Types of Students

Beginning

Students who have completed high school, or an equivalency, and are attending a college for the first time (i.e., have never attended any college previously) are classified as beginning students.

Returning Students

Students who previously attended OFTC (Heart of Georgia or Sandersville Technical College) and have not attended another college since attending OFTC (HGTC or STC) are classified as returning students. Students who wish to re-enter OFTC after three semesters of nonenrollment must be readmitted through the Office of Admissions. Students applying to return must complete a Re-Admission application. Students dismissed or suspended from OFTC may apply to re-enter at the beginning of any term following the conclusion of the dismissal or suspension period. Reapplying does not guarantee acceptance. Students reapplying for admission after their program curriculum has changed will be required to meet the requirements of the new curriculum.

Transfer Students

Applicants to OFTC who have been previously enrolled at another postsecondary institution will be considered for admission according to the following procedures:

Applicants who are in good standing at their previous institution may be accepted in good standing.
Applicants who are on academic probation or have a cumulative GPA under 2.0 at their previous institution may be accepted on transfer probation. Applicants who are on academic suspension or academic dismissal at their previous institution must wait a minimum of one semester to enter OFTC. Applicants in this status will be accepted on academic probation after one semester.
Applicants who wish to transfer to OFTC must meet the entrance requirements and follow the admissions procedures listed in the above sections.
Applicants must have all official college transcripts sent to the Admissions Office before registration.
The director of admissions will make a determination of placement based on college math and English credits. A grade of “C” or higher must be earned for the course and the course must have the same number of credit hours or greater as the OFTC math or English course. NOTE: The director of admissions can use an unofficial college transcript for placement purposes only. However, an official transcript must be on file for the registrar to post the credit to the OFTC transcript. Exemption credit will not transfer.
Criminal background checks and drug screenings are not transferable. A student transferring into a program at OFTC which requires these items must obtain new ones following OFTC guidelines.
Priority dates for transfer applications are listed on the OFTC calendar.

Transient Students

If an OFTC student wishes to attend another technical college as a transient student to take online courses, the student must apply at https://gvtc.tcsg.edu/ and pay the application fee for the host school. Students should follow the instructions on the website to complete the application and view a list of courses offered at other technical colleges. Students should select “Transient” as the student type. OFTC will be the home school, and the school the student will attend will be the host school. The Registrar’s Office will be notified by GVTC of students requesting transient status and will verify the student is eligible for transient status. The paperwork will then be forwarded to the Financial Aid Office for verification of any financial aid to the student. After this process is complete, the Registrar’s Office will forward a Transient Agreement to the college the student wishes to attend.

Students who wish to attend another technical college as a transient student but will not be taking online courses must complete a Transient Request Form at OFTC. The Registrar’s Office will verify the student is eligible for transient status. The paperwork will then be forwarded to the Financial Aid Office for verification of any financial aid to the student. After this process is complete, the Registrar’s Office will forward a Transient Agreement to the college the student wishes to attend.

For students who are taking a transient class during the semester prior to term of entry into a competitive program, students must have all transient grades reported by the host school by the day after OFTC’s term ends to be considered for competition.

If the student qualifies for transient status, a Transient Student Agreement Form will be approved and sent to the host school before the current semester ends. However, grades will be reviewed at the end of the current semester. If the student is not in good standing or does not meet qualifications for transient, an updated Transient Student Agreement will be sent to the host school rescinding the approval.

Students must request an official transcript from the host school at the end of the semester. Transient grades will not be posted until the official transcript is received.

Students applying to OFTC as a transient student must apply at https://gvtc.tcsg.edu/, complete the OFTC Admissions Application, and pay the application fee. The student’s home school must provide OFTC with a Transient Student Agreement.

This procedure applies for currently enrolled OFTC students seeking transient status at another post-secondary institution. Students cannot be full-time students at OFTC during the term in which they are taking transient classes.

Transient Procedures

To qualify for transient status, students must meet the following criteria:

Be in good standing and have at least a 2.00 GPA.
Be a currently enrolled student.
Have completed all required prerequisite courses.

Students will be approved to take classes via transient status as long as OFTC does not offer the course online that term. Students taking classes at OFTC and at another school will only be required to pay the Instructional Technology Fee at OFTC. Students not taking classes at OFTC will be required to pay the Instructional Technology Fee at each institution they attend.

Diploma and Certificate students: Grades earned in transient coursework will appear on the student’s OFTC transcript as transfer credit and will not be calculated in the student’s grade point average.

Degree students: Grades earned in transient coursework will appear on the student’s OFTC transcript as transfer credit and will be calculated in the student’s attempted hours and HOPE GPA for HOPE Scholarship.

The procedure for disbursing financial aid for transient work at another TCSG college is as follows:

The OFTC Financial Aid Office (home school) authorizes HOPE and Pell eligibility prior to the beginning of the semester and forwards to the college the student plans to attend (host school). If the student is eligible for HOPE, the host school will use HOPE Grant/Scholarship at the beginning of the semester to cover tuition. If the student is eligible for Title IV funding and those funds are not available at the beginning of the semester, they will be disbursed by OFTC once the Financial Aid Office receives enrollment verification from the host school. If the student is not eligible for HOPE, he/she must pay tuition and fees at the host school. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office at 478-274-7833 with any questions regarding the disbursement of funds.

eCampus Students

eCampus provides students the ability to enroll in digital online courses utilizing faculty from TCSG colleges, allowing students access to programs that would not have been available at their home technical college.

For a student, taking a course offered through eCampus is no different than other courses. A student enrolls in an eCampus course through their home college. The course is 100% online and is taught by a TCSG college instructor. Students will receive credit for the course the same way they would if they completed the course at their home college.

Students wishing to take courses via eCampus should contact their program advisor.

International Students

Oconee Fall Line Technical College is not authorized to issue I-20Ms for student visas.