All applicants are evaluated for exemption of learning support in the areas of English and/or Math, subject to University System of Georgia guidelines in effect at the time of admission. Although GHC does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission (except as designated for specific student admission types), submitting official scores may help to exempt learning support. Applicants who submit documented proof of exemption, as detailed below, are eligible to be considered for admission without learning support requirements. Under USG policy, SAT and/or ACT scores used for exemption of learning support cannot exceed 7 years from date of administration.
- Applicants who do not provide evidence of exemption from learning support during the initial evaluation, or who do not submit an SAT or ACT test taken within the maximum age range of administration are placed into learning support courses and may choose to take the Next-Generation Accuplacer test to exempt out of learning support. Applicants may register for the Next- Generation Accuplacer test via the “Check Admissions Status” link located on the GHC website under the “Quick Links” tab.
- Applicants who have already been admitted and who submit official SAT or ACT scores or Next-Generation Accuplacer test/retest scores are required to contact the GHC Office of Admissions to request re-evaluation of their learning support placement no later than the last day of drop/add for the term they enroll.
- Students may not exempt learning support via Accuplacer after beginning learning support coursework.
Learning Support
Learning Support programs at Georgia Highlands College are intended to serve students who are not prepared for credit-level courses and who need additional preparation in English, and/or mathematics for success in the academic coursework required for their program of study. Two groups of students may be served within the program:
- Students who do not meet the minimum requirements established by the University System of Georgia and/or Georgia Highlands College for participation in the student’s chosen program of study.
- Students who elect to enroll in Learning Support courses in order to strengthen their academic skills in preparation for their enrollment in their chosen program of study.
English Learning Support Placement
Students are placed into ENGL 1101 and ENGL 0999 if they have:
- High School GPA below 2.7.
- ACT English or Reading score below 17.
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section score below 480.
- Accuplacer Next-Generation Reading score of 237 AND Writeplacer score below 4.
Math Learning Support Placement
Students are placed into either MATH 1001 and MATH 0997 OR STAT 1401 and STAT 0996 or MATH 1101 Introduction to Mathematical Modeling and MATH 0998 Support for Mathematical Modeling if they have:
- High School GPA below 3.1.
- ACT Math score below 17.
- SAT Math section score below 440.
- Accuplacer Next-Generation Mathematics score below 258.
Students are placed into MATH 1111 and MATH 0999 if they have:
- High School GPA between 3.1 and 3.2.
- ACT Math score between 17-20.
- SAT Math score between 440-510.
- Accuplacer Next-Generation Mathematics score between 258-269.
Students are exempt from learning support if they meet one of the minimum requirements:
- High School GPA 3.2 or higher.
- ACT Math score 20 or higher.
- SAT Math score 510 or higher.
- Accuplacer Next-Generation Mathematics score 269 or higher.
Learning Support Rules
Policies from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) govern Learning Support programs at all USG schools with limited adjustment by Georgia Highlands College. The following policies are most important to Learning Support students.
- Students must enroll for Learning Support courses first. During each semester of enrollment, any student (full or part-time) must first register for all required Learning Support courses before being allowed to register for other courses.
- Students should complete Learning Support Courses in a timely manner. Students who have accumulated 30 or more credit hours and have not successfully completed gateway courses in both mathematics and English may only register for the required gateway and co-requisite courses.
- Students who are required to register for co-requisite courses (ENGL 0999 Support for English Comp, MATH 0997 Support for Quantitative Reasoning, MATH 0999 Support for College Algebra, MATH 0998 Support for Mathematical Modeling, or STAT 0996 Support for Elementary Statistics) along with associated credit courses (ENGL 1101 English Composition I, MATH 1001 Quantitative Reasoning, MATH 1111 College Algebra, MATH 1101 Introduction to Mathematical Modeling, or STAT 1401 Elementary Statistics) may only withdraw from both courses. Withdrawal from only one of the two courses, either the corequisite course or the credit course, is not permitted.
- Students in corequisite courses that do not pass their associated college-level course must sign up for both the college-level course and its corequisite the next semester regardless of their grade in the co-requisite class.
- Students fulfill their learning support requirements with the successful completion of the gateway course for a particular area, ENGL 1101 English Composition I for English and MATH 1001 Quantitative Reasoning, MATH 1111 College Algebra, MATH 1101 Introduction to Mathematical Modeling, or STAT 1401 Elementary Statistics for mathematics.
Additional Math Placement
Based on a student’s required high school curriculum (RHSC) mathematics courses, high school GPA (HSGPA), and/or test scores, students may directly place into higher level math courses or qualify to take an exemption exam. Students may also receive credit for specific mathematics courses through credit for prior learning. Visit the Credit for Prior Learning site for more information.
MATH 1001 Quantitative Reasoning
If a student has satisfied RHSC mathematics requirements and satisfies any of the criteria in the table below, the student is eligible to take an exemption exam for MATH 1001 Quantitative Reasoning credit.
A grade of K for MATH 1001 Quantitative Reasoning is awarded to a student earning 70% or higher on the exemption exam. Georgia Highlands College does not guarantee transferability of K grades. It is recommended that an interested student speak with an advisor regarding the implications of the K credit. A student may only take the exemption exam once.
| Exam | Score |
|---|---|
| SAT MATH | 26.5 or higher |
| ACT MATH | 19 or higher |
| HSGPA | 3.2 or higher |
MATH 1111 College Algebra
If a student has satisfied RHSC mathematics requirements and satisfies any of the criteria in the table below, the student is eligible to take an exemption exam for MATH 1111 College Algebra credit.
A grade of K for MATH 1111 College Algebra is awarded to a student earning 70% or higher on the exemption exam. Georgia Highlands College does not guarantee transferability of K grades. It is recommended that an interested student speak with an advisor regarding the implications of the K credit. A student may only take the exemption exam once.
If a student passes the MATH 1111 College Algebra exemption exam, they are eligible to take the exemption exam for MATH 1113 Precalculus.
| Exam | Score |
|---|---|
| SAT MATH | 28.5 or higher or 530 or higher |
| ACT MATH | 22 or higher |
| Accuplacer Exam | 283 or higher |
| HS GPA | 3.5 or higher |
MATH 1113 Precalculus
If a student has satisfied RHSC mathematics requirements and satisfies any of the criteria in the table below, the student is eligible to place directly into MATH 1113 Precalculus or take an exemption exam for MATH 1113 Precalculus credit.
A grade of K, for MATH 1113 Precalculus, is awarded to a student student earning 70% or higher on the exemption exam. Georgia Highlands College does not guarantee transferability of K grades. It is recommended that an interested student speak with an advisor regarding the implications of the K credit. A student may only take the exemption exam once.
| Exam | Score |
|---|---|
| SAT MATH | 32 or higher or 570 or higher |
| ACT MATH | 25 or higher |
| MATH 1111 Exemption Exam | 70% or higher |
| MATH 1111 grade | Direct Placement: C or higher |
| MATH 1111 grade | Exemption Exam Eligible: B or higher |
In addition, exemption by examination for MATH 2261 Calculus I may be determined on an individual basis.
For more information on the mathematics exemption exam, please contact stemfit@highlands.edu.