Academic Advisement

University 101

As you spend time as a student at Augusta University, you will become acquainted with lots of unique lingo and verbiage. Below, we have taken the opportunity to introduce you to a variety of different terms and policies that you, at some time or another, may come in contact with in conversation with other students, campus staff, and faculty members.

Components of a Degree

Majors

A major is an academic course of study, with specific requirements within an academic department. The major comprises roughly one-half (60 hours) of a degree program. To graduate, students must have a major.

Minors

A minor is a secondary area of academic emphasis and usually requires 18 hours of academic coursework beyond the major of interest’s coursework. There are a variety of reasons why a student may add a minor to their degree plan.

Core Curriculum

General education provides students with their best opportunity to experience the breadth of human knowledge and the ways that knowledge in various disciplines is interrelated. In the University System of Georgia, general education programs consist of a group of courses known as the Core Curriculum as well as other courses and co-curricular experiences specific to each institution. The Core Curriculum provides some flexibility in which courses the student takes based on their individual interests; therefore, substitutions of courses from outside core curriculum or from other areas of the core curriculum are generally not permitted except under extraordinary circumstances.

Visit the University Catalog and select “Core Requirements” from the side navigation panel to view a detailed explanation and breakdown of the core curriculum.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Types of GPA

Regents GPA:

    • The average of every grade received at Augusta University, including repeated courses. This cumulative GPA is used in determining eligibility for scholarships and academic awards.

Institutional GPA:
    • The average of grades received in all courses taken at Augusta University, including only the most recent grade for courses that have been taken more than once at Augusta University and are not repeatable for credit. If an undergraduate student repeats an Augusta University course (except courses which may be repeated for credit such as WELL activity courses), then the new grade earned, higher or lower, replaces the former grade in calculating the Institutional GPA. This GPA is used in determining graduation eligibility as well as whether or not a student is placed on academic probation or academic suspension.

Term GPA:

    • The average of grades earned in one particular semester or term at Augusta University. This GPA determines Deans’ Lists and whether a student on academic probation will be placed on academic suspension.

 

Transfer GPA:

    • The average of grades that have transferred in from other schools. A transfer student may begin at Augusta University on academic probation, but this GPA does not figure into academic standing once the student has grades earned from Augusta. Transfer work may be used to determine eligibility for academic awards.

Overall GPA:

    • The average of all grades earned in college level work.

How to Calculate a Grade Point Average

  • Convert grades to quality points.
  • Multiply the letter grades’ values by the number of credit hours attempted in each course.
    • Letter grades have the following values: A=4; B=3; C=2; D=1; F=0; W=0; (I, W, S, U, V, K, NR are not included in a GPA).
    • For example, a B in a 3 hour course equals 9 quality points (3x3=9); a B in a 1 hour course equals 3 quality points (3x1=3).
  • Add all the quality points.
  • Add all the hours attempted (except classes with W).
  • Divide total quality points by total hours attempted.
  • The quotient, truncated to 2 decimal places, is the GPA
 

Basic Academic Terminology

Below we provided basic terminology that you will see through out your college career.

An academic course of study, with specific requirements within an academic department. The major comprises roughly one-half (60 hours) of a degree program. To graduate, students must have a major. 

A secondary area of academic emphasis and usually requires 18 hours of academic coursework beyond the major of interest’s coursework. There are a variety of reasons why a student may add a minor to their degree plan. 

A one credit hour, seminar course designed to engage first and second year students in the discovery, exploration and analysis of ideas. Students should take INQR 1000 within the first two years of a student’s undergraduate career. INQR 1000 is not required for students who transfer to Augusta University with more than 60 credit hours. 

A policy that governs students whose institutional GPA falls below a 2.0, the GPA necessary for graduation. Students will be placed on Academic Probation or Suspension based on several factors. The academic standing policies can be found in the University Catalog under Academic Regulations. 

Source for information about all of the university degree and program requirements, including course descriptions, pre-requisite information, and academic policies and procedures. Students should utilize the catalog associated with their most recent admissions term as policies can change from year to year.

Courses that must be taken together in the same term are co-requisites. Courses that require co-requisites are noted in course descriptions printed in the Catalog. 

A period at the beginning of each semester during which students are able to drop courses for which they have previously registered and/or add any additional available courses to their schedule. The add/drop dates are generally noted in the university’s Academic Calendar.  

Students taking 12 or more credit hours are considered full-time; however, students should take 15 to 17 credit hours each Fall and Spring semester in order to graduate in four years. Note: 15-17 hours may not be attainable for the student with dual enrollment, advanced placement or transfer credit.  

A measure of academic performance on a 4-point scale. A student’s GPA can be viewed in JagTrax, the student degree audit.

A course that must be satisfactorily completed prior to taking another course. For example, before taking ENGL 1102, a student must first pass (with a minimum grade of C) ENGL 1101. Prerequisites may be found at the end of course descriptions in the Catalog. 

POUNCE is the University’s online student information system. Maintained by the Registrar’s Office, it includes information about registration, student information and records, student fees, financial aid, and more. 

Withdrawing from a course means exiting a course after add/drop concludes. Withdrawing from a course can create significant problems for financial aid and delay graduation. Students are always encouraged to speak to the professor of the course they wish to drop regarding whether a withdrawal is necessary. Students should also consult the Office of Financial Aid to determine the implications of withdrawing from a course after the add/drop deadline. Students are required to complete withdrawal form which can be accessed via the Registrar’s website and are required to get the signature of their professor and Academic Advisor before the form can be processed by Records.  

Withdrawal Instructions

All candidates for the bachelor’s degree at Augusta University must satisfy the following conditions: 

  • Students must earn 39 or more hours in upper level courses.
  • Students must complete all requirements for a major with a grade of C or better in each course.
  • Together with the core curriculum, minor (if applicable), and electives, these requirements must total at least 120 hours, not including credits for the wellness requirement. 

Specific graduation requirements for each program can be found in the University Catalog. 

 

Academic Standing

Academic Probation and Suspension Policy (per the University Catalog)

Any undergraduate student whose institutional grade point average (GPA) at the conclusion of any semester is below a 2.00 shall be placed on academic probation. Undergraduate students at Augusta University who are on academic probation must have their course schedules approved by their advisors prior to registration. They may continue to attend only if they meet the following minimum academic standards, which are based on progression level.

Progression Level Term GPA Institutional GPA
0-29 1.50 1.00
30-59 2.00 1.60
60-89 2.00 1.90
90 & above 2.00 2.00

 


Students who are on probation and fail to meet either the minimum Term of the Institutional GPA requirements specified above will be suspended. Students who meet the Term GPA requirement will remain on probation until their Institutional GPA is at or above 2.00, at which time they will return to good standing. Some programs within the University maintain academic standards specific to their degree requirements which may exceed these basic requirements.

Academic Suspension

The mandatory minimum term of suspension shall be one semester. Students wishing to return to the University after a suspension must petition for reinstatement (see below “Requesting Reinstatement from Academic Suspension”). If reinstatement is approved, the student will be placed on academic probation, and may be subject to additional conditions of continuation established by the University at the time of reinstatement. Should the probationary student achieve good standing, the student will be subject to the policy guidelines for students in good standing.

 

 

Requesting Reinstatement from Academic Suspension

Academic suspension carries with it a mandatory one-semester period during which the student is not allowed to enroll at Augusta University – or to take coursework elsewhere with the intention of transferring it back to AU.

Reinstatement from suspension is considered only after a first suspension but is not assured. Students who have completed, or are in the process of completing, the mandatory semester of academic suspension may petition to return to classes by writing a letter of request to be reinstated at Augusta University.

Students who have been suspended a second time are placed on Academic Dismissal status and are not eligible for reinstatement. They may be considered for readmission to AU only if granted academic renewal. See Augusta University Policy Academic Standing for Undergraduate Students.

Students that wish to be considered for reinstatement must submit petitions to the Dean of his/her major college (see below).

College of Allied Health Sciences

Dean: Dr. Lester Pretlow

                lpretlow@augusta.edu

                (706) 721-2621 office

                cahs@augusta.edu

                (706) 721-2621 Main

 

College of Education and Human Development

Dean: Dr. Judi Wilson

                jwilson24@augusta.edu

                (706) 667-4961

                coe@augstua.edu

                (706) 737-1499

 

College of Nursing

Interim Associate Dean for Student Affairs

Dr. Elizabeth Nesmith

                bnesmith@augusta.edu

                (706) 721-3237

                nursing@augusta.edu

                (706) 721-3771

 

College of Science and Mathematics

Dean: Dr. John Sutherland

                jsutherland@augusta.edu

                ( 706) 446-5828

                cosm@augusta.edu

                (706) 729-2259

               

Katherine Resse Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Dean: Dr. Kim Davies

                Kdavies1@augusta.edu

                (706) 737-1738

                pamplin@augusta.edu

               

School of Computer and Cyber Sciences

Dean: Dr. Alexander Schwarzmann

                aschwarzmann@augusta.edu

                (706) 721-1110

 

Hull College of Business

Dean: Dr. Mark Thompson (Interim)

                mthompson2@augusta.edu

                (706) 737-1418

                hull@augusta.edu

               

If you are a Pre-Nursing (Undeclared) student, the petition for reinstatement will be submitted directly to the Director of Academic Advisement Center:

Mrs. Veronica D. Wilson

vewilson@augusta.edu

(706) 667-4084

Letters of request for reinstatement should be submitted:

  • No sooner than the suspension has occurred, but
  • At least 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester when the student wishes to return to classes.

In your letter, you should include each of the following:

  • Your full name and Jag ID number, current mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
  • A formal request to be reinstated. Specify the semester when you would like to return to classes. If you have decided to change your major, you should make a statement to that effect.
  • An explanation of all factors that led to your past academic difficulties and suspension.
  • An explanation as to how you have resolved or minimized those problems. In addition, please provide detailed steps on how you will improve your grades (i.e., what campus resources and services you will utilize).

Remember that “honesty is virtue” when submitting your letter of reinstatement.

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