2020-21 Student Handbook and Wellness Guide

Augusta Technical College

Augusta Technical College operates under the supervision of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, serving the needs of business, industry, and the public in a five-­‐county area in east central Georgia. Augusta Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.

Augusta Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate of Science Degrees, Associate of Applied Science Degrees, Diplomas, and Technical Certificates of Credit. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866
Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-­‐4097, telephone 404-­‐679-­‐4500, http://www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Augusta Technical College.

Interested constituents should contact the Commission on Colleges (1) to learn about the accreditation status of the institution, (2) to file a third-­‐party comment at the time of the institution’s decennial review, or (3) to file a complaint against the institution for alleged non-­‐compliance with a standard or requirement. Normal inquiries about the College, such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to Augusta Technical College and not to the Commission’s office.



Augusta Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). This nondiscrimination policy encompasses the operation of all Augusta Technical College administered programs, federally financed programs, educational programs and activities involving admissions, scholarships and loans, student life and athletics. It also applies to the recruitment and employment of personnel and the contracting for goods and services.

All work and campus environments shall be free from unlawful forms of discrimination, harassment and retaliation as outlined under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, Executive Order 11246, as amended, the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Equal Pay Act, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the Georgia Fair Employment Act of 1978, as amended, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of
1986, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and other related mandates under TCSG Policy, federal or state statutes.

Augusta Tech is expected to promote the full realization of equal opportunity through affirmative and continuing practices. Augusta Tech shall develop Affirmative Action Plans based on federal guidelines to ensure compliance with applicable mandates. Each is required to report and monitor Affirmative Action Plan data as directed by federal compliance guidelines.

For information on Title IX, contact the Title IX Coordinator, Shannon Patterson at (706) 771-­‐4013 or in Building 100. For information on ADA/504, contact the ADA/504 Coordinator, Karissa D. Wright, at (706) 771-­‐4067 or go to the Counseling Center in Building 1300.

A Message from the President:

Augusta Technical CollegeA Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia

3200 Augusta Tech Drive 

Augusta, GA 30906

(706) 771-4000 Telephone

(706) 771-4016 Fax

www.augustatech.edu

Welcome to Augusta Technical College. The College has been the community leader in providing quality technical education programs for more than 50 years. Augusta Technical College makes positive contributions to the lives of area citizens and to the economic growth and development of the Central Savannah River Area.

Use this Student Handbook and Wellness Guide to enhance your college experience here at Augusta Technical College. It is our goal to insure that your time with us is rewarding and ultimately results in the realization of your personal goals.

Good luck in all your academic endeavors.

Sincerely,

President Terry Elam Signature

Terry D. Elam, President

Mission

Augusta Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is a public postsecondary institution that provides academic and technical education, customized business and industry training, continuing education, student support, economic development, and adult education services to its service area (Burke, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, and Richmond Counties) at a competitive financial value. Associate of Science Degrees, Associate of Applied Science Degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit are provided through traditional and distance delivery methods.

Reviewed by Augusta Technical College Board of Directors, April 2016. Approved by Technical College System of Georgia State Board, June 2016. 



Guarantee

The Technical College System of Georgia has developed curriculum standards with the direct involvement of business and industry. These standards serve as the industry-validated specifications for each program of study and allow Augusta Technical College to offer its business partners this guarantee:

“If one of our graduates, who was educated under a standard program, and his or her employer agrees that the employee is deficient in one or more competencies as defined in the standards, Augusta Technical College will retrain that employee at no instructional cost to employee or employer.”

This guarantee applies to graduates who are employed in their fields of training. It is in effect for a period of two years after graduation and includes those graduates who have failed to pass a State of Georgia required licensing examination within two years after graduation.

To inquire or to file a claim under this warranty, the employer in conjunction with the graduate should contact the Vice President for Academic Affairs at (706) 771-4020 to discuss the need for retraining. A letter from the employer on company letterhead must be submitted to the Vice President for Academic Affairs noting that the graduate is deficient in one or more areas as defined by the Technical College System of Georgia.

Accreditation

Augusta Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate of Applied Science Degrees, Diplomas, and Technical Certificates of Credit. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Augusta Technical College.

Interested constituents should contact the Commission on Colleges (1) to learn about the accreditation status of the institution, (2) to file a third-party comment at the time of the institution’s decennial review, or (3) to file a complaint against the institution for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement. Normal inquiries about the College, such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to Augusta Technical College and not to the Commission’s office.

Student Records (FERPA)

Procedures relating to the establishment, utilization, availability, and retention of student records are in accordance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, the policies of Augusta Technical College, the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Records Management Office Procedures and Regulations as established by the State of Georgia. Students, alumni, and other former students should contact the Student Records office on all matters relating to their academic records, transfer of credit, withdrawal, graduation, and other governmental or college certificates.

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, provides protection for student education records. FERPA rights, however, are not limited to education records relating to the student’s educational performance. Accordingly, Augusta Technical College students have a right to privacy when outside sources inquire about them while they are on campus or engaged in classroom instruction. Augusta Tech officials may disclose that a student is enrolled at the College; however, the officials should not disclose a student’s specific whereabouts or class schedule unless the student gives permission to Augusta Tech officials. Exceptions can be made for public officials who have a subpoena or a court order.

Work Ethics

The Work Ethics Program encourages students to develop positive work habits conducive to the needs of the workforce. In efforts to develop a viable and effective workforce, leaders in business and industry have identified ten essential work ethics traits that are taught and practiced at Augusta Technical College:

Attendance Cooperation
Character Communication
Respect Productivity
Organizational Skills Appearance
Teamwork Attitude

As Augusta Tech students interact in the classroom or lab, faculty monitors and documents their behavior using the Work Ethics Trait Behavior Documentation Form. A midterm report provides every student feedback about their work ethics performance. Students are issued a work ethics grade each semester for all courses attempted, and it holds equal importance for grades earned via technical skills.

Location of Services

Augusta Campus

Building 1300

  • Admissions
  • Financial Aid
  • Student Records
  • Career Services
  • Counseling Services
  • Bookstore
  • Café

Building 100

  • President’s Office
  • Student Accounts
  • Business Office
  • Student Activities and Support Services

Building 1000

  • Library
  • Success Center
  • Tutoring Center

Building 400

  • Cafeteria

Thomson Campus

  • See Admissions Office for Student Services needs
  • Library

Waynesboro Campus

  • See Admissions Office for Student Services needs
  • Library
  • Bookstore

Columbia County Center

  • See Admissions Office for Student Services needs