Academic Advisor: A member of the college staff who helps students set educational goals and select courses to meet those goals.

Add: During any single semester, to enroll in additional course(s) after registration.

Admission: A person wishing to enroll must complete an application, be accepted and receive acknowledgement of acceptance from the Admissions Office before registering. An application can be acquired online at www.dcccd.edu.

Audit: Enrollment in a credit course without receiving academic credit.

College-Based Distance Learning Class: A College-based Distance Learning Class has more than 50% of the instructional contact hours delivered at a distance, with occasional college-based instructional requirements, i.e. testing and review sessions. Most student services are delivered on campus. College-based Distance Learning Classes are offered using one or more of the distance learning course delivery formats.

Career and Technical Courses: Courses that lead to a Certificate or Associate in Applied Science Degree in a technical or occupational program. These courses are designed to aid the student in developing entry-level skills to be used in the job market. Consult an advisor regarding transferability if you plan to attend a four-year institution.

Catalog: The book containing course descriptions, certificate and associate degree requirements, and general information.

Class schedule: A booklet that is published prior to each semester listing classes, sections, dates, times, instructors' names and meeting places. This booklet is used by students in preparing personal class schedules each semester.

Common Course Numbers: Beginning in Fall 1995, the Common Course Number became the official number of the course. This same Common Course Number is being used for the same course by a number of colleges throughout Texas to help students identify how a course will transfer. However, the lack of a Common Course Number does not necessarily mean a course will not transfer.

Concurrent enrollment: (a) Enrollment by the same student in two different colleges of the DCCCD at the same time; (b) Enrollment by a high school student in one of the DCCCD colleges while still enrolled in high school; (c) Enrollment by a student in two courses in the same semester; (d) Enrollment in both a college of the DCCCD and another college or university at the same time; (e) Enrollment in both credit and continuing education courses at the same time.

Core: The 48 prescribed hours of a 61-hour degree plan that a student must successfully complete in order to receive an Associate in Arts / Associate in Sciences Degree.

Course Load: The number of hours or courses in which a student is enrolled in any given semester.

Credit: The numerical value assigned to a course (See "credit hours/semester hours.")

Credit hours/semester hours: The unit of credit earned for course work. Each college course is worth a certain number of credit or semester hours. This number is determined by the type of class and the number of hours per week it meets. For example, a three-credit-hour class (English, history, etc.) meets three hours per week during the fall/spring semester; a four-credit-hour class (science, languages, etc.) meets six hours per week. Check the Catalog or the current Class Schedule for the value of any course you wish to take.

Credit/non-credit: Credit classes are those that award academic credit and may apply toward a degree. Non-credit classes do not apply toward a degree and are usually offered as continuing education courses.

DCCCD: Dallas County Community College District. The district is composed of Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake, and Richland Colleges. These colleges are all subject to the policies established by the DCCCD Board of Trustees.

Dallas TeleCollege Virtual Class: Courses offered through Dallas TeleCollege are defined as "virtual classes." A Dallas TeleCollege virtual class requires that all instruction and student services be delivered at a distance with no college based requirements. Dallas TeleCollege virtual class sections are numbered 9000-level. Virtual class sections may be offered using the online course or Telecourse Plus distance learning course delivery formats. A course offered through Dallas TeleCollege is the equivalent of the same course offered by all colleges of the DCCCD.

Developmental Studies Courses: Courses that develop prerequisite skills in reading, writing and mathematics. Because of the nature of these courses, the credit earned will not count toward graduation requirements and may not be transferred to colleges outside the DCCCD.

Distance Learning: Distance learning courses are offered in a variety of formats. Each format requires a unique set of technologies essential to successful course completion.

Drop: The act of officially withdrawing from a particular course without penalty before a specified date. See the Academic Calendar in this catalog for "Last Day to Withdraw." It is the student's responsibility to drop a course by the date published.

Dual credit: Credit earned for both high school and college via concurrently enrolled high school students.

EConnect: eConnect is a web application that allows you to search, register and pay for your credit classes, view your grades and access your financial information online.

Electives: Courses that do not count toward a major but are required for most college degrees. Electives are selected for personal interest, skill development, or to increase one's knowledge or understanding. Consult with an advisor before deciding upon electives.

Flexible-entry course: A course beginning and ending on dates that are different from the regular semester. This is also referred to as "flex-entry" or "short semester." Consult the Class Schedule for further information.

Former student: One who has not attended a college of the DCCCD in the past year.

Full-time student: A student who is enrolled for at least 12 credit hours during a semester or for six credit hours during a summer session. The student may be enrolled in one or more colleges of the DCCCD as long as the total number of hours meets the full-time requirement.

GPA: Grade Point Average. Two different ways of computing a GPA are utilized. For further explanation, see "Grades Transcripts."

Grade points: See "Grades Transcripts."

Grades: See "Grades and Transcripts."

Lab hours: The number of hours a student spends each week in a laboratory or other learning environment.

Lecture hours: The number of hours a student spends each week in a classroom other than a laboratory.

Live-Interactive Television Course: The live-interactive television course uses one-way video and two-way audio. Each class is a live cable broadcast. Tapes are not available for these courses. Students must view class at broadcast times. See the Cable Broadcast Schedule in the distance learning pages printed in the Class Schedule. Students must have access to a participating cable television system. Students may interact during the live class with the faculty by telephone, placing a call to a voice bridge system. The course may include college based requirements including orientations, testing and review sessions. Call the Distance Learning Hotline for more information about participating cable systems, (972) 669-6400 or if outside Dallas, toll-free: 1 (888) 468-4268. Only college based distance learning classes may utilize the live-interactive television course delivery format.

Major: A concentration of courses (generally 10-13 credit hours) within a specific discipline.

Online Courses: Online courses are delivered using only computers and computer peripherals. Students are required to have reliable Internet access and the latest version of an Internet browser software. The online classroom is used to deliver instruction, facilitate interactions among faculty and students, and more. Dallas TeleCollege virtual classes and campus-based distance learning classes may use the online course delivery format.

Part-time student: A student who is enrolled for less than 12 credit hours during a semester or less than six credit hours in a summer session. The student may be enrolled in one or more colleges of the DCCCD as long as the total number of hours meets the part-time requirement.

Performance grade: A grade of "A," "B," "C," "D" or "F." This does not include the grades of "W," "I," "E" or "WX" See "Grades & Transcripts." for more on grades and grade point averages.

Prerequisite: A requirement that must be met before registering for a specified course. For example, the prerequisite for English 1302 is the successful completion of English 1301. A prerequisite may be another course (high school or college), an appropriate assessment score, or instructor's permission.

Probation: A warning for a student whose academic work or behavior is unsatisfactory. Students on academic probation may be suspended if their academic performance does not improve.

Registration: The official process for enrolling in courses. This involves selecting classes with the help of an advisor, completing all registration forms and paying fees. Check the Class Schedule for registration dates.

Registration Number: A number indicating the course, day/evening, hour, room number and name of instructor for a particular course.

Semester: A term denoting the length of time a student is enrolled in a specific course. For example, there are two long semesters (fall and spring) that last approximately 16 weeks. There are two summer sessions or "semesters" (Summer I and Summer II) that last approximately 12 weeks.

Syllabus (Syllabi): An outline for a course of study. Students usually receive a syllabus from the instructor at the beginning of each course.

TASP: Texas Academic Skills Program; See TASP& Alternative Assessment.

Technical/Occupational Courses: Courses that lead to a Certificate or Associate in Applied Science Degree in a technical or occupational program. These courses are designed to aid the student in developing entry-level skills to be used in the job market. Consult an advisor regarding transferability if you plan to attend a four-year institution.

Tech-Prep: An educational process where the college and the public high school districts cooperatively develop and implement a planned sequence of course work to prepare students for technologically advanced careers. Tech Prep programs are endorsed and approved by The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Through the Tech Prep process students earn college credit while in high school and advance to college programs after graduation.

Telecourse: The telecourse allows the student to work and learn independently, with college-based requirements including orientations, testing and review sessions. The course includes a pre-produced video series with print materials. Class interaction is offered through the telephone, fax and mail. Students are required to have access to a participating local cable system, KDTN public television, or a VHS-format videocassette player. Only college-based distance learning classes may use the telecourse delivery format.

Telecourse Plus Courses: The Telecourse Plus course incorporates the use of video and the online classroom. The course includes a pre-produced video series with print materials. Students are required to have access to a participating local cable system, KDTN public television, or a VHS-format videocassette player. Students are also required to have reliable Internet access and the latest version of an Internet browser software. The online classroom is used to deliver instruction, facilitate interactions between faculty and students, and more. Dallas TeleCollege virtual classes and college-based distance learning classes may use the Telecourse Plus delivery format.

Telephone registration: Touch-tone registration is available during regular registration. The telephone number for touch-tone telephone registration is 972.613.1818.

Transfer courses: Courses which are designed to transfer to other colleges and universities. Students need to consult with an advisor or counselor or check on college web site about the transferability of specific courses. Because a course will transfer does not mean it will apply toward a specific major or degree at a four-year college or university.

Transcript: An official copy of a student's academic record which can be obtained through the Admissions Office. An official transcript must have the seal of the college affixed and the signature of the Registrar.

Withdrawal: The act of ending enrollment in classes. A student withdrawing must go through a formal procedure. It is the student's responsibility to withdraw officially by the appropriate date. See the Academic Calendar in this catalog or in the College Class Schedule for the "Last Day to Withdraw".