Below is a list of Common Academic Terms for Park University
Academic Probation- A state-mandated process to identify a student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0.
Accreditation- This amounts to a stamp of approval by an educational or professional organization stating that the college meets the regulations determined by this group. Each section of the country has its own accrediting organization.
Administrative Withdrawal-When students are withdrawn from courses based on lack of attendance.
Audit a Course- Attend a course without getting credit for it
Alumni- This is a group of people who have graduated from a college or university
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Blended Courses- Classes are offered face-to-face (requires less in-class time) with an online component.
CASHNet- A payment plan option for paying off student account balances in 3 or 4 payments depending on the term length.
Credit hours- The amount of credit you receive for completing a specific course based upon the # of hours a class meets per week.
Confirmation- Process of making sure financial aid can be dispersed and the balance on student’s account is covered by a one-time payment or payment plan (CashNET).
Core Curriculum- A group of courses designated by a college as one of the requirements for a degree.
Co-requisite- A course or other requirement that must be completed at the same time another course is taken.
Course Load- The number of credit hours permitted each semester. Full-time is 12-18 credit hours for undergraduates.
Course Numbers- Numbers assigned to specific classes. Example: BIO 211
Course Section- Each course is assigned a section code, along with the course number to use when you sign up for classes. Example: BIO 211 HOA (section code)
Degree Audit- An audit system that contains academic information about the student’s degree, major(s), and minor(s) and gives a complete picture regarding what degree requirements have been met, are in progress of being met, and are remaining
Developmental courses- Non-credit courses that are intended to improve skills (writing, reading, math) to enable success in college-level courses.
Drop and add- You may change your schedule by dropping or adding classes. Check the academic calendar for the drop/add deadlines for each term or check with enrollment services.
Elective- A course which you select to fulfill credit hours required for graduation.
Equivalencies- Courses taken at another institution that transfer in as specific Park courses.
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974) - Form used for students to allow/grant a third party (i.e. parent) access to student info.
First-Generation Student- A student whose parents did not earn a Bachelor’s Degree.
Full-time student- Anyone taking 12 credit hours or more during the fall or spring semester.
Grade Point Average (GPA)- A number that shows overall academic performance. It’s computed by assigning a point value to each grade you earn.
GRE- The Graduate Record Exam is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for most graduate schools in the U.S.
Hold- A hold restricting services may be applied to a student's record for a variety of reasons. Once the hold requirements have been satisfied, the hold will be inactivated and services will be accessible once again.
Honors Program- A plan designed to encourage superior students to engage in a more challenging program in their area of concentration than is required. Students who succeed in meeting the stringent requirements of an honors program are usually granted "honor" degrees.
Humanities- The humanities are usually classified as art, communications, literature, philosophy, religion and theater.
Internship- Internships are an opportunity to receive supervised work experience performing tasks with learning objectives appropriate to your field of study.
Liberal Education- “General education” requirements consisting of math, science, commination, English, social science, humanities, natural science, and integrative and disciplinary thinking.
MyPark- Online portal for resources, online classroom (Canvas), academic and financial information.
Canvas-Online classroom.
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Online Courses (DL)- Courses a student takes through the Internet.
Part-time Student- Anyone taking 11 credit hours or less during the fall and spring semesters.
Practicum- College experience through study and practical work; for example, student-teaching practicum.
Pre-requisite- A requirement which must be met before a certain course can be taken.
Registrar- The college official who is in charge of registration compliance. The registrar may also be responsible for keeping permanent records and maintaining your student file.
Registration- A process when students select courses he/she will take and enroll for the semester.
Residence Halls- Dormitories, apartments, houses, and other living quarters provided for students by the college or university in which they are enrolled.
ROTC- The Reserve Officer's Training Corps offers two and four-year programs of military training culminating in an officer's commission. In some colleges, credits for these courses can be applied toward fulfillment of degree requirements. (Army, Air Force).
Seminar- Course in which a small group of students, headed by a professor, engage in research and discussion..
Staff (as noted in course schedule) – Terminology used for not yet assigned faculty members in the course found on: www.park.edu/courses
Student Retention- This is the degree to which students remain enrolled as members of the college or university community and persists toward graduation.
Syllabus- A contract that lists a course’s objectives and requirements.
TBA- A designation in the schedule that indicates classes meeting times are “to be arranged.”
Transcript- The official record of a student's academic performance from the time of entrance to the institution to the end of the latest semester.
Transfer Student- A student who enrolls in a college after having attended another college.
Waitlist- If a course is full (closed), you have the option to be put on the waitlist. The waitlist is first-come, first served. The first student added to a waitlist will be the first person to get a seat when one opens.
Withdrawal- The process of discontinuing enrollment in a course or courses. A grade of “W” is recorded on the student transcript.