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Accreditation |
Definition
The recognition that an institution maintains standards requisite for its graduates to gain admission to other reputable institutions or to achieve credentials for professional practice.
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Adjunct Faculty |
Definition
Non-tenure track instructors who may have full-time professional responsibilities outside of teaching.
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Admission Rate |
Definition
The percentage of applicants who are offered admission to a university or college.
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Carnegie Classification |
Definition
A framework for classifying colleges and universities in the United States based on their missions and research activity.
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Census |
Definition
A date set by the university on which it takes a “snapshot” of all student enrollment, which becomes the official enrollment used for state and federal reporting. A census is taken each term (fall, spring, and summer).
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CIP Code |
Definition
The Classification of Instructional Programs code used to classify academic programs.
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Cohort |
Definition
A specific group of students established for tracking purposes (typically those who start at the same time such as first-time first-year undergraduate students).
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Common Data Set (CDS) |
Definition
A collaborative effort to improve the quality and accuracy of information provided to students transitioning into higher education.
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Completions |
Definition
The number of students who have completed their degree or certificate programs.
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Continuing Student |
Definition
A student who is enrolled in consecutive terms at an institution.
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Cost of Attendance (COA) |
Definition
The total amount it will cost a student to go to school, usually expressed as a yearly figure.
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Credit Hour |
Definition
A unit representing an hour of instruction over a specified period of time, typically a semester.
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Cumulative GPA |
Definition
The overall average of a student's grades for all courses taken at an institution.
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Deferred Admission |
Definition
Permission granted to delay enrollment, usually for a year, after acceptance to a college or university.
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Distance Education |
Definition
Education that uses one or more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor.
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Enrollment |
Definition
The process of registering or entering a student into a course or institution.
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Enrollment Status |
Definition
A classification of students as full-time or part-time based on credit hours enrolled.
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FAFSA |
Definition
Free Application for Federal Student Aid; a form used to determine eligibility for financial aid.
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Faculty |
Definition
The academic staff of a university or college, including professors, lecturers, and researchers.
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Faculty Rank |
Definition
The title or level of an academic staff member, such as professor, associate professor, or assistant professor.
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Federal Pell Grant |
Definition
A subsidy provided by the U.S. federal government to help students pay for college, based on financial need.
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FERPA |
Definition
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.
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First-Generation Student |
Definition
A student whose parents did not complete a four-year college degree.
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Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Students |
Definition
A metric used to represent student enrollment in a standardized manner, combining both full-time and part-time students into a single value.
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Full-Time Student |
Definition
A student enrolled in a minimum number of credit hours or courses, as defined by the institution.
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Graduation Rate |
Definition
The percentage of a cohort of students who complete their program within a specified time frame.
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Institutional Aid |
Definition
Financial aid provided by the institution, which can be need-based or merit-based.
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IPEDS |
Definition
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System; a system of interrelated surveys conducted annually by the U.S. Department of Education.
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Leave of Absence |
Definition
A temporary break from study granted by the institution.
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Major |
Definition
A student’s primary field of study or specialization in their undergraduate or graduate program.
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Matriculation |
Definition
The process of enrolling and being admitted to an institution as a degree-seeking student.
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Net Price |
Definition
The actual cost to attend an institution, calculated by subtracting grants, scholarships, and other financial aid from the cost of attendance.
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Non-Degree Seeking Student |
Definition
A student enrolled in courses for credit who does not intend to complete a formal degree or certificate.
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Part-Time Student |
Definition
A student enrolled in fewer credits than the institution's full-time requirement.
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Post-Baccalaureate |
Definition
Courses or programs designed for individuals who have already completed a bachelor's degree.
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Retention Rate |
Definition
The percentage of students who continue their studies at an institution from one year to the next.
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SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) |
Definition
The recognized regional accrediting body for degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states.
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Tenure |
Definition
A status granted to faculty members after a probationary period, providing job security and academic freedom.
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Title IV Institution |
Definition
Institutions eligible to participate in federal student financial aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
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Transfer Student |
Definition
A student who has previously attended another postsecondary institution and is applying to a new institution.
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Tuition |
Definition
The fee charged for instructional services at a college or university.
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Unduplicated Headcount |
Definition
The total number of unique individuals enrolled during a specific period, with each student counted only once.
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