Primary Instructor of Record: Marc Ebelhar, Ed.D.
Office Hours: By appointment, virtually through Microsoft Teams
Email: marc.ebelhar@grad.gatech.edu

Course Description

GT6000 is Georgia Tech’s small-group, peer-led, extended-orientation program for first-semester graduate students. This program is designed to promote a positive student experience through social interaction, familiarization with campus resources, and peer mentorship.

Course Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of GT6000, you will:

1. identify, explore, and prepare for stressors typical of graduate students;
2. develop plans for a successful and timely completion of your academic program; and
3. review key concepts related to and plan for professional development and a “whole-person” education.

Required Course Materials / Textbook

None

Course Delivery Dates 

This course is offered during the S1 portion of the term which covers the first eight weeks of the semester. The fall 2026 course starts August 24 and ends on October 16. Due to the compressed schedule of the course, the last day to withdraw from GT6000 with a "W" grade is September 22.

Delivery Format

GT6000 is a blended (i.e. half online and half in-person) course for fall 2026. Students will attend a once per week, 50-minute meeting of their group synchronously in person and complete a weekly (roughly one hour) module covering the curricular themes described above. Students must attend the synchronous meetings of their group in person. The course is delivered during the first half of the fall semester and will conclude at the end of the eighth week of classes.

Grading Policy

GT6000 is evaluated on a pass/fail grading mode. Points are awarded based on attendance at group meetings, participating in program workshops, completing online course material, and completing deliverables. Points are awarded as follows:

150 points – attendance at a group meeting                      1200 points possible

100 points – participation in a program workshop              500 points expected

100 points – completion of an online module                      800 points possible

100 points – completion of a course deliverable                 500 points possible

                                                                                                     3000 points possible

Online modules will introduce fundamental concepts related to each week’s theme so you can effectively participate in discussion at your group meetings. These modules will be a foundation to build on as you explore deeper in group meetings and workshops.

Program workshops will expose you to subject-matter experts from offices around campus that you’ll want to get to know. They’ll help you solve challenges, develop your professional skills, and efficiently get you to graduation.

Course deliverables will put into practice the skills you develop during the program. Examples will include self-reflections, career-related tools like a resume, and planning your academic program to completion.

Group meetings will put you face-to-face with the other new graduate students in your group to help you socialize and think through your experience starting in your graduate programs.  Your Group Leader will guide discussion to dive deeper into topics related to the theme of the week and expand on material you’ve already discovered in workshops and online modules.

A student will pass GT6000 if their point total at the end of the program is greater than or equal to 2300 points, AND they accumulate points in all four of the categories listed above.

Course Attendance Policy

GT6000 is most beneficial to students when they attend scheduled group meetings and program activities.  As such, attendance is a significant graded component of the program and will count towards the pass/fail course grade. 

Students should make every effort to attend the meetings of their group as they would any other class. In the event that a conflict arises (e.g. a doctor’s appointment, family emergency, etc.) a student may get credit for a missed meeting by requesting a make-up from another Group Leader and attending their group meeting or requesting an excused absence for the week. 

It is strongly recommended that the student attend a make-up meeting unless it is not possible to do so during the same week as the missed meeting. In that case, the request will be reviewed by the Instructor of Record, Dr. Marc Ebelhar, to determine if the absence can be excused. 

Academic Integrity Statement

GT6000 is a reflection-based course. As such, the course provides an opportunity to learn, reflect, and begin to structure your graduate experience at Georgia Tech. Work submitted by students will be generated by the students themselves, working individually or in groups as directed by class assignments instructions.

As we embrace innovative technologies in our learning environments, it’s important to discuss the use of generative AI (GenAI) programs like Co-Pilot, ChatGPT, Claude, etc. which can be great tools for generating ideas and aiding brainstorming sessions. However, there are a few key points to keep in mind when using these tools including:

• Accuracy and Bias: Be aware that the information produced by GenAI can sometimes be inaccurate, incomplete, biased, or otherwise problematic. Always double-check the facts and consider the potential biases in the generated content.
• Impact on Creativity: While GenAI tools can provide helpful insights, relying heavily on them may limit the development of your own critical thinking and creativity. Use these tools to supplement your own ideas, not as a replacement.

In this course you may use GenAI tools to:

• Proofread your original written work

You may NOT use GenAI to:

• Write your reflection (this must be your own original thinking)
• Create personal insights or observations (these must come from your direct experience)

If you use GenAI tools, clearly indicate the following:

• Which tools were used
• When they were used
• What prompts or questions were given
• How the AI output informed or shaped your final submission

Georgia Tech aims to cultivate a community based on trust, academic integrity, and honor. Students are expected to act accordingly to the highest ethical standards. Review Georgia Tech's Honor Code and the student Code of Conduct.

Any student suspected of cheating or plagiarism on a quiz, exam, or assignment will be reported to the Office of Student Integrity, who will investigate the incident and identify the appropriate penalty for violations.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with learning needs that require special accommodation, contact the Office of Disability Services (404-894-2563) as soon as possible, to make an appointment to discuss your special needs and to obtain an accommodations letter.

Student-Faculty Expectations Agreement

At Georgia Tech, we believe that it is important to strive for an atmosphere of mutual respect, acknowledgement, and responsibility between faculty members and the student body. The Student-Faculty Expectations articulate some basic expectations that you can have of me and that I have of you. In the end, simple respect for knowledge, hard work, and cordial interactions will help build the environment we seek. Therefore, I encourage you to remain committed to the ideals of Georgia Tech while in this class.