Glossary of Terms

Academic Advisor – An instructor in an academic program or a counselor who advise students concerning academic programs and class schedules.

Academic Renewal – Offers an opportunity for students who have a past history of less than satisfactory work to start college over with a new GPA.

Academic Calendar – The days of each semester set aside as class holidays, and days marking special events.

Academic Year – The period of time generally extending from August to May, usually equaling two semesters (fall and spring).

Accreditation – Institutional accreditation is a recognized approval given by one of the U.S. Department of Education’s recognized regional accreditors (i.e. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools).

Adjunct Faculty – The instructors serving in a temporary or part-time capacity to teach specific courses on a course by-course basis.

Alumni – LDCC graduates.

Applicant – A student who has filed an application for entrance into the college or into a program but who has not yet registered.

Articulation – Agreement made with other colleges and universities to make the transfer of credits easier.

Arts and Humanities – Includes courses from art, literature, foreign languages, history, philosophy, and speech communications.

Auditing – Attending a course without receiving credit.

Behavioral/Social Sciences – Includes courses from anthropology, criminal justice, economics, education, geography, government, kinesiology, political science, psychology, social work and sociology.

Catalog – Contains information on such matters as admissions, registration, student organizations, programs offered, academic requirements, and courses of study.

Census Date – The 14th day of class in a fall or spring semester and the 7th day of class in a summer session are designated as the official census reporting date for Louisiana Institutions of Higher Education.

Closed Sections – A section of a class for which it is no longer possible to register. This section has no more space.

Concurrent Enrollment – When a college student is enrolled at two or more postsecondary institutions outside of a formal class enrollment agreement.

Continuing Education – The division of the college that offers courses that are not applicable toward a degree or certificate. Also called non-credit courses.

Corequisite – A course that must be taken at the same time or prior to another course.

Credit Hours – The amount of work a student completes is referred to as credit hours. Each completed course is worth an established number of credits. To receive a degree or certificate, a specified number of credits is required.

Cross Enrollment – When a college student is enrolled at two postsecondary institutions under a formal agreement that designates one institution as the home institution and the other as the host.

Credit by Examination – Available to students who feel they have sufficient knowledge of a particular course. Credit is awarded upon passing the examination.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) – a process that enables learners to demonstrate what they have learned and translate that learning into college credit. 

Curriculum – Course requirements and electives for a Degree or Certificate Program.

Degree or Certificate Program – Any grouping of campus-approved courses which, when satisfactorily completed, will entitle a student to a degree or certificate.

Degree Subject Area – The primary discipline which constitutes the focus of a degree program. When a student satisfactorily completes a degree program, the student will be entitled to a degree in the appropriate subject area.

Degree Title – The complete label of a degree program, (e.g. Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts).

Developmental Courses – Courses which are designed to increase student knowledge to a level at which the student can continue with success in an academic program. Developmental courses do not apply toward the completion of a degree or certificate but are required for students who place into them.

Division – The separation of the College’s academic program. LDCC currently has two academic divisions: Arts and Humanities and Natural Sciences.

Division Chair – Each academic division is headed by an administrator who is designated as a division chair. The division chairs provide educational and administrative leadership for the divisions.

Dual Enrollment – When a secondary student is also enrolled at a postsecondary institution.

General Education Requirements – The group of courses, including English composition, mathematics, social sciences, arts and humanities, natural sciences, computer literacy, and oral communication, that must be completed in order to earn an associate degree or other approved credential.

Grade Point – Numerical values assigned to letter grades. Example: an A has a value of 4. The total grade points for receiving an A is determined by multiplying the grade points (4) times the number of credit hours earned in that course.

Grade-Point Average (GPA) – A system of measuring students’ average grades.

Graduation Audit – This is the process by which an academic advisor, Division Chair, and Registrar determine if a student who has applied for graduation has met the requirements of the student’s academic program as well as all other specified requirements.

Major – That part of a degree program which consists of a specialized group of courses in a particular discipline or field. A major usually consists of 25% or more of total hours in a curriculum. Major courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or higher to fulfill graduation requirements.

Matriculation–Official enrollment of a student in a degree or certificate program.

Natural Sciences–Courses in biology, chemistry, earth science, geology, physical science and physics.

Non-Matriculating Student–A student who is attending college but is not working toward completion of a degree or certificate. Such students are usually not eligible for most forms of financial aid.

Overall Good Standing–The status of a student when he or she is in good academic standing, has no debts with the college, and has no discipline file in the Student Services Office.

Placement Testing–An examination process that determines a student’s entry-level into college courses.

Post-secondary Education Institution–An institution which has as one of its main missions the provision of a formal instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students who are beyond high school age.

Prerequisite–A course which must be completed before enrolling in another course.

Probation–A warning signal which indicates poor academic performance.

Registration–The process of officially enrolling in and paying for specific courses in a given semester or session.

Sequence Number–The unique eight character identification code that is associated with each class (e.g. 30831101).

Scantron–A test sheet that is purchased from the bookstore and graded by computer.

Schedule of Classes–A publication which includes the semester calendar, times the courses will meet, room numbers, instructors, and other information for a particular enrollment period.

Suspension–A period of time in which a student is not permitted to attend college due to below satisfactory academic performance or for disciplinary reasons.

Syllabus–A sequential outline of topics to be covered by the instructor during a course. It should include the instructor’s grading policy, attendance regulations, course requirements, learning objectives, and instructor’s office hours.

Transcript–Official record of all academic work attempted by a student. It contains course numbers, titles of each course taken, the grades received, degrees/certificates received and academic status (probation/ suspension).  

Abbreviations