60-year curriculum
refers to a vision of continuing education for life-long learning. This vision sees colleges and universities as a lifelong partner with learners at all stages of their lives and careers, providing knowledge and skills throughout their entire lives.
ability to benefit (ATB)
In the context of postsecondary education, the ability to benefit applies to students without high school credentials and is a federal consideration for students to receive financial aid. There is new guidance on the ability to benefit from the Higher Education Act of 1965.
abstain
formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal or motion. In parliamentary procedure, even though a trustee is present, he or she does not vote on a motion. A trustee is obliged to abstain if he or she has a direct personal interest in the matter which amounts to a conflict of interest. An abstention will have the same effect as a “no” vote if the vote requires a majority or two thirds of the members present.
academic advising
processes to assist students in course selection and developing academic milestones and goals, typically for degree completion. Some institutions have adopted electronic tools to assist such as automated degree audits, degree and career pathways, and automated advising and planning platforms. (See also degree audits.)
academic maps
quarter-by-quarter or semester-by-semester sequences of courses required to complete a degree within a predetermined time frame, for example, two years at a community college and four years at a university.
academic prioritization
Selection and assessment of viability of academic programs by an institution. Criteria vary depending on institutional processes: cost, employment projections, potential growth or improvement, demand, instructional quality, etc.
access
typically refers to the ways in which educational institutions and policies ensure that students have equal and equitable opportunities to take full advantage of their education. Access continues to be a goal for disenfranchised communities. Factors such as race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, past academic performance, incarceration, English-language ability, etc. as well as cost should not be artificial barriers for diverse students in both rural and urban communities. Making sure higher education is affordable to everyone is the goal of many organizations; international organizations such as Global Access to Postsecondary Education maintain their own definitions.
accountability
refers to assessment measures for institutions of higher learning regarding student learning outcomes, indicators of student success such as completion, graduation, pass rates for licensure or certification, and transfer rates, to name a few. The term also refers to meeting college mission strategic goals and priorities, providing evidence of progress, improvement and achievement.
accreditation
is a process of validation in which colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning are evaluated. The standards for accreditation are set by a peer review board whose members include trained staff and faculty from various accredited colleges and universities. Colleges that engage in systematic and continuous processes of gathering and evaluating student and college performance exemplify best practices around student and institutional assessments. In 2019, accrediting agencies published information about student learning outcomes. See “program accreditation” and “regional accreditation.”
ACCT
Association of Community College Trustees is a nonprofit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States and beyond. These community professionals, business officials, public policy leaders, and leading citizens offer their time and talent to serve on the governing boards of this century's most innovative higher education institutions-community, junior, and technical colleges-and make decisions that affect more than 1,200 colleges and over 11 million students annually.
Act as a unit
is the first of a list of board roles and responsibilities promoted by ACCT. Boards set policy, and it is inherent in the position that no single member can speak or act for the board independently without the agreement of the board as a whole. Every board of trustees should govern as a singular unit and speak with a single voice. Every trustee brings their own perspectives to the board room and applies their own experiences and insights to the important discussions and decisions that are made. Yet the commitment to serve on a board of trustees is tied to the inextricable acknowledgement that “no individual trustee has power or authority to act on his or her own.”
ad hoc committee
committee formed for a specific task or objective and which is dissolved after the completion of the objective. Most committees, other than standing committees, are ad hoc.
adaptive leadership
is a practical leadership framework that helps individuals and organizations adapt and thrive in challenging environments. It is leadership that determines what is essential to the future and developing/testing “next” practices.
advocacy
constitutes the activities undertaken by a board or trustee to influence the actions of local, state, and national lawmakers, ranging from letter writing to full-scale lobbying. Through its many activities (the National Legislative Summit, in particular, and publications (white papers and reports), ACCT encourages boards to advocate for their colleges and for their students locally and nationally. A useful tool is an ACCT pamphlet: The Trustee’s Role in Effective Advocacy (2019).
alternative credit
In the academic context, alternative credit is getting college credit for learning completed outside of the conventional classroom setting and makes a degree more attainable. National organizations like ACE are developing consortia and projects like the Alternative Credit Project to broaden the ability of students to receive credit for learning and skills completed in other than the traditional or online classroom. Different institutions have various ways of accepting alternative credit. Alternative credit boosts nontraditional learners.
amendment
In parliamentary procedure, a motion to amend is used to modify another motion. An amendment itself can be amended. This is a basic rule of Robert’s Rules of Order.
analytics: data analytics
Analysis of meaningful patterns in large amounts of data, usually accompanied by graphs and charts to more easily visualize the story or patterns. See also Learning analytics. Many researchers are calling for “responsible” use of student data. Predictive analytics are currently being used to advise students, but may come at a cost.
applied baccalaureate
a four-year bachelor’s degree program in an applied field of study earned at a four-year or two-year institution. Applied learning refers to an educational approach whereby students learn by engaging in direct application of skills, theories and models. Applied learning can occur outside of the traditional academic classroom experience and/or be embedded as part of a course. An AB Degree is a degree program focused on applied learning typically found at four-year institutions of higher learning; the community college baccalaureate is typically an AB degree. (See also community college baccalaureate.)
apprenticeship
training in a field to allow individuals to gain job experience while also working towards a postsecondary degree or industry-recognized credential. Traditionally, apprenticeships have been thought of as a model through which to train workers in technical fields or skilled trades such as construction. However, today the discussion about apprenticeships includes expanding programs to include training for growing white-collar and service-oriented occupations. Apprenticeships: An Emerging Community College Strategy for Workforce Development (2019), including registered apprenticeship programs, pre-apprenticeships and youth apprenticeships, features profiles of apprenticeship programs at two colleges to illustrate how community colleges are expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students to gain jobs in growing and in-demand industries in their regions. The profiles also detail how the colleges are working to diversify apprenticeship programs to non-traditional industries and reach out to a diverse range of students, especially women and students of color.
AQ/Achievement Quotient and Adversity Quotient
AQ is a term used in psychology that refers to either achievement quotient or in business and entrepreneurship as adversity quotient or simply put, resilience. In psychology, AQ is about a person’s adaptability and flexibility in times of ever constant change. It is the ability to work out what is relevant, overcome challenges and make a conscious effort to change. AQ involves flexibility, curiosity, courage, resilience and problem-solving skills and may be more crucial to career success than IQ. In the business realm, some believe that AQ is the key determinant of success and is more important than IQ (intelligence quotient) or EQ (emotional intelligence).
articulation, articulation agreement
Also called transfer agreements, articulation agreements delineate pathways of coursework to a degree among programs and institutions and are meant to simplify transition and assure that successful completion of delineated coursework leads to degree completion. Articulation promotes ease of transfer with little or no loss of earned credits.
assessment
in context of higher education, making judgments, appraisal of performance and student placement and learning. Assessing student learning without standardized tests is one strategy that many colleges and universities are implementing. (See multiple measures.)
blended learning
any combination of traditional classroom, face-to-face, hands-on learning also utilizing digital and online technologies and E-Learning. (See E-Learning below.) In several studies, blended learning is on the rise in colleges.
cafeteria approach:
allowing students to have choices in courses they take as opposed to a pathway approach with more prescribed coursework leading directly to a credential or degree. The term was popularized in Thomas Bailey and Shanna Smith Jagger’s Redesigning America’s Community Colleges, A Clearer Path to Student Success (2015).
blockchain technology
refers to new technology applied to individual academic records and assessments. Blockchain technology is a decentralized network technology in which the same data is recorded and maintained on multiple nodes (computers connected to the network) that are geographically isolated from one another. Often peer- to- peer (P2P) exchange platforms are set up in conjunction in such a way that tampering with the data is difficult. At Central New Mexico community College, block chain technology provides students with a secure digital record of their accomplishments. The Lumina Foundation encourages blockchain to help students prove their credentials.
board self-evaluation or board self-assessment
Evaluation of the board provides an opportunity for the board to assess its performance and contributions, establish goals, priorities, and a learning agenda around emerging issues and needs, and to strengthen the board/CEO relationship. A mutually agreeable evaluation process creates a proactive forum where the leadership needs of the institution, and the new and emerging leadership role for the board, can be considered. All regional accrediting agencies are now requiring board self-assessments.
bundling
paying for a semester or quarter’s coursework, not individual courses or charges by credit. Typically, community colleges do not bundle their tuition charges as many baccalaureate institutions do.
bundling (rebundling and unbundling)
Terms taken from the banking industry, now being applied to higher education, as the pivot to remote learning by community colleges and universities across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic has posed questions and disruptive innovations regarding the components and their correlating costs of higher education
Students pay tuition for courses and curricular requirements, some of which are not related to their major, but are “bundled” together in a package or pathway for students.
Refers to the concept of unbundling many of the components that make up the traditional approach to higher education: time, and can apply to the curriculum, courses, content, credentialing, campus life, personal growth, and subcomponents of teaching and learning such as coaches, mentors, learning communities, personal learning plans, pathways, employer connections, etc. which are services that have become more modular (Michael Horn, Forbes, July 2020)
“Rebundling” means repacking those components into new components and models.
call the question
is a maneuver used in parliamentary procedure to get board members to vote, particularly as a way to shut down long-winded speakers. It should be a rare occurrence. Key points about calling the question include that a member must have the floor to make a motion, it must be seconded, and this motion cannot be discussed or debated.
campus carry
legislation that allows licensed concealed handguns on college campuses. Many college campuses are quite conflicted about students and college staff having concealed weapons on campus. (See “concealed carry” below and ACCT’s Trustee Talk, Issue #10 and Addendum To Keep and Bear Arms – Implications for Governing Boards and Trustee Talk, Issue #15: Guns on Campus–A Loaded Issue, Part I.)
capital projects
are projects that help maintain or improve a campus’ infrastructure. It can be new construction, expansion, renovation or replacement.
career pathways
According to the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, career pathways are a series of connected education and training strategies and support services that enable individuals to secure industry-relevant certification and obtain employment within an occupational area and to advance to higher levels of future education and employment in that area. MDRC Research on Career Pathways identifies core elements such as alignment of connected education strategies and multiple entry and exit points and others.
CARES Act
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act is the third stimulus bill meant to address the health and economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, published March 27, 2020, for $2 trillion in aid.
Provides assistance for American workers and families; small businesses (includes the Paycheck Protection Program); state, local and tribal governments; and preserving jobs for American Industry.
Includes Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Provides emergency financial aid grants to students who are eligible for aid under Sec. 484 of the 2020 Higher Education Act meant to assist those students and colleges impacted by the economic downturn and job loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic across the nation.
Previous federal stimulus bills include the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, signed into law on March 6, followed by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law on March 18.
Carnegie unit and student hour
Time-based measurement of educational attainment currently used by American colleges and universities. The original definition of the Carnegie Unit is 120 hours of class or contact time with an instructor spread over the school year. Used today, the student hour is aligned with 50 minutes of lecture time or 12 hours of class/contact time per week over a semester, usually 14-16 weeks.
In the context of online or virtual education as the predominant form of learning during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, many educators feel that now may be the time to move away from the Carnegie Unit as an outdated way to measure student learning. In 2010, the Ed Department codified the general practice of counting the credit hour as one hour of classroom instruction and two hours of work outside the classroom each week. Its goal was to clarify the amount of expected academic effort associated with a given course and give accreditors/schools a consistent standard. Many educators believe it is necessary to broaden the definition of the credit hour to one that focuses on student learning rather than “seat time” and is flexible enough to account for innovations (such as competency-based education) in the delivery models used by institutions.
CCRC Community College Research Center
Housed at Teachers College, Columbia University, the Community College Research Center (CCRC) has been a leader in the field of community college research and reform for over 20 years. Their work provides a foundation for innovations in policy and practice that help give every community college student the best chance of success.
CCSSE
Community College Survey of Student Engagement is a product and service of the Center for Community College Student Engagement. The survey is a well-established tool that helps institutions focus on good educational practice and identify areas in which they could improve their programs and services for students.
certificate
non-degree awards that typically require less time to complete than degrees. Certificates are increasingly more important in postsecondary education and have rapidly proliferated particularly in vocational training and to their higher completion rates relative to associate degree programs.
CEW
Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy is an independent, nonprofit research and policy institute affiliated with the Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy that studies the link between education, career qualifications, and workforce demands.
CHEA
Council for Higher Education Accreditation: A national advocate and institutional voice for promoting academic quality through accreditation, CHEA is an association of 3,000 degree-granting colleges and universities and recognizes 60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations.
climate survey or campus climate survey
an assessment tool and strategy to assess college constituents—faculty, staff, and students’ perceptions of experiences with diversity and inclusion and/or sexual violence. Campus climate surveys have recently been used as a best practice by the U.S. Department of Justice to determine the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault on college campuses.
co-op
short form for co-operative education, refers to work placement experiences that are paid, typically full-time, career-oriented and integrated into an academic curriculum and transcripted in contrast to “internships” which usually refer to a one-term assignment, either part- or full-time, paid or unpaid. (See internships)
coaching, student coaching
In lieu of traditional academic advising strategies, providing coaches has proven to be an effective retention strategy for at-risk students. Coaches provide a more holistic approach to student needs and work with students on a range of issues, from financing their education, personal wellness and career readiness. Some colleges have added coaches in addition to their academic advising services.
code of ethics
Board members must meet certain stands of conduct established by the board to carry out their responsibilities. This code or series of responsibilities is usually updated regularly and clarifies specific ethical behaviors such as avoiding conflicts of interest or nepotism. A board’s code of ethics serves as an overarching statement to establish standards of integrity and accountability. Governing boards function best when the ethical standards for trustee behavior are clear.
College Promise (The)
universal free college tuition for low income students, part of president Obama’s stated goal to make college both affordable and debt-free for students, particularly for those who normally would not be able to attend college and gain knowledge and skills required for 21st jobs. Some philanthropic foundations are supporting College Promise Success Initiatives to enable more colleges to supplement their Promise programs with more student success supports. Many Promise programs vary in design and scope.
college readiness
is the ability for students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to successfully complete basic freshman-level college courses. Educators are expanding college readiness to meet the needs of students of color, low-income students and English learners.
College Scorecard
is a national effort to help students navigate selection of their postsecondary education by providing a variety of information about individual colleges and universities including costs, earnings data, etc. The Scorecard’s intent was to make it easy for students to search for a college that is a good fit for them and to find out more about a college’s affordability. All debt data is now included.
collegiate high school
A dual credit program in which high school students take college-level courses, sometimes called collegiate academies. Students are able to get their high school diploma and earn college credits.
community college baccalaureate
A four-year bachelor’s degree program conferred at a community college. Typically, the degrees earned are Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) and/or Bachelor of Technology (BAT) and are focused on applied learning tied to a profession or industry.
Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE)
a survey administered during the spring to mostly returning students. CCSSE asks about institutional practices and student behaviors that are highly correlated with student learning and retention, i.e. how engaged students are with their learning and with their institutions.
competency-based education (CBE)
aims to be a way for students to get credit for what they know, build on their knowledge and skills by learning more at their own pace and earn high-quality degrees, certificates and other credentials that help them in their lives and careers. CBE programs may offer an alternative for learners who have developed skills and knowledge though life and work experiences and training. Using credentials, CBE may indicate skills that new employees have when they are hired. Sometimes called “direct assessment.” Regional accrediting agencies across the U.S. have developed a common framework defining competency-based direct assessment. Actually defining competency still remains elusive, but CBE programs are expanding.
completion
is typically defined as students earning a credential, degree or license; for some programs and colleges, completion can refer to successful transfer to a four-year institution. It is defined a variety of ways by different colleges. Improving community college completion rates should be a top priority for policymakers at all levels of government, employers, community colleges, and the philanthropic community. Earning a postsecondary credential or degree provides a gateway to higher average earnings and opens up career pathways for graduates, while higher completion rates help strengthen the American workforce. Improving community college completion rates also refers to completion initiatives which address removing barriers for students.
Completion by Design (CBD)
Bill & Melinda Gates-funded Completion by Design (CBD) initiative, which began in 2011. CBD was based on the following principles:
(1) Accelerate entry into coherent programs of study.
(2) Minimize the time required to get college ready.
(3) Ensure that students know the requirements to succeed.
(4) Customize and contextualize instruction.
(5) Integrate student supports with instruction.
(6) Continually monitor student progress and proactively provide feedback.
(7) Reward behaviors that contribute to completion.
(8) Leverage technology to improve learning and program delivery.
concealed carry
the practice of carrying a concealed weapon (such as a handgun, knife, etc.) in public places. (See “campus carry” above and ACCT’s Trustee Talk, Issue #10 “To keep and bear arms”-Implications for Governing Boards and Addendum To Keep and Bear Arms – Implications for Governing Boards and Trustee Talk, Issue #15: Guns on Campus – A Loaded Issue, Part I.)
confidentiality (for boards)
is the protection of personal information. Effective boards have a code of ethics in their board manual that requires trustees to maintain the confidentiality of personnel decisions, most often discussed in closed sessions. Talking about those discussions outside the sessions is unethical and may open the possibility of legal action against individual trustees (Smith, 2000, p. 135.) When board members want to discuss certain issues privately, the board may go into executive session and ask guests to leave during this part of the discussion.(See executive session)
consent agenda
allows boards to approve routine procedures and items that have unanimous consent without discussion or individual motions. (See Robert’s Rules of Order)
continuity of education
- Phrase referring to teachers providing distance learning experiences for students that include new skills and knowledge so that students can progress in their studies.
- To support continued learning during the extended college closure period.
corequisite remediation
Underprepared students receive extra support while enrolled in credit-bearing college-level classes, alleviating the need and the time spent taking remedial or developmental, often non-credit coursework. Recent studies and reports have demonstrated corequisite remediation as a “best practice” rather than having students take prerequisite coursework. The State of Texas, for example, adopted this reform in June 2017 in collaboration with Complete College America. Nevertheless, current research questions the effectiveness as compared to traditional remediation.
credegree
- Degree which combines the best of a liberal arts education with skills training.
- A blended degree of technical skills and liberal arts critical thinking skills; word formed from “credential” and “degree.”
credential/credentials framework
refers to the skills, knowledge and competencies underpinning educational programs. Because the competencies students might develop through each degree, certificate, license or badge are difficult to discern, and even more difficult to organize into a coherent, successful development path, the Lumina Foundation has developed a credentials framework which uses competencies to identify what the learner knows and is able to do. Many large tech companies like Google and Amazon are expanding their postsecondary credential offerings. Online resources like the Credential Finder help learners identify potential certificates for skills they wish to develop. Developing uniformity and transparency in the marketplace of credentials has been the goal of organizations like Credential Engine which has produced a Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) Handbook. (See digital badge and stackable credentials.)
critical thinking
is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. Many argue that the humanities foster both creative and critical thinking.
dashboard
Dashboards organize and present information in a way that is very easy to use and read. Individual college. Dashboards typically register indicators of student success to show how well students are doing at a college. Dashboards often provide at-a-glance views of key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to a particular objective or s process. "Dashboard" is another name for "progress report" or "report." Complete College America maintains a data dashboard that explores common college completion metrics for states.
default options
In the context of federal financial aid, the term refers to the multiple options to get out of default which refers to a person’s inability to pay their bills on time or default on paying back their financial aid.
degree audit
is a process to identify all of the requirements for a degree, including (but not limited to) credit hours, required coursework, core and major requirements, residency requirements and other elements. The audit to track progress toward degree completion identifies if a requirement has or has not been fulfilled or if it is in progress. An efficient and fast degree audit can be an automated system.
Dev Ed (developmental education)
is a comprehensive research-based framework that empowers underprepared learns to achieve intellectual, social and emotional growth. Developmental education includes, but is not limited to, instruction, coursework, tutoring, personal counseling, career counselling and academic advisement. The coursework is typically not transferable credit. A synonym is “remedial education.” Based on much research demonstrating that most students in remedial/developmental classes rarely moved on to college-level coursework to completion (sometimes using up most of their financial aid on these sub-college courses), many colleges are now reforming their assessment and placement processes as well as developmental courses.
digital badge
an indicator of accomplishment or skill that can be verified online. Databases of information can be used to highlight credentials, training and signal learning achievements by students and others are currently being developed and tested by online websites and institutions of higher education. Digital badges were developed to help employers identify real-world skills that learners have achieved.
digital citizenship
Conducting positive, safe, legal, ethical behaviors online, often following ISTE Standards for Students.
digital divide Or Digital Divide
refers to the gap between those who have access to a variety of information and communications technologies and those who do not. (See homework gap)
digital equity
Systemically marginalized communities may not have access to digital online resources or technologies.
digital literacy
Refers to 21st-century skills related to the effective and appropriate use of technology;
The ability to use both cognitive and technical skills using the internet to find, evaluate, create and communicate information;
Understanding how to use web browsers, search engines, email, text, wiki, blogs, PowerPoint, Photoshops, etc. to showcase learning.
digital transformation
Using technology in an innovative way and staff and students’ ability to adapt to it will be transformative. Some see this as a “silver lining” to the sudden pivot to virtual learning at the onset of the pandemic.
Is about how to be sophisticated in digitally teaching and learning to make it easier for students to get the knowledge they need to be successful.
direct assessment
In contrast to measuring learning or student achievement using the credit hour or seat time in a classroom, direct assessment is measuring specific student knowledge and skills. A direct form of competency-based education, direct assessment does not necessarily center coursework or instructors. Students are assessed directly, and some colleges are attempting to adapt the method to some of their offerings. See competency-based education.)
disaggregated data
data collected in terms of student characteristics (age, race, gender, income, etc.) and not more general institutional data; breaking down information into smaller subpopulations.
disinvitations
usually referring to controversial speakers who were invited to speak on campus by a particular student group. For those speakers who have created campus disruptions in the past, some student groups and administrators have requested that the students retract their invitations, thus limiting free speech on the basis of potential violence and protest. In a May 2016 commencement address, President Obama urged not to “try to shut folks out or shut them down, no matter how much you might disagree with them. There’s been a trend around the country to trying to get colleges to disinvite speakers with a different point of view., or disrupt a politician’s rally. Don’t do that—no matter how ridiculous or offensive you might find the things that come out of their mouths because ..every time a fool speaks, they are just advertising their own ignorance. Let them talk. If you don’t, you just make them a victim, and they can avoid accountability.”
disruptive innovation
technological advancement or change intended to improve upon or offer different approaches which disrupts long standing models of teaching and learning and education in general and particularly those innovations that create a new market that overshadows existing markets. Leaders, even Congress, are finding difficulty in keeping up with all the changes and disruption to conventional or traditional ways of teaching and learning. Much of the disruption is emerging from outside higher ed and students are increasingly predicted to be getting a job to get a college degree rather than going to college to get a job.
distance learning
delivering instruction where students are not physically present: mail, email, online, video, etc.
diversity
the inclusion of different types of people (such as people of different races, cultures, genders, etc.) in a group or organization or community. As an important feature of an institution’s staff and student body, colleges and organizations often have diversity committees and diversity statements about acknowledging, accepting and practicing mutual respect to eradicate all forms of discrimination. Among other issues, a great deal of controversy has been around race-conscious admissions. Additionally, because of historic bias toward certain human characteristics, implicit bias research has gained greater momentum. (See implicit bias.)
dual credit
simultaneously earning credits for high school and college. See dual enrollment below.
dual enrollment
refers to students who are enrolled in both high school and college simultaneously, no matter where or how instruction is accessed. Students earn credits for both their diploma and college coursework which reduces both the time and costs of a college degree. As these programs demonstrate student success, they are maintaining a strong growth rate nationwide. Some colleges are sustained by these programs.
e-learning
A learning system based on formalized teaching but with the help of electronic resources is known as E-learning.
e-learning
A learning system based on formalized teaching but with the help of electronic resources is known as E-learning.
economic mobility
the ability of someone to change their income or wealth measured over generations during one’s lifetime. Rising costs of education often prohibit mobility, a form of structural inequality. The biggest block to mobility is widening income inequality. Worldwide data is also available. Upward mobility has been declining in the US since the 1940s.
Education Commission of the States
an interstate compact on education policy which partners with education policy leaders to address issues by sharing resources and expertise. Education Commission of the States supports all 50 states and four territories – the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Each state appoints seven commissioners who help guide our work and their own state’s education agendas; territorial appointments vary. Commissioners also have the authority to approve amendments to bylaws and provide strategic information to our staff regarding state education policy issues.
educational deserts
a concept highlighting the importance of geography in shaping the educational equity and opportunity available to place-bound students typically in rural areas where access to educational opportunity is limited.
equity
specifically means freedom from bias or favoritism. In terms of education, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) defines two dimensions of equity in education: (1) personal and social circumstances do not prevent students from achieving their academic potential. (2) inclusion, which means setting a basic minimum standard for education that is shared by all students regardless of background, personal characteristics, or location. Equity efforts in higher education to close the gaps in higher education attainment by income, race, access, equal opportunity, etc. include Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States. Educational boards play a critical role in helping organizations understand the context in which they work and how best to prioritize resources and strategies based on that reality.
equity audit
an internal review of institutional practices (admissions, faculty and staff diversity, financial aid processes, etc.) in the context of equity. Some in higher education are calling for educational institutions to develop processes such as an audit to identify gaps by race, ethnicity, income, gender, disabilities, national origin, etc.
equity-mindedness
emphasizes institutional responsibility to create equity and enable practitioners to focus on what they can to close equity gaps. (See equity and equity audit.)
executive session
a closed discussion by board members Boards must make a motion to go into executive session, and it needs a second and a majority vote to adopt. All nonmembers must leave the room until the board again votes to end the executive session. Minutes (a record only of actions taken, not discussion that occurred) may be taken, but they are not reported. Executive sessions are a useful tool to discuss personal and personnel matters among other sensitive topics.
exigency or financial exigency
Usually as a last resort, colleges declare exigency to slash budgets to alleviate financial hardships, now brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Steps to curb costs include pay cuts, hiring freezes, layoffs, and eliminating colleges. Declaring financial exigency enables colleges to lay off tenured faculty members under American Association of University Professors (AAUP) guidelines.
Exigency guidelines can also provide due process protections, like giving terminated faculty members the right to file grievances, as well as other provisions like adequate notice and severance pay.
Declaring exigency is a powerful tool and effectively has leaders declaring that an entire college is at risk unless basic changes are made. During the coronavirus pandemic, some faculty believe some guidelines have been bypassed.
exit strategy (for college leadership)
a strategy for leaving an institution. Many college presidents and other senior leadership develop innovative, thoughtful ways for leaving their colleges. See succession planning below.
experiential learning
learning through experience, learn by doing and reflecting on doing; assumes a more active role by the learner. Internships and service learning are forms of experiential learning.
FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Financial Aid. Refers to the free federal application for students to complete to receive federal financial aid to attend college or graduate school. Some states like Illinois are recently passing laws requiring high school students to complete the application before graduation.
FERPA
Applied to all educational institutions that received federal funds, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy ACT is federal law designed to protect the privacy rights of student educational records.
financial literacy
calls to more thoroughly educate students about their finances and for colleges to be more transparent about college costs and debt. Some colleges are requiring financial literacy courses. Similar requirements are also being suggested for high schoolers.
first generation students
are children of parents who have not attended college. Technically the term used to mean students whose parents and/or legal guardian have not completed a bachelor’s degree. First generation students often face obstacles such as college readiness, racial disparity, college assimilation, financial challenges, etc. The Center for First-Generation Student Success advocates for these students.
first-time student
According to the IPEDS Glossary, a first-time student is "A student who has no prior postsecondary experience attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level." This means that the student is first-time in terms of postsecondary education (or the student is not known to have attended another postsecondary institution). There are two exceptions: (1) students who attended any institution for the first time the summer prior to entering your institution in the fall term are to be counted as "first-time", as are (2) students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). There is an online guide for first-time students.
flipped classroom
An inversion of traditional classroom instruction, the flipped classroom is a teaching strategy that put course lecture material and instruction online (via video and other media) for individual and classroom discourse and uses the actual face-to-face classroom for activities, labs and collaborative troubleshooting or what was typically considered homework. Teachers become facilitators and “guides” on the side rather than “sages on the stage” while learners engage in a variety of learning activities and group work. Many educators see both the pros and cons of the flipped classroom and its reliance on technology which can bring up an access issue for some students without home technologies.
food insecurity
lack of consistent access to enough food for an active healthy life. Research shows that just under 40% of college students are experiencing hunger and lack stable housing. In 2017, ACCT published Hungry and Homeless in College: Results from a National Study of Basic Needs Insecurity in Higher Education.
force majeure
Act of God or extraordinary circumstances in contract language that allows for extreme action to be taken.
Dire circumstances that prevent parties from fulfilling a contract
free college
publicly funded college costs. 25 tuition-free colleges are listed here. The pros and cons of free college are being discussed frequently. Some feel it is more than free tuition but rather a way to reassert the power of public goods in America. (See College Promise)
free speech zones
Also known as First Amendment zones, are areas in the college set aside for the purpose of political protests. Many feel that these zones confine political expression to distant out-of-the-way locations on campus. See also related “disinvitations” and “speech codes.”
FTE
Full-time equivalent students is one of the key indices of measuring enrollment in colleges and universities. An FTE denotes the number of credits a full-time student would take, typically 15 credits per semester or per quarter; it also denotes a compilation of the number of credits part-time students take that are equivalent to those of a full-time student. Full-time equivalent students is one of the key metrics for measuring enrollment in colleges and universities.
full course load
usually refers to the number of courses a student may take in a semester is dependent on many factors, such as time availability and the college’s course load policies. A full load is considered to be at least 12 credits, which is equal to four three-credit courses.
full-time student
refers to the number of credit hours they take during a quarter or semester. Full-time is generally a minimum of twelve credits or about four 3-credit classes. Part-time is usually somewhere between six and 11 credits or two to three classes. Therefore, a full-time student spends more time in class during a semester than a part-time student.
gainful employment
Regulations that will hold career training programs accountable for putting their students on the path to success, and which complement action across the U.S. Administration to protect consumers and prevent and investigate fraud, waste and abuse, particularly at for-profit colleges, has been recently rescinded by the Department of Education. Colleges affected by these new regulations were required to meet and report on debt-to-income rates. The so-called gainful employment regulations required that a typical graduate of a career college (mostly for-profit schools) – or school that trains students specifically for employment — get a job that makes them enough money to pay back their loans to keep their alma mater eligible for federal financial aid funding. Specifically, a typical graduate’s annual loan payments need to be less than 8% of their earnings or less than 20% of their discretionary income. Programs that don’t meet these requirements would be at risk of losing their federal financial aid funding.
gamification
describes the process of applying game-related principles to non-game contexts such as education. Using characteristics of gaming, educators are designing recruitment, enrollment, learning spaces and learning strategies to provide students with engaging educational experiences based on stimulation and immediate feedback. Gamification takes elements of game play and adds them to a non-game activity or educational experience.
gateway or gatekeeper courses
courses taken usually at the beginning of a sequence of required courses for a degree or certificate. These are often essential, “must-pass” credit courses so that students can continue on in their studies in a particular field or degree program. A gatekeeper course is the first or lowest-level college-level course students take in a subject such as math, reading or writing. Most certificate, degree and transfer programs require students to pass gatekeeper courses in one or more subjects. Common examples include English 101 and college-level math for both associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Gen Z
Born between 1995 and 2012, Gen Z numbers close to 74 million with various levels of education. They are an age group that were digital pioneers and grew up knowing the internet; they do not remember a time when they were not connected with wi-fi or were without personal digital devices.
grit
tenacity, willingness to stick it out, work through and continue to achieve and solve problems; currently identified as a personality trait that students and workers need to achieve their goals and solve problems.
guidance
Statements from a government agency that represents the department’s thinking on a topic meant to provide guidance and direction; guidances lack the force and effect of law. Recent federal guidances form the U.S. Department of Education can be found on the ACCT website.
The new CDC guidance outlines considerations for colleges to use as they reopen.
guided pathways
The Guided Pathways Project model is based on coherent and easy-to-follow college-level programs of study that are aligned with requirements for success in employment and at the next stage of education. Programs, support services, and instructional approaches are redesigned and re-aligned to help students clarify their goals, choose and enter pathways that will achieve those goals, stay on those pathways, and master knowledge and skills that will enable them to advance in the labor market and successfully pursue further education.
heckler’s veto
refers to a situation involving a government official who allows a hostile audience’s reaction to shut down or silence an unpopular speaker. It is an American free speech term describing situations in which a party who disagrees with a speaker’s message is able to conduct events that result in silencing the speaker. See also, “Free speech zone” and “speech codes.”
HEROES Act
Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act), H.R. 6800, for $3 trillion, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 15, 2020 on a largely Democratic party-line vote. The legislation moved to the Senate with action still pending.
Among other stipulations, 30% or $26.72 billion of state funds is aimed to support public higher education institutions.
higher education divide
currently states the growing racial and economic stratification between two- and four- year colleges.
homework gap
terms which refers to the estimated percentage of U.S. students who do not have access to computers at home or home access to broadband internet. This gap is part of what is called the digital divide.
HyFlex Option or Hybrid-Flexible courses
Refers to multi-modal courses which combine online and classroom-based students and have been used successfully for more than a decade at many higher education institutions around the world with a wide variety of courses.
Course model in which each course is built to give students a choice to attend either in person or online acknowledging the student control aspect, sometimes referring to HyFlex as delivering a “student-directed hybrid” learning experience.
IES
Institute of Educational Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education, established by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, is the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education. Its mission is to expand knowledge and provide information on the condition of education, practices that improve academic achievement, and the effectiveness of federal and other education programs. Its goal is the transformation of education into an evidence-based field in which decisionmakers routinely seek out the best available research and data before adopting programs or practices that will affect significant numbers of students.
impact investing for education
Education impact investing benefits both investors and investees. To prepare undereducated and underprepared students to be ready for the 21st-century workforce, foundations like Lumina and Kresge are promoting impact investment in education, from K-12 to postsecondary. Education impact investment allows foundations more control over investment outcomes.
implicit bias
According to Ohio State University, implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. These biases, which encompass both favorable and unfavorable assessments, are activated involuntarily and without an individual’s awareness or intentional control. Residing deep in the subconscious, these biases are different from known biases that individuals may choose to conceal for the purposes of social and/or political correctness. Research indicates an increased probably of seeing disruptive behavior in black children; other works confirms racial biases in teacher expectations.
inclusion
means that all people, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, or health care needs, have the right to: be respected and appreciated as valuable members of their communities, participate in recreational activities in neighborhood settings; work at jobs in the community that pay a competitive wage, and have careers that use their capacities to the fullest and attend general education classes with peers from preschool through college and continuing education. (See also diversity.)
inclusive access
Inclusive access provides e-texts and online course materials as part of a student’s registration process. All students have access to materials prior to the first day of class. It is a cost-saving strategy by some textbook businesses to save students money and is growing quickly around the country as a digital model for college textbooks.
FTE
Full-time equivalent students is one of the key indices of measuring enrollment in colleges and universities. An FTE denotes the number of credits a full-time student would take, typically 15 credits per semester or per quarter; it also denotes a compilation of the number of credits part-time students take that are equivalent to those of a full-time student. Full-time equivalent students is one of the key metrics for measuring enrollment in colleges and universities.
full course load
usually refers to the number of courses a student may take in a semester is dependent on many factors, such as time availability and the college’s course load policies. A full load is considered to be at least 12 credits, which is equal to four three-credit courses.
full-time student
refers to the number of credit hours they take during a quarter or semester. Full-time is generally a minimum of twelve credits or about four 3-credit classes. Part-time is usually somewhere between six and 11 credits or two to three classes. Therefore, a full-time student spends more time in class during a semester than a part-time student.
gainful employment
Regulations that will hold career training programs accountable for putting their students on the path to success, and which complement action across the U.S. Administration to protect consumers and prevent and investigate fraud, waste and abuse, particularly at for-profit colleges, has been recently rescinded by the Department of Education. Colleges affected by these new regulations were required to meet and report on debt-to-income rates. The so-called gainful employment regulations required that a typical graduate of a career college (mostly for-profit schools) – or school that trains students specifically for employment — get a job that makes them enough money to pay back their loans to keep their alma mater eligible for federal financial aid funding. Specifically, a typical graduate’s annual loan payments need to be less than 8% of their earnings or less than 20% of their discretionary income. Programs that don’t meet these requirements would be at risk of losing their federal financial aid funding.
gamification
describes the process of applying game-related principles to non-game contexts such as education. Using characteristics of gaming, educators are designing recruitment, enrollment, learning spaces and learning strategies to provide students with engaging educational experiences based on stimulation and immediate feedback. Gamification takes elements of game play and adds them to a non-game activity or educational experience.
gateway or gatekeeper courses
courses taken usually at the beginning of a sequence of required courses for a degree or certificate. These are often essential, “must-pass” credit courses so that students can continue on in their studies in a particular field or degree program. A gatekeeper course is the first or lowest-level college-level course students take in a subject such as math, reading or writing. Most certificate, degree and transfer programs require students to pass gatekeeper courses in one or more subjects. Common examples include English 101 and college-level math for both associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Gen Z
Born between 1995 and 2012, Gen Z numbers close to 74 million with various levels of education. They are an age group that were digital pioneers and grew up knowing the internet; they do not remember a time when they were not connected with wi-fi or were without personal digital devices.
grit
tenacity, willingness to stick it out, work through and continue to achieve and solve problems; currently identified as a personality trait that students and workers need to achieve their goals and solve problems.
guidance
Statements from a government agency that represents the department’s thinking on a topic meant to provide guidance and direction; guidances lack the force and effect of law. Recent federal guidances form the U.S. Department of Education can be found on the ACCT website.
The new CDC guidance outlines considerations for colleges to use as they reopen.
guided pathways
The Guided Pathways Project model is based on coherent and easy-to-follow college-level programs of study that are aligned with requirements for success in employment and at the next stage of education. Programs, support services, and instructional approaches are redesigned and re-aligned to help students clarify their goals, choose and enter pathways that will achieve those goals, stay on those pathways, and master knowledge and skills that will enable them to advance in the labor market and successfully pursue further education.
heckler’s veto
refers to a situation involving a government official who allows a hostile audience’s reaction to shut down or silence an unpopular speaker. It is an American free speech term describing situations in which a party who disagrees with a speaker’s message is able to conduct events that result in silencing the speaker. See also, “Free speech zone” and “speech codes.”
HEROES Act
Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act), H.R. 6800, for $3 trillion, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 15, 2020 on a largely Democratic party-line vote. The legislation moved to the Senate with action still pending.
Among other stipulations, 30% or $26.72 billion of state funds is aimed to support public higher education institutions.
higher education divide
currently states the growing racial and economic stratification between two- and four- year colleges.
homework gap
terms which refers to the estimated percentage of U.S. students who do not have access to computers at home or home access to broadband internet. This gap is part of what is called the digital divide.
HyFlex Option or Hybrid-Flexible courses
Refers to multi-modal courses which combine online and classroom-based students and have been used successfully for more than a decade at many higher education institutions around the world with a wide variety of courses.
Course model in which each course is built to give students a choice to attend either in person or online acknowledging the student control aspect, sometimes referring to HyFlex as delivering a “student-directed hybrid” learning experience.
IES
Institute of Educational Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education, established by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, is the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education. Its mission is to expand knowledge and provide information on the condition of education, practices that improve academic achievement, and the effectiveness of federal and other education programs. Its goal is the transformation of education into an evidence-based field in which decisionmakers routinely seek out the best available research and data before adopting programs or practices that will affect significant numbers of students.
impact investing for education
Education impact investing benefits both investors and investees. To prepare undereducated and underprepared students to be ready for the 21st-century workforce, foundations like Lumina and Kresge are promoting impact investment in education, from K-12 to postsecondary. Education impact investment allows foundations more control over investment outcomes.
implicit bias
According to Ohio State University, implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. These biases, which encompass both favorable and unfavorable assessments, are activated involuntarily and without an individual’s awareness or intentional control. Residing deep in the subconscious, these biases are different from known biases that individuals may choose to conceal for the purposes of social and/or political correctness. Research indicates an increased probably of seeing disruptive behavior in black children; other works confirms racial biases in teacher expectations.
inclusion
means that all people, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, or health care needs, have the right to: be respected and appreciated as valuable members of their communities, participate in recreational activities in neighborhood settings; work at jobs in the community that pay a competitive wage, and have careers that use their capacities to the fullest and attend general education classes with peers from preschool through college and continuing education. (See also diversity.)
inclusive access
Inclusive access provides e-texts and online course materials as part of a student’s registration process. All students have access to materials prior to the first day of class. It is a cost-saving strategy by some textbook businesses to save students money and is growing quickly around the country as a digital model for college textbooks.
microcredential
a credential less than a degree and not a formal license, sometimes called badges, which are offered by a variety of organizations and delivered through a wide range of postsecondary institutions.
middle college
Dual enrollment programs which allow qualified high school students to work toward a diploma and a certificate or associate degree, usually with a corporate sponsor.
middle-skills workforce; middle skills gap
the National Skills Coalition calls the middle-skills workforce, people holding well-paying and high-demand jobs that require more than a high school diploma and less than a four-year degree. These comprise more than half of America’s jobs, yet only about 40 percent of the country’s workers are trained up to the middle-skill level. Employers are struggling to find qualified machinists, laboratory technicians, computer network architects and other middle-skills workers.
mindful technology
Mindfulness and technology together are a movement in research and design that encourages the user to become aware of the present moment, rather than losing oneself in a technological device. Nearly everyone loves technology, but also wants to escape from its grips from time to time. This field encompasses multidisciplinary participation between design, psychology, computer science, and religion.
mission statement
a statement of core values of a college or institution. The mission guides the purposes of the institution. Incorporating a commitment to access and success within an institution's mission statement is a deliberative process involving campus stakeholders, governing boards, communities, businesses, and the public. Accreditors typically ask: Is the college fulfilling its mission?
mLearning
mobile learning ; even though the learner may be static, in one place, the term refers to learning on mobile devices and is considered by many to be a form of eLearning. mLearning opportunities can be small components, activities or events within any mode of delivery.
multiple intelligences
was developed by Howard Gardner of Harvard whose theories in cognitive research supports that students learn, process, and interpret information differently and it argues that one’s capacity to learn, remember, perform, and understand in different ways. Currently, there are seven learning styles.
multiple measures
use of multiple indicators and sources of evidence of student learning. Many colleges ae using various indicators of learning and achievement such as student interviews, standardized tests, field work, projects, teacher recommendations, etc. rather than simply standardized tests alone as indicators of student progress or ability to take college-level coursework.
NACADA
National Academic Advising Association is an association of professional advisors, counselors, faculty, administrators, and students working to enhance the educational development of students.
nanodegree
“micro" online certification programs
NCES
National Center for Education Statistics is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. NCES is located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences. NCES fulfills a Congressional mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report complete statistics on the condition of American education; conduct and publish reports; and review and report on education activities internationally.
nudging, nudge
strategy used to text personal supports and reminders to low-income, at-risk students. Recently a nudging campaign at four community colleges improved student persistence rates in STEM programs. Text messages were encouraging and asked what the students needed and addressed where students could get what information they needed.
OER
Open Educational Resources or open source: usually referred to textbooks and learning resources produced with publicly available material that is free or at low cost to make college more affordable. Some even predict that colleges will eliminate traditional textbooks in the next decade.
on-demand learning
is a training strategy for how a learner gains access to knowledge-based content in real time, anywhere and at any time.
OPM (online program managers)
OPMs are being hired by some colleges to aid in the transition to online courses due to the quick pivot to remote learning needed during the pandemic.
opportunity zones
a national community investment tool that connects private capital with low-income communities across the country. The Opportunity Zones incentive was established by Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to promote investments in low-income communities nationwide and offers federal tax benefits for investors in low-income communities. The opportunities zone map designates which communities are official opportunity zones.
pandemic pods
A form of homeschooling for kids for both online and/or in-person learning to work in small groups or pods to support or replace traditional schooling which has gone predominantly virtual or remote during COVID-19
Families group together and either share the care and encouragement for virtual classes, or employ someone, even a qualified teacher, to supervise.
pass/fail grading
Refers to the emergency grading system adopted and debated by many colleges during the Covid-19 pandemic; students will not receive traditional letter grades — only marks of “pass,” “incomplete,” or “no-record” (the latter meaning the course won’t show up on a student’s transcript).
The pass/no record system is essentially a form of “universal pass” that prevents students from failing any of their classes. It’s already available to students at various universities and has drawn criticism in the past for allegedly incentivizing students to slack off. Many colleges have adopted optional pass/fail policies.
Pathways
Refer to guided pathways or to the guided pathways approach that promotes access to completion.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
A provision of the CARES Act which offers forgivable low-interest loans to small businesses facing uncertainty during the COVID-19 emergency, so businesses can retain workers, maintain payroll, and cover certain other existing overhead costs.
phigital
Physical plus digital, phigital is a marketing term blending digital experiences with physical ones. Generation Z is considered the first generation to be fully phigital or unable to distinguish between the physical world and a digital one.
prior learning assessment (PLA)
is a practice designed to help students complete their degree and/or portfolio via formal and informal experiences for college equivalency. Examples would be applying experiential learning such as workplace learning, military, internships, or study abroad language credits directly as an elective requirement.
program accreditation
is accreditation of individual programs within a school (like Nursing, etc.) rather than the whole institution. There are specific evaluating groups for this type of accreditation. Program appraisers will look at faculty, curriculum, students, resources and administrative structure. Accreditation groups want to make sure that all students are offered the same standard of supervision, advisement, support and access to relevant program resources. See also regional accreditation.
Project–based learning (PBL)
is a dynamic classroom approach in which students actively explore real-world problems and challenges and acquire a deeper knowledge.
real-time collaboration
is a term used for software or technologies that allow multiple users to work together on a project in real time, or simultaneously.
regional accreditation
institutional accreditation which means an entire school is accredited. That bestows a high level of credibility on a university as a whole. Institutional accreditation can be provided by a regional or national accreditation group. The United States is divided into six geographic regions, and each has its own regional accrediting organization. Only those accrediting groups that are acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education are considered legitimate: Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities (NWCCU), Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC), Higher Learning Commission (HLC); New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). A map of the scope of each regional accreditor is online. See also “program accreditation” and “CHEA.”
remedial education
also known as developmental education. New research questions if new remedial strategies are getting students to complete.
remedial math
developmental math to prepare students for college-level math. Many states are developing new ways to teach remedial math.
remote learning: (distance learning)
Remote learning occurs when the learner and instructor, or source of information, are separated by time and distance and cannot meet in a traditional face-to-face classroom
retention
student retention is significant for measuring institutional effectiveness in the prevailing environment of accountability and budgetary constraints. An example of a retention strategy might be offering telecommute program or distance learning options for busy students and employees.
reverse transfer
Awarding or earning an associate’s degree from the college to which a student transferred after completion or awarding of a baccalaureate degree. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center has produced a comprehensive study entitled Reverse Transfer: A National View of Student Mobility from Four-year to Two-Year Institutions July 2012. The 13 state colleges in Wisconsin are implementing an automated system (Reverse Transfer automated data exchange platform through the National Student Clearinghouse) through partnership with the state university. Colleges’ completion rates get a boost when students do reverse transfer.
Robert’s Rules of Order
is the standard set of rules for parliamentary procedure first published in 1876 to run orderly meetings with maximum fairness to all members. There is an official Robert’s Rules of Order website that provides up-to-date current versions. There is also a Robert's Rules Cheat Sheet available online.
SEOG (or FSEOG)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: is a program designed to supplement Pell Grant funding for students with significant financial need. Financial aid administrators must prioritize PELL students when awarding SEOG. How financial need is calculated can be found in ACCT’s Financial Aid 101.
service learning
Learning that provides students opportunities to engage in practical service activities in the community including volunteering. Often service learning components are part of a course curriculum and offer students practical, hands-on training related to the coursework.
shared governance
is a delicate balance between faculty and staff participation in planning and decision-making processes, on the one hand, and administrative accountability on the other. Shared governance varies across the country, but typically refers to decision making shared with the college administration and with faculty and staff. The term may have originated in the nursing field as structural model for nurses to manage their practice with a higher level of professional autonomy.
skills gap
the difference between what employers need and what college graduates can actually do or perform on the job. For many years, employers have been concerned about the skill level of graduates from high school, college, and universities, i.e. graduating with few skills to be able to work effectively in the 21st century workplace. Some companies are even offering skills-focused boot camps to find employees with skills needed on the job. Many educational institutions indicate that their mission is to educate, not only prepare students for skills-based jobs. Nevertheless, foundations, states, and professional websites such as LinkedIn are uniting to create job search platforms for middle-skills workers to attempt to alleviate the gap by providing common language and information for needed skills.
snowflakes
In addition to a feathery ice crystal or flake of snow, snowflake refers to an overly sensitive or easily offended person who feels entitled to special treatment because of their unique characteristics. According to the OED, life for them should come with trigger warnings and safe spaces. A snowflake often refers to millennial students who are considered by some to be the stressed-out generation ruined by helicopter parents, smartphones, and an outrageous sense of entitlement. National studies have depicted a growing rate of depression (63%) and suicidal thoughts (47%) among young adults (18-25).
social distancing
to maintain a safe or appropriate distance from other people, especially to slow the spread of a contagious illness or disease
social mobility
movement of individuals, families or groups through a system of social hierarchy. Many believe that community colleges hold the key to social mobility for low-income students and that the more education one receives, the greater the opportunity for students to prepare for higher paying jobs and earn higher incomes over their lifetimes.
soft skills
refers to “people skills”: communication, speaking, writing, getting along with others, etc.
speech code
written college policies regulating expression at colleges and universities that is constitutionally protected under the First Amendment. Such policies can also include policies on controversial speakers, public demonstrations and harassment.
stackable credentials
a series of academic credentials that build upon each other toward a degree or profession. Example: Accounting Clerk, Accounting Paraprofessional, Accountant. CCRC explored if stackable credentials have labor market value.
Stafford loan
Also known as the Federal Direct loan, the Stafford loan is the largest and most popular student loan program. The Federal Stafford Loans are low-cost loans borrowed by students to pay for their college education. There are two versions of the Federal Stafford Loan, subsidized and unsubsidized. The federal government pays the interest on subsidized loans during the in-school and grace periods, as well as other deferment periods, such as during an economic hardship deferment. The federal government does not pay the interest on unsubsidized loans.
standing committee
a permanent committee that meets regularly; usually budget and finance committees are generally standing committees.
state associations
There are 24 states in which a statewide community college association represents trustees, CEOs, and/or both. ACCT collaborates with these affiliate organizations to facilitate communication, membership support and advocacy between the state and national levels. The National Council of State Association Chief Executives (NCSACE) consists of the CEOs of all of the state community college associations. NCSACE members typically meet during ACCT's Annual Leadership Congress and the Community College National Legislative Summit. For more information about ACCT's relationships with state community college associations, contact membershipupdates@acct.org.
student engagement
student willingness to participate in college activities, attend class, and get involved (engaged) in their learning. As an accountability measure, many institutions use the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) to assess services and programs for students.
student success courses
are courses offered usually to new freshmen, transfer, developmental or first- generation students to learn about navigating through college. These courses are of various lengths and aim to assist students with helpful practical information about all aspects of the college experience to help them navigate through the admission, course selection and advisement processes. Skills taught are usually time management, study skills, and often a tour of important offices and buildings like the library on campus. Research has shown many of these courses help students develop their long-term goals for completing their course of study.
study abroad
offers learning opportunities for students who wish to study outside of the United States. Many high schools and colleges offer a variety of travel learning opportunities for students with variation in the length of time, credit or noncredit, sponsorship, etc.
summer melt
refers to the lag time between the end and beginning of the typical academic calendar year when students may not take classes during the summer. Because many students in the summer are away from their studies, a great of learning may be lost as well as interest in completing. To avoid summer melt, many colleges are offering robust summer programs to keep students on target.
summer swirl
refers to the steady increase in college students taking classes to speed up their progress to graduation, according to NCES which tracks this. Students often turn to community colleges in the summer to gain credits and save money. Summer swirl student are graduating in less than five years. (Research shows that a third of students transfer before graduating, and many head toward community colleges.)
sunshine laws
regulations requiring public openness, advance notice, convenient times and places for meetings, records, votes, etc., i.e. open access to the public.
synchronous learning
refers to learning techniques where instructions and learning occurs at the same time, but not in the same place. For example, educational video conferences, interactive webinars, chat-based online discussions, and lectures that are broadcasted at the same time.
techlash
Strong reaction against the major technology companies (“Big Tech”) as a result of concerns about their power, users’ privacy, the possibility of political manipulation, etc. Since the spread of COVID-19, concern about the perils of smartphone surveillance have changed into using smartphone location data to document levels of social distancing by regions.
test optional
In response to fewer opportunities for national college testing in light of COVID-19, a majority of colleges and universities have dropped the SAT or ACT requirement during the admissions cycle.
A school that is test optional will still consider a student’s standardized test scores. A strong score could provide important information that supports students’ academic growth and achievement.
Students who do not submit scores should also note that the other aspects of their applications (grades, academic profile, extracurricular life, essays, recommendations, special projects, etc.) will be weighed more heavily as determining factors for admission.
test-blind admission
Even if students submit their scores, some colleges and universities are not looking at SAT and ACT scores of new student applicants. Because of the pandemic, many students have complained of fewer opportunities to take the tests, last-minute cancellations at some test centers and the need for social distancing.
No one sole factor on the application will determine a student’s admission status.
Title IV
term that refers to federal financial aid funds. Federal regulations state that any federal funds disbursed to a student's account in excess of allowable charges must be delivered to the student (or parent in case of an undergraduate PLUS loan).
Title IX
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces, among other statutes, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that: No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. See ACCT’s Trustee Talk #13: Sexual Misconduct Prevention on College Campuses for resources and samples of college policies related to Title IX.
transfer
the matriculation of a student from a college in the two-year sector to a college in a four-year sector, regardless of time spent or hours accumulated in the two-year college. Transfer rates are the proportion of student who transfer to a baccalaureate institution with or without completion of a degree at the two-year institution.
transfer-out rate
the proportion of students who transfer to a four-year college or university without completion of a degree or credential at the two-year institution.
transition
typically refers to academic journey from one level to the next or phasing from the three major transition points: (1) primary to middle school, (2) middle school to secondary, (3) secondary to postsecondary, i.e. community colleges/universities. Thus, the educational performances are sectioned to meet the academic, social, emotional, cognitive, physical, or developmental changes that affects progress.
trigger warning
use of warnings to students about course content: In academic settings, they are written or spoken warnings given by professors to alert students that course material might be traumatic for people with particular life experiences. Much debate about freedom of speech, etc. In the classroom.
underrepresented students
refers to students often not well represented on college campuses: low-income, first-generation, LGBT+ and minority students. These underrepresented groups face unique challenges in both applying to and attending college including harassment and discrimination. The Century Foundation suggests 9 Ways Colleges Should Support Underrepresented Students.
underserved students
(used interchangeably with “underrepresented.”) refers to students who do not receive equitable resources as other students, including low-income, underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities and first generation students who have historically been outside mainstream higher education. Minority: race/ethnicity is African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic/Latino, or Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander; Low income: combined parental income is less than or equal to $36,000; and First generation in college: highest parental education level is high school diploma or less (ACT article).
unit record system
refers to the system used to provide information for prospective student and families about employment outcomes, particularly about jobs and earnings of students in specific majors at specific institutions.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Effective remote learning draws from Universal Design for Learning principles which emphasize providing learning materials in multiple formats and modalities that meet diverse learner needs and preferences, providing opportunities for students to engage in reflective practice, make relevant connections to learning objectives, and collaborate with peers; and providing students with options for how they demonstrate their understanding of course objectives.
UDL provides a framework to reach every student through online teaching by utilizing neuroscience for learning and following the three main principles of engagement: representation, action and expression.
From an educational framework first conceptualized in architecture with Universal Design which refers to creating spaces that are accessible to all, UDL highlights the challenges of special education, where learning and teaching based on the “average” student was not effective. UDL utilizes strategies such as checking in often with students at least once a day during instruction days, making a bullet-pointed summary of what is expected, etc. to ensure students are engaged.
vocational training
career and technical training.
Voluntary Framework of Accountability (VFA)
the first comprehensive accountability system specifically designed for community colleges; administered through the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).
web conferencing
is an online service by which you can hold live meetings, conferencing, presentations and trainings via the internet.
work-based learning
refers to high-quality, work-based learning opportunities that integrate applicable academic concepts and state standards and evaluate a student’s mastery of key employability skills. In most cases, students can reap greater benefits from quality work-based learning programs than they can from traditional teen employment opportunities. Some middle schools have implemented career exploration programs to connect young students to employability skills and learn about potential careers. Different states define work-based learning in various ways. This complexity and variation in definitions can be found in Work-Based Learning Definitions Themes From States and National Organizations. Work-based learning opportunities are being expanded at the federal level.
work-remote policies
Over 95% of U.S. colleges have implemented working from home policies for staff during the pandemic. Boards have also held meetings remotely.
Work-Study
refers to programs, both federal and campus-based, that provide partial funding to students with financial need to get part-time jobs, most preferably related to their field of study. Federal Work-Study (FWS) funds are provided for full- or part-time students with financial need at colleges that have had their federal application approved. The new FWS Experimental Site is particularly relevant to community colleges interested in expanding work-based learning.