About Piedmont University

Academic Calendar

This catalog describes an academic calendar for Piedmont University that consists of two 15-week semesters, one 8-week summer semester, and one 6-week summer semester for Athletic Training program courses. The requirements in this catalog apply to students entering Piedmont in the 2023-2024 academic year (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024). An official copy of the academic calendar can be found on the Piedmont University website at www.piedmont.edu/registrar/academic-calendars/

Piedmont University reserves the right to change the modality of instruction (traditional, hybrid, online) at any time and without any financial adjustment to fees charged.

Accreditation

Piedmont University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Piedmont University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Normal inquiries about the institution such as admission requirements, financial aid, or educational programs should be addressed to the university and not to the Commission.

All teacher education programs offered by Piedmont University, as they appear in its published catalog, have the approval of the Professional Standards Commission of the State of Georgia, 200 Piedmont Ave SE, Atlanta, Ga. 30334 (404-232-2500) (www.gapsc.com). Authority to recommend for certification rests with the Dean of the College of Education.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) Inc., 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta GA 30326, (800-669-1656) (www.acenursing.org).

The Piedmont University Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 2001 K Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20006.

The Walker College of Business is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), 11520 West 119th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66213 (913-339-9356) (www.ascsp.org) for undergraduate and graduate business programs.

The Master of Science (MS) education program in Speech-Language Pathology (residential) at Piedmont University is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a “preaccreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of 5 years.

For information regarding the procedure for obtaining or reviewing documents describing accreditation, approval, or licensing, please contact the following office: Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs – 706-778-3000.

Academic Partnerships

LCMC/RIZE:

The Lower Cost Models Consortium (LCMC) is a coalition of accredited private colleges and universities committed to making higher education more accessible for all students and sustainable for the long-term. Through this coalition, Piedmont University offers cutting edge majors. The courses are primarily taught by regular Piedmont faculty with some of the coursework taught online through the consortium.

Acadeum:

Acadeum helps colleges and universities establish course-sharing partnerships with like-minded accredited institutions to enhance student success, support academic strategies, address inefficiencies, and boost degree completion.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Piedmont University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of diversity within its faculty, staff, and students.

 

It is the policy of Piedmont University not to discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, race, age, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

 

 

Inquiries or complaints from students or employees concerning the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of any of the above in this statement should be directed to:

 

Coordinator for Title IX and 504, Courtney Snow

Daniel Hall, Room 303D
1021 Central Avenue
PO Box 10
Demorest, GA 30535

(706) 778-8500 ext.1504

csnow@piedmont.edu

 

 

 

 

Students and employees may also submit a complaint of discrimination to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights:

U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights

400 Maryland Ave., SW

Washington, D.C. 20202-1328

 

1-800-421-3481

Email Address: ocr@ed.gov
Web: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html

 

 

 

Employees may also submit a complaint of discrimination to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Atlanta District Office

100 Alabama Street, SW, Suite 4R30

Atlanta, GA 30303

1-800-669-4000

Email Address: info@eeoc.gov

Web: https://www.eeoc.gov/

 

Patents, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, and Intellectual Property

The entirety of this policy relates to all Piedmont University faculty, staff, and students.

Individual faculty and staff, on occasion, generate new ideas and concepts that result in marketable products and opportunities. Piedmont University encourages, promotes, and protects the academic research, scholarship, and development of products of its employees. Simultaneously, the university maintains its commitment to stewardship and cultivation of its financial resources. Individual employees may pursue efforts to create commercially marketable products and, in cases where Piedmont University has invested resources, the university may assert a financial interest in such products.

Intellectual property refers to, but is not limited to, patentable inventions, copyrightable works, trademarks, service marks and trade secrets. Examples include but are not limited to artistic works, musical compositions, computer programs and software, theater scripts, and the like.

Products resulting from creative and scholarly pursuits, culminating in a patent, copyright, trade secret, or intellectual property convey ownership rights to the individual and/or the institution, depending on several factors.

A. Sponsorship: If an outside private (i.e., not state or federally funded) agency funds an activity that results in a product, unless the sponsorship agreement between the individual, the sponsor, and the institution states otherwise, such product will be owned by the institution.

B. Institution work: If a product is developed during the course and conduct of institution- assigned work, the institution owns the product. Income, defined as net revenue after all personal and institutional expenses have been paid, from such property shall be shared between the individual and the institution at the following rate: All income up to the first $8,000 goes to the individual. This amount will be divided equally if more than one individual exists. Remaining income is divided with one-third to the individual and two-thirds to the institution.

C. Institution-assisted work: When institution resources assist and support individual employees in the generation of an income producing product, income shall be shared between the individual and the institution at a rate of 45 percent of net revenue to the institution. Institutional support and assistance may include use of office and laboratory space, technology, access to library, and support staff, and institution-paid time within the employment period. Ownership of institutional assisted work is in the institution.

D. Individual employee work: Any product developed by an individual employee that uses no institution resources, contains no sponsorship agreement, and is unrelated in any way to institution-assigned work, shall be the sole ownership of the individual employee. It is the individual’s responsibility to demonstrate the total independence of the work.

E. Intellectual property rights of students: Intellectual property rights belong to the students who create the work. This includes work that has been created to meet course requirements using university resources whether or not the student has paid tuition or fees for the course. However, work that is created by students as part of their student employment belongs to the university, as do the subsequent intellectual property rights.

F. Disputes: Any disputes about ownership of products shall be directed to the President.

Copyright Infringement Policies and Sanctions

1. File Sharing and Copyright Many scholars and music artists rely on copyright to protect their intellectual property. "Peer-to-peer" (P2P) file sharing applications have made it easy for Internet users to share files with one another. There are many legitimate uses of P2P file sharing, such as updates and software purchases. However, P2P file sharing applications are also used to share copyrighted material such as songs, movies, software applications, and games without permission. If you upload or distribute copies you make of copyrighted works, or download or acquire unlicensed copies of copyrighted works, you may be infringing someone else’s rights. Although using P2P file sharing technology is not in itself illegal, if you share copyrighted material without permission -even unwittingly -- you are breaking both the law and university policy and could be subject to university, civil, and/or criminal sanctions.

2. Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws The Department of Education publishes in the Federal Student Aid Handbook a summary of the civil and criminal penalties for violation of federal copyright laws:

a. Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement. Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or "statutory" damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For "willful" infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys' fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504 and 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov.

b. Disciplinary action, including loss of use of the University information technology systems up to and including expulsion from the University or employee termination could result from violations of these policies. Piedmont University informs students regarding copyright infringement and academic integrity though each class instructor and is included on all syllabi. The university’s statement can be found at the link below:

Piedmont University - Patents, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, and Intellectual Property (smartcatalogiq.com)

Private Property Rights

Georgia law provides the owners of private property with the right to regulate the possession of firearms. Students, faculty, staff, and the general public are forbidden from having firearms, fireworks, explosives or explosive devices, or other weapons on university property. This includes the storage of such devices in automobiles parked on university property. Exception is made for licensed public safety officials in the employ of the university and for licensed public safety officers from other jurisdictions who are on university property in the discharge of their official duties.

Student Complaints

A. Student Complaints:  Students who have a concern or complaint may pursue such grievance by submitting it in writing according to the procedure listed below. 

Academic:

(Note: If the issue is related to a Grade Appeal, please see the Grade Appeals policy.)

1. Any student filing a complaint must first attempt to resolve it by consulting with the involved faculty or staff member.
2. Concerns related to a faculty or staff member that cannot be resolved between the two parties should be presented to the department chair. 
3. If the concern cannot be resolved by the department chair or is related to the department chair, the complaint should be filed with the dean of the college. 
4. Academic resolutions made by a dean are considered final unless the complaint is related to the dean of the college. In such case, the complaint should be filed with the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
5. If the concern cannot be resolved by or relates to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, appropriate written documentation should be presented to the President of the University.

Non-Academic:

1. Any student with a complaint must first attempt to resolve it by consulting with the involved staff member or office.
2. Concerns related to a staff member or office that cannot be resolved between the two parties should be discussed with the respective director or dean of the unit. You can also submit through the following link https://piedmontcollegega.wufoo.com/forms/z1wwjwp41au8nke/
3. Resolutions made by a director or dean are considered final unless the complaint is related to the director or dean.  In such case, the complaint should be filed with the Vice President for responsibility over the unit.
4. Should the concern not be resolved by or is related to the Vice President, appropriate documentation should be presented in writing to the President of the University.

B. Discrimination and Harassment:  Piedmont University is committed to creating and sustaining an educational and working environment free of discrimination and harassment of all types.  Any complaints regarding discrimination or harassment should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at titleIX@piedmont.edu.  An Anonymous Tip Line is also provided on the Campus Safety website as a means by which students, faculty, staff or community members may relay information anonymously for investigation. 

C. Complaints against the Institution:  By Executive Order from the Governor of the State of Georgia, the Georgia Non-Public Postsecondary Education Commission is designated as the state agency responsible for receiving complaints made by students enrolled in private postsecondary institutions. (Contact information: Georgia Non-Public Postsecondary Education Commission, 2082 East Exchange Place Suite 220, Tucker, Georgia 30084-5305. Office: (770) 414-3300.)

A non-resident of Georgia enrolled in an online-only program at Piedmont University who wishes to file a complaint should follow the Student Complaint procedure outlined in the appropriate academic catalog. If, after exhausting internal grievance procedures, Piedmont University has not responded to the complainant’s satisfaction, or a satisfactory remedy has not been found, the complainant may contact GA-SARA for further investigation into the issue. The GA-SARA Student Complaint form may be found at https://gnpec.georgia.gov/student-resources/student-complaints/ga-sara-online-student-complaint-form.

Concerns or complaints relating to compliance or accreditation should be addressed to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033.  Office: (770-679-4500).

Student Responsibility

Information in this catalog is accurate as of the date of publication. Piedmont University reserves the right to make changes in policies, regulations, and charges giving due notice in accordance with sound academic and fiscal practice. It is the responsibility of students to be informed about regulations and procedures as stated in this catalog. While advisors, faculty members, and academic deans are available to assist students in meeting degree requirements, students have the primary responsibility of being familiar with and completing their chosen course of study.

Title IX Policies and Procedures

Piedmont University (“Piedmont” or the “University”) has policies and procedures in place regarding the receipt, investigation, and resolution of complaints of discrimination, including sex and gender identity discrimination. The University has enacted a Sexual Misconduct Policy (Title IX Policy) to reflect and maintain its institutional values and community expectations, to provide for fair and equitable procedures for determining when this Policy has been violated, and to provide recourse for individuals and the community in response to violations of this Policy.

This Policy prohibits all forms of sexual harassment and discrimination, gender-based harassment and discrimination, and sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. This Policy also prohibits retaliation against a person who reports, complains about, or who otherwise participates in good faith in any matter related to this Policy. The University’s full policy and procedures can be found here: Title IX/Legal Disclosures | Piedmont University.

Grievances