Commission for educational exchage

Academic Advisor: Member of the faculty who helps and advises the student on academic matters. He or she may also assist the student during the registration process.

Academic Probation: A status resulting from unsatisfactory academic work; a warning that the student must improve academic performance or be dismissed after a specific period of time.

Academic Year: Period of instruction from the beginning of the school year in September to the end in May; usually divided into two semesters, or three quarters, or three trimesters.

Accreditation: Education in the U.S. is not controlled by a national ministry. An educational institution is certified as meeting the standards set by a particular association. Colleges and universities may be accredited by 6 regional and/or 37 professional accrediting bodies. Examples: Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, American Medical Association.

Add Card: A printed card, usually computerized, authorizing a student to add a course to his or her schedule before a certain deadline.

Admission - Advanced Standing: Admission to a college or university as a sophomore, junior or senior based on credit received at another college or university.

Admission - Conditional: Admission granted to students who do not meet all admission criteria; student may be placed on probation for a specific period of time until he demonstrates his ability to do acceptable work.

Admission - Freshman Standing: Admission to a college or university based on graduation from an approved secondary school (high school).

Admission - Open: College or university admissions policy of admitting high school graduates and other adults generally without regard to conventional academic qualifications, such as high school subjects, high school grades, and admissions test scores. Virtually all applicants are accepted.

Admission - Rolling: Applications for admission are either accepted or rejected immediately after the student has fulfilled all of the college's or university's entrance requirements.

Admission - Special Standing: Admission to a college or university based on individual consideration of the applicant's age, scores on ability tests and other qualitative factors; usually involves applicants who do not meet regular admission requirements.

Advance Deposit: Money sent to an institution with your letter of acceptance of their offer of admission.

Advance Registration: Selection of classes one term in advance.

Advisee: A student receiving advice, information and assistance in planning and carrying out his educational plans.

Adviser: A member of the college or university staff who is assigned to assist students with educational planning.

Alien Registration Number: Identification number assigned to holder of a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa or an immigrant visa, for U.S. Government purposes.

Alumnus: A person who has attended or graduated from a school, college or university.

Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94): INS document, issued at the point of entry into the U.S. as proof that a foreign national has been legally admitted into the country. The Form I-94 indicates the length of time the bearer is permitted to remain in the U.S., either by a firm "expiration date" or by the notation, "D/S." "D/S" stands for "duration of status" and allows the
bearer to remain in the U.S. until the authorized purpose of coming has been fulfilled.

A.S.: Associate of Science degree awarded upon completion of a two-year liberal arts program.

Assignment: Out of class work required by a professor, due by a specific date.

Assistantship: A position in teaching, administration or research; usually for graduate students; involves 10 to 20 hours of work per week and graduate study.

Audit: Permits a student to take a class without receiving a grade or any credit. Requirements and fees are usually the same as those for credit status.

B.A.: Bachelor of Arts degree awarded upon completion of a four year program of study; generally includes study of a foreign language.

B.S.: Bachelor of Science degree awarded upon completion of a four year program of study; generally does not include study of a foreign language.

Blue Book: A small booklet with a blue cover and blank, ruled pages, used for writing essay-type examinations; usually purchased by the student at the university book store.

Bulletin: Same as Catalog.

Bursar: Same as Cashier.

Cafeteria: Self-service eating facility operated by the school or privately; school cafeterias offer meals at lower costs than at restaurants.

Campus: The land on which the buildings of a college or university are located.

Carrel: A small enclosed desk in the library reserved by individuals doing research

Cashier: Office or person within the university administration to which all fees are paid.

Catalog: The publication issued annually or biannually which gives information about a given school; basic publication and general reference; sometimes called "The Calendar", "The Register" or "Bulletin".

Certificate: An award for successfully completing a specified program of study, generally one or two years in length.

Certificate of Compliance: IRS document issued to departing foreign nationals as evidence that all owed income taxes have been paid. Also called "Exit Visa" or "Sailing Permit."

Certificate of Eligibility: INS Form I-20 A-B or I-20 M-N. The I- 20 A-B is issued by a U.S. educational institution that accepts a foreign student for full-time study. The I-20 A-B is necessary to obtain an F-1 student visa. The I-20 M-N is issued by an established U.S. vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution that accepts a foreign student for full-time study. The I-20 M-N is necessary to obtain an M-1 student visa.

Change of Status: Change from one visa classification to another. Change of status requires INS approval.

Check (Personal Check): Convenient and safe way of banking and managing your finances; there probably is a bank located near your school and you should be able to open a checking account with an initial deposit of approximately $300.00; you will be able to pay most of your bills by check so that you will not have to carry around large sums of cash.

Class: Referring to the year of study; 1st year Freshman, 2nd year Sophomore, 3rd year Junior, 4th year Senior; also refers to a group of people who meet with a professor on a scheduled basis.

Class Card: An official card, usually computerized, authorizing entry into a particular class.

Class Rank: A number or ratio indicating a student's academic standing in his or her graduating class. A student who ranks first in a class of 100 students would report his or her class rank as 1/100, while a student ranking last would report 100/100. Class rank may also be expressed in percentiles, i.e., the top 25 percent, the lower 50 percent.

College: Undergraduate, bachelor degree programs (4 or 5 years) in liberal arts, sciences and first professional degrees; may be an independent college or part of a university.

Community College: Generally a public, two-year institution of higher learning which offers instruction to meet the needs of the sponsoring community.

Consortium: When there are several colleges and universities within close proximity of each other, they often join together in a consortium. The advantages of attending a college which is a member of a consortium are that the student has the resources of many libraries, instead of just one; that he has the opportunity to take courses at a member institution which would not be
available at his own college; and that he can take advantage of many of the combined cultural and educational opportunities offered when the members of the consortium unite to present panel discussions, special lectures, and unusual courses.

Continuing Education: An extension of study at the higher education level for post high school or college students.

Co-op: A store operated by students with the cooperation and approval of the school; sells books, school supplies, typewriters and other items useful to students at low cost. Sometimes there are also food co-ops which are student-operated supermarkets.

Cooperative Education: A work/study program in which the student works full-time during one term of the school year to obtain practical experience in his or her field. Students participating in cooperative education programs generally need more than four years to complete an undergraduate program.

Core Curriculum: A group of courses in varied subject areas, designated by a college as one of the requirements for a specified degree. Same as Required Courses.

Course: Usually refers to a specific class, e.g. Quantitative Chemistry I.

Course Load: The number of courses for which a student registers in one school term.

Course Number: The number given to identify a course, e.g. (Chem. 236) Quantitative Chemistry I. Numbers of 100-300 usually refer to undergraduate courses and numbers above 400 are graduate courses.

Cram: Intense study for a test at the last possible moment. This is a poor way to study.

Credit: The quantitative measurement assigned to a course; the recognition given for successful completion of course work; usually defined by the number of hours spent in class per week; one credit hour is usually assigned for 50 minutes of class per week over a period of a semester,
quarter or trimester.

Cut: To be absent from a class.

Dean: Senior academic officer of a college. A university may have several colleges, each headed by a Dean.

Dean's List: List of full-time undergraduate students who have earned honor averages for a given term.

Deferred Tuition Payment Plan: A plan of paying college expenses such as tuition, and room and board, over a period of time instead of in one payment.

Degree: Diploma or title conferred by a college, university or professional school upon completion of a prescribed program of studies.

Department: Administrative subdivision of a school, college or university in which instruction in a certain field of study is given, such as the English department or the history department.

Dependent: One who relies on another for support. For INS purposes, a dependent is a spouse or an unmarried child.

Deportation: Forced removal from a country of a citizen of another country who has been judged to be illegally in the country or whose presence is considered to be against the public welfare.

Discussion Group: A group which meets with a professor or assistant to discuss lectures presented by the professor.

Dismissal: Involuntary separation of the student from the college; student is asked to leave temporarily or permanently by the college, usually because of unsatisfactory grades, sometimes because of undesirable conduct.

Dissertation: A formal paper presenting the results of original study and research which is submitted to fulfill requirements for a doctoral degree.

Domicile: Legal residence or permanent address.

Dormitory (Dorm): Living facilities which are operated by the school or privately; rooms, toilet and bathroom available; usually no cooking allowed.

Drop or Add: To withdraw from a course or add a course before a specified date.

Drop Card: Printed card, usually computerized, authorizing a student to withdraw from a course without penalty if filed by a specific date.

Dropout: A student who leaves school with no intention of returning.

Drug Store: A store that has a druggist (pharmacist) who will fill physician's (doctor's) prescriptions for medicine; non-prescription drugs are sold (e.g. aspirin); medical supplies (band-aids, bandages, thermometers) as well as notebooks, pencils, candies, cigarettes, razors, shaving cream, cosmetics, magazines and greeting cards

Dry Cleaners: A shop where you can take your clothes to be dry cleaned and pressed.

Duration of Status ("D/S"): Notation on INS Form I-94 ("See Arrival/Departure Record") which allows a foreign student or Exchange Visitor to remain in the U.S. for the length of time required to complete an authorized program or programs, plus 30 days.

Electives: Usually refers to courses which may be chosen from a list of courses given within your own department or outside your department. The opposite of "required courses."

Employment: Work for which a person receives pay. To protect jobs for U.S. citizens, employment of foreign students and Exchange Visitors and their spouses is restricted and regulated.

English as a Second Language (ESL): English language training for persons whose first language is not English.

Evening College: A division of a college designed largely for adults, to provide college studies on a part-time basis.

Exchange Visitor: Foreign national who enters the U.S. on a J-1 visa for educational purposes.

Exit Visa: See "Certificate of Compliance."

Extension of Stay: Permission from INS to remain in the U.S. beyond the expiration date specified on the Form I-94, "Arrival/Departure Record."

Extracurricular Activities: Activities which are a part of student life, but not part of regular classroom study, such as athletics, student activities, dances, clubs, etc

F-1: U.S. visa classification for regular students who have been accepted for full-time study at institutions of higher learning in the U.S.

F-2: U.S. visa classification for dependents (i.e., spouse and unmarried children) of F-1 visa holders.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: As a result of State and Federal Legislation in 1974, letters of recommendation are open to inspection by the individual about whom the recommendation has been written unless that legal right has been waived.

Fee: A payment charged for special services. Example: late registration fee, graduation fee, application fee.

Fellowship: A gift of money to a student, usually for graduate study; provides for tuition, educational and living expenses for full-time study.

Final: Terminal examination in a class or course.

Financial Aid: Scholarships, loans, grant-in-aid, and other financial assistance for students.

Foreign Student Advisor (FSA): The person associated with a school, college or university who is in charge of providing information and guidance to foreign students in such areas as U.S. government regulations, student visas, academic regulations, social customs, language, financial or housing problems, travel plans, insurance and certain legal matters.

Foreign Student Office: Campus office responsible for advising and assisting foreign students and Exchange Visitors. (Also called by other names, including "Office of International Services," "International Education," "International Programs," etc.)

Form I-20 A-B: See "Certificate of Eligibility."

Form I-20 ID Copy: Gold-colored INS document, issued to F-1 visa holders at the point of entry into the U.S., upon which are recorded all matters pertaining to the F-1 student's immigration status.

Form I-20 M-N: See "Certificate of Eligibility."

Form I-94: See "Arrival/Departure Record."

Form I-538: Application form to be filled out by J-1 or F-1 visa holders requesting an extension of stay, approval of part-time employment or practical training or permission to transfer from one school to another.

Form IAP-66: Form issued by a school, organization, agency or foundation designated and authorized as a sponsor for Exchange Visitors in the U.S. to a student sponsored by that organization for a specific educational program in the U.S. Necessary document for obtaining a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa to enter the U.S.

Fraternity: A social organization of men living together in a large house, each with different rules, regulations and objectives.

Freshman: A first-year student at a high school, college or university.

Full-time Student: A student who carries a full load of courses, usually a minimum of 12 credit hours for undergraduates and nine credit hours for graduate students. F-1 and J-1 students are required to maintain full-time student status every regular (but not summer) term of the academic
year.

Grade Point Average (GPA): A system used by many colleges for evaluating the overall scholastic performance of students. It is found by first determining the number of grade points a student has earned in each course completed and then by dividing the sum of all grade points by the number of points of hours of course work carried. Grade points for a course are found by multiplying the number of points or hours given for the course by the student's grade in the course. The most common system of numerical valued for grades is A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, and E or F=0.

Grading System: Schools, colleges and universities in the United States commonly use letter grades to indicate the quality of a student's academic performance: A (excellent), B (good), C (average), D (below average), and F (failing). Work rated C or above is usually required of an undergraduate student to continue his/her studies; work rated B or higher is usually required of a graduate student to continue. Grades of P (pass), S (satisfactory), and N (no credit) are also used. In percentage scales, 100 percent is the highest mark, and 70 percent (or 65 percent) is usually the lowest passing mark.

Graduate: A student who has completed a course of study, either at the high school or college level. A graduate program at a university is a study course for students who hold a Bachelor's degree.

Graduate Affirmative Action Program: A primary objective of the program is to increase the participation of under-represented and disadvantaged students (including minorities and women) in graduate education at most universities. GAAP compiles reviews, and prepares the applicant's file for evaluation, offering a more sensitive perspective toward traditional criteria (e.g. test scores) as well as identifying non-traditional indicators of academic promise. The program works with other academic and student service units to provide support necessary for a beneficial educational experience.

Graduate Assistant: See Assistantship.

Grants-in-Aid: A gift of financial aid which does not take into account academic excellence.

Home Residence Requirement: INS requirement for certain J-1 Exchange Visitors that they live in their home country for at least two years after completing their Exchange Visitor programs in the U.S. before they are eligible to return to the U.S.

Honor Fraternities: Greek letter organizations honoring students who have achieved distinction in academic areas or service.

I.D. (Identification) Card: A card which states that you are a member of a student body; important on and off campus, particularly if you want to cash personal checks. This card is usually issued during the registration period.

Identification Number: The number on the Form I-94 (for F-1 visa holders) and the I-20 ID Copy which the INS uses in its records to identify that person.

Immigrant: A person who comes to a country other than his own for the purpose of becoming a permanent resident.

Immigration and Naturalization Service: U.S. Government Agency, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, which administers immigration matters and enforces immigration laws. Usually referred to as the INS.

Incomplete Grade: A grade given in which there is a reasonable delay for the completion of work for a particular course. Another grade is recorded when the work is completed.

Independent Study: A method of receiving credit for study or research independent of the assignments of any specific course. Such study is often part of an honors program in the student's major and is supervised by a specified professor.

INS: Abbreviation for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

J-1: U.S. visa classification for "Exchange Visitors," persons authorized to come to the U.S. for certain educational purposes.

J-2: U.S. visa classification for dependents (i.e., spouse and unmarried children) of J-1 visa holders.

Junior: A third year student at a high school, college or university.

Junior College (JC): A two-year college of higher education in liberal arts, sciences, technical and vocational training, either under public or private control; A.A. or A.S. degree awarded after two years study, or certificate after shorter course of study.

Laundromat: A place where there are many automatic washing machines, dryers and dry cleaning machines; used by inserting a coin. Users must provide their own laundry soap, bleach. Less expensive than a laundry.

Leave of Absence: Permission for a student in good standing to take leave and then return to continue his of her studies.

Lecture: The most common method of instruction in colleges and universities, oftentimes supplemented with small group discussions led by teaching assistants.

Liberal Arts College: A college which emphasizes a program of general undergraduate studies comprising courses in the fields of the humanities, social sciences and the sciences.

Loan: Any advance of financial credit or funds to students enabling them to continue their education, for which repayment either in the form of service or in cash is required after the student leaves the institution.

Lower Division: The freshman and sophomore levels, the first and second years of an undergraduate program of study.

M.A./M.S.: Master of Arts/Master of Science degree awarded upon completion of a 1 or 2 year post-university program.

Major Field of Study (Major): A student's primary field of study.

Matriculated: Enrolled for study in a particular degree program in a college or university.

Mid-Term: Examination given in the middle of a semester or a quarter.

Minor Field of Study (Minor): A student's secondary field of study.

Multiple-Choice Exam: Examination in which questions are given followed by two or more answers from which the correct answer is selected.

Naturalization: Process of becoming a citizen of a country not one's own.

Non-Matriculated: A student at a college or university but not enrolled as a candidate for a degree. Also called non-degree student

Nonresident: Students who do not meet the residence requirements of the state or city that has a public college or university. Tuition fees and admissions policies may differ for residents and nonresidents. Foreign students are usually classified as nonresidents, and there is little possibility of changing to resident status at a later date for fee purposes. Most publicly-supported institutions will not permit a foreign student to be classified as a resident student while on a student visa.

Notarization: The certification by a public official (known in the U.S. as a notary public) that a document or a statement or a signature is authentic and true.

Open-Book Exam: Examination in which you are permitted to use your textbook(s) during the test.

Open-Door Admissions: Admissions granted to all applicants.

Oral Exam: Examination in which the professor asks students questions which are answered by speaking rather than by writing.

Part-time Employment: Paid employment of up to 20 hours a week. Not permitted for M-1 foreign students. Not permitted for F-1 foreign students unless the student has successfully completed one year of study. (All off campus employment of foreign students requires written permission of the INS.)

Part-time Student: A regularly-enrolled student who carries less than a full-time course load. (See "Full-time Student.") Foreign students are not allowed to be part-time students but must carry a full-time study load each regular (but not summer) term of the academic year.

Pass-Fail Grading System: The practice of some colleges of rating students' quality of performance in their courses as either passing or failing instead of giving grades to indicate various levels of passing work.

Passport: A formal document, certifying the identity and citizenship of the bearer, issued by the appropriate government agency (for example, the foreign ministry) of a country to a citizen of that country. A valid (i.e., not outdated) passport permits the bearer to exit and reenter the country of his or her citizenship. When endorsed with the visa of another country, the passport
permits the bearer to travel within that country's borders. (NOTE: Foreign Students and Exchange Visitors in the U.S. are required to keep their passports valid for at least six months into the future at all times.)

Permanent Resident: Same as immigrant: a foreign national authorized to remain in the U.S. for an indefinite period of time.

Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy; highest academic degree in American education; diploma states Doctor of Philosophy in (subject); generally research-oriented.

Placement Test: An examination used to test a student's academic ability in a certain field so that he or she may be placed in the appropriate course in that field. In some cases a student may be given academic credit based upon the results of a placement test.

Point: Used interchangeably with Credit and Unit; also referring to the grading system: 4 points=A, 3 points=B, 2 points=C, 1 point=D, 0 point=F.

Practical Training: Authorized full-time employment in a student's field of study following completion of an academic program. Foreign students who hold F-1 visas may be authorized for up to 12 months of practical training; J-1 students or Exchange visitors may be authorized for up to 18 months of practical training. Written recommendation of the university and INS approval are required.

Prelims: Short for "preliminary test," the oral examination given by a committee of professors which a students must pass in order to become a candidate for a doctoral degree. The preliminary test evaluates the student's knowledge in the field in which the doctoral study will concentrate.

Prerequisites: Programs or courses a student is required to complete before being permitted to enroll in a more advanced program or course.

Probation: See "Academic Probation."

Professor Emeritus: An academic title generally awarded to retired faculty.

Professional School: Institutions for study of business, medicine, dentistry, law, engineering, music, art, theology; 2 to 7 years of training; may be independent or part of a university.

Quarter: Usually 11 weeks of classes including the final examination period; summer quarter is sometimes subdivided into shorter periods of study.

Quiz: A short test that may or may not be announced ahead of time ("Pop Quiz").

Readmission: Approval of the enrollment or admission of a former student.

Registrar: College administrator who maintains student academic records.

Registration: Procedure of arranging an academic program at the beginning
of each term.

Remedial Course: A non-credit course to help the student with a weak background in a particular area prepare himself for a credit course in that area.

Remedial English: English language study for persons with certain deficiencies; e.g. writing, speech.

Required Courses: Subjects which are chosen for students and which students must complete with a passing grade in order to obtain a degree.

Research Paper: A written report which includes research findings and the development of the student's own ideas.

Residence Hall: Same as dormitory.

Responsible Officer: The person authorized to administer a designated Exchange Visitor program in accordance with regulations prescribed by the U.S. Information Agency. The Responsible Officer provides assistance to J-1 visa holders on such matters as extensions of stay, change of J-1 category and change of institutions.

Sailing Permit: See "Certificate of Compliance."

Savings Account: An account with a bank for savings for which interest is paid.

Scholarship: Any grant, fellowship, or remission of tuition and fees to a student which will enable him to further his education.

Second-Hand Bookstore: Operated by the student government, school organization or school; used textbooks sold; prices 20% to 75% lower than at a normal bookstore.

Semester: Usually 15 to 16 weeks of classes including the final examination period. Typical semester calendar: two semesters (September - June) and a summer session (June - August).

Seminar: A form of small group instruction combining independent research and class discussion under the guidance of a professor.

Senior: A fourth year student at a high school, college or university.

Sign-Up Sheet: Informal way of registering for an activity; usually give your name and where you may be contacted.

Social Security Number: A nine digit number used by the U.S. Social Security Administration; commonly used by colleges and universities as an identification number for registration; a Social Security number may be obtained at the Social Security office without fee by any person, whether or not he or she is a U.S. citizen. Anyone who works regularly must obtain one.

Sophomore: A second-year student at a high school, college or university.

Sorority: Comparable to a fraternity, except that it is for women.

Special Student: A student at a college or university who is not enrolled as a candidate for a degree. Same as non-degree student.

Stipend: The amount of money given per year to a student as a scholarship or fellowship.

Study Skills: Skills which help you to study more effectively and efficiently; includes scheduling of study, approach to study, ways of studying and ways of studying different academic fields.

Survey Course: A course which covers briefly the principal topics of a broad field of knowledge.

Syllabus: An outline of topics to be covered in an academic course.

Take-Home Exam: Examination which may be written at home.

Teaching Assistant ("T.A."): A person, usually a graduate student, who assists a professor with teaching, laboratory supervision or research.

Term: A division of the school year calendar.

Theme: A brief composition or essay on a particular topic.

Thesaurus: Similar to a dictionary; gives similar words that can be used; helpful when writing to avoid the use of the same words.

Thesis: A formal paper presenting the results of study and research which is submitted to fulfill requirements for an advanced degree; usually refers to the Master's thesis.

Transcript: A certified copy of a student's educational record containing titles of courses, the number of credits and the final grades in each course. An official transcript will also state the date a degree has been conferred.

Transfer: A change from one program, sponsor or institution to another. If the transfer is to begin another, different educational program, specific permission is required from the INS. If the transfer is from one institution to another to continue the same educational program, no permission is necessary. If a transfer is contemplated, for whatever reason or purpose, the Foreign Student Advisors of both institutions must be consulted.

Trimester: Usually 16 weeks of classes including the final examination period; 3 trimesters (September - June) per academic year, with students generally attending two of the three.

True-False Exam: Examination in which questions are given and the student must answer by marking "True" or "False".

Undergraduate: A student enrolled in a program leading to the bachelor's degree.

Unit: Used interchangeably with credit.

University: Composed of colleges or schools of liberal arts, sciences, technology and professional and graduate schools; bachelor degree programs (4 years), and technical and professional graduate training (2 to 5 years).

University Extension: Adult higher education programs, such as correspondence courses, discussion groups and conferences.

Upper Division: The junior and senior levels, or the third, fourth, and/or fifth years of a baccalaureate program of studies.

U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service: See "Immigration and Naturalization Service."

Visa: An endorsement, stamped into a passport by a proper authority of a country the bearer wishes to enter. The visa denotes that the passport has been examined, that certain requirements for entry have been met and that the bearer is permitted to proceed. The visa does not represent permission to enter the country; actual permission is granted at the point of entry.

Withdrawal: A release from enrollment; student notifies the school that he will no longer attend classes (Official Withdrawal); if a student does not notify the school (Unofficial Withdrawal).

Work-Study: A program in which the student works full-time during one term of the school year to obtain practical experience in his/her field; also referred to as "cooperative education".

Zip code: postal code