Nov 24, 2024  
2023-2024 College Catalog 
    
2023-2024 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Glossary


Academic - Related to College approved courses, course instruction, classes both on or offcampus, class attendance, classroom behavior affecting class participation, and all course and class activities to include tests, field trips, and other recognized/approved requirements.

Academic Unit - Refers to the Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, the academic dean(s), and the academic faculty members and/or instructors who are either full- or part-time College employees

Academic year - generally refers to that period of time covering the fall and spring semesters.

Adjunct Faculty - “Adjunct faculty” refers to a part time college appointment, to an instructional position, with appropriate credentials that receive a semester contract, for up to 9 credits of teaching load, depending on continuing performance and other factors

Business Day - Days when the College offices are open for business.

By-passed course - a Prerequisite course for which credit is given via non-traditional means, usually by advanced placement or credit by examination.

Class Day - A day on which classes are regularly scheduled or on which final examinations are given. These days are those listed in the current semester schedule of classes.

The Code - Reference to the SLCC Code of Student Conduct or due process procedures. This may also refer to the Rules and Regulations Section of the Catalog.

College - South Louisiana Community College

College Administrator - Includes but is not limited to: Chancellor, Vice Chancellors, Dean of Students, Dean of Instruction & Effectiveness, Associate Deans, Directors, and Managers

College Employee - Any person employed by the College for any purpose on either a full or part-time basis.

College Official - Any person employed by the College and assigned administrative or professional responsibilities.

College Premises or Related Premises - All land, buildings, and facilities owned, leased, or controlled by the College.

Complaint - A written statement of the essential facts constituting a violation of a College regulation or rule.

Concentration - a track of courses within a program, accounting for at least 30% of the Major requirements. “Concentration” may be instituted by the affected system and campus without prior approval by the Board of Regents.

Co-requisite - an academic requirement that must be satisfied concurrent with enrollment in a course. A student requesting a course must satisfy all Co-requisites for that course or must otherwise provide evidence (to the instructor and the head of the department) that s/he has either had the equivalent preparation or is currently satisfying the requirement by some other means.

Corporate Act - A united act involving an unspecified number of students belonging to and acting in the name of a College-approved student organization.

Credit - a measurement of course work completed satisfactorily. Ordinarily, one semester-hour credit is given for one class attendance a week for a period of one semester. However, in some courses, such as laboratory courses, two or three “clock hours” of attendance a week are required to earn one semester hour. Additionally, to meet the educational requirements in special learning environments such as internships, workplace experience or clinical environments, students should expect that the clock hours required will be much higher per credit earned. Typically such experience is completed as discrete full time blocks of time (days per week or weeks of experience) rather than select hours per week. Such requirements are specifically addressed and quantified in programmatic requirements to complete a degree. In all cases a specified number of credits must be earned for a degree.

Curriculum - description of required and elective courses for a degree program.

Degree - title of the award conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school upon completion of a unified program of study (e.g., Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts).

Degree program - any grouping of campus-approved courses and requirements (e.g., minimum GPA required, comprehensive examinations, English and math proficiency) which, when satisfactorily completed by a student, will entitle him or her to a degree from a public institution of higher education.

Degree subject area - this is the primary discipline that constitutes the focus of a degree program. It is listed in the Board of Regents’ Inventory under the category “Degree Description/Option.” The category “Degree Description/Option” shall be changed in the Inventory to “Degree Subject Area.” When a student satisfactorily completes a degree program, s/he will be entitled to a degree in the appropriate subject area from a public institution of higher education (e.g. Criminal Justice).

Degree title - the complete label of a degree program, consisting of a degree designation (e.g., Associate of Science) and the degree subject area (e.g., General Business). It is listed in the Board of Regents’ Inventory under the categories “Degree Level” and “Degree Description/Option” (e.g., Associate of Science in General Business).

Department- A “Department” consists of faculty from one general discipline grouping within a College Division. It may or may not contain specific programs that may additionally be led by a “Program Coordinator”. The purpose of Departments is to provide necessary academic support services and/or instructional programs to meet the educational needs of the students and provide a structured environment to achieve the Division/Colleges vision and strategic plan. The Department Chair is a member of the Department who is elected by members of the Department, is responsible for the programs of the Department, the Faculty, resources of that Department and effective communications with the Divisional Dean and Vice Chancellors.

Department Chair- A “Department Chair” is a faculty member with certain administrative functions in relation to a logical grouping of instruction of a discipline or occupational area.

Division - A “Division” is an organizational unit of the college consisting of more than one discipline and/or programs. The purpose of a Division is to develop, maintain & coordinate instructional programs, meet the educational needs of students and provide a structured environment to achieve the Colleges vision and strategic plan. Divisions are led by the Divisional Dean, an administrator appointed by the college who has appropriate credentials and experience in the area. The Divisional Dean is responsible for the overall administration and educational programs of that Division. The Divisions of the College cooperate together to administer instructional activities that are conducted on the campus and multiple sites of the college in serving its students.

Division Member, Department Member, Program Member - “Member” refers to a Faculty member whose teaching load contains one or more classes offered by a Division/Department/Program. All faculty are members of a Division or Department or Program of the College. All Programs will be a part of a Department or of a particular Division. A faculty member will vote in the Division/Department in which the majority of the teaching load resides. If the teaching load is divided equally between two or more Divisions/Departments, the faculty member will choose the Division/Department in which he/she votes and participates.

Faculty- “Faculty” refers to a full time college appointment, to an instructional position, with appropriate credentials, which receives a 9, 10 or 12 month contract, depending on continuing performance and other factors.

Financial aid year - generally refers to the period beginning with the summer session through the end of the spring semester.

Free elective - any credit course offered by the College and approved by the Divisional Dean/Department chair/program Coordinator.

Freshman - a student who has earned fewer than 30 semester hours of credit.

Full-Time Faculty - a faculty member who is not on a part-time appointment.

Full-time Student - an undergraduate student who is taking 12 or more semester credit hours in a regular semester or 6 or more credit hours in a summer session.

Good Standing - The term used to describe students who have not been censured for serious violations of College regulations and who are not presently under an academic or disciplinary status.

LCTCS - Louisiana Community and Technical College System, the governing board of the community and technical colleges serving the State of Louisiana.

Major - that part of a Degree Program that consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline or field(s). The name of the “major” is usually consistent with the Degree Subject Area. A “major” is generally composed of 25% or more of total hours required in an undergraduate curriculum. Establishment of a “major” requires prior approval by the Board of Regents.

Minor - that part of a Degree Program which consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline or field(s), consisting usually of 15% or more of total hours required in an undergraduate curriculum. “Minors” may be instituted by the affected system and campus without prior approval by the Board of Regents.

Non-Academic - Related to all activities outside of the classroom and outside of the recognized/approved instructional areas of the College which are necessary to meeting degree requirements.

Official transcript - a transcript that is sent from the previous institution(s) attended directly to the Admissions/Registrar’s Office; official transcripts must be provided regardless of whether credit was earned.

Part-time Student - an undergraduate student who is taking fewer than 12 semester credit hours in a regular semester or fewer than six semester credit hours in a summer session. Parttime students are subject to the same College rules as full-time students. The rules governing students in scheduling required courses also apply to part-time students.

Prerequisite - an academic requirement that must be satisfied prior to enrolling in a course. A student requesting a course must have completed all Prerequisites listed for that course or must otherwise provide evidence to the program coordinator or department chair that s/he has had the equivalent preparation.

Program- A “Program” consists of a series of clearly defined sequential courses that lead to the award of a particular academic credential. Programs more specifically relate to occupational or technical qualifications where the instructional faculty is specifically qualified to instruct in that program and the structure allows for little variation in the student’s selection of courses to attain the award. The Program Coordinator is a member of the Program. The Program Coordinator may be elected if two or more members of a Program are qualified to assume this role. The actual requirements of this position may be determined by outside programmatic accreditation or state or federal requirements. Faculty within a program may also be required to meet the same particular requirements in terms of credential, licensing, registration, etc. to be able to instruct upon the program. The Program Coordinator is responsible for the program, its students, the Faculty, its curriculum, accreditation, liaison with the appropriate Department chair, if applicable, and working with the Divisional Dean and Vice Chancellors.

Program Coordinator / Instructional Director- These terms refer to a faculty member with certain administrative functions in relation to a particular program as required by programmatic accreditation requirements, an external regulatory board or for liaison with University partners.

Residence - enrollment in regular College classes as opposed to extension classes or correspondence study.

Resident - refers to the resident status of a student for fee purposes; criteria are specified in the section entitled “Regulations Governing Residency for Assessment of Tuition and Fees.”

Routine College Communication Channels - The use of any College employee or format to contact a student including but not limited to contact by phone, through class via faculty, or by note delivered to the student in class, at the student’s residence, or by verbal contact, and by use of mail or e-mail.

Sophomore - a student who has earned at least 30 semester hours of credit.

Staff Member - Any College employee, either classified or non-classified, who is not a member of the faculty or who may have administrative duties along with minimal teaching responsibilities.

Student - Any person who has been admitted and enrolled in classes at the College.