Not all the words in this glossary are found in this Handbook. They are, however, used commonly throughout AU.
Students new to distance learning may find the glossary helpful in familiarizing themselves with AU expressions.
Academic misconduct. Intellectual dishonesty, including such offences as plagiarism, cheating, and falsification of records.
Academic probation. The imposition of specific requirements, tasks, or conditions that an individual student must meet or fulfill within a stipulated time to avoid being suspended from further study at AU.
Academic year. The academic year at AU is from September 1 until August 31 the following year.
Active student. As an active student you have completed an AU course within the last 12 months. The 12-month period is based on the most recent course contract date, course completion date, or date of withdrawal from an AU course. Students who complete courses at other institutions on a Letter of Permission from AU also retain their active status.
Administrative Studies. Administrative Studies comprise courses in accounting, administration, communication, finance, industrial relations, legal studies, management science, organizational behaviour, public administration, and taxation.
Admit. Students are admitted to AU and assigned a permanent student number effective the date of their admission. See "Enrol" and "Registration."
Appeal. The act or process of requesting the review of a decision made by an official of AU. Students may appeal decisions on transfer credits, grades, tests, assignments, final grades, questions of process, disciplinary action, etc. All appeals must first be made to the person responsible for overseeing the initial decision.
Applied Studies. Courses that apply knowledge and skills to a particular professional area such as administrative studies or nursing are called Applied Studies.
Area. Area refers to AU's division of its courses into groups of related subjects. Arts is divided into humanities and social sciences. Science includes all science courses. Applied Studies includes the area of administrative studies, nursing, and a wide range of professionally oriented courses. The area designation for a course is shown in each course description following the credit value of the course.
Arts. Studies in two fundamental areas of human knowledge--humanities and social sciences--are called Arts.
Assessment. Assessment of previous post-secondary education for possible transfer credit toward an AU program.
Audit. Refers to registration in a credit course without the intention of obtaining credit. Audit students receive the same tutorial support as credit students, but they are not required to write exams.
Bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree is a first university degree in a field, for example, Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Administration. Also called an undergraduate degree.
Call Centre facilitator. Some AU courses use a Call Centre facilitator who answers course-related questions. Subject-related questions are forwarded to the course tutor.
Challenge for credit. The challenge for credit option allows students to demonstrate that they have a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, and intellectual and other skills that would normally be acquired in a university-level course.
Classroom setting. Courses delivered in a classroom setting are delivered simultaneously to a group of students (with or without the aid of video- or audio-conferencing) who may react with the instructor. The courses may take place in an actual classroom at an AU Learning Centre, at a collaborating institution, or online.
Complaint. A written and signed statement as a result of which proceedings may be initiated.
Conditional enrolment. As an example, students are conditionally enrolled in the B.A. program until they have fulfilled the English writing requirement.
Contract date. Your contract date is the last day that you have to complete your individualized-study course. Contract dates are always the last day of a month (or the date that you finish the course, if earlier). All of your course work, including assignments, quizzes, and exams, must be completed before the contract date.
When you register in a three-credit course, you are given six months (approximately 26 weeks) in which to complete the course. When you register in a six-credit course, you are given 12 months (52 weeks) in which to complete the course. Time extensions are available in individualized-study courses only.
If you are a Canadian student receiving student loans (either federal or provincial), you must complete your three-credit courses in four months and your six-credit courses in eight months.
Contract period. The contract period is the time a student is actively registered in a course. It begins on the start date (usually the first day of a month) and runs until the contract date. The contract period can be lengthened by applying for a course extension(s) in an individualized-study course only.
Convocation. Convocation refers to the formal ceremony held yearly at AU, usually on the second Friday and Saturday of June, in Athabasca, Alberta. AU also has a graduation in absentia ceremony on the first Saturday in December.
Corequisite. A course that is required to be taken concurrently with another course.
Course completion date. The contract date or the date that a student completes the course, if earlier than the contract date. If a student withdraws from a course, the course completion date is the date of withdrawal.
Course composite grade. The final grade for the course expressed as a percentage value. The course composite grade reflects the degree of understanding that the student has shown for the course material. The course composite grade is often a weighted average of the marks assigned to quizzes, assignments, tests, examinations, etc.
Course start date. The date a student officially starts a course. This is normally the first day of a month.
Credential. A degree, diploma, or certificate awarded on the successful completion of a program. Not all admission categories lead to a credential.
Credential regulations. The regulations that specify the requirements a student must meet in order to be awarded a degree, diploma, or university certificate, such as the total credits required, the minimum credits that must be completed at the senior level, or the minimum credits that must be completed at AU.
Credit. One credit is defined as the equivalent of one hour of instruction per week for a semester (roughly three and one-half months). Students are expected to spend time studying on their own in addition to formal instruction time. AU credits reflect an amount of study time equal to that spent at a conventional university in formal classroom sessions. Normally, AU courses are either three-credit (one semester) or six-credit (two semesters), which corresponds to three and six semester hours of credit at conventional universities. Some courses in the Bachelor of Nursing program carry a practicum component and have a credit weight of four.
Directed study. Normally, a 400-level course that does not have a prescribed curriculum. In consultation with the course professor, the student chooses a specific topic and then undertakes an in-depth study of this topic. The course professor must approve all directed-study activities before registration can occur.
Discipline. Refers to courses within a specific subject area, for example, English in Humanities, biology in the Sciences, or accounting in Administrative Studies.
Electives. Courses from a specified list of courses that students must choose from to fulfill their program requirements.
Enrol. Students enrol in degree, diploma, or university certificate programs.
The degree regulations that a student follows to be eligible to graduate are those in effect on the enrolment date. See "Admit" and "Registration."
Evaluation. Assessment of previous post-secondary education for possible transfer credit toward an AU program.
Exemption. Holders of an approved diploma or degree are awarded a block amount of credit. Within that diploma or degree, the student may have an equivalent course that is required within his or her current program. This course will be awarded an "exemption," and the student must replace the exemption with a course of the same or higher level, in the same area of study or same discipline, to fulfill the program requirement.
Expulsion. Required withdrawal of a student from AU for an indefinite period of time. The student shall not be permitted to return without the written approval of the Vice-President, Academic. Refer to the "Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal " brochure for details.
Extension. The process of lengthening the time allowed for the completion of an individualized-study credit course by two months is called an extension. A fee is charged for this service.
Financial aid agencies. Financial assistance is available to part-time and full-time students from the students' local agencies. Full-time students may be eligible for loans, grants, bursaries, or scholarships. Part-time students may be eligible for bursaries, loans, or grants. The amount of loan or bursary varies according to need.
Full-time student. For taxation or Alberta Student Finance purposes, for example, a full-time student is actively registered in a minimum of two credits per month. Students must complete nine credits over four months to be considered full-time.
Grouped study (formerly referred to as paced study). Grouped-study courses involve a number of students studying on the same schedule with a common instructor. See "Classroom setting."
Guided independent study. Describes a grouped-study course where the professor or tutor acts as a facilitator. A group of students meets from time to time, in person or by teleconference. These courses are offered within a designated term and are currently available only to students in the Bachelor of Commerce program.
Home lab. Lab work can be performed at home using supplied and household materials and equipment.
Home study. See "Individualized study."
Humanities. An area of university studies that normally includes English, French, history, and philosophy.
html (hypertext markup language). A computer language or coding scheme that formats text (making it look like a page) on the Web and makes it possible to create links to other documents.
Inactive student. You are considered inactive if you have not registered in an AU course within 12 months of the completion date, the contract date, or the withdrawal date of your last course. Students who complete courses at other institutions without first obtaining a Letter of Permission from AU may become inactive and forfeit their enrolment status. To become active or reinstated, complete a new Undergraduate Application Form and submit the reactivation fee.
Independent lab. The laboratory component of some science courses can be done without taking the remaining instructional component, however, strict prerequisite requirements must be met, and professor approval obtained before registering in a class.
Individualized study (formerly referred to as home study). This method of course instruction is centred around a course materials learning package that may include textbooks, workbooks, audio and videotapes, computing resources, project kits, study guides, or manuals. Students set their own study schedules within the time allowed to complete the course. Instructional support is provided by e-mail and toll-free telephone for Canadian and US callers.
Intellectual honesty. The acknowledgement of the scholarly contributions of others. Failure to do so is academic misconduct.
Instructor-delivered courses. Grouped-study courses are taught in a classroom setting by an instructor. See "Tutor." and "Grouped study."
Internet service provider (ISP). A provider of Internet service other than a public institution.
Invigilator. An individual authorized by AU to oversee the writing of an exam by an AU student.
Junior course. Junior courses (designated by a course number in the 200s) are usually introductory or survey courses and are equivalent to first-year courses at most universities.
Laboratory science course. A science course that contains a substantial amount of work on exercises, techniques, equipment, and sample handling. The lab portion of these courses is usually site-specific and supervised.
Letter of Certification. An official confirmation of information extracted from a student's record that is not available on a transcript.
Letter of Permission. A document permitting a credential student to take one or more courses at another post-secondary institution to be used for credit toward an AU degree, diploma, or certificate. Alternatively, a Letter of Permission may be obtained by a student at another institution, from that institution, giving him or her permission to take certain courses at AU for transfer of credit to his or her program of study.
Level. In addition to having a credit weight of three, four, or six credits, each course is assigned a particular level: preparatory (100), junior (200), or senior (300 or 400).
Major. A major is a designated program of study within a discipline or a field of knowledge. Refer to AU's online Calendar for details.
Member of the University community. Any student admitted to AU, an academic or nonacademic staff member, or a member of AU's Governing Council.
No area of study. A course designated "No area of study" cannot be used to fulfill an area of study requirement in a program. The course can, however, fulfill part of an overall degree requirement if it is appropriate to the program.
Nonacademic misconduct. Offences that breach AU policies or rules.
Noncredit. Noncredit courses do not fulfill any requirement toward a credential.
Not-to-take. Awarded when equivalent knowledge of a particular course has been identified within a student's assessment. AU awards credit and uses the course, if it is required, to fulfill the requirement.
Nursing transfer. This is a special program developed in cooperation with another university whereby students may complete courses through AU and use these courses to fulfill the requirements of a post-degree program.
One month. Deemed to be equal to 31 days.
Open admission. Admission to AU and registration in AU courses (except where a prerequisite is needed) is not based on prior academic achievement. A student must be 16 years of age or older, except in special circumstances.
Options. Courses that students can take from any discipline to complete their degree requirements.
Paced study. See "Grouped study."
Paced lab (also referred to as grouped lab). An on-site lab component that students are required to attend at scheduled times.
Part-time student. A student with less than a 60 percent course load with AU, or one who completes less than two credits per month.
Plagiarism. The willful act of presenting another person's work as one's own.
Practicum course. A course (usually in the Applied Studies area) with a substantial amount of supervised, discipline-related time in an actual work setting.
Precluded course. An AU course whose content overlaps with another course to the extent that students would be duplicating the course work if they completed both. Students cannot receive credit for both the course being described and the course listed as "precluded." Precluded courses are usually the result of a course revision, course renumbering, or cross-listing of courses.
Preparatory courses. Courses designated by a course number in the 100s. These courses prepare new students for university-level study in disciplines that require a high school background. The Challenge for Credit Policy does not apply to preparatory courses.
Preparatory/Alternative courses. Courses that a professor may suggest a student take if the student is experiencing difficulty in a more senior-level course. Preparatory/alternative courses are not necessarily prerequisite courses, but they will provide the student with a solid subject-matter foundation before he or she advances to the more senior-level course.
Preregistration. Registering for a course up to six months ahead of the start date. Preregistration guarantees a student a particular start date. Preregistration is considered a registration. If a student changes his or her preregistration, a processing fee is required.
Prerequisites. Many senior-level courses require a knowledge of the material covered in junior or other senior courses. Prerequisites ensure that a student has the required background to successfully complete the course. Students who have fulfilled the prerequisite by completing an equivalent course at another post-secondary institution should complete the Prerequisite Waiver Declaration Form so their course registration can proceed without delay.
Prior Learning Assessment Recognition. Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) is a process designed to award you credit towards your degree or certificate at Athabasca University and to open other doors to advancement. PLAR is based on a tested process and set of mechanisms for the recognition of learning that you have acquired from life experience, job training, workshops, seminars or other experience.
Program. A program is any combination of courses with a set of coherent organizing principles and goals; for example, the Bachelor of Arts degree, or a concentration or major in a degree or a university certificate.
Program director. The academic member responsible for overseeing the specific degree, certificate, or diploma program. Where a degree, certificate, or diploma is not involved, the program director who has jurisdiction is determined by the course itself.
Program requirements. Programs of study require students to take certain courses from specified areas of study or disciplines, or to take courses at a specific level of study. These are program requirements and form part of the regulations for each program.
Registration. The process of selecting and undertaking
specific courses at AU. See "Admit" and "Enrol."
Rejection of submitted work. Refusal of academic work that has been submitted to fulfill all or part of the course or program requirements; or an assignment grade of zero (0) to any academic work that has been submitted to fulfill all or part of the course or program requirements; or a grade of zero (0) as a course composite grade on a particular course.
Reprimand. Written notification to a student outlining the nature of his or her misconduct and the implications of further misconduct. A student who has received a reprimand is permitted to continue at AU.
Residency. Specified courses or credits from AU may be required to obtain a credential. Residency requirements are part of a program's regulations.
Science. An area of university study that normally comprises courses based on a knowledge of facts, phenomena, laws, and proximate cause is designated as science (e.g., biology, chemistry, computer science, geography, geology, mathematics, nutrition, and physics).
Semester. A period of time during which many grouped-study courses are offered. Fall semester courses typically run from September through December, and winter semester courses are usually offered from January through April. Some grouped-study courses are offered during spring/summer semester.
Seminar course. See "Grouped study."
Senior course. Senior courses (designated by a course number in the 300s or 400s) assume a background of university learning and usually specify a junior course as a prerequisite.
Social Science. An area of university study that normally comprises anthropology, economics, geography, labour studies, political science, psychology, sociology, and women's studies courses.
Student, Full-time. See "Full-time student."
Student, Part-time. See "Part-time student."
Student Assessment Letter. A document issued by the Office of the Registrar that indentifies courses that have been approved for a student's degree, diploma, or university certificate program. A Student Assessment Letter includes transfer credits, completed courses, courses in progress, courses being completed on Letters of Permission, and preregistered courses. The Student Assessment Letter is normally sent to students when the evaluation of their previous education is completed.
Student Finance Board. The official agency responsible for supplying loans and bursaries to students.
Student ID number. A seven-digit number assigned to each student to help with identification. Students should have their student ID numbers available whenever they contact AU.
Supervisor. In an academic context, a supervisor coaches and assists a student with senior, project-based courses or with a graduate thesis/project.
Supplemental exam. An additional exam written by a student to improve the grade received on the original exam.
Transcript. An official document prepared by the Office of the Registrar recording a student's academic performance and bearing AU's seal. Transcripts must be requested in writing. Transcripts are not released to anyone without the student's permission. A fee is charged for each transcript.
Transfer credit. Credit granted for course work successfully completed at another accredited post-secondary institution.
Tutor. Most individualized-study students are assigned a tutor to assist students throughout the course.
Unclassified students. Students who are not enrolled in an AU degree, diploma, or certificate program.
Visiting student. Any person taking courses for transfer of credit to another post-secondary institution is a "visiting student." Visiting students are also described as "unclassified students" at AU.
Withdrawal. The voluntary exit from an AU course by a student. Withdrawal requests may be submitted up to three months after the course start date. Withdrawals requested later than three months after the start date will be recorded on the student's transcript as a "WF" (Withdrawal / Failure) rather than an "F" in order to more accurately reflect the nature of the withdrawal. Students can not withdraw after a final examination has been written. Withdrawal requests must be made within the course contract period.
