Definition of Terms

Advisor, Advisee - The advisor, or counselor, is the instructor or staff member assigned to help the student with academic planning.  The student is the advisee.

Areas of Emphasis with the Tennessee Transfer Pathway designation – The curriculum in each of these has been approved by faculty representatives from community colleges and universities within the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and by faculty representatives from the University of Tennessee System. Students completing the course requirements in a Tennessee Transfer Pathway are assured that the courses will transfer to any public university in Tennessee.

Areas of Emphasis without the Tennessee Transfer Pathway designation – Unlike the Tennessee Transfer Pathway, the curriculum in each of these has not been universally approved; however, students who complete the course requirements in an Area of Emphasis are assured that the 41 hour general education core curriculum will transfer to any other TBR institution.

Audit - Enrollment in a class without receiving a completion grade.

Average, Grade Point - A measure of average scholastic success obtained by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of GPA hours.  GPA hours are those in which the student receives a grade of A, B, C, D or F.

Calendar -   The division of the full calendar year.  The semester calendar is composed of two regular terms per year with about fifteen weeks per term of instruction excluding final examinations.  There is also a summer session with multiple sessions.

Certificate - A program of study consisting of fewer courses than a degree.  A certificate may be embedded in a degree program or may be an independent curriculum.

Classification - A student's status in respect to progress toward the completion of his/her curriculum, based upon the number of hours or courses to his/her credit at the time of registration.  A student who has completed 28 semester hours is considered a sophomore.

Course - Organized subject matter in which instruction is offered within a given period of time and for which credit toward graduation or certification is usually given.

Course Number - A number identifying class level and distinguishing it from other courses in a given area of study.

Course Co-requisite - Two ore more courses required during the same academic term.

Course Prerequisite - A preliminary requirement that must be met before a certain course may be taken.

Credit Hours (Semester Hours) - Defined by the number of hours per week in class and the number of weeks in the semester. One semester hour is usually assigned to a class that meets fifty-five minutes a week over a period of one semester or to a laboratory-type instruction that meets two or three hours a week for a semester or combination of these depending upon the type of instruction and the material in the course. Therefore, a three hour non-laboratory course would, in general, meet three hours a week during the semester, and the credits earned would be “three semester hours”. A total of 60 college-level semester hours is the minimum required for graduation.

Curriculum - The whole body of courses offered for study.

Dean’s List and Honor Roll - Common designations for the published lists of students who have achieved a recognized standard of academic excellence.

Degree, Associate - Degree granted upon completion of a specific program of college work.

Degree, Earned - Title bestowed as official recognition for the completion of a curriculum.

Degree Student - A student who has fulfilled the admissions requirements and who is pursuing an associate degree program, referred to by some colleges as a regular student.

Dismissal (Academic) - Involuntary separation of a student from the College because the student has not met the academic requirements.

Dismissal (Disciplinary) - Involuntary separation of a student from the College as a result of misconduct.

Division - A group of related departments: Arts & Sciences, Career, Technical and Distance Education, and Nursing.

Elective, General - A college-level course which the student may choose, unlike courses which are prescribed. In areas of emphasis designated as Tennessee Transfer Pathways, students select general electives after consulting the catalog of the institution to which they plan to transfer.

Elective, Career - In the Division of Career, Technical and Distance Education, a course specific to a concentration; career electives, if applicable, are listed in the curricula.

Electives, Humanities/Fine Arts - Unless otherwise stated, non-applied courses in art, music, and theatre or courses in literature, foreign language, philosophy (except PHIL 1050 - Introductory Logic), World Civilization, or humanities. Humanities /Fine Arts electives should not be confused with the specific courses applicable to the nine credit hour block of Humanities/ Fine Arts electives.

Electives, Social Sciences - Unless otherwise stated, courses in psychology, sociology, economics, geography, history or political science. Social Science electives should not be confused with the specific courses applicable to the six credit hour block of Social Sciences electives.

Financial Aid - Funding made available to a student who demonstrates financial need. The term covers outright gifts, loans and jobs which are assigned to, or especially reserved for the student.

Full-Time Student - A student who is enrolled in twelve or more semester hours of academic courses.

Learning Support (formerly Developmental Studies Program) - A program of studies in various areas designed to give the student background prerequisites to college level studies.

Major - The student’s primary field of interest or study.

Matriculation - The initial enrollment of the student as a member of the College.

Part-time Student - One who is carrying an academic schedule of fewer than twelve credit hours.

Probation - A period of evaluation during which a student’s scholastic achievement or conduct is monitored. Academic probation is the result of unsatisfactory scholarship; it is not a penalty but a warning and an opportunity to improve; it usually involves a compulsory reduction in course load, interviews for diagnosis of difficulties and development of a plan for recovery; usually the student is required to make regular specified improvement in his/her record in order to avoid disqualification. Disciplinary probation is a middle status between good standing or dismissal; the student remains enrolled, but under stated conditions to the college policies; disciplinary probation covers a stated trial period during which it is determined whether the student is returned to good standing (having met the stated requirements) or dismissed or suspended at the end of the period (having failed to meet the stated requirements).

Readmission - The return of a student who was not enrolled the previous term. A student who is readmitted after a one semester suspension will be readmitted on Academic Probation status.

Reinstatement - The act of readmitting a student after he/she has been suspended.

Residency Status - Students are classified as resident or non-resident for the purpose of assessing fees and tuition. The definition of residency is determined by the Tennessee Board of Regents, and decisions concerning resident classification are made in the Office of Enrolment Services.

Semester - One of any three terms during which courses are offered by the College (Fall, Spring, Summer).

Special Student - One who is not pursuing an associate degree program or academic certificate at DSCC.

Suspension - Involuntary separation of the student from the College.

Transcript - The record of completed courses and the grades earned and the record of courses in progress. A transcript may be official or unofficial.

Transfer Student -A degree-seeking student having been admitted from another recognized college or university.

Transient Student - A non-degree student who is taking coursework at DSCC to transfer back to another college or university.

University Parallel Programs Leading to the Associate of Arts (AA) or the Associate of Science (AS) Degree. For the student who plans to transfer to a four-year college or university, Dyersburg State Community College offers the University Parallel major leading to the Associate of Arts or the Associate of Science.  Within the University Parallel Major are Areas of Emphasis which are designated as Tennessee Transfer Pathway and Areas of Emphasis which are not designated as Tennessee Transfer Pathway.

Withdrawal - A release from enrollment. A student notifies appropriate authorities, thereby making it an official withdrawal. When the student merely stops attending classes without notifying the authorities, failing marks are recorded and charged against him/her.