A

The person at a college who helps a student decide what classes to take, when to take them, how many credits to take, what major to pursue, etc.

Standards, such as a certain grade point average, that students must maintain in order to remain in good standing with the college.

Each institution's annual schedule. Academic years are usually divided into quarters, semesters or trimesters.

Colleges and schools must meet requirements in academic programs, facilities, teaching, etc. to be certified by accrediting agencies. Usually, colleges must be accredited for their students to receive financial aid.

Students who want to attend a college must meet that college's specific requirements to be considered for admission. These may include high school grade point average, standardized test scores, high school courses, etc.

Some colleges offer tests for advanced college credit. Students who receive a high score on these tests can earn credit in specific subject areas and may skip to higher-level courses.

College-level courses (designed by the College Board) offered in high school. Students may take an AP test at the completion of these courses. Students with high scores on these tests can be placed in upper-level college courses and may receive college credit for beginning-level courses.

A period of time set by colleges during which students can register early for classes.

A charge to process a student's admission application. In some cases, this fee is waived if a student shows financial need.

An Articulation Agreement written between two institutions allows course credit at one college/university to be accepted or transferred and applied toward a degree or certificate at another college/university. Admission into a particular major could have a GPA requirement higher than admission to the college.

A group of academic studies that may include fine arts, languages, social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. The group may be called a division, college or school.

The degree granted by colleges after students complete a two-year, full-time program of required courses or its part-time equivalent. These degrees are offered by many kinds of colleges, including community colleges, technical colleges and colleges and universities that offer bachelor's degrees.

B

The degree granted by a college or university after students have satisfactorily completed a four-or five-year, full-time program of required courses or its part-time equivalent. Students usually receive a Bachelor's of Arts or Bachelor's of Science degree.

C

How a college divides a year for classes and grading. Calendars usually run from August to December and January to May, with an additional summer calendar.

A college's book of general information about classes, faculty, costs and admission and degree requirements.

A document granted by colleges after completion of study for a specific occupation. Certificates usually require a six-month to one-year, full-time program of required courses, or its part-time equivalent.

The highest administrator of an academic department; usually a professor.

A school offering studies that lead to an academic degree. A college can be part of a larger university system or stand alone. Colleges not in a university system usually do not offer graduate degrees.

A series of examinations in undergraduate college courses that provides students of any age the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement, thereby reducing costs and time to degree completion.

A term used to describe subjects required for admission to, or recommended as preparation for, college.

Graduation ceremony to recognize students who have completed degree requirements.

College that offers programs (usually two years or less for full-time students) leading to certificates or associate's degrees. These programs prepare students for immediate employment or for transfer to a college or university offering bachelor's degrees.

A college may admit students who have not met all the admission requirements. To remain, these students must fulfill specified requirements before or during their enrollment.

A Consortium Agreement is a contract between two colleges that helps to determine financial aid eligibility while ensuring that any financial aid is processed through the home institution.

Core-to-Core Agreements allow a student to use general education courses from a community college to fulfill general education or “core” requirements at a four-year college or university. The acceptance of approved associate's degree programs in which the general education reflects the core requirements of the four-year institution's curriculum. If a student earns an appropriate associate's degree (usually an A.A. or A.S.), the four-year institution's core requirements are satisfied except for core courses required by the intended major and possibly for other requirements that reflect the specific values of the transfer institution (e.g., religion, foreign language).

Classes that all students in a major program or college are required to take.

A required class or lab taken with a related course.

A class in which students receive lessons in the mail and send completed assignments to instructors. Correspondence is an example of distance education.

Another name for "class."

Course-to-Course Articulation is when one college or university compares the content of courses to the content of courses at another college or university and determines transferability. Students use course articulation to assure that the courses they complete will not have to be repeated at the institution to which they are transferring. Course articulation is usually completed when a student actually decides to transfer and may or may not be explained in a written document between the two institutions.

A survey given to students, usually at the end of a semester. Students give their opinions about the instructor and the course.

Numbers assigned to courses to show their level of difficulty or depth/breadth of study. For example, a 100-level course is less difficult or narrower in scope than a 200-level course.

A term used to describe subjects required for admission to, or recommended as preparation for, college.

How schools measure a student's progress toward a diploma or degree. The number of credits assigned to a course depends, in part, on how much time is spent in class each week. For example, most courses offered by colleges on semester calendars are worth three credits. Credits are also referred to as "credit hours" or simply, "hours."

The available courses in a program of study at a specific college.

D

The highest officer of a division, college or school, such as Dean of the School of Education. Deans usually report directly to a provost or the president of a college.

Officially enter a college major or area of study. See Major.

A college may accept a student but then allow the student to delay coming to the college for one year.

After finishing a program of study at a college, students receive an academic recognition.

An area of study in a larger college or school. For example, French may be a department in the School of Arts and Sciences.

A field of study.

Students can be dismissed or expelled for consistently poor grades or breaking rules.

Classes taught over satellite or local television, by video tape or CD ROM, through the Internet and by correspondence. Some may be regularly scheduled; others may be taken when most convenient for the student's schedule.

Meeting requirements for two majors.

A Dual Admission agreement is a cooperative partnership between two institutions that facilitates the admission process for students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree. The agreement prepares students to transfer their associate degree credits into a bachelor degree program with no loss of time or money, providing the student maintains the required academic standard and follows the requirements of a program parallel to the desired transfer program. Often there are also financial incentives and support services associated with each program.

Dual Admissions programs are typically written between community colleges and four-year institutions though the term may also be applied to programs that allow high-achieving high institution students to complete college courses that fulfill both high institution and college graduation requirements.

Some colleges enroll high-achieving high school students in college courses that may fulfill both high school and college graduation requirements. Students must gain permission from the high school principal or guidance counselor and admission to a college. College students may also dual enroll in two degree programs.

E

Students can take the necessary standardized tests and apply early in their senior year for admission to some colleges. If you choose to apply for early admission and are accepted, the institution guarantees you a place and you promise to attend the institution.

An optional, instead of required class. Some electives fulfill general education requirements outside of a major.

An SAT II Subject Test designed for students with English as a second language or limited English proficiency, who have had at least two years of English-language study in a U.S. high school.

To become a student at a university by registering for courses and paying tuition and fees. See Registration, Matriculate.

A course requirement that is fulfilled by passing an exam in the subject.

F

The teachers, professors and instructors who teach at schools.

Money charged by a college for services provided to a student. Fees are often charged for lab materials, computer use and recreational facilities.

A student who carries a minimum number of credits or hours to be considered "full-time" by a college. The number of credits considered to be a full-time load varies. Schools on a semester calendar often require at least 12-hours for full-time status.

G

A guest student, or visiting student, is someone who is currently enrolled and in good standing at one college but who wants to take courses at another college to fulfill the home institution's degree requirements.

A system for evaluating the overall scholastic performance of students. Grades are often measured on a four-point scale in which an "A" equals four points and a "B" equals three points, etc. These are called grade points. Total points are found by multiplying the number of credits for a course by the student's grade point. A student's GPA is found by dividing the sum of grade points by the number of course credits.

A person who receives a certificate, degree or diploma from a school.

I

A college or other school that is supported with private money, but not supported financially by the state. Some independent colleges have a religious affiliation or are single-gender schools.

Studying a subject for credit without regular classroom instruction. This may refer to on-campus courses that you take independently, or through distance education.

In the education field, this is usually a school, college or university.

Any competition or activity taking place between different colleges.

Programs or courses using knowledge from two or more academic areas.

Experience gained by students working at jobs on or off campus. Students get practical experience in their area of study.

L

A school or course of study which focuses on developing students' general knowledge and reasoning ability instead of specific career training; the result is often considered to be a well-rounded, general education in the arts and sciences.

M

A focused area of study. Students take many classes in their major, gain specialized knowledge and earn a degree in that area.

To register or enroll in a college.

An area of interest studied at the same time as a major.  Minors are not "stand-alone" credentials. To complete a minor, a student must also be enrolled in a program leading to a major at the university.

N

A degree, often an associate's degree that may not be fully counted as credit toward more education.

O

In education, hours set aside by an instructor to meet with students.

Admission policy in which anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent can take classes.

P

A student enrolled in a number of course credits that is less than full time. Usually, this is less than 12 credits a semester.

Assignment of students to appropriate classes or programs.

A file of materials created by a student that displays and explains skills, talents, experiences and knowledge gained throughout life. Portfolios are often used when applying for a job.

Education after high school at a public, independent, technical, community or junior college or university.

Course sequences for undergraduate students to prepare for graduate work in the same area. Examples include pre-law and pre-medicine.

Beginning class (usually required) that prepares students for a more advanced class.

Academic status of students whose GPA falls below a minimum level (this varies from school to school).

Set of required courses for a degree in a major area of study.

A Program-to-Program or Program Specific Agreement is one in which an entire curriculum or program of study is accepted from one institution for transfer into another institution. This type of agreement provides a graduate of a specific associate's degree advanced standing in a specific bachelor degree program.

A private institution operated by its owners as a profit-making enterprise.

Colleges that operate as profit-making institutions. These colleges provide students with training in specific career fields.

A college's chief academic officer (sometimes called an academic dean). A provost often reports directly to the president of a college or university.

College or other school supported by the state; the state pays part of the school's operating costs.

R

Person (or office) in a college who manages class schedules and academic records.

Officially enrolling in classes for the upcoming grading period.

Private colleges associated with religious organizations.

A course that teaches basic skills needed to succeed in college courses. These skills are often in the general areas of math, writing, reading, etc.

A set of conditions that must be met in order to do something, such as be accepted to a college, complete a degree, etc.

A campus building where students live. Food service, social and educational activities are provided. Some colleges require students to live in residence halls for a certain amount of time.

1) Most colleges require that students spend a certain amount of time on campus taking classes or living on campus. 2) This term can also mean the minimum amount of time a student must live in the state to pay in-state tuition, which (for public colleges) is lower than the tuition paid by out-of-state students.

Schools with this admission practice accept applications throughout the year and decide whether or not to admit students as soon as they receive the required materials.

The cost for living in residence halls or other campus housing (room) and receiving meals from the housing food service (board).

S

Completion of courses according to school standards. Satisfactory academic progress must be shown to receive financial aid and continue in school.

An admission policy in which a college only admits students who meet certain requirements (sometimes referred to as Competitive Admission Policy).

Calendar system used by some schools. Classes and grade reports are divided into two periods, each lasting about 15 weeks.

At some colleges, students can plan an individualized major. Such programs must be approved by appropriate college administrators.

Services provided by most colleges to help students in areas such as academics, veterans affairs, adult and special needs.

T

Colleges that offer programs (usually two years or less for full-time students) that prepare students for immediate employment or transfer to a college or university offering bachelor's degrees. The emphasis at these colleges is usually on hands-on training in a specific career area.

The official record of a student's educational progress; it may include listings of classes, grades, major area and degrees earned.

A degree, usually an associate's, that can be counted as credit toward more education, such as a bachelor's degree, at the same or different college.

College program that prepares students to complete a degree at another college. Junior, community and technical colleges often have transfer programs to prepare students to continue their education at colleges and universities offering bachelor's degrees. Transfer programs often award associate's degrees.

A student who changes from one school to another. Grades and credits from the first school may or may not be counted at the second. Schools may not accept all the credits earned at another school.

The cost of classes or credits at a school.

A program offering an associate's degree that will transfer directly toward a bachelor's degree in the same field of study. These programs may be within the same college or between two colleges and may be known by other names.

U

Students who meet all of a school's admission standards are given this status.

A college student working on a bachelor's or associate's degree or certificate.

A postsecondary institution that has several colleges or schools, grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, and may have research facilities. Universities are more comprehensive than colleges, although the two terms are often used interchangeably.

Student who is a junior or senior but has not yet received an undergraduate degree.

V

A visiting student, or guest student, is someone who is currently enrolled and in good standing at one college but who wants to take courses at another college to fulfill the home institution's degree requirements.

W

A list of students who will be admitted to a college only if there is space available. Students placed on a waiting list are then notified at a later date if they are admitted, typically in May or June.

An exemption from normal procedures or requirements. For example, to receive a "class waiver" means not having to take a class.

A program that allows students to take a complete course of study and attend classes only on weekends.

A form of financial aid in which students earn money by working part time at their college. Students apply for work-study by filling out the FAFSA. See Free Application for Federal Student Aid.