Home > Prospective Students > Registrar > Glossary of Terms

Colleges seem to have a language all their own. This section will help you become familiar with some of the terms and definitions.

Academic Dismissal: A student who does not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress will be dismissed from the College. Academic Dismissal will result in the loss of matriculated status.

Academic Probation: Students on Academic Dismissal may apply for Academic Probation if they have extenuating circumstances or have taken one or more years off from college. Students on Academic Probation may be required to attend tutoring or counseling sessions to improve academic performance.

Articulation Agreement: A formal agreement between Fulton-Montgomery Community College and a baccalaureate degree granting institution. These agreements are established for specific academic programs and depending on the transfer institution, may assure transfer with junior standing upon completion of the appropriate coursework and achievement of a minimum grade average.

Attendance: Students are expected to be present and on time for all scheduled classes and laboratories. In cases where a student is tardy or absent, the student is responsible for materials or assignments presented in his/her absence. The degree to which attendance affects a student's final grade will be determined by the individual instructor and stated in the course syllabus.

Associate Degree: A degree given by a college to a person who has completed the specified program requirements and credit hours within a two-year course of study.

Bookstore: Located in the Lower Level of the College Union building, the bookstore provides a place where textbooks, school supplies, clothing, snacks and FMCC gear may be purchased.

Bursar's Office: The Bursar's Office is responsible for the invoicing and subsequent collection of tuition, fees, and other related college charges. The Office is also responsible for the disbursement of State and Federal financial aid as governed by the appropriate regulation. In addition, the Office issues student refunds, collects Certificates of Residence, and partners with the bookstore to allow students to charge books using the student's actual financial aid award. In addition, the Bursar's Office is responsible for the collection of monies owed by financially-delinquent students and works with an outside collection agency to provide arrangements for these collections.

Certificate: A document issued to a student signifying completion of a specific series of skill courses.

Certificate of Residence Form: Form used to verify that a student is an In-State resident, eligible for in-state tuition rate. The student is required by New York State Education Law-6305, to submit a valid Certificate of Residence form each academic year, from their home county. Fulton/Montgomery County residents can complete and have notarized at the Bursar's Office, located in the Administration Bldg (A-107).

Change of Major: The process of changing a student's matriculation in one program to a different program. A student should initiate the change by contacting his/her current academic advisor, located in the Student Development Center.

College Union: The campus building which houses the college bookstore, student lounges, the cafeteria, student activities office, student government office, continuing education office. Many programs and activities meet in the college union.

Common Hours: Times during the week when no classes are held. These hours are used for student activities, and for SGA, faculty, committee and club meetings. At FMCC, common hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. In the fall semester, there is a common hour every Thursday, from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. and in the spring semester, every Tuesday, from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Continuing Education: The Continuing Education Office is designed to offer students a viable and flexible non-credit alternative to the traditional full-time college degree. Contact the Continuing Education Office for details and offerings.

Course Description: Located in the back of the catalog, the course description tells the student what is taught in the course, and identifies any prerequisites for the course.

Course Load: The number of courses or credit hours taken in a given semester.

Course Withdrawal: If a student is unable to complete a course, for whatever reason, the student must withdraw from the course within the published date guidelines or risk receiving a grade of "F" for the course.

Credit Hours: The number of credits associated with a course; sometimes, but not always equal to clock hours spent in class. Sometimes referred to as semester hours.

Drop/Add: The procedure utilized when a student decides to change his/her schedule, after the initial registration, by dropping or adding a course without academic penalty.

Elective Course: A major requirement which a student may choose to take from a number of possible courses, as distinguished from specific required courses.

Financial Aid: Grants, loans, and scholarships available to assist students with paying the costs of attending college. Students must be matriculated and in good academic standing to receive financial aid.

Full-time Student: A student enrolled for 12 or more credit hours per semester.

General Education Coursework: Courses which represent the common areas of knowledge and skills that pertain to educated persons and those which offer a coherent and broadly comprehensive academic foundation.

Good Academic Standing: The status of a student who has met or exceeded the requirements specified in the Academic Standards. A student must be in good academic standing to be eligible for financial aid, intercollegiate athletics, and other campus activities. Also referred to as Satisfactory Academic Progress.

In-State Resident: A legal resident of New York State for a minimum of one calendar year. Student must submit a valid Certificate of Residence form, from their home county, each academic year in order to receive in-state tuition rate.

Major: A set of courses which awards a certificate or associate degree with the purpose of preparing a student to enter the work world immediately or to transfer to a degree program at another college.

Matriculated Student: A matriculated student has been accepted for admission to the College, has registered in a major and is pursuing courses toward a degree or certificate. Students must maintain good academic standing to keep their matriculated status.

Mid-Term Grades: Mid-term grades are indicators of a student's progress. Mid-term grades are not recorded on official transcripts.

Non-Matriculated Student: A non-matriculated student is one who has not yet been accepted for admission to the College, has lost matriculated status by not enrolling in coursework for one term, or has been academically dismissed. Courses taken by a non-matriculated student may later count toward a degree, however, the student will not be eligible for financial aid.

Notice of Admission: Upon applying to FMCC, students will be notified in writing of their admission to the College. Notice of Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to programs requiring a separate application for competitive admission.

Out-of-State Resident: Legal Resident of a state other than New York. Student pays out-of-state tuition rate.

Part-time Student: A student enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours per semester.

Prerequisite Course: A course that a student must successfully complete before enrollment in a particular subsequent course.

Registered Student: A registered student is one who has scheduled classes.

Registrar's Office: The Registrar's Office, located in the Administration Building, room A-109, maintains the official academic record of each student. The Office is responsible for: the clearance all students for course registration; registration of part-time, self-advised students for credit-bearing courses; collection of grades from instructors and recording them on student transcripts; collection of immunization records; issuance academic transcripts and immunization records upon student request; coordination of the evaluation and recording of transfer credit from documents issued by other institutions; review of student credentials for graduation; certifying student enrollment; and processing changes of name or address.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): The status of a student who has met or exceeds both the qualitative and quantitative measurements of academic progress according to the Academic Standards. A student must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements to be eligible for financial aid.

Student Development Center: The Student Development Center is located near the classroom building and houses the career center and academic advisement offices.

Total Withdrawal: The procedure whereby a student may withdraw from all coursework. The withdrawal process must be started at the Student Development Center and finalized through the Vice President and Dean of the College's Office. A student who withdraws and then desires to return in a subsequent semester must reapply to the College.

Transcript: A student's official academic record maintained by the Registrar's Office. It shows all academic work attempted and grades earned, as well as transfer credits accepted from other schools.

Transfer Credit: Credit from coursework taken at a previous institution that is accepted toward a degree requirement at Fulton-Montgomery Community College. Transfer credit is not used in computing the student's grade point average at FMCC.