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NEW GRADUATE STUDENT Online Orientation
Welcome to VSU’s graduate student on-line orientation program. The information and guidance offered below are intended to facilitate a smooth transition and experience as you begin your graduate study here. After viewing the materials provided in this on-line format, if you still have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Graduate School at 229-333-5694 or 800-618-1878 extension 5.
VSU Grad Student Registration |
VSU Grad Student Privileges |
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| VSU Grad Student Campus & City Guide | VSU Grad Student Responsibilities |
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| VSU Grad Student Assistance |
VSU Grad Student Links and Contacts |
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REGISTRATION
- Make an appointment with your advisor well in advance of early registration.
- Contact your departmental graduate coordinator if you are unsure of your advisor.
- Communicate with your advisor for approval of course selections.
- Your advisor will go into VSU’s computer registration system and note approval.
- You will then be cleared for registration.
Class schedules are posted online. Click here for course offerings.
Registration Guides are printed each semester and are available at the Graduate School, the
Registrar's Office and at other locations on campus. The Guides contain lists the dates of early, regular, and late registration for each semester.
- Communicate with your advisor for approval of course selections.
- Access the web registration system.
- Select the “Login” icon.
- Enter your social security number or student ID number and PIN (which is your 6-digit birth date, unless you’ve changed it).
- The menu options will guide you through the online registration process.
- Drop or add courses to your schedule (with no financial penalty) by using the online registration system during early, regular, or late registration.
- The dates of these registration periods can be found in the online version of the schedule of classes.
- After late registration is over, the appeal process begins. To initiate this process, obtain an "Appeal Form" from the Registrar's Office in the University Center, or call 229-333-5727 (1.800.618.1878, opt #3) for more information.
- When you withdraw from all classes, fees returned are pro-rated; see the Board of Regents and Federal Refund Policy for information about removal of tuition charges if withdrawing.
CAMPUS AND CITY GUIDE
- The Office of Housing and Residence Life, located in Powell Hall, is open Monday – Thursday 8:00-5:30 and Friday 8:00-3:00 (229-333-5920). Their website provides a wide range of information including prices, applications and dormitory information.
- Converse Hall is the only residence building on campus with apartment-like units (private bath, sleeping area and kitchenette). Limited space is available; ground floor apartments and bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.
- Any student living in a residence hall other than Converse is required to participate in the meal program.
- All students applying for campus housing will be required to contract for the academic year.
- VSU provides a helpful list of local off-campus apartments; however, it is important to note that this information is not intended to endorse or suggest any particular facility. You should investigate and visit your options before making an independent selection. You may also access apartment information through the Yellow Pages and free apartment guides distributed at local grocery stores.
- While enrolled as a graduate student at VSU, you will likely need location, telephone, and contact information for a number of important offices. VSU puts out a campus directory in October of every academic year, which may be accessed online. There are limited paper copies available through the University Relations Office (333-5980) at 111 West Moore Street.
- Also, for your convenience, we have created a quick guide for important campus phone numbers.
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Use VSU's Vistor's Information page to familiarize yourself with our campus.
- The University Bookstore, located at 1306 North Patterson Street, across from the University Center, is open from 8:30 – 5:30 Monday through Thursday and 8:30 – 3:00 on Friday (229-333-5666 or 333-5669).
- The bookstore has extended hours during rush periods each semester; visit their website for information on extended operating hours, schedules for refunds or exchanges, and online shopping.
- The bookstore sponsors a textbook buy-back service during the first three days of class and at the end of the semester during final examinations.
- It is important to remember that during midterm week, the bookstore returns all unsold books. Be sure to pick up your texts in time.
- For a calendar of local event and helpful newcomer information about our community, visit the Valdosta Chamber of Commerce website or contact them at 229-247-8100.
- Visit the Lowndes County Tourism Authority website for local history, maps, and points of interest. You may also request a visitor’s guide online or by calling 229-245-0513.
- For city council or local government information, visit the City of Valdosta website.
GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANCE
- Financial aid applications may be submitted at any time after you have applied for admission.
- The Office of Financial Aid is located in the University Center, Entrance #5 (229-333-5935).
- VSU’s Office of Financial Aid website provides detailed information on everything from the application process to grants and loans (including Stafford and other state and federal programs). The website even has an online fee calculator.
- For on-campus employment opportunities, including the Student Assistant Program, contact the Student Employment Office in Langdale Hall (229-333-7574).
- For assistance in finding Federal Work Study, contact Mr. Rett Moore in Financial Aid at 229-333-5935.
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Find out about the Georgia Hope Scholarships for teachers in critical shortage fields.
- VSU provides a limited number of graduate assistantships across campus every year.
- Compensation generally includes a small stipend and tuition waiver.
- Interested applicants should contact the graduate school at 229-333-5694 or 800-618-1878 ext 5 for more information.
- For more detailed information click here.
Access Office for Students with Disabilities
- The VSU Access Office (formerly Special Services Program) is responsible for coordination of services for student with disabilities.
- Services include, but are not limited to, special testing accommodations, textbooks in alternate formats, tutoring, access to adaptive technology, and referral to other services. All services are provided free of charge.
- For eligibility, students must provide current documentation of a disability that meets Georgia Board of Regents criteria.
- Visit the Access Office website or call 229-245-2498 (voice) or 229-219-1348 (TTY) for more information.
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A key to your success as graduate student is a willingness to "raise the bar" on your ability to write. We recommend that students take full advantage of the many resources at VSU for improving your writing. In particular, the VSU Student Success Center has free tutoring for writing at any stage of the process. Come get advice about how to solve grammar problems, how to develop your ideas, how to proofread carefully, or to get feedback about how clearly you are conveying your ideas/research.
Tutorials are available by appointment or on a walk-in basis. You can make an appointment for yourself online (www.valdosta.edu/ssc) or by calling 229-333-7570.Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9am to 9pm
Friday: 9am to 3pm
Sunday: 4pm to 9pm
- To facilitate a positive learning and working environment for the University community, the Counseling Center provides services at no cost to students, faculty, and staff.
- Services include personal counseling, educational counseling, outreach activities, consultation and referral services, seminars and workshops, training, and testing services.
- For more information visit the Counseling Center website or call 229-333-5940. They are located on the second floor of Powell Hall East.
- The Office of Career Services, located on the second floor of Powell Hall West, provides career development and awareness, experiential learning, and professional employment opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and alumni.
- Visit the Career Services website or call (229) 333-5942 or 333-5414 or 259-2013.
University Police - located in the Oak Street Parking Deck, second floor, south side - 229-333-7816. In case of an emergency, call 259-5555.
GRADUATE STUDENT PRIVILEGES
VSU’s state-of-the-art library, which houses two computer labs, study rooms, a media center, and more than 50 resource search stations, is located at 1500 North Patterson on the main campus (229-333-5869)
Visit their website for information on resources, services, hours, interlibrary loan procedures and more.
Library Services and Resources for Students
- The library staff can also help familiarize you with GALILEO, the Georgia set of academic search engines for articles from magazines, journals, encyclopedias and other authoritative information, and the GIL catalog for locating books and other items within Odum Library. You can also access GALILEO and GIL on-line at http://www.valdosta.edu/library/find/index.shtml and log in from off-campus through Anywhere Access at http://www.valdosta.edu/library/learn/anygalileo.shtml.
- Odum's reference librarians offer one-to-one research help to VSU students, faculty, and staff. Use the consultation request form at http://www.valdosta.edu/library/forms/consult.shtml to schedule an appointment with a reference librarian. Phone and e-mail consultations are also options.
Computing Facilities (and email services)
- Campus standard software includes MS Office Pro package, email products and virus protection software; visit the IT homepage to download free anti-virus software for your home computer.
- For assistance, contact the help-desk at 245-4357, online, or stop by their office in ODUM LIBRARY next to the Circulation Desk (8:00-5:30 Monday –Thursday and 8:00-3:00 Friday).
- For more information on computing services, contact the Information Technology office, located in Pine Hall, at 333-5974 or visit their website.
- Visit our online resources for instructions and general information on your VSU student email account.
- The VSU One Card is a multipurpose identification and online account card, which you can use to check out library books, make purchases at VSU dining facilities and bookstores, and gain access to residence halls and athletic events.
- Visit the website for more information about your VSU One Card.
- For new or replacement cards, call 229-259-2593 or stop by the office at 1204 North Patterson Street next to the Bursary (a picture ID is required to have your One Card made).
- Farber Health Center provides health care to all VSU students who are taking more than 3 hours and who have paid their health fees.
- The beautiful new health center is now located on Georgia Avenue!
- VSU’s Health Center is staffed 24 hours a day by RNs; a physician or physician assistant is available 8:30-5:00 Monday-Friday.
- Appointments are recommended (229-333-5886).
- They offer a wide range of health care, including strep tests, pregnancy tests, over the counter medications and an in-house pharmacy. Visit their website for more information.
- VSU has a new multi-million dollar fitness center on Sustella Avenue behind the PE Complex. Facilities include a climbing wall, indoor track, indoor pool, sundeck, multi-purpose courts, racquetball courts, a weight room (circuit, free weights and cardio areas), an aerobics room, locker rooms, and a fitness lab.
- Fitness center hours are tentatively set for 6:00am-11:30pm Monday – Thursday, 6:00am-9:00pm Friday, 10:00am – 9:00pm Saturday, and 2:00pm – 11:30pm Sunday. PLEASE CHECK WITH CENTER TO CONFIRM HOURS by calling 333-5898.
- Also, visit the Campus Recreation homepage or call 333-5898 for information on aerobics, aquatics, club sports, intramurals, and informal recreation opportunities.
Activities and Athletic Events
- Visit Blazer Zone, the online home for VSU athletics, providing a sporting calendar, information on both men’s and women’s sports and other athletic news.
- The VSU Athletic Department, 229-333-5890, is housed on the first floor of the PE Complex, located on the corner of Baytree and Sustella.
- Visit the Office of Student Life homepage for information on concerts, upcoming events, student organizations and the campus activities board.
- The Office of Student Life can also be reached at 333-5674 or 259-2513.
GRADUATE STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
- The Department of Parking and Transportation, located in the Sustella Street Parking Deck, is open 8:00-5:30 Monday – Thursday and 8:00-3:00 Friday (229-293-7275).
- All students and visitors are required to have a parking permit at all times. The cost of an annual permit is $50.
- You may register for a permit on the phone, online, or in person.
- Parking citations will be issued for infractions of parking policies or for failure to secure a permit. Unpaid citations will result in a hold on student records, which restricts your ability to register for classes, order transcripts, or graduate.
- It is the student’s responsibility to determine the balance due on his or her account and render payment by the fee payment deadlines. You will not be mailed an invoice or statement. You may call the Bursary for account information (229-333-5718).
- HOW TO PAY:
- Cash
- WebCheck, a new online service through Banner Web.
- Check (for FULL payment made payable to Valdosta State University with the student’s Banner ID number and telephone number noted on the check)
- Not Accepted: Counter or Starter Checks, 3rd party Checks and Credit Card Checks or Partial Payments
- Accepted: Travelers Checks, Cashiers Checks and Money Orders
- Check 21 Law: PLEASE REVIEW
- MasterCard/Discover/American Express: Beginning July 1, 2008: Credit Cards will only be accepted Online for Tuition and Fees. For more information, please visit the following website: http://www.valdosta.edu/news/releases/paypath.040808/
- Financial Aid
- WHERE TO PAY:
- Credit card via the web registration system (www.valdosta.edu/eas/sis/ - log on to the registration system as if you are registering and follow the signs for fee payment by credit card)
- Bursary – 1200 N. Patterson Street (8 AM to 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 8 AM to 2:30 PM Friday)
- Bursary Night Drop Box located on the west side of the Bursary building (available 24 hours)
- Mailed to Cashiers, Registration Fee Payment, Valdosta State University, 1500 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA 31698
- Receipts for payment may be picked up in person at the Bursary anytime during regular business hours.
- Students taking classes at Moody AFB, Kings Bay NSB or Albany Marine Corps Base require vehicle passes for base entry. For more information call:
- For Moody AFB: Call 229-257-4163
- For Albany Marine Corps Base: Call 229-257-4163. For Kings Bay Naval Base: Call Mr. Richard Gilboy at 912-882-6573.
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Important Grad School Policies
- Courses taken more than seven years prior to the semester of degree completion cannot be used to meet graduate degree requirements.
- No more than six semester hours of graduate course work may be accepted by transfer from another institution to VSU.
- Graduate students are considered "full time" if the are enrolled in nine (9) or more graduate courses each semester.
- In order to receive a course waiver or to substitute an alternative course for a required course, you must complete a Request for Course Substitution/Waiver Form. This form, which must be signed by your advisor, department head, and dean, is available in the Registrar's Office; it is not available online.
- You may be admitted to VSU as a "regular" student (have met all entrance requirements) "irregular" student (all application requirements not yet submitted; therefore, you may not take more than nine hours of credit until application is complete) or "probationary" student (failed to meet one or more of the requirements for admission; therefore, you must receive a GPA of 3.0 or higher after nine semester hours in order to be reclassified as a regular student).
- Graduate students may appeal decisions concerning denial of admissions, dismissal from the Graduate School, and other academic matters. Students may appeal assigned GRADES within 30 days of the posting of grades at the end of each semester. A GRADE APPEAL form may be found on-line.
- Appeals must follow the procedures established in the Department and College involved. In general, a student must appeal decisions in the following order: Department, College, Dean of the Graduate School, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and President of the University.
- For more information concerning appellate procedures, review a copy of the Graduate Student Handbook or read our online information.
- Graduate students are required to be in good academic standing during their tenure here.
- A GPA of no less than 2.5 must be maintained at all times, and a GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.
- No grade below a C will be credited toward a degree.
- If a graduate student acquires two grades lower than a C (i.e. D, F, WF or U), the student will be dismissed from the Graduate School.
- For more information on academic or other Graduate School policies, stop by our office, located on the second floor of the Regional Center for Continuing Education at the corner of West Gordon and North Patterson Streets, and pick up a Graduate Catalog or visit our website.
LINKS AND CONTACTS
- Access the Registrar's Office academic calendar and other university calendars online.
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Access a copy of the Graduate Catalog online. Students can also view previous catalogs (1998-2009).
- For detailed information on policies and procedures that will affect you as a graduate student, stop by the Graduate School to pick up a Graduate Student Handbook or access it online.
- For comprehensive information on procedures and format for your thesis or dissertation, students may access the guide online.
Doctoral Handbook (EDD)
- For comprehensive information on the Doctoral Program at VSU, stop by the College of Education, 136 Education Center, and pick up a Doctoral Program Handbook or access it online.
DPA Handbook (Public Administration)
- For detailed information on the advanced program of study designed to suit the information and skill needs of professionals currently in the PA field, see the DPA handbook online or contact the Political Science Department at 229-333-5771.
- VSU's Graduate School staff wishes to see you succeed. We recognize this can be a challenging process and we pledge our support to you. If you encounter situations where you believe we could have served you better, we want you to let us know. Please send an email message to gradschool@valdosta.edu explaining the situation (what happened and when it happened) as well as recommendations on how we could have served you better. Please include your name, address, and telephone number so that we may respond to you.
- If you prefer, you can send a paper letter instead of an email message. Our address is as follows: The Graduate School; Valdosta State University; Valdosta, GA 31698.
List Of Departmental Graduate Coordinators Or Contacts
(as some departments have multiple coordinators, start with the primary contact listed below)
College of the Arts
| DEPARTMENT | LOCATION | PHONE | CONTACT | |
| Communications | Fine Arts Building | 229-333-5820 | Bill Faux | wvfaux@valdosta.edu |
| MMP & MUEd | Fine Arts Building | 229-333-5804 | Lyle Indergaard | linderga@valdosta.edu |
| Art Ed (Sec Ed & Middle Grades) | Fine Arts Building | 229-333-2150 | Stephen Lahr | jslahr@valdosta.edu |
College of Arts and Sciences
| DEPARTMENT | LOCATION | PHONE | CONTACT | |
| Biology | 2035 Bailey Science Cntr | 229-333-5765 | Jim Loughry | jloughry@valdosta.edu |
| English | West Hall 207 | 229-333-5946 | Karen Jacobsen | kjjacob@valdosta.edu |
| History | Ashley Hall North 210 | 229-333-5947 | Chris Meyers | cmeyers@valdosta.edu |
| DPA and MPA | West Hall 101-102 | 229-293-6058 | Nolan Argyle | nargyle@valdosta.edu |
| Modern & Classical Languages | West Hall 128 | 229-333-5948 | Victoria Soady | vsoady@valdosta.edu |
| Sociology | University Center 1120 | 229-333-5943 | Chet Ballard | cballard@valdosta.edu |
| Marriage & Family Therapy | University Center 1120 | 229-293-6264 | Kate Warner | kwarner@valdosta.edu |
| Criminal Justice | University Center 1120 | 229-333-5943 | Fred Knowles | feknowle@valdosta.edu |
College of Education
| DEPARTMENT | LOCATION | PHONE | CONTACT | |
| Adult and Career Education | Education Center 212 | 229-333-5928 | MED and EDD ACED Yahya Mat Som MED Bus Ed JD Thomerson NTI (New Tchr Inst) Charles Backes |
ymatsom@valdosta.edu jdthomers@valdosta.edu cbackes@valdosta.edu
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| Communication Sciences & Disorders | SLP Bldg (first floor) | 229-333-5931 | Ruth Stonestreet | rstonest@valdosta.edu |
| Curriculum, Leadership & Technology | SLP Building, second floor (adjacent to bookstore) | 229-333-5633 | MED IT/Lib Media Lars Leader MED IT/Tech Ellen Wiley MED EL (Pub School Lead) & EDS EL - Leon Pate MED EL (Higher Ed) Patrick Biddix EDS IT Verilette Hinkle EDD C&I Ellen Wiley EDD EDL Jerry Siegrist |
lfleader@valdosta.edu ewiley@valdosta.edu jlpate@valdosta.edu
jpbiddix@valdosta.edu vaparker@valdosta.edu ewiley@valdosta.edu siegrist@valdosta.edu |
| Early Childhood and Special Education | Education Center 166 | 229-333-5929 | MED SPE Lynn Minor MED ECED Janet Foster |
lcminor@valdosta.edu jfoster@valdosta.edu |
| Kinesiology and Physical Ed. | PE Complex 165 | 229-333-7161 | George Langford | glangfor@valdosta.edu |
| Middle Grades, Secondary, Reading and Deaf Education | Education Center 87 | 229-333-5611 | ACT Barbara Stanley MED MGE Heather Braswell MED SED Call Dept HEROES Barbara Stanley MED READING Brenda Dixey Deaf Ed Nanci Scheetz |
bstanley@valdosta.edu hbrasell@valdosta.edu Contact Dept bstanley@valdsota.edu bpdixey@valdosta.edu nascheet@valdosta.edu |
| Psychology and Counseling | Psychology Building (corner of Patterson and Gordon) | 229-333-5930 | MS I/O Larry Wiley MS Clinical Psy David Wasieleski MED SCO Teddi Cunningham & EDS SCO Teddi Cunningham EDS SPY Larry Hilgert |
lwiley@valdosta.edu dwasiele@valdosta.edu tjcunnin@valdosta.edu lhilgert@valdosta.edu |
College of Business Administration
| DEPARTMENT | LOCATION | PHONE | CONTACT | |
| Business | Pound Hall 206 | 229-245-3822 | Mel Schnake | mschnake@valdosta.edu |
College of Nursing
| DEPARTMENT | LOCATION | PHONE | CONTACT | |
| Nursing | Walter Martin Hall 224 | 229-333-5959 | Melissa Benton - MSN; RN to MSN Pathway ANP Maria Whyte |
mjbenton@valdosta.edu mwhyte@valdosta.edu
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Division of Social Work
| DEPARTMENT | LOCATION | PHONE | CONTACT | |
| Social Work | Pine Hall | 229-294-4864 | Felicia Hilson | fahilson@valdosta.edu |
Library and Information Science Program
| DEPARTMENT | LOCATION | PHONE | CONTACT | |
| Library and Information Science | Odum Library | 229-333-5860 | Wallace Koehler | wkoehler@valdosta.edu |
Campus Offices Quick Guide
| OFFICE | PHONE |
| Academic Affairs | 229-333-5950 |
| Admissions | 229-333-5791 |
| Bookstore | 229-333-5666 or 5669 |
| Campus Police | 229-333-7816 or 259-5555 |
| Cashiers/Bursary | 229-333-5718 or 5719 |
| Financial Aid | 229-333-5935 |
| Graduate School | 229-333-5694 |
| Housing | 229-333-5920 |
Student Health |
229-333-5886 |
| Library | 229-333-5869 |
| Parking and Transportation | 229-293-7275 |
| Registrar | 229-333-5727 |
| Access Office for Students with Disabilities | 229-245-2498 or 219-1348 (TTY) |
| Student Accounts | 229-333-5725 |
| Student Affairs | 229-333-5941 |
| VSU Main Number | 229-333-5800 |
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL PROCEDURES GOVERNING APPEALS
GRADUATE STUDENT APPEALS FORMS
- Admissions Denial Appeal Form (PDF Format )
- Dismissal from Graduate School Appeal Form (PDF Format )
- Grade Appeal Form (PDF format)
- Note-students have 30 days from date grades are posted to begin the grade appeals process.
Appeals made by graduate students must follow the procedures established in the Department and in the College involved. The Graduate School will not hear an appeal by a student unless that student has exhausted the appellate procedure in the relevant Department and College and has been unable to reach a satisfactory resolution of the problem. In general, a student must appeal decisions in the following order:
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Department
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College
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Dean of the Graduate School
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Vice President for Academic Affairs, and
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President of the University