Glossary of Frequently Used College Terminology
A.A. (Associate in Arts) Degree – A 60 credit hour program, designed for students who plan to transfer to a college or university to earn a bachelor’s degree. A Florida A.A. degree satisfies general education requirements at all state universities in Florida. (See Articulation Agreement for the A.A. Degree)
A.A.S. (Associate in Applied Sciences) Degree – Career path degree programs designed to prepare students for immediate employment in a specific field. These programs contain greater scope and depth than Certificate or Applied Technology Diploma programs. as prescribed by the State, these programs must be at least 60 college credit hours in length, and must contain 15-18 college-level hours in general education.
A.S. (Associate in Science) Degree – Career path degree programs that include requirements listed under “A.A.S. Degree.” Articulated A.S. to B.S. degree programs are designed to prepare students for immediate employment in a specific field, as well as to transfer to a Florida public university as a junior to complete a bachelor’s degree in that specified field.
Accreditation - Certification that the College or program has met established standards, and is nationally or regionally recognized by appropriate accrediting agencies. LSSC, and all other Florida public community colleges and universities, are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Advanced Placement - College credits earned prior to enrollment at LSSC through certain examinations, such as those administered by the College Entrance Examination Board.
Articulation Agreement – A written agreement between institutions that provides students with a non-duplicated sequence of courses leading to degrees or certificates. LSSC has articulation agreements with Florida’s public universities, Lake Technical Center, and Lake, Marion, and Sumter County Schools.
Articulation Agreement for the A.A. Degree – Agreement between Florida’s public community colleges and universities assuring junior-level status to students who complete the community college general education and all graduation requirements in university parallel (A.A. degree) programs.
Attempt - Any time a student has enrolled and remained in a course beyond the Drop period, thereby receiving a grade, including withdrawal (W) or failure (D, F, or U), at any Florida public college or university. This has an impact on financial aid eligibility, cost of the course, and the number of times a student can register for the same course.
Banner – Banner is LSSC’s main computer information system that manages all student, financial aid, financial, and personnel data for the college. Students access their information within this system through LOIS using their X-ID number.
Blackboard – A learning management system which offers a number of tools to facilitate computer accessed learning, including student-instructor and student-student interaction, and a variety of assessment activities.
Career and Technical Education Programs - Degree, certificate, and diploma programs with courses designed to prepare students for specialized occupations. At LSSC, these include the A.A.S. and A.S. degrees, Applied Technology Diploma, and Certificate programs.
Catalog - A printed and online resource of all academic policies and procedures, college and degree requirements, full-time faculty and staff, and course descriptions. It is published yearly and is subject to change. Students must meet graduation requirements as published in a single catalog. The LSSC Catalog and Student Handbook is available at each of the campuses and at www.lssc.edu.
Certificate Programs - Career programs of shorter duration and less scope and depth than degree programs; designed to prepare students with skills needed for the workforce.
CLEP (College Level Examination Program) - General and subject exams, offered nationally by the College Board, covering material taught in college level courses. Credit for courses may be granted to students who achieve specific scores on the exams. For costs of exams and further information regarding CLEP, contact the LSSC Testing Office, located in Student Development in Leesburg (435-5009).
College - a division of a university that typically contains one or several academic departments. For example, the College of Arts and Sciences contains the Department of English and the Department of Foreign Languages. A “College” is also sometimes known as a “School.”
College Preparatory Courses – Also known as Prep or Developmental courses in reading, English (writing), and mathematics, these courses are designed to assist students in building a stronger foundation on which to advance to college level work. The State requires that students must successfully complete all Prep/Developmental courses into which they place. This coursework needs to be completed in the student’s first 12 hours, and/or before advancing to college level work. Course numbers beginning with a zero (0) indicate a Prep/Developmental course for which no credit can be earned toward a degree.
Common Program Prerequisites –The State of Florida has identified Common Program Prerequisites for all university programs. These prerequisites must be completed by all students going into that field of study, must be accepted by all state universities, and must be applied toward the degree.
Cooperative Education (Co-op) – Courses in which students gain academic credit as well as work experience related to their academic program.
Corequisite – A course required to be taken at the same time as another course.
Course Load - Number of credit hours a student carries in a term. Full-time course load is 12 or more credit hours; part-time is 1-11 credit hours.
CPT (Computerized Placement Test) - Florida’s College Entry Level Placement Test is the exam used at LSSC to determine the appropriate level for new students to begin their math, reading, and English coursework. In some cases, recent ACT or SAT scores may be used in place of the CPT.
CRN (Course Reference Number) - The unique five-digit identifier for a specific section of a course; used for registration on LOIS.
Credit by Examination – College credit in specified subjects granted by successful completion of local or national exams. (formerly known as Exemption Exams)
Credit Hour or Semester Hour – Every course is assigned a total number of credit hours, which reflects approximately the total hours a student spends per week in class. Most lecture courses are three credit hours and meet three hours each week. Laboratories usually meet more than the number of credit hours assigned. In addition to in-class time, students should expect to spend at least two hours of study time outside of class for every hour spent in class.
Degree Audit – Formal list of the courses that a student has completed, and courses a student must still complete in order to qualify for graduation in a specific degree program. Students can make an appointment to meet with an Advisor for a degree audit.
Degree Seeking Student – A student who has met all admissions requirements, and is following a plan of courses leading to an A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. degree.
Department - An organizational unit of a college that represents a discipline or series of related disciplines, such as the Department of English and Communications.
Developmental Courses – See College Preparatory courses.
Discipline (Academic) – a field of study in which a student may concentrate (e.g., psychology, accounting, biology). A variety of disciplines are taught in each college/school.
Distance Learning – Courses that utilize one or a variety of media to deliver instruction to a student at a site remote from the instructor.
Drop – Procedure students use at specified times before classes begin to remove a course from their schedules. Students are not obligated for tuition and fees for courses that they drop, and these courses do not show on the student’s transcript or count as an attempt for that course. Students drop classes themselves via LOIS. Once the drop period hs ended, students may only leave a course through the withdrawal process. (See Withdrawals)
Dual Enrollment - A Florida program that allows eligible students from public, private, and recognized home school programs to take college level courses while enrolled in high school, earning credit for both the high school diploma and the college degree. Additional requirements apply to Dual Enrollment students; for further information, refer to the LSSC Catalog and Student Handbook. For all matters related to Dual Enrollment, contact the Dual Enrollment Manager at 365-3569.
Electives - Course selections in which students have choices of courses. The A.A. degree requires 24 credit hours of electives; A.S. and A.A.S degrees have fewer or no electives. Choices should be based on the student’s degree program at LSSC, as well as courses required for future programs. See an Advisor for more specific details.
Enrollment Verification - Go to: www.lssc.edu --> Current Students --> Enrollment & Degree Verifications.
Exit Tests - tests taken to move from preparatory to college level classes; exit tests are given in ENC 0010, MAT 0024, and REA 0002.
Expulsion - Student status under which a student is permanently barred from attending LSSC.
FACTS.org (Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students) – A website about Florida colleges and universities, providing information on institutions; degree programs, prerequisites, and transfer and degree requirements; admissions requirements; financial aid, scholarships, and loans; student academic records (transcripts); assessing interests for potential majors and careers; and researching careers, salaries, and regional job availability. Access www.facts.org from any computer with internet connection.
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) – Also known as the Buckley amendment, FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of students’ education records.
Freshman – A student who has completed fewer than 30 college-level credits toward a degree.
Full Cost of Instruction – Tuition and fees equivalent to the Florida non-resident cost. See Third Attempt Rule.
Full Time Status – Enrollment for 12 or more credit hours in Fall, Spring, and Summer; 6 or more credit hours in Summer A or B.
Fully Online – A course, generally offered in Blackboard or another publisher platform selected by the instructor in which all or most of the assignments are completed online. The fully online class may meet in a regular classroom once or twice during a semester - not to exceed 10% of the course hours (e.g., for an orientation session, and/or assessments) or may never meet in a regular classroom. Students enrolled in the fully online mode of a course must meet the same objectives or competencies as those enrolled in any other mode of the course.
General Education Courses– A specific number of credit hours of basic liberal arts courses required as the foundation in the university parallel A.A. degree. Some General Education courses are also required in the A.S. and A.A.S. degree programs.
Gordon Rule – Florida Rule 6A-10.030 requires that all students seeking A.A. or bachelor’s degrees must complete certain coursework in college level writing and mathematics (College Algebra or higher) courses, earning a C or higher, prior to entrance into upper level classes at a state university. This requirement must be satisfied to earn an A.A. degree at LSSC.
GPA (Grade Point Average) – Total quality points earned for college level courses taken at LSSC and transfer institutions divided by total attempted credit hours. The GPA is used to determine a student’s academic standing.
Grade Forgiveness – A grade of “D” or “F” earned in the first attempt in a course is replaced by the grade earned in the next attempt. The initial grade will always remain on the student’s transcript, but is not calculated in the GPA at LSSC.
Graduation Application – The application form that a student must file in the Admissions/Records Office in order for LSSC to award a degree. The application must be completed by the student after meeting with an Advisor for a Graduation Check/Degree Audit and pay the required fee by the deadline date listed.
Holds - Block on activity for transcripts, grades, diploma, or registration because of financial or other outstanding obligations to LSSC.
Hybrid – materials: some reduced seat-time and online or Telecourses, etc. packaged from other publishers’ platforms, not hosted by LSSC.
Hybrid – mixed: some reduced seat-time and Learning Management Systems (LMS) online with Blackboard and/or LSSC ITV resources hosted by LSSC.
Incomplete –An Incomplete grade is given only when the student has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work for the majority of the term and has furnished proof to the instructor that the work cannot be completed because of circumstances beyond the student's control. Appears on a student’s transcript as an ‘I’. Students who do not finish the required work and submit it for a letter grade by the end of the following term automatically receive an IF (Incomplete/Failure) grade in the course.
Late Registration – Registration for courses just prior to the start of the term in which the courses are taught. A late registration fee may be assessed.
Limited Access Program - in a limited access program, the admissions requirements are more competitive and may include criteria such as a higher grade point average, higher test scores, additional courses or prerequisites, auditions, and/or portfolios.
LINCCWeb (Library Information Network for Community Colleges) - www.linccweb.org, provides the catalog for LSSC libraries, and is available from any internet-capable computer.
LOIS (LSSC Online Interactive Services) - LSSC students’ access to course registration, grades, financial aid information, and academic records.
New Student Orientation – Prior to registering for courses, students new to LSSC must participate in a New Student Orientation; transfer students are encouraged but not required to attend.
Non-Degree Seeking Students – Students taking courses for personal enrichment, teacher certification, or job enhancement, but not working on completing all requirements for a specific degree.
Nursing Information Session – Meetings scheduled periodically throughout the year by the LSSC Nursing Department. Prospective nursing students are required to attend one of these sessions no later than the fall semester before they submit their application for admission into the nursing program. Complete details are available at www.lssc.edu/nursing.
Online Learning – Courses delivered via the internet for facilitating learning. LSSC instructors use Blackboard primarily, though other publisher internet platforms may be used, (e.g., Math instructors use MyMathLab to enhance many of the math classes.)
Online Information Resources – includes books, periodicals, newspapers, government publications, audiovisual materials, web sites, web postings, webcasts, etc. in digital formats that are located via the internet. An LSSC library card is required for access to online subscription resources.
O.S.D. – Office for Students with Disabilities.
Parking Decals – Stickers that must be properly displayed on the vehicles of all faculty, staff, and students parked on any of the LSSC campuses. Decals can be obtained from the Information Desks at each campus. Students are responsible for knowing and abiding by all parking regulations.
Part Time Status - Students enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours in Fall, Spring, or Summer terms, or fewer than 6 credit hours in Summer A or Summer B terms.
PIN – Personal Identification Number. The additional code required along with the student’s X-ID for access to records, registration, the libraries, and other LSSC services. While the student’s X-ID remains consistent, PINs for services can vary.
Prerequisite – A course which must be satisfactorily completed before a higher-level related course can be taken.
Probation, (Academic) – A status given to students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Probationary students must meet with an Academic Advisor, and if receiving aid, a Financial Aid staff member.
Program - Also known as “Academic Program”; a set number of courses, any number of which may be mandatory and of a specialized nature, leading toward a particular degree.
Quality Points – The value, ranging from 4 – 0, for grades from A – F, for all courses completed, used in the calculation of a student’s GPA.
Registration - The process of selecting courses and class meeting days, times, instructors, and campuses for an academic term. Students are responsible for knowing the registration dates each semester (available in the Registration Guide and www.lssc.edu), completing their own registration on-line via LOIS, and paying by the established deadlines. Contact the Student Affairs staff with questions regarding the registration process.
Residency – To qualify for in-state tuition and fees, available to residents of Florida, students must sign a notarized statement confirming that they have resided in Florida for the 12 consecutive months prior to the start of classes for the term in which they wish to enroll. Students may be required to submit documentation to assist in verifying their residency status.
Returning Student – A student who has previously attended LSSC, but has not been enrolled at LSSC for one year or more, and must reapply in the Admissions office. There is no cost to re-enroll.
Rubrics – A clear, graphic method used by some faculty members to show students how the quality of their work will be graded, often presented in a chart format.
SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) - The accrediting body for LSSC which guides such things as curriculum requirements and faculty credentials for different degrees. Further information can be found at www.sacscoc.org.
Satisfactory – A grade given to students taking a course on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis who successfully fulfill all requirements for that course. Appears on a student’s transcript as an ‘S.’
School - a division of a university that typically contains one or several academic departments. A “School” is also sometimes known as a “College.”
Seated Class – A class which requires weekly attendance in a regular classroom at one of the LSSC campuses.
SGA (Student Government Association) – Official representatives of the student body to the administration in matters concerning student life.
SID (Student Identification Number) – See X-ID.
Sophomore – A student who has completed at least 30 college level credits toward a degree.
Suspension - Student status under which a student is not permitted to attend LSSC for a specified period of time.
Tech Prep/Career Pathways - High School Career-Technical Certificate Programs that allow students to earn college credits based on their high school curriculum and performance. For more information call 323-3612.
Technology-Enhanced Courses – Some seated courses meet on campus for all of their scheduled hours and have additional activities (e.g., homework, quizzes, and discussion groups) posted in the Blackboard or other publisher access for the course. These additional activities may be required or optional at the instructor’s discretion.
Term – Academic period for which classes meet. Fall and Spring terms are approximately 16 weeks; Summer AE terms (semesters) are approximately 14 weeks; and Summer A and B terms are approximately 7 weeks each. Mini-terms, or mini-semesters, vary in length.
Third Attempt Rule – Florida statutes limit the number of times a student may attempt courses, preparatory as well as college level. Students are allowed a total of three attempts per course, the third attempt costing the student the Full Cost of Instruction. An attempt includes any time a student stays enrolled in a course beyond the drop period and earns a grade, including “W,” “D,” “F,” “I,” and “U.”
Transcript – A student’s official academic record of courses kept by the College Registrar. Students may view the contents on their transcript on LOIS, and may request to have printed copies sent to other institutions or employers by going to www.lssc.edu --> Current Students -> Transcripts.
Transfer Plan – Academic programs or prescribed plans of study leading to the A.A. degree that include general education and prerequisite courses needed to prepare students for admission into specific university majors, such as business, education, or engineering.
Transfer Student – A student who attends another college or university before attending LSSC.
Transient Student – A student who takes one or more courses at LSSC to apply to academic requirements of another institution, or an LSSC student who takes one or more courses at another institution to apply to degree requirements at LSSC. Students must complete all appropriate forms in the Admissions/Records Office to have this credit applied.
University – An academic organization which grants degrees in a variety of fields. It is composed of a number of “schools” or “colleges,” each of which encompasses a general field of study (e.g., journalism, medicine, agriculture).
Unsatisfactory – A grade given to students taking a course on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis who do not successfully fulfill all requirements for that course. Appears on a student’s transcript as a "U."
Withdrawal – Removal from a course or courses by the student (or in some cases by the faculty member). The student’s transcript will reflect a grade of “W,” and this will count as one attempt for each of the courses involved. (See Third Attempt Rule). Students must complete and submit the Withdrawal Form to the Admissions/Records Office by the deadlines, or a grade of “F” will be earned by the student.
X-ID - The LSSC Identification Number assigned from Banner for every student, faculty, and staff member and used in place of the Social Security number to help protect the privacy of students and employees. The X-ID begins with an upper-case X, followed by 8 digits.