Dec 10, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
2024-2025 Catalog and Student Handbook

Definition of Terms


Advisor, Advisee - The advisor, or counselor, is the instructor or staff member assigned to help the student with academic planning. The student is the advisee.

Audit - Enrollment in a class without receiving a completion grade.

Average, Grade Point - A measure of average scholastic success obtained by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of grade-point average (GPA) hours. GPA hours are those in which the student receives a grade of A, B, C, D, F or FA.

Calendar - The division of the full calendar year.

The semester calendar is composed of two regular terms (fall and spring) per year with about fifteen weeks per term of instruction excluding final examinations. There may also be shorter parts of term within the regular fall and spring terms. The summer term has multiple sessions.

Certificate - A program of study consisting of fewer courses than a degree program. A certificate may be embedded in a degree program or may be an independent curriculum.

Classification - A student’s status in respect to progress toward the completion of his/her curriculum is based upon the number of hours or courses to his/her credit at the time of registration. A student who has completed more than 28 semester hours is considered a sophomore.

Course - Organized subject matter in which instruction is offered within a given period of time and for which credit toward graduation or certification is usually given.

Course Number - A number identifying class level and distinguishing it from other courses in a given area of study.

Course Co-requisite - Two or more courses required during the same academic term.

Course Prerequisite - A preliminary requirement that must be met before a certain course may be taken.

Credit Hours (Semester Hours) - Defined by the number of hours per week in class and the number of weeks in the semester. One semester hour is usually assigned to a class that meets 55 minutes a week over a period of one semester or to a laboratory-type instruction that meets two or three hours a week for a semester or a combination of these depending upon the type of instruction and the material in the course. Therefore, a three-hour, non-laboratory course would, in general, meet three hours a week during the semester, and the credits earned would be “three semester hours.” A total of 60 college-level semester hours is the minimum required for the completion of an associate’s degree. Completion of a certificate requires fewer hours.

Curriculum - The whole body of courses offered for study.

Dean’s List and Honor Roll - Common designations for students who have achieved a recognized standard of academic excellence.

Degree, Associate’s - Degree granted upon completion of a specific program of college work.

Degree, Earned - Title bestowed as official recognition for the completion of a curriculum.

Degree Student - A student who has fulfilled the admission requirements and who is pursuing an associate degree program, referred to by some colleges as a regular student.

Dismissal (Academic) - Involuntary separation of a student from the College because the student has not met the academic requirements.

Dismissal (Disciplinary) - Involuntary separation of a student from the College as a result of misconduct.

Division - A group of related departments: Arts, Sciences and Technologies and Health Sciences.

DSCC Hybrid Courses - DSCC hybrid courses are a blend between traditional face-to-face instruction and online instruction. Unlike DSCC online courses, DSCC hybrid courses do meet face-to-face on a specified date at a specified time. Review the course meeting days/times on the class schedule.

DSCC Online Courses - DSCC online courses are completely online and are conducted in an asynchronous format. This means that an instructor will make assignments with deadlines and as long as students complete the assignment by the deadline, students can do so during a time that works for their schedule. DSCC online courses are not to be confused with self-paced courses. Test proctoring (taking tests at a DSCC location) may be required and is decided by the instructor of the course. Students should check with their instructor on the first day of class to see if proctoring is a requirement.

Elective, General - A college-level course which the student may choose after consultation with his/her advisor and after consulting the catalog of the institution to which the student plans to transfer.

Elective, Career - In the Division of Arts, Sciences and Technologies and Health Sciences, a course specific to a concentration; career electives, if applicable, are listed in the curricula.

Electives, Humanities/Fine Arts - Unless otherwise stated, non-applied courses in art, music, and theatre or courses in literature, foreign language, philosophy (except PHIL 1050 - Introductory Logic), world civilization, or humanities. Humanities/Fine Arts electives should not be confused with the specific courses applicable to the nine-credit hour block of Humanities/Fine Arts electives.

Electives, Social Sciences - Unless otherwise stated, courses in psychology, sociology, economics, geography, history or political science. Social Sciences electives should not be confused with the specific courses applicable to the six-credit hour block of Social Sciences electives.

Financial Aid - Funding made available to a student who demonstrates financial need. The term covers outright gifts, loans and jobs which are assigned to, or especially reserved for, the student.

Full-Time Student - A student who is enrolled in 12 or more semester hours of academic courses.

Independent Study Courses - Courses needed for timely graduation of a student in a program and needed to maintain the health of an academic program may be taught as an independent study with the prior approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success and President.

Learning Support Program - A program of studies with a focus on preparing students with college-ready skills in reading, writing, and math that enhance academic success in college-level courses.

Major - The student’s primary field of interest or study. The major should not be confused with the area of emphasis or concentration.

Matriculation - The initial enrollment of the student as a member of the College.

Part-time Student - One who is carrying an academic schedule of fewer than 12 credit hours.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) - Other means of earning college credit.

Probation - A period of evaluation during which a student’s scholastic achievement or conduct is monitored. Academic probation is the result of unsatisfactory scholarship; it is not a penalty but a warning and an opportunity to improve; it usually involves a compulsory reduction in course load, interviews for diagnosis of difficulties and development of a plan for recovery; usually the student is required to make regular specified improvement in his/her record in order to avoid disqualification. Disciplinary probation is a middle status between good standing or dismissal; the student remains enrolled, but under stated conditions to the College policies; disciplinary probation covers a stated trial period during which it is determined whether the student is returned to good standing (having met the stated requirements) or dismissed or suspended at the end of the period (having failed to meet the stated requirements).

Readmission - The return of a student who was not enrolled the previous term. A student who is readmitted after a one semester suspension will be readmitted on Academic Probation status.

Reinstatement - The act of readmitting a student after he/she has been suspended.

Residency Status - Students are classified as resident or non-resident for the purpose of assessing fees and tuition. The definition of residency is determined by the Tennessee Board of Regents, and decisions concerning resident classification are made in the Office of Admissions and Records.

Tennessee Transfer Pathways (TTPs) - Advising tools designed to help community college students plan for transferring to a Tennessee public university or select regionally-accredited, non-profit, Tennessee private colleges and universities to complete their baccalaureate degree. The TTPs also constitute an agreement between community colleges and four-year colleges/universities confirming that community college courses meet major preparation requirements.

TN eCampus - The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) colleges and universities have joined together in offering TN eCampus. Courses in TN eCampus are entirely online and are transferable among all TBR institutions and to many other institutions outside the TBR System. Students are able to choose the college or university that will award their degree. All thirteen TBR two-year colleges deliver and award associate degrees, while all six TBR universities deliver and award baccalaureate degrees. This program was previously called Regents Online Degree Program (RODP).

Transcript - The record of completed courses and the grades earned and the record of courses in progress. A transcript may be official or unofficial.

Transfer Student -A degree-seeking student having been admitted from another recognized college or university.

Transient Student - A non-degree seeking student who is taking work at DSCC to transfer back to another college or university.

Semester - Period of time during which courses are offered by the College.

Special Student - One who is not pursuing a degree program or certificate at DSCC.

Suspension - Involuntary separation of the student from the College.

Withdrawal - A release from enrollment. A student notifies appropriate authorities, thereby making it an official withdrawal. When the student merely stops attending classes without notifying the authorities, failing marks are recorded and charged against him/her.