Frequently Asked Questions

If neither of your parents have earned a college degree, then yes, you are a first-generation college student!

Depending on your schedule, you could be in class for several hours a day or none at all. Some students try to have classes on certain days of the week, while others enjoy spreading their classes across the week. Unlike high school, you are not expected to spend the entire day on campus if you aren’t in class. Pro tip: plan on spending two hours studying/working outside the class for every hour in the class.

Unlike high school, at college there is no supply list, and your textbooks are not provided. Many students are surprised by the additional cost of books or access codes for online content. Many items come down to personal preference, but a good planner, whether digital or paper, is a must! If you are an incoming freshman, you will be automatically signed up for the Brenau Book Bundle, a rental program that saves you time and money by bundling all of your books before the first day of class. Learn more about this program on the Brenau Book Bundle page.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov. The FAFSA becomes available to file on Oct. 1 of each year for the upcoming fall academic year (beginning in August)

Here’s a link to the instructions on our Financial Aid page.

Brenau offers many program-based, academic and competitive scholarships. The Brenau Dreams Scholarship, which covers tuition costs, is given to two students who are the first in their families to go to college. Read more about Brenau’s scholarship offerings on the scholarship page.

Brenau offers four interest-free payment options to help families choose the best option.

One-payment option

Tuition charges are due on or before the first day of each academic term semester during the academic year. Tuition may be paid through CampusWEB, by mail or in person at the Brenau Accounting Office or the North Atlanta location.

Three-payment option

You can sign a Deferred Payment Contract to pay one-third of tuition on the first day of the academic term. The other two-thirds of the tuition will be paid in equal payments 30 days and 60 days from the first day of the academic term for a one-time fee of $35.

Four-payment option

You can sign a Deferred Payment Contract to pay one-quarter of tuition on the first day of the academic term. The remaining three-fourths of the semester’s tuition will be paid in equal payments 30 days, 60 days and 90 days from the first day of the semester for a one-time fee of $50.

Full year payment option

You can sign a Deferred Payment Contract to pay tuition over 10-monthly payments based on an estimate of the full academic year’s tuition/fees, The first payment is due on the first day of the semester. The remaining balance will be paid in nine equal payments due each month for a one-time fee of $75. . You must be an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in Brenau’s day programs to qualify for the full-year payment option.

After you are admitted, you will work with an academic adviser who will introduce you to your program plan. A program plan is a road map of courses that lead to your degree. Your adviser will help you choose classes that create a balanced schedule and make sure you take classes in the proper sequence.

You can absolutely work while you are taking classes at Brenau. You’ll quickly realize the importance of managing your schedule while taking classes, and many of our students help balance this by working on campus. Both working on campus and off campus are acceptable. We encourage you to take advantage of Brenau’s student services, which offer help with managing work and college life.

First, email your professors to let them know that you’re sick and unable to attend class. We also encourage you to also seek medical attention by visiting the Center for Health and Well-being. If you anticipate missing several classes because you need to recover or go to a doctor’s appointment, you will need to notify Didi Cassell, and provide her with your doctor’s excuse. She will notify your professors of the absence. Her email is dcassell@brenau.edu.

The university will accept ALL liberal education courses regardless of the date of satisfactory completion unless the liberal education course is also a major course.

The university will accept major courses taken within 15 years, except for specific courses that must have been completed within 5 years of application. See the undergraduate transfer section on our catalog to learn more.

For many students, financial aid is one of the most important aspects of going to college. Our Financial Aid office has dedicated transfer counselors to assist you through the process. They can be reached by email at financialaid@brenau.edu or by phone at 770-534-6152. 

We recommend that you begin the financial aid process as soon as you apply for admission. 

1. Visit fafsa.gov and complete the free application for Federal Student aid. This can be done as early as Oct. 1. Brenau’s FAFSA code is 001556.
2. Create a unique login (FSA ID) – if you don’t already have one.
3. Eligible Georgia residents should apply for the Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant and HOPE Scholarship at gafutures.org.

Visit the Financial Aid Office webpage and Brenau’s Net Price Calculator to see what types of aid may be available.

Take a look at our Transfer Equivalency System to see which of the courses you’ve already taken will transfer to Brenau. This list isn’t all-inclusive, and is updated frequently.

From StudentAid.gov:

If you have a Social Security number (SSN), you must provide it when creating your account.

If you don’t have an SSN, you can create an account if one of the following statements is true for you:

• I am a parent or spouse of a student who is applying for aid, and I don’t have an SSN.
• I am a citizen of the Freely Associated States and need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form online.

While creating your account, you’ll need to answer a few knowledge-based questions to verify your identity. If you answer these questions correctly, you’ll be able to use your account immediately.

Note that accounts created without SSNs have limited functionality.

To apply for an SSN, or to get a replacement Social Security card, you must contact your local Social Security office. For more information, you can visit the Social Security Administration or call at 1-800-722-1213.

Yes! You can use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to help get an idea what aid you may be eligible for. The Estimator can be found on the Federal Student Aid website. Please note that this tool provides estimates of federal student aid programs; it cannot predict financial aid offered by Brenau University or through Georgia state aid programs. Your Brenau financial aid offer will pull all sources of financial aid together in order to help you and your family make an informed decision.

Federal Pell Grants are need-based financial aid that is awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. This award is money given by the government to students and does not need to be repaid. As a result of the changes to the FAFSA and the new SAI, more students are expected to qualify for a Pell Grant. The maximum annual Pell Grant is currently $7,395 for full-time enrollment.

The SAI has changed the way that eligibility for need-based aid is calculated:

• The number of family members in college is no longer factored into the calculation, but still reported on your FAFSA
• An SAI may be as low as $ -1,500, while the floor for the EFC was $0
• The SAI will help determine Pell Grant Eligibility for families who do not qualify based solely on family income
• Child support received and family farms and small businesses will now be considered assets

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a measure of you and your family’s ability to pay for college, and helps to determine the amount of need-based financial aid you may be eligible to receive. The SAI replaces the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from previous versions of the FAFSA.

If you create your FSA ID with a Social Security Number, it will take a few days to verify. Once the 2024-25 FAFSA is available to file, you should be able to start your FAFSA about 1-3 days after creating your FSA ID. To get a head start, you and your contributors can create your FSA IDs now using the Federal Student Aid website as long as you have a Social Security Number. If you go ahead and create your FSA IDs, you will be able to start the FAFSA as soon as it opens.

Since contributors without a social security number must undergo a verification process to create their FSA IDs, those created without a Social Security number will be verified instantly and can start entering information on the FAFSA immediately.

No, you can use your existing FSA ID. If you forgot your username and/or password, you can retrieve your FSA ID on the studentaid.gov username retrieval page.

As of right now, no. The federal government is developing a new FSA ID process that will launch in late 2023. Once this takes place, you will be able to verify your identity without a Social Security Number and make an FSA ID.

An FSA ID is required for all students and contributors to access the 2024-2025 FAFSA.

All students and contributors who have a Social Security Number can create their FSA ID now on the Federal Student Aid website.

If your contributors do not have a Social Security number, they will be able to create their FSA ID once the new FSA ID process launches in late 2023.

The FSA ID is your account to access the FAFSA. All students and contributors need to have their own FSA ID.

First, the student will need to invite the contributor, then:

1. The contributor will receive an email stating that they have been invited by their student
2. The contributor will create an FSA ID if they don’t have one already and then log into their account
3. The contributor reviews the FAFSA questions associated with them, and enters accurate responses.

The following flowchart will help you understand which of your parents needs to be a contributor on your FAFSA, or if both of your parents need to be contributors.

It is likely that you will need to have a contributor if you are a traditional undergraduate student. The contributor will likely be one or both of your parents or stepparents, depending on your specific circumstances. Your spouse will be a contributor if you are married.

A contributor is the term the federal government uses for anyone who needs to submit information on your 2024-2025 FAFSA. You’ll need to invite them to fill out information on your FAFSA. Your contributors will also need to make their own FSA ID.

The most likely contributors are:

• Student
• Spouse (if student is married)
• Parents (biological or adoptive)
• Stepparents

Once your loan has been applied to your student account, the Accounting Office will issue a refund check if the loan amount exceeds the amount of your bill. Contact the Accounting Office at 770-534-6150 or businessoffice@brenau.edu for more information regarding your refund check.

Brenau offers four interest-free payment options to help families choose the best option.

One payment option

• Tuition charges are due on or before the first day of each academic term semester during the academic year. Tuition may be paid through CampusWEB, by mail or in person at the Brenau Accounting Office or the North Atlanta location. 

Three payment option

• You can sign a Deferred Payment Contract to pay one-third of tuition on the first day of the academic term. The other two-thirds of the tuition will be paid in equal payments 30 days and 60 days from the first day of the academic term for a one-time fee of $35..

Four payment option

• You can sign a Deferred Payment Contract to pay one-quarter of tuition on the first day of the academic term. The remaining three-fourths of the semester’s tuition will be paid in equal payments 30 days, 60 days and 90 days from the first day of the semester for a one-time fee of $50.

Full year payment option

• You can sign a Deferred Payment Contract to pay tuition over 10-monthly payments based on an estimate of the full academic year’s tuition/fees, The first payment is due on the first day of the semester. The remaining balance will be paid in nine equal payments due each month for a one-time fee of $75. . You must be an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in Brenau’s day programs to qualify for the full-year payment option.

Contact Brenau’s Accounting Office at 770-534-6150 or businessoffice@brenau.edu to receive information about your balance, billing, payment plans and refund checks. You may also view your balance online using Campus Web.

Once you have been accepted and your financial aid file is complete you will receive a notification of your financial aid offer via mail and email. This notification will direct you to Campus Web to view and accept your financial aid offer.

In order to continue receiving financial aid, you must make satisfactory academic progress. This means you need to meet the minimum GPA requirements and complete the required credit hours within the determined timeframe. Read more about Brenau’s satisfactory academic progress requirements. 

Yes. Each year you must re-file your FAFSA. (Applications open on Oct.1 for the academic year that begins the following August.

You should contact the financial aid office to determine if funding is available for the summer. You’ll need to submit the Summer Financial Aid Request form that will be made available in early spring of each academic year.

If your application is selected for verification, you must complete the verification process before need-based financial aid can be awarded to you. If your FAFSA is selected for verification, the Financial Aid Office will provide instructions via email. View and submit the items needed at brenau.verifymyfafsa.com.

Verification is the process a school follows to check the accuracy of certain information reported by a student on the FAFSA. This is done by collecting additional responses and documents from the student and parent(s), if applicable.

Yes. Pell Grants have a lifetime eligibility limit of the equivalent 6 full-time academic years.

Alternative or private education loans are credit-based loans offered by banks and other lenders to assist students who need additional funds to cover education-related expenses not covered by other financial aid programs. Approval for these loans requires the student borrower to undergo a credit check.. Alternative or private education loans are typically considered a last resort type of educational funding. For additional information about these loan options and Brenau’s historical lender list, visit choice.fastproducts.org/FastChoice/home/155600/1

Students borrowing Federal Direct Loans, subsidized and/or unsubsidized, are subject to maximum allowable loan limits over their college career. To view your federal loan history, log in at https://studentaid.gov/h/manage-loans.

If you are an undergraduate student, you must take six or more credit hours to be eligible for student loans. 

If you are a graduate student, you must take three or more credit hours to be eligible for student loans.

Undergraduate and graduate students may qualify for unsubsidized federal loans. 

Financial need is not a requirement for an unsubsidized loan.

Subsidized loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. If you qualify for a subsidized loan, the federal government will pay the loan interest while you’re attending college at least half-time, and continue to pay the loan interest during a six-month grace period after you leave school. The government will also pay your loan interest during a period of deferment, which involves not paying your loan for a specified period of time.  A student is eligible for an in-school deferment when enrolled as at least a half-time student.

A federal direct loan is a federal student loan made directly by the U.S. Department of Education. There are four types of federal direct loans: direct subsidized loans, direct unsubsidized loans, direct parent PLUS loans and direct consolidation loans.

Your enrollment status indicates if you are a half-time or full-time student.

An undergraduate student enrolled for at least six semester hours, but fewer than 12 semester hours, is considered a half-time student. 

An undergraduate student enrolled for 12 semester hours or more is considered full-time.

Cost of Attendance (COA) is the estimated total cost of attending college for one year. It includes the tuition and fees associated with your academic program, room and board (for students residing on campus), living allowance (for students residing off campus or with one or both parents), books, personal expenses and transportation expenses. A student cannot receive more than the Cost of Attendance from any combination of institutional, federal, state or private funding source.
For more information on Brenau’s Tuition and Fees, contact the Accounting Office at 770-534-6150 or businessoffice@brenau.edu.

Contact the Financial Aid Office or go to brenau.verifymyfafsa.com.

Report the information of the parent you’ve lived with the most during the 12 months before you completed your FAFSA. It doesn’t make a difference which parent claims you as a dependent for tax purposes. If you did not live with either parent or lived equally with each parent, the parental information must be provided for the parent who gave you the most financial support during the preceding 12 months, or the parent who provided you with the most support the last time support was given.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available each year starting Oct. 1, for those who intend to be enrolled in the fall of the following year. It should be completed as early as possible after you have applied to the university. You must be accepted to the university before you can be awarded financial aid. Apply at studentaid.gov. 

Brenau University’s federal school code is 001556.

To qualify you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a valid Social Security number
• Be enrolled at least half-time (6 or more credit hours for undergraduate; 3 or more credit hours for graduate) in a degree or certificate program
• Demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid  (FAFSA)
• Not owe a refund on a federal grant and not be in default on any federal educational loan

Brenau University takes students’ safety and health seriously and has established guidelines and protocols for students living in campus residence halls and apartments. It is the responsibility of all community members to support these standards to maintain a healthy and safe living learning environment. Goals of health and safety inspections include:

• Encourage students to become engaged in maintaining the condition of their living environments
• Assist students in learning how to maintain a clean and safe environment in their residence
• Promote a better understanding of the expectations the university has for students living on campus
• Assist in the prevention of rodent and pest infestations, damage problems and other issues that impact health and safety
• Increase safety within our residential buildings by timely identification and removal of prohibited items

Residence Life performs health and safety inspections once per month over the academic year. During the inspections, the staff member will conduct a non-invasive inspection of the room/apartment/suite. They do not open drawers, refrigerators, or closets, but may move (or ask the resident to move) items blocking outlets. All inspections are advertised and announced in advance.

The inspections will include, but is not limited to, a visual examination of electrical cords, sprinkler heads, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and windows. In addition, each room will be examined for the presence of prohibited items (e.g., candles, non-surge protected extension cords, halogen lamps, cooking appliances in non-kitchen areas, etc.) 

Students should do the following on a regular basis to keep their residence clean:

• Remove all trash and properly dispose of it in the trash room.
• Vacuum or sweep and mop all floors in your room.
• Check electrical outlets, cords, and connections to make sure they are not overloaded and that cords are not run under carpets or around bedding.
• Check to ensure that beds, other furnishings, and other items are not blocking emergency exits and heating and ventilation units.
• Note any maintenance problems in your room and report them to your resident assistant.
• Do your laundry on a regular basis and properly store your clean clothes when finished.
• Clean up any spills and dispose of leftover food in proper trash receptacles.
• In the bathroom, clean the toilet, including in and around the bowl, clean the shower/tub, clean the floor, wipe down countertops and clean the sink, and put away and/or organize personal items.

Students are required to read and comply with our Residential Policies which include information on prohibited items.

We have security officers patrolling the campus 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Security officers are available to assist you with a wide range of needs. They will escort you from your car or classroom back to your residence hall or house, and make sure your safety needs are met.

All outside doors to our residence halls and sorority houses are locked 24 hours per day. You will be issued a front door key to your respective hall or house. If you find yourself locked out, you can call the RA on‐call to let you back into your room. For lock‐outs during business hours, please come to the Residence Life office in Owens for loaner keys.

A word about keys: Each resident is issued a front door key to the hall in which they live. It is very important that the key is well guarded and kept secure. If a resident finds that they have lost their key, it is in everyone’s best interest that the Office of Residence Life is notified immediately. Loaning keys to visitors or friends is strictly prohibited. If you need a replacement key, you may fill out an order form.

All Women’s College students are required to live on campus in approved residential housing with the following exceptions:

• Students who become 21 years of age by the drop/add date
• Students who have completed 90 academic credit hours or more and are in good academic standing for the semester may request to live off campus
• Students who live with their parents or legal guardian within commuting distance (50‐mile radius) from campus may request exemption that is accompanied by a written request from the parent or guardian.
• Students who are married and/or have dependents are not required to live on campus.

Students desiring to move off campus in accordance with first three exceptions must petition for permission at least one month before the beginning of the semester the student desires to change residential status. This request must be submitted by the student to the director of Residence Life. If an exception is granted, then the student must complete a “Change of Status” form.

Please review the overnight guest guidelines in the Brenau Student Handbook.

Orientation and move-in can feel like a whirlwind. Here are some tips to make move-in a little smoother:

• Arrive on time.
• Make sure you have completed all of your required forms (Housing Application, Housing Contract, Health Forms, etc). You will not be able to move in without these items completed.
• Wear comfortable clothes and drink plenty of water. Moving personal items around campus will be tiring, especially during August in Georgia.
• Bring a hand-truck or dolly. This will make bulky and/or heavy items easier to transport.
• Label all boxes as you pack them. When you are ready to unpack the contents, you’ll know what’s where. It is also helpful if you label each of your boxes with your name and room number. This will help direct available volunteers to the correct room to deliver your items.
• Break down all of your boxes and throw away your trash in one of the large dumpsters located on campus.  Do not leave your boxes and trash in the hallways, lounges, porches or lawns.

No, the university does not provide renter’s insurance.  Brenau is not responsible for any damage to your personal property or that which may be caused to the premises by you or a guest. If you are not already covered under a parent’s homeowner’s policy, you are strongly encouraged to obtain renter’s insurance to protect your personal property and, if necessary, provide emergency accommodations. Renter’s insurance is inexpensive and great protection to have!

The information you provided on your Housing Application form will be used to pair you with an appropriate roommate. We try hard to make positive matches, but there is no fail‐proof way to match roommates. Some of you will be fast friends, others will just be good roommates. You may not develop a life-long relationship with your roommate. The important thing is that you learn how to live with someone. You will gain skills in communication, cooperation, respect, flexibility, tolerance, and diversity to name a few.

Anticipation of your new roommate can be one of the most unnerving times as you start college. In order to develop a healthy roommate relationship, it is vital that you begin communication right away. We recommend that you begin the process before you get to campus. Some good initial questions to ask each other are:

Where are you from? What was it like growing up there?

Do you know what your major will be? What do you hope to do with that?

What are some of your hobbies, interests and talents? 　

What are you looking forward to at Brenau? Is there anything you are nervous about?

What types of things are you hoping to get involved in on campus?

Have you ever lived with someone before? What was it like?

What do you think are the most important things for us to work on as roommates?

Room changes may be made in extreme circumstances.

All Brenau facilities are smoke‐free. Smoking is not allowed anywhere in our residential facilities or outside the entrances and exits of the buildings. Please respect your roommate and your community. The university does provide smoking areas outside of the halls with appropriate receptacles. Signs with designated smoking areas will be posted within the residence halls as well as listed in your Student Handbook. There is no smoking on any front porch of any building.

We want you to make your room your home away from home. Curtains, bedspreads, area rugs, lamps, plants and pictures are some of the items you may use to individualize your room. Room walls are painted on a rotating basis and may not be painted by the residents. Nails, putty or foam tape are not permitted on the room walls. Whatever you decide to bring with you to decorate, remember that your roommate will be bringing things as well. There can be nothing mounted to the walls.

Not if you are a freshman. Living with another individual is a wonderful opportunity for you to grow and learn about who you are and how you interact with others. Brenau feels it is essential to your development that you have this opportunity. You will learn to communicate, interact, share and compromise with your roommate. All of these are important skills that enable you to develop personally and professionally, wherever your career path leads.

Once you are an upperclassman, you may have the opportunity to select a single room. If space is available, you may even choose to live in a double occupancy room and have it as a single. Both of these cost an additional fee per semester and are dependent on available space.

Quiet hours are from 10p.m. until 10a.m., including entrances and front porches. During quiet hours all talking and stereo/TV volumes must be kept at a low level. Individual floors/houses may extend quiet hours if they desire. Quiet hours are 24 hours per day during the week of finals. Noise determined to be excessive and disturbing to the university housing environment will not be tolerated.

Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours per day, and residents are expected to be aware that their actions and behavior do affect other community residents. Musical instruments may not be played in rooms unless headphones are used.

New Students: You must complete all admissions requirements and follow the instructions listed in Freshman Admissions page.

Returning Students: You must be registered for classes for the Fall Semester, pay your Advance Room Payment, complete your housing contract, and attend housing sign-ups to reserve a space on campus.

Housing assignments for new students are emailed out mid-June, mid-July, and throughout August for Fall Semester.  Assignments for new Spring Semester students are emailed in December.  Along with the housing assignment email, you will receive roommate information, what to bring/what not to bring information, and move-in day/times.

Returning students must attend Housing Sign-ups in April to secure a room on campus.

Information on how to order a replacement diploma can be found on our website at Registrar Diploma Replacement Information.

Honors are conferred upon qualified undergraduate Brenau students who have achieved the following cumulative grade point averages: 

Cum Laude: 3.50

Magna Cum Laude: 3.75

Summa Cum Laude: 3.90

Graduate students are not eligible for graduation honors as the requirements for admission and graduation are much higher than those for undergraduate students.

Students can participate in graduation if all graduation requirements are met. Students who fail to successfully complete all coursework will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony. This includes transient coursework, which must be transferred via official transcript prior to graduation, or any outstanding incompletes.

To graduate, you must have the right combination of courses and correct total number of hours. Each major requires a different number of hours to graduate. It is important to consult the catalog for your major when planning your courses. If you have general questions concerning the graduation process, please visit the graduation page. In addition to the requirements for each major, Brenau has overall graduation requirements such as residency, minimum grade point averages (overall and major), minimum number of hours, etc. For more details, refer to our catalog. 

Consult with your advisor if you have questions about your academic program. After you apply to graduate, the Registrar’s Office completes a graduation audit. Copies of the audit are sent to you and your advisor. If you have questions about the audit, contact your advisor.

Brenau University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Brenau University. The Commission should only be contacted if there is evidence that appears to support an institution’s significant non-compliance with a requirement or standard.

Students require enrollment verifications for a variety of reasons:

• Brenau reports enrollment to the National Loan Clearinghouse on a semester basis. If you wish to defer a student loan, contact your lender.
• If your lender requires a current enrollment status or an enrollment history/degree, they can verify your enrollment through the National Loan Clearinghouse.
• If you need an enrollment verification for any other reason, such as a good student discount, please complete the Enrollment Verification Request.

If you need to take a course at another institution, you must contact your advisor to request transient status. Your adviser will complete a transient request form and forward the form to the Registrar’s Office for processing. If you are an undergraduate student and in the last 30 hours of your academic program, the form must be approved by your department and the Registrar’s Office. Brenau will not guarantee acceptance of coursework taken without a transient letter on file. 

Please note:

Students must earn a grade of “C” or better for undergraduate courses.

Students must earn a grade of “B” or better for graduate courses.

Courses with labs must have a “C” or better for both parts before

either the lab or the lecture can be transferred. 

Your advisor and department chair must approve graduate transient letters. If the transient letter is approved, it will be forwarded to the transient school and copied to you and your advisor. If you’re receiving financial aid, contact the Financial Aid Office when you receive confirmation that your transient letter has been processed, if it is required for your financial aid for that semester. The Financial Aid Office can then confirm this acceptance and verify your aid for the affected semester. Brenau is not responsible for prerequisite courses required by the transient institution for the transient courses taken at that institution.

GPA calculation is not as complicated as you think! Every grade received has a quality point value assigned to it. 

Those values are:

A: 4 points

B: 3 points

C: 2 points

D: 1 point

F: 0 points (This includes WF and IF grades as well)

”W”, “I” and “P” do not contain a point value, and the hours are not added to the total for determining your GPA. 

To calculate GPA:

Multiply the number of points by the number of hours for each course

Add all the points up

Add all the course hours up (don’t include the “W” “I” or “P” grades)

Divide the number of course hours into the number of GPA quality points — now you have your GPA!

Please refer to CampusWEB for the course schedule. This schedule contains updated information about course enrollments/limits, and any time and day changes that are made.

You will be notified via your Brenau email address if we are unable to issue a grade report due to your grades being held. Grades can be held because of a variety of reasons by either the Business Office (who manages student accounts) or the Trustee Library (who manages overdue books or fines).

If you have a restriction on your record, you can still view your grades via CampusWEB. If the hold is cleared – have the office that held your grades contact the Registrar’s Office.

You can access your grades and records anytime through the CampusWEB system. For example, session one grades can be viewed following session one. Since the information on CampusWEB is a direct reflection of the student records in the administrative database, any information displayed is accurate and up-to-date. Grade reports can be emailed to your Brenau email address at the end of each session by submitting the Grade Report Request. We cannot fax or email grade reports to a third-party address.

Please refer to the academic calendar for the day class exam schedule. Exams for all evening or weekend classes are held during the last class meeting.

After approximately 25% of a session has passed and until mid-term, a withdrawal grade of “W” is automatically posted to your record when you withdraw from a course. The grade of “W” does not affect your GPA. If you drop a class after midterm, the grade of “WF” for that course will automatically be assigned to your record, and will impact your GPA. 

Please refer to the academic calendar for official drop dates.

Please refer to the academic calendar for those dates. Any drop initiated after the end of the official drop period of a session will be subject to a $25.00 late drop/add fee.

Class schedule changes, in most cases, may be made up to one week after the first day of the semester (or session). Changes can be made via CampusWEB or the electronic Drop/Withdrawal Form. The academic calendar dates are printed in the catalog, and are included in detail on the Registrar’s Office web page.

Note: You are unable to drop all classes in CampusWEB. The electronic Drop/Withdrawal Form must be submitted to cancel registration. You must drop classes even if payment has not been submitted and the student has decided not to attend. Failure to complete the form could result in a grade of F on your academic record.

Please refer to the Registrar’s Office website for the most up-to-date information concerning registration and drop/add.

Payments are accepted by credit/debit card, check, cash or money order. Payments can be made over the phone to the Accounting Office, in person, or via CampusWEB (click on “my billing” and follow the directions).

Brenau University rolls out registration on different days depending on your education level (graduate/undergraduate —  senior/junior, etc.) and the campus you attend most frequently. Please refer to the academic calendar for registration instructions and dates.

Please Note: Until your registration form is processed by an authorized Brenau Representative or submitted by you electronically via CampusWEB, you are not registered!

The Registration Form is available electronically on our website.

Registration Form

Registration online is easy and available to all currently enrolled term students, as long as there are no restrictions on your records. Log into your CampusWEB account and click “my registration.”

All returning students have an assigned registration day on CampusWEB which is published on the Registrar’s Office schedule page. Students will receive an email two to three weeks before the registration date, which will contain a link to the online registration schedule and a reminder to make sure their student account is clear, all library books are returned, etc. Returning students will be billed a late registration fee if registering during the late registration period.

All dates for registration including initial registration, late registration, and drop/add periods are all on the academic calendar page on the Registrar’s Office’s web page. We recommend that you bookmark this site because the address does not change, and it’s updated every semester with new dates.

Every situation is different. It’s best to contact the bookstore immediately:

Brenau University Official Bookstore
510 Washington Street SE
Gainesville, GA 30501
Phone (770) 534-6208

Brenau Book Bundle costs $20 per credit hour. If you are enrolled for 15 hours during a semester, your book bundle will cost $300.

Right now the Brenau Book Bundle is only available for undergraduate students. This includes online, Norcross and Gainesville undergraduate students, but does not include Dual Enrollment, Early College or specific programs.

All costs are applied to your student account as a per credit hour charge.

The program provides all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital book versions.

The program doesn’t include consumables that can’t be returned or reused, including lab goggles, art supplies or any type of scientific kit.

No. The Brenau Book Bundle includes all classes you are registered for as part of the bundle.

All eligible students will be automatically enrolled in Brenau Book Bundle.

As a residential student you should select to pick-up your books at the Brenau Bookstore at 510 Washington St. SE, right next to the Admissions Office. This option is free and convenient. Please do not have your books sent to your campus mailbox.

Yes, normal-use highlighting and writing is permitted. However, the bookstore can refuse to accept your rental book if it is not returned in good condition. Good condition will be judged by the bookstore alone, and generally means book spine intact, no excessive damage to cover or contents, all original pages intact, all original components present, and no excessive highlighting, writing or other markings. If the bookstore determines your book to be not acceptable for return, then you will be charged for a replacement copy and a non-return processing fee.

The last day of finals is the deadline to return all rental materials. You’ll receive email reminders about the rental deadline.

Yes, you still need to return continuation course books. You’ll be issued the same title for the following semester.

Barnes & Noble College will work directly with those who don’t return their books before the deadline. Students may be billed with replacement charges.

Yes, you’ll get the option to purchase your textbooks at a reduced rate during the return period.

Digital materials and physical books will still be available at your campus bookstore, but you must still make a selection.

Yes, if you don’t opt out of the program, your materials will be held at the campus bookstore, and you’ll be charged.

If the opt-out period is still active (10 days before class starts through the end of Drop/Add) you may still opt out. After opting out you will have 48 hours to return your books.

The deadline to return a book for the semester is the last day to add/drop a class. If you drop a class and enroll in a different one, you must update the order and make a selection in your bookstore account. The bookstore will swap the required books and codes, so you’ll have what you need.

Contact your campus bookstore immediately and explain the issue. Materials are shipped via UPS, and a tracking number is provided in your email confirmation and account.

If you have any questions about your order, contact Brenau’s bookstore manager Dustin Corbin at dcorbin@bncollege.com or 770-534-6208.

Brenau dance majors are involved in many areas of the dance world. Brenau alumni are or have performed with Dallas Black Dance Theater, Disney World, Sesame Street (national tour), Zoetic Dance Ensemble, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, True Blood, Brookes & Company, Ruth Mitchell Dance Theater, Sideways Dance Theater and Dallas Black Dance Theater II. Some alumni own successful dance studios, and others have gone on to be artistic directors and associate artistic directors of studios. Alumna Brooke Denoes opened the American Academy of Dance in Paris with the help of an Annenburg grant. Several alumni have attended graduate schools receiving M.F.A. degrees in dance. Alumna Madia Cooper was an Assistant Professor at Middle Tennessee State University and is currently serving as a Chair of the Department of Dance and Assistant Professor of Dance at Brenau.

The Dance Program produces two to three full concerts and an informal showcase each year. Evening of Dance and the Senior Thesis concerts are student choreographed. The student choreographers invite dancers and hold open auditions for all dancers enrolled in dance technique classes. The faculty choreographers choose selected dancers to perform in the Faculty Concert. The showcase concert is a performance by the students enrolled in the Dance Composition I class. Students who are at an advanced level of ballet may be invited to join the Gainesville Ballet Company. This independent company is housed at Brenau and produces an annual Nutcracker in December and an annual spring performance.

Brenau Dance Program is based in Western concert dance training. We offer several levels of ballet, modern and jazz dance technique. Two levels of tap dance are offered during various semesters. We also sponsor master classes in other forms of dance including hip-hop and various world dance offerings.

Dancers should arrive at LEAST twenty minutes prior to the audition to check in and prepare their bodies.  The class/audition will be a ballet barre followed by ballet centre. If you are currently dancing en pointe, please bring your pointe shoes. It is okay if you are not en pointe. After the pointe, you will dance barefoot for a modern combination and then finish the dance portion with a jazz combination (jazz oxfords or dance sneakers are recommended).

Following the dance section, you will have an interview with a faculty member.

Women should wear pink tights and a black leotard.  Men should wear black tights, dance belt and a white, form fitting shirt. Bring ballet slippers, pointe shoes (if you have previous experience in pointe work) and jazz oxfords or dance sneakers.  Hair should be neatly fastened away from the face.  Tights should be footless or convertible so that you can also dance barefoot. No large or dangling jewelry should be worn; watches and bracelets should be removed, and rings that protrude should be taken off. Do not wear baggy, torn, dirty, or stained clothing. Be neat and professional in your dress.

Most dancers arrive at an intermediate level in concert dance forms with an understanding of ballet terminology, body positions, dance class progression, and the stylistic differences between ballet, modern, and jazz dance. Students with little or no dance training in concert dance may enter Brenau University in the Department of Dance; however, all students are required to attend a Dance Scholarship and Technique Placement audition before enrolling as a dance major. From the audition, students will be placed according to their technique level and advised about the dance major on an individual basis.

Students intending to major in dance are required to attend a Dance Scholarship and Technique Placement Audition prior to enrolling in dance courses. The purpose of the audition for technique placement is to make sure students take the dance classes that will benefit them the most. Anyone may register for basic dance classes at the 100 level. Faculty placement and permission of the department is required for any courses above the 100 level and will require students to take a placement class before registering. 

UPDATE LINKS

Students entering as dance majors will be considered for a talent-based scholarship when they attend a Dance Scholarship and Technique Placement Audition. Those being considered for scholarship will participate in a brief interview with faculty following the audition. Auditions are held three times a year. Please check the dance website by clicking here or email danceinfo@brenau.edu  for dates. Students receiving dance scholarships will receive a contract of expectations including the expectation to register for technique and repertory classes every semester and participation in faculty and guest choreography and/or participation as a company member of the Gainesville Ballet Company.  Dance scholarships are part of the total aid package offered by the university Office of Financial Aid.

All prospective dance majors must attend a Dance Scholarship and Technique Placement Audition before enrolling as a dance major. The audition will be used for faculty to place students in the appropriate technique class level, to advise students in their pursuit of a dance degree, and to assess students for the possibility of being awarded a talent-based scholarship. Those being considered for scholarship will participate in a brief interview with faculty following the audition.

At the time of the sophomore review, students will be encouraged to continue in the major or pursue other opportunities depending on the student’s progress at the time of the review.

Counseling & Support Services

The Brenau Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (BCCPS), with campus locations both in Gainesville and North Atlanta, provides a variety of services to Brenau students, staff, faculty and alums as well as individuals in the community.

Learn more about the BCCPS on their webpage.

Mental Health Resources

• Georgia Crises & Access Line: 800-715-4225
• Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741
• Mental Health America of Georgia – conduct a screening for mental health concerns
• American Psychological Association – Managing your stress in tough economic times (article)
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Brenau offers rapid antigen testing on campus and has contracted off-campus PCR testing. The type of test used will be determined by vaccination status, exposure risk and symptoms.

Yes, community patients will be allowed at these clinics.

Yes! We are excited to offer in-person appointments and campus visits.

Yes there are scholarship opportunities from Brenau University as well as from other outside organizations.

There is an assistantship program for MFA candidates. This application deadline is in June for those enrolling in August and in November for those enrolling in January. See our home page for current details.

Yes, we teach AutoCad and Revit. You begin your CAD classes in the fall of the sophomore year at which point you are required to have your own laptop. Advanced Cadd continues in the spring term of your sophomore year and all subsequent studios require CAD. For information on your laptop requirements click here, then click on support, perform keyword search for “computer recommendations,” In Knowledge Base link, click on “computers” in #1.

Yes, we have a student chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, ASID. We are very involved with the professional chapter of ASID in Georgia. We attend their annual meetings and monthly events. One of our faculty members is a Fellow in ASID and two have served as president of the Georgia Chapter. Other faculty members have served on the Executive Board of the Georgia Chapter. Two of our students have served as the student representative to the Georgia Chapter.

Guest speakers from the profession and field trips to showrooms and design firms occur every semester. For instance, the student chapter visited Carson Guest, Inc. -Rita Carson Guest, FASID was the National President of ASID- and Steelcase Worklife Center in Atlanta. You can find more information about ASID by clicking here.

The interior design undergraduate BFA coursework is offered in two locations/formats. The Women’s College, WC, classes are offered at our Gainesville Campus during the day in a traditional college setting. The University College, UC, classes are offered at our North Atlanta Campus in an evening and weekend setting. You select one of the two settings for your undergraduate work. However, the final year of study, in the MID program, combines these two programs into the evening and weekend college format. Online coursework may also be required in both the undergraduate and graduate coursework.

The MFA is offered in an online format.

Yes, you must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all your undergraduate work (not including your art foundation courses.) You also are required to submit a portfolio of work for review by a faculty committee after your first interior design studio course in the fall of your junior or senior year. Specific procedures are listed in you Interior Design Student Handbook.

Yes, the combined BFA/MID program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, CIDA and has been since 1993. You can find more information about CIDA by clicking here.

Our program combines an extensive professional interior design curriculum along with comprehensive liberal education coursework. Additionally, because the undergraduate portion ends in a BFA, classes are required in foundation studio arts and art history. We had previously completed all these requirements in the bachelor only format; however, with almost 130 semester credits, no elective credits, and more hours needed to meet updated CIDA requirements, we acknowledged that the content of the program warranted a Masters level degree. We believe, you should receive the degree earned for the quantity and quality of coursework you complete.

The final year is completed at our Atlanta Campus location in the Evening and Weekend College format. This allows you to work part-time during the day in the final year of your program and take courses at night and on the weekends. We encourage you to complete your internship during this time. In order to earn the BFA you must complete the MID. The degrees can only be received when they are combined and it is only this combination that is accredited by CIDA.

Yes, there is an area reserved for our veterans and active duty military students at our Gainesville historic campus and North Atlanta campus.

Yes, an honor cord is presented to each graduate who participates in the ceremony. Additionally, undergraduate students meeting the requirements of Latin honors, such as Summa Cum Laude, will also receive honors at graduation.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Students who are active duty service members, and spouses using My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) should first receive approval from the student’s Education Services Officer (ESO), military counselor or service prior to enrollment.
• Once written approval is received from your ESO or service, contact Whitney McDowell-Robinson at wmcdowell-robinson@brenau.edu to be included in the military student information network.
• Submit your approval documentation to Portia Clark at pclark2@brenau.edu, then follow your branch specific instructions..

Brenau University has a rolling admissions policy — there are no annual deadlines or specific priority dates for most programs. We recommended that financial aid requests be submitted two months prior to your anticipated start date. Visit our Financial Aid page for more information about how to get started.

New FAFSA forms are available on Oct. 1 of each calendar year for the academic year that begins the following August. For example, on Oct. 1, 2022, the 2023-24 FAFSA is available to file.

• Professional careers in music performance
• Teaching in public or private institutions
• Going on to graduate programs in
  • performance
  • music education
  • music therapy
  • church music

Permission of the faculty

Yes. Music minors are required to take at least 4 semesters of an applied instrument. They are also required to perform a jury at the end of the second and the fourth semesters.

• Vocal Chamber Ensemble
• Spectrum Singers
• Opera Workshop
• Gospel Choir

• Take private lessons
• Keep a record of your performances
• Take AP Music Theory in high school
• Contact the applied teacher in your instrument at the college and ask about repertoire choices and audition requirements
• Read through a variety of music so that you can be conversant with more than just your own audition repertoire
• Perform, perform, perform
• Learn to dress appropriately for your profession
• Visit the campus and meet the professors

The grade-point average is important for scholarship opportunities.

GPA for admission is 3.0

Bachelor of Arts in Music (voice, collaborative piano, or other instrument) with one of two possible tracks:

1. Advanced Music, which prepares the music student for graduate music school
2. Secondary area of study, such as:
   • business (arts management)
   • psychology (music therapy)
   • or mass communication (music industry)

Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (voice, collaborative piano, or other instrument)Become a certified public school teacher, a teacher in private studios or fine arts schools, or a director of music in civic and church organizations.

Brenau’s music curriculum proudly offers the rare undergraduate track for pianists in collaborative arts, available in both the BA in Music, and the BA in Music Education.

• Small teacher/ student ratio
• Personal attention
• One-on-one coaching for vocalists and instrumentalists
• Collaborative piano/ piano accompaniment
• Multiple performing opportunities
• Vocal Chamber Ensemble (audition required)
• Gospel Choir (open to all students, faculty, staff, and community)
• Spectrum Singers, a large SATB ensemble open to all students, faculty, staff, and community
• Quality performance venues
• Professionally-active faculty
• Unique internship opportunities
• Mu Phi Epsilon chapter (National Music Honors Fraternity)
• Collegiate chapter of NAfME (National Association for Music Education)

CAPTE considers complaints about programs that are accredited, or are seeking accreditation by CAPTE, and complaints about CAPTE itself. This process is described on the CAPTE web site by clicking the “Complaints” link. For more information regarding the process of filing a complaint with CAPTE, please contact the:

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22305-3085
Phone: 703-706-3245
Email: accreditation@apta.org

There is a high demand for physical therapists in the workforce.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Physical Therapists is expected to grow by 39% from 2010 to 2020.

Physical therapists may own their own clinics, or work in hospitals, clinics, homes, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and fitness centers, among many possibilities.

According to the APTA Web site, the median salary (meaning half earn more and half earn less) for a Physical Therapist is $68,000 a year. This varies by years of experience, specialty area and the location.

Any major will qualify you to apply to a graduate Physical Therapy program, but you will need to take certain courses to prepare you for this course of study. Different graduate programs require different courses. Brenau University’s physical therapy program will require two chemistry courses, two physics courses, three biology courses, including a physiology, a statistics course and two psychology courses.

You will need to complete a four-year Bachelor’s degree and an additional two to three years in a graduate program.

You will need to have a graduate degree, a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat people of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTs also help prevent conditions associated with loss of mobility through fitness and wellness programs that achieve healthy and active lifestyles (from American Physical Therapy Association Web site: www.apta.org).

You are required to take the Math Placement Exam if you are majoring in Biology, Health Science, Pre-Nursing, and Exercise Science. All other students can take MS 100 Quantitative Literacy. If you have questions or want set up an appointment directly with the Math & Science Department contact: dsheffield1@brenau.edu or 770-534-6280

Sleeping bag and pillow, towel, pj’s or other comfy clothes for sleeping, toiletries, a change of clothes for Saturday morning. Please limit your belongings to one overnight bag, plus sleeping bag and pillow. Rain is always a possibility, so please be prepared with an umbrella, rain jacket, etc. SHOWER FACILITIES MAY BE LIMITED.

Bring comfortable, cool clothing for the daytime activities. For dinner, it’s OK to wear what you had on during the day, but it’s also fine to dress up a little — it’s your choice.

NOTHING! The event is totally free. You may want to bring some extra spending money if you wish to purchase anything from the Campus Bookstore or the vending machines around campus, but there is no cost to attend!

If you have any dietary restrictions, please let your admissions counselor know as soon as possible, so our dining hall can be prepared.

If you need special accommodations/assistance, please contact your admissions counselor as soon as possible, so that we can make appropriate arrangements for you.

You’ll stay in a residence hall on campus and get a feel for what life will be like when you move on campus.

Sorority members will engage in conversations with you and get to know you. They will tell you more about their individual chapter. We encourage you to just relax, be yourself and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Make sure to meet several members of the sorority, so that you get a better understanding of how well you mesh with the group.

You do not have to have recommendations. Recommendations are letters written on your behalf from a close friend or relative who is an alumna of a panhellenic organization. Brenau does not ask PNMs to have letters of recommendations. You are welcome to submit them, but they are not required.

No. Sophomores, juniors and seniors — both returning and new transfer students — are welcome to participate.

PNM stands for Potential New Member, which includes everyone who is not a part of a current chapter. The sororities on campus will refer to PNMs frequently as an acronym for all women who are eligible to go through recruitment.

All students enrolled full-time (12+ hours) in The Women’s College have the opportunity to join a sorority on campus. 

This is up to you! Please check the weather and dress accordingly. We recommend wearing comfortable and warm clothing. Attendees also usually bring a change of clothes for the party, but doing so is totally your call!

Winter Weekend is a sleepover. So, make sure to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, towel, floor padding (optional), pajamas, toiletries, etc. Shower facilities may be limited due to the amount of attendees. Please stick to bringing only one overnight bag, sleeping bag and pillow. Also, make sure your belongings are easily portable because you’ll be carrying them across campus!

Yes. Winter Weekend is open to all active high school senior and transfer applicants. If you’re thinking about attending Brenau, we’d love for you to visit and tour our beautiful campus! You can register at brenau.edu/visit/ or contact the Office of Admissions at 770-534-6100 or admissions@brenau.edu.

Most of our attendees will stay in a sorority house or a residence hall. Don’t forget that this is a sleepover. So, if you’re wanting to be extra comfortable when you sleep, we recommend bringing padding for the floor to go under your sleeping bag!

Make sure you have opted-in to texting so you will receive all notifications regarding Winter Weekend.

If you need special accommodations/assistance, please contact your admissions counselor as soon as possible so that we can make appropriate arrangements for you.

Our academic showcases give you the opportunity to meet your potential future professors and get a closer look at the academic departments that interest you the most. You’ll be able to choose two different showcases, allowing you to explore the programs you’re most curious about!

Yes! As long as they are a senior in high school, they are welcome to attend. Just share the registration link on this page with them.

Parents do not have to attend, but are welcome to join you for Friday’s activities up until 8 p.m. They are also welcome to attend all of Saturday’s activities!

If you have any dietary restrictions, please let your admissions counselor know as soon as possible so our dining hall can be prepared.

NOTHING! The event is totally free. You may want to bring some extra spending money if you wish to purchase anything from the Campus Bookstore or the vending machines around campus.

See the ADA website and Federal Government Section 508 website for more information.

The w3c has a nice fact sheet explaining the WAI.

Google, who hosts Brenau’s email services, and Canvas, our online instructional software platform both have active compliance programs. Visit the links in the sidebar to learn more.