College Survival Vocabulary
Words in italics also appear elsewhere in the list.
- academic concentration
- Specialization in one academic discipline or field of study is called "academic concentration"
at BCC; also see "major."
- academic year
- Usually this refers to the September-June school year.
In some cases it refers to the entire year.
- accreditation
- Certification that a school or an instructional program meets standards set by an outside reviewing
organization. Many forms of financial aid are
available only to students attending accredited institutions.
- admission
- Approval for a student to attend an educational
institution. The admission process usually involves an application form and may require transcripts or other supporting documents.
- advisor
- A member of the college faculty or staff who assists students with planning quarter or semester schedules as well as their overall programs of study. Advisors may also help with career planning. See also counselor.
- application
- The first step in requesting admission to an institution of higher education. Usually there
is a form to fill out by a certain deadline; sometimes there is an application
fee to pay.
- articulation
- A formal agreement between high schools and colleges
or between community/technical colleges and baccalaureate institutions, designed to make it easy for students
to move from one educational level to the next without any gaps or repetition
in their coursework.
- assessment
- A method of determining a student's knowledge or skill
level, such as an exam, often taken to find his or her best placement or starting level in a series of courses in English,
foreign languages, math, or science.
- At BCC, assessment also refers to determining skills
and abilities as learning outcomes in the college's general education program.
- associate's degree
- A diploma earned after
successfully completing a required program of
study in a community or technical college. It typically requires 90 or more credits and takes two years of full-time study. Some
associate's degrees enable students to transfer to baccalaureate colleges and universities, others prepare students to
go right into the workforce in a professional/technical field.
- audit
- A student who audits a course formally registers and
pays for it and attends class sessions but earns no credit and has no obligation to complete homework projects
or take tests.
- baccalaureate or
bachelor's degree
- A college degree which can often be earned by following a four-year instructional program. A baccalaureate institution, sometimes informally
called a "four-year college," is a college or university which is entitled to
grant a baccalaureate or bachelor's degree.
- basic skills
- Usually refers to a level of competency-specifically in reading, writing, and
mathematics-which is required for successful college-level work in all fields of study.
- blue permission card
- Required for enrollment between the end of open
enrollment and the official count day (typically fourth and tenth instructional
days of quarter). Must be obtained from instructor.
- campus
- The land and buildings that a college or university
uses for instruction or student services.
- catalog
- A comprehensive resource listing college regulations, program and course descriptions, degree and graduation requirements, transfer requirements, and other essential information.
- certificate
- A document granted by a college or university
indicating that a student has successfully completed specified courses and requirements (compare with degree, which usually requires more time and coursework).
- class
- (1) A specific group of students meeting for specific
instructional purposes. It can mean the whole series of scheduled meetings
("Dr. Owen is teaching two English Composition classes this quarter") or just
one session ("we had a guest speaker in my Home Economics class today").
- (2) Often means the same as course ("she's taking classes in Interior Design").
- (3) A group of students who start at a school together
and expect to complete their studies at the same time ("he's in the graduating
class of 2003").
- class schedule
- (1) A publication listing detailed course and section information (days, times, room numbers, etc.) for a specific semester or quarter.
- (2) The specific courses that an individual student is
taking or plans to take for a given semester or quarter.
- college-level study
- Curricula and instruction that assume the student has already
mastered certain skills and abilities and has the level of commitment needed
for postsecondary school work. Compare to developmental-level study.
- At BCC, college-level courses
are numbered 100 or above.
- commencement
- The ceremony at the end of an academic year when students receive their degrees or diplomas
(compare to graduation).
- competency
- In "competency-based" courses or instructional programs, students must demonstrate certain skills and abilities (instead of
just earning passing
grades in classes) before moving from
one level to the next or earning the final certificate or degree.
- counselor
- A member of the college faculty who has special training in guidance and who assists
students in academic or personal matters. See also advisor.
- course
- (1) Often means the same as class.
- (2) A planned sequence of instruction in a particular
topic; may include class meetings, lectures, readings, demonstrations, exercises,
assignments, examinations, etc.
- credit
- A unit of measure for college work. Generally
speaking, one credit hour represents one hour of classroom attendance each week
for one quarter.
- credit load
- The total credit value of the courses in which a student is currently enrolled.
- curriculum
- (plural: curricula)
- (1) An established sequence of information to be
learned, skills to be acquired, etc. in a specific course or in a complete instructional program.
- (2) Collectively, all the courses offered by a department, division, or college.
- dean
- An academic administrator or official at a school,
college, or university, especially one with responsibility for students or faculty.
- degree
- A rank conferred by a college or university and earned
by a student who has successfully completed specified courses and requirements (compare with certificate, which usually requires less time and coursework).
- department
- An organizational unit within a college or university,
offering courses dealing with a particular field of
knowledge; for example, the English department.
- developmental-level study
- Instruction that helps students improve their English
and math abilities and prepare for college-level study.
- At BCC, developmental-level courses are numbered 99 or below.
- diploma
- An official document issued by a college or university
indicating that a student has earned a certain degree or certificate.
- discipline
- (1) A subject relating to a specific field of academic
study.
- (2) Correction or punishment for disorderly behavior
on campus.
- distance learning or distance
education
- Instruction which is not time-or-place specific; can
include correspondence courses, televised or videotaped lectures, online
courses (internet and e-mail), etc.
- distribution requirements
- Course requirements included
in an instructional program to make sure that the student is well-rounded and
gains some perspective outside his or her specific focus or major.
- division
- An organizational unit within a college or university
consisting of two or more related departments.
- drop
- To cancel registration in a course after enrolling into it. Students often add and drop
courses before settling on a class schedule for a particular quarter or semester. See also withdrawal.
- elective
- A course that is not
required for a particular instructional program.
Many programs require a certain number of elective credits.
- ESL
(English as a Second Language)
- Usually refers to developmental-level instruction in English language skills for non-native
English speakers.
- enrollment
- (1) The process of signing up and paying for courses. See also registration.
- (2) The total number of registered students attending classes in a particular instructional program or the whole school.
- evaluation
- (1) The process and standards by which an instructor
judges a student's work and assigns a grade.
- (2) At BCC, the process of determining that a student
has met all requirements to complete a degree or certificate and is ready to graduate.
- faculty
- The instructors or teaching staff at a school. At BCC,
librarians and counselors are considered faculty members along with classroom
instructors.
- FERPA (Federal Education
Right to Privacy Act)
- Enacted by the federal government, FERPA protects
students' privacy and confidentiality by placing certain restrictions on the
disclosure of educational records and information.
- final exam
- Final exams are held the last week of each quarter for
credit students. The final examination shall make up no more than 33% of your
grade.
- finals week
- The last week in the academic quarter in which final
exams are given. Normal class schedules often vary during finals week. Exam
schedules are printed in the credit class schedule every quarter and also
posted on the website (for example, www.bellevuecollege.edu/classes/exams/) for student
convenience.
- financial aid
- Money available from various sources to help students
pay college expenses. These funds come as loans, grants, or scholarships from the state or federal government or other organizations. Work-study is also a form of financial aid.
- FYE (First Year
Experience)
- A new-student orientation designed to welcome students
to BCC and give them information on how to succeed in college.
- FAFSA (Free Application
for Federal Student Aid)
- The application required for students to be considered
for federal student financial
aid. The FAFSA is processed free of
charge and is used by most state agencies and colleges. There is an electronic
form for each academic year. FAFSA forms are available on the website www.fafsa.ed.gov.
- freshman
- A student who has so far earned less than 45 quarter credits or 30 semester credits
toward a baccalaureate degree program is referred
to as a freshman.
- GED (General Education
Development)
- A certificate representing the equivalent of a
high-school diploma. BCC administers the GED exam.
- general education
- At BCC, a set of course requirements designed to help each graduating
student achieve competence in a variety of learning
outcome areas.
- grade
- A formal indicator of a student's overall performance
in a course, recorded on the official transcript.
- grade-point average (GPA)
- The GPA is computed by multiplying the number value of
the grade earned in each course (generally,
A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) times the number credits for each course, then dividing the result by the total number of
credits taken.
- graduation
- The formal completion of an instructional program or course of study. Students graduate after
successfully meeting all credit and course requirements and other criteria set by the college or university
(compare to commencement).
- grant
- A type of financial aid that generally does not have to be paid back after the student leaves school.
Grants are available through the federal government, state agencies, and
educational institutions.
- incomplete
- A temporary grade given to a student who is doing satisfactory work but is forced by illness or
other emergency to miss an exam or a major assignment. The instructor and
student arrange how and when the student will complete the work and have the
"I" changed to a final letter grade. At BCC, the student must finish the
incomplete work within one academic quarter.
- independent study
- An arrangement that allows a student to earn college credit through individual study and research, usually
planned with and supervised by a faculty member.
- internship
- A supervised short-term apprenticeship or temporary
job in a real-world setting closely related to a student's field of study. The
student may or may not be paid but earns college credit for the work experience. See also practicum.
- junior
- A student who has so far earned 90-135 quarter credits or 60-90 semester credits toward a baccalaureate degree program is referred
to as a junior.
- learning outcomes
- What students are expected to know and to be able to
do as a result of their experience at the college and, more specifically, as a
result of completing their general education requirements.
- loans
- A type of financial aid that must be repaid to the government agency or other lending organization when
the student leaves school.
- lower division
- The courses students are generally expected to complete during the freshman and sophomore years
of a typical baccalaureate
degree program.
- major
- Specialization in one academic discipline or field of study. At BCC, this is called "academic concentration" in a particular subject.
-
- matriculation
- A combination of assessment of reading,
writing, and mathematic skills; orientation to college programs and
services; academic advising; and the programs and services which enable a
student to reach his or her educational goals. Contrasted to a student who
occasionally takes courses without a cohesive goal.
- no-show
- A student who registers into a course but neither goes to class nor officially withdraws. At BCC a no-show student will receive an "F" for the
class on his or her transcript.
- noncredit
- Courses or instructional programs which do not require extensive homework or examinations and which do
not offer college credit. Students frequently take noncredit courses for basic skills improvement, job training or
career enhancement, or personal enrichment.
- open admissions
- The policy of some colleges to admit nearly all
applicants, regardless of high school grades and
admission test scores. It means different things at different schools.
Community and technical colleges in Washington State admit anyone who is over
18 or has a high school diploma or GED.
- orientation
- (see FYE)
- pass/passing
- At most schools, a student will earn credit and "pass" a class with
a grade of "A" through "D." A student who earns an "F" grade
fails the class and earns no credit. Different schools have different
standards, so a student who passes a class with a "D" may or may not be able to
use that class to meet prerequisites or
fulfill requirements.
- placement
- The appropriate level to enter a series of courses, based on the student's skills; often used in the
context of basic
skills subjects such as mathematics
or English composition. See also assessment.
- postsecondary
- Refers to all educational programs for students past high-school age; it includes
community and technical colleges and job training programs as well as baccalaureate colleges and universities.
- practicum
- A course that includes
job-related activities and stresses the practical application of theory in a
field of study. See also internship.
- prerequisite
- A course that must be
completed (often with a certain minimum grade) or
a skill that must be demonstrated before a student can enroll in a more
advanced course (for example, first-year French is a prerequisite for
second-year French).
- professional/technical
- A course or
instructional program that emphasizes job skills training for a particular
field of work; often called "occupational" or "vocational" education and often
contrasted with "academic" or "transfer" education.
- program
- A very general term used in many ways in a college or
university:
- (1) The courses that an individual student plans to take.
- (2) The courses required to complete a particular degree or certificate.
- (3) The courses that make up a department or the departments that make up a division within the college organization.
- (4) Organized activities with a specific function.
- quarter
- Some schools (including BCC) organize the academic year into three time main periods-Fall, Winter, and Spring
Quarters-plus a shorter Summer Quarter (compare to semester).
- records
- Refers to all the information the college might keep
regarding a student; it includes registration activity (enrollment,
withdrawal, etc.), grades, payments, awards received, financial aid applications and award notices, and notes on disciplinary actions, as well as address, phone number, and
student identification number.
- red permission card
- Required for enrollment
after the official count day. Must be obtained from instructor with additional
signed permission from the appropriate Organizational Unit Administrator, and
requires payment of late fee and full tuition at time of registration.
- refund
- Tuition and fees that are paid back to a student who has withdrawn from a course. At BCC, the amount to be refunded
depends on how many credits the student is taking and exactly when the student
dropped the course(s). The refund policy and deadlines are published in each
Credit Class Schedule.
- register/registration
- To sign up or enroll in
a course or courses. "Registration activity" includes
enrolling, dropping/withdrawing, choosing "pass/fail" in place of letter grades, making
payments, etc.
- requirements
- Minimum standards defined by the college mandatory for
admission, program entry, or graduation. See also prerequisite;
distribution requirements; general education.
- resident
- For purposes of calculating a student's tuition and fees, someone who has lived in the state for a specified
length of time as shown by specified types of evidence.
- scholarship
- (1) A type of financial aid grant. Organizations may give scholarships according to
academic achievement, financial need, or any other basis. Usually there is a
competitive application process.
- (2) A person's ability and expertise in a particular discipline of study.
- section
- A specific class with
its own particular days, hours, location, and instructor. A number of sections
of a certain course may be offered during a quarter, each with different days, times, locations, and
instructors but presenting the same curriculum.
- semester
- Some schools organize the academic year into two main periods-fall and spring Semesters-plus
a shorter summer semester (compare to quarter).
- senior
- A student who has so far earned 135-180 quarter credits or 90-120 semester credits
toward a baccalaureate degree is referred to
as a senior.
- sophomore
- A student who has so far earned 45-90 quarter credits
or 30-60 semester credits toward a baccalaureate degree program is referred to as a sophomore.
- STEPP (Student Tuition
Easy Pre-payment Program)
- A financial management program for students to make
monthly payments beginning prior to the start of the quarter and continuing
through the quarter. The program is available for fall, winter, and spring
quarters. The first payment for fall quarter is due August first.
- syllabus
- An outline plan for a particular class, including textbook requirements, class meeting
dates, reading assignments, examination dates, and the instructor's grading
standards, etc.
- term
- A unit of time that can refer to either a quarter or a semester,
depending on which system the college or university follows.
- TOEFL (Test of English as
a Foreign Language)
- A standardized test which assesses the English
language abilities of students who are not native English-speakers.
- transcript
- An official record of
the courses and semester or quarter
credits a student has taken at a
college or university, the grades and degrees or certificates earned, and any awards and honors received.
- transfer
- To move from one college or university to another and
have the second institution recognize and accept some or all of the courses taken and credits earned at the first.
- tuition and fees
- Tuition is a student's basic payment towards the cost
of instruction at a college or university. Most institutions also charge fees for
laboratory equipment and materials, computer use, parking, and other
miscellaneous costs.
- undergraduate
- A student who has not yet earned a bachelor's degree; also refers to the courses and instructional programs such a
student enrolls in.
- upper division
- The courses students are generally expected to complete during the junior and senior years
of a typical
baccalaureate
degree program.
- wait list
- A registration tool allowing
students to put themselves electronically in the queue of a fully enrolled course.
Students will be added to the course as openings occur until the third day of
the quarter in the order that they appear on the list. Offers students a fair
and consistent method of enrolling in a full class should openings occur.
Students must remove themselves from the wait list if they decide not to pursue
the course.
- waiver
- An exception from a requirement, rule, or penalty. (To
waive a right or a claim is to voluntarily give it up.)
- (1) If a student meets specific criteria, the college
may waive some of his or her tuition and fees (that is, some of the money owed to the college will be forgiven).
- (2) If a student demonstrates certain knowledge and
abilities, the college may waive a course prerequisite (that is, allow the student to take the class even
though he or she hasn't completed the listed requirements for it).
- withdrawal
- The process of officially dropping a class or classes after
the quarter has started.
- work-study
- A type of financial
aid which pays
students to work part-time, often on campus, during the academic
year.