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Academic Advisor: An academic advisor assists students with selecting the right courses and programs. The advisor will guide and advise, helping the student to make informed choices, but it will be up to the student to complete the recommended academic plan.
Academic Calendar: The official calendar for the University. The Academic Calendar is available here:
Academic Probation: A warning that the student’s performance falls below the institution’s requirement for “good academic standing.” Typically, students must maintain above a 2.0 GPA to stay in good academic standing, but this can vary by program.
Add/Drop Period: Occurring at the beginning of the semester, this is a time during which the student may make changes schedule changes without any academic or financial consequences.
Canvas: The learning platform where online course information is housed.
Commencement: The graduation ceremonies are held in both December, May, and August.
Course Catalog: A listing of all class descriptions. This is a valuable tool for understanding the college’s course offerings and academic and administrative policies and procedures.
Credit Hour: Courses are usually measured in credit hours, with the average being three. A credit hour is equivalent to about 1 hour of class time per week. Students may refer to how many credit hours or credits they are carrying for a particular semester. Credit hours are awarded to a student upon passing a course.
Curriculum: Composed of those classes prescribed or outlined by an institution for completion of a program of study leading to a degree or certificate.
Dean: Someone traditionally in charge of a major area of a college; for example, the Dean of the College or the Dean of Students.
Dean's List: The Dean’s List is awarded to students who earn a GPA of 3.40 in a semester in which they were enrolled in at least 12 credit hours. It is the college equivalent of an honor roll.
Elective Courses: Courses that are not required to fulfill the liberal arts core or major
requirements. These are courses that students "elect" to take because of personal interest.
Federal Work-study: A federally funded program in which students take campus jobs as part of their financial aid package. To participate in a work-study program, students must complete the FAFSA.
FERPA: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), is a federal law that sets forth requirements regarding the privacy of student records. FERPA governs the disclosure of student records maintained by an educational institution and access to them. FERPA grants four specific rights to the student:
1. The right to review and inspect their educational records;
2. The right to have their educational records amended or corrected;
3. The right to limit disclosure of some portions of their educational records; and
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by institutions to comply with the act.
When a student begins attending Kent State, the student is automatically protected under FERPA, regardless of age. Concerns such as progress in a course, deficiencies in a subject area, scores and grades on papers, exams, etc. are all examples of personally identifiable information that constitute part of the student's education record. Kent State is not permitted by FERPA to release or provide access to this information to a student’s parent or legal guardian, except under the following conditions.
A student provides written authorization to the One Stop for Student Services that specifically identifies what information may be released to the parent(s). At Kent State, the student may complete this authorization online through FlashLine, or in person at the One Stop for Student Services.
The parent(s) establish that the student is tax-dependent according to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Section 152. For more information regarding Kent State University’s policy on student records, please visit the One Stop for Student Services website: https://www.kent.edu/onestop
Final Exams: Final exams are given during the sixteenth week of the semester. The dates and times may be different than regular class time and are listed online or in the instructor’s syllabus.
First Generation Students: Term used to refer to students who are the first in their immediate family to attend college. Colleges understand that first generation students may have issues in learning about and adjusting to the world of college.
First Year Experience: Also known as "Destination Kent State.” Kent State University requires first-year students to complete this one-credit course designed to help students understand the college environment in a small-group setting.
FlashLine: A website viewed only by logging in with a FlashLine username and password. FlashLine can be used to register for classes, print a student’s schedule, access email, and many other KSU services.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): An application form administered by the U.S. Department of Education and used to determine a family’s eligibility for federal student aid programs and, in some cases, institutional, state, and other private aid sources. A FAFSA must be completed and filed each year a student attends college.
Full-time status: Full-time students must be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours.
Grade Point Average (GPA): Sometimes referred to as the Cumulative Grade Point Average, the GPA is a calculation of the college student’s overall grade average on a 4-point scale with an A equal to 4.
International Students: All foreign-born students who are not United States citizens.
Kent Core: Called “general education” in some colleges, the core is comprised of those courses which must be completed by all degree candidates regardless of major. In a Liberal Arts setting, the core is intended to provide exposure to courses in the arts, humanities, sciences, and mathematics.
Kent State ID: Each student is issued a random identification number in lieu of a Social Security number upon beginning classes at KSU. Kent State ID numbers begin with an 8.
Kent State Username: The beginning of a student’s kent.edu email address.
Major: A subject or career field that serves as the focus of study in a degree program.
Mid-term exams: During the middle of each semester, instructors may give mid-term exams that test students on the material covered to that point.
Minor: A secondary concentration in a specific subject or career field. Typically, a minor requires 18-21 hours of coursework.
Non-Traditional Student: A student outside the age range of traditional-aged students (18-24) is considered a non-traditional student.
Orientation: A vital part of the college experience with activities designed to help new students adjust and familiarize themselves with the college.
Peer Advisor: Students who assist students in their academic advising experience at Kent State University.
Pell Grant Program: The largest federal grant program. Eligibility and award amounts are determined by the college based on established federal guidelines.
Perkins Loan Program: Federally insured loans funded by the federal government and awarded by the school. The loans feature a low interest rate and are repayable over an extended period.
Pre-Req: Pre-requisites are courses students must take before registering for a particular course. Some courses have no pre-requisites while others do.
President’s List: A high honor awarded to students who earn a GPA of 4.0 in a semester in which they were enrolled in at least 15 credits.
Registrar: College official who registers and is responsible for keeping permanent records, maintaining student files, and forwarding copies of students' transcripts to employers and schools.
Registration: The process of becoming officially enrolled in classes for a semester. This can be done online through FlashLine.
Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on any number of criteria, such as academics, achievements, talents, affiliations with various groups, or career aspirations. They are grants that do not have to be repaid.
Semester: A fifteen-week period during which classes are held.
Stafford loans: Loans, both subsidized (need-based) and unsubsidized (non-need based), guaranteed by the federal government and available to students to fund education.
Syllabus: The syllabus is an outline or overview of the course distributed by the instructor at the beginning of the course. The syllabus often includes requirements, objectives, textbook information, contact information for the instructor, and often a schedule of assignments and topics. Students are always encouraged to read the syllabus carefully and refer to it often throughout the course. The syllabus establishes a contract between the student and the instructor.
Transcript: This is a list of all the courses a student has taken with the grades that the student earned in each course. The official transcript is maintained by the Registrar.
Tuition: The amount of money charged for instruction. It does not include room and board.
Undergraduate: A degree-seeking student at a college or university who has not yet earned a bachelor's degree.
Withdrawal: To formally remove yourself from a class or from all classes for a semester. There are established procedures for doing so with possible financial costs.
Writing Commons: The Writing Commons is staffed by undergraduate students from a variety of majors who know the struggle you are going through. Whether you are having trouble brainstorming for your first essay, formatting your lab report, organizing your creative work, or revising your thesis, our writing consultants can help. Website: https://www.kent.edu/writingcommons