Student Representation in Governance
Students' role in institutional decision-making is an advisory one accomplished through the Athens Technical College Student Advisory Council (ATCSAC). ATCSAC is a student organization that represents the interests of all Athens Technical College students. ATCSAC provides a formal means for students to express their desires, concerns, and ideas to the college administration. ATCSAC is also responsible for approving the policies governing student organizations and student activities, including advising the administration on the use of funds allocated as student activity fees. The director of student activities serves as the college advisor for ATCSAC.
ATCSAC holds elections for officers from within the entire student body during Spring Semester each year. The permanent slate of officers includes the president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. The officers serve on the Executive Board of the Student Advisory Committee. The Executive Board approves expenditures of student activity fees, oversees budget requests submitted by student organizations, determines fund raising policies for student organizations, evaluates fund-raising activities conducted by student organizations, establishes meeting schedules for the student advisory council, reviews and recommends changes to the by-laws of the council, and coordinates the activities of the council. Appointed representatives from each program of study advise the Executive Board on these issues.
Appointed program representatives and elected officers serve a one-year term that begins with Fall Semester. Students interested in service on the council should contact their representative program chairs or the director of student activities. Additional information on ATCSAC is available on the college website.
Student Activities
The purpose of student activities and student organizations at Athens Technical College is to complement academic programs of study and to enhance the overall educational experience of students through the development of, exposure to, and participation in social, cultural, intellectual, and recreational activities. Athens Technical College encourages students to participate in such activities to build leadership and service capabilities and to further their professional development. Student activities exist to offer fellowship, related educational experiences, continuing education, networking, and professional competition at local, state, and national levels. Athens Technical College administers a program of co-curricular activities through the Student Activities Office. Membership in all student organizations and participation in all student activities is open to all students regardless of race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, disability, or age. A complete list of active student organizations is available on the college website.
Policies and procedures associated with the operation of student organizations are also available on the college website. This website includes information on registering new student organizations, funding guidelines, activity protocols, travel policies, and purchasing regulations. Also available is a student organization handbook.
Student Recognition
The Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) recognizes and rewards excellence among students enrolled in programs of study at public, postsecondary technical colleges. GOAL honors the dignity of work and the importance of technical education in the state. Instructors nominate outstanding students for the local GOAL program and a selection committee selects the finalists from these nominees. Finalists compete to represent the college at the state GOAL competition.
Honor Graduate — The college awards this honor to graduating students who earn a graduation grade point average of 4.0. The president of Athens Technical College presents honor graduates with a medallion during the annual graduation ceremony to recognize this accomplishment.
Presidential Scholar — The college awards this honor to graduating students who have earned a graduation grade point average of between 3.75 and 3.99. Presidential scholars are recognized in the annual graduation program.
Dean's Scholar — The college awards this honor to graduating students who have earned a graduating grade point average of between 3.50 and 3.74. Dean's scholars are recognized in the annual graduation program.
Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges — The Who's Who program annually honors outstanding campus leaders for their scholastic and community achievements. A campus committee selects students who exhibit academic excellence, participate in extracurricular activities, and perform service to the community. The college recognizes nominees during the annual Graduation Ceremony, and they receive national publicity in Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.
Honors Day
The college holds an Honors Day ceremony during Spring Semester to recognize students who demonstrated scholastic achievement, performed distinguished service, and/or earned special recognition during the academic year.
Graduation
To graduate with a certificate, diploma, or associate degree from Athens Technical College, a student must satisfactorily meet all curriculum requirements, the mandatory minimum credit hours, and the residency requirement for each credential. Students must complete a minimum of 25 percent of the coursework for each program of study with classes taken at Athens Technical College; no exceptions will be made to this residency requirement policy. A minimum graduation grade point average of 2.0, regardless of overall academic standing or cumulative grade point average, must be attained in order to graduate. A student's academic record will be evaluated by Registration & Records at the completion of each semester to determine if graduation requirements have been met for any eligible credentials.
All students must have completed a high school diploma or its equivalent before graduating with an associate degree or diploma program from Athens Technical College. Certificates may be awarded prior to the completion of a high school diploma or its equivalent.
If a student's enrollment has not been continuous since initial matriculation to the College, the individual's record will be evaluated for graduation based on the catalog in effect at the time of readmission. For students who change their program at any time during their studies at Athens Technical College, each student's academic history will be evaluated for graduation based on the catalog in effect at the time the program change was requested.
Graduation Application
All students must submit a graduation application to Registration & Records no later than the fourth week of the semester they plan to graduate. Any graduation applications submitted after the fourth week of the applicable semester will not be given priority in terms of processing awarding, and delivery; in addition, any late graduation applications are not guaranteed to be included in the graduation program for Commencement. Graduation application forms are available on the Registration and Records Graduation Information section of the Athens Technical College website. Students earning certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees must submit the required one-time, non-refundable $40.00 graduation fee to the cashier prior to submitting a graduation application to Registration and Records.
Students failing to submit their petition to graduate must have been enrolled in the college for at least one term during the 60 months preceding the time they submit their petition for graduation to the Office of Registration and Records.
Processing of Credentials
Diplomas and associate degrees are mailed to students six to eight weeks after the semester ends or final grades are assigned. All college financial obligations must be met to receive a credential or transcript. Students who complete technical certificates of credit will have the awards solely notated on their official transcript; no formal hard copy of certificates will be extended.
Commencement Ceremony
Athens Technical College holds a graduation ceremony each year at the conclusion of Spring Semester to recognize associate degree, diploma, and certificate students who successfully complete their programs of study. Students must inform Registration and Records via the graduation application process if they plan to participate in the graduation ceremony. Students are expected to maintain, for future reference, copies of any graduation applications submitted, whether delivered directly to the Office of Registration and Records or via @student.AthensTech.edu email accounts.
The Spring Semester graduation ceremony is the only formal, sanctioned ceremony offered by Athens Technical College to recognize graduates. Students who will meet all requirements for one or more credentials by the conclusion of the current academic year's summer term, may participate in the related pinning and/or graduation ceremony. Within an academic year, students completing a program in the fall semester prior to or the summer semester immediately following the spring semester in which the ceremony occurs are eligible to participate in the annual ceremony. Students participating in the ceremony must wear academic attire purchased from the college bookstore. Academic attire (e.g., caps, gowns, related program-specific and/or honors regalia) must be free from ornaments, signs, posters, and/or decorations. Programs who wish to decorate academic caps must have prior approval from the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Honors
The college recognizes students as honor graduates if they earn a graduation grade point average of 4.0. The college recognizes students as presidential scholars if they earn a graduation grade point average of between 3.75 and 3.99 and as deans' scholars if they earn a graduation grade point average of between 3.50 and 3.74. Only students completing technical certificates of credit with 30 or more required credit hours, or diploma programs, or degree programs are eligible for recognition as listed above, and students must plan to meet all graduation requirements by the conclusion of the current academic year's summer term.