Glossary of Academic Terms

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• N
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• Q
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A

B

Bursar's Office
The university office where payments of tuition and fees are made. http://www.kent.edu/bursar

C

Career Services Center
The university office providing assistance with career employment, career counseling, student employment and academic testing. http://career.kent.edu/home

Catalog Year
A term identifying the catalog that contains the requirements defining a student’s degree program.  Initially, it is the Catalog in force during the student’s first semester at Kent State University. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/catalogrights.cfm

CLEP
College Level Examination Program -- A testing program administered by Academic Testing Services. The completion of these exams may result in college-level credit. http://career.kent.edu/home/testing

College
Academic organizational division of the university offering curricular programs leading to baccalaureate and advanced degrees.

Co-requisite
Course(s) requiring simultaneous enrollment in another course. Example: PHY 13001 is a co requisite for PHY 13021.

Course Load
Total number of semester credit hours for which a student is registered during any semester.  

Complete Term Withdrawal
Withdrawal from all courses is permitted through the published deadlines found at: http://www.kent.edu/registrar

Course Withdrawal
Process by which a student removes a course(s) from his/her schedule, subject to the deadlines published in the Schedule of Classes.  A mark of W will be recorded on the student’s transcripts if the withdrawal is after the second week of the fall and spring semesters. Refer to the schedule of classes for the summer deadlines. http://www.kent.edu/registrar

Credit-by-Examination
Credit earned in selected approved courses by taking a departmental examination to test knowledge already possessed without previous course enrollment. Contact Academic Testing Services. http://career.kent.edu/home/testing

Credit Hours
Units, acquired for completed coursework that are applied toward a degree.

D

Dean
The head of a division, faculty, college or school of a university.

Dean’s List
In recognition of academic excellence, a Dean's List is compiled each academic semester. To qualify, students must have a grade point average in the semester of 3.40 or greater and must have completed 12 or more regular letter-graded credit hours by the end of that semester. This notation will be printed on the students' official transcript.

Degree

• Associate Degree: Two-year degree of a technical or general nature offered only through the Regional Campuses.
• Baccalaureate Degree: Academic degree conferred by a university or college.
• Combined Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Programs: Programs of study available to students with outstanding undergraduate records or exemplary professional credentials.

Department
Academic unit within a college or school.

Dismissal
Students who fail to make adequate progress toward completion of a program of study or whose academic performance indicates little chance  of obtaining the minimum grades required for graduation is no longer allowed to enroll at the university. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/dismissalreinstatement.cfm

Diversity Course Requirement
Coursework required of all undergraduate students. Normally students must complete two courses from the list of approved diversity courses, including at least one from the diversity list within the Kent Core program.
http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/divreq.cfm

E

Elective
Classes pursued in addition to the collegial, departmental, major and liberal education degree requirements.

F

Financial Aid
Financial assistance for an eligible student; available in the form of grants, loans, scholarships and federal work-study employment. http://www.kent.edu/financialaid/

FLASHcard (Identification Card)
Identification card issued to all registered students. It is used for admittance to athletic, cultural and social events; borrowing of library materials; and purchasing goods and services on the Golden Flash debit plan or the Food Services board plan. http://www.kent.edu/flashcard/

FlashLine
FlashLine is the web-based portal (entryway) for Kent State students, faculty, staff and alumni. To log on to FlashLine, visit http://flashline.kent.edu. For help with FlashLine, contact the university Helpdesk at 330-672-HELP or visit the FlashLine information website. 

First-Year Experience Course
Program designed to familiarize new students with the university, their college and university policies and procedures. http://www.kent.edu/success/

Freshman
An undergraduate student who has earned fewer than 30 semester hours.

Full-Time Student
Any undergraduate student enrolled in the university who is carrying a course load of 12 or more hours per semester.

G

GPA (Grade Point Average)
Grade point average is determined by the number of hours attempted at Kent State University and the grades received.

Grant (Financial Aid)
A nonrepayable award to an eligible student based upon determined financial needs and program criteria.

I

Incomplete (IN grade)
An administrative mark that may be given to students who are unable to complete the last three weeks of a semester because of factors beyond their control. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/gradingpolicies.cfm

In Progress
A grade given to indicate that research, individual investigation or similar efforts are in progress and that a final grade will be given when all the work is completed. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/gradingpolicies.cfm

J

Junior
An undergraduate student who has earned between 60-89 semester hours.

K

Kent Academic Progress System (KAPS)
An automated degree audit system to monitor students’ progress toward completion of degree requirements.
http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/KAPS.cfm

Kent Core
The Kent Core is the foundation of the university's mission to prepare students to live in today's complex, global society. It broadens intellectual perspectives, fosters ethical and humanitarian values and prepares students for responsible citizenship and productive careers. Through this learning experience, students develop the intellectual flexibility they need to adapt to an ever-changing world. 

L

Late Registration
Process of initial class enrollment for a given term once the term has begun. A late registration fee is assessed beginning the second week of classes.

Liberal Education Requirements (LER)
In five areas to be completed during the first two years of study, the LER are designed to provide a common nucleus and an appropriate breadth of inquiry, understanding and perspective to the Kent State undergraduate education experience. It is essential, therefore, that students consult the Catalog descriptions for their college degree program.

Categories of LER consist of:

• Composition
• Mathematics and Critical thinking
• Humanities and Fine Arts
• Social Sciences
• Basic Sciences

http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/LERS.cfm

Lower Division
A student with freshman or sophomore standing; also may refer to a course whose number begins with 1 or a 2.

M

Major
A subject of focus for academic study in which a student pursues a prescribed curriculum and is a formal degree candidate.

Minor
Subject of focus for academic study in which a student pursues a prescribed curriculum and is a formal degree candidate. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/divreq.cfm

N

Noncredit
Courses or programs for which no academic credit is given.

O

Ombuds
Swedish term meaning “representative.” Person appointed by the university to assist students in resolving concerns, complaints and grievances through established channels. http://www.kent.edu/emsa/ombuds.cfm
 
Overload
Enrollment for classes hour in excess of 18 during fall or spring semester, in excess of 6 hours during Summer I or III, or 10 hours during Summer II. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/courseload.cfm

P

Part-Time Student
Any undergraduate student enrolled in the university who is carrying a course load of fewer than 12 hours per semester.

Pass-Fail
System by which undergraduate students can take elective courses for a grade of pass or fail in lieu of a letter grade. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/passfail.cfm

Prerequisite
Course(s) or condition(s) required before enrollment in a more advanced class. Example: Biology 10181 is a prerequisite for Biology 10182.

President’s List
In recognition of an extremely high level of academic excellence, a President's List is compiled each academic semester. To qualify, students must have a grade point average in the semester of 4.00 and must have completed 15 or more credit hours (all of which have regular grades) by the end of that semester. This notation will be printed on the students' official transcripts.

Probation (Academic)
A warning to students who fail to maintain a semester and/or overall grade point average of 2.00 or better. Failure to improve the academic record within a specific time may result in academic dismissal.
http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/CollegesPrograms/BU/Probation_Dismissal.cfm

Q

Quality Points
The number of points assigned per credit hour for each letter grade.

R

Registrar's Office
The university office that plans and oversees registration activities, record maintenance, transcript preparation.
http://www.registrars.kent.edu/home

Registration
Process of initial class enrollment for a given term. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/registration.cfm

Reinstatement
Process by which a student may gain reentry to the university after a dismissal. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/dismissalreinstatement.cfm

Repeat for Recalculation
Students may repeat lower-division (10000-20000 level) courses, and the university will use only the highest grade in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average. Lower-division course repeat with recalculation is subject to specified provisions found at: http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/repeatpolicies.cfm.

S

Schedule Adjustment
A change to a class schedule for a student who has already enrolled in at least one course for the term. Deadlines for schedule adjustments are published in the Schedule of Classes.

School
Term applied to academic units within a particular college or to a single academic unit offering curricular programs leading to a baccalaureate or advanced degree.

Sophomore
An undergraduate student who has earned 31-59 semester hours.

Senior
An undergraduate student who has earned 90+ semester hours.

T

Transcript
The accurate and complete record of a student’s academic coursework attempted at an institution, presented in either electronic format or paper format. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/records.cfm#transcripts

Transfer Student
Any student applying to Kent State University who has attended any institution of higher learning since leaving high school. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/Transfer.cfm

Transient Coursework
Coursework approved for Kent State University students who attended another accredited institution.

Transient Student
Any student enrolled in another college or university who will attend Kent State University for one term.
http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/Transfer.cfm

Tuition
A fee for instruction, especially at a formal institution of learning.

Tutor
Person providing special study skills and assistance in a particular subject or academic program.

U

Undergraduate
A term applied to freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors who are pursing a baccalaureate degree.

Upper Division
Upper-division courses are numbered 30000-49999 and expect both greater familiarity with the subject matter and greater intellectual sophistication. Students must complete the appropriate prerequisites in specified lower-division courses before entering upper-division courses. In general, baccalaureate degree programs require the successful completion of at least 39 upper-division semester hours of coursework.

W

Workshop
A credit or noncredit activity that focuses on a participant’s professional tasks. Instructional emphasis is given to mastery and applications of knowledge, skills and attitudes that address a narrowly defined range of problems or issues related to practice. All credit workshops are graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U).  

Writing-Intensive
Writing-Intensive Course Requirement
A graduation requirement for all undergraduate students requiring completion of at least one upper-division course designed as “writing–intensive” with a grade of C (2.0) or better. http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2009/Policies/wicreq.cfm