Glossary

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
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• M
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• P
• Q
• R
• S
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• W

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• Academic Advisor
  A faculty member who helps you to stay on track in your program of study course completion.
• Academic Dismissal
  A student who falls below the 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) after one full-time semester of probation will be dismissed from the University. A part-time student who is on academic probation must bring his or her cumulative grade point average (GPA) up to 2.0 or higher within 12 credits attempted or will be dismissed. Dismissal letters are sent out at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Dismissal in the spring is not effective if the student takes courses during the winter and attains a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. Dismissal in the fall is not effective if the student takes courses during the summer and attains a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
• Academic Probation
  A student who falls below the 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) after one full-time semester of academic warning shall be placed on academic probation. A part-time student who has received an academic warning must bring his or her cumulative grade point average (GPA) up to 2.00 or higher within 12 credits attempted or be placed on academic probation. The University will notify the student, in writing, that he/she is in danger of dismissal. A student is allowed only one semester of academic probation in his/her academic career at Kutztown University.
• Academic Warning
  A student will be placed on academic warning if he or she has a cumulative grade point average (GPA) below 2.0 and is not on academic restriction or suspension. Part-time students will be evaluated every 12 credits and will receive an academic warning whenever this evaluation shows their cumulative grade point average (GPA) to have fallen below 2.00.
• Academics
  Anything directly related to the delivery of instruction. Course descriptions, Class Schedules,Faculty Information, Graduation Requirements, etc.   (as distinct from " student services").
• Accelerated Program
  Completion of a college program of study in fewer than the usual number of years, most often by attending summer sessions and carrying extra courses during the regular academic term.
• Accreditation
  A process by which an institution is determined to have met an acceptable level of quality.
• Add/Drop
  The period of time where a student can add or drop courses online in MyKU without financial penalty. This is generally 8.5% of the course period. In a typical semester this is roughly the first week of classes, in a session this is roughly the first two days of classes.
• Admission
  The process of becoming officially recognized as a Kutztown University student. Once admitted, you do not have to go through this process again unless you withdraw from Kutztown University for an extended period of time. 
• Advanced Registration Deposit (ARD)
  This deposit is an acceptance by the prospective student of the offer of admission. A portion of this non-refundable deposit pays for the students first ID card and funding for our Orientation program (CONNECTIONS).
• Advising
  Shorthand for "academic advising" -- assistance with the process of planning what courses need to be taken in what sequence in order to reach your academic goal.  Once you  have selected a curriculum, advising will become a part of your interaction with the full-time faculty in the related department..
• Aleks
  The testing tool Kutztown University uses to assess new students' math skills. Results of the test help academic advisors recommend appropriate course placements.
• Applicant (first-time, full-time)
  An individual who has fulfilled the requirements to be considered for admission (including payment or waiving of the application fee, if any) and who will be notified of one of the following actions: admission, denial, placement on the waiting list, or application withdrawn (by applicant or institution). 
• Audit
  A way to register (and pay) for a "credit" course without receiving a letter grade on your transcript.  Used for several reasons:  among the most common being to review material for which you already have a passing grade on your record, or for courses taken purely for personal interest, which are not required in your chosen curriculum.

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• Bachelor's Degree
  An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary of the US Department of Education) that normally requires at least four years but not more than five years of full-time quivalent college-level coursework.
• Bear Bucks
  A student can deposit money using cash, check, or a credit/debit card, then simply swipe your KUID card at any venue that takes Bear Bucks. Bear Bucks acts just like a debit account and can be used at many locations on and off-campus.
• Blended Course
  This type of course is 30-79% online with the balance of the course being on campus face to face. These courses are considered on-campus for billing purposes.

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• Catalog
  An online list containing academic information about Kutztown University, including degree requirements, curriculum outlines, and college policies.
• Closed Class
  A course for which the maximum number of students is already enrolled. A student cannot enroll in such a class unless someone drops and a seat becomes available.
• Concurrent Enrollment
  The opportunity for qualified high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit. Kutztown University offers several concurrent enrollment programs.
• CONNECTIONS (Orientation)
  A program of activities for new students designed to introduce them to some of the essential knowledge and skills for a successful College experience.  May include topics ranging from selection of courses to parking.
• Co-Requisite
  A course that must be taken at the same time as another course.
• Course
  The typical unit of instruction from which students assemble their educational experience.  Traditionally, a certain number of hours per week over the span of a semester, during which a particular set of subject matter is investigated under the guidance of a single professor.  The Catalog contains descriptions of all courses offered by Kutztown University including information about credits earned, pre-requisites if any, type of instruction used, and specific content that will be studied.
• Course Number
  The number assigned to a particular course (for example, ENG 023).
• Credit
  Has several closely related meanings; (1) A measure of the total instructional content of each course, usually related to the total hours of instruction.  The term "credits" is relatively modern shorthand for the phrase "credit hours".   As an example, a History course which meets for three one-hour sessions a week over a traditional 15-week semester, would be identified as a 3-credit course.   The laboratory portion of a Chemistry course, on the other hand, would typically require 3 or 4 hours of scheduled time in the lab each week to earn one credit.  Graduation requirements (and tuition charges) are based on credits. (2) A measure of the total instructional content of each course, usually related to the total hours of instruction.  The term "credits" is relatively modern shorthand for the phrase "credit hours".   As an example, a History course which meets for three one-hour sessions a week over a traditional 15-week semester, would be identified as a 3-credit course.   The laboratory portion of a Chemistry course, on the other hand, would typically require 3 or 4 hours of scheduled time in the lab each week to earn one credit.  Graduation requirements (and tuition charges) are based on credits. (3) Courses which are primarily designed to earn academic credits toward a degree or certificate are often called "credit courses", as distinct from "non-credit" courses that are designed for some other purpose. (4) In discussions of grade-point calculations, "credit" is sometimes used to mean any course in which a grade of A-F was earned -- as distinct from courses taken as "audit".
• Curriculum
  A set of required and elective courses designed to meet specific career or transfer goals, and leading to some degree or certificate upon successful completion.  Curriculum descriptions typically lay out not only the list of courses required, but also the order in which some of them should (or must) be taken ( pre-requisites, and/or co-requisites).

D Top

• Degree
  Official confirmation by the institution that you have successfully completed the requirements of your major.
• Degree Audit
  An advising tool that helps  a student know what courses are left to take in order to graduate with a specific degree.
• Degree Seeking Student
  A student who is enrolled in courses for credit which will lead to a formal award, e.g. bachelor's degree.
• Delegated Access
  A student can share their information in MyKU by creating an account for their parent or third party assigning permissions for specific areas of content such as payments, grades and more. The student can rescind this access at any time in MyKU.
• Department
  Faculty are typically organized into Departments along disciplinary lines to assist with effciency of planning and program development activities.  Depending on the size of the school, a single department might encompass just one or several disciplines.
• Desire2Learn (D2L)
  Desire2Learn, or D2L, is an integrated learning platform designed to create a single place online for instructors and students to interact, either for a completely online course or as a supplement to a face-to-face course.
• Dining Flex Dollars
  Dining Flex Dollars are included with any meal plan purchase. A student may use the Dollars at any dining location on campus to purchase meals, snacks, coffee, bottled beverages and more. Dining Flex Dollars are loaded onto the student's KU ID card and can only be used in on-campus dining locations. Flex dollars are for an academic year, remaining balance rolled over from fall to spring only.
• Distance Education Course
  This type of course is 80% or more online with the balance of the course possibly on campus or face to face. These courses are considered as Distance Education for billing purposes.
• Distance Learning 
  Has come to mean any use of modern communications technology to allow interaction between instructor and students outside the scope of the traditional classroom.  Can mean television, internet, the web, or any combination of the above.  Some Kutztown University courses are taught entirely in distance learning mode.  Others include distance components to augment more traditional face-to-face instruction.
• Drop
  Removing yourself from a course, or courses, during the Add / Drop period. This is done online in MyKU. Be aware that should your final enrollment be less than 12 credits, you will not be considered full time and may affect your academic and financial aid progress. Consultation with the Registrar's Office and Financial Aid is encouraged.

E Top

• E-Check
  Electronic Payment method utilizing a bank account - checking or savings. This method requires the Bank Routing number and the Account number. This is processed in MyKU only.
• Elective
  A course in which the student has some choice or selection -- as distinct from a course that is absolutely required in a particular curriculum.  In many cases, "electives" may be limited within categories -- as for example to satisfy General Education requirements where some elective credits must be taken from Humanities, others from Arts, others from Science, etc.

F Top

• Faculty
  In its simplest usage -- those directly responsible to plan and deliver the academic program.  "Full-Time" faculty are assigned many regular duties above and beyond hours devoted to individual courses, including responsibilities for program development, curriculum advising, and service on a wide variety of committees and task forces within the College.  "Part-Time" faculty are generally assigned to teach only one or two courses in any given semester, with no formal duties outside the scope of those courses.
• FAFSA
  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application for education loans and grants from the federal government.
• Fees - Elective
  There are a few fees that are not required for graduate students that they can choose to add for access such as Recreation Center, Health Center and Student Government.
• Fees - Required
  There are several required fees for undergraduate and graduate students that vary based on their student status.
• FERPA
  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act - This defines the rights of students and parents in regard to student educational records, and to regulate the use of these records by university personnel. Students must complete an Authorization for Access to Student Records to define the person or third party they wish to allow access to specific items of record. This Authorization form is required each academic year and can be found on the Registrar's Office webpage.
• Financial Aid
  Loans, scholarships and grants that help to aid in financing college costs including, but not limited to Tuition, Fees, Housing and Meals. Federal aid includes but is not limited to Stafford Loans, Parent PLUS Loans and Pell Grants. State aid includes the PHEAA State Grant. Private Aid includes Alternative Loans from private banks.
• Financial Aid Progress
  Also known as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) used to determine if a student is eligible for federal aid and other aid that requires minimum cumulative GPA's. Federal Aid impacted by Financial Aid Progress includes, but is not limited to Stafford Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, Pell Grants and SEOG grants.
• Freshman
  Traditional name for first-year students in four-year degree programs.  At Kutztown, a freshman is any student who has earned 0-29 credit hours. 
• Full-Time Student
  A student enrolled in 12 or more credit hours in a semester.

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• Good Academic Standing
  A student with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.
• GPA (gpa)
  Shorthand for "grade point average".  The standard measure for determining overall academic standing.   Kutztown University, like almost all US institutions, uses the scale  A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1 and F=0.  No other grades ( Audit or Withdraw, for example) are included in computing the GPA.   Grade points for each course are multiplied by the number of credits assigned to that course, these values are summed, and that total is finally divided by the total number of credits for these courses to arrive at the GPA.

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• Housing Processing Fee
  Annual housing fee that must be completed to participate in roommate selection.  For returning students, it is a pre-requisite to room selection.  It is a non-refundable fee.
• Hybrid Course
  See Blended Course

I Top

• Independent Study
  Is a course of study, specific in nature, content, and level that is not provided as a regular course offering of study at the University. This course is designed by the faculty and the student. This is proposed through several levels including the Dean of the department with the student required to meet certain criteria of eligibility. These courses are considered on-campus for billing purposes.
• Individualized Instruction
  Is a course of study, regularly taught at the University in a one on one method between the instructor and the student. This is proposed through several levels including the Dean of the department with the student required to meet certain criteria of eligibility. Upon approval these credits will be added to the students enrollment in a particular semester or session. These courses are considered on-campus for billing purposes.
• Internship
  A temporary position a student holds with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment, it can be paid and not paid. With proper advanced permission of the Dean of the department, a student with a professor assigned to grade performance, can propose an internship for an amount of credits. Upon approval these credits will be added to the students enrollment in a particular semester or session. These courses are considered off-campus for billing purposes for said credits enrolled.

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• Junior
  Traditional name for third-year students in four-year degree programs.  At Kutztown, a junior is any student who has earned 60-89 credit hours. 

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• Leave of Absence
  Any matriculated full or part-time student in good academic standing may request a leave of absence from the University. A leave of absence may be granted for one semester, with the possibility of renewal for a consecutive semester, upon approval of the Registrar. At the conclusion of the leave a student may register to continue his/her program of study without repeating the admissions process and may select courses with the class appropriate to the total credit hours earned.

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• Major
  Your major is your academic area of study.
• Matriculate
  To be formally accepted as a degree or certificate candidate in a specific curriculum or major.  i.e.  "I think I'll be a Communications major"  would translate more formally as  "I plan to matriculate in the Communications curriculum".
• MyKU
  MyKU is the student software application that allows a student to register for classes, pay invoices, view schedules and grades.
• MyKU Dining
  A student software application that allows students to complete and sign their dining contract, select their meal plan and view their meal plan information.
• MyKU Housing
  A student software application that allows students to complete their Housing Processing Fee, request a roommate, and view assignment/roommate information.
• MyKU Housing Mobile
  A mobile app that can be downloaded onto a smart phone. The app contains information about MyKU Housing
• MyKU Mobile
  A mobile application that can be downloaded onto a smart phone. The app contains information about MyKU and D2L.

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• Orientation
  See CONNECTIONS
• Override 
  Written or electronic permission given by a faculty member or staff to register for a class that you were unable to register for.

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• Part-time Student 
  A student enrolled in fewer than 12 credit hours in a semester.
• Pre-requisite
  A requirement that certain courses must be successfully completed before others may be attempted.  Sometimes requires a grade of C or better in the earlier course -- if so this will be stated explicitly in the course description for the later course.
• Professor
  Instructor of a college-level course.
• Program of Study
  See curriculum
• Provost
  The chief academic officer on campus.

Q Top

• Quality Points 
  Semester credit hours multiplied by the numerical equivalent of a letter grade.

R Top

• R
  Abbreviation for "Thursday" in the Kutztown University schedule of classes.
• Registrar
  An official at Kutztown University who is responsible for keeping student records.
• Registration
  The process of planning your courses every semester, and reserving your place by paying the tuition bill.  Can now be completed online through MyKU web application or MyKU Mobile.

S Top

• Schedule of Classes 
  A guide to classes for each semester, with specific information about instructors, times, and locations.
• Semester
  A period of time that is typically 15 weeks to complete a course. These occur in the Fall and the Spring. Fall is generally late August through mid-December. Spring is generally late January through mid-May. Instructional time is equivalent in semesters and sessions.
• Senior
  Traditional name for fourth-year students in four-year degree programs.  At Kutztown, a senior is any student who has earned 90-120 credit hours. 
• Session
  A period of time that is shorter than a typical 15 week semester in Fall and Spring in which the student completes a course. This period of time is generally 5 weeks in length and occurs in Summer and Winter in between Fall and Spring. Instructional time is equivalent in semesters and sessions making sessions much more condensed for the same material and requirements.
• Sophomore
  Traditional name for second-year students in four-year degree programs.  At Kutztown, a sophomore is any student who has earned 30-59 credit hours.
• Student Services
  Services provided by a College that are not explicitly " academic".  e.g.  Bookstores, Counseling, Career Centers, Dining Facilities, Financial Aid, Internship programs, Parking, etc.
• Syllabus
  A document guide prepared by the instructor that outlines important course information. This may include but not limited to course expectations, schedule, and grading policies

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• TBA
  To Be Announced   --  Seen in the schedule of classes when exact instructor, or sometimes exact classroom, was not yet known at the time the course was created.
• Transcript
  A formal record of grades received in all courses you have taken, and whether any degrees or certificates have been successfully completed.  Must generally be sent directly from one College to the other when planning to transfer, or when applying to begin a higher degree program.
• Tuition
  A fee assessed to students on a per credit basis for instruction. Tuition is charged along with other required fees comprising a typical tuition invoice. Housing and meals may be added if elected.

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• Withdraw
  Removing yourself from a course, or courses, after the Add / Drop period, by filing a Withdrawal Form in, or with, the Registrar's Office. For each course you withdraw from, you will earn a W. This will appear on your official transcript of record. Should you go from full time enrollment to below full time enrollment due to this withdrawal, you may affect your academic and financial aid progress.
• Work-Study Student 
  A student employee receiving financial aid.