JMU - GLOSSARY
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P S T U
A
Academic Calendar - The JMU academic calendar is based on the semester system. The unit of credit is the credit hour. A credit hour represents one 50-minute class period each week in the semester for lectures, or two 50-minute class periods for each week in the semester for laboratory or fieldwork.
Academic Council - Defined as the deans, associate and assistant vice presidents of academic affairs, vice provosts, and other members of the Provost’s staff.
Academic Institute or Center (AIC) - Administrative, organizational, and/or budgetary units existing within the Academic Affairs Division of the university. Depending on their focus and breadth, an AIC may exist at the university, college or academic unit level. The AIC may be staffed by faculty members, staff members, and/or students, working together to achieve the research, instructional, and outreach goals of the AIC. AICs function to conduct research, facilitate outreach to the community, and coordinate learning opportunities for faculty, staff and students that are not otherwise available within the academic units and colleges of the university. AICs do not grant degrees or admit students. An AIC may propose courses to be housed in traditional academic units within the university, including but not limited to cross-listed courses, and if no appropriate academic unit exists for the courses, the AIC may be approved to offer courses of its own. Approval of such courses must follow normal university procedures.
Academic Level - The "unit" in which a faculty member is employed. Department (ie. English, Chemistry), School (ie. SMAD, School of Music), or unit (ie. General Education, Honors).
Academic Program - An instructional program leading toward an associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctor's, or first-professional degree or resulting in credits that can be applied to one of these degrees.
Academic Program Review - The regularly scheduled review of each unit of the institution to modify and establish future goals for the unit. Periodic peer evaluation of the effectiveness of an educational degree program usually encompasses student learning, faculty research, scholarship, and service, and assessment resources.
Academic Unit - Defined as an academic department or its functional equivalent, as identified by the Provost. Includes academic departments and schools, as well as programs that function independently from another academic unit, i.e., Honors program.
Academic Unit Head - Defined as an academic department head, school director, administrative program coordinator or functional equivalent. Academic unit heads are considered instructional faculty members.
Academic Year - The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters.
Accreditation/Accrediting Agencies - Approval granted by an external, recognized organization, that the institution or program meets certain requirements overall, or in a particular discipline.
Add-On - The Gifted Education Program is designed to enable both preservice students at JMU and veteran educators to complete the approved Virginia Add-on K-12 Gifted Education Endorsement, which supplements most programs of studies leading to or an existing initial license in education. Students complete four courses and a practicum either via their initial student teaching experience or through a specialized gifted education practicum. Full-time employed educators may alternatively elect to teach for one year in lieu of a gifted education practicum. The course sequence is offered in separate sections both to students in initial licensure programs at the College of Education at James Madison University as well as practicing educators. The graduate level coursework is offered entirely online.
Advanced Placement (AP) - A program administered by the College Board through which a student can earn college-level credit for examinations taken in high school. College-level courses taught in high school. Students may take an examination at the completion of the course; acceptable scores allow students to earn college credit toward a degree, certificate, or other formal award.
Appointment - The establishment of an employment relationship between a faculty member and the university, even if on an at-will basis or for a limited time.
Approval - After discussing new course proposal with Unit Coordinator, the approval process follows this path: Unit C&I Committee(s), Unit Coordinator(s), Acknowledgement from any other involved organizations (e.g., General Education Cluster Coordinator, IDLS) should be sought at this point in the process, College C&I Committee(s), Dean(s) of the College(s), University-wide Committee (for new programs or interdisciplinary conflicts), VPAA.
Assessment - The systematic process of determining educational objectives, gathering, using, and analyzing information about student learning outcomes to make decisions about programs, individual student progress, or accountability.
Audit/Auditing (a class) - Term used when a student elects to take a course, but does not wish to receive credit for the course toward a degree or other formal award. In order to audit a class, a student must have the permission of his/her faculty adviser and the head of the academic unit offering the class. Audited courses will not affect a student's semester credit hours or grade point average.
B
Bachelor's degree - An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4 years of work are completed in 3 years.
Bachelor of Arts degree - The Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) is distinguished by its humanistic emphasis. Students who complete a BA may satisfy the degree requirements by taking courses that advance their understanding of human culture through analysis of ideas; perception of differences; appreciation of art and creative products through understanding art forms, beauty, and symmetry; knowledge of theories and principles of form, substance, argument and philosophy; understanding of the interaction between language and culture; achievement of linguistic competency in a second language.
Bachelor of Science degree - The Bachelor of Science degree (BS) is distinguished by its scientific emphasis. Students who complete a BS may satisfy the degree requirements by taking courses that advance their understanding of the use of scientific analysis, experimentation and the application of scientific principles and facts in solving problems; understanding of the crucial role of mathematical reasoning; analysis and techniques in comprehending problems in the natural or social sciences.
Body of Work - A standard-setting procedure in which panelists examine complete student response sets and match each student response set to a performance level category based upon previously agreed upon descriptions of what students at the different levels should know and be able to do.
C
Capstone - Capstone experiences for graduating seniors are designed to demonstrate comprehensive learning in the major through some type of product or experience. In addition to emphasizing work related to the major, capstone experiences can require students to demonstrate how well that heave mastered important learning objectives from the institution’s general studies program. The capstone experience is department specific, in which The components and goals of each department-specific program are laid out.
Career and Academic Planning - Coordinates academic advising for all first year students and undeclared students; assists students in choosing or changing their major and deciding upon a career direction; and provides a variety of job search programs and graduate school application services.
Center - see Academic Institute or Center.
C&I Committee - Curriculum and Instruction Committee. C&I committees exist at the unit (department) level as well as at the college level. Based on the JMU C&I Process, proposals must through each level of review prior to approval.
Certificate Program - A prescribed set or sequence of courses that results in a student receiving a certificate issued by the university when the identified courses and experiences are completed satisfactorily and when all other conditions have been met in accordance with the definitions and policies governing certificates.
Cluster (General Education) - General Education at JMU is divided into five learning areas, or Clusters. Each Cluster offers students groups of courses (packages) that satisfy the learning objectives for that Cluster. (See The Human Community).
- Cluster One: Skills for the 21st Century (3 courses)
- Cluster Two: Arts and Humanities (3 courses)
- Cluster Three: The Natural World (3-4 courses)
- Cluster Four: Social and Cultural Processes (2 courses)
- Cluster Five: Individuals in the Human Community (2 courses)
Cluster Coordinator - A faculty member who coordinates courses within a given Cluster.
Cluster Goals (General Education) - The stated goals of each of the five Clusters of the General Education Program.
Cognate - A set of courses outside the major that is designed to complement other components of the student's course of study and to support selected professional goals. A cognate is not a required component of all majors. A student does not have to formally declare a cognate and it will not appear on the transcript of record.
College - Defined as an administrative organizational unit within the academic affairs division of the university, as identified by the Provost.
Committee on Academic Programs (CAP) - A university committee with members representing each of the Colleges. CAP is advisory to the President via the VPAA. It reviews new majors, new programs, interdisciplinary programs, significant program changes, BA requirements, and contested issues that cannot be resolved within the College C&I committees.
Concentration - A prescribed set of courses associated with a major or minor that is designed to focus a student's course of study according to interest and/or career goals. A concentration is not a required component of all majors and/or minors. The student must formally declare the concentration for it to appear on the transcript of record. The concentration will be noted on the transcript only after the student graduates.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) - The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is the most commonly used form of recognition and documentation for noncredit continuing education courses and programs.
Core - A defined group of courses within a particular major or minor that is required of all students completing that major or minor.
Corequisites - Courses or other qualifications that must be taken in conjunction with another course.
Course Approval Form - The form that must be completed and submitted to approval through the JMU Course Approval Process prior to offering new courses for credit.
Course Content (Syllabus Template) - The method and content of the instruction and requirements for a course.
Course - A series of instruction and requirements leading to credit.
Course Description - The narrative description of a course.
Course Number - Undergraduate courses are numbered 100-499; master's level graduate courses are numbered 500-699; doctoral level graduate courses are numbered 700-900.
Credential - Defined as a specific aggregate of courses, completion of which is sufficient for licensing by the State to teach (or perform specific professional tasks) in the public school systems. No specific unit requirements are given for credentials generally; usually the curricular requirements are noted in the governing legislation as "competencies."
Credit Hour - A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term. It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Cross Disciplinary - An interdisciplinary field or multidisciplinary field is a field of study that crosses traditional boundaries between academic disciplines or schools of thought, as new needs and professions have emerged.
Cross-listed Course - A course listed for credit that is offered at the same time, same room, and same instructor as another different course listed for credit. Cross-listed courses (1) are shared by two or more academic units, (2) have identical course elements (number, title, description, units, mode of instruction, prerequisites), except the course prefix which reflects the academic department or program, (3) are interchangeable for degree requirements, and (4) cannot be repeated for degree credit under separate prefixes.
Curriculum - A regulated collection of courses which are designed to ensure that the academic objectives and mission of a department of instruction are met.
D
Degree - A title conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school on completion of a program of study.
Degrees Offered at JMU - B.A., B.B.A., B.I.S., B.F.A., B.M., B.S., B.S.N., B.S.W., M.S., M.S.Ed., M.Ed., M.A., M.B.A., M.A.T., M.F.A., M.M., M.S.N., M.O.T., M.F.A., M.P.A., M.P.A.S., Ed.S., Ph.D., Psy.D., AuD., D.M.A.
Degree Requirements - Degrees vary according to the major program. JMU offers eight undergraduate degrees that incorporate course requirements unique to the degree and major discipline. Majors culminating in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees share common sets of course requirements appropriate to the degree with specific distinctions. For the lists of courses satisfying Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree requirements, consult Graduation and Degree Requirements.
Distance Learning - Education which occurs outside of the traditional classroom setting. Course credit may be earned at off-campus locations via cable television, internet, satellite classes, videotapes, correspondence courses, or other means.
Doctor's Degree - The highest award a student can earn for graduate study. The doctor's degree classification includes such degrees as Doctor of Education, Doctor of Juridical Science, Doctor of Public Health, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in any field such as agronomy, food technology, education, engineering, public administration, ophthalmology, or radiology (see Graduate Degree Programs).
Dual Credit - A program through which high school students are enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses, taught at their high school, that fulfill high school graduation requirements and may earn the student college credits.
Dual Enrollment Courses – Courses taken in high school for college credit. Upon approval, dual enrollment credit will be awarded for academic courses completed at regionally accredited institutions of higher education. The student must receive a grade of "C" or better in order to be awarded credit.
Dual Level Course – A course offered concurrently at the undergraduate and graduate levels. These courses must have different course descriptions and syllabi, according to SACS regulations.
E
Early Action - An admission plan that allows students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification dates. If admitted, the candidate is not committed to enroll (unlike early decision). Students may reply to the offer under the college's regular reply policy.
Educational Specialist - Also referred to as Specialist in Education, or Ed.S., is a terminal advanced academic degree in the U.S. that is designed for individuals who wish to develop additional skills or increase their knowledge beyond the master's degree level, but do not wish to pursue a degree at the doctoral level.
Elective - An academic course chosen by the student from a set of options, as opposed to a required course. While required courses (sometimes called core courses) are deemed essential for an academic degree, elective courses tend to be more specialized.
Experimental Course - A new course that may be offered for two calendar years without seeking university approval.
Experimental Course Approval - The procedure required before offering an experimental course.
F
Faculty - The Commonwealth of Virginia defines a faculty member as a nonclassified employee of an institution of higher education. A faculty member may be either an instructional faculty member or an administrative and professional (A&P) faculty member, and may be either full-time or part-time.
FACULTY POSITIONS:
- Instructional Faculty - Individuals who devote more than 50 percent of their appointment to teaching and research functions of the university and Academic Unit Heads are defined as instructional faculty members.
- A&P Faculty - Administrative faculty members are required to perform work directly related to the management of activities of the institution, department or work unit. They typically exercise discretion and independent judgment and generally direct the work of others. Professional faculty members must possess advanced learning and experience acquired by prolonged formal instruction and/or specialized work experience. This category includes such positions as counselors, librarians and other professional positions serving athletics, development functions or activities, education, research and student affairs. A&P faculty members may also have instructional responsibilities.
- Academic Unit Head - Academic unit heads are considered instructional faculty members.
- Full-Time Faculty - Individuals who have appointments with a full-time workload for the academic year or fiscal year are defined as full-time faculty members. Most full-time instructional faculty members assume the full spectrum of duties in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service, although the relative weights of the three performance areas may be negotiated each year. Full-time A&P faculty members assume duties associated with administration and professional services, but may also teach or perform research. Full-time faculty appointments are made at the following ranks: professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, and lecturer.
- Part-Time Faculty - I Faculty members who are employed for less than a full academic year, or who are employed for at least an academic year at less than a full work load, are considered Part-Time Faculty.
SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS: A faculty member may be given any of the following designations, in addition to or instead of being designated instructional or A&P, and full-time or part-time, or in the case of emeritus faculty members, on the event of their retirement from the university.
- Adjunct Faculty - Individuals who teach at the university on a limited, special or provisional basis, but perform no other duties.
- Affiliate Faculty - Individuals holding a primary appointment in one academic unit may hold affiliate status in additional academic units, at the option of the additional academic unit. This affiliate status is normally associated with teaching, scholarship or service functions performed in the additional academic unit. Affiliate status will be determined by mutual consent of the academic units and the faculty member, but may be withdrawn at the option of the academic unit. The details of the affiliation with additional academic units should be spelled out in writing, so that the faculty member’s voting rights in the additional academic unit, evaluation procedures, assignment of duties, etc. are clearly set out.
- Joint Appointment - Faculty appointments may be shared between or among academic units. Individuals holding joint appointments will normally have a portion of their salary paid on a pro-rata basis by each of the units. Individuals holding joint appointments will be fully participating faculty members in each of the academic units, with teaching, scholarship and service expectations negotiated among the faculty member and the respective AUHs. The details of the assignment of duties, evaluations, retention, promotion and tenure issues should be spelled out in a written document detailing the faculty member’s voting rights in the academic units, evaluation procedures, assignments of duties, etc. Additionally, negotiated changes to those details should be memorialized in signed documents.
- Graduate Faculty - An individual who has been appointed to the graduate faculty under specific criteria.
- Emeritus Faculty - A retired instructional or A&P faculty member is eligible for emeritus status if the individual has served full-time for a minimum of 10 years on the university faculty, has attained the academic rank of lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor, and has retired in good standing. Emeritus rank is a privilege and not a right of any retired faculty member.
- Visiting Faculty - Appointments as visiting faculty members are for a fixed term to carry out instructional or research responsibilities within an academic unit. Professional credentials are required for appointment as a visiting faculty member. Tenure cannot be awarded to a visiting faculty member. Visiting faculty members may be primarily associated with another university or agency, or may be engaged as a research associate, post-doctoral faculty member, teaching associate or teaching fellow.
- Scholar in Residence - A scholar in residence is an individual appointed to a fixed-term appointment on the basis of noteworthy experience and credentials.
- Researcher - A researcher is an individual employed by the university either part-time or full-time specifically to work on one or more sponsored projects. A researcher may be affiliated with one or more academic units under specific terms and conditions set out in an agreement between the individual and the university.
- Affiliated Researcher - Technically, an affiliated researcher is not a faculty member of the university. However, an individual who is not employed by the university, but is affiliated with an academic unit while seeking funding for employment under a proposed sponsored project, under specific terms and conditions set out in an agreement between the individual and the university, may be given affiliate status at the university under the provisions of Manual of Policies and Procedures, Policy 1337, Affiliates, and the title of Affiliated Researcher.
ACADEMIC FACULTY RANKS:
- Instructor - Appointment at the rank of instructor is normally for a fixed term but may be employment at the will of the university with no fixed term. Appointment at the rank of instructor may also be used for a faculty member who is hired with the expectation of completion of a terminal degree by a specified date. Promotion to the rank of assistant professor may be made automatic on completion of the terminal degree in the terms of the appointment, subject to approval of the BOV.
- Lecturer - Appointment at the rank of lecturer can be made in the case of an RTA. Individuals in the rank of lecturer are not eligible for promotion.
- Assistant Professor - Appointment at the rank of assistant professor normally carries with it teaching, scholarship and service responsibilities, and normally requires a terminal degree in a relevant discipline.
- Associate Professor - In addition to the requirements for assistant professor, appointment at the rank of associate professor is contingent upon substantial professional achievements, evidenced by an appropriate combination of teaching, scholarship and service.
- Professor - In addition to the requirements for associate professor, appointment at the rank of professor is contingent upon recognition of outstanding professional accomplishment.
G
General Education - A sequence of courses offered in five areas (Clusters) required by all undergraduate degrees at JMU. (See The Human Community).
General Education Council - The purpose of the General Education Council is to receive recommendations from each of the Cluster Area Curriculum Committees regarding specific clusters and other policy recommendations pertaining to General Education. The General Education Council will be responsible for approval of all cluster courses and/or packages, restructuring of objectives and setting structure and direction for the General Education Program. The recommendations made by the General Education Council will be forwarded to the Academic Council. The General Education Program also will have an External Advisory Committee that will review the program annually.
Grade Point Average (GPA) - A numerical indication of the final letter grades earned by a student.
Grading System - Standardized measurements of varying levels of comprehension within a subject area (JMU Grading System).
Graduate Assistants - Graduate-level students employed on a part-time basis for the primary purpose of assisting in classroom or laboratory instruction or in the conduct of research. Graduate students having titles such as graduate assistant, teaching assistant, teaching associate, teaching fellow, or research assistant typically hold these positions.
Graduate Student - A student who holds a bachelor's or first-professional degree, or equivalent, and is taking courses at the post-baccalaureate level. These students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
H
The Human Community - The core academic program of James Madison University. It is required of all students regardless of their major or professional program. The Human Community seeks to educate students in ways that have been fundamental to higher education and to thinking people for centuries. The philosophy of the program promotes the cultivation of habits of the mind and heart that are essential to informed citizens in a democracy and world community. The program is committed to helping students develop their ability to reason and make ethical choices; to appreciate beauty and understand the natural and social worlds they live in; to recognize the importance of the past and work towards a better future.Graduate-level students employed on a part-time basis for the primary purpose of assisting in classroom or laboratory instruction or in the conduct of research. Graduate students having titles such as graduate assistant, teaching assistant, teaching associate, teaching fellow, or research assistant typically hold these positions.
I
Institute - see Academic Institute or Center.
Interdisciplinary Degree Program - Established programs (majors) in a number of fields that cut across conventional departmental lines yet comprise distinct cores of knowledge.
Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies (IdLS) - A liberal arts and sciences major that is cooperatively produced by four different colleges (Arts and Letters, Integrated Science and Technology, Math and Science, and Education). The IdLS major provides content-area education for future teachers, and is designed to prepare students to meet subject area competencies required for teacher licensure in Virginia.
J
Joint Baccalaureate or Doctoral Program - A joint program is one degree offered by two separate departments of instruction or institutions.
L
Lecturer - Persons whose primary occupation is teaching and appointed for specific periods of one to three years, renewable for up to 7 years. A lecturer with an appointment at 75% time or more is eligible for tenure or sabbatical leaves.
Licensure Program - A set or sequence of courses and experiences required for a student to be eligible to obtain a license issued by an agency, group or professional organization (see Pre-Professional Licensure Programs).
M
Major - A coherent set of required and elective courses approved by the Board of Visitors and meeting state criteria that, when completed by a student, signifies a degree of preparation in a field or fields of study. The credit hour requirements for the major are set by the respective colleges and academic units and may not consist of less than 30 hours. A student must formally declare a major (JMU Major Programs).
Master's degree - An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree (see Graduate Degree Programs).
Minor - A cohesive set of required and elective courses that, when completed by a student, connotes knowledge and skills in a discipline, region or topic area, but not at the depth of a major. The minor is designed for students who are not majoring in the same area and requires minimum credit hours as set by the respective academic unit and college. A student must formally declare the minor for it to appear on the transcript of record. A minor is not required for graduation (JMU Minor Programs).
Minors - Specific information below:
- Require 18-24 credits. Some prerequisites may be included, but the minor must remain smaller than the minimum major (30 hrs).
- Should not duplicate existing programs.
- Identify a set of thematically-related courses that help students identify areas of study that otherwise would not be visible to them.
- Require C&I approval and appear in the catalog.
- Appear on the transcript.
- Students may select a minor that complements a major, or is completely different from the major.
- Students cannot major and minor in the same discipline (i.e., one does not major in History and also minor in History).
Modifying a course - Making substantial changes in an existing course.
N
New course - Course that does not have university approval.
Non-Credit Course - A course or activity having no credit applicable toward a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award. JMU coordinates all non-credit instructional programs through Outreach and Engagement. These programs are available for supplementing and updating knowledge, skills and abilities. Some non-credit courses and workshops award continuing education units as a uniform measure of professional development and to signify the student has completed the course or workshop.
Non-Degree Seeking - Synonymous with "Special" or "Unclassified", a student enrolled incourses for credit who is not recognized as seeking a degree.
O
Office of International Programs - Oversees all JMU and Non-JMU Study Abroad Programs; visa and reporting processes for international students and scholars; and the development of curricula, faculty experiences and programs that address international issues.
Online Curriculum System - This electronic workflow replicates JMU's existing curriculum and instruction (C&I) process and allows faculty to enter course proposal information into Web forms and to approve proposals electronically.
Outreach and Engagement - A component of Research and Public Service. Outreach and Engagement offers credit and noncredit programs as well as targeted one-time courses, certificate programs, and complete degree programs at a distance. The mission of Outreach and Engagement is to extend the resources of JMU beyond our campus by providing access to quality educational experiences through innovative approaches to those seeking to further their personal and professional development. Outreach and Engagement works with faculty, academic departments, students and community organizations to design, market and deliver a wide array of courses. Outreach and Engagement also oversees the enrollment of non-degree seeking students. Non-degree seeking students are individuals who enroll in offered credit courses but do not seek a degree.
P
Package (General Education) - A group of approved courses that satisfy the learning objectives of a Cluster.
Practicum - A college course, often in a specialized field of study, that is designed to give students supervised practical application of a previously studied theory. A school or college course, especially one in a specialized field of study, that is designed to give students supervised practical application of previously studied theories.
Pre-Professional Advisory Programs - Specific information below:
- Sets of recommended courses for students who wish to shape their undergraduate experience toward a related professional goal beyond the undergraduate degree. Examples: Pre-Law, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Health
- Do not require C&I approval but may appear in the catalog at the request of the sponsoring unit.
- Appear on the transcript through the undergraduate career, but do not appear on the transcript after graduation.
Pre-Professional Licensure and Degree Programs - Specific information below:
- Must be related to a student’s major as part of a planned progress toward professional credentialing. Example: Pre-Professional Teacher Education programs
- Should create a distinct set of knowledge or skills that qualifies one to practice in a particular area or work in a specific field.
- Require C&I approval and appear in the catalog.
- Appear on the transcript.
- The amount of credits is variable, depending upon the professional linkage.
Pre-Professional Programs at JMU - A defined set of courses or course options and requirements that serve as prerequisites to upper or graduate-level professional program components or courses. A pre-professional program may coincide with a major, minor or concentration, or it may be comprised by courses from two or more disciplines and concentrations.
Prerequisite - Courses, knowledge, skills, or standards that must be demonstrated prior to taking another course.
Professional Program - A defined group of courses or course options designed to prepare a student for a specific professional career, certificate, or license. A professional program may coincide with a major, minor or concentration, or it may be comprised by courses from two or more disciplines and concentrations. The student must formally declare the professional program for it to appear on the transcript of record. The professional program will be noted on the transcript only after the student graduates.
- Licensure Program - A set or sequence of courses and experiences required for a student to be eligible to obtain a license issued by an agency, group or professional organization.
- Certificate Program - A prescribed set or sequence of courses that results in a student receiving a certificate issued by the university when the identified courses and experiences are completed satisfactorily and when all other conditions have been met in accordance with the definitions and policies governing certificates.
Program - A group of courses that lead to a certificate, concentration, minor, or major.
Program of Study - A program of study, or course of study, refers to any set of courses and experiences identified by the university as satisfying the requirements of a program or program component for a student or students. The following terms describe programs of study at James Madison University: Major, Minor, Concentration, Cognate, Core, Track, Pre-Professional Program, Pre-Professional Advisory Program, Pre-Professional Licensure and Degree Program,, Professional Program, Licensure Program, Certificate Program.
S
SCHEV - State Council on Higher Education for Virginia - SCHEV makes higher education public policy recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly, administers a variety of educational programs, serves as a catalyst to promote greater access, quality, affordability, and accountability throughout the system, and helps policymakers, college administrators, and other concerned leaders work cooperatively and constructively to advance educational excellence.
School - An academic teaching unit, a part of the University, the standard of admission to which is not less than the equivalent of two year’s work in college and which offers instruction of not less than two year’s duration leading to a technical or professional degree.[1][1] By tradition, although not by academic definition, a school normally includes only a single department of instruction, while the faculty of a school may be drawn from several departments of instruction.
Semester - The semester system divides the academic calendar year into two semesters of 15 weeks each, plus optional summer sessions of varying lengths. The two semesters together constitute 30 weeks of instruction.
Significant Program Change - A change in the direction and mission of the program; other changes are considered Minor Program changes.
Study Abroad - Arrangement by which a student completes part of the college program studying in another country. Can be at a campus abroad or through a cooperative agreement with some other U.S. college or an institution of another country.
Subject Identifier - The unique abbreviation preceding a course number which identifies the specific academic area affiliated with that particular course.
Subplan - The further specialization of an academic plan or major. Sub-Plans may include concentrations, specializations, or, in some cases, minors.
Syllabus - The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), JMU's accrediting agency, has a number of requirements for undergraduate instruction. One group of requirements focuses on the information students receive from their instructors (i.e., the syllabus). Instructors at JMU must comply with these requirements as part of the university's compliance. The requirements mandated by SACS are: Students must be provided written information about the goals and requirements of each course, the nature of the course content, and the methods of evaluation to be employed. (Statement 4.2.4, Criteria for Accreditation 29-30 (1998). Colleges and academic units may have additional requirements for syllabus content.
Syllabus Template - A model that includes all required features of a syllabus.
T
Teacher Certification Program - A program designed to prepare students to meet the requirements for certification as teachers in elementary, middle/junior high, and secondary schools (see Pre-Professional Education Programs).
Terminal Degree - The highest degree in a given field of study is referred to as a terminal degree The purpose of a terminal degree is to ensure the highest level of competence in a particular discipline and to certify the person's ability to think independently.
Track - A prescribed set of courses within a concentration. A track is not a required component of all concentrations. A student does not have to formally declare a track and it will not appear on the transcript of record.
Transfer of Credit - The policies and procedures used to determine the extent to which educational experiences or courses undertaken by a student while attending another institution may be counted for credit at the current institution.
U
Undergraduate - A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or technical program below the baccalaureate.
Undergraduate Certificates - Specific information below.
- Contain a focused group of courses (minimum of nine credits).
- Should be established in accordance with an outside entity, such as an accrediting or professional body. May also be evaluated with reference to Outreach Programs.
- Specify the student audience and the standards by which a student is eligible to earn a certificate.
- Specify that students can’t “double count” courses toward their major/minor degree program and a certificate program.
- Require approval by the department curriculum committee sponsoring the certificate, the college C&I chair and the dean of the college where the certificate is housed.
- The certificate coordinator is responsible for verifying that the certificate program has been completed.
- If the certificate proposal crosses college boundaries or requires new resources it must be approved through the process administered by the AVP for Cross Disciplinary Studies and Planning.
- May be awarded if the student does not graduate.
- Do not appear in the catalog, but may be advertised through program materials (e.g., brochures, Web site, flyers).
- Do not appear on the transcript, although the academic unit may issue a certificate to be used as part of a resume or portfolio.
Unit Coordinator - The individual who administers a program, department, school, institute or other unit of instruction; this individual has fiscal and scheduling responsibility for the unit.
University Mission - The stated goals of the university: "We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives."
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Last Modified: 1/18/2012
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