TERMS
Academic advisement:
A meeting between a student and an advisor to discuss career plans, program of study or class
selections prior to registration.
Academic drop:
Dismissal from the school for academic ineligibility (unsatisfactory academic work).
Academic probation:
A status resulting from unsatisfactory academic work; a warning that the student must improve
academic performance or be dismissed after a specific period of time.
Academic standing:
The scholastic standing of a student based on his/her grade point average (GPA).
Academic year:
The period of formal academic instruction, usually extending from August through May. It is
divided into fall and spring semesters. Students may also be able to take classes during summer
sessions, mini-mesters or intersessions.
Accreditation:
The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the
recognized regional accrediting body in the eleven U.S. Southern states (Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and
Virginia) and in Latin America for those institutions of higher education that award associate,
baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees. Accreditation is certification that a college meets a set
of criteria established by SACS.
ACT:
A test published by American College Testing which measures a student's aptitude in mathematical
and verbal comprehension and problem solving. Many four-year colleges require students to take
this test and submit their test scores when they apply for admission. Some colleges accept this test
or the SAT. Most students take the ACT or the SAT during their junior or senior year of high
school.
Adds/drops:
Refers to changes of registration in which a student enrolls or stops enrollment in a course.
Adjunct faculty:
Part-time faculty member.
Admissions counselor:
A person working in a college Admission and Registration Department who assists students
preparing application materials.
Advanced placement:
A waiver of some of the classes normally required for an undergraduate degree, granted to a
student based on a student's prior study or experience (usually indicated by the student's
performance on a special examination).
Alma mater:
The school from which one has graduated, as in "My alma mater is The University of Texas at
Arlington."
Alumnus/alumni:
A person/persons who attended or graduated from a particular school.
Annotated bibliography:
An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents followed by a
brief descriptive paragraph. The purpose of the annotation or description is to inform the reader of
the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.
Articulation agreement:
A written agreement listing courses at one college that are equivalent to courses at another college.
These agreements facilitate the smooth transition of students through the secondary, community
college and university educational systems.
Articulated credit:
Allows high school students to take courses that lead to college credit in technical courses. Course
credit is awarded by the college after the student has enrolled at a participating college.
Assignment:
Required reading and course work to be completed outside of the classroom as determined by
instructors. Many instructors list assignments on a syllabus, which is distributed at the beginning of
the semester. Other instructors give assignments during class.
Assistantship:
A study grant of financial assistance to a graduate student which is offered by a department in
return for certain services (teaching, research). Those services are supervised by a faculty/staff
member.
Associate's degree:
A degree traditionally awarded by community or junior colleges after two years of study, or
completion of 60 to 64 semester hours.
Asynchronous communication or interaction:
Any act of exchanging information involving a delay between the sending and the receiving of the
message. It means ‘not at the same time,’ as in an asynchronous on-line course, in which the
faculty leaves messages for students, who read them later. Opposite of synchronous.
Audit:
Enrolling in a class on an audit basis means the class would not count for credit or grade point
average. In some cases the audit fee is less than the tuition rate. Registration for audit may require
the permission of the instructor.
Auditory learner:
Learns through listening; these students learn best through verbal lectures, discussions, talking
things through and listening to what others have to say. Auditory learners interpret the underlying
meanings of speech through listening to tone of voice, pitch, speed and other nuances. Written
information may have little meaning until it is heard. These learners often benefit from reading text
aloud and using a tape recorder.
B.A. or B.S.:
B.A. stands for "Bachelor of Arts", and B.S. stands for "Bachelor of Science." These degrees
usually take four years to complete. Some colleges only grant B.A.'s and others only grant B.S.'s -it depends on the kinds of courses offered at the particular college.
Bachelor's degree or baccalaureate:
The degree of bachelor of arts or bachelor of science, typically requiring 120 hours of specified
course work
Blue book:
A booklet with a blue cover that contains lined paper for writing essay test answers. Blue books are
usually available for purchase in the campus bookstore.
Bursar/cashier:
The office (or person) where fees/tuition are paid.
Campus:
The area where the buildings of a college or university are located.
Cashier/bursar:
The office (or person) where fees/tuition are paid.
Certificate programs:
Programs that offer short-term training in a wide variety of areas and are often offered by
community and technical colleges.
CEU:
Continuing Education Unit; the amount of credit given for participating in a continuing education
course or training session. CEU's are rarely considered as equivalent to academic credit.
Class standing:
This refers to your official year in school -Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior – and is based
on the number of college credits you have completed.
Colloquium:
A gathering of scholars to discuss a given topic over a period of a few hours to a few days.
Continuing education course:
A course outside the regular academic instructional program, for which standard academic fees and
tuition are (usually) not charged. While most often these courses do not earn academic credits, they
can provide CEU's necessary for professional development or lead to professional certifications.
Community college: A two-year traditional school, offering programs leading to the Associate's
degree and, typically, many noncredit courses in arts, crafts, and vocational fields for community
members not seeking a degree. Also called junior college.
Core course/general requirements:
These terms usually mean the same thing. Each degree program requires that all students complete
specific groups of courses.
Correspondence course:
A course in which communication between student and instructor is done with printed materials via
the US Mail.
Course load:
Number of credit hours for which a student is enrolled during a semester.
Course number:
The identification code for each course.
Course overload:
Defined by most colleges as over 18 credits for undergraduates. Graduate school overload is
usually over 12 credits. Approval is required to take an overload.
Course sections:
Course numbers may be divided when classes also meet in discussion sections, or when a course
number has sections pertaining to different topics under the same heading. For instance, a course
called Phenomenological Thinkers may have section 001: Husserl and section 002: Heidegger.
Credit:
A credit is the value assigned to a course. Usually one credit equals one 50 minute class period per
week. Many courses carry 3 credits and meet for three 50 minute periods a week.
Credit course:
A class with specified learning goals which the student is required to meet in order to pass the
course and that may be applied toward the fulfillment of degree requirements at a college or
university.
Critical thinking:
An essential tool of inquiry; purposeful, self-regulatory judgment that results in interpretation,
analysis, evaluation, and inference, as well as explanation of the evidential, conceptual,
methodological, criteriological, or contextual considerations upon which that judgment is based.
The ideal critical thinker is habitually inquisitive, well-informed, trustful of reason, open-minded,
flexible, fair-minded in evaluation, honest in facing personal biases, prudent in making judgments,
willing to reconsider, clear about issues, orderly in complex matters, diligent in seeking relevant
information, reasonable in the selection of criteria, focused in inquiry, and persistent in seeking
results which are as precise as the subject and the circumstances of inquiry permit. (from
http://www.insightassessment.com/dex.html)
Cum Laude:
An honorary recognition of the success of a graduating student. Usually requires a GPA of 3.4 or
better, but varies by school.
Curriculum:
A program of courses to be taken in pursuit of a degree or other objective.
Dean:
Director or the highest authority within an academic division of study. An Academic Dean heads
each School and College. In addition to the academic deans, there is often a Dean of Students who
heads the Student Affairs department.
Dean's list:
The list of full-time, undergraduate students whose GPA was at a certain level (usually a B+ or
higher) for a given semester.
Deferment:
The postponing of a fee; to be paid later.
Degree:
Diploma or title awarded to a student who completed a prescribed course of study.
Degree program:
An organized sequence of classes that leads to the awarding of a college degree at the
undergraduate or graduate level.
Degree requirement:
A set of requirements, which a student must fulfill before s/he graduates.
Delivery method:
Means by which a course is accessible to the student; can be television at a remote site, cable TV,
videotape, via the Internet, CD ROM, computer disk or by standard mail. Many distance education
courses have a F2F (face-to-face) component as well.
Department:
A division of the school which offers instruction in a specific branch of knowledge.
Department chair:
The faculty member in charge of an academic department of the university.
Distance education:
A formal learning activity which occurs when students and instructor are separated by geographic
distance or by time, often supported by communications technology such as television, videotape,
computers, email, mail, or interactive videoconferencing.
Distance learning:
The process by which technology is used for education in ways where the student does not have to
physically be in the place where the teaching is taking place. Access to the instructor is gained
through technology such as the Internet, interactive videoconferencing and satellite.
Dissertation:
The major research project normally required as part of the work for a doctoral degree.
Dissertations are expected to make a new and creative contribution to the field of study, or to
demonstrate one's excellence in the field.
Doctoral degree:
The most advanced degree, awarded following of additional study, often after completion of a
master's degree.
Double major:
Studying simultaneously for two degrees in two majors, fulfilling the class requirements for both
majors.
Early registration:
Students complete a final course selection and make a payment or deposit for tuition and fees in
advance of the general student population.
Elective:
A course you choose to take that is not required in your major field of study, but may be used for
credit toward a degree.
Electronic mail (email):
A system of exchanging messages by means of computers attached to a network.
Equivalency examination:
An examination designed to demonstrate knowledge in a subject where the learning was acquired
outside a traditional classroom. A person who learned management skills while working at a
restaurant, for instance, could take an equivalency exam to earn credit in, say, small business
management.
Essay:
A method of examination, or homework, by which a student presents his/her knowledge of the
subject by writing a composition.
Extracurricular activities:
Activities pertinent to student life, but not part of the regular classroom study. For example:
athletics, publications and social organizations.
Facilitator:
The person in an interactive videoconferencing classroom who assists the instructor or students
with technical and troubleshooting issues, distribution of handouts, collection of tests and
evaluations, etc. Not all distance education classrooms have facilitators.
Faculty:
The members of the teaching staff, and occasionally the administrative staff, of an educational
institution. Faculty may hold the rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor,
instructor, lecturer, research associate, research assistant, or the equivalent of any of these
academic ranks. See adjunct faculty.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid):
A form that all students applying for financial assistance are required to complete in order to
determine eligibility for financial aid. This form is available from your high school career center or
guidance counselor or from any college financial aid office.
FAQ:
Frequently asked questions. Increasingly, on Internet and in print, information sources provide a
list of FAQ's to assist newcomers in learning more on their own.
Fees:
An amount of money charged by institutions (in addition to tuition) to cover costs of certain
services (health services, athletic center, registration, parking, and for the use of lab equipment or
computers etc.).
Final examination:
The last, and often the most comprehensive, examination of the semester's class material.
Financial aid/assistance:
Money available from various sources to help students pay for college. Students must establish
eligibility and funds can be competitive.
Financial aid package:
Total amount of financial aid given to a student. Federal and non-Federal aid such as grants, loans,
and work-study are combined to help meet the student's need. Using available resources to give
each student the best possible package of aid is one of the major responsibilities of a school's
financial aid administrator.
Financial need:
In the context of student financial aid, financial need is equal to the cost of education (estimated
costs for college attendance and basic living expenses) minus the expected family contribution (the
amount a student's family is expected to pay, which varies according to the family's financial
resources).
Fraternity:
A social organization for male students, with specific objectives, rules and regulations.
Full-time student:
student with a full course load (usually 12 or more credit hours per semester).
GED certificate or diploma:
The equivalent to a high school diploma. It certifies that a person has obtained a passing score on
five separate tests: Writing Skills, Social Studies, Science, Interpreting Literature and the Arts, and
Mathematics.
GPA (Grade Point Average):
A system of recording academic achievement based on an average of a student's grades. Your
semester GPA is an average of grade points earned during that semester. Cumulative GPA is an
average of all grade points earned in a certain degree program or at a certain college or university.
Grades:
Evaluative scores provided for each course, and often for individual examinations or papers written
for that course. There are letter grades (usually A, B, C, D, F) and number grades (usually
percentages from 0% to 100%), or on a scale of 0 to 3, 0 to 4, or 0 to 5. Some schools use a
pass/fail system with no grades.
Graduate studies:
Coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree that leads to a master’s degree, professional or doctoral
degree.
Grant:
A sum of money given to a student for the purposes of paying at least part of the cost of college. A
grant does not have to be repaid.
Hybrid course:
Hybrid courses are a combination of two or more of the types of distance learning courses (e.g.,
web, email, ITV ) with traditional classroom instruction. Hybrid courses have a website, and
although they have several face-to-face (F2F) class sessions, most assignments and communication
with the instructor take place by email (online) or through interactive videoconferencing.
Incomplete grade:
An "I" (incomplete grade) may be reported for a student who carried coursework satisfactorily until
near the end of the semester, but who is then unable to complete the course, possibly including the
final exam. If the student does not remove the "I" according to the schools time frame/policy, the
"I" will be changed to an "F."
Independent study:
A method of receiving credit for study or research independent of the assignments of any specific
course, but supervised and graded by a faculty member.
Instructional Television:
Videotaped course lectures; also called a telecourse.
Internet course:
Web-based course completed online. Also called an online course. May or may not be self-paced.
Intersession:
Instruction offered between the regular fall and spring semesters. Sometimes called mini-mesters.
ITV interactive videoconferencing:
Two-way audio and/or video; videoconferencing. Classes are shared by local sites connecting to
remote sites. Depending on how the course is set up, students at both sites can see, hear, and
interact with each another.
Junior College:
A two-year traditional school, offering programs leading to the Associate's degree and, typically,
many noncredit courses in arts, crafts, and vocational fields for community members not seeking a
degree. Also called community college.
Kinesthetic learner:
Learns through moving, doing and touching; these students learn best through a hands-on
approach, actively exploring the physical world around them. They may find it hard to sit still for
long periods and may become distracted by their need for activity and exploration.
Laboratory (lab):
A classroom where practical learning and demonstration take place in science, language, and other
subjects.
Learning strategies:
Activities that help people use their own learning style to best approach new learning.
Learning style:
The way a person takes in, understands, expresses and remembers information; the way a person
learns best. See auditory, kinesthetic, and visual learning.
Lecture:
A common method of instruction in university courses, when a faculty member conveys
information by speaking to a class.
Live interaction:
Ability for students to participate in real-time in classes offered at a distance using electronic
technology (videoconferencing or "chat" mode on the Internet).
Loan:
A type of financial aid that is available to students and to the parents of students. An education loan
must be repaid. In many cases payments do not begin until the student finishes school.
Lower division course:
A course that is intended for freshman and sophomore level students.
Magna Cum Laude:
High honorary recognition of the success of a graduating student. Usually requires a GPA of 3.6 or
better, but varies by school.
Major:
The subject or area of study in which a student concentrates.
M.A./M.S.:
Master of Arts/Master of Science awarded upon completion of a one or two year program of
graduate study.
Master's degree:
An advanced degree awarded by a university after completion of studies beyond a bachelor's
degree.
Matriculated student:
A matriculated student has been accepted for admission to the college, has registered in a
curriculum and is pursuing courses toward a degree or certificate.
Mid-term examination:
An (often major) examination given in the middle of the semester.
Minor:
The subject or area of studies in which a student concentrates to a lesser degree than in his/her
"major."
Multiple-choice examination:
An examination in which questions are followed by two or more answers, from which a student
selects the correct answer.
Non-credit course:
A class that typically meets only once or just a few times and that contributes toward personal or
occupational development rather than being applicable toward a college degree.
Non-matriculated student:
A non-matriculated student is one who has not yet been accepted for admission to the college, has
lost matriculated status by not enrolling in coursework for one semester, or has been suspended
from a program because of failure to maintain good academic standing.
Objective test:
An examination in which questions requiring a very short answer are posed. It can be multiple
choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, etc. The questions are related to facts (thus objective) rather
than to opinions (or subjective).
Open admissions:
A policy that supports admission to most or all students who apply to the school. At some colleges
it means that anyone who has a high school diploma or a GED can enroll. At other schools it means
that anyone 18 years old or over can enroll. "Open admission," therefore, can mean slightly
different things at different schools.
Open-book examination:
A student is permitted to use his/her textbook and classroom notes during the exam.
Oral examination:
A student answers questions by speaking rather than by writing.
Part-time student:
A student who carries less than a full load of courses.
Pass/fail:
A grading system that rates a student's performance on pass/fail basis, rather than on grades
(A,B,C,D,F).
Ph.D.:
The highest academic degree awarded by a university to students who have completed studies
beyond the bachelor's and/or master's degrees, and who have demonstrated their academic ability
in oral and written examinations and through original research presented in the form of a
dissertation (thesis). Also called a doctoral degree.
Placement test:
An examination used to test a student's academic ability in a certain subject so s/he can be placed in
a course at an appropriate level. In some cases students may get course credits after scoring high on
a placement test.
Plagiarism:
Passing off someone else's work as your own. You must follow certain guidelines to properly
acknowledge the use of other people's ideas in your work. The guidelines vary by academic
discipline and by institution, and you should ask your instructor if you have any questions about
the proper citation of sources. This is considered a serious offense at every institution, and can
result in permanent expulsion from the class, and in some cases from the college. Cite your sources
properly!
Pop-quiz:
A quiz that the instructor has not previously informed the students about.
Postsecondary:
Refers to all programs for students leaving high school, including programs at community colleges,
technical colleges, four-year colleges and universities.
Prerequisites:
These are the minimum requirements for enrolling in a course. They are often listed in the class
schedule and in course descriptions. For example, Spanish I is a prerequisite for Spanish II.
Proctor:
A person who supervises the taking of an examination to be certain there is no cheating, and that
other rules are followed.
Professional development courses:
Courses offered to improve knowledge and skills in a specific professional areas, such as
professional certification programs. Usually not offered for academic credit.
PSAT/NMSQT:
The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, a practice
test that helps students prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The PSAT is usually
administered to tenth or eleventh grade students. Although colleges do not see a student's
PSAT/NMSQT score, a student who does very well on this test and who meets many other
academic performance criteria may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Quiz:
A short test, written or oral, usually less formal than an exam.
Readmission or re-entry:
Approval of the enrollment or admission of a former student.
Registrar:
The official at most colleges and universities who is responsible for maintaining student records
and, in many cases, for verifying and validating applications for admission.
Registration:
Students complete a final course selection and make a payment or deposit for tuition and fees.
Required courses:
Classes that a student must take in order to complete his/her degree. In many cases, these courses
must be passed with a grade C or better.
Research paper:
A formal written report that includes research findings and a student's own ideas.
ROTC:
Reserve Officers Training Corps program; a scholarship program wherein the military covers the
cost of tuition, fees and textbooks and also provides a monthly allowance. Scholarship recipients
participate in summer training while in college and fulfill a military service commitment after
college.
SAT:
Scholastic Aptitude Test that measures a student's aptitude in mathematical and verbal
comprehension and problem solving. Many colleges require students to take this test and submit
their test scores when they apply for admission. Some colleges accept this test or the ACT. Most
students take the SAT or the ACT during their junior or senior year of high school.
Sabbatical:
A period of time (usually one semester) when a faculty member is not teaching, but concentrating
on his/her own education or research.
Schedule of classes:
This publication is issued prior to each semester and lists course numbers, hours, locations, and
registration facts.
Scholarship:
A sum of money given to a student for the purposes of paying at least part of the cost of college.
Scholarships can be awarded to students based on academic achievements, financial need or on
many other factors. Scholarships and grants to not have to be repaid.
Self-directed learning:
A process in which students take the initiative to diagnose their learning needs, formulate learning
goals, identify resources for learning, select and implement learning strategies, and evaluate
learning outcomes.The role of the instructor shifts from being the 'sage on the stage' to the 'guide
on the side' in a self-directed learning environment.
Semester:
A period of study of approximately 15-16 weeks, usually half of the academic year (fall and spring
semesters).
Seminar:
Most commonly offered as upper-level and graduate courses, these are small classes of
approximately 15 students each, designed to facilitate intensive study of specific subject areas.
Sorority:
A social organization for female students, with specific objectives, rules and regulations.
Statement of purpose:
A detailed description of the career the applicant intends to pursue after graduation. A statement of
purpose is often requested as part of the admissions procedure at a university.
Subjective test:
An examination in which the answers are in the form of narrative sentences or long or short essays,
often expressing opinions rather than reporting facts.
Summa Cum Laude:
The highest honorary recognition of the success of a graduating student. Usually requires a GPA of
3.8 or better, but varies by school.
Syllabus:
This is a detailed course description with topics to be covered, required reading, and completion
dates.
Synchronous:
At the same time. In a synchronous online or videoconferencing course, the faculty and students
can interact with one another in real time. Opposite of asynchronous.
Take-home examination:
An examination that may be completed at home. Since students may use additional resources, these
exams are usually more difficult than in-class exams.
Telecourse:
Videotaped course lectures; also called Instructional Television.
Term paper:
A written original work discussing a topic in detail, usually several typed pages in length. Often
due at the end of a semester.
Test:
An examination, or any other procedure that measures the academic abilities of students.
Transcript:
A list of all the courses a student has taken with the grades that the student earned in each course.
A college will often require a high school transcript when a student applies for admission to the
college.
Transferability:
The extent to which a course taken from one campus may be accepted by another campus;
variations determining full or partial transfer of the credit depend on such factors as whether the
receiving campus offers an equivalent or similar course at comparable levels of academic
expectation for learning; academic advisors and campus coordinators have information about
whether and how specific courses will transfer to their institutions and degree programs. Make sure
you get transfer arrangements IN WRITING and BEFORE you enroll.
Transfer student:
A student who has earned credit in one school, and then transfers to another school.
True/False examination:
An examination in which questions are answered by marking "True" or "False."
Tuition:
The amount of money that colleges charge for classroom and other instruction. Tuition can vary
widely between colleges, and does not cover "fees" or cost of books and other materials.
Tuition waiver:
A form of financial assistance in which the school charges little or no tuition.
Tutoring:
A method of providing help to students by instruction outside of class. Advanced students work
with individuals or small groups to increase their understanding of the material. Also called peer
tutoring.
Undergraduate studies:
A two or four-year program in a college or a university, following high school graduation, which
leads to an associate or bachelor's degree.
Upper division course:
One that is intended for junior and senior level students.
Videoconferencing (ITV):
Two-way audio and/or video; interactive videoconferencing. Classes are shared by local sites
connecting to remote sites. Depending on how the course is set up, students at both sites can see,
hear, and interact with each another.
Virtual Field Trip (VFT):
Can be online or via videoconferencing. If online, the class uses a web site created by the instructor
to "visit" a setting by viewing pictures, video and/or audio clips, and reading the text provided. If
via ITV, the class is connected to experts in a particular field or to other student 'hosts" at a remote
location, all via videoconference.
Visiting faculty:
Faculty members who come to the university from another institution for an appointment of a year
or less, sometimes to fill a temporary vacancy.
Visual learner:
Learns through seeing; these students need to see the instructor's body language and facial
expression to fully understand the content of a lesson. They tend to prefer sitting at the front of the
classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g. people's heads). They may think in pictures and learn
best from visual displays including: diagrams, illustrated text books, overhead transparencies,
videos, flipcharts and hand-outs. During a lecture or classroom discussion, visual learners often
prefer to take detailed notes to absorb the information.
Vocational-Technical (Terminal) Program:
An educational program designed to prepare students for immediate employment. Most courses in
a terminal program are nontransferable to other colleges or universities.
Waiver:
An agreement that a specific class which is a part of a degree or certificate program is not required
for a particular student. Get all waivers signed and in writing!
Webquest:
An inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by students is online. By
providing links necessary to complete the quest, the student is able to focus on the material rather
than spend time looking for it. The five-part WebQuest (Introduction, Task, Process, Evaluation
and Conclusion) promotes critical thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
Withdrawal:
The procedure in which a student officially removes himself/herself from taking a class, or from an
institution. Tuition may or may not be refunded, depending on the date of withdrawal.
Work-study program:
A program that allows students to work part-time during the school year as part of their financial
aid package. The jobs are usually on campus and the money earned is used to pay tuition or other
college expenses.