Glossary of Terms The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has produced this Glossary of commonly used Texas higher education terms. By its nature, the Glossary will be an evolving document. If you have suggestions for clear wording for terms in the Glossary or for terms whose definition you would like to have included, please send your suggestions to Torca Bunton at [email protected] at the Coordinating Board. TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD Educational Data Center Glossary of Terms August 14, 2017 AAT Associate of Arts in a Teaching degree. Board-approved collegiate degree programs consisting of lower-division courses intended for transfer to baccalaureate programs that lead to initial Texas teacher certification. (CTC CBM009) Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) The official list of approval numbers for general academic transfer courses that may be offered for state funding by public community and technical colleges in Texas. It lists a basic core of general academic courses which are freely transferable among all public institutions of higher education in Texas in accordance with the Texas Education Code, §61.051(g). TCCNS numbers are assigned to most courses in the manual. Academic courses reported on the CTC CBM004 must appear either on this list of approved courses or in the Special Approval/Unique Need Inventory. See Lower Division Academic Course Guide Manual. (CTC CBM004) Academic Credit Course A college-level course that, if successfully completed, can be applied toward the number of courses required for achieving a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award. Academic Program 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 Year The 12-month period of time generally extending from September to August. Academically Disadvantaged When reporting academically disadvantaged students, colleges may report students who, based on a Texas Success Initiative (TSI) approved test, do not have college entry-level skills in reading, writing, or math. Colleges should also report TSI compliant students who are enrolled in remedial courses based on the results of tests administered for placement purposes. The InterimEvaluationReport definition may also be applied for students who did not receive a high school diploma nor receive a GED certificate. Field will contain “1” if the student is academically disadvantaged. Please note that academically disadvantaged does not include students with learning disabilities. (CTC CBM001, CBM00A, CBM0E1) Accountability System The Higher Education Accountability System is used to track performance on critical measures that exemplify higher education institutions' missions. The System is modeled on the state's higher education plan, Closing the Gaps by 2015. Its major focus is on the four Closing the Gaps target areas of participation, success, excellence, and research. Accreditation A process signifying that an institution has a purpose appropriate to higher education and resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish its purpose on a continuing basis. Colleges in Texas should refer to the Principles of Accreditation (replaces the Criteria for Accreditation) by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The CB now recognizes other accrediting agencies, which can be found on our website at AccreditorRecognition. Accumulated Deferred Maintenance (ADM) Projects from prior years that were not included in the maintenance program because of perceived lower priority status than those funded within the budget. 1 Glossary of Terms August 14, 2017 ACCUPLACER An approved academic skills assessment instrument that allows a student to satisfy one or more section(s) of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) upon meeting the designated standard for that section or sections. It is offered by The College Board. (CBM002) ACT American College Test. The ACT assessment program measures educational development and readiness to pursue college-level coursework in English, mathematics, natural science, and social studies. A student who meets CB standards on designated section(s) of the ACT is exempt from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) for the related section(s). (CBM002) Actual Capital Investment This figure is not adjusted for inflation, but is a cumulative total of actual dollars invested to the nearest dollar. If a building is not owned by the institution, report the dollar amount invested for its use. If a building is a gift or has no capital investment for other reasons, enter ‘1’. This is the total budget required to occupy a new facility, including: Building and Acquisition Costs – Costs of construction within five feet of the building line, all items required by codes (fire extinguisher cabinets, fire alarm systems, etc.), and other items normally found in buildings, regardless of type (drinking fountains, sinks, etc.). If a building is purchased, the actual capital investment is the total purchase price minus items such as associated parking lots that are not within five feet of the building. In the case of a lease or gift/donated facility, the capital investment may be reported as $1. Fixed Equipment – Equipment installed before building completion that is part of the construction contract (lockers, food service equipment, fixed seating, fixed medical equipment, security equipment, stage equipment, stage lighting, etc.). Site Development – Work within the site boundary and five feet from the edge of the building (grading and fill, fencing, electronic perimeter system, roads and parking, utilities, landscape development, athletic fields, walks, site lighting, street furniture, site graphics, onsite sewage treatment plant, unusual foundation conditions, etc.). Site Acquisition and/or Demolition – Purchasing the project site and/or demolition of existing structures. Movable Equipment – All movable equipment and furniture items but not equipment purchased from operating funds (computers, microscopes, library books, etc.). Fees – Costs for architectural and engineering services. Contingency – A percentage of the total construction cost that is included to serve as a planning contingency, bidding contingency, and construction reserve (change orders, etc.). Administrative Costs – Items required during the planning process (legal fees, site survey, soil testing, insurance, material testing, etc.). Enter all capital costs associated with the building’s purchase or construction, plus all other capital invested in the building during its life (major repairs, renovation, conversions, etc.). (Univ, CTC CBM014) Adjunct Faculty A person who holds a non-tenure-track appointment to the teaching staff of an institution. Adjunct faculty are generally part-time, with generally narrower expectations for involvement with the institution. Hired as needed, with no guarantees as to continuation of employment. Reported as Other Faculty. (CBM008) Administrative Unit An administrative subdivision (department) of a college or school with a teaching staff responsible for instruction in a particular subject-matter area or field of study. It is an item on the CBM008 to identify the department in which the faculty member teaches or an item on the CBM003 to identify the department in which the course is taught. (CBM008, Univ CBM003) 2 Glossary of Terms August 14, 2017 Admissions Action or Acceptance Status Action taken by the institution in response to the student’s application for admission. (Univ CBM00B) Advanced Placement Program (AP) A national program of standardized high school courses by which high school students can earn college credit(s) at most institutions of higher education. The state provides funding for AP classes through an appropriation to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The AP examination is administered by The College Board. Advanced Technology Certificate (ATC) A certificate that has a specific associate or baccalaureate degree (or, in some circumstances, junior-level standing in a baccalaureate degree program) as prerequisite for admission. It must consist of at least 16 and no more than 50 semester credit hours. It must be focused, clearly related to the prerequisite degree, and justifiable to meet industry or external agency requirements. (CTC CBM009) Advisory Committee In higher education, a group of business or industry representatives whose purpose is to advise the college on the needs for a particular program. The committee advises on matters of curriculum, instructor qualifications, and equipment and facility requirements needed to assure that graduates will have appropriate skills for employment in the business or industry upon graduation. Affiliation Agreement Documentation between a college and business/industry affiliate defining an educational partnership, and specifying conditions, roles, and timelines. Age Age is calculated by subtracting the individual’s date of birth from the begin date of the reporting period. For fall, the begin date is September 1, spring is January 1, and summer is June 1. This is a category of the data summary on the CBM001, CBM002, CBM008, CBM009, CBM00A, CBM00B, CBM00M, CBM00X, and CBM0E1 that gives the age distribution of the group of individuals reported. Alcove Measurement See Room Measurement. American Indian or Alaskan Native The race of a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including