TERMS
(ALPHABETICALLY LISTED) A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
|
| Term |
Definition |
| A |
|
| Academic Advisor |
A counselor, a trained staff member from the Welcome/Advising
Center or a faculty member in the academic discipline
assigned to advising, who assists the student in selecting
classes, registration, and making referrals to assists
students in reaching their educational goals. |
| Add or Drop Courses |
At the beginning of every semester, there is a period
of time when students can add or drop classes. In this
way they can attempt to create a schedule that fits their
academic and personal needs. |
| C |
|
| Catalog |
This electronic catalog
is PAC’s contract with the student. It contains
course descriptions and details every major course of
study at the College. It also contains policies, procedures,
rules and regulations by which the college community is
governed. It can be accessed at www.alamo.edu/pac/catalog. |
| Core Curriculum |
Reflects a common experience in academic foundations
and provides a basis for transferability not only within
the Alamo Colleges but also among other
Texas colleges and universities. The 48-hour options of
core courses for the Associate of Arts and Associate of
Science degrees represent the eight core elements recommended
by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. See
the college catalog for core curriculum and course selection
listing. |
| Course Number |
Four numbers used for identifying courses when scheduling,
located at the beginning of the course selection ( i.e.,
MATH 1314 COLLEGE ALGEBRA).
First digit (level) 0 – non credit, 1 = Freshman,
2 = Sophomore. Second digit (credit hours) 1 = 1 credit
hour through 5 = 5 credit hours. Third & Fourth digits
specify the course title. |
| Credit hours |
A unit of academic measurement that is equivalent of
educational credit based on a given number of classroom
periods per week throughout a semester, ( i. e., 3 hours
of class per week equal 3 credit hours). |
| D |
|
| Diploma |
An official document signifying recognition of successful
completion of a Program of Study usually taking two years
to complete for Associate degree and one year for certificates
of completion. |
| E |
|
| Elective Courses |
A choice of courses that generally does not meet any
set of specific degree requirements. A student may choose
elective courses in the program of study that might include
professional preparation, internships, or courses of interest. |
| Full-time |
Full-time is considered 12 or more credit hours in the
fall and spring semesters and 6 or more credit hours in
the summer semester. |
| General Education Requirements |
Course requirements that are designed to provide the
foundation for a well-balanced education. General education
courses expose students to a broad range of core curriculum
course offerings encouraging an appreciation for the realms
of arts, humanities, and sciences. (See Core Curriculum) |
| Grade Point Average (GPA) |
The grades a student acquires in courses taken at PAC
and constitutes the numerical equivalent letter grade.
These numerical equivalents are known as quality points,
and are used to calculate the total grade point average
of all courses taken and completed at the College. Students
need a 2.0 accumulative grade point average overall in
their major in order to graduate. |
| I |
|
| Incomplete Grade |
Course work which may constitute passing quality, but
because of extenuating circumstances beyond the control
of the student is not complete, may be graded "I."
Students must initiate an "incomplete" grade
request by securing appropriate approval of excuses by
the instructor, department head, and appropriate academic
dean. This enables the student to finish the requirements
of the course after the semester is over. Failure to follow
the recommended procedure will result in an automatic
"F." |
| M |
|
| Major |
A program of study leading to a degree such as art,
business, or science. Courses consist of most of the total
hours in a degree area. (Example: Business Administration,
Education, Liberal Arts, Computer Information Systems,
Web Publishing Certificate) |
| Minor |
A program of study requiring fewer courses than a major. |
| N |
|
| Non-credit |
A course usually taken for developmental purposes. A
grade may be assigned, but the course is not used towards
a degree. |
| P |
|
| Part-time |
A student enrolled in less than 12 credit hours of classes
is part-time. Part-time is considered less than 12 hours
of credit in the fall and spring semesters and less than
6 hours of credit in the summer semester. |
| Pre-requisite |
A course required and taken before
a more advanced course can be studied. A pre-requisite
course forms the basis upon which subsequent courses are
built. |
| Probation |
A warning of grade difficiency when a student earns
a GPA below 2.0 on all hours attempted for the semester. |
| R |
|
| Repeated Course |
The process by which a student can raise a low grade
for a course or eliminate a failing grade from a student's
accumulative grade point average. By repeating a course,
the higher grade achieved is factored into the student's
accumulative grade point average. |
| S |
|
| Semester |
An academic time period of 16 weeks used by PAC. The
academic year consists of two 16-week semesters, beginning
in late August and in early January. |
| Study hour |
Time needed to study outside the classroom. (A rule
of thumb: two to three hours of study time for every class
hour) |
| Subject area |
Classes that fall under the same area, such as ENGL,
BIOL, SPCH, etc. |
| Scholastic Suspension |
A college disciplinary action resulting from failure
to earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 on all hours attempted during
the semester while on probation. A student on suspension
may not attend classes for one (1) semester. |
| Syllabus |
A description of the main content of a plan given to
students on the first day of class by the instructor.
It outlines what will be covered in that class for the
semester such as assignments, deadlines, tests, quizzes,
presentations, and expectations for participation in the
class, as well as the attendance policy for the course. |
| T |
|
| Transcript |
A permanent record listing the student's courses, credits,
and individual grades while attending PAC. |
| Transfer credits |
Credit for courses taken from another institution and
accepted as meeting part of the requirements in a college
or university. |
| Tuition |
A fee paid for instruction for courses taken at the
College. A student is considered officially registered
for classes once an application for admissions has been
accepted and tuition and fees are paid. |
| W |
|
| Withdrawal |
A student may withdraw from a course or from PAC
without penalty. Students should refer to the Academic
Calendar in the College Catalog for the final date to
withdraw from classes without penalty.
|
