Gwinnett Tech provides a variety of services that support its educational programs. Supervision of these services is the responsibility of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, the director of online learning, the library manager, the director of adult education, and the academic division deans. Questions regarding a student’s educational program or academic progress should be directed to the Academic Affairs office.
Academic Support Services
Gwinnett Tech is committed to student success and to assisting students in achieving their individual goals. Therefore, various options of academic support are offered to all credit students studying in program areas.
Success often requires a need for tutorial assistance. The Learning Success Center (LSC) is a tutoring lab located in room 910 (for writing), room 250 (for math) of building 100 on the Lawrenceville campus and room 137 (for writing and math) on the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus. For help in other Education department courses, full time instructors are available to give individual assistance, by appointment, during their office hours.
Student computer labs are available to all registered Gwinnett Tech students. They are equipped with the necessary software to support instruction. These labs are not staffed with tutors. Student IDs are required to use these labs. The student open computer labs are located in building 100, room 723, room 825, and building 700, room 2304 of the Lawrenceville campus. There are general use computers in the library for student use at the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus.
Adult Education Center
Mission
To prepare a competitive workforce in the Gwinnett and North Fulton Communities, the innovative faculty and staff of the Gwinnett Technical College Adult Education Department provides exceptional educational programs that develop 21st Century skills and are responsive to the individual needs of adult learners. Whether in preparation to pass the high-school equivalency diploma/GED test or in order to learn or improve English language skills for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), the Adult Education department is dedicated to helping every student reach their career potential. The Adult Education program serves Gwinnett and North Fulton counties. In every location, we strive to provide the highest quality of basic and 21st century skills training to prepare our students for college and/or careers.
Who is eligible?
Anyone age 16 or older and not currently enrolled in school is eligible to attend. Prospective students, 16 and 17 years old, must obtain parent/legal guardian permission and a withdrawal form from the last school attended. Applicants must be US citizens or Permanent Residents and must present valid government-issued photo ID, or aliens/non-immigrants with photo ID and documents from the Department of Homeland Security. For more information, please call 678.226.6662.
GED
Taking the GED can be one of the most important steps of your life and we can help. Millions of people like you have taken the GED Tests to get a better job, continue their education, or to feel better about themselves. We offer free GED Test preparation classes along with the convenience of a GED Testing Center. The college conducts GED testing sessions at both the Gwinnett and Alpharetta North Fulton campuses. Find out how easy it is to begin furthering your education. Please call 678.226.6399 or visit GED.com. You must create an account, schedule, complete registration and pay online in order to test.
Ability to Benefit
The Ability to Benefit (ATB) initiative combines career training with personalized educational support. By offering students the chance to work on their GEDs while taking college courses, GwinnettTech’s Adult Education Center is rethinking traditional adult education by removing barriers that prevent adults from entering and completing their education. The program is committed to helping adults get the training and skills they need today to get the jobs they want tomorrow. ATB requires a two-step application process:
- Phase One requires students to attend an initiation orientation where they will learn about selected pathways and GED requirements. They will also be assessed on their entry education level. Prospective ATB students must score a minimum of 8.0 on the TABE assessment.
- Phase Two requires qualified applicants to meet with advisors/success coaches to begin the college admissions process.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
The English as a Second Language Adult Education classes are designed to help non-native speakers of English improve their language proficiency and basic skills to be integrated, productive and effective members of American society. We help students meet a variety of needs, such as having better employment opportunities; continuing their education, preparing for the GED or for college admissions; communicating better at work, in the community, socially, or at home; helping their children at school; or preparing for the U.S. citizenship interview. Classes are taught entirely in English and integrate all skills-reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening, and culture.
Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE)
IELCE classes are designed to help English Language Learners improve their language proficiency and basic skills to be integrated, productive and effective members of American society. In addition, students are exposed to workforce preparation and workforce training services. The goal of this program is to provide educational and career opportunities that align with the local workforce development system so that English Language Learners can attain unsubsidized employment in in-demand industries and occupations.
Workplace Education
The Adult Education staff conducts workplace education classes for employees of area businesses and industries, either on site or at other convenient locations. Classes may include instruction in basic or advanced reading and math, GED preparation, the English Language Learners program for Speakers of Other Languages, or specific academic skills needed for employment.
Library
The Gwinnett Tech Library partners with the College to advance learning and workforce readiness. The library engages students, faculty and staff with ready access to customized research assistance and specialized research tools and resources.
The Gwinnett Tech Library:
- Engages on-campus and distance learners
- Teaches essential research and information literacy skills to support the curriculum and self-directed lifelong education
- Conducts personalized research assistance
- Designs and delivers customized research instruction
- Provides quality resources made conveniently available by research experts through LibGuides, LibAnswers, GALILEO, and the Library Catalog
- Extends access to resources beyond the collection through referrals and Interlibrary Loan
- Provides space for quiet study and group projects, as well as comfortable areas for leisure reading and conversation
- Promotes a learning atmosphere in a safe, comfortable environment. Library staff will address inappropriate conduct or behaviors in accordance with acceptable use guidelines and policies
- Ensures that library customers have ready access to help from a team of friendly, service-oriented professional librarians and staff
Location, Contact Information & Hours
Borrowing Library Materials
Borrowing privileges are available to College registered students (part-time & full-time) in good standing, faculty (adjunct & regular), staff, and currently enrolled Adult Education students. Borrowers are verified against student registration databases and picture identification is used to verify identity at checkout. Borrowers are held financially responsible for overdue and/or lost materials in accordance with Library policy.
Copyright
The Gwinnett Tech Library complies with U.S. Copyright Law, Title 17 of the U.S. Code
Distance Education Courses
Through distance education courses, students have the flexibility to take classes with an online component or take classes in a completely online environment. For online courses, students must follow the normal web registration process, adhering to the same dates and times. Students who wish to enroll in distance education courses at other technical colleges must complete a Request for a Transient Letter, available through the Enrollment Support Center. Students should apply online via GVTC.org and follow the host school’s transient student guidelines. Students who wish to graduate from Gwinnett Tech must complete more than 25 percent of their course work at Gwinnett Tech. Distance education courses offered by Gwinnett Tech count towards the requisite 25 percent; however, distance education courses offered by other technical colleges count as transfer credit and will not be applied toward the requisite 25 percent.
All Gwinnett Tech, distance education courses follow the same semester format as on-campus courses and do qualify for HOPE funding. One online or hybrid course credit is defined as an equivalent amount of instruction and student work leading to equivalent learning outcomes, as required for a traditional class. Courses offered online are not self-paced. Most courses have weekly assignments, online participation and deadlines. Every student registered for a distance education course is issued a secure user login and password for identity verification.
Gwinnett Tech offers four types of distance education courses:
- Online Asynchronous- In an online course, all instruction, assignments, projects and research is conducted using Internet access and the Blackboard learning management system. Any on-campus requirements for an online course will be clearly indicated in the course syllabus. An online instructor may require no more than two on campus sessions to present guest speakers, conduct specialized lab, administer tests, or to provide other learning opportunities that can only be conducted face-to-face. Online course expectations are equal to that of its traditional format.
- Online Synchronous- An online course that has specific meeting dates and times. Any on-campus requirements for an online course will be clearly indicated in the course syllabus. Online course expectations are equal to that of its traditional format.
- Blended- In a blended course, 1%-50% of the course time will be spent on campus as indicated by the course schedule. The remaining time is spent participating in online projects, assignments, or instruction. All campus requirements for a on campus course will be clearly indicated in the course syllabus. On campus course expectations are equal to that of its traditional format.
- On Campus - On Campus courses have regularly scheduled on campus meetings that may be supplemented with online discussions, quizzes, or the exchange of assignments with your instructor online. In an on campus course 51-99% of the course contact hour requirements meet on campus. On campus course expectations are equal to that of its traditional format.
Minimum Technology and Skill Requirements:
- You must have access to a computer and REALIABLE Internet Access. Gwinnett Technical College is not responsible for computers and internet services which are housed off the college campuses.
- Technical difficulties (including but not limited to: internet interruption, unavailability or unreliability, inadvertent key strokes, incompatible web browsers, failure to successfully access Blackboard or other third-party learning management systems, attempts on mobile devices, and other user-related technical problems) will not be considered valid excuses for failure to complete assignments on time.
- All times and dates are Eastern Standard Time. If you are in a different time zone, you remain responsible for submitting assignments according to Eastern Standard Time.
- You must have a solid foundation in basic computer skills including Blackboard, Microsoft 365, including the Microsoft Office suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
Computer requirements for online, on campus and blended
Almost every course requires some use of a computer. Students are expected to have regular and reliable access to a personal computer with internet. A personal computer with one of the following operating systems is required: Microsoft OS (Win7, Win8, Win10); Apple Mac OS X (10.0) or above; or Unix/Linux. Students will need an internet speed of 56K Dial-Up connection or better. DSL or Cable is recommended. Recommended browsers include Firefox and Chrome. Using other browsers is not recommended and students could risk losing their work including assignments and tests. Accessing distance education courses using devices such as a tablet, smart phone and Chromebook is not recommended. Blackboard does not function fully on mobile devices and Chromebooks. A regular computer or laptop is required.
Proctoring
Some distance education courses may require an on-campus proctored midterm or final exam. Other courses may require students to download and use the Respondus Lockdown Browser proctoring software. Please note, the Respondus Lockdown Browser does not work on Chromebooks. Students can access the use of Respondus Lockdown Browser on a limited basis in designated computer labs on campus. The use of a webcam and microphone for proctoring may also be required. Gwinnett Technical College does not assess any additional student charges associated with verification of student identity with proctoring. If proctoring on-campus is not possible, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor and/or Program Director if issues arise with meeting this on-campus requirement. Such an arrangement must be approved by the Division Dean. The student is also responsible for any additional charges assessed as a result of off campus proctoring at locations that do not provide it free of charge.
Social Media
Social media can be a powerful collaborative tool for building relationships, generating ideas and building support. Social media impacts higher education and all of its stakeholders, including employees and students. Gwinnett Technical College recognizes that social media can have a positive effect on student engagement and the college’s perception in the community. Social media can also be a useful instrument for assessing customer opinion and response. Gwinnett Technical College utilizes social media to share its mission, benefits, and program offerings through its presence as an organization on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Faculty, staff, and students of Gwinnett Technical College should be mindful of their responsibility for all content they publish online about the college. Faculty, staff, and students should view social media postings as an opportunity to participate in enhancing the image of the college.
Policies
- The term “social media” is defined, but not limited to, collaborative online sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, Yelp, Flickr, Windows Live Spaces, YouTube, personal blogs, wikis and other sites that generate interactive discussion and sharing of information.
- Faculty, staff, and students should keep personal social media accounts separate from their professional accounts. Gwinnett Technical College business should only be conducted via the professional accounts. All administrators should attend training as scheduled.
- When using social media on behalf of Gwinnett Technical College, Faculty, staff, and students are expected to adhere to the standards of academic integrity and its stated fundamental values.
- Faculty, staff, and students should not use personal social media accounts to conduct business for the college. Awareness of FERPA laws and student privacy is key.
- Gwinnett Technical College recognizes that fan pages, group pages and blogs can be useful tools for various departments, groups or clubs. However, Faculty, staff, and students do not have the authority to create a fan page, group page, blog or any online organizational presence on behalf of Gwinnett Technical College without the permission of the college and collaboration with the marketing department. Once created, fan pages, group pages, and blogs should be frequently monitored for inappropriate content or spam. Faculty, staff, and students may not use the Gwinnett Technical College logo or any trademark online unless permission is granted by the college.
- Social media should be used only as an aid to (not a replacement of) other forms of institutional communication such as Blackboard or the Gwinnett Technical College email system, which are the primary forms of communication at Gwinnett Technical College.
- Faculty, staff, and students should make every attempt to be accurate in their postings by verifying information and citing sources, and should acknowledge and correct mistakes promptly.
- Gwinnett Technical College recognizes that social media can be used as a valuable forum for generating discussion and ideas. When using personal social media accounts to communicate with students and other stakeholders, Faculty, staff, and students should maintain a professional focus. Faculty, staff, and student should use privacy settings appropriately.
- Faculty, staff, and students should be mindful of the difference between healthy debate and provocative or inflammatory remarks. Faculty, staff, and students should respect individuals and their viewpoints, while maintaining a composed perspective.
- While social media sites may be used by some faculty as an instructional aid, faculty should discourage multi-tasking (e.g. texting, blogging, etc.) by students during face-to-face class time.
- Faculty, staff and students should avoid discussion about the internal policies and operations of Gwinnett Technical College. Faculty, staff, and students expressing opinions online about the college should clearly state that their opinions are not representative of the views of Gwinnett Technical College.
- Faculty, staff, and students are strictly prohibited from sharing confidential information about Gwinnett Technical College.
- Social media is a valuable resource for monitoring and assessing customer perception. Faculty, staff, and students using social media accounts to communicate with students or other stakeholders should make their managers aware of their use of social media so that managers can stay well-informed of their communication efforts. In addition, serious concerns or complaints about the college should be brought to the attention of the appropriate manager to assess the situation and take action.
- Faculty, staff, and students should be mindful of activity that utilizes social media to harass, embarrass or denigrate another individual. Any instance of “cyber bullying” of or by a student or employee should be brought to the attention of the appropriate manager to assess the situation and take action.
- Faculty, staff, and students must obey the law and not conduct any online activity that violates local, state or federal regulations.
- Students must not post any test questions, images, or review materials in any social media forum without approval of the Instructor in the related course.
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