ACADEMIC ADVISOR
College staff member responsible for providing guidance in course or program related issues.

ACADEMIC TERM (SEMESTER)
Fall and spring periods with 14 weeks of instruction and one week of finals.

ADD A COURSE
To enroll for additional courses after registration is complete, accomplished through the Registrar's Office.

ADD/DROP PERIOD
A period of approximately two weeks (Fall and Spring semester) after the first day of classes when students can add or drop a class through the Registrar's Office.

ADMINISTRATIVE NOTATIONS
Grades assigned to a student's transcript.

ADVANCED ELECTIVE
Course requirement(s) in a program of study which generally may be fulfilled by a course numbered 200/2000 or above. These correspond to sophomore level courses in traditional bachelor's degree programs. The courses that satisfy this requirement may vary from program to program; please consult with advisor.

ADVANCED LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES ELECTIVE
The courses that satisfy this elective may vary; students should consult with their advisors. Advanced Liberal arts courses, numbered 200/2000 or above, generally include courses in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and math.

ALUMNI
Graduates, in the plural.

ARTICULATION AGREEMENT
A formal agreement between Three Rivers Community College and a four-year college or university which outlines specific course, grade point, and credit requirements necessary to transfer from Three Rivers to that four-year institution. Some articulation agreements are also established with high schools to provide advanced placement opportunities, advanced college credit and College Career Pathways or 2 +2 articulated college credit.

APL/ASSESSMENT OF PRIOR LEARNING
A process through which students may earn credit for college-level learning acquired through non-collegiate experiences such as employment, military training, community service, and volunteer activities.

AUDIT
To take a course under a written arrangement with the faculty member and student in which the final grade is AU. Generally involves regular attendance and participation, but limits graded activities, such as exams; requires full payment of tuition and fees; paperwork must be returned to the Registrar's office no later than the fourth week of the first day of classes.

CAREER PROGRAM
A specialized degree designed to equip a student with the skills and general educational background needed for employment in a specific field, (i.e., Accounting, Business Administration, and Nursing)

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
An academic program of study in a specific field intended for occupational training, upgrading or retraining, generally requiring 30 credits or less. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the program.

COMMENCEMENT
The formal ceremony conferring degrees and certificates upon qualified graduating students.

COMMON COURSE NUMBERING
Courses that are numbered the same at all Connecticut Community Colleges. Courses which have been converted to a common number are notated with an * after the descriptor, (i.e., NUC*).

CO-REQUISITE
A course which must be taken at the same time as another course. For example, General Electricity Lab is a co-requisite for General Electricity.

COURSE REFERENCE NUMBER (CRN)
A number assigned to a specific course section in the schedule of classes.

CREATIVE ARTS ELECTIVE
All courses in art, music, theatre, and ARC K1100 History of Architecture

CREDIT COURSE
An academic course, numbered above 100/1000 in the college catalog, which may be applied toward completion of a degree or certificate. (See Developmental Course)

CREDIT HOUR
A standard measure of the amount of instructional time required to successfully complete a course. (For example, ENG 111, College Composition, is a 3 Credit Hour course, which usually means it will meet for 3 hours each week.) For the length of each class session and lab hours, if any, be sure to check with your advisor or a faculty member regarding specific courses.

CURRICULUM
Set of courses focused in a particular field (i.e.,
Accounting, Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Nuclear Engineering Technology, Nursing).

DEGREE PROGRAM
An Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) or Associate in Applied Science (AAS) plan of study requiring a minimum of 60 credits for completion.

DEVELOPMENTAL COURSE
A basic skill development course numbered below 100/1000 in the College catalog which is credited in meeting financial aid eligibility and veterans benefits but does not count toward the minimum requirements for graduation. (See Credit Course)

DISTANCE LEARNING
Courses offered via the Internet.

DROP FROM A COURSE
To cease to participate in a course after registration is complete, accomplished through the Registrar's Office.

ELECTIVE
Course requirement(s) in a program of study which may be fulfilled by choosing from a variety of specified courses.

ELECTIVE, ADVANCED
Course requirement(s) in a program of study which generally may be fulfilled by a course numbered 200/2000 or above. The courses that satisfy this requirement may vary from program to program; please consult with advisor.

ELECTIVE, LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES
Course in a plan of study which a student may choose from the humanities, social sciences, math or natural sciences fields. The courses that satisfy this requirement may vary from program to program; please consult with advisor.

ELECTIVE, OPEN (or UNRESTRICTED)
Course requirement(s) in a program of study that may be fulfilled with any course (numbered above 100/1000) of the student's choosing.

ELECTIVE, TECHNICAL
A college credit course chosen by the student to fulfill the academic credit requirements for a degree from the student's major technology or any technology with the approval of the academic advisor.

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
Lies closest to the engineer in the occupational spectrum between the crafts person and the engineer. Requires the application of scientific and engineering knowledge and methods combined with technical skills in support of engineering activities. "Engineering technician" refers to a graduate of an associate degree program. Graduates of baccalaureate programs are called "engineering technologists."

FIELD WORK EXPERIENCE
Work experience given for credit, under supervision of an agency or employer and College staff or faculty member.

FINANCIAL AID
Funding provided to students from various sources to assist in defraying expenses of college (See Financial Aid section of this catalog).

FINANCIAL AID FORM (FAFSA)
A standardized application including detailed financial data, which is required to determine eligibility for all financial aid programs.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE ELECTIVES
Two semesters of the same foreign language are required. (Liberal Arts and Sciences electives may be substituted if two years of the same foreign language with a grade of "C" or higher were completed at the high school level. High school transcript and college verification are required for substitution.)

FULL-TIME (STUDENT)
Student registered for 12 or more credits in a semester at Three Rivers.

GPA (Cumulative GPA)
Grade Point Average. Used to compute academic standing (see Academic Information Section of this catalog).

GRADUATION
Certification of the completion of all degree/certificate requirements by the posting of the appropriate degree to the student's academic record.

HYBRID
Courses offered via the Internet and on-ground.

HUMANITIES
Humanities courses which satisfy elective requirements may vary from program to program; please consult with advisor.

LAB HOURS
Lab hours are learning activities, which are "hands- on” rather than the traditional lecture/discussion. Lab hours provide experiments/exercises that focus on the lecture applications. Since lab hours are the co-requisite to the lecture/discussion portion of a class, students need to register for both (lecture and lab) course reference numbers (CRN's) in the same semester.

LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES ELECTIVES
The courses that satisfy this elective may vary; students should consult with their advisors. Liberal arts courses generally include courses in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and math.

MATRICULATION
Enrollment in credit courses applicable to the requirements of a degree or certificate program.

NATURAL SCIENCE ELECTIVES
The courses that satisfy this elective may vary; students should consult with their advisors. Courses in the natural sciences generally include laboratory and non-laboratory courses in biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental, physics, nutrition and oceanography.

NON-CREDIT
Non-academic course oriented to personal interest or continuing education needs of persons seeking non-credit bearing instruction.

PART-TIME (STUDENT)
Student enrolled for 11 or fewer credits in a semester.

PHI THETA KAPPA
A national honorary organization recognizing academic scholarship by community/technical college students.

PLAN OF STUDY
A worksheet of courses required to earn a degree in a chosen area of study. Used as a roadmap for course selection. Used to conduct a final audit for graduation. Must be signed by the assigned academic advisor in order to register for the student's second semester.

PRACTICUM
See Field Work Experience.

PREREQUISITE
Skill or course required for entry into a course or program of study.

PROGRAM OF STUDY
(See Degree Program and Certificate Program)

RESIDENCE (CREDITS EARNED IN)
A minimum of 15 credit hours applicable to an associate degree (25% of a Technical Program or 17 credits) must be granted by Three Rivers as opposed to credits transferred in from another institution of higher education or earned through proficiency examination.

SEMESTER (TERM)
See Academic Term.

SOCIAL SCIENCES ELECTIVES
The courses that satisfy this elective may vary; students should consult with their advisors. Courses in the social sciences generally include courses in anthropolgy, economics, history, geography, psychology, political science, sociology, international studies and selected courses from other disciplines.

TAC of ABET
Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

TRANSCRIPT
Permanent record of student academic grades.

TRANSFER GUIDELINES
Informal documents which suggest courses to be taken at Three Rivers that transfer into a four-year college.

TRANSFER PROGRAM
A degree program designed for students who plan to continue their academic careers beyond the associate degree level through transfer to a four-year college or university.

TUITION
Charges to student by the college for registration in credit courses of instruction.

WITHDRAW FROM A COURSE
To cease to participate in a course after the add/drop period, accomplished through the Registrar's Office.

WITHDRAW FROM THE COLLEGE
To cease to participate in all courses for one semester or more, accomplished through the Registrar's Office.