Commonly Used Terms and Abbreviations

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

Add: Adding an additional course(s) to a class schedule. After the initial registration period adds are possible only if space is available and if the course has not yet met more than two times.

Admission: The process of being admitted to the College. A person wishing to enroll must complete an application, be accepted and receive acknowledgement of acceptance from the Admissions Office before registering for classes.

Application: Submitting a request to be accepted to enroll in the College.

Audit: The opportunity to enroll in a credit course without receiving academic credit. Audit students are required to meet all the course requirements expected of the other students taking the course.

Career and Technical Courses: Courses that are designed to aid the student in developing skills to be used in the job market and that lead to a certificate or Associate in Applied Sciences 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: A listing of course and program descriptions that can lead to certificate and associate degree awards. Also included is general information about the college.

Class or course schedule: A listing of all the courses being offered, at any time, including the section numbers, dates, times, instructor's names and class locations.

College-Based Distance Learning Class: A course offering that includes both instructional contact hours delivered at a distance and college-based instructional requirements.

College Level Math: Requires a student to have successfully completed two years of high school algebra and acquire an appropriate assessment score at the DCCCD standard, a standard which is higher than the state's TSI standard, or successfully complete Developmental Mathematics 0099 or Developmental Mathematics 0093 with a grade of "C" or better. Other math prerequisites may be required.

Common Course Numbers: Beginning in Fall 1995, the Common Course Number is being used for the same course by a 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 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 degree plan that a student must successfully complete in order to receive an Associate in Arts/Associate in Sciences Degree.

Co-requisite/Concurrent: A course requirement that must be met simultaneously with another course.

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

Course Time Limitation: Some designated courses have age or time limitations. COSC 1300, 1309, 1315, 1317, 1320, 1401, 1415, 1430, 1436, 1437, 2415, 2425, 2430, 2436, BCIS 1405 and 1431 are good for ten (10) years only. If taken prior to that time the course will not be utilized to fulfill degree/certificate requirements. For example: If you take COSC 1300 in the Fall of 2003 this course is good until Fall 2009 to fulfill degree/certificate requirements. After that time you will need to retake this course or complete another appropriate course as listed in the requirement.

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

Credit hours/semester hours: The number of credits awarded for successfully completing a course(s). This number is determined by the type of class and the number of hours it meets per week. Check the Catalog or the current Class Schedule at http://www.dcccd.edu/Current+Students/Courses+and+Programs/Class+Schedules.htm for the value of any course you wish to take.

Credit/noncredit: The distinction between courses that accrue semester credit value and those offered through Continuing Education for C.E. Unit value.

DCCCD: Dallas County Community College District is a body of seven colleges - Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake, and Richland, that are all subject to the policies established by the DCCCD Board of Trustees. Vist the DCCCD Board of Trustees at http://www.dcccd.edu/About+DCCCD/Board+of+Trustees/ for more information.

Dallas TeleCollege Virtual Class: Courses offered through the Dallas TeleCollege that require that all the instruction and student services be delivered via distance learning with no on campus requirements. All virtual class sections are numbered at the 9000 level. Visit the Dallas TeleCollege at http://telecollege.dcccd.edu/ for more information.

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 provide instruction in a non-standard classroom setting and are offered in a variety of technology-based formats.

Dropping a Course: 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. Effective with the Fall 2004 Semester, students may have to pay a higher rate tuition for the third or subsequent time they attempt a course. Students should take care in dropping a course as any future retake of that course may result in a higher tuition. Visit the Third Course Attempt Web page at http://www.dcccd.edu/Current+Students/Paying+for+College/Third+Course+Attempt/. Effective with the Fall 2007 Semester, a first-time freshman student who enrolls in a Texas public institution of higher education during the fall semester of 2007 or thereafter, may drop no more than six college level courses unless the drop qualifies as an exception. See Dropping/Withdrawing from College.

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

e-Campus: Courses offered online are sometimes referred to as "e-Campus" courses. e-Campus also refers to the Web site students use to access their online courses. To access e-Campus, visit http://ecampus.dcccd.edu/.

eConnect: eConnect is a web application that allows you to plan your schedule, search, register/drop and pay for your credit classes, buy books, order transcripts, view your grades and access your personal/financial information online. You must meet certain eligibility criteria to register on-line. All students are eligible to search or pay for credit classes and access their personal/financial information using eConnect. To access eConnect, visit https://eConnect.dcccd.edu/eConnect/eConnect.

Electives: Courses that do not count toward a major but are required for most college degrees. Consult with an advisor before deciding upon electives.

Embedded Course: A course which is shorter in length than the regular semester in which the course is scheduled. The starting and ending dates of the course fall within the starting and ending dates of the semester.

Flexible-entry course: A course with beginning and ending 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. To access the Class Schedule, visit http://www.dcccd.edu/Current+Students/Courses+and+Programs/Class+Schedules.htm.

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 (GPA). Two different ways of computing a GPA are utilized. For further explanation, see "Grades and Transcripts."

Grade points: See "Grades and Transcripts."

Grades: See "Grades and Transcripts."

Lab hours: The number of hours a student spends each week in a laboratory learning experience outside the classroom.

Lecture hours: The number of hours a student spends each week in a classroom learning experience.

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 at http://dallastelecollege.dcccd.edu/cable.html in the distance learning pages printed in the College's 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 at 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: The subject or field of study in which the student plans to specialize. For example, one "majors" in Automotive Technology, Business, etc.

Non-standard-term Course: A course which has a different starting date than the regular semester and the ending date of the course is after the ending date of that semester. See Class Schedule at http://econnect.dcccd.edu/econnect/Schedule/index.html for further information.

Online: All content delivered through computers and multimedia. These courses use eCampus and may include CD's and audio/streaming video. No on-campus testing or activities are required (previously called INET).

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.

Online Partial: Most of the content delivered through computers and multimedia. These courses use eCampus and may include CD's and audio/streaming video. On-campus testing, orientation, and/or other activities may be required (previously called Classroom partial, Blended, and/or Hybrid).

Online/Video-Based: Content delivered through a combination of interactive online computer activities using eCampus and video programs. On-Campus testing and/or activities may be required (previously called TVP or Streamed).

Part-time student: A student who is enrolled for less than 12 credit hours during a semester 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 and Transcripts" for more on grades and grade point averages.

Prerequisite: A requirement that must be met before registering for a specified course. See Prerequisites in this catalog for more information.

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

Registration: The official process of meeting all enrollment requirements. Check the College's Class Schedule for registration dates. To access the Class Schedule, visit http://www.dcccd.edu/Current+Students/Courses+and+Programs/Class+Schedules.htm.

Registration Number: A randomly assigned number associated with a specific registration.

Semester: The term designating the time divisions of a school year; i.e., fall semester, spring semester, summer semesters, I and II.

Syllabus (Syllabi): A guide identifying the specific requirements for a particular course. Students usually receive a syllabus from the instructor at the beginning of each course.

Technical/Occupational Courses: Courses that are designed to aid the student in developing 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 colleges and the public high school districts cooperatively develop and implement a planned sequence of courses to prepare students for technologically advanced careers. Tech Prep students earn college credit while in high school and advance to college programs after graduation. For more Tech Prep information, please visit http://www.dcccd.edu/TechPrep.

Telecourse: The telecourse is pre-recorded video course with accompanying printed materials.

Telecourse Plus Courses: Telecourse Plus Courses incorporate the use of both pre-recorded videos or DVD's and online instruction.

Transfer courses: Courses that are designed to transfer to other colleges and universities. Students need to consult with a registration advisor or check on the Transfer Services/Articulation and University Relations 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. For more transfer information, please visit http://www.dcccd.edu/TransferServices.

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

TSI: Texas Success Initiative; See TSI and Assessment.

Video-Based: Content delivered through a local cable channel, CD, DVD, MP4 system, VHS cassette. On-campus testing or activities may be required and content is not delivered through computer internet activities but may provide some communications, syllabus, orientation, and test review by email (previously called TeleCourse or TV).

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". Effective with the Fall 2004 semester, students may have to pay a higher rate of tuition for the third or more times they attempt a course. Visit the Third Course Attempt Web pages at http://www.dcccd.edu/Current+Students/Paying+for+College/Third+Course+Attempt/. Students should take care in withdrawing from a course as any future retake of that course may result in a higher rate of tuition.