Glossary of Terms

Academic Year

The academic year starts with the fall semester and ends with the following summer semester. Academic years are named for the calendar years where they fall. (AY2021-2022 = Fall 2021, Spring 2022, and Summer 2022)

Age Groups

Age is calculated using IPEDS methodology. In the fall semester, age is calculated from October 15th, in spring semester, age is calculated from January 24th, and in summer semester, age is calculated from June 5th.

Adjunct Instructors

Non-tenure track instructional staff serving in a temporary or auxiliary capacity to teach specific courses on a course-by-course basis.

Degree Level

The level of degree/certificate conferred by the institution upon the student for the successful completion of a program. Degrees and Certificates are defined by Chancellor’s Procedure for Policy 712.01.

Associate in Arts (AA) Degree

An undergraduate award signifying successful completion of a prescribed course of study (60 to 64 semester credit hours) designed for students planning to transfer to a senior institution to pursue a baccalaureate degree in the liberal arts. Only colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) are authorized to award this degree.

Associate in Science (AS) Degree

An undergraduate award signifying successful completion of a prescribed course of study (60 to 64 semester credit hours) designed for students planning to transfer to a senior institution to pursue a baccalaureate degree in the sciences or a specialized professional field. Only colleges accredited by SACSCOC are authorized to award this degree.

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree

An undergraduate award signifying successful completion of a prescribed course of study (60 to 76 semester credit hours) that offers specialization in a technical, business, or semi-professional field qualifying the student for employment upon graduation while providing the possibility for transfer of some credit to a senior institution. Only colleges accredited by SACSCOC are authorized to award this degree.

Associate in Applied Technology (AAT) Degree

An undergraduate award signifying successful completion of a prescribed course of study (60 to 76 semester credit hours) that provides specialization in a technical, business, or semi-professional field qualifying the student for employment upon graduation. This degree is offered only by technical colleges accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and is not designed for students seeking to transfer credit to a senior institution.

Associate in Occupational Technology (AOT) Degree

An undergraduate award signifying successful completion of a prescribed course of study (60 to 76 semester credit hours) designed for students seeking to become multi-skilled technicians. Students must complete at least 28 semester hours in a primary technical specialty (the major) and at least 12 semester hours in a closely related secondary technical specialty (the minor). The AOT is not designed for transfer to a senior institution. All colleges are authorized to award this degree.

Certificate (CER)

An undergraduate award (less than a degree) signifying the successful completion of a prescribed course of study (30 to 60 semester hours) that provides the student with a specialized set of skills for employment or professional advancement. Certificates are not designed for transfer to a senior institution. All colleges are authorized to award certificates.

CTE Short-Term Certificate (STC)

An undergraduate award signifying the successful completion of a prescribed course of study (9 to 29 semester credit hours) equipping the student with a focused set of skills for an entry-level position in business and industry. CTE Short-term certificates are not designed for transfer to a senior institution. All colleges are authorized to award short-term certificates.

General Education Short-Term Certificate

An undergraduate award signifying completion of a prescribed course of study of 29 semester hours. This award is designed to assist students in developing an academic foundation to earn credit toward the associate of arts or associate of science degree. All colleges are authorized to award short-term certificates.

Degree-Seeking Students

Students enrolled in courses for credit who are seeking a degree, certificate, or other formal award. High school students are not considered degree seeking.

Financial Aid Year

Consists of the fall of one calendar year, and spring and summer of the succeeding calendar year.

First Generation

A student whose parents have not completed a college degree.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

A mechanism to measure academic enrollment activity consistently, given the differences between full and part-time students. Thirty credit hours equals one FTE student or one full-time student plus one-third part-time student equals one FTE student.

Graduation Rate

A federal IPEDS statistic that measures the percent of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students in a year (cohort) who complete their program within 150% of normal time to completion or who transfer to other institutions. Data are collected, and graduation rates are calculated by race/ethnicity and gender.

Headcount

Unduplicated count of enrolled students.

Instructional Methods

• HyFlex: HyFlex courses feature highly flexible course delivery models that offer students multiple options for receiving instruction and participating in course activities. These may include a mix of face-to-face, online, virtual, and/or videoconference. Available options may vary by course and by instructor and are subject to local college policy. Students should inquire about expectations for participation/attendance before registering for a hyflex course. Identity verification for students participating online may be required using the college’s approved verification process.
• Hybrid Online: Hybrid online courses require a combination of online and in-person activities, with more than 50% of the course content requiring online interaction. Some elements will have specified days, times, and locations when attendance is expected. Identity verification will be required using the college’s approved verification process.
• Hybrid Classroom: Hybrid classroom courses require a combination of online and in-person activities, with more than 50% of the course content requiring classroom interaction. Some elements will have specified days, times, and locations when attendance is expected. Identity verification will be required using the college’s approved verification process.
• Independent Study: Independent study courses involve individualized instruction to meet the academic requirements of the student’s program. Independent study courses must be approved by the appropriate instructional administrator in advance.
• Online: Online courses are delivered asynchronously. There are no required face-to-face sessions within the course and no requirements for on-campus activity. Faculty interact with students through assignments, discussion posts, email, office hours, and other electronic/virtual means. Identity verification will be required using the college’s approved verification process.
• Virtual: Virtual courses are delivered synchronously to extend lectures and course activities to students remotely in real time. Virtual courses are held online at specific days and times and require students to use online conferencing tools to participate in learning activities. There are no requirements for on-campus activity. Identity verification will be required using the college’s approved verification process.
• Traditional: Traditional courses are delivered in-person at an approved instructional location on specified days and times. Students are expected to attend all scheduled meetings in person.
• Videoconference: Videoconference courses meet at an approved instructional site equipped for remote video instruction. The instructor and students will interact via two-way video. Students are expected to attend class in the videoconference classroom on the days and times specified in the class schedule. Identity verification will be required using the college’s approved verification process.

Intensity

• Full-Time Student: A student enrolled in 12 or more semester credit hours.
• Part-time Student: A student enrolled in 11 or less semester credit hours.

Meeting Types

• Clinical: Experience-based instruction focused on real-world activities, generally in healthcare and service occupation programs, offered in a real-world environment, for the purpose of developing skills related to the discipline. A clinical practice laboratory is generally required in healthcare-related fields. Work is normally completed in the learning environment but may include out-of-class assignments. Clinical Practice is under the direct supervision of an instructor. Out-of-class assignments each week are used to prepare the student for the clinical experience. Ratio: 3:1 (one hour of credit for three hours of clinical practice instruction).
• Preceptorship: Advanced experience-based instruction, under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional, for the purpose of enhancing occupational competencies. The course instructor works with the healthcare professional to determine the clinical assignments for students. The instructor must be readily available for consultation with the healthcare professionals. Ratio: 3:1 or 5:1 (one hour of credit for three or five hours of preceptorship instruction). NOTE: programs of study for which accreditation and/or licensing bodies require a different ratio must comply with discipline-specific time-to-credit criteria.
• Experimental Lab: Instruction focused on experimentation in a classroom, laboratory, or studio through teacher-assisted, hands-on learning experiences. An experimental laboratory is generally required in conjunction with the theory of an academic course. Work is normally completed in the learning environment but may include out-of-class assignments such as practice and/or laboratory report writing. Experimental laboratory instruction is generally under the direct supervision of an instructor. Ratio: 2:1 (one hour of credit for two hours of experimental instruction) or 3:1 (one hour of credit for three hours of experimental instruction).
• Practical Lab: Practical Application Laboratory. Experience-based instruction focused on real-world activities, albeit in a simulated environment; for the purpose of developing occupational competencies related to the use of equipment, tools, machines, and other program-specific work products. A practical application laboratory is generally required in career and technical programs; requires limited out-of-class assignments per week; emphasis is in the use of equipment, tools, machines, etc. found within the lab environment. Practical application laboratory involves the development of manual skills and job proficiency and is under the direct supervision of an instructor. Ratio: 2:1 or 3:1, depending on the program. (One hour of credit for two or three hours of practical application instruction).
• Lecture: Instruction focused on principles, concepts, or ideas. Generally requires extensive out-of-class preparation prior to class each week as well as follow-up assignments. Theory instruction is the term which will be used to include lecture, recitation, discussion, demonstration, seminar, and other standard classroom instruction. Theory instruction is under the direct supervision of an instructor. Ratio: 1:1 (one hour of credit for one hour of theory instruction).
• Internship: Internship is the term used to include cooperative education, apprenticeships, practicums, and sponsored work instruction. Internship involves the development of job skills by providing the student with a structured employment situation that is directly related to, and coordinated with, the educational program. Student activity in internship is planned and coordinated jointly by an institutional representative and the employer, with the employer having the responsibility for control and supervision of the student on the job. Work is normally completed in the learning environment but may include other assignments. Ratio: 5:1 (one hour of credit for five hours of internship instruction). NOTE: programs of study for which accreditation and/or licensing bodies require a different ratio must comply with discipline-specific time-to-credit criteria.

Pell Eligible

A measurement of ability to pay for higher education; students who are least able to afford to pay for college are “Pell eligible.” A student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for a determination of eligibility. Thus, not all students are evaluated to determine whether they meet the Pell eligibility standard; however, Pell eligibility is the most common proxy for low income when assessing student outcomes by socioeconomic status.

Race/Ethnicity

• American Indian or Alaska Native: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community attachment.
• Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
• Hispanic/Latino: A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
• Two or More Races: An IPEDS reporting category that reflects if a student selects more than one race/ethnic category.
• U.S. Non-Resident Alien (International): A person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and who is in this country on a visa or temporary basis and does not have the right to remain indefinitely.
• White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East (except those of Hispanic origin).

Registration Status

The student’s status at the reporting institution.

Student Grants

Money awarded to students to assist in paying school costs. The student does not have to pay that money back.

Student Level

The designation for undergraduate student of freshman, and sophomore standing. These are determined by earned semester hours and not by the number of years a student has attended college.

Non-Degree Seeking

A student enrolled in courses for credit who is not pursuing a formal degree or award.

High School Student

A student who is enrolled in high school and college at the same time.

Freshman

A student who has earned fewer than 30 hours.

Sophomore

A student who has earned greater than 29 hours.

Student Type

• Continuing: A student who was enrolled previously at the institution at the current level, including readmitted students, but excluding students considered new transfers, high school students, or transient students.
• Dual Enrolled/High School Student: An enrichment opportunity allowing eligible high school students to earn high school and college credits for courses taken through an ACCS institution while still enrolled in high school.
• First-Time Freshman: Generally, a student attending undergraduate post-secondary education for the first time after high school, including students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term.
• Transfer-In: A student for whom this term is the student’s first term at the institution, and the student is known to have previously attended a different postsecondary institution.
• Work Study: Jobs for students to help them earn money to pay for college while in school that are either federally or state funded.