Below are general terms that you may encounter during your enrollment at Delgado Community College. You can find a glossary of terms specific to financial aid here.
A
Academic Standing - the disposition of a student based upon grade point average. Categories of academic standing typically include Good Academic Standing, Academic Probation, Academic Suspension, and/or Academic Warning.
Adjusted Grade Point Average - a grade point average that has been modified in some manner. (An institution may or may not honor a repeat/ delete policy; another may have an institutional stand-alone GPA in addition to the Cumulative GPA).
Admission - the act of completing an application for admission, paying the application fee, and being officially accepted for enrollment as a student of the college.
Associate - the Associate (non-designated) degree is awarded in programs designed to prepare students for immediate employment or career entry, but which also may serve as preparatory education for transfer to a related baccalaureate program. To ensure maximum acceptance of credit, however, students should consult both a Delgado Community College advisor and a representative of the institution to which they plan to transfer. Associate (non-designated) degree programs are comprised of 60 credit hours, though in some circumstances (e.g., accreditation requirements), they may range from 60-72 credit hours. Associate (non-designated) degrees contain 27 credit hours consisting of general education coursework. General Education coursework includes: six credit hours of English composition; three credit hours of Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning; six credit hours in the Natural Sciences; three credit hours in the Humanities; three credit hours in Fine Arts; and six credit hours in the Social/Behavioral Sciences.
Associate of Arts (A.A.) - in general, programs leading to the associate of arts are college parallel and allow the recipient to transfer with advanced standing to a four-year institution. To ensure maximum acceptance of credit, however, students should consult both a Delgado Community College advisor and a representative of the institution to which they plan to transfer. Associate of Arts degree programs are comprised of 60 credit hours, though in some circumstances (e.g., accreditation requirements), they may range from 60-72 credit hours. Associate of Arts degrees contain 27 credit hours of general education coursework. General education coursework includes: six credit hours of English composition; three credit hours of Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning; six credit hours in the Natural Sciences; three credit hours in the Humanities; three credit hours in Fine Arts; and six credit hours in the Social/Behavioral Sciences.
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) - this degree is awarded in vocational and technical areas. Although some courses taken to fulfill requirements for this degree may be accepted by senior institutions, this degree is normally considered to be a terminal degree. Associate of Applied Science degree programs are comprised of 60 credit hours, though in some circumstances (e.g., accreditation requirements), they may range from 60-72 credit hours. Associate of Applied Science degrees contain 15 credit hours of general education coursework. General Education coursework includes: three credit hours in English Composition; three credit hours in Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning; three credit hours in the Natural Sciences; three credit hours in the Humanities; and three credit hours in the Social/Behavioral Sciences.
Associate of General Studies (A.G.S.) - this degree is awarded upon completion of a highly flexible program designed by the student in consultation with an advisor. Depending upon the courses chosen, the degree may be either college parallel or terminal. This degree may be designed with a concentration in almost any discipline or pre-professional studies. Students must consult a General Studies Counselor for more information about the Associate of General Studies degree and articulation with four-year institutions. The Associate of General Studies degree is comprised of 60 credit hours, with 27 credit hours of general education coursework. General Education coursework includes: six credit hours of English composition; three credit hours of Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning; six credit hours in the Natural Sciences; three credit hours in the Humanities; three credit hours in Fine Arts; and six credit hours in the Social/Behavioral Sciences.
Associate of Science (A.S.) - in general, programs leading to the associate of science are college parallel and allow the recipient to transfer with advanced standing to a four-year institution. To ensure maximum acceptance of credit, however, students should consult both a Delgado Community College advisor and a representative of the institution to which they plan to transfer. Associate of Science degree programs are comprised of 60 credit hours, though in some circumstances (e.g., accreditation requirements), they may range from 60-72 credit hours. Associate of Science degrees contain 27 credit hours of general education coursework. General Education coursework includes: six credit hours of English composition; six credit hours of Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning; six credit hours in the Natural Sciences; three credit hours in the Humanities; three credit hours in Fine Arts; and three credit hours in the Social/Behavioral Sciences.
Authorized Aid - the anticipated aid a student will receive for the term. Authorized Aid can be used to secure a student’s schedule and purchase books if the amount of anticipated aid is greater that the amount due for the term. Authorized Aid will begin to disburse after the official census date of the semester.
B
Bookstore Credit - offered to students with authorized aid that is greater than their tuition and fee charges. These students are eligible to purchase books using a portion of their anticipated refund, up to the amount of the credit but not to exceed $900.
C
Career and Technical Certificate (C.T.C.) - the Career and Technical Certificate is applied skills program that provides specific, meaningful technical skills relative to employment readiness. The C.T.C. includes a demonstrated alignment with and a process whereby a student’s competencies are verified against a set of pre-determined standards that lead to and/or prepare an individual to test for an industry-based certification (IBC), state licensure, or state-recognized certification awarded by an independent, third party that is recognized by business and industry and/or the State of Louisiana. The C.T.C. is comprised of 6 to 18 credit hours of professional/technical courses with no general education requirements.
Catalog - the College Catalog is published online once per year. It contains all Delgado policies, guidelines, curriculum requirements for all programs of study and course descriptions effective for the academic year.
Census - (formerly known as the 14th instructional day of the Fall and Spring Semesters and the Seventh (7th) instructional day for Summer Session) the official date for reporting of student enrollment information for the respective terms. “Census” is the preferred term. (See Fourteenth (14th) Class Day and Seventh (7th) Class Day.)
Certificate of Applied Science (C.A.S.) - the Certificate of Applied Science is awarded upon completion of a course of study designed to prepare students for immediate employment or career entry. The Certificate of Applied Science is comprised of between 30 and 42 credit hours, with nine credit hours consisting of general education coursework. General Education coursework includes: three credit hours of English composition; three credit hours of Mathematics; and three credit hours in the Fine Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences.
Certificate of General Studies (C.G.S.) - the Certificate of General Studies is designed to provide students with a broad foundation of fundamental academic courses. It offers students the opportunity to increase readiness for collegiate study while exploring career pathways. It allows students who intend to transfer to senior colleges the opportunity to choose courses that meet the admission requirements of the receiving institution. To ensure maximum acceptance of credit, however, students should consult both a Delgado Community College advisor and a representative of the institution to which they plan to transfer. The Certificate of General Studies is comprised of 30 credit hours, with 24 credit hours consisting of general education coursework. General education coursework includes: six credit hours of English composition; three credit hours of Mathematics; three credit hours in the Natural Sciences; three credit hours in the Humanities; three credit hours in Fine Arts; three credit hours in the Social/Behavioral Sciences; and three additional credit hours in Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, or Social/Behavioral Sciences.
Certificate of Technical Studies (C.T.S.) - the Certificate of Technical Studies is awarded upon completion of a course of study designed to prepare students for immediate employment or career entry. The Certificate of Technical Studies is comprised of between 16 and 33 credit hours of professional/technical courses with no general education requirements.
Concentration - is an alternative track of courses within a major or option, accounting for at least 30% of the major requirements.
Co-requisite - a class/course that is required to be taken simultaneously with another class/course. For example, a laboratory class may be required to be taken within the same semester as the related lecture class (ex. biology lecture for three hours and biology lab for one hour).
Credit - recognition of attendance or performance in an instructional activity (course or program) that can be applied by a recipient toward the requirements for a degree, diploma, certificate or other formal award. For example, if a student successfully completes a course worth 3 semester hours, the student receives three hours of credit.
Credit Hour - a unit of measure representing an hour (50 minutes) of instruction over a 15-week period in a semester or trimester system or a 10-week period in a quarter system. It is applied toward the total number of hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Cross-Enrollment - a form of concurrent enrollment that refers to arrangements whereby a student can be enrolled at one postsecondary institution but can also be taking classes at another postsecondary institution.
Cumulative Grade Point Average - the grade point average of all course work pursued to date.
Curriculum - the set of courses which, when competed successfully, will fulfill the credentialing (certificate, diploma, degree) for a particular major. Curriculum is a description of the required and elective courses for a Degree Program.
D
Dean’s List - an academic honor that lists all students who, over the course of the previous semester, have maintained a notably high grade point average (ex. 3.5, 3.75, etc.).
Degree - the title of the award conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school upon completion of a unified program of study (Associate of Science).
Degree Designation - for each authorized program at public institutions of higher education as listed in the Board of Regents’ Inventory of Degree and Certificate Programs under the category “Degree Level”. The category “Degree Level” shall be changed in the Inventory to “Degree Designation.” Some professional programs require the name of the general subject area as part of the Degree Designation.
Degree-Seeking Student - a student enrolled in courses for credit who is recognized by the institution as seeking a degree or formal award. At the undergraduate level, this is intended to include students enrolled in vocational or occupational programs.
Developmental Courses - courses designed by colleges and/or universities to prepare students to succeed academically in their first, -credit college-level courses. Placement in these courses is usually determined by placement test scores. (English 101 may require the earning of “C” or better in English 90 and 91).
Disbursement - posting of financial aid funds to a student’s Delgado account paying any charges due. Any excess disbursements will be refunded to the student’s account within 14 days. Students can check their account balance by logging in to LoLA.
Distance Education - an educational process and system whereby all (or a significant proportion) of the teaching is conducted by someone (or something) removed in space and time from the learner.
Distance Learning - a system and a process that connects learner to distributed learning resources. Distance learning can take a variety of forms. All distance learning, however, is characterized by (a) separation/distance of place and/or time between instructor and learner, amongst learners, and/or between learners and learning resources; and (b) interaction between the learner and instructor, among learners and/or between learners and learning resources conducted through one or more media. An instructional delivery system that connects learners (regardless of their location) with educational resources. Because distance learning normally occurs in a different place from teaching, it requires special techniques of course design, instructional design, and communication. Distance learning uses technology to make possible new approaches to the teaching/learning process, rather than simply the addition of technology to instruction.
Division(s) - a term that refers to a designated academic subunit of a college.
E
Electives - courses chosen from a group of selected courses. Each program/curriculum requires a certain number of courses that are required and another group from which the student may elect to take.
Enrollment - the process a student goes through to become a student at Delgado, which includes admission, placement testing, freshman orientation, scheduling classes (registration), applying for financial aid and remitting payment of tuition and fees.
F
FASFA - Free Application for Student Financial Aid is a Federal form. For all students filing for financial aid, a completed form must be sent for analysis in order to determine eligibility for Title IV and other forms of Student Financial Aid. Application can also be made online.
Fourteenth (14th) Class Day – the 14th instructional day of the Fall and Spring Semesters, which constitutes the official Census Date for reporting of student enrollment information for the semesters. “Census” is the preferred term. See Census and Seventh (7th) Class Day.
Full-Time Student - any undergraduate student taking 12 or more semester hours during the Fall and/or Spring semesters and six or more hours during the Summer Term.
G
General Education - a core of course work (25% - 40%) essential to a broadly-based college degree to include, but not be limited to: English, mathematics, natural sciences, humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and computer literacy. General education is at the heart of any degree program.
Good Academic Standing - students who complete a semester/quarter and who are not on academic probation who have a cumulative grade point average that is at or above the institution’s established scale of 2.0. (LCTCS)
Grade Point Average (GPA) - a grade point average is computed by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the number of semester hours attempted. These are normally calculated at the rate of four quality points for an A, three quality points for a B, two quality points for a C, one quality point for a D, and zero quality points for an F. Hence, if a student earned
A for one three-semester credit course: 1x4x3=12
C for two three-semester credit courses: 2x3x3=12
B for one one-semester credit course: 1x1x3=3
Total Semester Credit Hours=10 (3+3+3+1)
Total Quality Points=27 (12+12+3)
27 divided by 10=2.70 GPA
H
Handbook – the Student Handbook is published twice per year (spring issue and summer-fall issue) online and in limited hard copies, and contains deadlines, important dates, exam schedules and specific information pertaining to each semester regarding enrollment, financial assistance, testing, registration, and payment.
Hours Attempted - the total number of hours taken. This figure includes those hours passed as well as those hours failed.
Hours Earned - the number of hours completed with a passing grade.
L
Learning Communities - Learning Communities (LCs) are classes that are linked or clustered during an academic term, often around a theme, and enroll a common cohort of students. The goals of LCs are to increase student retention, to increase student engagement and motivation and to improve students’ time to degree completion.
Life Experience Assessment Program Credit - provides students an opportunity to present a portfolio of work samples and creative works which represent the knowledge and skills that they have already acquired in relationship to specific college courses. The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a major resource in the decision to award such credit.
M
Major - is that part of a degree program that consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline(s) or field(s). The name of the major is usually consistent with the degree subject area. A Major usually consists of 25% or more of total hours required in an undergraduate curriculum.
Master Promissory Note - a legal document in which a student promises to repay their loans and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of the loan.
N
Non-Certificate Seeking - students enrolled in credit courses who do not wish to obtain a formally recognized (LCTCS/Louisiana Board of Regents) formal award or degree.
Non-Degree Seeking - students enrolled in credit courses who do not wish to obtain a formally recognized (LCTCS/Louisiana Board of Regents) formal award or degree.
Non-Matriculating Student - the preferred terms are non-certificate seeking or non-degree seeking. See those entries.
O
Online - implies that a connection to the internet or other network is established, opposite to off-line.
Online Learning - A learning environment that uses the Internet as the delivery vehicle (synonymous with e-learning).
P
Part-time Student - for undergraduate purposes a student enrolled for 11 semester credits or fewer in a fall or spring semester, or fewer than 24 contact hours per week each term; or fewer than six semester hours during a summer term. (IPEDS)
Post-Associate Certificate (P.A.C.) - the Post-Associate Certificate is an academic or technical offering that is earned after a student has already completed a recognized associate’s degree, usually for additional professional or technical certification.
Pre-requisite - a term referring to a course that must be successfully completed before a student is eligible to enroll in the next course in a sequence (Ex. English 101 is a prerequisite for English 102).
Program - a combination of courses and related activities that generate college credits and are approved and organized for the attainment of broad educational outcomes, which lead to a recognized credential (e.g., certificate, diploma, and/or degree) (IPEDS)
Q
Quality Points - points assigned to course grades. Quality points are used in computing Grade Point Average (GPA). An A carries four quality points, a B carries three quality points, a C carries two quality points, a D carries one quality point, and an F carries zero quality points.
R
Refund - funds paid to students. Refund amounts are based on the credit balance remaining after tuition and fees are paid. Students can check their account balances by logging in to LoLA. A negative balance indicates a refund is due. Refunds are distributed through BankMobile. See http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices.
Register/Registration - the act of scheduling classes after a student has been admitted to the college and taken placement tests.
Repeat/Delete - an institutional policy (used by some, not all institutions) whereby a student may receive a grade of F in a given course, during one semester/summer term, and later successfully earn a passing grade in the same course.
Required Courses - courses that must be taken in order to graduate.
S
Semester - a semester is generally 15-16 weeks in length; an academic year is comprised of two semesters.
Semester Grade Point Average - the grade point average for a student that consists of course work pursued within a certain semester.
Service Learning - a form of structured community service through which college credit can be earned.
Seventh (7th) Class Day - the Seventh (7th) instructional day of Summer Session, which constitutes the official Census Date for reporting of student enrollment information for the session. “Census” is the preferred term. See Census and Fourteenth (14th) Class Day.
Suspensions -
- Academic Suspension - a student who is on academic probation and who fails to achieve a semester grade point average of at least a 2.0 in the ensuing semester will be suspended for one semester. The statement “Academic Suspension” will be placed on the student’s permanent academic record. No student will be suspended before he/she has attempted 24 credit hours. Academic appeals are filed with the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs’ office.
- Financial Aid – although the term “financial aid suspension” is not used, students can lose their eligibility for Title IV funds for failure to meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP). To regain eligibility, an appeal must be filed by the advertised deadline and approval granted. Students may track the status of their appeal at LoLA (See SAP policy for more information.) Financial aid appeals should be given to the campus financial aid department.
- Judicial - separation from the College for either a specified period or an indefinite period of time (see Policy # SA-1448.1C for more information). Judicial suspensions are the result of judicial hearings. Appeals to judicial suspensions are filed with the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs’ office.
Syllabus - an outline or a summary of a text, lecture, or course of study. A syllabus includes the outline, calendar of lectures/activities, course objectives, required and supplemental texts, grading procedure, ADA provisions, etc.
T
Technical Competency Area (TCA) - a credential defined by the Louisiana Board of Regents as an applied course or series of courses (one-12 semester hours). These are applied courses which have a focus on workforce development. A TCA provides a student with a specific technical competency. TCAs are strictly limited to technical and community colleges. Approval authority for implementation of a TCA shall reside with the appropriate management board or their designated staff.
Technical Diploma (T.D.) - the college offers Technical Diplomas. The Technical Diploma is an applied, technical program strictly limited to community and technical colleges. Technical Diplomas are comprised of between 45 and 60 credit hours of professional/technical courses with no general education requirements. Effective Fall 2019 the College discontinued awarding TCAs.
W
Withdrawal (Student-Course) - an action whereby a student formally “drops” a course (or courses) from his/her schedule of classes (or from the college) by using the institution’s approved procedures and timetables.
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