College terminology 2

Credit Hour

The number of hours assigned to a specific class. This is usually the number of hours per week you are in the class

major

Primary area of study

Catalog

Provide all types of information parents and students need to know about a school.

Registrar

Responsible for the maintenance of all academic records

Drop and add

Students are generally permitted to drop courses from their class schedules and/ or add other courses

full-time student

A student enrolled for 12 or more credit per semester.

RA

A student leader who works in campus dormitories and supervised issues/activities related to dorm life

Coed

The mixture of both genders - male and female

Associate's Degree

A type of degree awarded to students at a us community college, usually after two years of classes

private university

A college that does not get financial help from the state, but relies on donations and tuition to pay the bills

Public University

A college that gets money from the state

Bachelor's Degree

A degree awarded to undergraduates, usually after four years of college classes.

syllabus

A description of a course which also lists the dates of major exams, assignments and projects.

TA

A graduate student who assists a professor with teaching an undergraduate course usually within his or her field as part of an assistantship

semester

A measurement of time used in schools; usually half the school year.

Early action

A program offered by some colleges and universities that allows students to submit their applications early, typically in November or December, and receive decisions early, usually in mid or late December. Students are not required to accept the admissions offer and have until May 1st to decide

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. Specific requirements may be placed on the students re-entry into college

undergraduate

A student pursuing his/her first, two-, or four-year degree.

bookstore

All colleges have them. 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

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 their educational objectives will be placed on probation for a semester

Faculty

All persons who teach classes for colleges

General education classes

Classes that give students basic knowledge of a variety of topics. Students often must take general education classes in order to graduate. This set of classes includes different courses and is called by different names at various colleges and universities.

commencement

Day of graduation

Greek

Fraternities and sororities

term

Length of time that you take a college class

Seminar

Offered to a small group of students who are typically more advanced and who meet with a professor to discuss specialized topics

withdrawal

Students may withdraw from courses during a semester. This action becomes valid after the add/drop period expires. A withdrawal does appear on a transcript, counts as an attempt on the class, and charges tuition fees. They do not, however, impact your GPA. GTC gives a student three attempts to successfully complete a course, so do not treat withdrawals lightly

Early Decision

Students who apply under this make a commitment to enroll at the college if admitted and offered a satisfactory financial aid package.

Rolling Admission

The application process whereby a college reviews an application when the application is completed and communicates the admission decision within a few weeks of reviewing the application.

academic year

The school year that begins with fall classes, usually in august or september

Office hours

Time set aside by professors or teaching assistants for students to visit their office and ask questions or discuss the course they teach. Your professor or teaching assistant will tell you at the beginning of the term when and where office hours will be every week.

Quarter

Type of academic term

minor

a secondary area of study

commuter

a student who lives off-campus and drives to class

internship

a temporary paid or unpaid position that involves direct work experience in a career field

Transcript

an official document showing the educational work of a student in a school or college

Audit

attend academic courses without getting credit

Humanities Courses

classes that cover subjects such as literature, philosophy, language, and the fine arts. Most undergraduate degrees require a certain number of humanities credit hours.

dean

head of a division or school in a college or university

alumni

people who have graduated from the institution.

prerequisite

something required beforehand

resident

students who reside in the same state as the college or university applied to or attending.