Registration/Enrollment Guide - Banner Self-Service



Fort Valley State University

(Preparing & Advising Wildcats to Succeed ~ P.A.W.S.)

Registration/Enrollment Guide

Welcome to Fort Valley State University ~ Home of the Wildcats. Whether you are a prospective, new or continuing student we want to make your experience in Wildcat Country one you will always remember. Please read the Registration/Enrollment Guide thoroughly to prepare you for the Wildcat experience of a lifetime.

Apply for Admission

All prospective students must complete an Application for Admission and submit a non-refundable $20.00 application fee to the Cashier’s Office at Fort Valley State University. Applicants must also submit official high school transcripts or GED scores, official college transcripts, SAT/ACT test scores, health form and an immunization record. An applicant who has never attended college before will be considered a freshman. Applicants will receive a notification letter from the Office of Admissions informing them of their admissions status. To students who have received an acceptance letter, congratulations on your acceptance to Fort Valley State University! All new students should receive instructions, with their acceptance letter, for logging into Claws or Banner Self-Service before coming to campus. Students who did not receive instructions go to . The Registration/Enrollment Guide will further assist new students with information they need to know before arriving to campus.

Apply for Financial Aid

Eligibility for federal student aid programs is based on financial need and several other factors.  Students’ eligibility is determined by the information they provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Students must complete the FAFSA each academic year if they expect to receive federal financial aid to attend FVSU. All currently enrolled and prospective students are strongly urged to apply early (FVSU’s priority deadline is April 15th). Students receiving the HOPE Scholarship (Georgia Residents Only) must complete the FAFSA form. Many federal funds are limited. The key is to apply early. Please remember to enter the FVSU Title IV Code 001566 when completing your FAFSA for FVSU. After completing the FAFSA, if you are selected for verification you must submit the requested documentation before you can be awarded financial aid.  Failure to submit the requested documentation(s) will prohibit any further action on your award process.  To speak with a Financial Aid Representative during registration, students must speak with a Customer Service Representative from the Financial Aid Office.

Testing Center and Student Placement Exam

o Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credits

An incoming student may receive credit toward graduation for work completed before enrollment at Fort Valley State University. Credits are granted through performance on the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Exams or through the internationally recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) academic program. Official/original copies should be mailed to the Testing Department for evaluation prior to advisement and enrollment at FVSU. Visit the web for a listing of AP/IB courses.

o Placement Exam

Prior to entry into credit level instructional courses students are administered a placement exam. The exam assists the university in placing freshman and transfer students with fewer than 30 semester hours of credit at the appropriate level in either college-level courses or Learning Support courses, based on the exam outcome. Placement testing requirements are based upon the student’s SAT/ACT scores and CPC (College Preparatory Curriculum) deficiencies. Students do not receive credit hours for placing out of a course.

o Learning Support

The purpose of Learning Support (LS) is to prepare students for success in college-level courses. Students required to enroll for LS courses are coded as Learning Support students and are restricted to 12  semester hours (including Learning Support courses) each semester. Students may not accumulate more than twenty hours of college level credit before completing all Learning Support requirements. Students who accumulate twenty hours of college-level credit and have not successfully completed required Learning Support courses may only enroll in Learning Support courses until requirements are successfully completed. Students who do not meet departmental attendance requirements and/or who fail to complete required course assignments may be suspended from the program. Students may be dropped from school during a semester if they fail to meet the attendance regulations.

A STUDENT WHO DOES NOT COMPLETE REQUIREMENTS FOR A LEARNING SUPPORT AREA—MATH, READING AND/OR WRITING—IN TWELVE SEMESTER HOURS OR THREE SEMESTERS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST, MAY BE SUSPENDED. THE STUDENT MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR READMISSION WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE SUSPENSION (BOR Policy 2.09.02). The Learning Support Program will keep students in the program informed of their status.

o Regents’ Examination

Each institution of the University System of Georgia shall ensure that students obtaining degrees from a System institution possesses certain minimum reading and writing skills. The Regents' Test has been developed to help attain this goal. Students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs leading to the baccalaureate degree will be required to complete the Regents' Writing and Reading Skills requirement as a requirement for graduation. Students who have earned 45 credit hours and have not passed or exempted the test must take the Regents' Skills courses during each subsequent semester of enrollment. Students enrolled in a Regents' Skills course must pass the corresponding Regents' Test in order to receive a passing grade for the course.

All newly enrolled students, excluding students enrolled in Learning Support English and Reading, are required by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to take the Regents’ Test during the first semester of enrollment. Newly enrolled students who failed to take the Regents’ Test during the first semester of enrollment must contact the Office of Testing Services at (478) 825-6384.

Effective Summer Semester 2008, class schedules will include the Regents’ Test (RGEX).   Students are required to take the Regents’ Test in strict accordance with their appointment.  All students will be required to successfully complete all preparatory requirements before testing is allowed.  Please visit the web for Regents’ Test dates.

New Student Orientation

The First-Year Experience Center plans to make transition to FVSU as seamless as possible, including excellent Wildcat customer service and care.

New Student Orientation is required for first-time undergraduate students and new transfers to the campus. International students must attend the New Student Orientation and an International Students Orientation as well. FVSU New Student Orientation is designed to give students, parents and family members important information that will assist students with a smooth transition to college.

Prior to enrolling all students are encouraged to attend summer sessions entitled S.O.A.R. (Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration). During these sessions new students who are admitted early for the Fall Semester are welcomed to the campus to test, register and become acquainted with what FVSU has to offer during the summer before school starts. So don’t delay your Admissions and apply early. Registration for New Student Orientation is based on testing reservations. To schedule a session, contact the Office of Testing Services upon receipt of an official acceptance letter. Information will be mailed to students that qualify for the S.O.A.R. sessions.

Re-Admission

Students who have not been enrolled at FVSU for a Fall/Spring semester must submit an application for re-admission to the Office of the Registrar before the term admission deadline, along with official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended since the last term of enrollment at Fort Valley State University. The student will complete requirements for graduation under the catalog in force at the time of re-entry. Visit the website to retrieve an application for re-admission at .

Transient ~ FVSU students

Students currently enrolled at Fort Valley State University who wish to take a course or courses at another institution for credit are considered transient students. Student must consult with their academic advisor before completing a transient request form. Students that are approved to take a course or courses at another institution must request that a transcript be sent to the Office of the Registrar, Fort Valley State University, 1005 State University, Fort Valley, Georgia 31030.

Transient ~ attending FVSU

Transient students are students who are not seeking a degree but who would like to enroll for a semester at Fort Valley State University and transfer their credit(s) back to their home institution. A transient student must submit an application for admission along with a $20.00 application fee, a transient data form, a letter of good standing from their home institution, an academic transcript(s) and an immunization record. Note: It is the transient student’s responsibility to ensure that courses taken at Fort Valley State University will transfer back to his/her home institution before enrolling. Visit the website to retrieve an application for transient admissions at .

Academic Success Center-Academic Advising

Once students are cleared through the Testing Services Center, they are permitted to register. Students who do not require any remediation are eligible to register through the Academic Success Center (ASC) advisors in conjunction with faculty advisors. All students are assigned an advisor and are required to see their advisor each semester prior to registering for classes. Students who do not know the identity of their ASC advisor should contact the Center director during normal business hours 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM via telephone at 478-822-1070 or you may e-mail us at fvsuacademicsuccess@fvsu.edu. Visit the website for additional information at .

Other support services provided by the Academic Success Center are:

o Academic Probation Counseling

Academic Probation Counseling is available for students who need help returning to good academic standing. Students with less than a 2.00 GPA are permitted to take a reduced load of 13 hours. Students on probation are required to meet with their academic advisor to discuss strategies to improve their academic performance. Referrals to other support services are made when necessary. Students on probation who register early for a Fall or Spring semester will be removed from all courses if they are placed on Academic Suspension/Dismissal at the end of the semester. Those students will need to go through the appeal process.

o Academic Appeals Students seeking appeals must begin the process with the Director of Student Support Services located on the 2nd Floor of the Lottie M. Lyons Student Center.

o Differently-Abled Services Office

The Differently-Abled Services Office (DSO) exists to provide the qualified student with any mental, physical and/or learning disability equivalent access to an equal opportunity in the educational environment at Fort Valley State University.  New students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Differently-Abled Services Office prior to arriving on campus. Official documentation should be submitted to the DSO representative at Fort Valley State University who will submit the documentation to the Regents Center for Learning Disorders (RCLD) at the University of Georgia. Documentation should be current, no older than 3 years old. At this time, a specialized assessment will take place which will identify the appropriate academic accommodations that should be made by FVSU for the student.  An accommodation letter is distributed by the DSO representative at FVSU to all necessary parties explaining accommodations that must be made.    Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act define a person with a disability as someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. Such a person must have a record of the impairment or regarded as having such impairment. For additional information contact Fort Valley State University’s DSO representative at 478-822-1070.

o Presidential Scholars

The Presidential Scholars serve as peer tutors for students in need of academic assistance, as research and technical assistants in campus departments, as volunteers for campus and community enrichment efforts, and as hosts/ambassadors for distinguished campus programs and visitors. Presidential Scholars agree to provide 70 hours of service each semester and receive stipends for participating in the program. For more information, please contact Ms. Jocelyn Powell at 478-822-1070.

o Tutorial Services

Tutorial services are available for all students enrolled at Fort Valley State University. Tutoring is provided in core subject courses. Students should contact their academic advisor, who will assess their need(s) and make referrals to the appropriate service.

Registration for Students Currently Enrolled at FVSU

Priority registration is mandatory for all currently enrolled students; please refer to the academic calendars for dates. Students who do not take advantage of Early Registration will have a schedule created by their Academic Advisor. All students who have not registered by the first day of class will be required to pay late fees.

• Registration Holds

Holds are placed on new and continuing students for different reasons. Some holds must be cleared before registration can take place. Please view your account through Banner Web for holds and consult with the appropriate office before arriving on campus.

• Prerequisites

A prerequisite is a requirement that must be satisfied prior to registration in another course (e.g. ENGL 1101 must be satisfied before ENGL 1102). The student is responsible for meeting prerequisites as identified in the FVSU Catalog. Prerequisite checks are conducted by many departments and if students do not have the required prerequisite they may be refused continuing enrollment in the course after classes have started (it may be too late to replace it with another course).

• Drop/Add

Drop/Add begins the first day of class each semester. Students have until the schedule change deadline to make adjustments to their current schedule. Refer to the Academic Calendar for these dates. Visit the website to retrieve an academic calendar.

• Online/Web-Based Courses

Online/Web-Based Courses are designed to allow learners to receive instruction regardless of time and location. Online courses are displayed with a “W” Section (e.g. FVSU 0000 W1). In order to enroll in a course online the student must attend the orientation for online students, either on campus or online. Visit the website to retrieve a schedule and access for online orientation.

• E-rate:

Beginning Fall 2008 all fully online classes (W sections) will be charged $160 per hour for undergraduates and $195 per hour for graduate students.

o Out-of-state students pay the same as in-state students for fully online classes only.

o Students who do not take any classes on a FVSU campus do not have to pay for student activities or health fees.

o All students have to pay the technology fee.

o Student financial aid will cover the online tuition rate since it is an approved regular tuition.

• Building Codes

Building codes are displayed on course schedules. Visit the website to retrieve a listing of building codes.

Payment of Fees

Tuition and fees are due and payable upon registration. Students are not officially enrolled until tuition and fees have been paid for a given semester. Students who take advantage of registration during the semester will receive bills in the mail. The fee acceptance process will be completed for students who sign and return their bills by the deadline if no balance is due on their account.

• Optional Ways To Pay Fees

o To Pay Via Charge Card or Check:

Students may log into their Banner Web account to pay with either a debit/credit card or by check. Go to: “Student Services and Financial Aid.” Select: “Student Account.” Select: “Account Detail for Term.” If all fees and financial aid information are correct, select: “Pay Now” to pay using a VISA or MasterCard, or select: “Pay by Check” to use a personal checking account .

o To Pay With Cash:

Visit the Cashier’s Office with your FVSU Student ID card. If you do not have an FVSU ID, you may present a state ID, military ID, or passport. Please check the Enrollment Instructions for the Payment of Fees location during registration. Remember, payments are always due before the first day of class.

o To Use a Payment Plan:

To learn about the Payment Plan options available prior to the beginning of the semester. Visit the web at and select: Payment Instructions. Please note that this option is only available before the first day of class. Also, if you are receiving any financial aid, only those amounts that are listed in the Authorized Financial Aid section of the Account Summary by Term screen will be taken into consideration when completing an agreement for the Flexible Payment Plan.

• Late Fees

Students who have not completed the payment process before the first day of class will be charged a late fee.   The late fee is $35.00 the first day of class, increasing $10.00 per day on the second and each day, will not exceed a total of $65.00. 

• FVSU Identification Card

FVSU ID Cards are available and required for all current students, faculty and staff.  All students are required to carry their FVSU ID Card at all times. An FVSU ID Card is required for use in the library, computer labs, dining halls, entrance to sporting events and other campus services.  Students receive an FVSU ID Card once tuition and fees have been paid during their initial semester at the university.  Replacement cards are $25.00.

• Higher-One Cards

The FVSU Higher One Card is the university’s means of issuing refunds to students.  New students who complete course registration will have an Easy Refund Debit Card sent to the mailing address on file. This MasterCard branded debit card is needed to activate the Easy Refund account that is used for refund disbursements. Students can have refunds deposited onto the Easy Refund card or sent to an existing checking or savings account. Students must activate their Higher One Easy Refund cards only once. Students should verify their mailing address via Banner Web and complete any updates online or in the Office of the Registrar.  Visit the website for additional information at

• Parking Decals

The Fort Valley State University Campus Police Department is committed to the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors. Therefore, all vehicles on the FVSU Campus must display a current parking permit. Visitors must stop by the main office in Carnegie Hall for a temporary parking permit to have access to the campus. Until a current parking permit has been purchased vehicles are not be permitted on campus. Parking decals for students, faculty and staff can be purchased in the Cashier’s Office, Suite 230 Troup Administrative Building. All students, faculty, staff and visitors must park in the zone designated on their parking permit to avoid receiving a ticket.

o Prices for Parking Decals:

▪ Reserve ~ $150.00 per year

▪ Faculty/Staff ~ $100.00 per year

▪ Students ~ $50.00 per year

▪ Visitors – temporary parking permit

Visit the Department of Campus Police and Safety website for additional information at

Bookstore

Your Fort Valley State University Bookstore is here for you. It’s our pleasure to meet new and continuing students and assist them through their college experience. We are located in the Health and Physical Education Complex (HPE Complex) and our hours of operation are 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday. Visit the website for additional information at .

Library

The Henry Alexander Hunt Memorial Library is the main library and information service building on campus. The objective of the library is to enrich the learning capacity of students by providing print and non-print resources to support classroom experiences. The library instructs, educates and informs users in the use of technology for information and research.

Electronic Services: The library building is semi-wireless. Students can use their laptop computers anywhere on the second floor of the building where study rooms and study tables are located. Access to a computer lab for student use is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are 40 computers in the lab, running on Windows XP platform – with access to the Internet, emails, and Microsoft Office. This lab is extensively used by students and supported by the department of Information Technology.

Virtual Library: Through collaboration and resource sharing, the library participates in the GALILEO project, a world wide, web-based virtual library that provides access to multiple information resources, including secured access to licensed products. Participation allows access to over 150 databases, indexing thousands of periodicals and scholarly journals. Over 2000 journal titles are provided in full text. Other resources include encyclopedias, business directories and government publications.

Information Literacy: Bibliographic information classes are conducted regularly, with training in the use of reference resources, databases and doing research. Learning Support classes are also conducted in the library to enhance student literacy.

Library Services: Reference, Circulation, Inter-Library Loan, GIL Express and GALILEO Resource Sharing, 24/7 Computer Lab, Reserves, Special Collection, University Archives and Media Services.

The Curriculum Materials Center (CMC) is one component of the library that provides resources for child development, early childhood education, and other educational programs. It is a collection of the State of Georgia’s adopted textbooks and other supplementary materials, pre-K through 12 grades. It is located in the Education building under the jurisdiction of the College of Education. A successful and productive stay at Fort Valley State University is dependent upon the frequency and use of library and its resources.

Library Service Hours: The library is open 16 hours per day, and the computer lab is open 24 hours each day, seven days a week.

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. Monday-Thursday

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Friday

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday

3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sunday

Visit the website for additional information at

SSN/Generated ID and PIN Number

The social security number is required from all entering students to create a permanent and lasting record. Upon admission to the university, a generated ID is created and used by the institution for all purposes which do not require the social security number. FVSU is dedicated to the privacy and proper handling of confidential information pertaining to students. Students must use their FVSU-generated ID and PIN to retrieve information through Banner Web.

FVSU E-Mail

The FVSU e-mail account is the university’s official means for communicating with students and all students are required to maintain an active e-mail account. Therefore, it is responsibility of students to monitor their FVSU e-mail account on a regular basis. This will ensure that students are in tune with what is going on at the university. Continuing and new students may retrieve instructions on how to access their university’s generated e-mail address from the web at

Grades and Academic Transcripts

As grades become available for the mid-term and the end of the semester, students are able to access them through Banner Web. If a grade is unavailable at the initial check, continue to check on a regular basis. Once all grades have been reported students will retrieve their grade point averages and academic standing through the web. Please note that grade reports, academic probation/suspension/dismissal letters are not mailed (status is available online). Details on probation/suspension/dismissal are available online. Students who fail to check their grades or academic status are not exempt by not knowing.

Current/recently enrolled students may request and pay for an official transcript online. Visit the web for instructions on requesting and paying for transcripts at

Other Services at FVSU

o Residential Life Student Housing/Wildcat Commons & University Housing

All undergraduate students with less than 59 hours are required to reside in student housing, Wildcat Commons or Traditional Housing. Students may be exempt if they live within a 59 mile radius of the University. Please contact the University Housing for the housing application or click here retrieve the application and lease agreement through the web. All students are required to submit a $200.00 non-refundable housing application fee in order to complete the housing process.

o Food Service

The University contracts Thompson Hospitality to provide food service for its students.  Well-balanced meals are offered throughout the day at the Food Service Center which is located next to the Lyon’s Student Center. In addition to the cafeteria, dining opportunities are available at the Wildcat Snack Bar which operates a Checker’s and a Fort Valley Pizza program on the ground floor of the Student Center and at the Outtakes Convenience Store located in the Wildcat Commons Clubhouse.

Students living in the residence halls are required to have a meal plan. Each meal plan offers meal equivalency.

Meal plan options:

19 meal plan

15 meal plan &    $50.00 flex dollars (with restrictions)

  7 meal plan & $150.00 flex dollars (with restrictions)

Meal plans are available for non-resident students also.

A more detailed discussion is available in the Residence Life Handbook.

o Career Development Center

The Career Development Center (CDC) at Fort Valley State University provides a variety of career services designed to assist students with career exploration, career planning and placement needs. The Center also assists FVSU students and alumni with preparing resumes and cover letters, job search strategies, internship and cooperative education opportunities.  Students are encouraged to visit the Career Development Center as early as their first semester on campus.  All students should register and establish a placement file with the center (see placement registration form). You may contact the Director of the CDC at (478) 825-6350/6202 or Fax: 478.825.6471. Visit the web for additional information at

o Judicial Affairs

The mission of Judicial Affairs is to support the university’s educational mission and goals by engaging and empowering students, staff and faculty in the process of creating a safe, orderly and positive university environment. Efforts will facilitate and support community values, standards and expectations which enhance just and fair disciplinary processes, student learning and support student intervention efforts.

All students are responsible for becoming familiar with the Student Code of Conduct. For clarification or questions pertaining to the Student Code of Conduct, please contact Judicial Affairs at (478) 825-6258 or on the web at

Accreditation

Fort Valley State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA, 30033-4097, 404-679-4501, to award associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees.

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