College Terminology

FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The almost universal application for financial aid, including loans, grants, college work-study and other federal and state programs. It is often required before a student can be considered for scholarships also.

Open-door Institution

Open-door institutions are usually public two-year junior/community colleges. The term open-door refers to an admission policy that states that anyone who is 18 years of age or older, whether or not a high school graduate, can be admitted to that college.

Prerequisite Courses

is a course taken in preparation for another course.

Alumni

people who have graduated from the institution.

Academic Advisor/Counselor

this person will help you select the correct courses, review the course requirements in the field you have selected to pursue and help you with any academic problems you may encounter.

Academic Probation

All colleges require students to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) to remain in school. Any student not maintaining satisfactory progress toward his/her educational objectives will be placed on probation for a semester.

Full-time enrollment/Part-time enrollment

A full-time student is enrolled in 12 or more credit hours in a semester (full-time status for a Summer term is usually 6 credit hours). A part-time student is enrolled in less than 12 credit hours in a semester (less than 6 in a Summer term).

Concurrent Enrollment

A student can enroll and attend two educational institutions at the same time provided that certain criteria are met.A college student can concurrently enroll at two higher education institutions provided that certain criteria are met.

Academic Suspension

A student on Academic Probation may be placed on Academic Suspension if he/she fails to maintain or achieve the minimum cumulative GPA required. A student placed on suspension will be dismissed from the college for a specified time period - usually one semester.

Syllabus

An outline of the important information about a course. Written by the professor or instructor, it usually includes important dates, assignments, expectations and policies specific to that course.

Application/Acceptance/Admission

Application is the process by which a prospective student submits the required forms and credentials to his/her chosen institution. Depending on the application requirements of a particular school, the student can gain Acceptance to the institution if the decision to accept the application is positive. Admission is the status granted to an applicant who meets the prescribed entrance requirements of the institution. It must be noted that there is a wide variation nationwide in the Application/Acceptance/Admission policies of higher education institutions.

Fraternities/ Sororities

Fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women) are social organizations that are active in various activities. Through a process of mutual selection, called Rush (which takes place during a specified period of time), students may be offered the opportunity to "pledge" a certain fraternity or sorority. Not all colleges have these organizations.

Lecture/Laboratory/Dicussion Classes

In lecture classes, students attend class on a regular basis and the instructor lectures on class material. Laboratory classes require students to perform certain functions in controlled situations that help them test and understand what is being taught in the lecture. Discussion classes offer students the opportunity to talk about material being taught, ask questions, and discuss material with their classmates. Discussion classes are often taught by Masters or Doctoral students, and are becoming more common on college campuses.

Bookstore

It will generally stock all the books and other materials required in all the courses offered at the institution as well as providing basic sundries and clothing items.

Associate's Degree

The Associate Degree is granted upon completion of a program of at least two, but less than four years of college work.

Extra-Curricular Activities

These are non-classroom activities that can contribute to a well-rounded education. They can include such activities as athletics, clubs, student government, recreational and social organizations and events.

ACT and SAT

These letters are acronyms for the American College Test and the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Both tests are designed to measure a student's level of knowledge in basic areas such as math, science, English and social studies.

Enrollment

This is the procedure by which students choose classes each semester. It also includes the assessment and collection of fees.

Bachelor's Degree

This is the undergraduate degree offered by four-year colleges and universities.

Private/Public Institutions

differ primarily in terms of their source of financial support. Public institutions receive funding from the state or other governmental entities and are administered by public boards. Private institutions rely on income from private donations, or from religious or other organizations and student tuition. Private institutions are governed by a board of trustees.

Transcript

is a permanent academic record of a student at college. It may show courses taken, grades received, academic status and honors received. Transcripts are not released by the college if the student owes any money to the college.

Undergraduate

is a student who is pursuing either a one-, two-, or four-year degree.

Commuter

is a student who lives off-campus and drives to class, or commutes.

Major/Minor

is a student's chosen field of study. is designated as a specific number of credit hours in a secondary field of study.

Junior/Community College

is a two-year institution of higher education. Course offerings generally include a transfer curriculum with credits transferable toward a bachelor's degree at a four-year college, and an occupational or technical curriculum with courses of study designed to prepare students for employment in two years.

College

is an institution of higher education that grants degrees and certificates. The term is also used to designate the organizational units of a university such as the College of Education or the College of Engineering.

Petition

is both the process and the form a student fills out to request consideration of special circumstances.

Faculty

is composed of all persons who teach classes for colleges.

University

is composed of undergraduate, graduate, and professional colleges and offers degrees in each.

Financial Aid

is made available from grants, scholarships, loans, and part-time employment from federal, state, institutional, and private sources. Awards from these programs may be combined in an "award package" to meet the cost of education.

Business Office

is responsible for all financial transactions of the institution. It may also be called the Bursar's Office on some campuses.

Registrar

is responsible for the maintenance of all academic records and may include such duties as: maintenance of class enrollments, providing statistical information on student enrollment, certification of athletic eligibility and student eligibility for honor rolls, certification of the eligibility of veterans, administering probation and retention policies and verification of the completion of degree requirements for graduation.

Tuition

is the amount paid for each credit hour of enrollment. Tuition does not include the cost of books, fees, or room and board. Tuition charges vary from college to college and are dependent on such factors as resident or out-of-state status, level of classes enrolled in (lower, upper or graduate division), and whether the institution is publicly or privately financed.