The alphabetical list of terms below are jargon or terms you are likely to hear while attending Polk Community College. We suggest you use this web page in conjunction with the Help for New Students page, which contains many more links to other PCC web pages. 

There are two other PCC web sites that are helpful for new - - actually all- - students: 

• the Student Information web page; and  

• the PCC web site's search page.   

If you still can't find the answer, you can also send questions via e-mail to PCC's Student Services office.

AA DEGREE:

The Associate in Arts degree is designed for transfer to a college or university. A Florida AA degree satisfies general education requirements at all state universities in Florida.

AAS, AS DEGREE:

The Associate in Applied Science and the Associate in Science degrees are program specific degrees designed to enter a designated career.

ACT:

American College Test. See SAT

ACCREDITATION:

A college or program that has met established standards and is nationally or regionally recognized by appropriate accrediting agencies is given accreditation.

ADVISING STAFF:

The advising staff is made up of Academic Advisors assigned to help students with course selection, transferring and other academic matters.

ATTEMPT:

If you “attempt” a course and the course registration is in effect at the end of the Drop/Add period, you are still enrolled in the course.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Each professor may define an attendance policy for his/her course(s). The policy should appear on the Basic Course Information sheet provided to each student at the beginning of the term.

APPLY:

The act of submitting to the Admissions Office a completed Application for Admission with the required fee.

BACCALAUREATE OR BACHELOR'S DEGREE:

Completion of all university and major graduation requirements as certified by the university results in the student earning a BA (Bachelor of Arts Degree) or BS (Bachelor of Science Degree).

BASIC COURSE INFORMATION (BCI):

The BCI sheet is distributed by each professor during the first part of the semester. It contains course requirements, course outcomes and objectives, attendance policies (where applicable), required texts and other information relevant to the specific course.

BREAKING CATALOG:

Non-attendance in an academic year will “break” the Catalog which results in loss of eligibility to follow graduation requirements in a specific Catalog.

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CAA (Computer Assisted Advisement):

This is a computer printout individualized for each student showing his/her degree or certificate program status. The printout shows required courses for that program, the courses which have been successfully completed by the student, the courses in which the student is currently enrolled, the courses yet to be taken, grades and credit hours, total hours and grade point average.

CPT (College Placement Test):

See Placement Testing

CATALOG (Bulletin):

The PCC Catalog is a resource of all academic policies, procedures, college and degree requirements, faculty and course descriptions published yearly; the Catalog, sometimes called a Bulletin, is subject to change.

CATALOG IN EFFECT:

The PCC Catalog in effect at the time of a student’s first enrollment or reenrollment governs his/her graduation prerequisites.

CERTIFICATE:

This is a short-term program designed to provide students with college-level training in job entry skills.

CLAST (College Level Academic Skills Test):

All students expecting to graduate with an A.A. degree, or who expect to transfer as a junior to any state university in Florida, are required to meet the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) requirements. Students must score at or above the state minimums, or meet the CLAST alternative. Click here for more information.

CLAST ALTERNATIVE:

Other than taking the exam, through a combination of test scores (SAT or ACT) or specific course grades, a student can satisfy the one or more subtests of the CLAST requirements.

COMPUTERIZED PLACEMENT TEST (CPT):

COLLEGE-PREP COURSE:

A college-prep course is a course that must be completed before a student is admitted to an academic program. Placement into these courses is determined by a College Placement Test (CPT).

COMMON PROGRAM PREREQUISITE:

Florida has identified Common Program Prerequisites (specific courses) for all university programs. These prerequisites must be completed by the student going into that field of study, must be accepted by all state universities and applied towards a bachelor's  degree.

CO-REQUISITE COURSE:

This is a course that must be taken at the same time as another, specified course.

COUNSELING MANUAL:

This manual is a publication listing requirements for all majors in the State University System (SUS) and is provided to all Academic Advisors at Florida community colleges.

CREDIT HOUR (SEMESTER HOUR):

Each course taught is designated a number of credit hours which reflects approximately the total hours a student spends per week in a given class. Most lecture courses are three credit hours and meet three hours a week. NOTE: You can expect to spend at least two hours of study time outside of class for every hour spent in class.

DISTANCE EDUCATION:

Any form of instruction where the instructor and students are separated either by distance and/or time during the instructional process. At PCC, distance education includes Internet based courses, telecourses and interactive television courses.

DROP:

A student may drop a course during the official Drop/Add period. A dropped class will not appear on the permanent record. A course dropped after the Drop/Add period is know as a Withdrawal. (See Withdrawal)

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DROP/ADD:

This is the procedure used to alter class schedules after registration and during PCC's  Late Registration and Drop/Add” period. During this time, the student can adjust his/her schedule by dropping or adding a course without penalty. For these dates and deadlines see the College Calendar. (These dates are also available in printed schedule booklets.) 

ELECTIVES:

These are approved courses that may be used to fulfill degree requirements.

EXCESS HOURS:

When a student enrolls in semester hour credit(s) beyond a maximum amount allowed for his/her particular degree program, he/she has acquired excess hours. Additional fees are assessed at the universities for semester hours taken above this limit.

FLORIDA RESIDENT:

A student whose official place of residency has been Florida for at least the last 12 months.

FULL-TIME STUDENT:

A student enrolled in at least 12 credit hours during Terms 1 and 2 (or 6 credits during Terms 3 and 4) is considered a full-time student.

GORDON RULE:

This requires students to complete 24,000 words of writing and to complete two courses (6 semester hours) of mathematics at the level of college algebra or higher. To meet the requirements of the rule, a student must earn a grade of “C” or better in the appropriate mathematics and English courses.

GPA (Grade Point Average):

Grade Point Average is the calculation of credits attempted, credits earned and grades earned. For a variety of purposes, some GPA’s are calculated differently.

GRADE FORGIVENESS:

This is when a course is taken and repeated and the grade earned in the first attempt is replaced by the grade earned in the second attempt.

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LAB:

Some courses include a special activity within a class setting or a specialized room for the performance of certain functions. Lab time is often required for college prep courses (TLCC lab), chemistry, typing, biology, nursing, physics, computers, electronics, etc.

LATE FEE:

An additional fee of $25 is charged for late registration. The dates when those fees are applied are listed in the schedule booklet and the fees web page.

LIMITED ACCESS:

Certain academic programs designated as “limited access” only guarantee admission to a limited number of applicants. Admission becomes competitive and specific  requirements are established.

MAJOR:

A group of related courses, which constitute a focused program of studies in a specific area of knowledge.

MINIMUM HOURS FOR GRADUATION:

The least number of hours accepted to receive an Associate degree is 60 credit hours. Some majors may require students to take more than the minimum in order to gain all of the knowledge and skills needed.

MINOR:

A small group of related courses, which constitute limited study, usually 15 – 18 hours, is a minor.

OFFICE HOURS:

Hours posted on a professor’s Basic Course Information identifying regularly scheduled times when he/she will be available. A list of faculty, offices, phone numbers and e-mail addresses is also available

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT:

Issued by the Registrar’s office, this is an official record of all courses taken and grades earned.

ORIENTATION:

A session designed to introduce new students to personnel, places and procedures. Orientation is required of all students.

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PASSP0RT:

PCC’s Internet system is known as PASSPORT (Personal Access to Student Services Polk Online Registration Tool). It allows you to look up grades, check financial aid and register online.

PLACEMENT TESTING:

The Computerized Placement Test (CPT) is required before initial advising and first registration. These tests are given on a computer in both TLCCs. The CPT is not an entrance exam. The test is designed to insure proper placement in English, reading and mathematics. The results of CPT assist in advising.

PCC FOUNDATION, INC:

The Foundation is a separate, non-profit, tax-exempt corporation seeking funds to assist Polk Community College for the betterment of its students and faculty.

PRE-REQUISITE COURSE:

A course that must be completed before taking a specific course.

REGISTRATION:

The selection of courses for a given term that is done in person or online via PASSPORT. Registration is finalized only when fees have been paid.

REQUIRED COURSES:

Specific courses in a curriculum which must be completed to earn a degree or certificate.

SAT and ACT:

These are college entrance examinations required for freshmen, sophomores, students transferring without the AA degree and all education majors. SAT = Scholastic Assessment Test. ACT =  American College Test.

SECTION:

To accommodate the number of students needing to take a given course, PCC will schedule many courses to have multiple meeting days, times and locations. Each class is assigned a “section number.” NOTE: Make sure you have the correct section number when you register or you'll wind up with a class on a day or time.

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SEMESTER:

The academic year is divided into parts called semesters or terms. The two major terms last approximately 16 weeks. Summer terms vary in length.

STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS:

There are minimum performance levels expected of students, based on grade point average (GPA) and number of hours attempted. Students not meeting minimum standards will be restricted in the number of hours they may attempt in the following term. Advising is necessary and both student and Academic Advisor in Student Services must sign an Action Agreement.

SUS (State University System):

The 10 public universities in Florida make up the State University System.

TLCC (Teaching, Learning, Computing Centers):

The Teaching, Learning, Computing Centers are large labs on each campus that provide students access to computers, tutors and other academic materials.

WITHDRAWAL/ WITHDRAWAL FROM A COURSE:

If a student decides not to complete a course, he/she will withdraw or be withdrawn. This option is limited to the first half of the semester and the student should consult with the professor and an Academic Advisor in Student Services before completing proper paperwork to be withdrawn. Withdrawing can have an impact on financial aid and there are limits to the number of times courses can be attempted. While a professor may withdraw a student, it is not the professor’s responsibility to do so.

This page is maintained by the Office of College Information. Send an e-mail if you have any questions or comments about this page.