Glossary of Academic Terms

Appointed for all matriculated students by the Department chairperson for the curriculum in which they are enrolled. Advisors aid the student in choosing the courses required for their degree, and can assist should you encounter any academic problems.

A student is placed on probation when his/her grades fall below a certain minimum average. The minimum allowable index increases with the amount of credits that have been taken.

The rules every student must abide by in order to obtain a degree.

A status awarded by a professional body with an interest in maintaining standards for its members. For example, the Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Committee of Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)

Newly matriculated students are tested to determine placement in English, Reading and Math classes.

A formal agreement with a four-year college which guarantees that an associate degree graduate may transfer with junior status and without loss of credit. Students must meet the criteria set by the four-year institution.

Sitting in on a class for personal enrichment. A person auditing the course is given permission only to attend lecture periods (no labs), and receives no credit for the course. Tuition is charged for everyone auditing except senior citizens.

The office on campus responsible for accepting payment of tuition, financial aid checks, refunds, etc.

A course taken at the same time as another course. Co- requisites are listed in the course description.

The value assigned to a course usually based on the number of hours spent in the class. For a three credit hour course, students spend approximately three hours in the classroom each week.

The continuing measurement of success in all course work through one or more semesters. At OCC, it is based on a quality point index of 4.0.

A program of study.

Any student whose grade at the middle of the semester is a C- minus or below may receive a deficiency notice sent by the College.

Any student may drop a course no later than three weeks before the last class. (See Academic Rules, Section III.4 Withdrawal from Courses/College.)

Knowledge and skills gained from life experience for which credit may be awarded under certain circumstances.

A student who is enrolled for 12 or more credit ours during the fall or spring semester.

A monetary award given to a student to help pay college expenses. Grants are not repaid by the student.

An instructor may assign an Incomplete (a grade of I) if a student does not complete a major assignment or examination. Course requirements must be met by a method mutually agreed on by the instructor and the student by the end of the next semester or the "I" grade will automatically be changed to an "F".

Will result when a student on academic probation fails to achieve a satisfactory cumulative index at the next review, or a .50 cumulative is not achieved at the time of the first review.

A student who meets all admission requirements and is enrolled in a degree or certificate program is said to be matriculated.

A student who is enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters.

see Assessment Testing.

Permission of Instructor or Permission of Department.

A course or courses which must be taken before a student may take a different one. For example, students may not take English 235 without first having taken English 103 and 104.

When a student's grades fail to meet a minimum standard, he/ she has until the next grade review period to improve them to at least meet the minimum standard without suffering loss of matriculation.

A student who has lost matriculation due to poor academic performance must "earn" the matriculated status back by improving his/ her grades. Once those grades are improved to the minimum standard, the student is reinstated. Check the College's Academic Rules and the Office of Certification & Records for further information.

The office on campus responsible for accepting payment of tuition, financial aid checks, refunds, etc.

State University of New York.

A copy of a student's academic record which may be sent to other schools or employers at the student's request.