2015–2016
A GUIDE FOR PARENTS & FAMILIES
produced by
in partnership with
For more information, please contact
Georgia Institute of Technology
353 Ferst Drive, Suite 123
Atlanta, GA 30332-0285
Phone: (404) 385-1396
Email: parents@gatech.edu
www.parents.gatech.edu
www.facebook.com/GeorgiaTech.
ParentsProgram About this Guide
contents
UniversityParent has published this guide
in partnership with the Georgia Institute of
Technology with the mission of helping you easily
navigate your student’s university with the most
timely and relevant information available.
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information by visiting the online guide at:
www.universityparent.com/gatech
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Georgia Tech Guide
Comprehensive advice and information for student success
Welcome Parents
Parents Program
Georgia Tech Parent & Family Ambassador Program
Helpful Transition Tips
Mail Call
Academic Success
Academics
Serve•Learn•Sustain
The Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
Living on Campus
Dining on Campus
Student Health Services
Your Student’s Well-Being
Campus Safety & Security
Money Matters
Student Resources
Office of Student Integrity
The Center for Career Discovery and Development
Global Education & Involvement
Life Outside the Classroom
Important Dates
www.universityparent.com/gatech
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WELCOME PARENTS
Dear Yellow Jacket Parent,
Congratulations! I know you must feel
a great sense of pride in your student’s
accomplishments. Being accepted to
Georgia Tech is truly something to be
proud of. I want you to know that we
appreciate the confidence you have
placed in Georgia Tech to provide
your student with many wonderful
opportunities for learning in and out
of the classroom.
Georgia Tech places the highest value
on each student’s academic, social, and
professional development. We have a
proud history of fostering the personal and
professional achievement that transforms
today’s outstanding students into
tomorrow’s extraordinary leaders. As a
part of the Division of Student Affairs, the
Parents Program is committed to providing
the resources, services, and opportunities
for parents to help their students succeed
at Georgia Tech.
We look forward to meeting you and
working together in support of your
student’s experience here at Georgia
Tech. If you have any questions, please
email me at john.stein@vpss.gatech.edu
Go Jackets,
John M. Stein
Interim Vice President and Dean of
Students
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Georgia Institute of Technology
www.universityparent.com/gatech
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Parent Volunteering
Georgia Tech offers many opportunities
for parents of Tech students to be actively
involved on and off campus through
volunteering. Parent volunteers are
valuable in interacting with parents of
prospective students by offering advice
and support. Volunteer opportunities are
announced in each edition of ParentNews
and are posted regularly on the Parents
Program website, parents.gatech.edu.
Parents Fund
Parents Program
Welcome to the Georgia Tech
Family! This Georgia Tech Parent
& Family Guide was created
with you in mind. We know it
is challenging to be the parent
or family member of a college
student today, so this publication
is focused on providing you with
resources to help you support
your student to make the most
of their experience during their
time here at Georgia Tech.
The goal of the Parents Program — which
includes all family members of Georgia
Tech students — is to support student
success. The Parents Program facilitates
two-way communication between parents
and the Institute, hosts events such
as Family Weekend and Sibs Day, and
provides opportunities for parents and
families to get involved.
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The Parents Program views the
relationship we have with our students’
parents and families as a partnership —
a partnership created to help students be
successful. Our motto is “when parents
are informed, students benefit.” We can
help you navigate Georgia Tech, assist
you and your student with any questions
or concerns you may have, and truly make
you feel part of the Yellow Jacket Family.
I look forward to meeting you! Please
email parents@gatech.edu if you have any
questions or need assistance.
With Yellow Jacket Pride,
Laci Weeden
Director, Parents
Program
Georgia Institute of Technology
Stay Connected
Good communication with parents is vital
to providing the highest quality student
experience at Georgia Tech. The Parents
Program serves as a communication link
between parents of students and the
Institute. We encourage parents to
opt-in to communications from the
Parents Program and the Institute by
subscribing to our electronic monthly
newsletter, ParentNews. Visit the
Georgia Tech Parents Program website,
parents.gatech.edu, and select the
“Stay Connected” link.
Parents Advisory Board
The Parents Advisory Board focuses
on providing feedback to the Division
of Student Affairs, encouraging
interaction between parents and the
Institute, supporting parent and student
programming and championing special
projects.
www.universityparent.com/gatech
The Division of Student Affairs strives to
create an environment for your student
that promotes academic excellence and a
foundation for success in life. As a parent
of a Georgia Tech student, you can help
fulfill this mission with a gift to the Parents
Fund for Student Life & Leadership. Gifts
to the Parents Fund, regardless of the
amount, impact the life of your student
each and every day by providing funds for
enrichment programs that enhance not
only their health and safety but also their
intellectual, social and personal growth.
Make your check payable to the Georgia
Tech Foundation and mail today:
Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc.
Parents Fund
760 Spring Street, NW
Suite 400
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Or give right now by visiting
parents.gatech.edu and select
“Make a Gift.”
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Georgia Tech Parent
& Family Ambassador
Program
A unique opportunity for parents
and family members to get
involved at Georgia Tech.
The Georgia Tech Parent & Family
Ambassador Program is a unique
opportunity for parents and family
members of past and current Georgia
Tech students to serve as ambassadors
by reaching out to both prospective and
current students and families, locally
and regionally. By representing Georgia
Tech, our ambassadors will enhance the
overall Georgia Tech student experience
by sharing their knowledge and offering
support.
To learn more about the Georgia Tech
Parent & Family Ambassador Program and
to sign up, visit the Georgia Tech Parents
Program website, parents.gatech.edu, and
select the “Get Involved” link.
Current parents and family members
are ideal mentors for prospective and
incoming families to Georgia Tech. With
our Georgia Tech undergraduate and
graduate students coming from all over
the world, the Georgia Tech Parent &
Family Ambassador Program provides an
opportunity for ALL of our parents and
families to get involved — no matter where
their hometown is located!
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Georgia Institute of Technology
www.universityparent.com/gatech
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Helpful Transition Tips
Familial support contributes significantly to student success
at Georgia Tech. Here are some helpful tips on how to
successfully assist your student during this exciting transition.
Mail Call
33 Learn about the support services available to you and your student at
Georgia Tech.
33 Help your student understand that because Georgia Tech is located in an urban
setting, there are certain safety precautions that he or she will need to take.
33 Challenge your student to identify, define, and solve problems independently.
This will help him or her succeed at Georgia Tech and in the future.
33 Be alert to signs that your student is under significant stress, is taking unhealthy
risks, or is ill. Discuss concerns with your student and assist him or her in
developing a plan to address the problem. There are many campus resources
available to help your student through these issues.
33 Encourage your student to set and achieve personal goals and make responsible
decisions related to academics, career planning, social interactions, and
community engagement.
33 Listen to and support your Georgia Tech student as he or she faces uncertainty
and learns to perform in complex environments and challenging situations.
33 Allow your student to accept the consequences of his or her actions and accept
responsibility for personal errors. Urge your student to examine disappointments
and unexpected experiences in order to assess what caused them, what can be
done about them, and how to avoid them in the future.
33 Understand the limitations regarding access to student records, as delineated
by federal requirements outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (FERPA).
33 Support and encourage your student as he or she learns, performs, leads, or
serves through campus and community activities.
33 Stay connected by participating in volunteer opportunities. Georgia Tech has a
many offerings for all members of our community to get involved.
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Georgia Institute of Technology
We encourage parents
to stay in regular contact
with their students while
they are attending classes
at Georgia Tech.
Sending a card, letter, or care package
is a great way to keep in touch with your
student and brighten their day! To make
sure any mail you send is received, please
follow these labeling instructions.
All mailboxes are located on the 1st floor
of the Student Center. Students can find
their mailbox number and combination
on BuzzPort.
Addressing Mail and Packages
The correct address format for mail and
packages addressed to a student is:
Student’s Legal Name
350 Ferst Drive
3##### (Box Number)
Georgia Tech Station
Atlanta, GA 30332-0450
www.universityparent.com/gatech
Incoming Student Mail
For incoming students who have not yet
been assigned a P.O. Box, please use the
following format:
Student’s Legal Name
Incoming New Student
Georgia Tech Station
Atlanta, GA 30332-0450
Note: On-campus residence halls cannot
accept deliveries.
Sending a card,
letter, or care
package is a
great way to keep
in touch with your
student!
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Academics
For more information
on Georgia Tech’s six
colleges visit the college’s
website listed below.
Academic Success
Building a Support Network:
It Takes a Village
Just like with most successful people in
life, students who surround themselves
with caring, knowledgeable people are
more likely to succeed.
Academic Advisors
All entering students are assigned an
academic advisor who specializes in the
student’s major. Advisors are the foremost
experts on degree requirements and are
responsible for helping students plan
an academic program suited to their
interests, abilities, and career goals. They
can help students select classes, locate
campus resources, and think strategically
about future plans. Students should make
a habit of seeing their advisors at least
once a semester, whether a meeting is
required or not.
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Center for Academic Enrichment
The Center for Academic Enrichment
gives students the opportunity to
engage in research and innovation
programs, academic seminars,
fellowships, campus-wide projects,
discussion groups, living-learning
communities and more. Programs
include Project One, GT1000,
InVenture Prize, Fellowships Office,
Open Forum, ThinkBig, and the
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Program. For more information, visit
www.enrichment.gatech.edu or call
(404) 385-8543.
Center for Academic Success
The Center for Academic Success helps
students to meet their full academic
potential. Programs include 1-to-1
Tutoring, Academic Coaching, Success
Workshops, drop-in tutoring, GT 2100
Georgia Institute of Technology
Seminar on Academic Success, Peer-Led
Undergraduate Study (PLUS), Pre-Health
Advising, Reboot, Success Summit and
Tech Prep. For more information, visit
www.success.gatech.edu or call
(404) 894-1945.
College of Architecture
www.coa.gatech.edu
College of Computing
www.cc.gatech.edu
College of Engineering
Counseling Center
www.coe.gatech.edu
Moving away from home for the first
time, breaking up with a boyfriend or
girlfriend, juggling the demands of
college, academic stress, financial stress,
and loss of a loved one are issues with
which many students have to cope, all of
which can impact a student’s academic
achievement. The Counseling Center is
staffed with counselors, psychologists,
and psychiatrists that address a wide
variety of issues ranging from basic
adjustment issues to serious mental health
problems. Visit counseling.gatech.edu to
learn more.
Ivan Allen College
of Liberal Arts
www.universityparent.com/gatech
www.iac.gatech.edu
Scheller College of Business
scheller.gatech.edu
College of Sciences
www.cos.gatech.edu
Degree programs and requirements,
course descriptions, and other
important academic information are
online at catalog.gatech.edu.
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Library
The Georgia Tech Library is a clientoriented information center focusing
on the data and information needs of
students, faculty, and staff. For more
information, visit www.library.gatech.edu
or call (404) 894-4500.
Office of Minority Educational
Development (OMED)
The Office of Minority Educational
Development supports the academic
performance, retention, and development
of students who are traditionally
underrepresented in STEM (African
American, Hispanic, and Native American)
at Georgia Tech. OMED offers a variety
of free academic support services to all
Tech students including study sessions
with academic assistance, individual and
group study sessions, and periodic review
sessions. www.omed.gatech.edu
Parents and Families
You are still critical to the success formula.
Now’s the time to let your son or daughter
take all the good advice you have given
them and put it to the test. When he or
she succeeds, celebrate! When he or she
doesn’t, LISTEN, dole out your best love
and support, and use the resources in this
book to help your student develop a plan
for resolution.
Professors
It pays to get to know the one person
who knows what it takes to get an “A”
in class. Plus, if there are problems,
professors are more likely to work with
the student if they know that the student
is invested in the class.
Tutors and Study Groups
If your student anticipates that a class may
be difficult, it is best he or she arranges
for extra help at the beginning of the
semester, to be proactive and avoid more
stress and worry later in the semester.
Many academic departments provide a
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number of tutoring and academic support
resources for undergraduate students.
For information on available departmental
tutoring services, visit the specific
department’s website.
Housing and Residence Life
Academic Services
Housing and Residence Life Academic
Services provides free tutoring to first-year
students in math, chemistry, physics, and
computer science directly in the
residence halls. housing.gatech.edu/
reslife/Pages/Academic-Services.aspx
Undergraduate Research
Opportunities Program
The Undergraduate Research
Opportunities Program (UROP) offers
the structure, resources, incentives, and
encouragement students need to work
with faculty, industry partners, and fellow
students on research and innovation
projects. Programs include the Spring
Symposium, President’s Undergraduate
Research Awards, Research Option, and
the InVenture Prize. For more information,
visit www.urop.gatech.edu or call
(404) 385-8543.
Students
who surround
themselves
with caring,
knowledgeable
people are
more likely to
succeed.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Serve • Learn • Sustain
Georgia Tech’s Motto is
“Progress and Service.” Our
contributions to progress are
many, and making a difference
through innovation and research
has become a significant
part of the educational
experience for our students.
Community engagement is also a source
of pride at Tech, with our students
contributing through community
engagement projects, serving to make
communities more livable, sustainable,
and prosperous. But community
engagement and sustainability have not
yet become a core element of learning
here. This is about to change. Soon,
students in any major will be able to
work on community-focused projects
as part of a sequence of activities
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around an exciting theme — “creating
sustainable communities.” In January
2016, Georgia Tech will officially begin the
"Serve•Learn•Sustain" program to make
this reality. Its central tenet will be service
learning and community engagement
— this means projects will address a
community need and students will serve
this need with what they learn here at
Georgia Tech, in their major. There will
be many partnerships with community
organizations, non-profits, government
organizations, and firms that focus on
different facets of creating sustainable
communities. Professors will draw on
these partnerships to incorporate current
examples, field trips, and service learning
projects into classes and capstones. There
will be related co-ops and internships.
There will be two new “pathways” in public
service and innovating for sustainability
that will open up new career paths for
our students.
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The Family Education
Rights & Privacy Act
(FERPA)
In order to protect the privacy
of students, educational records
are considered confidential
under a federal law called
the Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA).
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects
the privacy of student education records.
While FERPA gives parents certain rights
with respect to their student’s education
records, these rights transfer to the
student when he or she reaches the age
of 18 or attends a school beyond the
high school level. If you are interested in
knowing about your student’s grades and
academic performance, you should ask
your son or daughter to print his or her
unofficial transcript (available at any time)
or request that an official transcript be
sent to you. Staff in the Registrar’s Office
cannot give out information related to
grades or the academic record.
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Living on Campus
Office of the Registrar
The Office of the Registrar maintains
the official academic record for all
matriculated students and implements
the Institute’s academic policies including
those affecting registration. The Office of
the Registrar website is a great resource
for information related to the academic
calendar, rules and regulations, forms, the
Catalog, the online degree audit system,
and a host of other services. Parents
are encouraged to visit the website to
learn what kind of information is there to
assist students, parents, and the campus
community. Contact information is also
available on the website.
Office of the Registrar
(404) 894-4150
www.registrar.gatech.edu
Georgia Tech Housing
We are glad to call Georgia Tech home,
and we know that your student will be
glad to live with us as well. Our halls are
in integral part of campus life — we are in
the heart of it all — campus and Midtown
Atlanta.
On-campus Housing for undergraduates
is located on both the East and West
sides of campus. Additionally, some of our
transfer and graduate students may live
on the North side of campus. All of our
buildings provide what has been proven to
help students be successful, from laundry
facilities and campus restaurants to space
for in-house tutoring, and from on-site
gyms to easy access to the campus
transportation plan.
Housing includes
Each student in a traditional or suitestyle room will have a desk, a desk chair,
Georgia Institute of Technology
www.universityparent.com/gatech
wardrobe, dresser, and bed. These
furnishing must stay in the room all year.
Rooms also have one cable jack for the
room and wired internet for each resident.
There is also wireless internet available
in campus housing. Cable television,
internet, and utilities are included in a
student’s rent. Please see the Housing
website for more information about what
is included in our upperclassmen
apartment-style housing.
What to Bring
Most students bring too much. For
a list of what to bring, visit our website,
housing.gatech.edu/techlife, and click on
“Items to Bring.”
Once your student receives their room
assignment information in the summer,
we encourage them to contact their new
roommates and discuss what each person
will bring.
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Contracts and Billing
The Georgia Tech Housing Contract and
other policy information is available on
our website. Deposits, rent, and fees will
all be billed through the student’s Bursar’s
account.
Roommates
Part of living on campus is learning to
live with roommates. GT Housing has a
number of resources to assist all of our
residents and create a thriving community,
whether they have known their roommate
all of their lives or have just met. We
encourage communication before moving
in and provide roommate agreements and
conversation starters to aid in creating a
positive shared space experience. On the
rare occasions that roommates do not get
along, our student and professional staff
are well trained on how to handle these
situations.
Mail
Students receive mail or get packages
sent to them via their Campus PO Box
which is located in the Student Center
(unless they reside in the Graduate Living
Center or Tenth and Home Apartments.)
Students can look up their PO Box number
using Buzzport or OSCAR.
Breaks/Halls Closings
Georgia Tech residence halls do not close
over break periods (fall, winter, and spring
break) during the academic year. Over
summer, buildings will close, but there
will be uninterrupted housing options
available for students taking classes or
participating in Georgia Tech sponsored
internships or the co-op program.
The Freshman Experience Program
The Freshman Experience Program has
been on campus since 1992. Through our
efforts of creating a strong community
where new Georgia Tech students feel
safe, comfortable, and prepared, we
have increased retention rates from
the Freshman to Sophomore year to 96
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percent. We do our best to create
a fun, respectful, and educational
living environment for Georgia Tech’s
newest students. Read more about the
Freshman Experience Program at
www.freshmanexperience.gatech.edu.
Peer Leaders
Part of what makes the Freshman
Experience Program so successful is the
upperclassmen student staff members
who live amongst our First Year students.
We keep a ratio of one Peer Leader per
17 residents in our Freshman Experience
halls. That way each resident is assured
of starting off the year with a strong
connection to all the fun and resources
that the Department of Housing and the
Institute provide.
Georgia Tech Housing Office
(404) 894-2470
information@housing.gatech.edu
housing.gatech.edu
We encourage
communication
before moving
in and provide
roommate
agreements and
conversation
starters to aid
in creating a
positive shared
space experience.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Dining on Campus
Fresh. Local. Sustainable.
Georgia Tech Dining Services
Georgia Tech Dining Services’ focus is
to provide our community with fresh,
contemporary, and comprehensive dining
experiences. The implementation of this
unique philosophy has changed the way
students, faculty, staff, and visitors are
dining on Georgia Tech’s campus.
Georgia Tech Dining Services is dedicated
to providing the healthiest options by
serving fresh, local, and sustainable food
items throughout our campus venues.
This is made possible by our partnerships
with local farmers such as R & G Farms,
T & A Farms, Gratitude Lettuce, and Cox
Family Farms, which provide anything
from hydroponic lettuce to grass-fed
beef. Through the implementation of
weekly farmers markets and food trucks,
Georgia Tech Dining is also able to
offer a shopping and dining experience
that provides this community with an
interactive and educated approach to
supporting the local food system.
Our five certified executive chefs and
nearly 300 frontline employees are what
make these and other unique culinary
programs possible at Georgia Institute of
Technology.
Community Restaurants
Brittain
North Avenue
Woodruff
Food Court
Twisted Taco
Ray’s Pizza
Far East Fusion
Essential Eats
Pizza Hut
Simply to Go
Zaya Mediterranean
Dunkin Donuts
Cafe Spice
Salad Bar
The Commons
Panda Express
Subway
Taco Bell
Chick-fil-A
Around Campus
Starbucks
Westside Market
Highland Bakery
Freshens at H2O
Wing Zone
Food Trucks
Georgia Tech Dining Services
(404) 894-2383
www.gatechdining.com
www.universityparent.com/gatech
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of their graduate assistantship award,
all undergraduate, graduate, and ESL
international students holding F or J visa,
all undergraduate and graduate students
enrolled in programs that require proof
of health insurance, all graduate students
receiving fellowships. For mandatory
students, the charge for the SHIP is
applied automatically to the student’s
account along with tuition. Mandatory
students who already have health
insurance may apply to waive the SHIP
coverage. SHIP may also be purchased
by students taking 4 or more credit
hours under the voluntary plan, including
Language Institute, J1 scholars, and
OPT students. There is a 30 day
open enrollment period at the start of
each semester to enroll for student
insurance coverage, to enroll for the
voluntary plan, or for mandatory students
to add spouse/domestic/dependent
coverage. Visit health.gatech.edu or
studentbluega.com/gatech for more
information.
Immunization Records
All incoming students must comply with
the Board of Regents of the University
System of Georgia’s immunization
requirements. It is highly recommended
that students complete the immunization
requirements before the first day of class.
Satisfying the immunization requirements
will prevent a registration hold from
being placed on a student’s account. For
more information on health and medical
requirements, visit health.gatech.edu.
Insurance Cards
All students must bring their health
insurance cards to all visits. Referral
appointments cannot be made without
proper insurance information. For
questions about insurance, call
(404) 894-0633.
Stamps Health Services
(404) 894-1420
health.gatech.edu
Student Health Services
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Staying healthy in college
can contribute to a student’s
academic success, overall
well-being, and general
college experience.
at www.health.gatech.edu. Services
include, but are not limited to: Primary
Care, Women’s Health, Psychiatry,
Health Promotion, Nursing, Pharmacy,
Immunizations, Travel Medicine, Allergy,
and Diagnostic Laboratory & Radiology.
Stamps Health Services is a state-of-theart 40,000 square foot facility located in
the Joseph Brown Whitehead Building
at 740 Ferst Drive next to the Campus
Recreation Center (CRC). Health Services
is a multispecialty outpatient ambulatory
care center providing health care and
health education to students and their
spouses or domestic partners. You can
also find Health Services on the web
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
The Georgia Institute of Technology offers
a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
for students, spouses, domestic partners,
and their dependent(s). The following
students are required to have student
health insurance that meets the minimum
standards set by the University System of
Georgia as follows: all graduate students
receiving a Full Tuition Waiver as part
Georgia Institute of Technology
www.universityparent.com/gatech
21
open to all Georgia Tech students,
faculty, and staff. Some of the
workshops that are offered are on
topics such as stress management,
managing anxiety, relationships,
and study skills.
•
Emergency & Crisis Services:
The counseling staff provides
crisis and emergency services
during regular office hours as
well as after-hours and during the
weekend. Emergency walk-in times
are available during the week for
students experiencing a personal
crisis. In addition, after-hours
consultation and crisis service is
available through the counselor-onduty. The counseling staff is also
available to provide emergency
response to campus incidents and
events.
•
Referral Services: Psychiatric
referrals for medication evaluation
and treatment are available through
the psychiatrist at the Student
Health Center. The Counseling
Center works closely with the
psychiatrist to facilitate referrals
for psychiatric evaluations and
follow-up as needed. In addition,
a comprehensive listing is
maintained by the Counseling
Center for students who are in need
of extended services or whose
presenting concerns are beyond the
scope of service at the Center.
•
Testing & Assessment: A
variety of psychological and
psychoeducational assessments
are available from licensed
psychologists for current clients.
These include screenings for
ADHD, personality assessment, and
interest inventories.
Your Student’s Well-Being
The Georgia Tech Counseling
Center serves to enhance
the academic and personal
experience and success of all
students by providing a variety
of counseling and psychological
services to students. The
Counseling Center accomplishes
its mission by offering services
that facilitate students’ personal
development, assist in the
alleviation, remediation, and
prevention of distress, as
well as services that educate
students in ways that develop
self-awareness, self-reliance,
and self-confidence.
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most frequently assessed concerns
are depression, anxiety, and
relationship issues. In addition, the
Center provides couples counseling
to currently enrolled students
and their partners/spouses. To be
eligible for couples counseling, one
member of the couple must be a
currently enrolled student.
The Counseling Center is staffed by
licensed psychologists as well as predoctoral interns and graduate practicum
students. The services at the Counseling
Center are accredited by the International
Association of Counseling Services (IACS).
The pre-doctoral internship training
program is accredited by the American
Psychological Association (APA).
Services provided at the
Center include:
•
Individual & Couples Counseling:
The Counseling Center offers
individual counseling for students
who present with a wide variety of
psychological, career, and academic
concerns. The Counseling Center
uses a short-term, time-limited
model of counseling to assist them
in addressing their concerns. The
Georgia Institute of Technology
•
•
Group Counseling: The Counseling
Center offers several group
counseling sessions each semester.
These include support groups,
therapy groups, and educational
groups.
Outreach & Consultation: The
Counseling Center offers campus
consultation to various campus
groups as well as a number
of educational programs and
workshops. These workshops are
www.universityparent.com/gatech
23
What can I expect from my student?
•
Communication and Understanding
— The Key to a Healthy and
Helping Relationship
•
College is a time of excitement and
uncertainty for parents and students.
During this time, establishing and
maintaining healthy relationships is
important to help your son or daughter
navigate through various challenges and
difficulties. Families play an important
role in their student’s success by
encouraging a healthy lifestyle, supporting
development of healthy peer and social
relationships, and being open to talk about
difficult experiences. As a helpful family
member, here are some things to consider:
What can I do if I am concerned
about my son/daughter?
•
24
As the parent of a Georgia Tech
student you can talk to a counselor
at the Counseling Center during
office hours, Monday to Friday,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time.
Counselors will be able to help you
with many questions and concerns
you may have about your student’s
well-being. They also can help
you decide if your child needs
assistance and where he or she
can get it. The number to call is
(404) 894-2575.
•
Confidentiality is an essential part
of any counseling relationship and
is legally protected in Georgia.
Consequently, the Counseling
Center cannot discuss your
student’s counseling in any way
without written permission from
your student, except in rare
instances when disclosures are
legally required, including but not
limited to, situations when child
abuse is suspected, when the
therapist has reasonable cause
to believe that a client presents
a danger to himself or herself or
others, or in response to a valid
court order.
You should not expect anyone from
the Counseling Center to confirm
in any way whether your student
has been seen at the Counseling
Center. However, you should always
feel free to contact the Counseling
Center if you have any concerns
about your student, want the
Counseling Center to be aware of
something concerning your student,
or have questions about how the
Counseling Center works.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Your son or daughter will very
likely be experiencing a range
of emotions as he or she leaves
for college. Remember that
these emotions, such as joy,
anxiety, excitement, and sadness
are perfectly normal. During
the college years your student
will be continuing a process of
independence yet also establishing
new and intimate connections with
friends, faculty, and other mentors.
He or she will be exposed to many
new ideas and may experiment with
new ways of being with friends and
with you. Remember that many of
these changes are a normal part
of growing up. Also remember
that every student is different and
has his/her own experiences of
adjusting to and dealing with
the challenges and rewards of
college life.
What can I do to help my child
with this adjustment?
•
Listen: One of the most important
roles of a parent is that of listener
and supporter. You cannot
overestimate how important this
role is. Be an active listener. Work
hard at understanding what your
child tells you about his or her
feelings or experiences. Be sure to
listen before making suggestions
or giving advice. Listening is always
necessary and often sufficient.
•
Support Independence: Offer
suggestions when appropriate,
but also allow your adult child
to make up his or her own mind.
Resist rescuing your student from a
problem but rather let your student
know how confident you are in
his or her ability to resolve things
independently. Help your student
find the appropriate resources on
campus. Remember that while it
may be difficult for some parents
not to talk to their children every
day, developing autonomy is an
important aspect of emerging into
adulthood.
•
Communicate: Stay in touch with
your student. Let him or her know
what is going on at home, when
appropriate. Remind your student
that he or she is still part of the
family. Seek your student’s input on
how to use his or her old bedroom!
•
Address problems effectively:
If there are problems at home, a
divorce or illness, for example,
work hard to resolve them
effectively. Just as you want to
know that your student will be able
to take care of himself or herself,
your student needs to know that
you can deal with these situations
effectively on your own. In the case
of a divorce, work especially hard
to keep your student out of the
marital argument.
What can I expect as a parent?
•
Like your student, you can expect
to experience a wide range of
emotions when your student leaves
for college. You may experience
the joy of new freedom as your
student leaves home, as well as
sadness at his or her departure.
You may experience a great deal of
pride and joy about your student’s
achievements. You also may worry
about whether he or she will be
able to adjust well to a new life, and
you may worry about “losing” your
student as he or she experiments
with new ideas, behaviors, and
relationships. These are normal
feelings and ones that are often
good to share with other family
members and friends.
www.universityparent.com/gatech
25
•
•
Know Warning Signs: College
students are not always direct
about letting parents know when
they are experiencing even serious
problems. Some warning signs are:
a drop in academic performance,
an increase in sadness or anxiety,
calling home more or less frequently
than usual, physical complaints,
depression, eating problems,
alcohol or drug-related problems,
a lack of social supports. If you see
these signals do not hesitate to ask
your student how he or she is doing,
or call the Counseling Center to find
out how you might get your student
needed help.
Identify Resources: This is
particularly important if your student
has a previously identified physical
or mental health-related condition
or requires ongoing treatment
or medication. Find out where
important resources are for your
student. Do not be shy about calling
these resources if you or your
student needs help.
For a video on how to be helpful as
parents and family members, you can
watch our video (counseling.gatech.edu/
content/437/for-family-friends).
The Counseling Center also provides
a virtual pamphlet library (counseling.
gatech.edu/content/438/self-helpresources) available to you for additional
information and education on some of the
concerns that students face.
Your role as parents and family members
is a key element in enhancing and
enriching the experience of your student
throughout their years at Tech. For more
information about the Counseling Center
or to consult with one of our staff about
how you can develop and maintain your
own healthy and helpful relationships
with your student, visit our webpage
(counseling.gatech.edu) or feel free to
contact the Center and consult with
our staff.
Counseling Center
(404) 894-2575
www.counseling.gatech.edu
Campus Safety & Security
Providing a safe and secure
environment is Georgia Tech’s
top priority. Faculty, staff,
and administrators devote
significant resources to the
provision and maintenance
of a safe and secure campus
community. As members of the
campus community, students
also play a role in contributing
to the well-being of their
peers as well as themselves.
campus must comply with all state
and local laws and Institute policies.
For more information and the Board
of Regents’ statement on student
conduct, see the General Catalog
section on “Rules and Regulations”
(www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/1.php).
In addition, Georgia Tech publishes a
Crime Awareness report www.police.
gatech.edu/documents/safetyreport.pdf,
which includes statistics of crimes on
campus. For more information, visit
www.police.gatech.edu.
Emergencies
Rave Guardian
Police Department
The Georgia Tech Police Department has
a staff of more than 80 certified police
officers with a vast majority assigned to
patrol. Georgia Tech police officers are on
duty twenty-four hours a day, seven days
a week. There are more than two hundred
emergency phones strategically located
across campus. Students and others on
26
Georgia Institute of Technology
www.universityparent.com/gatech
Rave Guardian is an android/iOS
application that turns mobile phones into
personal safety devices. The best thing
about Rave Guardian is the fact that it is
FREE to students, faculty, and staff and
takes less than five minutes to set up.
Students can download the application on
their device using the Google Play store or
the iTunes store.
27
The timer feature allows users to set a
realistic time for themselves to reach
their destination. When users arrive at
their destination, they will be able to
deactivate the timer using the application.
If users forget to deactivate the timer
or something happens and they cannot
deactivate the timer, their user profile
will be sent to GTPD dispatch. GTPD
dispatch will try to contact the user while
the users’ phone GPS starts tracking and
GTPD officers will be in route to the user’s
location if they do not respond when the
dispatcher calls.
The panic feature does everything the
timer feature does, but all users need
to do is push the red “Call Georgia Tech
Police” button.
Users can also send anonymous text
messages and pictures to GTPD by using
the yellow “Send a Tip” option if they do
not feel comfortable calling GTPD. Our
dispatchers will then reach out to the
user via SMS messaging to try and get
more detailed information about the
incident. Please visit the website at
www.guardian.gatech.edu.
Emergency Preparedness
Georgia Tech is committed to providing
emergency response plans to ensure the
safety of the Tech community.
The Emergency Preparedness division
of the Police Department conducts
threat and risk assessments as well as
security audits; updates and maintains
the emergency action plan; assists
with individual facility plans; and plans
and conducts realistic exercises to test
plans. For more information on Tech’s
Emergency Preparedness Initiative
refer to the website at www.gatech.edu/
emergency/notification.html.
Campus Emergency
Notification System
As part of its ongoing effort to
safeguard students, faculty, and staff,
Tech has implemented an emergency
communications system that includes
the Georgia Tech Emergency Notification
System (GTENS) and the outdoor audio
Siren Warning System (SWS). The GTENS
system allows students to receive timesensitive emergency messages in the form
of email, voicemail, and text messages.
All students receive email alerts. In
order to receive text messages and
voicemail alerts, members of the campus
community are asked to provide a cell
phone number. While participation in the
text and voice messaging notification is
optional, enrolling is strongly encouraged.
The information that students supply is
considered confidential and will not be
shared. Students will only be contacted
through GTENS in the event of an
emergency.
Students can find instructions for how
to sign up for text and voicemail campus
alerts by visiting www.gatech.edu/
emergency/notification.html.
Emergency with Your Student
During your student’s time at Georgia
Tech, we may need to contact you
regarding an emergency. Our ability to
do so depends on the accuracy of the
emergency contact information we have
in our system. Please urge your student
to register your emergency contact
information including cell phone number,
home phone number(s), personal email
addresses, as well as your employer’s
name and phone number. This information
is confidential. It is the student’s
responsibility to update the contact
information by using the BuzzPort student
portal, www.buzzport.gatech.edu.
Georgia Tech Police Department
(404) 894-2500 (Dispatch)
www.police.gatech.edu
28
Georgia Institute of Technology
Money Matters
The Office of the Bursar is
responsible for assessing
student tuition and fees,
collecting payments, and billing.
Fee Payment Information
The Office of the Bursar does not mail
invoices to students. Students may access
their real-time Student Account by logging
into BuzzPort and clicking the Pay Now
link to the Bill +Payment portal. Secure
online payment by ACH or credit card can
be made through the portal. Students may
also authorize parents to view their bill
and pay tuition and fees through the Bill
and Payment portal.
Visit bursar.gatech.edu/content/parentpayment-instructions for Parent Payment
portal instructions. Payments made online
are reflected immediately on the student
account.
www.universityparent.com/gatech
Students and parents may also access Bill
+Payment directly by using the Student/
Parent Pay Now links at bursar.gatech.edu.
Note: It is the student’s responsibility to
verify that his or her account is paid in full
by the fee payment deadline date.
Planning Ahead
You may access the Georgia Tech Office
of Scholarships and Financial Aid, Cost
of Attendance webpage for up-to-date
Georgia Tech cost information at
finaid.gatech.edu/content/cost-returninvestment. This tool is for planning
purposes only and may help determine
approximately how much money your
student requires to attend Georgia Tech
and how much financial aid he or she
needs to meet that goal.
29
Tuition & Fees
•
Tuition and fees information can be found
at the Bursar’s Office website (bursar.
gatech.edu). This site includes the
following topics plus many more:
•
Fee Payment Deadlines
•
Understanding Your Student’s
Account
•
Payment Options
Top Three Things To Know As
A New Student Parent:
•
•
•
Students must grant access for
authorized users (parents and
others) to view and make payments
to their account using the Bill and
Payment portal. Authorized users
will be sent their own unique login
credentials.
The Bursar’s Office does not mail
invoices to students. The student’s
current Student Account may be
viewed online through the Bill and
Payment portal.
All fee payment deadlines are
posted one year in advance on the
Bursar’s Office calendar. Please
familiarize yourself with the fee
deadline for each term your student
is attending Georgia Tech.
How do I get authorized to
view my student’s bill?
•
•
30
To view your student’s bill, you
must first be granted access as an
authorized user by your student.
Instructions may be found on the
Bursar’s Office website under
“Parent Payment Instructions.”
Please note that all communications
regarding the student’s account are
sent directly to the student’s GT
email account, not to the authorized
user.
When is payment due for
each semester?
•
Fee payment deadlines for each
term are published here:
bursar.gatech.edu/content/bursarcalendar.
•
Fees are due by the deadlines
published on the Bursar’s Office
calendar for each academic term.
Class schedules will be cancelled
for students failing to pay their
account in full by the stated
deadlines.
Refunds
•
Refunds and overpayments are
electronically disbursed by direct
deposit to the student’s checking or
savings account.
•
Students should note that failure to
register for direct deposit may result
in delays of receiving refunds as
checks will be mailed. Register for
Direct Deposit by following these
instructions: www.bursar.gatech.
edu/content/direct-deposit.
Outside Scholarships
If your student is receiving an outside
scholarship:
•
Ensure the donor makes the check
payable to Georgia Institute of
Technology
•
Include the student’s GT ID number
and full name on the check
•
Email checks to:
Georgia Institute of Technology
Office of Scholarships and
Financial Aid
Attn: Outside Scholarships
225 North Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30332-0460
IMPORTANT: Please ensure that 529 Plan
fund requests and scholarship checks are
timed to arrive prior to the published fee
deadline for the term.
Once access has been granted, you
may view account information and
make payments on your student’s
behalf. Authorized users do not
have access to stored payment
methods, academic records, or
other personal information.
Georgia Tech Tuition and
Fee Payment Plan
The Georgia Tech Payment Plan is
a two installment plan that allows
students to defer up to 50% of their
current term tuition and fee charges
OR their account balance after
financial aid, whichever is less.
•
•
Georgia Institute of Technology
Half of the deferred balance is
due approximately 30 days after
classes begin and the remaining
amount is due approximately 60
days into the term.
A $75 enrollment fee per term
is due when signing up for the
Payment Plan. In addition, a down
payment may be required at
enrollment based on current
term charges.
www.universityparent.com/gatech
•
During the enrollment process,
students agree to make both
deferred payments via credit card
or automatic deduction from a
checking/savings account.
•
Failure to make the installments as
agreed will result in withdrawal from
Georgia Tech.
More information regarding the GT
Payment Plan may be found here:
bursar.gatech.edu/content/georgia-techpayment-plan.
For more information regarding billing,
your student’s account, payment options,
etc., please visit bursar.gatech.edu or
contact the Bursar’s Office by email at
bursar.ask@gatech.edu or by phone at
(404) 894-4618 during normal business
hours.
Office of the Bursar
(404) 894-4618
www.bursar.gatech.edu
BuzzCards
All Georgia Tech students are required
to have a BuzzCard for identification
purposes. Students are required
to present state or federal issued
identification before they can receive their
first BuzzCard. Students may use their
BuzzCard for meals at dining halls
31
as well as for access to athletic events and
various campus services and facilities. The
BuzzCard can also be used at on-campus
vending machines, laundry facilities,
and stores. For more information, visit
buzzcard.gatech.edu.
BuzzCard Center
(404) 894-2899
www.buzzcard.gatech.edu
Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
Our advisors assist students and parents
in identifying and applying for financial
assistance when family resources are
insufficient to meet educational expenses.
Our office offers individual financial aid
advising assistance by email, over the
phone, or in person. If you have a question
about financial aid, including scholarships,
grants, loans, and work study (need-based
campus employment), or would like help
with any part of the financial aid process,
please contact us.
We encourage students and families
to visit the Office of Scholarships and
Financial Aid website for more information
at www.finaid.gatech.edu.
Student Resources
Students and families should be familiar
with financial aid deadlines. Returning
students must also reapply for aid each
year. Check the Financial Aid website for
specific annual deadlines.
Financial Aid Office
Bill Moore Student Success Center,
3rd floor
Phone: (404) 894-4160
Fax: (404) 894-7412
www.finaid.gatech.edu
What is Financial Aid?
Financial Aid includes scholarships,
grants, loans, and work study. Financial
Aid funds may come from federal, state,
institutional, and private sources.
There are two basic types of
Financial Aid:
•
Gift funds (money that does not
need to be repaid)
•
Self-help funds (money that is
borrowed and must be repaid,
or earned through working while
enrolled)
Financial Aid advisors are available yearround to answer your questions, inform
you about the full range of financial aid
resources available to students and
parents, as well as help you apply for
financial aid.
32
Georgia Institute of Technology
Office of the Dean of Students
Disability Services
The Office of the Dean of Students
provides advocacy and comprehensive
support for students. This office assists
students in the resolution of problems,
provides information and referrals
to campus resources, and promotes
initiatives that address students’ needs
and interests.
The Access Disabled Assistance Program
for Tech Students (ADAPTS) Disability
Program supports the educational
development of students with disabilities,
ensuring equal access to institutional
programs and services, and enhances
understanding and support within the
Institute.
Office of the Dean of Students
(404) 894-6367
www.deanofstudents.gatech.edu
Disability Services
(404) 894-2563 (Voice)
(404) 894-1664 (TDD)
www.adapts.gatech.edu
www.universityparent.com/gatech
33
Division of Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs provides
the life-long learning opportunities and
services that help students succeed
and make the most of their Georgia
Tech experience by developing student
leadership; cultivating healthy lifestyles;
facilitating student transition and support;
and nurturing cultural awareness and the
educational growth of students.
Division of Student Affairs
(404) 385-8772
www.studentaffairs.gatech.edu
Office of Information Technology
(404) 894-7173
www.oit.gatech.edu
www.sco.gatech.edu
Parking and Transportation Services
All students are eligible to register
for a parking permit. Parking permit
assignments are made on a spaceavailable basis according to priorities
established by the Institute. GeorgiaTech
offers extensive on-campus transit
services to accommodate student
needs twenty-four hours a day, seven
days a week.
Office of Information Technology
All incoming students are required to
own laptops that can be carried to class.
Barnes & Noble @ Georgia Tech provides
educational discounts to students
purchasing hardware, software, and
peripherals as well as trained personnel
who can assist with technological needs.
ResNet (the Residential Network) provides
comprehensive support, including
telephone and onsite technical assistance,
to residents of the on-campus residence
halls. Georgia Tech’s Office of Information
Technology (OIT) Support Center is
available for questions about hardware
configurations and can help troubleshoot
software applications.
Parking and Transportation Services
(404) 385-RIDE (7433)
(404) 385-PARK (7275)
www.pts.gatech.edu
Student Center
The Student Center houses many
amenities including an information
desk, post office, recreational venues,
restaurants, ATMs, and more.
Student Center
(404) 894-2788
www.studentcenter.gatech.edu
Office of Student
Integrity
The Office of Student Integrity
(OSI) wants to make sure that
parents and families of Georgia
Tech students understand that
student integrity is everyone’s
responsibility. The process of
learning is often as important
as the product, and there are
no shortcuts in education.
Furthermore, a safe and
civil environment is critical
to the learning process.
34
Georgia Institute of Technology
www.universityparent.com/gatech
To that end, the Office of Student
Integrity addresses three types of cases:
•
Academic Integrity
•
Code of Conduct Violations
•
Student Sexual Misconduct
We invite you to learn more about the
Office of Student Integrity and the policies
and procedures they have in place to
help ensure academic and non-academic
integrity. And we thank you for your
assistance as we seek to hold students
to the highest of standards — not just for
their own personal security and success,
but to protect the value and credibility of
the Georgia Tech degree.
35
Parental Notification Policy
Parents of students under the age of
twenty-one may be notified when a
student is found responsible for violating
the Georgia Tech Student Alcohol and
Illegal Drugs Policy when any of the
following occur:
•
When students endanger
themselves or other students while
under the influence of alcohol or
other substances.
•
Specific instances include DUI,
fighting, alcohol poisoning, and
hospitalization.
•
When the Dean of Students
determines that any future violations
of the Institute’s policy will most
likely result in suspension from
Georgia Tech.
•
When a hearing officer determines
that any future violations of the
Institute’s policy will likely result in
removal from housing.
Office of Student Integrity
(404) 894-2566
www.osi.gatech.edu
Student Alcohol and
Illegal Drugs Policy
The purpose of Georgia Tech’s Student
Alcohol and Illegal Drugs Policy is to
promote and educate about the lawful and
responsible use of alcohol by students
and to educate about illegal drugs in
order to maintain an environment that
is consistent with the educational focus
of Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech complies
with all federal, state, and local laws and
policies, including the policies of the
Board of Regents of the University System
of Georgia, on the abuse of alcohol and
36
other drugs by its students. The legal
drinking age in the state of Georgia is
twenty-one.
Each member of the Georgia Tech
community should be involved in the
implementation of and compliance with
this policy. Unless otherwise stated by law,
each individual retains responsibility for
his or her actions at all times regardless
of his or her mental or physical state,
even if altered by alcoholic beverages or
other drugs. The full policy is available
at osi.gatech.edu.
Georgia Institute of Technology
www.universityparent.com/gatech
37
C2D2’s services include:
•
•
Georgia Tech’s annual fall career fair attracts hundreds
of employers over two days. Photo by Scott Green.
The Center for
Career counseling for students
needing assistance defining a
career path or exploring career
options related to their major.
Individual career advising and
interactive group workshops
for developing job search
skills, including resume writing,
networking strategies, job
search approaches, interviewing
techniques, and salary negotiation.
•
Co-op and internship programs
offering students the opportunity to
explore career directions and gain
paid work experience related to
their fields of study for one or more
semesters.
•
Career fairs for all majors, attracting
hundreds of employers hiring for
internships, co-ops, and full-time
positions.
•
The annual Resume Blitz in which
more than 150 recruiters volunteer
their time on campus to conduct
resume reviews with students.
•
The annual Mock Interview event
in which recruiters from nearly 100
companies volunteer their time
on campus to conduct practice
interviews with students and
provide on-the-spot feedback.
•
Employer information sessions and
networking opportunities.
It’s never too early for your daughter
or son to participate in the programs
of the Center for Career Discovery and
Development or to seek the advice of our
staff of experienced career counselors,
co-op and internship advisors, and
employer relations specialists!
Center for Career Discovery and
Development
(404) 894-2550
www.careerdiscovery.gatech.edu
Career Discovery
and Development
The Center for Career Discovery and Development (“C2D2”)
is Georgia Tech’s central office for assisting undergraduate
and graduate students with all aspects of career exploration,
career planning, and job search. In addition, C2D2’s
advising and counseling staff collaborates across campus
with faculty, academic advisors, and career advisors in the
Institute’s six colleges to ensure that students of all majors
and levels have their career development needs met.
C2D2’s employer relations specialists
collaborate across campus as well,
ensuring a “one-stop shop” experience
for the many employers interested in
recruiting Georgia Tech students. The
employer relations team maintains
connections with more than 1,600
employers worldwide, ranging from small
38
privately-owned enterprises and startups to major multinational corporations
and governmental agencies. Students
can register on the CareerBuzz system
through the C2D2 website to view and
apply for internship, co-op, and full-time
employment opportunities with these
employers.
Georgia Institute of Technology
www.universityparent.com/gatech
39
Global Education
& Involvement
that students join the IP as incoming
first-year students. IP graduates are
recognized with a special designation
on their Georgia Tech diplomas.
oie.gatech.edu/ip
International Students & Scholars
Professionals in ISSS serve as a resource
and advocate for the large and diverse
population of international students and
scholars at Georgia Tech. International
student advisors strive to prepare
international students to study in the U.S.,
educate and assist students in maintaining
their immigration status, and prepare
students for life in the U.S. after Georgia
Tech. oie.gatech.edu/isss
“Engineering Together” South Korea. Yonsei University Exchange. Photo by Yoona Lee.
The Office of International
Education is here to help your
student engage with the Georgia
Tech global community whether
here in Atlanta or all throughout
the world. We hope that you
will encourage your student
to explore the many ways that
they can enhance their Georgia
Tech diploma by joining the
International Plan, studying and
interning abroad, or getting
involved with the many events
and programs our office hosts
on campus throughout the year.
Education Abroad
Georgia Tech’s many program offerings
allow students to choose programs that
fit into their curriculum, comfort level, and
budget. Programs range from a few weeks
to a full year with options for students
to study with their professors in an
international setting or enroll with one of
40
Tech’s 80+ partner institutions. Each year
OIE awards about $250,000 for students
to study abroad — making study abroad
more accessible to students who wouldn’t
otherwise be able to participate.
oie.gatech.edu/study-abroad
Global Internship Program
The Global Internship Program facilitates
short-term (10 weeks–one year) overseas
work experiences for Georgia Tech
students. Our staff advises students
on resume writing and techniques on
networking and finding internships,
facilitate pre-departure preparation, offer
support for students while abroad, and
work with employers to develop internship
opportunities. oie.gatech.edu/gip
Georgia Tech is an extremely diverse
community, with students, faculty, and
staff from a variety of national, regional,
ethnic, religious backgrounds. OIE
provides opportunities to interact with
this community through activities like
International Coffee Hour, International
Education Week (IEW), cultural
organizations, and LINKS (Intercultural
Partner Program & Meet Up Group).
Find more information on ways to
‘get global’ while in Atlanta at
oie.gatech.edu/content/go-global-at-gt.
Fast Facts
•
A large percentage of GT students
(48%) study or intern abroad prior to
graduation. The strategic plan goal
is 60%.
•
With 4,301 international F-1 and J-1
students, GT ranks 28th for hosting
international students (among
doctorate-granting universities in
the US).
•
Over the past five years the 6-year
graduation rate for students who
studied abroad averaged 96.8%
compared to a 75.1% graduation
rate for students who did not study
abroad.
•
GT hosted almost 100 exchange
fellows in 2013–14 through
programs like Fulbright.
Office of International Education
(404) 894-7475
www.oie.gatech.edu
International Plan
The International Plan (IP) is an academic
program designed to help undergraduate
students develop global competence
as part of their Georgia Tech degree.
Program requirements include two terms
studying or interning overseas, four
globally-focused courses, and foreign
language proficiency. It is recommended
Georgia Institute of Technology
“Leaping for London”. London, England. Barcelona
Summer Program (2014). Photo by Stacey Jones.
www.universityparent.com/gatech
41
Athletic Association
(404) 894-5400
ramblinwreck.com
The Georgia Tech Athletic Association is
a nonprofit organization responsible for
maintaining the intercollegiate athletic
programs and events at Tech.
Campus Recreation Center
(404) 385-7529
www.crc.gatech.edu
The Campus Recreation Center (CRC)
promotes wellness and offers a large
number of programs and activities for
Georgia Tech students. The state-ofthe-art facility includes a fitness center,
basketball courts, pools, outdoor turf
fields, and an indoor climbing wall.
Office of Greek Affairs
(404) 894-2002
www.greek.gatech.edu
Alumni Association
(404) 894-2391
www.gtalumni.org
The Alumni Association offers current
Georgia Tech students opportunities
outside the classroom to become leaders,
contribute philanthropically, and build
personal connections with Tech alumni
while in college through organizations
such as Student Ambassadors, Student
Foundation, and the Student Alumni
Association.
Life Outside the
Classroom
Georgia Tech understands the positive
influence of “being Greek” and how
it impacts student success. The fortyone fraternities and sixteen sororities
at Georgia Tech strive to provide
personalized and lasting relationships
among their members through leadership,
service, and social activities.
Office of Leadership &
Civic Engagement
(404) 894-3458
www.leadandengage.gatech.edu
Office of the Arts
It is important that your student invests time and energy inside
the classroom to be successful. Involvement in out-of-class
activities is also important and has been shown to increase
student satisfaction with the overall college experience.
Students who get involved in campus activities are also
more likely to graduate. At Georgia Tech, there are many
ways for your student to get involved and get connected.
42
Georgia Institute of Technology
(404) 894-2787
www.arts.gatech.edu
The Office of the Arts serves as a resource
for a creative campus, and connects
students to diverse and enriching
arts events and opportunities, from
student performances to a professional
performance series.
www.universityparent.com/gatech
The Office of Leadership and Civic
Engagement provides students with
opportunities to connect to campus and
beyond through student organizations,
leadership development activities,
and service initiatives. Programs like
Alternative Service Breaks and Jumpstart
help students get involved, learn new
skills, and build their resume.
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Student Government Association
Women’s Resource Center
(404) 894-2814
sga.gatech.edu
(404) 385-0230
www.womenscenter.gatech.edu
The purpose of the Student Government
Association is to enhance the quality of
student life at Georgia Tech by providing
student participation in the governance of
the Institute.
The Women’s Resource Center works
to provide a supportive and welcoming
campus environment and provides
programs, resources, and referrals on
issues specific to women students at
Georgia Tech.
Student Diversity Programs
(404) 894-2561
www.diversityprograms.gatech.edu
Student Diversity Programs provides an
institutionalized approach for meeting
the co-curricular needs of students by
coordinating and planning educational
opportunities that enhance interaction and
learning across diverse groups.
Veterans Resource Center
Office of Leadership Education
and Development
(404) 385-3760
www.leadership.gatech.edu
Leadership Education and Development
(LEAD) provides participating students the
opportunity to learn and practice effective
leadership skills. The LEAD office offers
a thoughtful and intentional series of
academic, experiential, and co-curricular
activities to help students prepare for
leadership in a rapidly evolving global
society.
New Student & Sophomore Programs
(404) 894-6897
www.nssp.gatech.edu
New Student & Sophomore Programs
offers a variety of programs and services
to support undergraduate orientation,
transition, and overall student success.
Programs include FASET Orientation,
Welcome Home Month, R.A.T.S. Week,
Wreck Camp, and Sophomore Programs.
(404) 385-2067
www.veterans.gatech.edu
The Veterans Resource Center promotes
student learning and development, and
supports degree completion for students
who are veterans, military, reservist, guard
members, and dependents by providing
comprehensive support services that
enhance and complement the academic
experience.
Student Alumni Association
(404) 385-7343
www.gtsaa.com
LGBTQIA Resource Center
(404) 385-2679
www.lgbtqia.gatech.edu
The LGBTQIA Resource Center provides
programs, events, advising, workshops,
and resources for students, faculty, and
staff who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, questioning, intersex,
and asexual, as well as those who are
allies.
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Sponsored by the Alumni Association,
the Student Alumni Association provides
students a balance of college life and real
world preparation by offering personal
connections with Georgia Tech alumni
outside the traditional classroom including
mentoring, seminars, networking events,
and more.
Georgia Institute of Technology
www.universityparent.com/gatech
45
Spring Semester 2016*
Important Dates
Fall Semester 2015*
New Year’s Day – Campus Closed
Sunday, January 10
Move-In day for new Spring 2016 Students
Monday, January 11
First Day of Class
Monday, January 18
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday –Campus
Closed
Tuesday, January 19
All Fees Due by 4 p.m. ET
Thursday, August 13
New Freshmen Move-In
Monday – Friday, March 21–25
Spring Break
Saturday – Monday, August 15–17
Housing Check-In
Friday, April 29
Last Day of Class
Monday, August 17
First Day of Class
Monday – Friday, May 2–6
Finals Week
Monday, August 24
All Fees Due by 4 p.m. ET
Friday – Saturday, May 6–7
Spring Commencement
Monday, September 7
Official School Holiday – Labor Day
Friday – Sunday, October 2–4
Family Weekend 2015
Monday – Tuesday, October 12–13
Fall Break
Thursday – Friday, November 26–27
Thanksgiving Holiday
Georgia Tech Main Calendar
www.gatech.edu/calendar
Friday, December 4
Last Day of Class
Alumni Association Calendar
www.gtalumni.org/calendar
Friday – Friday, December 7–11
Finals Week
Athletic Association Calendar
www.ramblinwreck.com/calendar/events
Friday – Saturday, December 11–12
Fall Commencement
Office of the Bursar Calendar
www.bursar.gatech.edu/calendar.php
Winter Break/Campus Closed
Office of the Registrar Calendar
www.registrar.gatech.edu/home/calendar.php
Monday – Friday, December 21–25
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Friday, January 1
Georgia Institute of Technology
*All dates, events and deadlines are subject to review and revision. Please check the
following websites for more dates and information.
www.universityparent.com/gatech
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