FAQs

Those who have earned fewer than 30 semester hours of credit must meet the Freshman admission requirement to be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program.  Those with 30 or more semester hours of credit, must have completed all Learning Support and College Preparatory Curriculum requirements and have at least a 2.0 grade point average.  Some bachelor’s degree programs such as Education have entrance requirements that are above the minimum standards set for bachelor’s degree acceptance.  Acceptance into bachelor’s degree programs does not guarantee admittance into the program of the student’s choice.  There will be a separate acceptance process for those programs with higher standards.

It will differ depending upon the campus at which the student wishes to take the classes.  If the student wishes to enter a bachelor’s degree program at the Gainesville Campus, the student should change majors through the Academic Advising Center on the Gainesville, Oconee, or Cumming Campus.  For those who wish to enter a bachelor’s degree program on the Dahlonega Campus, the student will need to complete a separate process through Summer Semester 2013 and the school’s student database systems (Banner Web) are merged.  

For Spring Semester 2013 and Summer Semester 2013, a student who wishes to transition from an associate degree program to a bachelor’s degree program on the Dahlonega Campus should complete a paper application to North Georgia College & State University as a transfer student.  At the top of this application, the student should write, “Fee Waived—GSC Student”.  There are applications with this already printed at the top available in the GSC Admissions Office, Registrar’s Office, and Academic Advising Center on the Gainesville Campus and at the main desk in the Administration Building on the Oconee Campus.  This application should be sent to the Undergraduate Admissions Office at NGCSU.  You will not need to submit an application fee since you will be a current UNG student transitioning from an associate degree program to a bachelor’s degree program and not a true transfer student.  You will also need to send a copy of your GSC transcript to NGCSU so that the credits you have earned at GSC can be entered into the NGCSU Banner Web and your advisor will be able to see what credits you have already earned. 

Those UNG students wishing to transition to a bachelor’s degree program beginning Fall Semester 2013 or later will be able to submit a simple Transition Application at the Registrar’s Office on any campus of the University of North Georgia.

Academic Calendars of the two institutions will remain the same for their current campuses through Summer Semester 2013, and UNG will have a combined Academic Calendar beginning Fall Semester 2013.

The University of North Georgia will have four campuses and online offerings. Our strategic planning process, careful study of the region’s needs, and a market evaluation that includes population and industry growth projections, will guide the university in determining which programs will be available at which campus.

We anticipate in fall 2013 to implement programs that were already in the development pipeline and have been resourced. These include a bachelor’s degree in communication at the Gainesville campus; expansion of English, math and exercise science bachelor’s programs from Dahlonega to Gainesville; continued offerings of the existing North Georgia business and nursing programs on the Gainesville campus. Consideration is also being given to the expansion of health professions programs on the Gainesville campus due to the growing opportunities afforded by the area’s healthcare industry.

A consolidation work group is studying and recommending learning outcomes and courses for the core curriculum for the University of North Georgia. The recommendations of this group will then need to go through the existing curriculum approval processes of both North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College. Following those internal approvals, the core curriculum must be approved by the University System of Georgia’s Council on General Education.

Individually, Gainesville State and North Georgia are strong schools with particular missions focused on meeting the educational needs of students. A consolidated institution would maintain the academic rigor required for the university’s bachelor, graduate and doctoral programs, while also providing access opportunities on satellite campuses for students seeking associate degrees. A consolidation may also allow the opportunity for certain high-demand programs currently offered only in Dahlonega to be offered at other campuses.

The mission of the University of North Georgia establishes that the institution will serve students at a variety of degree levels and preserves accessibility as a central component to the institutional mission. The admissions model for the consolidated institution, currently under study, will allow opportunities for students to enter college and pursue higher education through a variety of pathways that best suit their goals and readiness level. This will include expansion of baccalaureate programs as feasible in the future and providing support services that are essential to the success of pre-baccalaureate students.

The consolidation could allow the broad baccalaureate and graduate program offerings of North Georgia College & State University to be available at the campuses of Gainesville State, maintaining access and increasing the range of degree offerings in the region. It would also enable a seamless transfer between an already existing pipeline of students between Gainesville State and North Georgia.

Though details of the consolidation would be worked out over the next 12 to 18 months, the consolidation could present an opportunity to better serve the growing veteran population in the northeast Georgia region by connecting the expertise and experience of North Georgia’s military program with expanded access points for veteran outreach services for veterans who are returning to civilian life and looking toward higher education to make that transition.

Additionally, this collaboration could increase the number baccalaureate and graduate offerings across the consolidated school’s network of campuses to meet the workforce needs of the region, especially in critical areas such as education and health care, while avoiding duplication of programs.

Students currently enrolled in bachelor’s degree (4-year) programs at Gainesville State College would continue at the state college rate for a predetermined time period that would allow for normal completion of their degree program on the Gainesville Campus. A student who has earned 90 or more semester hours will be charged state college tuition until the bachelor’s degree is completed or December of 2013, whichever occurs first.  After that point, this student would be charged state university tuition.  A student who has earned 60 to 89 semester hours of credit will be charged state college tuition until bachelor’s degree is completed or December of 2014, whichever occurs first.  A student who has earned 1 to 59 semester hours of credit will be charged state college tuition until the bachelor’s degree is completed or December of 2015, whichever occurs first.  After that, the student will need to pay state university tuition.  A student must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program by the date of consolidation, January 8, 2013,  to continue paying the state college tuition rate as noted above.  The state college tuition is only for the Gainesville Campus and does not apply to the Dahlonega or Cumming Campuses.  No bachelor’s degree programs are offered on the Oconee Campus.

Students will be charged fees based upon the campus they attend.  Students taking classes on the Dahlonega Campus will pay the fees currently charged on that campus and will have access to those programs and services associated with those fees.  For example, those students will pay a Health Service Fee and Recreation Center Fee and will be able to use those services.  Students on the Oconee Campus will not pay those fees and so will not have access to those services.

This topic is under review by a work group in the Student Affairs area to determine opportunities for students to participate in various activities across the institution. Some of the factors that affect such activity may include the club or organization’s funding source (student activity fees, athletic fees or other), the organization’s meeting or activity schedule, practice locations, etc.

Tuition will be based upon degree program.  Associate degree tuition (except for the Associate Degree in Nursing which is a high cost program) will be the rate for state colleges, currently $94.87 per semester hour for in-state tuition.  The tuition rate for students in bachelor’s degree programs will be the state university tuition rate which is currently $161.74 per semester hour for in-state tuition.  This plan gives students some choices about the tuition rates they pay as they may elect to start in the associate degree program, if available on their preferred campus, and pay the lower tuition rate for the first two years. The Board of Regents establishes tuition rates each spring for the next academic year.

The following information was updated July 30, 2012, to reflect more current information about diplomas and transcripts.

Beginning with spring semester 2013, diplomas and transcripts will reflect the name of the consolidated university, the University of North Georgia. Any student who wishes to receive a commemorative diploma with the name of the former institution will be able to order one after graduation.

Also, any replacement diplomas or transcripts will reflect the name of new institution with an explanation of the name change, effective January 2013.  The same will hold true for transcripts.

Students at North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College selected Nighthawks as the mascot for the new university to be formed through the consolidation of the two institutions. Read more about the mascot selection process and history here.

This topic is under review by a work group in the Student Affairs area to determine opportunities for students to participate in various activities across the institution. Some of the factors that affect such activity may include the club or organization’s funding source (student activity fees, athletic fees or other), the organization’s meeting or activity schedule, practice locations, etc.

Currently, there are no plans to construct residence halls on those campuses.

As one of only six senior military colleges in the United States and designated by state legislation as the Military College of Georgia, North Georgia College & State University is committed to maintaining this important part of our heritage and identity. The university will maintain its designation as a senior military college and will preserve the Corps of Cadets as a cornerstone of its residential program on the Dahlonega campus.

The following information was updated July 30, 2012, to reflect more current information about diplomas and transcripts.

Beginning with spring semester 2013, diplomas and transcripts will reflect the name of the consolidated university, the University of North Georgia. Any student who wishes to receive a commemorative diploma with the name of the former institution will be able to order one after graduation.

Also, any replacement diplomas or transcripts will reflect the name of new institution with an explanation of the name change, effective January 2013.  The same will hold true for transcripts.

On May 8, 2012, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents selected University of North Georgia as the name of the institution formed through the consolidation. View Information about that process.

Students at North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College selected Nighthawks as the mascot for the new university to be formed through the consolidation of the two institutions. Read more about the mascot selection process and history here.

The web teams from North Georgia and Gainesville State began planning for the future University of North Georgia web presence earlier this year, and the web development process is well underway.

Two stages of development are planned, first stage and final stage.  First stage development, scheduled for a January 8^th publication, consists of audience landing pages, critical enrollment information, a consolidated directory, SACS and Higher Education Act required data, and minimal departmental sites which link back to appropriate pages on northgeorgia.edu and www.gsc.edu.  Final stage development, scheduled for April 30, 2013,includes completion of departmental websites, where links to northgeorgia.edu and www.gsc.edu will be replaced with information relevant to the University of North Georgia.

For more information, view the PDF.

Consolidation will be a continuous process for quite some time. We are in the planning stage now and will be submitting a prospectus or plan for implementation in October 2012 to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. That plan is expected to be affirmed at that group’s meeting in December. Pending its approval, the Board of Regents will provide final authorization for the University of North Georgia at its meeting in January 2013. At that point, the two institutions will be consolidated; however, implementation of consolidation will occur over the next several months.

Student life on each of these campuses would be minimally impacted. North Georgia’s Dahlonega campus would continue to have a primarily residential focus and maintain about the same number of students and a strong emphasis on small class sizes and active student opportunities. Gainesville State’s campus would continue to be a commuter-based institution serving a more highly-populated geographic area.

Individually, Gainesville State and North Georgia are strong schools with particular missions focused on meeting the educational needs of students. A consolidated institution would maintain the academic rigor required for the university’s bachelor, graduate and doctoral programs, while also providing access opportunities on satellite campuses for students seeking associate degrees. A consolidation may also allow the opportunity for certain high-demand programs currently offered only in Dahlonega to be offered at other campuses.

The mission of the University of North Georgia establishes that the institution will serve students at a variety of degree levels and preserves accessibility as a central component to the institutional mission. The admissions model for the consolidated institution, currently under study, will allow opportunities for students to enter college and pursue higher education through a variety of pathways that best suit their goals and readiness level. This will include expansion of baccalaureate programs as feasible in the future and providing support services that are essential to the success of pre-baccalaureate students.

As one of only six senior military colleges in the United States and designated by state legislation as the Military College of Georgia, North Georgia College & State University is committed to maintaining this important part of our heritage and identity. The university will maintain its designation as a senior military college and will preserve the Corps of Cadets as a cornerstone of its residential program on the Dahlonega campus.

The consolidation could allow the broad baccalaureate and graduate program offerings of North Georgia College & State University to be available at the campuses of Gainesville State, maintaining access and increasing the range of degree offerings in the region. It would also enable a seamless transfer between an already existing pipeline of students between Gainesville State and North Georgia.

The combined enrollment of the two schools is approximately 15,000 students. The consolidation would create a regional university with  campuses in Dahlonega, Gainesville, Watkinsville, and Cumming. Based on fall 2011 enrollment and assuming consistent enrollment growth, this would be the seventh-largest university in the system behind UGA, Georgia State, Georgia Perimeter, Kennesaw, Georgia Tech, and Georgia Southern.

The campus will be maintained as a component of University of North Georgia.

Through an existing partnership, North Georgia and Gainesville State are slated to open a joint instructional center, University Center | GA 400, in fall 2012 in Cumming. This facility will proceed and provide another point of access for students interested in meeting core curriculum requirements, certain baccalaureate and graduate programs, and professional development opportunities.

Though details of the consolidation would be worked out over the next 12 to 18 months, the consolidation could present an opportunity to better serve the growing veteran population in the northeast Georgia region by connecting the expertise and experience of North Georgia’s military program with expanded access points for veteran outreach services for veterans who are returning to civilian life and looking toward higher education to make that transition.

Additionally, this collaboration could increase the number baccalaureate and graduate offerings across the consolidated school’s network of campuses to meet the workforce needs of the region, especially in critical areas such as education and health care, while avoiding duplication of programs.

Gainesville State and North Georgia have a long history of collaboration that dates back to 1984 when North Georgia began offering limited evening courses on the Gainesville State campus.  Over the years, both institutions have worked together to maintain an environment of quality learning experiences and offerings have expanded, making it possible for many Gainesville State graduates to stay on the Gainesville campus while continuing their college careers with North Georgia.