51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Associate Degree to Bachelor's Degree

• Application by priority deadline (Recommended)
• Satisfy any Required High School Curriculum deficiencies
• Complete all Learning Support requirements
• Meet at least one of these combinations:
  • A minimum GPA of 2.50 with at least 24 completed credit hours
  • A minimum GPA of 2.00 with at least 30 completed credit hours
  • A 51³Ô¹ÏÍø associate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.0 GPA

Students must meet the above requirements to move to the bachelor's level, regardless if a campus change is involved. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. The university reserves the right to deny student requests based on academic standards in the student's selected major, past academic performance, and campus capacity.

Bachelor's Degree to Associate Degree

• Above requirements are not necessary
• Application by priority deadline (Recommended)
• Students must be at a bachelor's level to take courses on the Dahlonega Campus
• Maximum amount of credit hours for financial aid eligibility at the associate level is 90 credit hours

1. Meet with your academic advisor to determine if a degree level change is right for you.
2. Check with Financial Aid to determine if a degree level change will affect your award.
3. Contact the Registrar's Office prior to submitting the form if you have questions about the process or requirements. A degree level change, major, and/or campus change offered during the fall and spring semesters. (Optional)
4. Complete the request form in . 
   1. On the Banner Student Home Page, select the four-square icon in the upper left corner
   2. Select “Banner”
   3. Select “Student”
   4. Select “Degree/Major/Campus Change”
   5. Follow on-screen instructions
5. After the request form is completed:
   1. You will receive a confirmation email from the Registrar's Office that your application has been received.
   2. You will receive an email notification from the Registrar’s Office once your request has been processed, typically within two weeks.
   3. If your application is approved conditionally, review conditions that must be met by the end of the semester and make sure you understand them.
   4. If your application is not approved, contact your academic advisor or Student Orientation and Success staff to discuss options moving forward, including the appeals process.
6. If you are changing your home campus to Dahlonega and you are interested in living on campus, please contact Residence Life as soon as your campus change is approved.
7. Meet with your newly assigned advisor (updated on your Student Tranguid in Banner) to discuss your program requirements and courses.
8. Register for classes during your assigned registration time.
9. Familiarize yourself with your new degree and/or campus. If you transfer to Dahlonega or Gainesville, consider attending Nighthawk Orientation to help with the transition.
10. Begin classes!

• Spring - November 1
• Summer - April 1
• Fall - April 1

Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed for acceptance if the student can be accommodated. Applications received after the deadline may not be processed in time for early registration. Campus capacity, course availability, and reasons for degree level change may impact the ability to accommodate late applications.

Students who were not approved for a degree level, major, and campus change can appeal the decision by submitting the Degree Level Appeal Form embedded within their decision letter to explain why their situation warrants approval for a degree level or degree level with campus change. The appeal process requires students to explain why their situation warrants approval, even though they did not meet the requirements to be considered or accepted.

This process can only happen after a student has submitted an application, and that application has not been approved.  

Appeals Form Timeline

1. Submit the Appeals Form embedded within your decision letter sent by the Registrar’s Office. Provide supporting documentation as needed to provide a rationale for your case. 
2. Once the form has been received, the Appeals Committee will review the appeal case and notify the student within a week of submission.  
3. After being approved or not approved, please follow the “Next Steps” on the decision letter, such as contacting your academic advisor to plan classes for the upcoming semester. 

Appeals Reason and Supporting Documents

The appeal will allow students to submit the Degree Level Change Appeal Form to support the appeal's claims. Depending on the circumstances of the appeal, you may need/want to submit a plan of study signed by your advisor, an email from a financial aid counselor, academic advisor, department chair, etc., a copy of your driver's license to verify a new address, or any other documentation to indicate the reasons for your appeal. Typical reasons a student may be requesting an appeal include, but are not limited to:

• The student has extenuating circumstances and believes they will excel academically at a bachelor's level.
• Meeting maximum hours for financial aid eligibility in an associate degree program
• Needing registration in upper-level courses (3000 & 4000 Level)
• A change in housing situation (live closer to another 51³Ô¹ÏÍø campus)
• Advisor recommendations based on educational/career goals 

Decisions and Planning Ahead

The appeals committee will review requests and notify the student of their decision through 51³Ô¹ÏÍø email within a week after the appeal form submission. Students wishing to appeal their application decision are encouraged to plan for the next semester at their current degree level and home campus by registering for those courses during early registration periods. Appeal decisions are not guaranteed to be made and processed before early registration each term, and students should plan accordingly to avoid a gap in enrollment or unfavorable course availability.  

1. Meet with your academic advisor to determine if a degree level change is right for you.
2. Check with Financial Aid to determine if a degree level change will affect your award.
3. Contact Student Orientation and Success staff prior to submitting the form if you have questions about the process or requirements. A degree level change, major, and/or campus change offered during the fall and spring semesters. (Optional)
4. Complete the request form in . 
   1. On the Banner Student Home Page, select the four-square icon in the upper left corner
   2. Select “Banner”
   3. Select “Student”
   4. Select “Degree/Major/Campus Change”
   5. Follow on-screen instructions
5. After the request form is completed:
   1. You will receive a confirmation email from the Registrar's Office that your application has been received.
   2. You will receive an email notification from the Registrar’s Office once your request has been processed, typically within two weeks.
   3. If your application is approved conditionally, review conditions that must be met by the end of the semester and make sure you understand them.
   4. If your application is not approved, contact your academic advisor or Student Orientation and Success staff to discuss options moving forward, including the appeals process.
6. If you are changing your home campus to Dahlonega and you are interested in living on campus, please contact Residence Life as soon as your campus change is approved.
7. Meet with your newly assigned advisor (updated on your Student Tranguid in Banner) to discuss your program requirements and courses.
8. Register for classes during your assigned registration time.
9. Familiarize yourself with your new degree and/or campus. If you transfer to Dahlonega or Gainesville, consider attending Nighthawk Orientation to help with the transition.
10. Begin classes!

• Spring - November 1
• Summer - April 1
• Fall - April 1

Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed for acceptance if the student can be accommodated. Applications received after the deadline may not be processed in time for early registration. Campus capacity, course availability, and reasons for degree level change may impact the ability to accommodate late applications.

Students who were not approved for a degree level, major, and campus change can appeal the decision by submitting the Degree Level Appeal Form embedded within their decision letter to explain why their situation warrants approval for a degree level or degree level with campus change. The appeal process requires students to explain why their situation warrants approval, even though they did not meet the requirements to be considered or accepted.

This process can only happen after a student has submitted an application, and that application has not been approved.  

Appeals Form Timeline

1. Submit the Appeals Form embedded within your decision letter sent by the Registrar’s Office. Provide supporting documentation as needed to provide a rationale for your case. 
2. Once the form has been received, the Appeals Committee will review the appeal case and notify the student within a week of submission.  
3. After being approved or not approved, please follow the “Next Steps” on the decision letter, such as contacting your academic advisor to plan classes for the upcoming semester. 

Appeals Reason and Supporting Documents

The appeal will allow students to submit the Degree Level Change Appeal Form to support the appeal's claims. Depending on the circumstances of the appeal, you may need/want to submit a plan of study signed by your advisor, an email from a financial aid counselor, academic advisor, department chair, etc., a copy of your driver's license to verify a new address, or any other documentation to indicate the reasons for your appeal. Typical reasons a student may be requesting an appeal include, but are not limited to:

• The student has extenuating circumstances and believes they will excel academically at a bachelor's level.
• Meeting maximum hours for financial aid eligibility in an associate degree program
• Needing registration in upper-level courses (3000 & 4000 Level)
• A change in housing situation (live closer to another 51³Ô¹ÏÍø campus)
• Advisor recommendations based on educational/career goals 

Decisions and Planning Ahead

The appeals committee will review requests and notify the student of their decision through 51³Ô¹ÏÍø email within a week after the appeal form submission. Students wishing to appeal their application decision are encouraged to plan for the next semester at their current degree level and home campus by registering for those courses during early registration periods. Appeal decisions are not guaranteed to be made and processed before early registration each term, and students should plan accordingly to avoid a gap in enrollment or unfavorable course availability.