New Student Guide 2024

Welcome Hurricanes!

We are excited that you chose Georgia Southwestern State University. Attending GSW means more than just getting a degree to hang on the wall. It’s a springboard forward to build fresh skills, unlock new wisdom, and create lasting relationships that will steer your dreams and shape your path for years to come.

Whether it’s a challenge from a professor to push a little farther or the encouragement of a peer who is just as eager as you are, GSW offers the support you need to achieve your goals and rise to your potential. For every obstacle you hit or challenge you face, you know you’ll have the tools, the mentors, and the teammates that will help you take tomorrow by storm.

As you begin your college journey, this guide will help you navigate campus and discover all that life as a Hurricane has to offer.

Welcome to GSW - and go Hurricanes!

Table of contents FROM THE ADMINISTRATION

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COLLEGE LINGO

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LIFE AT GSW

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First-Year Experience Thunder Camp New Student Orientation UNIV 1000 Residential Living Student Involvement Canes Connect Merit Pages Social Media Campus Publications Campus Traditions Recreation & Wellness Canes Harvest Career Readiness Athletics Counseling Services Care@GSW Health Services Experiential Learning Accommodations and Access Registrar

UNIVERSITY SERVICES Financial Aid Student Accounts Public Safety Parking & Transportation Emergency Notifications Canes Card Dining Services RAIN Tutoring Library Services Writing Center Testing Center Campus Post Office Technology Support Bookstore Student Rights & Responsibilities CanesQ

COLLEGES College of Arts and Sciences College of Nursing and Health Sciences College of Business and Computing College of Education

ACADEMIC ESSENTIALS Academic Advising Attendance Earn Credit for What You Know Impacts Core GeorgiaVIEW & GoVIEW University Supported Enrollment Class Registration Transfer Credit Momentum Approach HAIL Calculating Your GPA

6 6 6 6 7 9 9 10 10 10 11 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17

18 18 19 20 21 22 22 22 23 24 24 25 25 25 26 27 27 27

28 28 28 29 29

30 30 30 30 30 32 32 32 33 33 34 35

INDEX

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CAMPUS MAP

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THE GSW EXPERIENCE These three pillars will guide your experience at Georgia Southwestern and beyond

People

Join an engaged community of lifelong supporters who support and motivate you

Purpose

Tap into your talents with various opportunities as you develop your most authentic self

Profession

Prepare to be competitive in the marketplace and graduate studies as a GSW graduate

Learn more at gsw.edu/GSWExperience

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FROM THE ADM I

t is such a pleasure to welcome you to GSW! Your presence here is a testament to your hard work and accomplishments, and we are thrilled to have you join the Hurricane family. I hope that your time here will be filled with exciting opportunities, meaningful experiences, and lasting memories.

As you immerse yourself in the college experience, I encourage you to embrace it with enthusiasm while staying dedicated to your academic goals.

The initial stages of this journey may present challenges, but be confident that you can overcome them through persistence and by leveraging the many resources available on our campus. The entire GSW community is here to support you on this adventure. Get to know your professors, utilize the wealth of student support resources offered on our campus, and seize the countless opportunities you will have to establish meaningful relationships.

Take the time to explore the diverse range of student organizations, campus events, and community service initiatives available at our University.

Engaging in these activities provides more than just a chance to have fun; they serve as a platform for enhancing your leadership, communication, and time management skills. Joining a student organization will not only enrich your college experience but also cultivate a sense of belonging, create opportunities for lasting friendships, and help establish a supportive network.

Lastly, as you navigate this first year, know that I am eager to connect with you, discover your aspirations, and share in the enthusiasm you bring.

So, whether you’re heading to the Caf or attending a campus event, don’t hesitate to stop by, say “hello,” or share your thoughts with me. Your presence enriches us, and we eagerly anticipate the fresh ideas and energy you will bring to the Canes Community.

Jill Drake, Ph.D. Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

W

elcome Hurricanes! The Department of First-Year Experience and Student Success (FYE) is here to assist you in an exciting educational journey that will help you find your place at Georgia Southwestern State University and build strong social and academic foundations. Our goal is to prepare you to succeed not only as a student, but as an individual as you begin to acquire new knowledge and skills and open yourself up to new challenges and opportunities.

I hope that your first year will be a memorable one as you engage in experiences that strengthen your understanding of what it means to be a contributing member of the GSW community. During your first year, remember FYE is here to ensure your success through a thoughtful and intentional series of activities, events, academic advising, orientation, peer mentorship, and your UNIV 1000 course. I look forward to seeing you on campus!

Go Canes!

David Jenkins, Ed.D. Director of First-Year Experience and Student Success

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INISTRATION T

he Hurricane family and I welcome you to Georgia Southwestern State University. This is a special time in your life. The start of something new.

Some of you follow family member footsteps by attending GSW. Many of you are the first person in your family to seek a higher education degree at a four-year university.

This journey requires a network of people to encourage you throughout the process. Know that GSW staff and faculty are in your support network.

We believe in you. We know that you can and will be successful at GSW. It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it. Our job is to challenge and support you. We strive to help you reach your potential, achieve your goals, and fulfill your dreams.

The GSW New Student Guide is designed to be a resource throughout your first year and beyond. GSW has a strategic approach to preparing you for college success. Our three-prong approach includes Storm Day, Thunder Camp, and Orientation Week. Each program is designed to build your knowledge of the ins-and-outs of student life. I encourage you to commit to getting the most out of all three programs.

Georgia Southwestern awaits your arrival. I look forward to taking tomorrow by storm with you!

Sincerely, Laura Boren, Ph.D. Executive Vice President for Student Engagement and Success

Student Engagement and Success

The Division of Student Engagement and Success (SES) focuses on creating a campus environment which engages students to develop academically, socially, and culturally through intentional programming and services while encouraging interactions with students, faculty, staff, and others. It is the goal of SES to foster leadership skills within each student through service learning and civic engagement opportunities. SES is dedicated to serving the student body by building an open, inclusive, intellectual, and collaborative community.

Academic Affairs

The Division of Academic Affairs is responsible for developing policies and procedures which govern the instructional programs and academic life of GSW. Academic Affairs aims to encourage and facilitate academic excellence, supervises academic personnel, and oversees the fiscal affairs of GSW’s colleges, schools, and other academic units.

Division of Academic Affairs P Wheatley Administration Building q (229) 928-1361 | p (229) 931-2835 a gsw.edu/AcademicAffairs

Division of Student Engagement and Success P Student Success Center E student.engagement@gsw.edu q (229) 928-1387 | p (229) 931-2835 a gsw.edu/SES

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COLLEGE LINGO Academic Achievement List: an honors list released each semester that includes students who are in Good Academic Standing, have previously completed 12 hours at the University, are enrolled in 3 to 11 hours for the semester, and earn an average GPA of 3.5 or better

single area of study (Ex: Department of English and Modern Languages)

Academic advisor: a faculty or staff member assigned to individually advise students who are in good standing on course selection, career goals, and academic issues.

Freshman Convocation: a ceremony to officially welcome first-year students into the GSW community (pg. 6)

Add/drop period: the period of time during the first week of each semester when schedules can be adjusted without penalty Associate degree: undergraduate degree received after two to three years of study

FAFSA: short for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the form used to apply for federal and state financial aid (pg. 18)

Full-Time/Part-Time: full-time students are those enrolled in 12 or more credit hours in a semester.

Part-time students are those enrolled in less than 12 hours.

Bachelor’s degree: undergraduate degree received after four years of study

Good Academic Standing: the end-of-term academic standing; students who have earned fewer than 30 semester credit hours must maintain a 1.75 GPA; students who have earned 30 semester credit hours or more must maintain a 2.0 GPA

College: an academic unit that includes programs of more than one discipline (Ex: College of Arts and Sciences)

Grade point average (GPA): a number, typically 0.0-4.0, that indicates how well you scored in your classes on average. (pg. 35)

Convocation: a large formal assembly

Intramural: non-collegiate sports or activities which provide competition among students from the same university

Core curriculum: the 42 hours of general education courses plus 18-19 hours in your field of study Credit: what a student receives upon completion of a course. One semester credit hour is defined as one in-class hour and two out-of-class hours per week for the duration of the semester or the equivalent in lab, studio, or field work.

Cum laude: Latin phrase meaning “with honors;” distinction given to graduates who have earned a minimum GPA of 3.5 Curriculum sheet: a document that lists the degree requirements in an academic program Dean: the academic head of a college Dean’s List: an honors list released each semester that includes students who complete at least 12 hours in a semester and earn an average GPA between 3.5 and 3.99 Department chair: full-time professors who have been given administrative duties within a specific discipline in addition to their teaching responsibilities Department: an academic unit that includes a

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Magna cum laude: Latin phrase meaning “with high honors;” distinction given to graduates who have earned a minimum GPA of 3.7 Major/Minor: a major is a student’s chosen field of study. It usually requires the successful completion of a specified number of credit hours. A minor is designated as a specific number of credit hours in a secondary field of study.

Master’s degree: graduate degree received after a student completes a bachelor’s degree Orientation: a program designed to assist all new students in adjusting to college (pg. 6) Prerequisite: a course requirement that needs to be completed before enrolling in another course President: the person in charge of running the University as a whole President’s List: an honors list released each semester that includes students who complete at least 12 hours in a semester and earn an average GPA of 4.0

RSO: registered student organization Registrar: office which evaluates and regulates student transcripts, records, grades, and classes Residential Leader (RL): a student who lives in the residence halls and enforces rules and regulations while providing support to students (pg. 7) Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): a standard set by federal law that determines whether a student can receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid and State Financial Aid (pg. 18) School: an academic unit that includes programs of a single discipline (Ex: School of Nursing) Semester: unit of time used to break down the academic year, with new classes starting at the beginning of each semester

Specialist degree: the highly specialized degree received when a student completes study beyond a master’s degree Summa cum laude: Latin phrase meaning “with highest honor;” distinction given to graduates with who have earned a minimum GPA of 3.9 Syllabus: a document that includes the assignments, schedule, and instructor’s policies for a specific course. Syllabi are typically given during the first week of class.

University Supported Enrollment (USE): restricted status students are placed on if their institutional GPA falls below Good Standing (pg. 32) Withdrawal: leaving a course after the semester’s drop period (pg. 3)

GSW TERMS The Breeze: GSW’s monthly intracampus newsletter (pg. 10)

SES: the Division of Student Engagement and Success (pg. 3)

Caf: the Dining Hall, short for “cafeteria”

SET: the Student Engagement Team, a group of student leaders who plan campus events

Canes Central: building that houses student resources including Admissions, First-Year Experience, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, tutoring and more Canes Harvest: campus food pantry open to all GSW students (pg. 13) CLCs: Canes Leading Canes, student leaders who take leadership courses and are chosen to serve as RLs, Storm Spotters, Thunder Camp Counselors, and SET members FYE: the Department of First-Year Experience and Student Success (pg. 6) Hello Walk: the pathway that stretches from the library to the Storm Dome. It’s tradition to say “hello” to everyone you meet.

Mag: Magnolia I & II residence halls (pg. 8)

The Sou’Wester: student newspaper (pg. 10) SSC: the Student Success Center, also known as the Storm Dome Storm Spotter: student leaders who assist and mentor first-year students (pg. 6) Surge: GSW’s mascot Thunder Camp: an extended orientation program for incoming freshmen (pg. 6) Zephyr: student tour guides that work within the Office of Recruitment and Admissions, named after the west wind, which is also known as a zephyr 913: your GSW ID number. All ID numbers begin with 913.

MSC: the Marshall Student Center myGSW: student portal used to access everyday systems, information, and updates (pg. 26) The Pods: the patio of the Marshall Student Center, just outside the Dining Hall

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L I F E AT G S W First-Year Experience

The Department of First-Year Experience and Student Success (FYE) assists students as they transition into GSW. Through the FYE program, students are given an introduction to college life to help them build a firm foundation for a strong future of learning. FYE is designed to support the successful academic and social transition of new students through connecting students to GSW with a sense of belonging and promoting academic success and selfdiscovery through major selection and career exploration.

FYE coordinates with faculty, staff, and students to create engaging opportunities for students through New Student Orientation, academic advising, UNIV 1000, and parent/family programs. FYE offers tutoring and supplemental instruction, providing students with extra opportunities to learn study skills and develop effective study habits.

FYE is located in Canes Central and is here to help you take your first year by storm by: • Connecting with people and opportunities • Focusing on academic life • Propelling you toward academic success • Elevating your GSW experience with a solid foundation Department of First-Year Experience and Student Success P Canes Central, 2nd floor | E fye@gsw.edu q (229) 931-2724 | a gsw.edu/FYE fc @GSWFYE | t @GSW_FYE

Thunder Camp

Thunder Camp is an extended orientation away camp for incoming freshmen. This three-day, two-night program focuses on learning the ins-and-outs of college life from Thunder Camp Counselors (TCCs) who are upperclassmen student leaders.

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New students will get to know each other through group activities. Guest speakers and customized programs will build students’ knowledge of what it takes to be successful at GSW. Thunder Camp P SSC | E thundercamp@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/ThunderCamp c @gsw_thundercamp

New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation (NSO) establishes university and academic expectations of being a student at GSW. This four-day program introduces students to academic resources, first-year preparations, social connections, and all things needed for a successful first year.

FRESHMAN CONVOCATION Freshman Convocation is GSW’s formal academic ceremony welcoming new freshmen to GSW. This typically occurs at the end of New Student Orientation.

New Student Orientation a gsw.edu/NSO

univ 1000

Each new student at GSW is registered for University 1000, a one-hour course designed to develop your skills to make you a better college student, both academically and socially. The course, also called the GSW Experience, covers the basics of life at GSW, introducing you to campus and the many services and resources available to students. UNIV 1000 also helps you identify your strengths as a student and find opportunities to build upon those strengths.

STORM SPOTTERS Storm Spotters are student leaders who assist with New Student Orientation, support programming for first-year students, and co-instruct the UNIV 1000

Storm Spotters a gsw.edu/StormSpotters

Residential Living

Residential living is an integral part of your educational experience for your first two years and beyond and can provide valuable learning opportunities unique to life at Georgia Southwestern.

Living on campus enables you to share in educational pursuits with your classmates while learning to live within a welcoming community. It also provides opportunities for individual growth through community involvement, interpersonal relationships, and social interaction.

The Office of Residence Life staff provides events and community-building opportunities in each residence hall throughout the year. Look for flyers posted and let your Residential Leader (RL) know what activities interest you.

HOUSING REQUIREMENTS All first- and second-year students are

required to live on campus. Exceptions to this policy may be made for transfer students with over 60 credit hours or students who lived on campus for two years at a previous institution, students living with family within 50 miles of campus, married students, students with children, and students 21 years old or older. If you fall into one of these categories and wish to live off campus, please contact the Office of Residence Life.

FRESHMAN MOVE-IN DAY Freshman Move-In Day is a designated day for new freshmen students to move into the residence halls. GSW and community volunteers assist new students and their families with efficiently moving belongings to their assigned rooms before the fall semester begins.

SOUTHWESTERN OAKS Freshmen housing is located in Southwestern Oaks I and II, which have a combined capacity of 414 residents. Both three-story buildings, connected by a courtyard with outdoor seating, offer shared and private bedroom floor plans with semiprivate bathrooms in each.

A computer lab is on the second floor and a common kitchen is on the third floor in each building. Students can check out items like

LIFE AT GSW

course for incoming first-year students.

Storm Spotters play a vital role in the life of first-year students, helping to promote a smooth transition into college life.

board games and moving carts at the front desks, which are staffed by Desk Assistants.

floors include laundry facilities, computer labs, and two large common areas.

RENTERS INSURANCE Renters insurance, which can be added to existing homeowners or car insurance policies or purchased as an individual policy, will cover damages in the student’s residence hall room due to accidents, emergencies, or other situations.

HOW TO REPORT AN ISSUE Students can report maintenance issues in their residence hall room, such as electrical, heating/cooling, or plumbing needs, online at gsw.edu/Maintenance.

SOUTHWESTERN MAGNOLIA Southwestern Magnolia I and II have a combined capacity of 301 residents, primarily sophomores, in 2 (private) bedroom/1 bathroom suites. A courtyard with outdoor seating and green space is located between the two buildings.

Each floor is divided into two halls and includes a common area. Both Magnolia buildings feature a common kitchen and laundry facilities on the first floor, as well as a computer lab on the third floor.

SOUTHWESTERN PINES Southwestern Pines has the capacity to house 237 upperclassmen residents. The three-story residence hall offers 4 (private) bedroom/2 bathroom apartments. Each apartment includes a furnished kitchen and living room. Laundry facilities are located on the building’s first floor. Its second and third

Other non-emergency issues on campus can be reported at gsw.edu/MakeAReport.

Office of Residence Life P SSC, 3rd floor | E housing@gsw.edu q (229) 931-2375 | p (229) 931-2835 a gsw.edu/ResLife

residence halls amenities oaks Private suites shared suites loftable beds bunkable beds high-speed internet furnished carpeted bedrooms living room & kitchen

magnolia

pines

Student involvement

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS With a wide array of clubs and student organizations, there are many opportunities to find your place on campus. From honor societies and academic clubs to social groups and interest-based organizations, there truly is something for everyone, with new organizations being established by students each year. a gsw.edu/Orgs GREEK LIFE GSW’s Greek community includes 12 nationally affiliated Greek letter organizations in the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Council, and the National Pan-hellenic Council (NPHC). Becoming a member of the fraternity and sorority community provides experiences that will help you prepare for not only a career, but also for life. These advantages include developing leadership skills by chairing a committee or assuming an executive board position, succeeding academically with the help of organized study hours, and developing enduring friendships and memories that last long after graduation. a gsw.edu/GreekLife GSW ENGAGE Managed by the Department of Residential and Campus Life, the GSW Engage social media accounts are your go-to for all things campus life. From upcoming events to leadership opportunities on campus, GSW Engage keeps you up-to-date on the latest from Greek Life, Residence Life, Recreation and Wellness, Student Engagement, Intramurals, and more. fc @GSWEngage

fc ts @GSWDrop Department of Residential and Campus Life P SSC, 3rd floor | q (229) 928-1387 E student.engagement@gsw.edu

Canes Connect

CanesConnect is GSW’s student engagement platform that can be used to browse and join student organizations, vote in online elections, browse and register for campus events, and fill out student life forms.

Your personal CanesConnect profile also tracks your activities and memberships on campus to showcase your involvement.

Log in with your CanesNet credentials (pg. 26) to get started.

CORQ APP Download Corq to have access to the CanesConnect calendar of events when you’re on the go. Corq is also used at campus events to allow students to digitally check in and track event attendance.

CanesConnect a canesconnect.gsw.edu

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LIFE AT GSW

Student involvement is a critical aspect of learning about yourself, connecting to others, and finding your passion. GSW has a large number of recognized student organizations (RSOs) and student activities available to help you do just that.

GSW DROP GSW Drop, short for “raindrop,” is the student marketing team for the Division of Student Engagement & Success (SES). Their mission is to keep all students engaged with campus activities throughout the year. GSW Drop is made up of talented and driven students with art and marketing majors and/or experience in similar fields. They produce flyers, posters, videos, social media content, and more for major SES areas.

Merit Pages

Social Media

Students can receive recognition for a variety of achievements, including being named to the President’s List, earning a scholarship, or studying abroad.

Georgia Southwestern f @GeorgiaSouthwestern c @georgiasouthwestern t @GaSouthwestern y Georgia Southwestern i Georgia Southwestern State University

Merit is an online recognition system GSW uses to acknowledge and share student achievements. With Merit, GSW can construct a verified and public profile of a student’s educational and professional accomplishments called a Merit Page.

When students claim their Merit Page, an online profile is generated that compiles achievements and accomplishments posted

by GSW, building a verified record of that student’s accomplishments, much like building a resumé. Achievements generate a short story about your accomplishment that can then be shared on social media.

Stories of significance, such as honors lists and graduation, may also be sent directly to your hometown newspapers for publication as another way to recognize your achievements.

Merit Pages E univrel@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/Merit

Following GSW accounts on social media is a great way to stay up to date on campus events and news. Follow the main GSW accounts below and find other accounts listed throughout this guide.

GIFS Show off your Hurricane spirit with GSW GIFs on Instagram stories and Snapchat!

Search for keywords like “Surge,” “GSW Canes,” or “Georgia Southwestern” to add some blue and gold flair to your posts.

Campus Publications

GSW and its students produce a number of publications throughout the year.

THE SOU’WESTER The Sou’Wester is GSW’s campus newspaper, edited and managed by students. All students are invited to work on the newspaper staff. The Sou’Wester is being distributed digitally, so keep an eye on your Radar email for the latest issue.

The Sou’Wester E souwester@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/SouWester | c @gsw_souwester THE BREEZE The Breeze is a monthly intracampus e-newsletter that focuses on GSW’s faculty, staff, and students. The newsletter aims to keep the campus community informed and recognize excellence where it is deserved with categories like student recognitions, news, publications, presentations, awards and grants, and features. A monthly call for submissions is sent out via email.

The Breeze E univrel@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/Breeze

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LIFE AT GSW

AEOLIAN The Aeolian magazine is published annually by the Department of University Relations to share alumni updates and university news from the past year. The name “Aeolian” is Greek and derives from Aeolus, the mythological keeper of the winds; an allusion to our Hurricane mascot.

Aeolian E aeolian@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/Aeolian

Campus Traditions

GSW is rich in history and traditions that allow students to find a tight-knit community and leave with a family.

HELLO WALK Since the early 1970s, all who use the campus walkway stretching from Jackson Hall to the James Earl Carter Library are encouraged to say a friendly “hello” to anyone you met on Hello Walk.

UNDER THE LIGHTS The first home soccer game features an event for the campus and community, ending with a spectacular fireworks show to celebrate the beginning of the Hurricanes’ athletics season.

GOLD FORCE THURSDAY On Thursdays, we wear gold. Spread school spirit and cheer on our athletic teams by wearing your best gold each Thursday.

HOMECOMING Homecoming is packed with fun events for students and culminates in a busy Homecoming Weekend. Alumni are welcomed back to campus for the traditional Homecoming Tailgate.

PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGE COINS When freshmen begin their journey at GSW, they receive a silver Challenge Coin to encourage companionship among students, faculty, and staff. Students are challenged to build strong relationships and give the Challenge Coin to someone who had the greatest impact in their lives at college.

Upon graduation, students will receive the Gold Coin which represents their hard work and commemorates their time at GSW. Learn more about these and other GSW traditions at gsw.edu/traditions.

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Recreation & Wellness

The Office of Recreation and Wellness is dedicated to serving the GSW community by promoting and encouraging a balanced and healthy lifestyle through educational programming, leadership, and inclusive recreational opportunities.

Recreation and Wellness offers a variety of recreational activities that are included with student tuition and fees (except personal training and outdoor adventure trips).

FLORRIE CHAPPELL GYMNASIUM Florrie Chappell Gymnasium is GSW’s newly renovated recreation and wellness facility, which is free for students to use with a valid Canes Card. The facility features a variety of state-of-the-art equipment for cardio, strength training, and functional fitness including treadmills, ellipticals, a functional fitness turf area, free weights area, and more.

Florrie Chappell also focuses on health and nutrition, mental health, and wellness.

Two unique spaces separated from the fitness area by partition boards - The Helms Family Sports Bar and the Chill Lounge allow students to recharge mentally and physically. Both spaces include televisions, charging stations, and seating areas.

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ADDITIONAL FITNESS OPPORTUNITIES The Student Success Center (SSC) houses a number of indoor recreation and fitness activities. On the main level of the SSC, you’ll find the Intramural Gym, Racquetball Courts and Climbing Wall. The Intramural Gym can be used for basketball, volleyball, badminton, and many other indoor campus activities. There are four, multiuse Racquetball Courts available any time the facility is open. Racquets, balls, and goggles can be rented from Florrie Chappell using your Canes Card. The Climbing Wall features three different climbing levels and a trained staff member to assist in the safety techniques.

Group Fitness Classes are held at various times during the week and are designed for all fitness levels. Certified Group Fitness Instructors lead exercises specific to the class and will offer modifications to support participants’ needs.

INTRAMURAL SPORTS Intramural sports give GSW students the opportunity to participate and compete against other students and staff in a variety of sporting events. Male, female, and co-ed divisions are offered for many of the sports.

The facilities, most equipment, and officials are provided.

GAME ROOM On the second floor of the SSC, you’ll find the Game Room activity area. Complete with ping-pong tables, pool tables, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and board games, the Game Room allows you to disengage from your day-to-day stresses and relax with your friends.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES Recreation and Wellness opportunities on campus include the Outdoor Challenge Course, walking trails, and frisbee golf course. Outdoor adventure trips are also offered for students at no additional cost.

Office of Recreation and Wellness P Florrie Chappell Gymnasium E recreation.wellness@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/Recreation | q (229) 931-2111

Canes Harvest

The Canes Harvest food pantry, located on the 3rd floor of the Student Success Center, is available to all GSW students on campus.

Canes Harvest stocks a variety of items year-round, including: • Non-perishable foods • Personal care items • Cleaning supplies • Paper products • Household items • School supplies Canes Harvest is typically open during regular business hours each semester.

Canes Harvest P SSC, 3rd floor

Career readiness

GSW offers counseling, workshops, and classes that build the foundation for success on campus and in the workplace. Career readiness can help you choose a major, explore career options, find internships or jobs, apply to graduate school, or prepare for the workplace.

A career search doesn’t just begin with creating a resume your senior year. It starts with self discovery. If you start early, study wisely, and use GSW’s services and resource, you can position yourself to act strategically and land rewarding opportunities.

WORKSHOPS Throughout the year, GSW offers a number of workshops that cover topics such as personal finance, resumés and cover letters, searching for jobs, and interview skills.

CANES CAREER CLOSET GSW has a collection of professional attire available for loan including suits, ties, socks, and more. The Canes Career Closet is a great resource for students who may be attending career fairs or going to interviews.

Students may contact the Division of Student Engagement and Success to schedule a visit to the closet in Canes Central.

STEPPINGBLOCKS & FOCUS 2 Steppingblocks is a digital career counselor that gives students tools to help navigate decisions on academic majors and future career choices. By completing a short personality quiz, students are given recommendations for majors and career paths that best fit personalities.

Similarly, Focus 2 is an online system to help students identify a major at GSW and careers that best suit them.

Career Readiness E career@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/CareerReadiness

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LIFE AT GSW

The program offers league sports, which can last between three and six weeks, and tournaments, which last one or two days.

Teams can be formed by common bonds or interests within the GSW community.

Friends, classmates, residence halls, and campus organizations are all welcome to create a team. Participants who do not have a team can sign up and can be selected by captains of other teams.

Athletics

Looking for something to do on campus?

GSW Athletics has you covered! Admission to all games is free for students with a valid Canes Card.

Keep up with all things Athletics on social media and online at gswcanes.com. f @GSWHurricanes c @gswhurricanes t @GSWAthletics MEN’S SPORTS Baseball | t c Basketball | t c Cross Country | t c Golf | t c Soccer | t c WOMEN’S SPORTS Basketball | tf c Cross Country | c Soccer | t c Softball | tfc Tennis | fc

Counseling services

The adjustment to college can be difficult.

Some students get through this easily, while others become overwhelmed. The Office of Student Health and Counseling Services provides support on campus for mental health and wellness.

Counseling is offered for all concerns.

Students can schedule an initial consultation to speak with a counselor and develop a plan for addressing concerns. If counseling is appropriate, the counselor will recommend the most effective method of treatment When a student’s presenting issues require on-going longer-term care or specialized treatment that is not provided in the Counseling Center, referrals to an offcampus community provider coordinated by our Director of Counseling and Wellness Services may be made.

IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL COUNSELING In-person counseling is available for scheduled appointments and emergencies on weekdays. Students are offered 8 inperson sessions per academic year.

Surge has been GSW’s mascot since 2009.

He debuted his new “refreshed” look in Fall 2018. c t @GSWSurge

Students can also schedule 5 free virtual mental health counseling sessions per year.

Appointments are generally available for same-day and next-day services.

24-hour

UWILL UWill provides a 24/7/365 mental health support line for in-themoment support regardless of time of day or your location. Nocost telehealth sessions are provided by a diverse network of licensed mental health clinicians.

mental health

support line (833) 646-1526

CONFIDENTIALITY Counseling staff adheres to standards of confidentiality as set forth by the American Counseling Association. Generally, information about a student is not released without written permission. Exceptions include instances of suspected child abuse

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LIFE AT GSW

or when students are in danger of harming themselves or others. Sharing of information is done in compliance with FERPA. Counseling Services P Carter I and SSC Room 3435 q (229) 931-2708 | p (229) 931-2835 a gsw.edu/Counseling

Care@GSW

With so many factors that can affect your health, safety, academic success, and overall well-being, the Care@GSW initiative was created to make sure students have resources they need. Care@GSW encompasses a number of programs and resources that work together to foster an environment for student success, including: • Mental health • Physical health • Recreation and wellness • Academics • Safety • Peer mentor program Care@GSW a gsw.edu/Care | E care@gsw.edu

Health services

Dedicated staff in the Office of Student Health and Counseling Services provide a wide variety of on-campus services at the Herschel Smith Health Clinic to all currently enrolled students.

SERVICES • Treatment of illness and injury • COVID and flu testing • Over-the-counter medications • First aid and supplies • Health and wellness counseling • Immunizations and flu shots • Physicals and general health screenings • STI testing and treatment • Pregnancy testing and counseling • Contraceptive prescriptions and counseling • Recommendations and referrals • Blood pressure checks • Laboratory tests • X-ray services The Health Clinic is open to students on a walk-in basis or by appointment. Free HIV testing can also be scheduled off campus.

If a student needs emergency medical assistance when the Health Clinic is closed, the student should contact emergency medical services by dialing 911 or GSW Public Safety at (229) 931-2245.

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A student who utilizes the Health Clinic’s medical services is expected to visit at times that do not conflict with academic classes and/or responsibilities. By GSW policy, an excuse from class can only be accepted or denied by the professor of that class.

Visit gsw.edu/Health to find Health Clinic hours for the current semester.

WHAT DOES MY HEALTH FEE COVER? Students currently enrolled in four or more credit hours on campus are required to pay a Health Fee at the beginning of each academic year. This fee entitles the student to be seen by the professional Health Clinic staff for a number of services. Some lab tests, medications, procedures, and supplies are not covered by the student Health Fee. Any additional costs are the financial responsibility of the student.

to the International Student Coordinator prior to registration. If there is no proof of insurance, enrollment in SHIP is automatic.

Herschel A. Smith Health Clinic P Carter I | q (229) 931-2236 p (229) 931-2666 | E health@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/Health

Experiential Learning

The Office of Experiential Learning works to build relationships across campus to support academic and co-curricular experiential learning opportunities, including but not limited to study abroad, domestic study away, faculty-mentored research, service-learning, internships, leadership opportunities, and other creative endeavors that will enhance the learning experience of students at GSW.

Students who take less than four hours or are only online may utilize the Health Clinic after paying the Health Fee. Services and prices may vary and are subject to change without notice.

Through these experiences, students will develop the ability to think critically, solve problems, work appropriately with diverse populations, and figure out how to solve multifaceted, real-world problems.

IMMUNIZATIONS All students applying for admission will receive a certificate of immunization and a health history form which should be submitted using the Med+Proctor site prior to enrollment.

Office of Experiential Learning P Wheatley Administration, Room 120 a gsw.edu/ExperientialLearning

For more information about immunization requirements, visit gsw.edu/Immunization.

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN It is recommended that all students carry major medical insurance to provide supplemental coverage in the event of an injury or illness requiring hospitalization. A Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is available to GSW students. For SHIP information, contact the Office of Student Accounts at (229) 931-2013.

GSW requires that all international students submit proof he/she (and all dependents) are covered by an approved health insurance plan. International students must present proof of coverage each semester

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Accommodations and Access

The Office of Accommodations and Access is committed to making sure any student with a disability receives equal access and an equal educational opportunity. Staff members are responsible for providing reasonable accommodations and services to students with a documented disability.

SERVICES Common accommodations that may be provided as required by a student’s specific need include, but are not limited to: • Textbooks in an alternate format • Notetakers • Readers • Testing accommodations • Use of adaptive equipment • Housing accommodations

Registrar

Find the Accommodation Request Form at gsw.edu/Accommodations.

Learn more at gsw.edu/Graduation.

Office of Accommodations and Access P Sanford Hall | q (229) 931-2661 a gsw.edu/Accommodations

The Office of the Registrar maintains official student academic records and reviews graduation applications. The Registrar also maintains the academic catalogs, curriculum sheets, and DegreeWorks.

REGISTRATION Continuing students have the ability to register for classes online during the priority registration period. A registration checklist is published before registration to help students prepare.

Learn more about registration on pg. 32 and at gsw.edu/Registration.

GRADUATION Students should apply for graduation 12 months prior to their expected graduation date. The application deadlines are: • Fall graduation: January 15 • Spring graduation: August 15 • Summer graduation: August 15

Office of the Registrar P Sanford Hall | q (229) 931-2015 p (229) 931-2021 | a gsw.edu/Registrar

LIFE AT GSW

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? To receive services and accommodations, students must present official documentation of their disability, which is generally defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, e.g., walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, caring for oneself, and/or performing manual tasks.

These disabilities may include, but are not limited to: • Attention deficit disorder • Blindness or visual impairments • Cerebral palsy • Chronic illnesses (AIDS, arthritis, cancer, cardiac disease, diabetes, Lyme disease, etc.)

• Deafness or hearing impairments • Epilepsy or seizure disorders • Learning disabilities • Psychiatric disabilities • Orthopedic impairments • Speech disorders • Traumatic brain injury

UNIVERSITY SE Financial aid

The Office of Student Financial Aid provides financial assistance through loans, grants, and scholarships. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the correct award year at fafsa.gov to apply for federal and state aid. Students interested in assistance only through the state of Georgia may apply at gafutures.org. GSW’s school code is 001573.

Once your FAFSA has been submitted, you will be notified that it is being processed. If the U.S. Department of Education selects your application for verification, you’ll be notified that GSW may require additional documentation. Additional notices from the GSW will follow in any combination of RAIN updates, email, and/or text messages.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP) In accordance with federal law, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), both in quality and quantity, to receive Title IV Federal Financial Aid and State Financial Aid. The SAP standards for remaining in Good Academic Standing for

the purposes of receiving financial aid at GSW are as follows: • Qualitative (GPA): Students who have earned fewer than 30 semester credit hours must maintain a 1.75 GPA; students who have earned 30+ semester credit hours must maintain a 2.0 GPA • Quantitative (67% pace of completion): Students must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of all classes attempted at GSW and classes that transfer in from other institutions.

• Maximum Time Frame: Students are allowed to attempt up to 150% of the hours required for their degree level Failure to meet the SAP standards will result in the loss of financial aid. Students have the right to appeal if there are documented mitigating circumstances.

Visit gsw.edu/FinancialAid for additional information regarding policies and forms.

SCHOLARSHIPS With over $1 million in scholarships disbursed each year, GSW offers one of the most generous scholarship programs in the

RVICES state. To apply, students must complete the appropriate application through the Scholarship Application Portal at gsw. awardspring.com using their CanesNet credentials unless otherwise noted by February 1 of each year.

Student Accounts

The Office of Student Accounts assesses, bills, and collects University receivables and issues refunds from credit balances on your student account.

FEE PAYMENT INFORMATION It is your responsibility to determine the balance due on your account and render payment by the fee payment deadlines. The online Touchnet payment portal, where all electronic statements are listed, is available at all times for this purpose. You may use the On-Demand feature for an updated statement. GSW does not issue paper statements by mail.

HOW TO PAY ONLINE Payments may be made via the Touchnet payment portal at gsw.edu/PayFees by: • Credit card: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express are accepted with a 2.95% convenience fee • Webcheck (electronic check): routing and account information required; no convenience fee HOW TO PAY IN PERSON OR BY MAIL The Student Accounts office also accepts: • Cash • Check: made payable to Georgia Southwestern State University with the student’s ID number and phone number noted on the check ○ Accepted: personal checks, travelers checks, cashier checks,

If you are paying by mail, send your payment to: Student Accounts 800 GSW St. Univ. Dr. Americus, GA 31709 Tuition and fee charges for each semester will be available on your RAIN account and in the Touchnet payment portal.

PAYMENT PLANS Nelnet payment plans are a flexible way to plan and budget educational expenses over multiple payments. Your number of payments varies based on the plan selected and the date enrolled. A small enrollment fee applies. Visit gsw.edu/PaymentPlan for more information.

EXCESS FINANCIAL AID GSW partners with BankMobile Disbursements to deliver flexible financial aid and other school refunds to students.

The refund program will give you the following options for receiving refunds: • Deposit to an existing checking or savings account • Deposit to a BankMobile Vibe checking account All students will be asked to select a refund delivery preference from the options listed above. For more information, visit gsw.edu/BankMobile. The disbursement dates for each term will be posted on the RAIN announcement page and the Student Accounts webpage.

Office of Student Accounts P Canes Central, 1st floor q (229) 931-2013 | p (229) 931-2768 E stuaccts@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/StudentAccounts

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UNIVERSITY SERVICES

Office of Student Financial Aid P Canes Central, 2nd floor q (229) 928-1378 | p (229) 931-2061 E finaid@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/FinancialAid

and money orders ○ Not Accepted: counter or starter checks, 3rd party checks, or credit card checks

Public safety

The Office of Public Safety is a state certified law enforcement agency. It is responsible for the on-campus enforcement of the Georgia criminal and motor vehicle code, the ordinances of the City of Americus, and the University’s Code of Conduct and parking code. Public Safety operates 24 hours a day, including weekends and all holidays, and is located in the Nicholas Smarr & Jody Smith Memorial Building.

Public Safety services include: • Campus patrol • Escorts • Traffic & parking enforcement • Vehicle assistance • Safety programs • Event security Public Safety investigates all crimes which occur on campus and prosecutes these cases in state and superior court when warranted. Public Safety also refers cases to Student Services for disciplinary action as needed. Public Safety offers educational programs dealing with various crime and fire prevention topics upon request.

Current crime statistics and personal safety information are located within the office as well as on the Public Safety webpage.

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PATROLLING The Patrol Division is made up of certified law enforcement officers. All Public Safety patrol officers have powers of arrest on GSW’s campus and authority within 500 yards of any property under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Officers have completed Georgia Basic Peace Officer training and attend a minimum of 20 hours additional training annually.

24-hour

Duties of a patrol officer include everything that might be expected of a city police officer, such as traffic control, working vehicle accidents, taking reports of crimes as they occur, and general safety of the campus community and property.

emergency # (229) 931-2245

Office of Public Safety P Smarr & Smith Memorial Building q (229) 931-2245 | p (229) 931-2711 E public.safety@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/PublicSafety fc @GSWpublicsafety

Parking & transportation

PARKING Campus parking decals are required for all visitors, students, faculty, and staff. Decals can be obtained from the Office of Public Safety during regular office hours for $18 (included automatically in your student fees). Decals are valid through the end of the academic year.

Parking decals must be attached to the outside of the lower left corner (driver’s side) of the vehicle’s rear window or on the bumper.

• If the vehicle is a convertible, the decal can be placed on the left corner of the back bumper.

• If the vehicle has a tool box, the decal must be placed on the left side clearly visible above the tool box.

• Vehicles with improperly displayed stickers may be ticketed.

Parking is organized by zones as follows: • B zone is for residential students only • X zone is for commuter students only • Staff zone is for faculty, staff and other GSW employees • Open zone is for all registered vehicles (residential, commuter, faculty/staff, or visitors) • Visitors may park in “X” or “B” zones or in designated visitor parking areas Visit map.gsw.edu to view an interactive campus map and explore parking options.

Parking zones are enforced on regular business days Monday-Friday, between 8:00am and 5:00pm with the exception of no parking zones (yellow curbs, Chickfil-A visitor parking, handicapped parking spaces, etc.).

PARKING FINES All parking violations on campus are $25 per citation. In the case of handicapped space violation, a Uniform Traffic Citation will be issued and will have to be settled with the Municipal Court of Americus. Fines can be paid at the Public Safety office in the Nicholas Smarr & Jody Smith Memorial Building or in the Student Accounts office in Canes Central.

SHUTTLE SERVICES GSW’s Office of Student Engagement provides free transportation to and from campus to many different locations around Americus, including area banks, local pharmacies, Wal-Mart, and Downtown Americus. The shuttle picks up GSW students outside the SSC parking lot near Chick-fil-A and drops them off at the locations above.

The shuttle runs daily and students are expected to get to their drop-off and pickup locations approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled time. The shuttle is a ten-passenger vehicle, so space is limited.

Students are expected to show their Canes Card to the shuttle driver and list where they are going when they board the shuttle.

The shuttle cell phone is (229) 815-9689 and is only on when the shuttle driver is available.

BIKE SHARE PROGRAM GSW offers bikes to enrolled students on a daily basis. Bikes and helmets may be checked out with a valid Canes Card from Florrie Chappell Gymnasium.

Students are encouraged to use the new bike route between GSW’s campus and Downtown Americus, which runs through the Historic District.

Learn more at gsw.edu/BikeShare.

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UNIVERSITY SERVICES

Visitor parking permits may be obtained at the Public Safety office at no charge.

Temporary parking permits can also be obtained should a registered vehicle be inoperable. Each student is allowed three temporary parking permits per semester, each for two weeks. After that point, a decal must be purchased for the vehicle.

A copy of the Parking Code is available in the Public Safety office and online. It is the responsibility of the driver to read and comply with the parking code.

Emergency notifications

GSW students will receive emergency notifications such as campus closures and weather alerts via their Radar student email, mobile phone number, GSW website, and social media.

ALERTUS Download the Alertus app on your mobile device to quickly and easily send geotagged incident reports to Public Safety with the click of a button.

• Make purchases in the bookstore with Financial Aid • Check out materials in the Library • Use the GSW shuttle services and Bike Share Program For new students, Canes Cards will be made on Storm Day. If a Canes Card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, cards can be replaced for a small fee in the Office of Student Accounts.

Find the Alertus app in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and use the credentials below to get started.

Canes Card Office P Canes Central | q (229) 931-5091 p (229) 931-2768 | E canescard@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/CanesCard

Organization code: gsw Organization PIN: canes

Dining services

GSW Dining Services provide students with quality and variety at an economical price.

The campus food service is contracted with Aladdin, an internationally recognized management corporation. Five dining locations are located on campus, including the Dining Hall, Chick-fil-A Express, C-Store, Café Campesino, and Surge’s Street Eats.

Canes card

GSW provides every student with a student ID called the Canes Card. Your Canes Card is used to: • Make purchases at dining locations ○ Dining Hall ○ Café Campesino ○ Chick-fil-A ○ C-Store ○ Surge’s Street Eats • Access GSW facilities ○ Residence halls ○ Florrie Chappell Gymnasium ○ Game room ○ Deriso Pool • Attend GSW events free of charge ○ Athletic events ○ Music performances

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DINING HALL Students with a meal plan are provided a wide selection of all-you-can-eat meals.

The Dining Hall, often called “the caf,” offers a produce market, self-serve deli, grill station, pizza/pasta station, comfort food station, assorted baked goods, and desserts.

CHICK-FIL-A EXPRESS Chick-fil-A Express, a quick-service chicken restaurant chain, serves chicken sandwiches, nuggets, salads, entrees, and side dishes.

C-STORE The C-Store is an on-campus convenience store that offers students microwaveable meals, snacks, beverages, candy bars, and many health & beauty items as well as paper and cleaning supplies to fill those gaps between your regular shopping trips.

CAFÉ CAMPESINO Whether you need a nice morning pick-meup, a delicious pastry, or an espresso to help

you get through studying, Café Campesino has the perfect solution for you. GSW is proud to partner with this Americus-based business known for their commitment to ethical and free-trade business.

SURGE’S STREET EATS Spice up your week with a quick bite from Surge’s Street Eats food truck! The rotating menu items include various street-style fare offered multiple times a week, including on Taco Tuesdays and various pop-up events. Dining Dollars and credit cards are accepted.

Flex Cash and Dining Dollars may be used to purchase items at Chick-fil-A Express, C-Store, Café Campesino, or Surge’s Street Eats or additional meals in the Dining Hall.

This type of account is also offered to commuting students who would like to take advantage of the convenience of eating on campus. Students who add at least $100 in

Dining Services P MSC | q (229) 924-2732 a gsw.edu/Dining | c @gswdining

RAIN

RAIN, short for the Registration and Academic Information Network, provides a convenient method for students to access their GSW information online. It houses: • Holds on your account • Semester grade reports • Unofficial academic transcripts • Account summary and fee assessments • Financial aid status • Registration status • Current class schedule Access RAIN from the MyGSW link (pg. 26) at the top or bottom of gsw.edu.

If you have any issues with RAIN, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

RAIN P Sanford Hall, 2nd floor | q (229) 928-1331 E gswreg@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/Registrar

UNIVERSITY SERVICES

MEAL PLANS Meal plans can be purchased through the Office of Residence Life. Flex Cash added to your plan rolls over from Fall to Spring semesters, but does not roll over from Spring to the following Fall semester. Only one meal per meal time period is permitted with a meal plan.

Dining Dollars to their account get a 10% bonus. Meal plans may be purchased during registration or by visiting the Office of Residence Life.

Tutoring

Peer tutoring and supplemental instruction provide students with extra opportunities to learn study skills and develop good study habits. The Tutoring Center is a walkin resource for students needing extra support in core courses such as (but not limited to) science, history, psychology, and math. Online tutoring is available through GeorgiaVIEW. For information on tutoring, students should contact the Office of First-Year Experience.

Tutoring P Canes Central | a gsw.edu/Tutoring

Library Services

The James Earl Carter Library is named in honor of the father of former President Jimmy Carter. It contains over 200,000 volumes and currently subscribes to 136 journals. As a selective United States Government Depository, the Library also houses over 300,000 federal government publications in various forms. The Library maintains a video collection and special collections such as the Dr. Harold Isaacs Global South Collection, the GSW Historical Collection, Oral History Collection, and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Collection.

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FEATURES & SERVICES • Group and individual study rooms • Computer lab with 30 computers • Additional computers and printers on both levels • WiFi access • Materials available for check-out ○ Video recording equipment ○ Popular DVDs ○ Books and other publications • Gil Express and interlibrary loan • Reserves • Reference assistance • Group and individual library instruction • Tutorials • Consultations Through participation in GALILEO, the Library provides access to over 200 databases. The Library’s online catalog, GilFIND, provides records of all the materials available at the Library.

The Library is also home to the Music Listening Library, Fine Arts Gallery, and the GSW Writing Center.

James Earl Carter Library P James Earl Carter Library q (229) 931-2259 | E library@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/Library | c @james.carterlibrary f @JamesECarterLibrary | t @GSWLibrary

Writing center

Campus post office

The Writing Center helps students: • At all writing levels • In any part of the writing process • Of all majors • For whom English is a second language • With creative pieces

HOW DO I GET A GSW MAILBOX? A GSW mailbox is assigned to each student living in the residence halls. You will receive your mailbox assignment on Move-In Day, or you can stop by the GSW Post Office for your assignment. This mailbox will be active as long as you are living on campus.

The Writing Center aims to create better writers and better papers by working with students on their papers and assisting writers in building on the process that works best for them. Trained consultants provide free resources and feedback both in person and online in a positive and supportive environment.

Writing Center P James Earl Carter Library q (229) 931-4305 E writing.center@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/WritingCenter

Testing Center

The Testing Center provides a secure environment for the campus and community, maintaining professional testing standards and practices as well as confidentiality of student records. The Testing Center offers a quiet space with computers and professional staff.

If you are not living in the residence halls (including during Summer semester), a forwarding request form must be submitted to the GSW Post Office to continue receiving your mail. If you do not submit a forwarding address, all mail will be returned to the sender according to the rules and regulations of the US Postal Service.

Mail must be addressed to students in the format below. Note that mail must be addressed with “GSW Box” and not “P.O. Box” to avoid misdelivery to boxes at the main Downtown Americus Post Office.

Surge GSW Box 000 800 GSW State University Dr. Americus, GA 31709 GSW Post Office P MSC | q (229) 931-2364 E postoffice@gsw.edu

The Testing Center provides secure testing, accurate scoring, clear reporting and responsive service. Offered tests include the GACE, TEAS, HESI, TOEFL, MAT, CLEP, COMPASS, eCore, and proctoring services of tests.

Testing Center P Sanford Hall, 3rd floor | q (229) 931-2933 a gsw.edu/Testing

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UNIVERSITY SERVICES

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT? • One-on-one conversation about the paper with a trained writing consultant • Discussion of what was effective in the paper as well as what may need more clarification or attention • Explanation of various strategies for different stages of the writing process • Focus on authorship and ideas

GSW’s Office of Postal Services is an official contracted unit of the United States Postal Service. They offer most of the services available in your city post office, including stamps, money orders, Express Mail, and Priority Mail. Student mailboxes are also located at the Post Office.

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

GSW’s Office of Information and Instructional Technology (IIT) supports GSW with professional expertise in the use of information technology for both administrative processes and academic pursuits. IIT maintains a variety of networks and computers as well as a multimedia, distance learning, and faculty development classrooms. IIT also supports campus email, financial and student information systems, online course development, and student testing, along with academic and residential computer labs.

RADAR STUDENT EMAIL GSW has set up an email account for every enrolled student. Email serves as the primary, official means of sending information to students by faculty and staff. New students receive their Radar email address and temporary password from Admissions. Accounts are created automatically the morning after a student is accepted, are disabled one year after the student leaves GSW, and are deleted one year later.

CANESNET LOGIN Every student at GSW has a CanesNet account, which is a set of credentials used to log in to computers on campus, wireless networks, and GSW systems.

For more information regarding your CanesNet account and all the IT systems it provides access to, visit gsw.edu/CanesNet. MYGSW myGSW is a onestop-shop student portal used to connect students with the systems, information, people, and updates you need every day.

Use myGSW to: • Access RAIN, GeorgiaVIEW, your Radar student email, and other systems • Stay updated on announcements and alerts relevant to you

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• Find and join campus events • Search groups, posts, and resources • Connect departments, services, organizations, and peers • Stay focused on your most important to-dos and tasks • View personalized content myGSW is available on desktop and in the app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Visit gsw.edu/myGSW for details.

RESIDENCE HALLS Residents in Southwestern Oaks I and II, Southwestern Pines, and Southwestern Magnolia I and II are provided with WiFi access. Students will need their CanesNet credentials to use the “Canes” WiFi on their phones, laptops, and tablets.

Residents should use the “GSW-Device” WiFi connection to connect their gaming devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, etc.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENT COMPUTERS • Virus software installed and set for automatic updates • Virus check conducted • Critical updates for operating system installed and set to automatic updates COMPUTER REPAIRS IIT is not permitted to work on personal equipment, including desktop or laptop computers, printers, smart phones, etc. For repairs needed to your computer, please consult with a local vendor.

For more information about getting started with campus technology, visit gsw.edu/CampusTech.

Office of Information and Instructional Technology P Morgan Hall | q (229) 931-2074 E techsupp@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/IIT

Bookstore

The campus Bookstore carries new and used textbooks, with rentals also available on many titles. In addition to course materials, the Bookstore stocks: • Laptops and tablets • Computer books • School and office supplies • GSW t-shirts, jackets, and hats • Coffee mugs and other drinkware • Seasonal gift items and popular books • Other gift and apparel items

Student Rights and Responsibilities

The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities promotes a campus culture of safety and well-being through education and awareness initiatives focused on individual responsibility and adherence to community standards outlined in the Student Conduct Code. Services provided include: • Student conduct • Student advocacy • Wellness and life coaching

Mediation Behavioral intervention Mental health first aid training Preventative and wellness program initiatives

Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities P SSC, 3rd floor | q (229) 931-2676 a gsw.edu/StudentRights

CanesQ

CanesQ lets you join a virtual line from your phone, computer, or the Canes Central kiosk. This allows you to wait for any of the Canes Central services - Admissions, FirstYear Experience, Financial Aid, and Student Accounts - from anywhere.

CanesQ will send you personalized messages when it’s your time to meet with a staff member, allowing you to maximize your time and control your schedule.

Join the line one of three ways: • Text GSW Canes to (229) 280-5132 and follow the prompts • Download the QLess app and select Georgia Southwestern • Complete the form at gsw.edu/CanesQ

UNIVERSITY SERVICES

Bookstore P MSC | q (229) 931-2366 E books@gsw.edu | a gswbookstore.com c @gswbookstore

• • • •

COLLEGES College of arts and sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences provides educational opportunities that emphasize intellectual development, knowledge, leadership, and skills that allow students to prosper throughout their lives. Within the College, intellectual, personal, and social growth for students, faculty, staff, and the community are fostered through active programs of creative and scholarly work, co-curricular opportunities, and engagement with the community.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES • Art • Biology • Chemistry • Communication and Emerging Media • Criminal Justice • English • General Studies • History • Mathematics • Music • Political Science • Psychology • Sociology Dr. Mark Laughlin, Dean q (229) 931-2250 E mark.laughlin@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/ArtsAndSciences

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College of Nursing and Health sciences

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences is dedicated to the education of individuals to become health professionals committed to health-related practice, leadership, and service. The programs provide undergraduate education in nursing and health science professions as well as graduate education in nursing.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES • Exercise Science • Long-Term Care Management • Nursing - Traditional BSN • Nursing - 2nd Degree BSN • Nursing - LPN to BSN • Nursing - RN to BSN • Nursing - ASN GRADUATE DEGREES • Nursing - Informatics • Nursing - Leadership • Nursing - Nurse Educator • Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner Dr. Teresa Teasley, Interim Dean P Carter I, Room 148 q (229) 931-2289 E teresa.teasley@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/NursingAndHealthSciences

College of business And computing

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES • Accounting • Computer Science • Human Resource Management • Information Technology • Management • Marketing GRADUATE DEGREES • Business Administration • Computer Science Dr. Gaynor Cheokas, Dean P BHP, Room 212 q (229) 931-2090 E gaynor.cheokas@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/COBAC

A career in education is multi-faceted, offering challenges, personal satisfaction, and interaction with individuals from diverse backgrounds. The College of Education faculty and staff are dedicated to the preparation of future educators and professional growth. Partner school systems provide real-life experiences in the preparation of teachers so that College of Education graduates are ready to meet the opportunities to positively impact P-12 student learning.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES • Elementary Education • Health and Physical Education • Middle Grades Education • Special Education • Secondary Education GRADUATE DEGREES • Elementary Education • Middle Grades Language Arts • Middle Grades Mathematics • Special Education • Teacher Leadership Dr. Rachel Abbott, Dean P Education Center, Room 202 q (229) 931-2173 E rachel.abbott@gsw.edu a gsw.edu/COE

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COLLEGES

The College of Business and Computing (COBAC) is dedicated to offering quality academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Double Canes program allows students to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years or less. The College is committed to attracting and maintaining academically and professionally qualified faculty dedicated to academic excellence.

College of Education

ACADEMIC ES Academic advising

Students will be advised by a faculty member from the college or department of their declared major. Students who have chosen a focus area rather than a major will be advised by the Focus Area advisor.

Attendance

Since attendance is the number one indicator of whether a student will succeed in college classes, GSW expects that you will attend all classes. Each instructor will have a course-specific attendance policy that can be found on the course syllabus.

Students who do not attend class during the roster verification period, usually the first week or so of classes, will be administratively dropped from any classes for which an instructor marks them as not attending. Administrative drops can negatively affect financial aid.

Earn college credit for what you already know

GSW offers several ways to earn credit for what you already know, including: • CLEP (College Level Examination Program) • PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) • AP (Advanced Placement) • IB (the International Baccalaureate Program) Courses you complete through CLEP, AP, IB, or PLA will show on your transcript with a grade of K rather than a traditional letter grade and will not be included in GPA calculations. Credit earned through alternative means is limited to 10 credit hours in a major and 30 hours toward your degree. If you want to take a CLEP test, contact the GSW Testing Center, but be aware that any CLEP test must be taken before you attempt the class for which you wish to receive credit by alternate means.

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Impacts Core

GSW’s Impacts Core is a broad-based set of courses that encompass many disciplines and introduces you to a variety of ways of answering important questions. The Core begins the process of preparing you for a career and a fulfilling life.

HOW IS THE IMPACTS CORE RELATED TO MY MAJOR? The Impacts Core provides the knowledge, skills, and experiences you need to succeed in college and in life. Whatever your academic or career goals, the Impacts Core can help you to launch a successful future.

Find the full Impacts Core and the curriculum sheet for you major online at gsw.edu/Curriculum.

SENTIALS

ACADEMIC ESSENTIALS

TECH, SCIENCE & MATH NOTES: • BIOL 1103/1103L and 1104/1104L are not open to students with credit in BIOL 2107K or 2108K. • PHYS 1111 and 1112 are not open to students with credit in PHYS 2211 or 2212.

• PSYC 3301 and SOCI 3301 cannot be used to meet Core requirements.

For more details including policies and practices, view the Impacts Core at gsw.edu/Curriculum.

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georgiaview & GoView

GeorgiaVIEW and GoVIEW are GSW’s online learning environments that allow “anytime, anywhere” access to syllabi, readings, multi-media files, assignments, online quizzes, communication, grades, etc.

Every GSW course has an online course site, be sure to check it regularly for course updates and notifications.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? GeorgiaVIEW is for regular GSW courses.

GoVIEW is for eCore, eMajor, and MSN/ FNP courses and requires separate login information.

HOW TO LOG IN To log into GeorgiaVIEW: • Username: Your CanesNet username • Password: Your CanesNet password To log into GoVIEW: • Username: The first part of your Radar email address plus an “_gsw” extension (ex: jdoe3_gsw) • Password: First time users should select “Forgot your password?” and follow the steps to set up a password For more details about both platforms, visit gsw.edu/GeorgiaVIEW.

University Supported Enrollment

Students must maintain at least a 1.75 GPA during their first 30 hours earned at GSW to remain in Good Academic Standing.

After 30 hours earned at GSW, a GPA of 2.0 is necessary to remain in Good Standing. After the first semester in which a student drops below Good Standing, the student’s standing becomes University Supported Enrollment (USE). Students on University Supported Enrollment will have advising holds placed on their accounts, requiring them to fill out and return the USE Questionnaire and to meet with a professional advisor in Academic Affairs or FYE to make an Academic Recovery Plan for returning to Good Standing.

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The Academic Recovery Plan includes a recommended class schedule and recommended academic and student support, such as tutoring or counseling.

Once the student has met with a professional advisor and made a recovery plan, the plan will be approved by the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students must agree to follow the approved plan and not to withdraw from any of the classes on the plan, since a withdrawal would compromise the effectiveness of the plan.

Students on USE must complete an Academic Recovery Plan for each semester until they return to Good Standing.

Acceptance of an Academic Recovery Plan is not automatic nor is University Supported Enrollment an open-ended status.

Class registration

REGISTERING FOR CLASSES The first step in registering for classes is meeting with your academic advisor. With your advisor, you will review your major or focus area curriculum sheets to determine which classes you should register for during the upcoming term. After consulting with your advisor, you will register yourself for classes using RAIN and the plan you and your advisor made. You will be shown how to use RAIN at Storm Day and again in your UNIV 1000 class.

ADDING AND DROPPING COURSES Students may add or drop courses during the published add/drop period, usually the first week of each semester. Classes dropped are not listed on your transcript, and you are not charged for them.

Students who add courses after the first day of class are responsible for completing all class work, regardless of whether it was assigned before they added the class.

New first-year students cannot add/drop courses during their first term at GSW without approval from FYE.

WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE Once add/drop period ends, your only option if you don’t want to continue in a course is to withdraw. If you withdraw from a course before the deadline to withdraw without penalty, which is published on the Academic Calendar for each term, your grade for the class will be W, and it will not affect your GPA. Courses from which you withdraw will still be shown on your transcript as a class you attempted. If you withdraw from a class after the published deadline, you will receive a grade of WF, or withdrawn failing. You will also receive no refund for classes from which you withdraw before or after the published deadline.

Transfer credit

Transfer credit is normally awarded for all college credit earned in courses at a college or university that is regionally accredited, provided the courses have comparable

For more information regarding transfer credit, please contact the transfer evaluation specialists in the Office of the Registrar.

Office of the Registrar P Sanford Hall, 2nd floor | q (229) 928-1331 E gswreg@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/Registrar

Momentum Approach

Evidence-based research confirms that college students are most successful when they start out their college careers by making a purposeful choice in a focus area or program, enter with a productive academic mindset, and follow clearly sequenced program maps that include nine credits in the student’s academic focus area and 30 credits in their first year.

Put together, these three elements create a momentum approach for students - a starting point that helps students find their path, get on that path, and build velocity towards their degree and career goals.

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ACADEMIC ESSENTIALS

Courses from which you withdraw count as attempted hours and may affect your financial aid. It may be better to withdraw from a course than to fail it, but you should weigh all the considerations mentioned above before deciding to withdraw. You should also consult your academic advisor before deciding to withdraw.

learning outcomes to those of GSW courses and meet to GSW’s Transfer Credit Policy.

QEP HAIL is GSW’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). A QEP is a long-term plan to enhance students learning and success.

Launched in 2024, HAIL will be in place for the next 10 years.

Hail

HAIL, short for High-Impact Approach to Integrative Learning, helps students connect what they are learning in their courses, in their communities, and throughout their lives after college.

Each semester, students will be able to participate in HAIL experiences, including classes and events, that let them explore ways to create new ideas with their knowledge, apply their skills in innovative ways, and make their own success in a fastchanging world.

Special courses are announced before registration with additional information about enrollment requirements. Ask your advisor about HAIL and be open to making connections - both in and out of the classroom.

THE GSW EXPERIENCE Students in HAIL experiences will have the chance to integrate their learning in new ways and apply it to different aspects of their lives. These experiences are closely connected to the three pillars of the GSW Experience (pg. 1): • People: How can I form meaningful relationships and be engaged in a supportive community?

• Purpose: What do I want to devote my life to doing, and why? How can I use my talents and interests for this purpose?

• Profession: How do I prepare myself for a fulfilling career and make myself professionally competitive in a dynamic world?

HAIL E hail@gsw.edu | a gsw.edu/HAIL

Calculating your gpa

Your grade point average (GPA) is calculated using the number of credit hours attempted and your final grades per semester. To figure out your GPA for a particular semester, you first have to determine how many quality points correspond with each of your final grades. There are 4 quality points associated with an A, 3 with a B, 2 with a C, 1 with a D, and none with an F or a WF. There are no quality points associated with other grades, such as W, I, S, U, or K, so these grades and the credit for courses where you received these grades will not be part of your GPA calculation.

grade

quality points

a

4

b

3

c

2

d

1

f

0

Use the example below to calculate your own GPA at the end of your first semester.

course

grade

quality points

credit hours

univ 1000

a

4

1

4

psyc 1101

b

3

3

9

thea 1100

a

4

3

12

pols 1101

d

1

3

3

engl 1101

c

2

3

6

15

34

34 15 hours course

grade

2.27 gpa quality points

credit hours ACADEMIC ESSENTIALS

hours

gpa 35

Index academic advising, 30 Academic Affairs, Division of, 3 academic standing, 18, 32 Accommodations and Access, Office of, 16-17 adding/dropping courses, 33 administration, 2 Advanced Placement (AP), 26, 30 Aeolian, 11 Alertus, 22 Arts and Sciences, College of, 28 Athletics, Department of, 14 attendance, 30 Bank Mobile, 19 Bike Share Program, 21 Bookstore, 27 Breeze, The, 10 Business and Computing, College of (COBAC), 29 C-Store, 22-23 Café Campesino, 22-23 Canes Card, 22 Canes Career Closet, 13 CanesConnect, 9 Canes Harvest, 13 CanesNet, 26 CanesQ, 27 Care@GSW, 15 career readiness, 13 Chick-fil-A, 22 College Level Examination Program (CLEP), 26, 30 Corq, 9 Counseling Services, 14-15 Dining Hall, 22 Dining Services, 22-23 disabilities, 16-17 Drop, GSW, 9 Education, College of, 29 emergency notifications, 22 Engage, GSW, 9 Experiential Learning, Office of, 16 Federal Application for Student Financial Aid (FASFA), 18 Financial Aid, Office of Student, 18-19 First-Year Experience and Student Success, Department of, 2, 6, 32-33 Florrie Chappell Gymnasium, 12, 22 Focus 2, 13 food pantry, 13 Freshman Convocation, 6 Game Room, 13 GeorgiaVIEW, 26, 32 GIFs, 10 GoVIEW, 26, 32 grade point average (GPA), 35 Greek life, 9 GSW Experience, The, 1, 34 HAIL, 34 Health Services, 15-16 immunizations, 16 Impacts Core, 30-31 Information & Instructional Technology, Office of, 26 International Baccalaureate Program (IB), 30

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internships, 13, 16 Intramural Gym, 12 intramural sports, 12-13 Library, James Earl Carter, 24 mailbox, 25 meal plans, 23 mental health, 12, 14-15, 27 Merit Pages, 10 Momentum Approach, 33 Move-In Day, 7, 25 myGSW, 26 Nelnet, 19 New Student Orientation, 6 Nursing and Health Sciences, College of, 28 parking and transportation, 21 parking zones, 21 payment plans, 19 payments, 19 Post Office, 25 Presidential Challenge Coins, 11 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), 30 Public Safety, Office of, 20-21 Qless, 27 Radar, 26 RAIN, 23, 26, 32 recognized student organizations (RSOs), 9 Recreation and Wellness, Office of, 12-13 refunds, 19 registration, 32-33 residence halls, 7-8, 26 Residence Life, Office of, 7-8 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), 18 scholarships, 19 shuttle services, 21 social media, 9, 10, 14 Sou’Wester, 10 Steppingblocks, 13 Storm Spotters, 6-7 Student Accounts, Office of, 19 Student Engagement and Success, Division of (SES), 2-3, 9 student organizations, 9 Student Rights and Responsibilities, Office of, 27 study abroad, 16 Surge, 14 Surge’s Street Eats, 23 technology support, 26 Testing Center, 25 textbooks, 27 Thunder Camp, 6 Touchnet, 19 traditions, 11 transfer credit, 33 tutoring, 24 UNIV 1000, 6 Uwill, 14 wifi, 26 withdrawing, 33 Writing Center, 25

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Tennis courts

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Georgia southwestern State University Drive Z

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T. Lake House U. Maintenance/Warehouse V. James Earl Carter Library W. Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith Memorial Building X. Beth King Duncan Hall Y. Education Center Z. Carter I AA. Carter II BB. Southwestern Oaks I CC. Southwestern Oaks II

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DD. Southwestern Pines EE Southwestern Magnolia I FF. Southwestern Magnolia II GG. Outdoor Basketball Court HH. Westbrook Bell Tower II. Presidential Plaza JJ. Baseball and Softball Training Facility KK. Herschel Smith Health Clinic

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Intramural fields north

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Perimeter road

J. Joseph C. Roney Building K. Jackson Hall L. Sanford Hall M. Morgan Hall N. Mary Lou Jordan Hall O. Canes Central P. Business, History & Political Science Building Q. English Building R. Marshall Student Center S. Fine Arts Building

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Soccer field

Softball field

Baseball field

A. Charles Wheatley Administration Building B. Storm Dome/Convocation Hall/Student Success Center C. Chick-fil-A D. Collum Hall E. Crawford Wheatley Hall F. Newman Alumni Center G. Former President’s Home H. Florrie Chappell Gymnasium I. Science Building

Georgia Southwestern State University Campus Map

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Anthon y drive

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