Definition Related to Reporting to ACHE SACSCOC concerning Academic programs Term Definition Source 4-1-4 Plan The 4-1-4 calendar is composed of four courses taken for four months, one course taken for one month, and four courses taken for four months. There may be an additional summer session. ACHE Academic Awards Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Certificate, Degree, Diploma, Doctoral Degree, Educational ACHE Specialist's Degree, First-Professional Degree, and Master's Degree Academic Academic Year, Quarter, Semester, Trimester, 4-1-4 Plan ACHE Calendar Academic Program Academic courses that work specific to the awarding of a degree by Troy University. Academic Year The period of an institution's regular session, generally extending from September to June, usually divided as semesters, trimesters, quarters or the 4-1-4 plan. These designations are sometimes ACHE referred to as "terms." ACHE Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Members appointed by the Governor and others. Has oversight of Troy University program offerings. Active Program A program listed in the Commission's inventory that has admitted students ACHE Associate's Degree An undergraduate award granted on completion of an educational program that is lower than the baccalaureate and that requires at least two but less than four academic years of full-time equivalent ACHE college work. Bachelor's Degree An undergraduate award that normally requires the completion of at least four but not more than five academic years of full-time equivalent college work. Also includes accelerated bachelor's ACHE degrees which are completed in three calendar years. Branch A degree-granting division of an institution located in a geographical setting separate from the sponsoring institution's main campus or central administration and authorized for a stated purpose in relation to the sponsoring institution and the area served. The branch offers all requirements for completing degree programs in two or more fields of study as classified by the CIP taxonomy at the ACHE six-digit level. A branch provides the necessary administrative services, student services, financial resources, library, and physical facilities to provide adequate support for degree programs offered. Branch Campus A branch campus is an instructional site located geographically apart and independent of the main campus of the institution. A location is independent of the main campus if the location is (1) permanent in nature, (2) offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, diploma, SACSCOC certificate, or other recognized educational credential, (3) has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization, and (4) has its own budgetary and hiring authority. Branch Campus The physical boundaries of the location of an institutional branch. ACHE Campus The grounds and buildings of an institution of higher education ACHE Center A place, area, or concentration of resources marked significantly by an indicated activity, pursuit or interest. A center may involve instruction, research or service or some combination of the three. It ACHE may or may not offer courses or other activities for academic credit. Certificate A formal academic award certifying the satisfactory completion of a prescribed program of study. The certificate is less than a degree, and its curriculum in many instances is related to the student’s ACHE employment or professional advancement. Change of Address Relocating a site that is within the same geographic area only requires a letter of notification to SACSCOC and the US Department of Education. A memo must be sent from the TROY Online Vice Chancellor or the Associate Coive Chancellor for Enrollment Management to IRPE that includes the following: Site name; Old Address; New Address; and Implementation Date. Classification of A National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) publication that provides a numerical Instructional classification and standard terminology for secondary and postsecondary instructional programs Programs (CIP) (IPEDS). Definition Related to Reporting to ACHE SACSCOC concerning Academic programs Collaborative Collaborative academic arrangements are agreements by institutions accredited by SACSCOC and Academic accredited or non-accredited degree-granting institutions of higher education throughout the world Arrangements for purposes of awarding academic credits and/or educational program completion credentials, e.g., certificates, diplomas, degrees or transcripts. Institutions describe collaborative academic SACSCOC arrangements in many different ways, most commonly identifying them as dual or joint educational programs, affiliations, partnerships, and consortial agreements. [See Commission policy “Collaborative Academic Arrangements: Policy and Procedures,” available at www.sacscoc.org.] College An instructional unit within a university that usually includes several academic divisions and/or departments and is usually administered by a dean. Often, though not always, a college is a more prominent or inclusive unit than a school. As used here, the term "college" does not pertain to ACHE separate institutions known as colleges, such as junior college, community college, or technical college. Concentration/ “An option generally would require fewer hours than a minor except in cases where the major is Track/ greater than 34 semester hours” (ACHE: Guidelines for the Review of Extension and Alterations of ACHE Option/Emphasis/ Existing Programs). Specialization Consortial A consortial relationship typically is one in which two or more institutions share in the Relationship responsibility of developing and delivering courses and programs that meet mutually agreedupon SACSCOC standards of academic quality. Contact Hours A unit of measure that represents a minimum of 50 minutes of scheduled instruction given to ACHE students. Also referred to as clock hour. Contractual A contractual agreement typically is one in which an institution enters an agreement with another Agreement institution or service provider for receipt or delivery of courses/programs or portions of courses or SACSCOC programs delivered by another institution or service provider. Cooperative A program which is under the sponsorship of a single institution (identified as the primary Program of institution) but which contains elements of resource sharing agreed upon by one or more other Instruction institutions (the secondary institution(s)). The administrative control of such a program and commitment for maintaining the resources necessary to support it are the responsibility of the primary institution. The degree is granted under the seal of the primary institution and the program ACHE will be identified in the Commission's Academic Program Inventory for that institution only. The program is so structured that should the elements contributed by the secondary institution(s) be discontinued, the basic strength of the program will not be damaged seriously and the institution administering the program will be able to continue to do so with few or no additional resources. Correspondence A formal educational process under which the institution provides instructional materials, by mail or Education electronic transmission, including examinations on the materials, to students who are separated from the instructor. Interaction between the instructor and the student is limited, is not regular and SACSCOC substantive, and is primarily initiated by the student; courses are typically selfpaced. Credit Recognition of attendance and performance in an instructional activity (course or program) that can be applied by a recipient toward the requirements for a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal ACHE award. Credit Hours A unit of measure representing the time and activity required for one hour of credit. Usually, this involves the equivalent of 50 minutes of instruction each week for a semester, trimester, or quarter. ACHE Definition Related to Reporting to ACHE SACSCOC concerning Academic programs Credit Hours For the purpose of accreditation and in accord with federal regulations, a credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates (1) not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different SACSCOC amount of time or (2) at least an equivalent amount of work as required outlined in item 1 above for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours. [Further information on the definition of credit hour is available in Commission policy “Credit Hours” at www.sacscoc.org.] Degree An award conferred by a college, university or other higher/postsecondary education institution as official recognition for the successful completion of a prescribed program of studies. ACHE Degree Completion A program typically designed for a non-traditional undergraduate population such as working adults Program who have completed some college-level course work but have not achieved a baccalaureate degree. Students in such programs may transfer in credit from courses taken previously and