Frequently Asked Questions about Advising

Do I need an advisor?

Because students can often register themselves via the Web, they may think that they do not need an advisor. However, they do. Advisors help students to navigate through the requirements of the core curriculum and make the most beneficial course selections for their majors and/or for transferring to four-year schools. Advisors can also help to detect and resolve problems. Academic requirements change yearly and advisors keep up with those to make certain that students are informed. ALWAYS speak with an advisor before registering.

Who is my advisor?

GHC provides many opportunities for advising. Most students do not have an assigned advisor, but you are welcome to visit the advising contact at your instructional site; those people are shown here. If you know your major, you may contact the advising specialist for the division of your major and find an advisor in your area of study. Here is a list of the advising specialists.

Some students have assigned advisors and cannot register for classes until they have designed a course plan with that person. If you have an assigned advisor, you can typically see his or her name on your advising transcript in SCORE. Once you know the advisor's name, you can use the Search box on the GHC web page to locate an e-mail address or you can call GHC to get contact information.

Many faculty members do in-class advising each term, providing information about core curriculum and major requirements and other pertinent topics as well as answering questions. In addition, GHC provides a day-long event every term at each instructional site called Early Bird Advising that is focused on long-term academic planning to insure that students can accomplish their program or transfer goals efficiently.

Where can I get more information about colleges in the University System of Georgia?

http://www.usg.edu/inst/directories/instweb.phtml

Where can I find out whether a class will transfer?

http://www.usg.edu/academics/programs/core_curriculum/faq.phtml

How can I change my major?

Complete a change of program of study form available in advising, admissions and site offices. You can download the form at

http://www.highlands.edu/prospectivestudents/admissions/program_chg.pdf

Can I register for credit-level courses even if I am still taking Learning Support courses?

Yes, provided you will have completed any courses that are prerequisites for the credit-level course that you wish to take.

Do I have to take the Regents' Test?

Not if you are in one of the following situations:

You are currently enrolled in ENGL 0099 or READ 0099
Your major is a career or co-op program (not a transfer program)

Otherwise, generally, yes, you must take the Regents' Test. The ways to exempt the Regents' Test are listed here.

How many enrolled hours are considered a full-time load?

Twelve enrolled hours constitute full-time student status and Learning Support courses do count when assessing a student's course load, though they do not count in GPA and they are not transferrable hours. Taking fewer than twelve hours in a term usually presents at least two dangers:

It may compromise a student's eligibility to be included on a parent's insurance policy
It may affect a student's level of financial aid

Both these are serious consequences and students should consider them carefully and consult with parents and the Financial Aid office as appropriate. You can reach the Financial Aid office by e-mail at finaid@highlands.edu