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Terms You Should Know
Glossary
Advisor - Faculty and college staff trained in assisting students with academic decisions. Advisors guide and assist students in their choice of courses. Advisors help students choose the appropriate courses and programs to achieve their academic and career goals.
Audit - Students may audit a class if they are interested in the subject but do not wish to receive a grade. You will not receive credit for audited classes, and they will not count toward a degree or for credit to meet financial aid requirements.
Advising Syllabus - Similar to a course syllabus the Advising Syllabus outlines what is expected from the advising relationship between students and counselors/advisors. The syllabus indicates what students can expect from the counselor/advisor and, in turn, what their responsibility is in the counselor - student relationship.
Catalog - The catalog contains complete descriptions of academic regulations and information. It also contains a listing of academic program requirements and complete course descriptions.
Class Schedule - This booklet gives registration information and lists courses with their times, days, rooms, and instructors. A new schedule is published prior to registration for each semester.
CLEP – The College Level Examination Program is a series of examinations, one or more of which a student may choose to take for college credit. There is a fee to take CLEP examinations.
Counselor - Professional conselors are available to help students define and achieve personal, educational, and occupational goals, as well as to help deal with periods of personal crisis. They are knowledgeable about community and campus resources. Counselors are professionally trained in student development and assist students in the personal/social, academic, and career domains.
Credits/Units/Hours - These terms are synonymous. You earn a certain number of credits for each class that you complete, typically three to four. These credits count toward a degree or certificate.
Degree Plan (Degree Worksheet) - A tool used by students and counselors/advisors to assist students in planning their course of study in preparation to earn a degree or certificate.
Developmental Education - Because students entering college differ considerably in the basic skill areas of English, math, and reading, colleges commonly offer several levels of courses in these areas. Developmental courses are designed to assist students in building or developing the skills necessary to pass college-level courses. At Cochise College, developmental classes are typically numbered below the 100 level (e.g., ENG 010, MAT 005, or RDG 020).
Drop/Add - After you have registered, you may change your class schedule by “dropping” or “adding” classes. This only can be done during a certain period early in the semester. A counselor or advisor signature is necessary. Drop/add time periods are listed in each semester’s class schedule and on the academic calendar.
Electives – Electives are courses that are not counted toward general education or vocational program requirements but will count as credits toward graduation. Controlled electives are those electives within your major that are designated to count toward your program of study.
General Education Requirements – These requirements are a common core of courses required for graduation with an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree that provides students with a broad foundation of knowledge.
Grievance Procedure - If you feel that you have been subjected to unjust action or denied your rights as stipulated in published College regulations, state or federal laws, you can seek redress according to the College grievance procedure. Talk to a counselor or other college staff for a more complete discussion of this procedure.
Incomplete - If you, for good reason, are unable to complete all the work necessary in a course, your instructor may agree to assign you an incomplete rather than a failing grade. This requires a contract that stipulates the work you are to complete in order to receive a certain grade. The granting of incomplete grades is entirely at the discretion of the instructor. If the work is not completed in one semester, the incomplete grade reverts to an F.
Major - Your major is your program or field of study which you intend to pursue.
Part-Time/Full-Time Student - A part-time student is a student who takes less than 12 credit hours per semester; for financial aid purposes, at least six credits are required for part-time status. A full-time student is one who takes 12 or more credit hours per semester. This classification has direct bearing on your financial aid or veteran’s benefits.
Placement Assessment - Placement assessment is done upon admission to Cochise College prior to your registration for classes. Placement assessment determines in which level of English, math, or reading classes you are prepared to begin. Correct placement helps ensure college success.
Prerequisite – A prerequisite is a requirement that must be met before enrolling in a particular course, usually a placement test score or a prior course.
Syllabus/Procedure Sheet - At the beginning of a course, your instructor will give you one or more pages that describe the instructor’s expectations for the course: reading assignments, test dates, paper due dates, and instructor policies concerning attendance, behavior in class, and grading.
Transfer - Students who intend to receive an associate’s degree from another college, or who intend to continue their education by working toward a bachelor’s degree, should work closely with a counselor or academic advisor to plan their academic program here at Cochise College in order to transfer in the most efficient manner. Transfer guides to Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona are available in the Student Development Center on the Sierra Vista Campus or in the One Stop on the Douglas Campus.
Tutoring - Tutoring is available in the math and writing (English) labs and is provided free of charge by student tutors and faculty. Tutoring in other coursework also may be available.
Withdraw - Students may withdraw from a class or classes for any reason without academic penalty prior to the 10th week of classes. A withdrawal does not affect your grade point average, but it can affect your financial aid or veteran's benefits. Talk to an advisor or counselor.
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