Academic Calendar:
Published by the Registrar’s office each year, this is where significant dates about the opening and closing of the college, first and last days of classes and other important dates.
Add/Drop Period:
The time period at the beginning of a college semester when you can drop out of classes or add classes without penalty.
Asynchronous:
Classes can be asynchronous which means they do not occurring in real time. Students can log on at any time and participate in the discussion or watch videos or lectures.
Blended Hybrid Course:
Hybrid courses are a mixture of both in-person and online formats. In the “Blended” format, both are an integral part of the course. There is a scheduled class time, but you’ll spend some days in the classroom, and some days in an online learning space. Blended courses are at least one-third in person, but the exact percentage will vary from course to course.
Bursar:
The department in charge of your tuition payments and printing balance, located in the Student Services office in the C entrance hallway.
Chancellor:
The head of some U.S. colleges and Universities
Commuter Student:
A student who does not live in the school residence halls.
Course:
A class or series of classes about a particular subject in a school
Course Catalog:
List of all courses offered by the institution. This can be used to help students plan out the courses they will take throughout their program.
Credits:
A unit that measures a student's progress towards earning a degree in a school, college, etc.
Degree:
An official document and title that is given to someone who has successfully completed a series of classes at a college or university
Enroll:
To become a member or participant in a college or university.
FAFSA:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid. A form completed by current and prospective college students (undergraduate and graduate) in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid.
First Generation Student:
A student who is the first in their immediate family to graduate from a four-year school. This means that your parents have not graduated from a four-year school. This includes students whose siblings have attended college.
GPA:
Initials for Grade Point Average: the measurement for success in college.
Guide:
A group of resources explaining a topic such as Academic Citations or How to write a paper.
Internship:
A temporary professional experience typically in a student’s career field or major. It can be paid or unpaid and can sometimes be taken for academic credit.
Learn Anywhere Course:
In the “Learn Anywhere” format, courses are taught from an on-site classroom at a scheduled time and students can attend live in-person or via live webcast technology. Students have the choice week-to-week on how they would like to attend.
MyIvy:
A website that contains course assignment details, links to the library and campus website, and more tools.
Non Traditional Student:
Most commonly describes a student starting college later in life rather than right after completing high school, or one who is a parent.
Office Hours:
Specific times that faculty are available in their office to meet with students. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities, usually no appointment is needed.
Online Course:
A class format, which takes place online, and no time in the traditional classroom is required. All course assignments are assigned and completed through your IvyLearn class page on a weekly (or regular) basis. Students have plenty of opportunities to interact with their instructors through IvyLearn.
Papercut:
The website is where you can print from your personal computer or phone if you do not have time to use a library computer. This is also where you add money to your account using a credit card to print.
Prerequisite:
A course that is required prior to being permitted to enroll in another class.
Provost:
An official of high rank at a university
Registrar:
The college official who oversees registration, student grades and transcripts.
Registration:
The period in which a student can sign up for the classes they wish to take in a semester.
Semester:
The amount of time a college class lasts. Each year of college usually takes 2 semesters to complete.
Syllabus:
A document given by a course instructor that includes a description of what the class will be about, their expectations for assignment deadlines, ways to contact them for help, and rules for how to act in class.
Traditional Course:
Traditional courses are standard, in-person courses, where the instructor and students gather face-to-face in an on-campus classroom at a scheduled time. These courses are taught on campus usually either once per week for 3 hours (for a 3-credit class) or twice per week for 1.5 hours. Courses with labs may meet for a longer amount of time. All lectures and exams will be in person, on campus. All assignments have due dates.
Transcript:
An overview of a student’s academic progress that generally includes GPA and total credit hours.
Virtual Course:
In the “Virtual Instruction” format, the instructor and students meet face-to-face via a live video call (usually Zoom) at a scheduled time. Classes are synchronous, meaning the classes take place in real-time with the instructor and students interacting at the same time—they are just virtual instead of in-person. Students will also be able to view a recording of the live session.
Writing Center:
Writing consultation provided free of charge to all Ferris students either face to face or online.
