ScholFinAidI

College Terminology

In this information module, a list of terms you may need knowledge are defined. Some of the items have links that you can go to on the Ball State website that will give you additional information.  For additional terminology, you may also want to read our Veteran Terminology web page.

Academic Advisor-
Purpose of the Academic Advisor-
Academic advisors are professionals guided by the principles that students are people who come to them with needs or wants. The academic advisors at Ball State University are expected to assist you in:
-understanding University policies/procedures as outlined in the online Ball State catalog (www.bsu.edu/catalog)

  • Understanding the philosophical purpose of the University Core Curriculum
  • Selecting courses and an appropriate course load
  • Meeting the freshmen requirements of your major
  • Conducting a major and/or minor search and the use of campus resources for that search
  • Changing your schedule during the course add/drop and withdrawal periods
  • Interpreting the Degree Analysis Progress Reports (DAPR)
  • Developing strategies for retention by referring you to campus services and resources
  • Identifying other appropriate University services
  • Differences in Freshman Advising and Faculty Advising-
  • As a freshman you have a freshman advisor, located in the Academic Advising Center in the North Quad (Room 324). This advisor will offer personalized, one on one support in areas such as course selection, choice of major, college transition issues and referral to other support services.
  • Once you have completed 30 credit hours, you will be assigned to a faculty advisor in the department of your declared major. If you have 30 credit hours and have yet to choose a major, you will continue meeting an advisor in University College who will help you consider options and make wise decisions regarding a major.
    http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/Advising.aspx

Academic Probation-
This is a status for students earning a GPA below 2.000. Probation makes a students’ continued enrollment at BSU dependent upon academic improvement.

Associate Degree-
An undergraduate degree, typically requiring 2 full-time years to complete and a minimum of 63 semester hours.

Baccalaureate Degree (Bachelor’s Degree)-
An undergraduate degree, usually requiring 4 or 5 full-time years to complete, and a minimum of 126 credit hours.

Blackboard-
Blackboard is a Web-based course-management system used by Ball State University to enhance the learning experiences of students. It provides a means for faculty to deliver course content to students. Blackboard also includes collaboration tools that allow students and faculty members to interact online.
http://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/HelpDesk/TechClips/AcademicToolsforClasses/Blackboard.aspx

BSU Catalog –
An official university publication that records the University’s academic policies, procedures, and curriculum. The catalog reflects all of the majors, minors and other undergraduate degree programs currently offered at Ball State.
http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/UndergraduateStudy/Catalog.aspx

Bursar-
The Office of Bursar and Loan Administration is responsible for the billing, collecting and depositing of all money owed to and/or collected by Ball State University. This office also determines residency status, setup and maintain Cardinal Cash accounts, and preparation of federal tax form 1098-T. Make sure to handle all matters with the Bursar’s office to avoid HOLDS being place on your records so you will able to register for classes.
Lucina Hall B31
765-285-1643
http://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/Bursar.aspx

Change of Course (Add/Drop)-
A period of time before and at the beginning of each semester in which the student can add or drop courses on their current schedule using online tools or paper forms.

Class on Hold-
A course in which enrollment is prevented by the course department. You can contact the department to learn the reason for a specific course hold.

Class Standing-
A student’s ranking by earned credit hours as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior.

Corequisite-
A course which must be completed simultaneously with another course. Most often, but not exclusively, corequisites are lab courses taken with a lecture.

Course Load-
The amount of credit hours in which a student is enrolled. A student can opt for a full-time or part-time course load.

Credit Hours (credits)-
A quantitative unit of measurement that represents the amount of weekly in-course academic time across a 16-week semester.

DAPR- Degree Audit Progress Report
The DAPR (Degree Analysis Progress Report) is a record that reflects a student’s academic progress toward degree completion (graduation) at Ball State University. It provides the student and advisor with:

  • The minimum graduation requirements including credit hours and GPA for a major or minor,
  • The courses that have already been taken to fulfill those requirements including the credit hours and grades received,
  • All current and past course work completed, whether it pertains to the requirements or not, Any courses taken at other colleges or universities that the student transferred to Ball State,
  • And class options for requirements that have not yet been completed.
    http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/Advising/AcademicBasics/TrackingProgress.aspx

Disabled Student-
Any student needing course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability or medical condition. Disabled students must register with the office of Disabled Student Development.
http://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/DSD.aspx

Disqualification-
Dismissal from the University for failing to meet minimum academic standards.

Elective-
A course that is not required for major, minor, University Core Curriculum, or any other degree program but counts towards graduation hours.

FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, is the key to determining whether you are eligible for federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid such as grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans.
Even if you think you may not qualify for federal aid, the information you provide on the FAFSA is often the basis for determining non-need based aid eligibility.
Financial Aid Office
Lucina Rm. 245
765-285-5600
http://cms.bsu.edu/Admissions/ScholarshipsandFinancialAid/HowtoApply/FAFSA.aspx 

Freshman-
An undergraduate student who has earned less than 30 credits.

Full-time Student-
A student is enrolled in a full-time course load, at least 12 credits.

Graduate Student-
A student who has completed a baccalaureate degree and who is pursuing further collegiate study and degrees.

ID Number-
This is a series of numbers given to a student that is used when accessing services and resources.

InQsit-
InQsit is a tool that is used to schedule, take, and cancel tests outside of the classroom on a computer, commonly placed in an InQsit lab on campus.
http://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/HelpDesk/TechClips/AcademicToolsforClasses/inQsit/inQsitStudentInformation.aspx 

Junior-
An undergraduate student who has earned 63-95 total credit hours.

Major-
The primary content area of a student’s degree.

Midterm Deficiency-
Any freshman who is earning a C- or lower at the mid-term of the semester has his/her current course grade reported to the Registrar, academic advisor, and the hall director. The midterm deficiency reports help the university guide students to appropriate support services.

Minor-
A secondary content area of a student’s degree.

Ombudsperson-
A university representative who helps students resolve concerns, problems or conflicts with regard to University policies, procedures, and decisions. The Ombudsperson provides a safe, confidential, and neutral place for students to come to express their concerns.
Administration Building Rm. 238
Office of Student Affairs
765-285-1545
http://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/StudentAffairs/StudentServices/Ombudsperson.aspx 

Part-time Student-
A student enrolled for fewer than 12 credits in a semester (6 credits in a summer term).

Prerequisite-
A requirement that must be completed before beginning a specific course or program.

Provost-
The chief academic officer at the University and the vice president in charge of the faculty.

Registrar-
The registrar office, commonly called the Registrar's Office, is the central hub of your academic career at Ball State University.

At this office, you can register for classes, check grades, obtain an ID card, update personal information, request an official transcript, seek information regarding current academic status, apply for graduation, and reinstatement. Our office also maintains information on voter registration and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Lucina Hall B43
765-285-1722
http://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/Registrar.aspx

Schedule-
A list of classes that a student is taking in a semester.

Scholarships and Financial Aid Office- The link below for the Financial Aid Office is a great place to start when looking for funds that one may be eligible to help pay for school. The Financial Aid office also has drop-in hours, so
Lucina Rm. 245
765-285-5600
http://cms.bsu.edu/Admissions/ScholarshipsandFinancialAid/HowtoApply/FAFSA.aspx

Semester-
A measurement of academic time and the standard enrollment period at Ball State. Fall and spring semesters are both 16 weeks in length while summer semester is 10 weeks in length.

Senior-
An undergraduate student who has earned 96 or more total credit hours.

Sophomore-
An undergraduate student who has earned 30-62 total credit hours.

SVO- Student Veteran’s Organization
The Student Veteran's Organization is a community for current and past veterans and service members as well as their families and friends. SVO provides resources, guidance, and fun events academically and personally. The resources and guidance offered is strictly for Ball State veterans.
http://svo.iweb.bsu.edu/

Syllabus-
Your syllabus will be the document that each course is based off of. It usually includes the professor’s contact information, office hours, the course description, recommended textbooks, grading scale, and assignments, among any other information that the instructor wants to include.

Transcript-
A student’s official academic record. The transcript shows course completed, credits and grades earned, and some academic honors like Dean’s list. Free transcripts are available through the Transcript Office.

Transfer Credit-
Most non-remedial, non-vocational courses in which a student earns a 2.000 or better at an accredited institution are accepted at Ball State. To help with the transferring of credit, which may or may not count towards one’s major degree requirements, the link below provides two resources that can help. http://cms.bsu.edu/Gateways/CurrentStudents/transfer.aspx

Undecided Major-
A student who has not declared a major program of study.
Undergraduate Student-
A student who is pursuing an associate or bachelor degree.

University Core Curriculum (UCC)-
A program required of all undergraduates regardless of the academic majors students choose. Approximately one-third of the degree, the UCC program is designed to help all Ball State students develop and discern knowledge, skills, and values to enable people to live rich satisfying lives and to undertake the broad responsibilities of citizenship in a free society.

University Withdrawal-
This is a withdrawal from all classes after the semester or term has begun due to certifiable health problems and/or extenuating circumstances.

Username (online tools)-
This username, usually given to students at Orientation, is typically the same username that is used to access campus e-mail.

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