Academic Advisor – A professional, who assists students in understanding degree program requirements for long- and short-term academic planning.
Academic Advising Center – The office which helps students understand their degree program requirements and curriculum guides. They also assist in the transfer process.
Accuplacer Exam – The computerized set of tests used by the College to determine your placement into English and Math courses.
Adding a course – Is when you have already registered for courses during a semester/term and decide that you want register for one or more courses in that same semester/term, adding them to your current schedule. You can add a course before the semester begins or after the semester begins with a signature from the instructor. After the census date you cannot add a course.
Adjunct – A college professor/instructor who does not hold a permanent position at the college.
Admitted – Formal acceptance into the college. Admitted students have completed and submitted an application for admission and are eligible to register for academic courses.
Alumni – A graduate or former student who previously attending the college.
Application for Admission – A form submitted to the Registration and Records Office which creates your official file at the college. This form needs to be complete in order to be admitted.
Assigned Advisor – A faculty member from a specific department, who will help you with your academic progress. The Department and Faculty member may change from semester to semester.
Associate of Applied Science Degree – Degree awarded to a student who has submitted an application for graduation and the college confirms that they have successfully completed the selected program, which emphasizes preparation in the applied arts and sciences, typically at the technical or semi-professional level.
Associates in Arts Degree – Degree awarded to a student who has submitted an application for graduation and the college confirms that they have successfully completed the selected program, which emphasizes the liberal arts, humanities, and other fine and performing arts. This degree is transfer oriented.
Associate in Science Degree – Degree awarded to a student who has submitted an application for graduation and the college confirms that they have successfully complete the selected program, which emphasize mathematics, the biological or physical sciences and other specific areas. This degree is transfer oriented.
Athletic Office – The office on campus which governs the college participation in intercollegiate athletics.
Audit – Registering for a course to gain knowledge of course content without earning college credit or a recorded grade. Students must get the approval for the course instructor before registering an audited course.
Bursar’s Office – The office on campus which tracks billing and accepts cash tuition and fee payments. The Bursar’s Office also processes all student refunds.
Career Services – The office on campus which assists students in career planning, finding a job, or preparing for employment after they earn their degree.
Census date – Is the date during the semester in which the courses that a student is registered appears on their official record. If a student no longer wants to be in a course after this date the student would request a course withdrawal.
Center for Academic Excellence (CAE)— A Center committed to helping students succeed in the first year of college by providing an array of academic support services and campus involvement opportunities, including the First Year Experience course: ACAD 155, Peer Tutoring, Peer Mentoring, Testing Services, Disability Services, Study Strategy Seminars, NJ Stars Enrichment Program, Academic Screenings, and Learning Assessments.
Certificate – Is awarded to students after the completion of 18-33 credits including specific requirements within a chosen certificate program.
Change of curriculum – Is when a student decides to officially change their degree program at the college. Since different courses are needed for different degree programs a student needs a signature from an academic advisor to change their curriculum.
Class schedule – The course sections which a student registered for in a specific semester. This includes the course’s name, section, location, hours, instructor, and amount of credits awarded after completion. When registering in person a student will also receive the bill for your courses.
C.L.E.P. – College Level Examination Program. Passing a specific CLEP test may allow a student to earn college credit for skills and knowledge already acquired.
College Catalog – An OCC publication describing academic programs, student services, general regulations, requirements and procedures. The publication describes all credit courses offered including information as to course descriptions and prerequisites.
Commencement – The graduation ceremony at which students are recognized for completing their degrees.
Co requisite – Required course that must be taken in the same semester as the selected course.
Course – Is a specific class subject.
Course Credit – A system of measure academic work. Most OCC courses are 3 credits though there are other credit values. Check the course description to be certain of a courses credit value. To complete most OCC degrees a student needs to earn 64 specific credits. Note that the numerical value which reflects the amount of credit earned for completing a course and which is closely related to the number of hours that the class meets per week, for example, a 3 credit course usually meets 3 hours per week.
Course sections – The specific code which is tied to a course’s location, hours, and instructor.
Curriculum guide – A detailed list of courses or areas of study a student must fulfill to meet the requirements of his/her degree or certificate program.
Counseling Services– The office on campus which provides short term, confidential personal counseling for students.
Degree Program – Or “major”, is chosen by the student and determines what courses the student needs to complete to earn their degree.
Developmental courses – Are required for students who score within a certain range on their placement exam. These courses are devoted to the remediation of basic skills in reading, writing, and algebra, and cannot be used to fulfill graduation requirements. They will affect your grade point average and enrollment status.
Disability—A physical, mental, or emotional condition which affects one or more major life activities (such as processing information, writing, hearing, or seeing).
Distance Learning Student –students that plan on attending part or full time and completing their entire degree online with OCC.
Dropped/Dropping courses – Is when a student or the college decides that student will not take a course that they were registered for. If a student drops a class before the semester begins there is no tuition charged. Students cannot drop a course online once the semester/term begins. If a student decides to drop during the first couple days of the semester/term they will only receive a partial tuition refund. A student can also be dropped by the college for not paying their bill.
Education Opportunity Fund – The office on campus which assists financially eligible students in affording their tuition while supporting and tracking their academic performance.
E-learning degree seeking: students that plan on attending part or full time and completing their entire degree online with OCC.
Electives – Courses chosen based on a student’s interests. A specific number of elective course credits are required for each degree program.
Enrollment – Indicates if a student is currently or previously registered or completed courses at the college.
Enrollment status – Depending on the course or courses a current student is registered for will determine if they are a part time student or a full time student.
Fees – Additional cost applied to a student’s bill during registration. These fees could include but are not limited to registration, technology, course, and distance learning.
Final Grades – The official grade for the course which appears on a student’s transcript.
Financial Aid Office – The office on campus which assists in the processing of your application for federal, state, and private aid such as grants, loans, and some scholarships and informs you of what aid you have been awarded.
First Year Student – A student who has yet to complete 30 college credits.
Fitness Activities – The recreational use of the college’s fitness room for enrolled students and staff.
Foundation Scholarship – An OCC internal scholarship available to eligible students each semester.
Full Time Student – A student who registers for 12 or more credits during a semester.
General Education Requirement – A degree program requirement indicated within a curriculum guide. A list of specific courses in different academic areas that is available in the college catalog or online. General Education courses are highly transferrable.
GPA – Grade Point Average. An number indicating academic performance (4.0 = A, 3.0 = B, 2.0 = C, 1.0 = D, 0.0 = F)
Incomplete Grade – A grade given to a student who, because of extending circumstances, is unable to complete coursework by the end of the semester in which they are enrolled. This grade must be resolved within a specific period of time or it will automatically change to an F.
Information Tables – Welcome locations placed at campus walking entrances staffed by college employees to assist students during the first day of class and distribute student handbooks.
Intramural sports –Recreation activities for enrolled students and staff who compete against one another.
Kean Ocean – A partnership between Kean University and OCC that enables area residents to complete the upper division courses required for certain undergraduate degree programs and specific graduate programs on the campus of OCC.
Major – Academic degree program.
Matriculated – An enrollment standing in which a student has chosen a degree program and has begun taking courses in that program.
Ocean Connect– An online portal containing OCC information such as campus life, academic information, and WebAdvisor. When logged into a student can access their student email account and WebAdvisor account.
Off Campus Locations – Convenient locations around the county where some OCC course sections are taught.
Office of Multicultural Services – The office on campus which implements strategies for the recruitment and retention of students from culturally diverse backgrounds, and supports them throughout their enrollment. The office also sponsors programs and activities that celebrate and recognize the diversity of our campus, county, state, nation and world.
Official Transcript – A document listing the courses you attempted and the grades that you received in those courses. What makes this official is that it does not touch the student’s hands; it’s sent from one school to another school or employer, etc.
Online registration – Course registration using your WebAdvisor account. This is not available to all students.
Part Time Student – A student who registers for 11 or less credits during a semester.
Payment– A student’s financial obligation to the college once they register for a course.
Payment Plan – An option to pay for classes over a period of time instead of all at once. It includes a fee.
Photo identification – Could include student id card, drivers license, or county identification card used to prove your identity.
Placement Test – A test that measures your English and Math skills but does not affect acceptance at the college. There are no passing or failing scores; a student’s scores on these tests determine if they need remedial or developmental courses.
Prerequisite – A required course that must be complete before taking a more advanced course.
Probation – A “warning” that a student has not met the college’s minimum academic progress standards.
Program Evaluation – A detailed report indicating what courses a student has completed and what courses they still need to complete in order to fulfill their degree program requirements.
Reference librarian – Information specialist who provides general library assistance to the public; consults with students on the information requirements of course assignments; and teaches classes on identifying, evaluating and using print and electronic subject resources.
Register/Registration –Is the process of signing up for a course. This means a student has bought a seat in a specific course section and is responsible for payment.
Registration and Records Office – The office which handles a student’s official file which includes their transcripts and grades.
Semester – A 15 week academic term that occurs twice per year beginning in September and January
Southern Education Center – A campus satellite located in Manahawkin which provides academic and student services to students in the southern portion of the county.
Student Handbook – An OCC publication describing available student services, clubs, and specific college policies and procedures.
Student ID card – An OCC produced photo identification card which includes a person identification number used to access certain facilities and services.
Student ID number – The number assigned to a student once they have been admitted to the college.
Student Life Office – The office on campus which is the center of activity for extra-curricular and co-curricular programs, which are structured so as to instill and enhance learning, exploration, and a sense of community.
Student living out of the area– A student who does not live in or around Ocean County. This student might live out of state or could be currently out of the country.
Study Strategy Seminars— A series of seminars that provide tips and strategies to promote academic success. Seminars are presented throughout the semester and include various topics such as time management and note taking.
Term – A time period in which a course begins and ends.
Testing Center –The office on campus which administers and proctors a wide range of exams for the College and for members of the community.
Text books – Specific books needed for a specific course sections.
Tuition – The amount of money needed to complete a course.
Tutors— Peer or professional tutors who assist students with understanding content and with developing more effective study approaches.
WebAdvisor – An online tool where students can find available course sections during specific semesters. When logged in to their account a student will be able to find such things as your class schedule, grades, billing information, program evaluation and, their assigned academic advisor.
Withdrawn/Withdrawing from courses – Is when a student or their instructor removes that student from the course during the term. If a student request a withdrawal they will need the signature from the instructor on an official add/drop form. An instructor can withdraw a student from a course if they do not attend the course. A “W” shows on the student’s transcript and the student is not entitled to a refund. Excessive withdrawing can affect a student’s eligibility for financial aid as well as their academic standing. There is an official last day to withdraw for each term and after this date the student will receive a letter grade in their course.