Accreditation: The process by which an educational institution receives certification of meeting standards set by an association. Vermont colleges are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Admissions Policy: The official criteria used by a college to determine which students to accept into its degree program. Many schools base acceptance on former academic success. The Vermont State Colleges are open admissions schools. Usually, students must take assessments of academic skills prior to meeting with an academic advisor.
Advisor: A designated instructor or another college employee responsible for assisting students with academic planning.
Audit: To sit in on a course without receiving credit for it.
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science: A degree granted to students who have completed a four-year course of study that includes a minimum of 120 credits, generally divided between one-third in a specific major and two-thirds in general education requirements and electives. Specific majors can vary a great deal in their credit requirements.
Catalog: A college publication containing information on programs, policies, and personnel. Most college catalogs are now available online.
Concentration: The field of study in which a student specializes. Also sometimes called a major. In the context of a portfolio, concentration also has a special use. A portfolio concentration is a general area in which the majority of a student’s prior experiential learning has occurred.
Course List: A schedule of courses offered during a semester. Available online.
Credit: As a common measurement of academic objectives met or knowledge attained, credits are the value an institution attaches to a formal course of instruction. In the U.S. one credit is usually defined as 15 hours (on a semester schedule) of contact time between faculty member and students; however, the standards and definition may vary from college to college. Credit generally represents the academic legitimacy of assessed learning and contact time. Most college courses carry 3 credits.
Department: College faculty and administrators grouped according to an academic discipline.
Fees: Charges for services provided by a college. Fees commonly charged include application, graduation, and transcript fees.
Financial Aid Office: College office responsible for providing information about grants, loans and scholarships, and assisting in the application process.
General Education Requirements: Required liberal arts courses intended to provide a broad, general exposure to traditional academic disciplines.
Grade Point Average: A numerical average of course grades calculated each semester as a measure of academic accomplishment. For example, if A = 4, B = 3, C= 2, then a student who earned two As, two Cs, and one B would have a 3.0 G.P.A. (i.e., 4(A) + 4(A) + 2 (C) + 2 (C) + 3(B) divided by 5).
Graduate Study: College courses or degree programs beyond the bachelor’s level.
Grant: Money given to students with financial need to assist them in financing educational costs. Basic or Pell grants are given by the federal government; the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation awards grants locally. Grants do not have to be repaid.
Humanities: Academic disciplines concerned with human thought and interpretations of human behavior. Humanities studies include History, Art, Literature, Philosophy, and Religion.
Independent Study: A credit-bearing learning experience in which a student masters content similar to course content through home study and limited individual instruction.
Prerequisite: A requirement – often a course or program (or its equivalent) – that must be successfully completed before participating or enrolling in an advanced course or program.
Registrar’s Office: College office responsible for maintaining student records and generating transcripts.
Residency Requirement: A minimum number of credits an institution requires of students to be awarded a credential, such as a degree, from that institution.
Scholarships: Money awarded to students to help finance educational costs. Awards may be based on need or academic achievement, and are often awarded by professional organizations and service clubs.
Semester: A block of time approximately four months in length; most colleges offer three semesters per year by adding a summer semester.
Social Science: Studies dealing with the organization, dynamics, and functions of groups of people. Social science studies include Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology.
Transcript: An official copy of student records. Includes titles and credit amounts for completed courses and other learning experiences. O.E.P.-assessed credit will also be recorded in transcript form.
Transfer Credit: The recognition of credits earned in one institution by another institution.
Transferable Skills: Knowledge, capabilities, attitudes, or values that are effective across multiple contexts, such as various courses, workplaces, or organizations.
Tutor: An individual with expertise in a given academic area hired to assist students with their studies. At Castleton, students are paired with tutors through the Academic Support Center. There is no charge for tutoring.
Tuition: Charges for courses, independent studies, and cooperative education experiences such as field placements, internships, and practicums. Often calculated by credit.
Veterans’ Educational Benefits: Funds available to veterans who were honorably discharged and meet certain criteria established by the Veterans Administration.
Withdraw: To officially drop from a course in a program.