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.
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

Another Institution's Student (Host School)
Student currently enrolled at another regionally accredited institution may enroll as a transient student on a space available basis in order to complete coursework to transfer back to their home institution.

Student who apply for admissions, pay the application fee, and submit a completed Transient Agreement Form (TAF) to the registrar's office from their home institution may be granted transient admission status at Oconee Fall Line Technical College. The Transient Agreement Form must verify the student is in good standing at their home institution and must list the specific semester and course(s) the student is eligible to take. Financial aid eligibility should also be verified on the TAF.

An application for admission to OFTC and a new Transient Agreement Form are required for each tern of enrollment. Transient students are required to meet Oconee Fall Line Technical College's admissions application deadlines.

OFTC does not guarantee that transient students will be able to enroll in desired courses, nor is OFTC responsible for advising transient students about which courses are applicable to their programs or transferable to their home institution. OFTC does not automatically forward transcripts to the home institution. Transcripts are sent only at the student's request through Parchment, our third-party processing company.

Oconee Fall Line Technical College Student (Home School)
OFTC student who wish to take courses at other institutions must complete the admissions application at the host institution. The student must also complete the Transient Request Form, and email a signed copy to the registrar's office (registrar@oftc.edu). Once the transient status has been approved, a copy of the transient agreement will be emailed to the host institution and to the student. Student must be currently enrolled and have at least a 2.0 GPA, have completed all required prerequisite courses, and the course cannot be offered online at OFTC. Student completing coursework at other institutions must request an official transcript be sent to OFTC before credit will be awarded. Transfer credit will be awarded upon course completion with a grade of 2.0 or higher.

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.
Be a part-time student.
Have completed all required prerequisite courses.
The class not be offered online at OFTC for the transient term.

Student who wish to attend another technical college or university as a transient student but will not be taking online courses, must complete a Transient Request.

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.

TCSG Connect Students

TCSG Connect 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 TCSG Connect is no different than other courses. A student enrolls in an TCSG Connect 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 TCSG Connect should contact their program advisor.

International Students

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