Guide to Student Consumer Information
Embedded in this page you will find various types of information related to life at Georgia Highlands College (GHC). We hope this one-stop shop can answer questions and provide guidance for all who are interested in learning more about the college. Each area of information lists a website where you can find more details.
I. General Institutional Information
Institutional and Program Accreditation, Approval, or Licensure -- GHC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACS) to award associate degrees.
http://www.highlands.edu/site/spaa-accreditation
Student Body Diversity -- the GHC Fact Book provides data on all areas of college life, including demographics on the student body.
http://www.highlands.edu/inc/files/userfiles/31-ddd94cc8f4dbfa7-GHCFACTBOOK2010-2011.pdf
Privacy of Student Records - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) -- FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.
http://www.highlands.edu/site/registrar-ferpa
Office of Admissions/Admission Requirements -- discover the steps and requirements to become a GHC student
http://www.highlands.edu/site/admissions
Admissions Deadlines -- what is the deadline to apply?
http://www.highlands.edu/site/admissions-deadlines
Student Activities -- when I become a student, what activities are there for me?
http://www.highlands.edu/site/student-life (Must click links on the left of the screen for the different OSL areas/student activities.)
Consumer Information on College Navigator Website
http://www.naicu.edu/special_initiatives/hea101/news_room/consumer-information-on-college-navigator
Facilities and Services Available to Students with Disabilities -- GHC provides services for students with disabilities through the Office of Student Support Services. Disability Support Counselors are available at each campus.
http://www.highlands.edu/site/sss-disability-support
Price of Attendance -- tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year. Please see this link for the most recent schedule of tuition and fees.
http://www.highlands.edu/site/tuition-and-fees
University System of Georgia Board of Regents Policy on Tuition and Fees
http://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section7/policy/7.3_tuition_and_fees/
Net Price Calculator -- use this tool to estimate your cost of attendance at GHC
http://www.highlands.edu/site/business-office-net-price-calc
Student Financial Aid Information for GHC Found on College Navigator
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Georgia+Highlands+College&s=all&id=139700#finaid
Refund Policy, Requirements for Withdrawal and for the Return of Federal Financial Aid Funds
General GHC Withdrawal Steps from the Registrar: http://www.highlands.edu/site/registrar-steps-to-withdraw
Refund FAQs: http://www.highlands.edu/site/business-office-refund-schedule
Financial Aid Refund Flow Chart: http://www.highlands.edu/inc/files/userfiles/22-9645906aa5d5f1e-bop.pdf
Information from the GHC Catalog:
Fee Refund Policy
Students who formally withdraw from Georgia Highlands College are entitled to a refund of in-state tuition, out-of-state tuition, technology fee, course participation fees, Data Card fee, student activity fee, parking fee, and the student services fee.
The refund amount for students withdrawing from the institution shall be based on pro rata percentage determined by dividing the number of calendar days completed by the student during the semester by the total calendar days in the semester. The unearned portion shall be refunded up to the point in time that the amount equals 60 percent.
Students who withdraw from the institution when the calculated percentage of completion is greater than 60 percent are not entitled to a refund of any portion of institutional charges.
Financial Aid
For those students who need assistance in meeting educational costs, student financial aid in the form of grants, loans and a limited amount of scholarships is available. Student work-study is available for those who meet federal criteria. Students who need financial assistance should contact the Georgia Highlands College Office of Student Financial Aid for applications and instructions.
Student financial aid recipients whose credited assistance exceeds allowable charges (tuition, fees, books and supplies) will receive a refund check; those checks will be issued by the business office and will be mailed to the student’s home address. CHECKS THAT ARE NOT DELIVERABLE OR CASHED BY PAYEES BY THE END OF THE SEMESTER WILL BE VOIDED, AND THE FUNDS WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PROGRAM ACCOUNT(S) FROM WHICH THEY WERE DRAWN.
Return of Title IV Student Aid (Federal Grants and Loans)
Students receiving financial aid will be required to return any unearned portion when a student withdrawal request form is completed. Amounts will be based on the calculation of the percentage of time enrolled as of the official withdrawal date times the total amount of financial aid awarded. The official withdrawal date is entered on the student withdrawal request form.
Textbook Information
General Bookstore link: http://www.bkstr.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?catalogId=10001&langId=-1&demoKey=d&storeId=173904
Textbook lookup: http://www.bkstr.com/CategoryDisplay/10001-9604-173904-1?demoKey=d
Academic Program (Educational Programs, Instructional Facilities, and Faculty)
Degrees Offered: http://www.highlands.edu/site/admissions-degrees-offered
Facilities: http://www.highlands.edu/inc/files/userfiles/31-ddd94cc8f4dbfa7-GHCFACTBOOK2010-2011.pdf
Faculty: http://www.highlands.edu/site/index.php?ghc=directory&alpha=5
GHC Catalog: http://www.highlands.edu/site/college-catalog
Transfer of Credit Policies and Articulation Agreements -- find information here for the most efficient ways to transfer to a four-year institution.
http://www.highlands.edu/site/advising-transfer
Copyright Infringement Policies and Sanctions (Including Computer Use and File Sharing)
Copyright Policies (Library): http://www.highlands.edu/site/library-policies-copyright
Computer Policies (Information Technology): http://www.highlands.edu/site/is-policies
II. Availability of Institutional and Financial Aid Information
Notice of Availability of Institutional and Financial Aid Information -- discover the types of Financial Aid available at GHC
http://www.highlands.edu/site/financial-aid
Contact Information for Assistance in Obtaining Institutional or Financial Aid Information
http://www.highlands.edu/site/financial-aid
III. Student Financial Assistance
Student Financial Aid Information -- find out the basics on how Financial Aid works at GHC, including how to check your Financial Aid status.
http://www.highlands.edu/site/financial-aid
http://www.highlands.edu/inc/files/userfiles/22-69501951edb0c45-fap.pdf
Notice of Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations
FAFSA Blurb: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1213/help/fotwfaq53.htm
GHC General Eligibility: https://www.highlands.edu/site/financial-aid-faq
GHC’s link to drug worksheet: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/q31wksht67.pdf
IV. Teacher Preparation Program
Teacher Preparation Program Report -- each year the college reports information regarding Teacher Preparation to the state, which submits the information to the US Department of Education. State by state information is available in the compiled report made available by the US Department of Education.
https://title2.ed.gov/secReport10.asp
V. Health and Safety
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program
Vaccinations Policies
http://www.highlands.edu/inc/files/userfiles/1-40221a7d76f8cd8-immunization.pdf
Security Report (Including Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures), Timely Warnings, and Crime Log
Emergency Response Guide: http://www.highlands.edu/site/campus-safety-emergency-response-guide
Timely Warnings: http://www.highlands.edu/site/ghc-notify-information
Crime Log: http://www.highlands.edu/site/campus-safety-crime-statistics
Fire Safety Report
http://www.highlands.edu/site/campus-safety-fire-safety
VI. Student Outcomes
Retention, Graduation and Transfer Rates -- a searchable database provided by the University System of Georgia (USG) exists to help interested parties research enrollment, retention and graduation at any USG institution. The GHC Fact Book provides data related to these areas, plus transfer and more.
USG by the Numbers: https://app.usg.edu/portal/page/portal/USG123_10G
GHC Fact Book: http://www.highlands.edu/inc/files/userfiles/31-ddd94cc8f4dbfa7-GHCFACTBOOK2010-2011.pdf
Student Learning Outcomes -- GHC is proud of their long tradition of assessing student learning as well as the administrative functions of the college. The Office of Strategic Planning, Assessment and Accreditation's website on Assessment provides many details of how the GHC system works.
http://www.highlands.edu/site/spaa-assessments
VII. Intercollegiate Athletic Program
GHC Athletics -- GHC is proud to announce the beginning of a college intercollegiate athletics program in Fall 2012.
http://www.highlands.edu/site/athletics
VIII. Voter Registration
Voter Registration Forms
http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/vrinfo.htm
IX. Disclosure Requirements Relating to Education Loans
State Grant Assistance -- GHC supports several federal and state grant programs for students
http://www.highlands.edu/site/financial-aid-grants
Student Loan Information Published by Department of Education
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
National Student Loan Data System
http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/
Entrance Counseling for Student Borrowers
https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action
Exit Counseling for Student Borrowers
GHC page has instructions and a link to complete the process: http://www.highlands.edu/site/financial-aid-loans
Link from GHC’s page to complete the process: http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/
Private Education Loan Disclosures (Including Self-Certification Form)
Students do not self-certify here. GHC certifies the student with partnership with Sallie Mae
Code of Conduct for Education Loans
Preferred Lender Lists
GHC only accepts private loans from one company: Sallie Mae.
Preferred Lender Arrangements