Core IMPACTS | Registrar

Rebrand of USG core curriculum to ensure that students acquire essential knowledge in foundational academic areas and develop career-ready competencies.

By using meaningful names, this will help students find more benefits in the core curriculum
Easier transfer process within USG schools
More than just a checklist, something that IMPACTS their lives

Career-Ready Competencies

Showcases the three skills for each new category
Provides advisors with the USG guidelines for how to describe the benefits of each field to students
Assists faculty with describing other disciplines outside of their own

Why Core IMPACTS?

New titles define the core curriculum more clearly than the previous undefined Areas A-F
Increases transfer efficiency within the USG - across all majors/programs
Three career-ready competencies are assigned to each section
Generate interest and excitement with titles vs. areas
Former Area A & E restructured to separate Math & English and better define legislative requirement

Core IMPACTS:
Former Core Curriculum (Areas)	Core IMPACTS
Area A	Separated to Mathematics and Communicating in Writing
Area B	Institution Priority
Area C	Arts, Humanities, & Ethics
Area D	Technology, Mathematics, & Sciences
Area E	Separated to Political Science & US History and Social Sciences
Area F	Field of Study
Institutional Requirements Outside the Core (PHEDs)	Institutional Requirements Outside the Core (PHEDs)

Training Materials

Faculty Training Presentation

Core IMPACTS Summary

Core IMPACTS Career-Ready Competencies

Faculty Advising Checklist

FAQs

FAQs for Students

What are Core IMPACTS?
- The USG (University System of Georgia) decided that students should understand why the courses you take are important. Your instructors have always known this! And the USG wants the students to be aware too!
- IMPACTS rearranges the core curriculum, and it emphasizes what career ready skills you will work on in each class.
Does Core IMPACTS affect me?
- It depends! If you started college or updated your degree after the Summer of 2024, you will automatically see the core curriculum under Core IMPACTS. If you were a student before Fall of 2024, and you have not updated your degree, then you are still on prior core curriculum model (Areas A – F). But you can choose to update to the new Core IMPACTS any time you want!
- If you are still unsure, you can talk to your advisor to get more clarification on which model you are under.
Wait! Is this good or bad?
- This is good news! You are going to find out more about what future employers want, it will be easier to transfer to other schools, and you get to jump into your major specific courses even sooner.
If the core is different, are the classes I've already taken still going to count?
- Do not worry! The curriculum has not changed. It is only organized in a different way – the classes are all the same.
How can I update to the new Core IMPACTS?
- You can update your catalog by completing the Change Minor or Catalog Year form.

FAQs for Faculty/Staff

What is Core IMPACTS?
- It is a refresh of USG core curriculum to ensure that students acquire essential knowledge in foundational academic areas, develop career-ready competencies, and making sure students are aware.
Why is GHC moving to Core IMPACTS?
- To justify the general education core curriculum better
- Established career-ready competencies
- Easier to transfer
- Every area will focus on three skills that are guaranteed and won't be just for GHC – it is statewide!
- Generate interest and excitement with titles vs. area
When do the new Core IMPACTS take effect?
- Students under the 2024-25 catalog, which can be:
  - Brand new students starting at GHC in Fall 2024
  - Students who change their major in Fall 2024 or later
  - Students who update their catalog year
What will Core IMPACTS mean for students?
- The new Core IMPACTS mean students will get even more out of general education courses:
  - Career-Ready Competencies: Broad transferable skills that go beyond the content of specific courses.
  - Easier Transferability: Core IMPACTS has been adopted by all 26 USG system schools.
  - More Upper-Level Options: Students will find more 3000-4000 level course options in their field of study requirements for GHC's transfer associates degrees.
Will all students be moved to the new Core IMPACTS?
- Not all students will be automatically moved. Students who started before the 2024-25 catalog year will still be under the former curriculum (Areas A-F system), but students who change their major or choose to update their catalog year will be under the new Core IMPACT systems.
How is Core IMPACTS curriculum different than the previous curriculum?
- The core curriculum is not changing! It is the same courses as the previous curriculum. It is presented in a different way.
- Areas A-F are no longer used – they are replaced with new category titles and key phrases.
What courses are in the Core IMPACTS Curriculum?
- The curriculum did not change – they are simply reorganized.
How can I best advise a student about the new Core IMPACTS?
- Refer to the Core IMPACTS Advising Appointment Checklist for helpful steps and tips.
Will I have to advise students on the previous core and the Core IMPACTS at the same time?
- You will need to see what catalog year they are on. If it is before the 2024-25 catalog year, they will fall under the former curriculum (Areas A-F), and if it's under the 2024-25 catalog or later, they will fall under the Core IMPACTS curriculum.
- You can find the catalog year listed for students in the top portion of DegreeWorks.
How can a current student change to the 24/25 catalog?
- Students request a catalog change by completing the Change Minor or Catalog Year form.

Career-Ready Competencies

Why Core IMPACTS?

Training Materials

FAQs

Georgia Highlands College named one of the TOP 10 FINALISTS for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

Georgia Highlands College named one of the TOP 10 FINALISTS
for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.