Keys to Transfer Success |
2+2 Program:
A program offering an associate’s degree that will transfer directly toward a bachelor degree in the same field of study. These programs may be within the same college or between two colleges.
Academic Dismissal/ Suspension:
A student who is dismissed is no longer matriculated and, in addition, may not register for any credit courses at the college for one full semester.
Academic Probation:
A student will be placed on academic probation at the end of a semester in which the student’s degree grade point average falls below that which is required.
Academic Renewal:
You may repeat any course one time in which you receive a ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade and have the higher grade used to compute your grade point average. You file an Academic Renewal petition.
Academic Standards:
College standards that students must maintain, such as a certain grade point average, in order to remain in good standing with the school.
Academic Year:
The school year. See calendar. Accredited: Colleges and schools must meet specific requirements in academic programs, facilities, etc. to be certified by accrediting agencies. Usually, colleges must be accredited for their students to receive financial aid.
ACE:
American Council on Education
ACE CCRS:
American Council on Education College Credit Recommendation Service
Add/Drop Period:
A period of time before classes begin when schedule changes are made. A penalty may be charged for changes made after the start of classes.
Admission:
Acceptance into a college after the student has filed a completed Student Information Form with the Admissions and Records Office and has been admitted according to admissions criteria. Students who have been admitted are eligible to register for courses.
Advanced Credit:
Some colleges offer tests for advanced college credit. Students who receive a high score can earn credit in specific subject areas. Advanced Placement: Tests given at the end of an Advanced Placement course taken in high school. Students with high scores on these tests can be placed in upper-level college courses and may receive credit for beginning level courses.
Advanced Registration:
A period of time set by most colleges during with students can register early for classes. See Registration.
Adviser:
A counselor or designated individual who has been formally trained to assist students with academic information that will enable them to enroll in the classes related to their academic goals.
Alumni:
People who have graduated from a school.
American College Testing (ACT):
Company that produces standardized admissions tests. See Standardized Admissions Tests.
AP:
Advanced Placement
Application Fee:
A charge to process a student’s application. Apprenticeship: A training program, like carpentry or welding, which results in certified skills for a trade.
Articulation Agreement:
An agreement between two schools that allows course credit to be accepted or transferred and be applied toward a degree or certificate. This includes formal agreement between a 2-year institution and a baccalaureate degree granting institution. These agreements are established for specific academic programs and assure transfer with junior standing upon completion of appropriate coursework and achievement of a minimum grade average.
Arts and Sciences:
A grouping of academic studies that may include fine arts, languages, social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. The grouping may be called a division, college, or school, for example, the School of Arts and Sciences.
Assessment:
Assessment is a way of evaluating students’ present skills in English, reading and math so students may choose courses that match their skills. Assessment is based on scores of placement tests. Scores are used as a guide for proper course placement, which leads to greater success.
Associate Degree:
Degree awarded after a student completes a specified number of course requirements and credit hours.
Types of associate degrees designed for transfer:
- Associate in Arts Degrees are 60 to 64 semester credits in length and may be awarded for successful completion of a liberal arts and sciences curriculum designed to constitute the first two years of a baccalaureate degree. An A.A. degree must include the entire NDUS (40 semester credits) which, pursuant to North Dakota Statute must transfer to any NDUS college or university. Students must, however, be provided proper advising, as they may need to enroll in specific courses to meet general education and program major requirements of a four-year institution.
- Associate in Science Degrees are 60 to 64 semester credits in length and may be awarded for successful completion of a program designed for transfer to a baccalaureate major in a related scientific or technical field, or may be designed for employment. An A.S. degree must have at least one articulation agreement between the college awarding the A.S. degree and a four-year institution awarding a related baccalaureate degree. The A.S. degree must include a minimum of 30 semester credits in general education. General education must be selected from at least six of the ten goal areas of the NDUS. The A.S. degree must transfer pursuant to the terms and conditions of the articulation agreement, and the NDSU courses within the A.S. degree must transfer to any NDUS. Types of associate degree NOT designed for transfer:
- Associate in Applied Science Degrees are 60 to 72 semester credits in length and may be awarded for successful completion of a program primarily intended for employment. Associate in Applied Science Degrees are typically not designed for transfer and need to be identified as such in college information. Specific exceptions must be noted in college information where formal written transfer agreements, if any, exist. The A.A.S . degree must include a minimum of 25 percent general education credits. General education classes must be included in the degree from at least three of the ten goal areas of the NDUS. The NDUS courses within the A.A.S. degree must transfer to any NDUS college or university. Several A.A.S. degree programs are articulated with Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degrees. In these cases, the A.A.S. degree must transfer pursuant to the terms and conditions of the articulation agreement, and the NDUS courses within the A.A.S. Degree must transfer to any NDUS college or university.
Audit:
An option for class registration in which the student pays to attend class but does not want to receive credit. Students sometimes choose to audit courses in which they do not wish to complete required assignments.
Baccalaureate or Bachelor’s Degree:
The degree granted by a college after students have satisfactorily completed a four or five year, full-time program of required courses, or its part-time equivalent.
Calendar: How a school divides the academic year for classes and grading. School years are usually divided into quarters, semesters, or trimesters.
Campus:
The grounds, class buildings, and residence halls of a school.
Career Plan:
A set of steps to be followed over a period of time to get a desired job. Career/Occupational Programs Programs designed to lead directly to employment or career advancement.
Catalog:
A book containing course descriptions of all courses, major and general education requirements, college policies, procedures and standards and student rights and responsibilities.
CBE: Competency-Based Education
CEEB: College Entrance Examination Board
Certificate:
Certificates are 9 to 30 semester credits in length and may be awarded for successful completion of a specialized program of study. Certificates are typically not designed for transfer and need to be identified as such in college information. Specific exceptions must be noted in college publications where formal written transfer agreements, if any, exist. Any NDUS curriculum courses within a Certificate must transfer to any NDUS college or university.
Chancellor: Chief administrator of a college campus.
Class Schedule:
A listing of all of the classes offered during the semester, along with other useful information such as how to register, support services, career planning sessions, etc.
Class Section:
A group of students meeting to study a particular course at a definite time. Sections are identified by specific section numbers.
CLEP: College Level Examination Board Closed
Class: A limit is placed on the size of each class section. When this is reached, it is closed to further enrollment unless a student drops. Check with Registration.
Coeducational:
Both men and women being included in a facility, for instance being able to attend the college or living in the dormitory.
College: A school offering studies that lead to an academic degree. A college can be independent or part of a larger university system.
College Orientation: A session during which new students are introduced to academic programs, facilities, and services provided by a college.
College Scholarship Service:
This service processes a supplemental financial aid application called The Profile. Some colleges and universities require The Profile in addition to other financial aid forms.
College Work-Study Program: 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.
Commencement Graduation: ceremony to recognize students who have completed degree requirements.
Community College: Colleges that offer programs (usually two years or less) that prepare students for immediate employment, or for transfer to a four-year college.
Commuter Student: A student who lives at home or somewhere off campus. Competitive Admission Policy An admission policy where a school only admits students who meet certain requirements.
Conditional Admission: 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.
Consortium: Arrangement between schools that enables students who attend one school to go to class and use resources at another school.
Contact Hours: The total hours of class and lab required per week in a course.
Continuing Education:
The Continuing Education Division is designed to offer students a viable and flexible alternative to the traditional full-time college degree. Additionally, high school refresher classes and a wide variety of special non-degree vocational, leisure, remedial, and professional courses are offered through this division of the College.
Continuous Enrollment:
The process of registering for and completing courses during consecutive semesters, which may include summer sessions. Determines catalog year for graduation.
Cooperative Education (Co-op Education): A program in which a student combines employment and study in a career field.
Core Classes: Classes that all students in a major program are required to take.
Corequisite: Course which must be taken during the same semester as the course that specifies the corequisite.
Correspondence Course:
A class where students receive lessons in the mail and send completed assignments to instructors. Correspondence is an example of independent study. See Independent Study.
Counselor: A professionally trained staff member who helps students with educational, career, or personal concerns.
Course: A specific subject studied within a limited period of time, such as a semester, and taught by a faculty member. Also called course offering or class.
Course Description: A course description tells the student what is taught in the course, what the objectives are, and what one should be able to do upon completion. It also describes the required classroom hours, lab hours, clinic or co-op hours, credit hours, and indicates if a prerequisite/corequisite is needed.
Course Evaluation: A survey usually given at the end of a semester. Students give their opinions about the instructor and the course.
Course Fee: A charge for services, supplies, and/or materials for a course, in addition to tuition and registration fees for the course.
Course Load:
Status Regardless of matriculation status, a student who carries 12 or more credits during the Fall or Spring semester is considered a full-time student. An anything less than 12 credits is part-time.
Course Number:
Numbers assigned to courses to show their level of difficulty or depth/breadth of study. For example, 1000 level courses are less difficult or broader in scope than 2000 level courses.
Course Prefix: A three or four-letter code that identifies the subject area of a course (e.g., ENGL in ENGL 110 indicating a course in English).
Course Title: A phrase descriptive of course content. For example, the course Psychology 1020 has a course title of General Psychology.
Course Withdrawal:
If a student is unable to complete a course, for whatever reason, the student must withdraw from the course or risk receiving a grade of “F” for the course.
CPE: College Proficiency Exam Credentials: A certificate, diploma, or other type of evidence that a person has completed specific requirements determined by a provider.
Credit: The numerical unit earned for the completion of a specific course. For example, three credits may be earned for successful completion of PSYC 111.
Registered Credit- The total number of credits for which a student is officially enrolled at the end of the registration drop period each term.
Earned Credits- Successfully completed credits, includes only A, B, C, D, P (used by Financial Aid to calculate percent of completion).
Completed Credit- A, B, C, D, P, F (eligible for retroactive payment of financial).
Credit Transfer: The acknowledgement by a college or university of student credit earned at a different institution.
CTC: Abbreviation for Community and Technical College.
Curriculum: A planned sequence of courses aimed at an academic or occupational goal; also referred to as a program of study.
DANTES: Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Dean: The highest officer of a division, college, or school, such as Dean of Education.
Declare: a Major Officially tell a college your major, or area of study. See Major.
Deferred Admission: A college may accept a student but then allow the student to delay coming to the school for one year.
Degree: After finishing a program of study at a college, students receive an academic title, for example, an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree.
Department: A specific area of study in a larger college of school. For example, French is a department in the School of Arts and Sciences.
Diploma
: Diplomas are 30 to 72 semester credits in length and may be awarded for successful completion of a program intended to provide students with employment skills. Diplomas are typically not designed for transfer and need to be identified as such in college information. Specific exceptions must be noted in college publications where formal written transfer agreements, if any, exist. Any NDUS curriculumcourses within a Diploma must transfer to any NDUS college or university.
Discipline: A field of study. See Major.
Discussion Section:
Some classes have two types of meetings. One is when the professor lectures. The other, the discussion section, is when a small group of students meets to discuss the lecture. Dismissal: Students can be dismissed for expelled for consistently poor grades or breaking rules.
Distance Education:
Classes taught over satellite or local television, through the Internet, by video tape or CD ROM, and by correspondence. Some may be regularly scheduled; others may be taken when most convenient for the students schedule. Describes instruction and learning that occur when the instructor and learner do not physically meet in the same place or at the same time. Instructor and learner convey information via technology, which may include mail, telephone, audiotape, videotape, satellite, and the Internet-singly or in any combination.
Distributive Requirements: See General Education Requirements.
Division:
A group of faculty who teach classes in related subjects, such as Communication, English, Natural Science, Mathematics, and Social Science in the General Education Division.
Doctorate:
The highest university degree, also called a doctorate or doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.). Physicians receive a Medical Doctorate (M.D.), while lawyers receive a Juris Doctorate (J.D.). Dorm Dormitory: See Residence Hall. Double Major: Meet requirements for two majors. See Major.
Drop
: Discontinuing a class within the drop/add period. A drop is not recorded in the student’s transcript. Dual of Concurrent Enrollment: Some colleges enroll high achieving high school students in college courses which may fulfill both high school and college graduation requirements. Students need the permission from the high school principal or guidance counselor and admission to a college.
Early Admission:
Students can take the necessary standardized tests and apply early in their senior year for admission to some colleges/universities. Elective: An optional class, instead of required.
Emeritus Faculty:
Honored faculty members, usually retired from teaching. Enroll: To officially select classes.
Equivalency: A course from one college may be equivalent or equal to a similar course at another college. The Transfer Specialist on your campus will be able to evaluate your credits and give you a course equivalency report. Exemption: A course requirement which is fulfilled by passing an exam in the subject.
Extracurricular Activities:
Also known as cocurricular. Activities, clubs, or organizations students may participate in above and beyond their academic courses.
Faculty: The teachers, professors, and instructors who teach at schools.
FAFSA: See Free Application For Federal Student Aid.
FAQ: Acronym for “Frequently Asked Questions”
Federal Pell Grant:
A college federal financial aid grant program. Students apply by filling out the FAFSA.
Federal Perkins Student Loan: A low interest loan for students who show financial need. It must be repaid after graduation. Students apply by filling out the FAFSA.
Federal PLUS (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) and/or Federal Direct PLUS:
Financial aid processed through a bank, other lending agency, or college or university to help pay for college. These loans must be repaid with interest and are not deferred.
Federal Stafford Loan and Direct Ford Loan:
Student financial aid processed through a bank and/or a college. A student must be enrolled in a college degree program at least part time to receive a Stafford Loan. Loans must be paid back with interest after a student leaves school. This was formerly college Guaranteed Student Loan; it requires a completed FAFSA.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG):
Federal grant for students with exceptional need. Apply by filling out a FAFSA. Federal Unsubsidized Stafford/Direct Unsubsidized Ford Loan: Similar to a Federal Stafford Loan, except interest is paid by the student during college.
Fee: Money charged by a college for services provided to a student. Fees are often charged for lab materials and recreational facilities.
Final Exams:
Tests of exercises given at the end of a term that are often comprehensive; that is, they may include all material covered during the semester. The schedule of final exam dates and times for each term is included in the Schedule of Classes.
Finals Week: Time at the end of the semester when classes do not meet and finals tests are given.
Financial Aid:
Federal, state, college, and private programs help students pay for college costs. Financial aid can be in the form of grants, loans, or college work-study programs. Grants are often described as “free money” and are awarded to you by the state and federal governments based on criteria you must meet.
Financial Aid Counselor:
A college staff member who helps students and parents fill out financial aid forms and processes financial aid money.
Fiscal/Business: Office Also known as the Cashier’s Office or Business Affairs Office. Students may pay tuition and fees, course fees, and other encumbrances owed the college at this Office.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
The required application for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Students must file their application between January 1 and March 1 of the year the student plans to attend college. Full-time Student: 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 can vary from college to college.
General Education Requirements:
Many colleges require students to take a variety of classes in different academic areas. For example, they may require a certain number of courses in science, foreign language, and math.
General Educational Development Test (GED Tests):
Tests which measure the knowledge and skills usually learned in high school. A person who passes the GED test has the equivalent of a high school diploma.
Gift Aid: Financial aid which is not repaid, such as grants and scholarships.
Grade Point:
The numerical value of grade multiplied by the credit hours for a course (A=4 points; B=3 points; C=2 points; D=1 point). If, for example, a student earn and A in English 101 (3 credit hours), then the student earns 12 points: A=4 points x 3 (credit hours)= 12 points.
Grade Point Average:
Generally called GPA, grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted. For example, 45 grade points divided by 15 credit hours earned = 3.0 GPA. Graduate: A person who receives a certificate, degree, or diploma from a school.
Graduate Student: A student who has received a bachelor’s degree and is working on an advanced degree such as a master’s or doctoral degree. Grant: Financial aid based on student need; it is not repaid. Grants are often described as “free money" and are awarded to you by the state and federal governments based on criteria you must meet.
GRE: Graduate Record Examination Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL): See Federal Stafford Loan.
Hours:
Hours, credit hours and credits are terms used interchangeably. Housing: Living arrangements for students at colleges or private secondary schools.
Humanities: The branches of learning concerned with human thought and relations, especially literature, philosophy, fine arts, and history.
Identification Card:
(ID) Card issued to identify a student. ID’s are often required for borrowing library books or for admission into school-sponsored activities. Incomplete: A student doing satisfactory work, but forced by illness or other emergency to miss the final exam or a major assignment, arranges with the instructor to receive an incomplete (I). The student will contract with the instructor to complete the work, and to have the “I” changed to the appropriate grade. Arrangements should be made before the semester ends.
Independent College:
A college or other school which is not supported by a state. Some independent colleges have a religious affiliation or are single sex schools.
Independent Study:
Studying a subject for credit but not in an organized class. Examples are correspondence courses, video or computer instruction, and student-instructor meetings. See Correspondence Course.
Individualized Major:
See Student-designed Major. Informational Interview: An interview to find out about a job or career, such as the training needed for it and the responsibilities of it. Institution: An established organization; in the education field, it is a school, college, or university. Instructor: Teacher faculty member.
Intercollegiate:
Any competition or activity taking place between different colleges. Interdisciplinary: Programs or courses using knowledge from two or more academic areas. Interest Inventory: An exercise or set of exercises used to identify possible areas of career fit.
Internship:
Class credit given to students who work at jobs on or off campus. The jobs give them practical experience in their major. Intramural Sports: Athletic activities between a school’s students. ISEEK: Acronym for “Internet System for Education and Employment Knowledge.” ISEEK is an external site that facilitates career exploration and employment searches within Minnesota by offering resources in several categories.
Liberal Arts: A school or course of study which focuses on developing students’ general knowledge and reasoning ability instead of a specific career; the result is often considered to be a well-rounded, general education in the arts and sciences. Load: Also called academic load. The total number of credit hours taken in a term. Twelve credit hours is considered a full-time load. Loan: Financial aid that must be repaid with interest after a student leaves school.
Lower Division:
Normally freshman- and sophomore-level courses offered by a college. Community colleges offer ONLY lower division courses. Four-year institutions offer lower division courses and upper division courses, which are junior-level and senior-level courses.
Major:
Subject areas such as anthropology, economics, or geology in which students take many classes; an area of interest in which students earn a 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.
Mentor: A mature person who gives advice and help.
Minor: An area of interest studied at the same time as a major. It is rarely in the same department as a major and requires fewer classes than a major.
National Achievement Scholarship:
Program for Outstanding Negro Students A scholarship program for African-Americans only, similar to the National Merit Scholarships and based on junior year PSAT scores.
National Direct Student Loan (NDSL): See Federal Perkins Student Loan.
National Merit Scholarships:
These competitive scholarships are limited in number and are offered by corporations and colleges. Winners are determined by PSAT scores and other criteria. National PONSI New York Regents National Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction.
Need Analysis Form:
A form, filled out by the student and/or family members, used to determine the amount of financial aid the student can receive. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a need analysis form. See FAFSA.
NMSQT:
See National Merit Scholarships, Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
Non-Traditional Student:
A student older than the typical college age of about 18-25 years. Entering an occupation that has been traditionally an occupation of the opposite gender of the student.
Nontransferable Degree:
A degree, usually an associate’s degree, that cannot be counted as credit toward more education, like a bachelor’s degree, at the same time or a different college. See Transferable Degree.
Occupational Outlook: A prediction of the number of job openings there will be at a certain time for specific jobs.
Occupational Training: Education and training to prepare the student for a particular occupation.
Office Hours:
In education, hours set aside by an instructor to meet with students. Official Transcript: An official transcript is the only document receiving institutions will accept to determine transfer courses. See Transcript.
Ombudsperson:
In education, a person who acts on behalf of students and others in the school community who have difficulties with the school. On-the-job Training: Training provided for employees while they are learning a job; employee creates a product or provides a service, while being trained.
Open Admission Policy (Open Door Policy):
Admission policy where anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent can take classes. Orientation: Programs to help new students and parents get to know a school. Orientation usually takes place before or at the beginning of the school year. Part-time Student: A student enrolled in a number of course credits or hours which are less than full time. Usually, this is less than twelve credits or hours a semester.
Pass/Fail:
An option for class registration in which students choose to receive a grade of Pass or Fail in lieu of a letter grade (A, B, C, D). Students can earn credits toward graduation by passing these courses but the grades will not count in their GPAs. It is best to check with an advisor to make sure that Pass/Fail grades will transfer to another college or university.
PEP: Proficiency Examination Program
Period:
Time spent in class and/or lab each week. For example, one period is equivalent to 55 minutes per week for a one-credit courses that meets during a 15-week semester. Placement Test: See Assessment.
Portfolio:
A file of materials created by a student which displays and explains skills, talents, experiences, and knowledge gained throughout life. Postsecondary Education: Education after high school at a public, private, vocational, technical, proprietary, trade, or business college or university.
Postsecondary Enrollment Option:
A program allowing high school juniors and seniors to take courses, either full-time or part-time, at a postsecondary institution for high school credit. Students do not pay for tuition, fees, or required textbooks. Abbreviated as PSEO.
Prerequisite:
Beginning class that prepares students for a more difficult class. Private Institution: In education, an educational organization that a private individual, company, or agency owns and operates. Neither public funds nor public officials operate a private institution.
Probation: A warning that a student is not in good academic standing. May be accompanied by restricted credit hour enrollment.
Professor:
A teacher at a college. Profile Application: A supplemental application required by some schools for school-based financial aid. This form must be completed and mailed to the College Scholarship Service. The deadline is the same as for the FAFSA, although some colleges require it earlier.
Program:
Set of required courses for a degree in a major area of study. See Curriculum. Proprietary Schools: Colleges that are run as profit-making institutions. These colleges provide students with practical training in specific fields.
Prospectus: A booklet of general information about a college or program.
PSAT: See Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
Public College: College or other school supported by the state; the state pays part of the schools operation costs.
Quad:
Group of residence halls or academic building, usually four in number. Quarter: A calendar used by some colleges. The quarter school year is broken down into four distinct periods, each lasting 10 to 12 weeks.
RCE: Regents College Examinations Receiving Institution:
Institution that you are transferring to. Registrar Person: in a school who manages class schedules and academic records. Registration Actual enrollment of a student into specific courses after student has been admitted to the college.
Remedial Course:
A course that teaches skills that are needed to succeed in college courses. Many students learn these skills in high school. These skills are in the areas of math, writing, reading, etc.
Required Course: A course that a student must complete to meet certain goals or to complete a certain curriculum.
Requirements: A set of conditions that must be met in order to do something, such as be accepted to a college, complete a degree, etc.
Residence Hall (Dormitory):
A campus building where students live. Food service, social and educational activities are provided. Some schools require students to live in residence halls for a certain amount of time.
Residency Requirements: Most colleges require that students spend a certain amount of time on campus taking classes or living on campus. This term can also mean the minimum amount of time a student must live in the state to pay instate tuition, which is lower than the fee paid by out-of-state students.
Resident Assistant (RA):
A trained student who lives in a dormitory to coordinate programs and activities. RAs may also help students with problems in the dorm or counsel students about campus difficulties.
Room and Board: The cost of living in residence halls or other campus housing (room) and receiving meals from the housing food service (board).
SAT I: See Scholastic Assessment Test. SAT II:
Subject Tests See Subject Area Test. Satisfactory Academic Progress: Completion of courses according to school standard. Satisfactory academic progress must be shown to receive financial and continue in the school.
Schedule of Classes:
A college publication that lists all courses offered during a semester, including dates and times of class meetings, names of instructors, buildings and rooms, credit hours, and other important registration information.
Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded for academic and other achievements (music, athletics, etc.). Scholarships do not have to be paid back.
Scholastic Assessment Test I (SAT I):
A standardized admission test published by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). See Standardized Admission Tests.
School-to-Work:
An effort to connect education and the work world. Section Number: A four-digit code used to identify each class section of each course listed. Each class has a different section number. Section numbers are listed in the Schedule of Classes.
Self-paced Courses:
Essentially self-study courses that permit students to set flexible schedules. Self-paced courses are recommended for students who are self-motivated, are strong readers, have good problem solving skills, can manage time well, and set their own deadlines.
Semester: Calendar system used by some schools. Classes and grade reports are divided into two periods, each lasting about 16 weeks.
Sending Institution: Institution that you are transferring from
Service Learning:
Combines community service with classroom instruction, focusing on critical thinking, value clarification and social responsibility. The key components of Service Learning are linkage to course competencies or objectives, a relevant experience and a meaningful contribution to the community.
Standardized Admissions Tests (SAT I, ACT, etc.):
These tests are designed to measure verbal and mathematical knowledge or skills and are used to predict achievement in college. The test score may be considered along with other factors for admission to the college.
Student Activities: See Extracurricular Activities.
Student Body: All students who attend a particular school. Student Center or
Student Union:
A building on campus designed for a variety of uses by students. A bookstore, dining facilities, administrative offices, game rooms, etc. may be located here.
Student-designed Major:
At some schools, students can plan an individualized major. Such programs must be approved by appropriate school administrators.
Subject Area Tests:
Standardized tests given by the American College Testing Program or College Board in specific high school subjects, such as biology, a foreign language, etc. Colleges look at these tests scores when making decisions about course placement or admission to a specific program. Many programs do not require these tests.
Subject Codes:
See Course Prefix and Course Number. Support Services: Services provided by most colleges to help students in areas such as academics, veterans affairs, adult, and special-needs.
Suspension:
Because of poor academic performance, the student is not allowed to enroll in classes for a specified number of semesters, usually one academic year.
Syllabus:
One or more pages of course requirements that instructors give to students on the first day of class. The syllabus may include detailed information about a course, such as an instructor’s grading system, attendance policies, and testing and assignment dates. Tech Prep Courses: Classes in which material to be learned in an active or applied manner.
Technical College:
Colleges that offer programs (usually two years or less for full-time students) that prepare students for immediate employment, or for transfer to college or university offering bachelor’s degrees. The emphasis at these colleges is usually on hands-on training in a specific career area.
Technical Education Guarantee:
NDSCS provides a guarantee that graduates of State Board approved A.A.S. degrees or diploma programs judged by their employers as lacking technical job skills will be provided up to 12 credits of tuition free instruction.
Tenure: Guaranteed employment status given to teachers and professors after successful completion of certain requirements within a certain time period.
Total Withdrawal:
A student who wishes to withdraw from all his or her courses. Most schools have deadlines to withdraw before the end of the semester. Trade: An occupation requiring skilled labor, such as an electrician or tool and die maker.
Transcript:
An official record of a student’s college coursework that is maintained by the college registrar. Courses taken, grades, GPA, and graduation information are included on a transcript. Official transcripts are requested by the student from originating institution.
Transfer Credit: Course credit that is accepted from or by another college or university to meet requirements in a major or as general education.
Transfer Guarantee:
Some institutions offer transfer guarantees that state if you plan with a counselor/advisor to take courses to transfer to a specific program at a specific college, the courses will transfer. If they do not transfer, the institution will compensate the student with a free class or tuition refund. See college web sites and catalogs to check if your college has a transfer guarantee.
Transfer Program:
College program that prepares students to complete the degree at another school. Often two-year colleges have transfer programs to prepare students for four-year colleges. These programs usually award associate’s degrees.
Transfer Student:
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.
Transferable Degree:
A degree, usually an associate’s degree, that can be counted as credit toward more education, like a bachelor’s degree, at the same or a different college. See Nontransferable Degree, Transfer Program.
Tuition:
The cost of classes or credits at a school. Tutor: Tutors are experienced adults or students who help others study a specific subject. Some schools provide free tutors. At others, students must pay. Undergraduate: Student working on a bachelor’s degree.
University: A postsecondary institution which has several colleges or schools, grants graduate degrees, and may have research facilities.
Upperclassperson: Student who is a junior or senior but not yet received an undergraduate degree.
Vocational College: See Technical College, Proprietary School.
Withdrawal:
Officially dropping any or all courses during a semester. Students withdrawing from one or more courses must notify the College in writing and request that they be officially withdrawn. Refunds are based on the refund schedule set forth in the catalog. At most institutions, after a specified date, students must have the instructor’s approval before withdrawing from a course.
Work Study:
A program created in 1964. The federal government and the college provide funds for part-time employment on campus. Part- or full- time students in need of financial assistance may apply in the Financial Aid Office.
