Terminology
Academic probation—A formal warning from your college dean that you are in danger of being suspended or dismissed from RIT because your grade point average (GPA) has fallen below 3.00 (B average). See Registration and Degree Requirements section for a more complete description.
Accredited—An academic program, school or university that has been reviewed by an appropriate educational association and meets its standards of quality in academics and services is accredited. RIT is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and several of its academic departments and programs have achieved additional accreditation by national associations within their discipline.
Audit—Attending a course without receiving an evaluation grade (such as A, B, etc.) or receiving credit. To audit a course, you must formally register for it and have the permission of the department. Audited courses may not be used to fulfill degree requirements, although the course and an audit grade of Z will appear on your official transcript.
Cooperative education (co-op)—The opportunity to work in a full-time, paid position related to your field of study. Co-op is a formal component of many RIT programs. Co-op experiences are divided into "blocks" of one quarter each and do not carry credit. They should be carefully coordinated with the help of your adviser, the Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services and your employer. Registration is required.
Credit by exam or experience—Academic credit awarded based on evaluation of a comprehensive examination, interview or record review.
Credit hour—The numerical value assigned to courses, internships and other educational experiences. RIT follows a quarterly academic calendar, so its base measure is the quarter credit hour, which generally equals two-thirds of a semester hour.
Curriculum—The set of courses that, when finished successfully, can qualify a student for an academic degree. The curricula for all of RIT's degree programs have been registered with the New York State Education Department.
Discipline—A distinct academic area of study. At RIT, most programs are interdisciplinary, or include course work from a variety of areas of study.
Distance learning—A means of earning a certificate or degree off campus through methods such as cable TV broadcasts and videotapes of lectures; teleconferences; computer conferences; and on-line computer services such as electronic blackboards, picture phones and electronic mail. These technologies enable RIT’s distance-learning students to follow the same quarter system of study as on-campus students.
Drop/add—Formally changing the set of courses in which you are enrolled in any quarter by adding or removing yourself from an official class list for a course. You may add or drop a course until the end of the sixth class day of a quarter, as specified on the academic calendar. If you do not officially submit a drop/add form for a course, you may receive a failing grade for a course you have stopped attending or not receive credit for a course you have begun attending.
Dual degree program—A program combining the course curricula from a bachelor's degree program and a master's degree program. This produces a streamlined curriculum that allows selected students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree at the same time.
Full-time student—A student registered for at least 12 quarter credit hours of course work per quarter (excluding audits and credits by exam or experience) or registered for a cooperative education work block during the quarter.
Good standing—A student eligible to enroll in courses (not suspended) as verified by the Office of the Registrar. Certain financial aid programs have specific "standards of progress" by which students are determined to be in "good standing" and therefore eligible for aid.
Graduate-level course—a course designed for postbaccalaureate students and in support of one of RIT's many master's or doctorate degree programs (700-level and higher).
Half-time student—A student registered for six to 11 credit hours during a quarter.
Internships/field instruction—An experiential learning program in which students are placed into a public or private agency to work with professionals in their field of study. The student is eligible for academic credit for the work and is supervised and supported by a mentor while in the position.
Lower-division course—An undergraduate course typically taken during the first or second years of study (100- to 300-level).
Matriculated—A student who has been formally accepted into an academic program and begun a course of study. You must be matriculated in order to receive degrees or other formal awards from RIT.
New York State Immunization Certification—New York State Public Law 2165 (June 1989) requires RIT to either verify that students have been immunized according to state health law (see Admissions section for specifics) or deny them access to RIT facilities. For more information, contact the RIT Student Health Center.
Part-time student—A student registered for at least one course during a quarter, excluding audits and credits by exam/experience.
Residency—Term for the minimum number of credit hours a student must earn at RIT to be eligible for academic certification and completion of degree requirements. The residency requirement ensures that RIT faculty have sufficient opportunity to evaluate your academic abilities.
Suspension—Dismissal from RIT for either academic or disciplinary reasons, which bars a student from enrolling in any RIT courses while the suspension is in effect. If you are suspended for academic reasons, you must usually wait for at least a year before applying for readmission (see page 312). If you are suspended as a result of action by the judicial and appeals processes, you may not be readmitted until the dismissal is formally waived by the assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs/Judicial Affairs.
Upper-division course—An undergraduate course usually taken during the last two to three years of study (400- to 600-level courses).
Withdrawal from a course—Removal of a student from the official enrollment list of a class for a given quarter after the six-day drop/add deadline. You may withdraw from a course at any time through the sixth week of the quarter (time frames are adjusted for sessions of fewer than 10 weeks). After the end of the sixth week, you may withdraw only with written approval of the course instructor and chairperson of your department of study. In either case, the course remains on your record with a grade of "W," and you are still financially responsible for the course tuition.