Learning Support Mathematics OR
2. Be placed in Learning Support Mathematics at the co-requisite level. Upon completion of the required Learning Support and co-requisite Math course, the deficiency would be satisfied.

Science: Students graduating with fewer than three Carnegie units of science will be required to complete on additional four-semester hour course in laboratory science chosen from the approved laboratory sciences in Area D of the EGSC Core Curriculum.

Courses that will satisfy this deficiency are:

Social Science: Students graduating with fewer than three Carnegie units of social science will be required to complete one additional three-semester hour course chosen from the approved social science in Area E of the EGSC Core Curriculum.

Courses that will satisfy this deficiency are:

Foreign Language: Students graduating with fewer than two Carnegie units of the same foreign language will be required to complete on additional three-semester hour introductory foreign language.

Courses that will satisfy this deficiency are:

The following provisions apply to the Science, Social Science, and Foreign Language requirements: The student must earn a ‘C’ or better in each of these courses. The course should be taken with the idea of expanding the student’s previous exposure to the disciplines. Grades assigned to students satisfying Required High School Curriculum deficiencies in science, social science, and foreign language will be in conformance with the Uniform Grading Policy of the University System. Such grades will be included in the student’s semester and cumulative grade point average, and credit hours earned for these courses are to be counted in the student’s total hours earned for student classification and reporting purposes and they may be counted towards the completion of the Core Curriculum or other graduation requirements.

Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) Completion Requirements

Please refer to the policy regarding Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) requirements located on the President’s Policy and Procedure webpage, found here.

Learning Support Placement Policy for Mathematics, Reading and English

EGSC does not require SAT/ACT and/or Accuplacer scores for admission.  However, students will be placed into the co-requisite courses in in English and Math in Area A Basic Skills course of the Core Curriculum by default if they do not present test scores. Students who wish to be exempt from co-requisite learning support requirements and have met these SAT and/or ACT score requirements should request official SAT and/or ACT scores be sent to EGSC by their counselor or from the Educational Testing Service.  Students who wish to be exempt from the co-requisite learning support requirements and who have no test scores can request to take the Accuplacer placement exam. These exams in Writeplacer, Reading Comprehension, and Elementary Algebra are given 8:00 am - 2:00 pm Monday through Thursday and 8:00 am - 10:00 am Friday of each week, excluding holidays. There is no cost to take this exam if the application fee has been paid. Students must contact EGSC - Augusta or EGSC - Statesboro to schedule testing. Students will be placed into ENGL and MATH courses as follows:

East Georgia State College-Statesboro / East Georgia State College-Augusta

The primary purpose of EGSC-Statesboro and EGSC-Augusta programs is to accommodate students who, due to rising admissions standards throughout the University System of Georgia, do not meet regular freshman admission requirements for universities. These programs provide this population of students the opportunity to become academically successful and earn a liberal arts degree. It is understood that many of the students who attend EGSC-Statesboro desire to transfer to GS and EGSC-Augusta students desire to transfer to AU. All institutions work closely together to ensure students receive the best in academic and student services support.

Students accepted to EGSC-Statesboro or EGSC-Augusta are coded according to their location of attendance and during the registration process they are assessed the university and technology fees that are currently being charged to all students attending either GS for EGSC-Statesboro or AU for EGSC-Augusta. These additional fees result in a higher total cost when compared to students taking courses on the Swainsboro campus. EGSC-Statesboro and EGSC-Augusta students can take coursework on the main campus in Swainsboro or online and are encouraged to do so in the event course availability prevents students from attaining a desired course load in Statesboro or Augusta.

Following registration, EGSC-Statesboro students may present proof of registration to Eagle Card Services at GS and EGSC- Augusta students present proof of registration to the JagCard Office at AU in order to receive a Student ID Card. This ID card allows access to student services and activities on the GS or AU campus, respectively, and is one of the many benefits of the programs.

Students enrolled at EGSC-Statesboro or EGSC-Augusta are full members of the GS and AU campus communities and are, therefore, subject to the provisions of the GS and AU Student Handbooks and Catalogs, respectively.

To be eligible to transfer into baccalaureate programs, students must have satisfied all Learning Support and Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) requirements and must have earned at least 30 semester hours of degree credit. EGSC students with at least 30 semester hours and a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher may transfer seamlessly to GS. Those with at least 30 semester hours of degree credit and a cumulative GPA of 2.2  may transfer seamlessly to AU.  Grades earned in courses taken at GS or AU are not calculated into the transfer GPA. Each semester, EGSC- Statesboro and EGSC-Augusta transfer meetings are held for students who anticipate transferring the next semester. Specific details concerning these meetings are sent to EGSC-Statesboro and EGSC- Augusta students via the EGSC Cat Mail email system.

Students enrolled at EGSC-Statesboro or EGSC-Augusta are full members of the GS and AU campus communities and are, therefore, subject to the provisions of the GS and AU Student Handbooks and Catalogs, respectively.

To be eligible to transfer into baccalaureate programs, students must have satisfied all Learning Support and Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) requirements and must have earned at least 30 semester hours of degree credit. EGSC students with at least 30 semester hours and a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher may transfer seamlessly to GS. Those with at least 30 semester hours of degree credit and a cumulative GPA of 2.2  may transfer seamlessly to AU.  Grades earned in courses taken at GS or AU are not calculated into the transfer GPA. Each semester, EGSC- Statesboro and EGSC-Augusta transfer meetings are held for students who anticipate transferring the next semester. Specific details concerning these meetings are sent to EGSC-Statesboro and EGSC- Augusta students via the EGSC Cat Mail email system.

College Credit for Military Education

Students should refer to the institution’s policy for College Credit for Military Education on the President’s Policies and Procedures webpage (here).

Credit by Examination

Advanced Placement Program

Subject to approval by the appropriate EGSC academic department, high school students who participate in an Advanced Placement Program will be awarded appropriate course credit provided a score of three (3) or better is earned on The College Board Advanced Placement Test (AP). Official test scores should be mailed directly from The College Board to the Office of the Admissions/Records Office for review. Each student will receive confirmation of credit awarded.  Advanced Placement tests and the equivalent EGSC courses are listed on the EGSC Website (here).  Credits earned through standardized examinations cannot be used to fulfill the residency requirements for graduation.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Students may earn up to 18   semester hours of college credit by making satisfactory scores on the Subject Examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). The CLEP Subject Examinations measure achievement in specific subject areas. These exams require college-level knowledge and critical-thinking ability; sufficient preparation is required to do well. CLEP tests are given at many colleges and universities nationwide. A list of test centers is available at the CLEP Web site (here).

To earn CLEP credit a student must earn a score of 50 or above. Students earning a score of 50 or above on the College English Composition Subject Examination must also write an essay, which will be graded by the English Department. The English Department must approve and “pass” the essay only before credit for College English Composition I will be awarded. CLEP credit is not awarded for any science-related course that has laboratory requirements. A student may not attempt a CLEP examination for a course in a field in which credit has been earned for a more advanced course. No examination may be repeated in an attempt to receive credit.  Hours earned by examination are recorded on a student’s permanent record with the notation “credit by examination” with the course name and number. Grades are not given; therefore, credit by examination does not affect a student’s grade point average. Credits earned through standardized examinations cannot be used to fulfill the residency requirements for graduation.

Departmental Exams

Departmental examinations: Departmental examinations are available in certain subject areas not included as a part of the College Level Examination Program. An example of a departmental examination is the First-Aid examination. The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs must grant permission for a student to attempt a departmental examination. The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will refer the examination results to the Deans and faculty members of the respective subject area, who will grade and review the examination to determine if the student meets the competencies and course knowledge to be granted credit for the course.

Spanish Credit by Exam: Any student who believes he/she is proficient in Spanish, may attempt the Spanish Credit by Exam. It is a placement test intended for those who have taken Spanish I and II (2 Carnegie units of Spanish) in high school and wish to receive credit for lower level Spanish knowledge. The Credit by Exam is also intended for native speakers of Spanish who wish to advance into a higher level Spanish other than 1001. Students who are proficient in Spanish due to previous studies of the language, rigorous high school preparation or previous training, and wish to advance into a higher level Spanish other than 1002, may also take this college-level Spanish knowledge exam. This test is not intended to satisfy CPC (College Preparatory Curriculum) deficiency in foreign language, and it is not meant to replace the PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) policy. This exam can be taken only once, and credits cannot be awarded if the student has already taken Spanish classes at EGSC. The exam is a challenge, departmental exam under the control of, and administered by, members of the Spanish faculty.

International Baccalaureate Test

International Baccalaureate Test: Students should refer to the institution’s policy for credits awarded through the International Baccalaureate Test posted on the President’s webpage (here). Credits earned through standardized examinations cannot be used to fulfill the residency requirements for graduation.

Student Immunization Policy

All beginning students (freshmen, transfer, and others) attending regularly scheduled classes or receiving resident credit are required to submit a Certificate of Immunization prior to attending classes. The Certificate of Immunization will be kept on file and will be valid throughout the tenure of the student.

Exceptions to the policy are students who have religious objections and students whose physicians have certified that they cannot be immunized because of medical reasons. Students who have not presented evidence of immunization as set forth above will be denied admission to EGSC or other facilities of the University System until such time as they present the required immunization certificate.

The Certificate of Immunization must be on a form provided by the University System of Georgia and signed by a physician or an official of a County Health Department. The Certificate of Immunization form can be obtained here.

Student Residency

EGSC is required under the guidelines established by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, to determine the residence classification of all applicants and students of the institution for fee payment purposes. The priority deadline for submitting a Petition for Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes is as follows:

Petitions or waivers are not applied retroactively to past semesters.

For an in-depth description of the Board of Regents policy regarding Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes, please refer to the University System of Georgia-Board of Regents Policy 4.3.2 (here).

Waivers

Students who are not considered eligible for in-state tuition may be eligible for an out-of-state tuition fee waiver. Waiver applications should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the first day of the semester for which the out-of-state tuition is to be waived. Applications received after this deadline will be considered as time permits. Tuition waivers are valid for a limited period of time, usually up to 12-consecutive months or as long as the student remains continuously enrolled depending on the waiver type. Students can review available waivers and their specific requirements on the Waivers and Tuition Classification webpage (here). The Institution’s policy regarding Presidential Waivers can be reviewed on the President’s Policies and Procedures webpage (here).

Students will receive a decision regarding the out-of-state tuition waiver via email.

Right to Appeal:  Any student has the right to appeal the classification as a non-resident for tuition purposes. The burden of proof rests with the student. The College reserves the right to acquire any documentation it deems necessary for the classification of students as residents. Students are responsible for notifying EGSC of incorrect residence classifications and will be liable for additional fees.  Individuals who are classified as non-resident by the College, but who claim to qualify as legal residents, must file a “Petition for Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes” form with required supporting documentation to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline listed on the petition form. Resident status is not changed automatically, and the burden of proof rests with the student to demonstrate that he or she qualifies as a legal resident under the regulations established by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Students should be prepared to pay out-of-state tuition rates pending the outcome of their petition. EGSC will consider and evaluate petitions within the first 45 days of the semester as time permits. All requests after that period will not be considered for the next term. Students may file a petition once a semester. EGSC does not retroactively consider requests for in-state tuition (waivers or petitions) for completed terms.

Petition for permanent in-state (Georgia) classification

Students seeking consideration for permanent in-state classification should review the required conditions and multiple types of required supportive documentation necessary to prove their eligibility. The Petition for Classification for Tuition Purposes can be found on the Waivers and Tuition Classification webpage (here).

Financial Aid

Mission Statement

Through the financial aid programs, EGSC strives to provide deserving students from all economic levels an opportunity for higher education. Every effort will be made to provide assistance to students, who, without such aid, would be unable to attend college. Financial aid is awarded on the basis of need, scholastic achievement, or promise of academic success.

EGSC financial aid programs are administered according to nationally established policy and philosophy of financial aid for education. Financial aid is available from a variety of federal, state, institutional, and private sources and may be in the form of a scholarship, loan, grant, employment, or a combination of these. Students may apply for financial aid online

Code of Conduct

As representatives of EGSC and the USG, it is vital that all employees in the Office of Financial Aid maintain the trust of current and future students as well as their parents and the general public. To fulfill that obligation, it is vital that this office and the staff function in a manner consistent with the highest ethical standards.

In performing our official duties, the Office of Financial Aid will work to provide excellent customer service and avoid actions motivated by private or personal interest. We will safeguard our ability to make objective and impartial decisions based on Federal and State guidelines and shall not accept benefits of any sort under circumstances in which it could be inferred by a reasonable observer that the benefit was intended to influence our personal decision-making process.

The Office of Financial Aid staff will maintain a professional relationship with loan servicers, agencies, or other third parties to address servicing issues related to a student’s financial aid.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

1. Begin by completing an application for admission to EGSC and submit an official high school transcript or high school equivalency diploma test scores and SAT scores (if applicable). Applications are available on the Office of Admissions webpage (here).

2. If you have attended another college/university/technical institution, please submit official copies of ALL academic transcripts to the Office of Admissions, 131 College Circle, Swainsboro, GA 30401. The Financial Aid Office needs these academic transcripts regardless of whether you will be transferring academic credits from these schools.

The financial aid application will include the following disclaimer for the applicant certification:

“I certify that documentation submitted by me or any other person in my behalf, for the purpose of qualifying and awarding student aid is true and complete to the best of my (our) knowledge. I understand that EGSC determines financial aid eligibility based on all data available including any data that I and others provide. I understand that any inaccurate data, false, statements or misrepresentation may be cause for denial, reduction, withdrawal, and/or repayment of financial aid, and I may be subject to a fine, imprisonment or both, under provisions of the United States Criminal Code. I agree to repay any awards I receive based on inaccurate data and/or funds I receive for which I am not eligible. I also understand that my Cost of Attendance (COA) may increase due to new budget regulations issued by the Board of Regents”.

3. Request a Federal Student Aid ID for yourself and one parent (if you are a dependent) from the Federal Student Aid website (here).

4.   All financial aid applicants must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Complete the FAFSA on the Web provided by the U.S. Department of Education at www.fafsa.gov, or use the telephone app “myStudentAid”, and put the EGSC school code (Code: 010997) as the receiving school.

If you are a HOPE Scholar, complete the Scholarship Application (GSFAPPS) on the GAFutures website (here).

5. Completed financial aid applications will be processed when EGSC has received your FAFSA and/or HOPE Scholarship information as well as any and all other required documentation.

6. Financial aid recipients must re-apply for assistance each year beginning October 1.

Recommended Application Priority Filing Dates

It is important for students to apply for financial aid as early as possible so that financial need for all applicants may be determined prior to registration. The recommended time for completing the FAFSA is as soon as possible after October 1^st of the year prior to attending.

All required documents as well as official acceptance to EGSC must be filed by the following priority file dates:

Students who are not “officially accepted” and do not have a complete file, including all Student Aid Report Corrections and request for documents required by the above dates, may be required to pay ALL educational expenses incurred out-of-pocket until applications are processed and eligibility is determined.

Applications received after these dates will receive consideration as time permits. All financial aid awards are made for one academic year only. The EGSC financial aid award year begins in the fall semester and ends at the conclusion of the summer semester. Beginning freshmen who plan to enroll during the summer semester must complete the current academic year financial aid application as well as the next academic year application. Example: summer 2020 is for the 2019-2020 academic year and fall 2020 is during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Tax Return & Transcript Information

If selected for the Verification Process, you will be required to provide a signed copy of your 1040 tax form or a tax transcript from the IRS.

If you do not have a copy of your IRS form 1040, an IRS tax transcript may be obtained by one of the following:

1. Pick-up at your regional IRS Office. A local address and phone number for an IRS office in your area can be found on the IRS website (here).
2. Online IRS Transcript Request using the “Get Transcript” request form (here).
3. IRS by phone (1-800-829-1040).

**NOTE: Students and Parents may return to www.fafsa.gov and link their FAFSA with the IRS Data Retrieval to avoid submitting tax transcripts.

Student Financial Aid Budget Cost of Attendance (COA)

In developing a COA for students applying for financial aid, allowances for tuition & fees, books, supplies, room & board, and other miscellaneous expenses are included.

The following is an example of a budget for dependent students living on-campus applying for aid at East Georgia State College:

Offers of Financial Aid

*NOTE: This information is provided as a guide and is subject to change without notice to comply with federal, state, and institutional policies.

Once students financial aid applications have been processed, they will receive an electronic offer letter that lists the various types of aid they are eligible to receive during the academic year. Offers are based on full-time (12 or more hours) status; some offers may be adjusted if the student does not enroll as a full-time student. However, aid will automatically be prorated at disbursement if the student is not full-time.

If it is determined that the student is not eligible for aid after offer has been accepted, the Financial Aid office is required to adjust the student’s offer.

Students will automatically be reviewed for Federal PELL Grants and FSEOG because they are considered gift aid and do not have to be repaid. Students also will be reviewed for Federal Work-Study at the student’s request. The school will be notified by the state of students eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, and these awards will appear on the offer letter. Continuing students currently receiving HOPE are automatically reviewed. Transfer students must complete the online HOPE/ZELL Request form.

Students may receive grant funds up to the cost of college attendance. If they still have unmet financial needs, students may apply for loans under the Federal Subsidized Direct Loan and/or the Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan programs. These loan programs require a separate loan request form in addition to the FASFA. These online loan request forms can be completed on the financial aid website (here). Loans will NOT be automatically listed on the Offer Letter.

Students who apply by the priority processing due date will be considered for all available funds. Some funds are limited and are to eligible students based on greatest need and meeting the deadline.

Verification Process

Verification is a federally mandated quality control process to ensure the accuracy of information provided on the FAFSA and uses additional documentation to confirm that the information provided is correct. Verification ensures that eligible students receive all the federal financial aid to which they are entitled. Below are answers to commonly asked questions about the verification process:

• How will I know if I am selected for verification?

If you are selected for verification by the federal processor, there will be an asterisk next to your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on your Student Aid Report (SAR). You will also be informed of having been selected for verification in the SAR Acknowledgement Letter. If you are selected for verification by the EGSC Office of Financial Aid, you will be notified of any additional documentation that is required.

• Why was I selected for verification?

Reasons vary; it may be that your FAFSA was incomplete or contains estimated or inconsistent information. You may have also been chosen randomly. Verification is a federal regulation. Students selected for verification are not being punished; rather verification prevents ineligible students from receiving aid by reporting false information and ensures that eligible students receive all the aid for which they qualify.

• How will I know what additional documentation is required for verification and where/when to send it?

If your SAR indicates you were selected for verification or if the EGSC Office of Financial Aid determines that your application needs to be verified, you and your parent(s) will be required to provide supporting documents to the EGSC Office of Financial Aid.

The Department of Education has changed the verification process. As a result, depending on certain financial indicators, the category of verification you were selected for and the specific documentation required will vary.

If you are selected for verification, EGSC utilizes Campus Logic to collect required documentation.  You may create an account with Campus Logic here. Using your EGSC username and password.

• If I am selected for verification, am I required to submit additional documentation?

Yes. Participation in the verification process is not optional. If a student who is selected does not submit the require documentation by the established deadline, he or she will not be eligible to receive federal financial aid.

Should the verified financial information differ significantly from the original information provided on the FAFSA, your aid may be adjusted, in which case you will be notified.

Verification Categories:

Standard Verification (V1)

What is required?

• For tax filers, successfully utilize the IRS’s Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA (preferred option). Step- by- step instructions for using this tool are available by video (here) or you may choose to request a hard copy of your federal tax return transcript from the IRS website (here), or a signed copy of your IRS 1040.
• For non-tax filers, provide a copy of W-2 statement(s).
• If anyone in your household received SNAP benefits at any time during the past two years, provide a signed statement indicating receipt of such benefits.
• If anyone in your household paid child support to another household at any time during the tax year in question, provide a signed statement indicating the amount of child support paid, to whom it was paid and for whom it was paid.

Custom Verification (V4)

What is required?

• You must appear in person at one of the Student Affairs campus locations, present a valid government-issued photo ID and a signed statement of educational purpose (to be submitted in person upon your arrival on campus).
• If anyone in your household received SNAP benefits during the past two years, provide a signed statement indicating receipt of such benefits.
• If anyone in your household paid child support to another household during the tax year in question, provide a signed statement indicating the amount of child support paid, to whom it was paid and for whom it was paid.

Aggregate Verification (V5)

What is required?

• You must appear in person at one of the EGSC Student Affairs campus locations, present a valid government-issued photo ID and a signed statement of educational purpose.
• For tax filers, successfully utilize the IRS’s Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA (preferred option). Step- by- step instructions for using this tool are available by video (here) or you may choose to request a hard copy of your federal tax return transcript from the IRS website (here), or a signed copy of your IRS 1040.
• For non-tax filers, provide a copy of W-2 statement(s) and non-tax filer statement from the IRS (if other than a dependent student).
• If anyone in your household received SNAP benefits at any time during the past two years, provide a signed statement indicating receipt of such benefits.
• If anyone in your household paid child support to another household at any time during the tax year in question, provide a signed statement indicating the amount of child support paid, to whom it was paid and for whom it was paid.

To avoid delays, all verification documents should be submitted immediately.

If the federal processor selects your application for verification, you do not have to wait for the Office of Financial Aid to request additional documentation from you. It is your responsibility to review your SAR, which will list the specific verification category you were selected for, to determine if you are selected and submit additional documentation to the Office of Financial Aid by the suggested priority deadline for the semester you are entering for that academic year.

If the EGSC Office of Financial Aid selects your application for verification, you will be informed that you have been selected and that additional documentation is required. Be sure to provide documentation by the deadline to avoid delays in crediting your financial aid to your student account.

EGSC utilizes the Campus Logic website to aid in the collection of verification documents and the completion of the verification process. The first step in the verification process is to create a Campus Logic account, then proceed to complete and upload the requested documents. For more information about Campus Logic go to the EGSC website (here).

Financial Aid Policies

1. The family is primarily responsible for helping students meet educational costs. Financial aid aims to fill the gap between the student’s resources and educational expenses.
2. For selecting financial aid recipients, the college places primary emphasis on financial need, academic achievement, or future academic promise.
3. Students receiving financial aid must notify the Office of Financial Aid of any changes that may affect their financial aid eligibility (ex. Additional scholarships).
4. Students receiving financial aid who withdraw before completing the semester may be expected to repay a portion of their award. Refer to the Institution’s Return to Title IV Official and Unofficial Withdrawal Policy
5. Students who have defaulted on a loan or owe a refund on a grant are ineligible to receive financial aid.
6. Students who expect to receive financial aid for the summer semester must complete the Office of Financial Aid application for summer aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP)

The complete policy regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress can be found on the President’s Policies and Procedures page (here).

Distribution of Financial Aid

Financial aid is disbursed proportionally according to the number of semesters enrolled during the academic year. First-time borrowers of a William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program will receive their first disbursement 30 days after classes begin.

Students employed in the Student Assistant Program and Federal Work-Study Program are paid once every two weeks.

Financial Aid Programs

Financial aid is available from a variety of federal, state, institutional, and private sources and is awarded in the form of scholarships, loans, grants, employment, or a combination of these.  Grants and scholarship awards usually do not have to be repaid. Most loans are repayable by students in monthly installments beginning 6 months after graduation or withdrawal from school or drop below half-time enrollment.

Grants

Federal Supplement Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are awarded to students with exceptional financial need. Eligible students who are enrolled at least half-time, maintain good academic standing and maintain SAP standards may receive FSEOG as funds are available.

Federal Pell Grant: The Federal Pell Grant Program is a federal aid program designed to provide financial assistance to those students with exceptional financial need as determined by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) reported on the Student Aid Report (SAR).

HOPE Scholarship: Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education and is available to eligible 1993 or later Georgia high school graduates. Others are eligible to receive the HOPE Scholarship as a renewal of their HOPE award, or by having a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the 30^th, 60^th, or 90^th attempted hour benchmark. Full time enrollment is not a requirement. The HOPE Scholarship will cover, a portion of tuition and institutional fees each semester for those working on an undergraduate degree. Eligibility for entering freshmen is based on final high school core curriculum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or better as determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC).  Questions regarding the HOPE Scholarship Program should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid or the Scholarship and Grants Office at the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Further HOPE information can be accessed on-line at www.gafutures.org.

ZELL Miller Scholarship: Eligibility Requirements - incoming freshmen entering fall 2011 or later and graduating from high school with a GPA of 3.7 or higher as calculated by GSFC. And, students must receive a combined score of 1200 on the critical reading and math section on a single test administration of the SAT or received an ACT composite scale score of 26 on a single test administration. Incoming freshmen entering fall 2011 reported as Valedictorians and salutatorians to GSFC will be classified as Zell Miller Scholars regardless of GPA or test scores. Currently enrolled students must have met the above requirements at the time of high school graduation, and they must have a 3.3 college GPA at the 30^th, 60^th, or 90^th checkpoint to qualify for the Zell Miller Scholarship starting fall 2011.

Loans

Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year, EGSC began participating in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loans): Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students and parents to assist with payment of a student’s educational costs. The lender is the U. S. Department of Education rather than a private bank or other financial institution.

The Direct Loan program offers three types of loans: Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS loan (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students). Direct Subsidized are low-interest; need-based loans for students enrolled at least half-time in an eligible institution. Subsidized means that the federal government will pay all interest on your loan until you begin repayment that starts six months after you graduate or cease to be enrolled at least half-time. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are not based on need.  The program is open to all students who do not qualify for other Direct Subsidized Loans. You are responsible for all interest from the day the loan is made; however, the interest can be capitalized if requested.

Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS): A Direct PLUS Loan is a loan made to the parents of undergraduate students who are enrolled at least half time at an eligible institution. Eligibility is not based on need, but the parent is subject to a credit check. Parents may borrow up to the cost of education less any other financial aid awarded with repayment beginning within 60 days of loan disbursement.

For more information on types of student loans, please visit the Federal Student Aid website (here).

Federal Work-Study Program

Federal Work-Study is a federally funded program designed to help create jobs for students who have qualified for financial assistance and who need to work in order to attend college. To be eligible for Federal Work-Study a student must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours and be in good academic standing. The jobs are located in various departments and offices on campus. Under present arrangements, students may work ten to nineteen hours per week during the regular academic semester until the awarded amount has been earned. Some students are eligible to work between semesters and during vacation periods.

Student Assistance Program

This program is financed entirely by the college. Students under the program generally work ten to nineteen hours a week. Positions are available in most departments on campus. Financial need is not a major determinant of qualifying for work as a student assistant. To be eligible for Federal Work-Study a student must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours and be in good academic standing. All employment at the college operates in compliance with Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

Leadership Scholarships

Several civic clubs, organizations, and individual donors in the area served by EGSC make awards for scholarship purposes to the college on a yearly basis.  Scholarships from these funds are awarded to students on the basis of high school achievement, college academic promise, and positions of leadership held while a high school student. Students interested in applying for a leadership scholarship should complete the Leadership Scholarship Application that may be obtained from a high school counselor, from the Office of Financial Aid or on the EGSC web site beginning January 1st. The application deadline is April 1^st.  Refer to the Office of Financial Aid webpage for additional details (here).

Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits

EGSC actively encourages former service personnel, children of permanently disabled veterans, and war orphans to take full advantage of benefits available through the Montgomery GI Bill. Those persons eligible should apply for admission to EGSC and complete the admission process. Certification of the enrollment must be made to the Department of Veterans Affairs by the VA Certifying Official after enrollment is verified. Students must submit a VA Enrollment Pre-Screen Form, Certificate of Eligibility/NOBE and a copy of the DD-214 (if applicable) in addition to other requested documents.

VA Educational Benefits

EGSC honors all VA Educational benefit types, and students who elect to utilize VA Educational Benefits must submit their certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance no later than the first day of a course of education to the School Certifying Official.  All recipients must also complete the Pre-Screening form to ensure that they understand any enrollment changes must be reported to the School Certifying Official. EGSC permits the use of VA Education Benefits to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website - eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1. The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

EGSC will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.  If the student is a Chapter 33 recipient who is paid at less than 100%, the student is responsible for the remaining financial obligation after the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Through the Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a student with a physical disability may obtain grants-in-aid to cover tuition and possibly books and supplies. The State of Georgia provides the financial assistance for this program. Students who believe they may qualify for vocational rehabilitation services should contact; Georgia Department of Human Resources, Office of Rehabilitation Services, 47 Trinity Avenue SW, Atlanta, Georgia or call 1-800-869-1150.

Return to Title IV Official Withdrawal Policy

**NOTE: This policy is applicable to all EGSC students, regardless of their location in attending classes, who receive Federal Student Aid (FSA) at EGSC.

If a student who is an eligible recipient of FSA Title IV grant or loan funds withdraws from academic study after beginning attendance in scheduled credits, EGSC is required to determine the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance earned by the student, in accordance with a federally mandated formula. If the amount disbursed to the student is greater than the amount the student earned, the amount of unearned funds must be returned. If the amount disbursed to the student is less than the amount the student earned, and for which the student is otherwise eligible, he or she is eligible to receive a post-withdrawal disbursement of the earned aid that was not received. If a student does not receive all of the FSA Title IV funds during their attendance period, the student may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement. EGSC must get permission before disbursement can be made if the disbursement is from any of the eligible Federal Direct Loan program fund sources. The student has the right to decline part of or all of the loan funds to keep from incurring additional debt. EGSC may use all or a portion of the student’s post withdrawal disbursement of grant funds to pay for tuition, fees, and room and board.

In compliance with Federal Regulations relating to Student Assistance General Provision [34 CFR 668.22], EGSC must determine whether a return of Title IV federal funds is necessary when a student fails to attend or ceases to attend class and does not withdraw. This situation is referred to as an “unofficial withdrawal.” Please note that if a student never actually began attendance for the payment period or period of enrollment, the student is not eligible for Title IV funds, and adjustments to awards must be made.

Official Withdrawal Policy

When a student chooses to officially withdraw from EGSC, prior to the end of an academic term, they must first complete a “Withdrawal” form. The student should obtain this form from the Records Office or from the Records Office Webpage. This form must be completed and returned to the Records Office no later than the Last Day to Withdraw without Academic Penalty, which is noted on the academic calendar.

Students Who Stop Attending Classes- When a student stops attending classes but did not complete the official withdrawal process or provide notification of his or her intent to withdraw or leave the school, the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew would be the date that the school becomes aware that the student stops attending classes. In these cases, students will receive all F’s at the end of the semester. The last date of attendance will be provided by faculty for courses the student failed to complete. In instances where there are multiple withdrawal dates, some before and some after the 60% point, it is the policy of EGSC to base the Title IV calculation on the maximum last date of attendance.

Return of Title IV (R2T4) Funds

If a student withdraws from EGSC, then the school, or the student, or both may be required to return some, or all, of the Title IV grant or loans funds awarded to the student for that semester. The federal government requires a return of Title IV federal aid that was received if the student withdrew on or before completing 60% of the semester.  EGSC is required to complete a federal R2T4 calculation to determine if an adjustment should be made to a student’s Title IV aid if that student ceases enrollment after beginning attendance in at least one class. If completion of the semester can be confirmed for at least one class, a R2T4 calculation is not required and the student is deemed to have “earned” all funding for which they are eligible. This is called a Return of Funds calculation or R2T4. As a part of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Congress passed provisions governing what must happen to federal financial assistance if a student completely withdraws from school in any term. The policy governs all federal grant and loan programs including the Federal Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, The Federal PLUS Loan and any new programs introduced in the future. The Return of Title IV Policy does not affect the Federal Work-Study Program.

In general, the law assumes that a student “earns” federal financial aid awards directly in proportion to the number of days of the term the student attends. A student “earns” financial aid in proportion to the time s/he is enrolled up to the 60% point. The percentage of federal aid to be returned (unearned aid) is equal to the number of calendar days remaining in the semester when the withdrawal takes place divided by the total number of calendar days in the semester. If a student was enrolled for 20% of the semester before completely withdrawing, 80% of federal financial aid must be returned to the aid programs. If a student stays through 50% of the semester, 50% of federal financial aid must be returned. The portion of federal grants and loans a student is entitled to receive is calculated on a percentage basis by comparing the total number of days in the term to the number of days completed before the student withdrew or stopped attending. For a student who withdraws after the 60% point-in-time, there is no unearned aid. However, a school must still complete a Return calculation in order to determine whether the student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement.