Glossary

The following terms are often used at Pima in written materials and in conversations with advisors and faculty. Use this guide to learn more about their meaning.

Ability to Benefit - Students who apply for federal financial aid need to demonstrate an ability to study and learn at the college level.  A high school diploma or a GED can be used to document the ability to benefit from college.  "Ability to benefit" can also be established by obtaining appropriate scores in reading, writing and mathematics on the College's assessment test.  For more detailed information, see an advisor or financial aid specialist.

Academic Alert - Students whose cumulative grade point average (GPA, see below) falls below a certain minimum may be placed on Academic Alert.  Students on Academic Alert are notified by letter and must improve their grades during the following semester in order to register for future PCC classes.  Students who receive an Academic Alert letter should seek out a counselor or advisor immediately for help on finding and using College resources than can improve their academic standing.

Academic Calendar - The College's Academic Calendar contains key dates important to every student, including the start and end dates of classes, holidays, exam days, registration dates, and financial aid deadlines, among others.  It can be found in the Event Calendar section of this website or in the front section of the printed catalog.

Academic Standards of Progress -Financial aid recipients must maintain a minimum grade point average and complete a specified number of credits each term to remain in good standing academically.  Students who not meet these requirements can endanger their financial aid award.  All students receiving financial aid should discuss academic standards of progress with an advisor or counselor to assure that expectations for maintaining good grades and making steady progress toward a degree or certificate are clearly understood.

Add - This term refers to the short period of time at the beginning of any semester or session when students can add an open class without the instructor's signature.

Admission - Students who have completed and filed the College Admission Form, including student number and personal data information, are admitted to the College and are eligible to register for classes. 

Advising - The College provides free advising services to all students for help with program planning and course selection.

AGEC (Arizona General Education Curriculum) - The AGEC is a  35-credit General Education component of the Associate degrees for transfer that fulfills lower-division General Education requirements and guarantees the student has met admission requirements at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, and other private universities in Arizona.

Audit - Students who audit a class attend class meetings but do not receive credit or a grade for the course. 

Banner- Banner is the name of the College's administrative computing system. This system stores and retrieves student information, grades, financial aid data, and many other types of information. Students may access grade information through Banner Online on the PCC home page.

Catalog - The printed College Catalog is published annually.  The online catalog is published twice a year.  The Catalog contains information about the policies and services of Pima Community College, including all degree and certificate programs, course requirements and descriptions, and student resources.  Students can get a printed Catalog at any Advising or Counseling Center, buy one at any campus bookstore, or purchase one by mail by calling (520) 206-4500.  The Courses & Degrees section of the website provides the most current information on all credit degrees, certificates and courses.

Continuing Student - Any student who has attended PCC within the last three years and is in good academic standing is considered a continuing student.

Co-requisite - A co-requisite refers to a related course that must be taken at the same time as another related course (e.g., science lecture and science lab).

Core Requirements (Core Courses) - Core courses are the required courses within a degree or certificate and must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. 

Course Equivalency Guide - The Course Equivalency Guide is available through campus advisors and indicates whether a specific course taken at PCC will transfer to Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or the University of Arizona.

Course Reference Number (CRN) - This five-digit number in the Schedule of Classes is used to identify a particular class section in a particular subject. The CRN must be listed on the registration form next to the class title.

Credit Hour/Lecture- One credit equals 16 class hours for a lecture course.  In a traditionally delivered semester length course, one credit hour is equal to one hour of lecture per week. Thus, a typical 3-credit lecture course consists of 48 class hours of classroom instruction.

Credit Hour Lab--One credit of a lab course is equal to 32 - 48 class hours. The variance is based on the type of lab course.   One credit science labs typically require 3 hours per week for each credit.  For example, a one credit, semester-length (16 week) Chemistry lab course meets 3 class hours a week and thus 48 hours for a 16 week semester.  Some technology courses require only 32 hours of lab class time for 1 credit.  For example, an aviation technology lab course requires 2 hours a week for a 16 week lab course for a total of 32 hours.

Drop- This term refers to the short period at the beginning of any semester or session when students can drop a class and receive a refund.  Dropped classes will not appear on an official academic transcript.

Elective- Elective courses are courses that are in addition to the core requirements of a program. Students choose electives based on a list specified by their program or in specific approved areas of interest. Electives must have a course number of 100 or higher to count toward graduation. Students should choose electives in consultation with their program advisor.

Encumbrance / Hold - Students who owe fees or fail to return materials will have a financial hold (or encumbrance) placed on their record. This hold must be resolved before a student is permitted to register for further classes. Students should see an advisor or financial aid counselor if a hold is placed on their account for information on how to clear their student account.

FAFSA - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a required form that must be completed as the first step in applying for many types of financial aid.  This application can be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov or obtained at any campus Financial Aid Office.

Full-Time Student - Students are considered full-time if they are registered for twelve or more credit hours in a semester or six or more credits in the summer sessions.

GPA/Grade point average - The average grade earned by a student, figured by dividing the grade points earned by the number of credits attempted.

Orientation- These required workshops introduce new students to campus life and a host of resources intended to promote student success.

Part-time Student - A part-time student is a student registered for fewer than twelve credit hours in a semester or fewer than six credits in the summer sessions.

Pima Education Plan (PEP) - A PEP plan is developed between the student and advisor as a roadmap for completing a program of study or to help students select a major.  All students should have a PEP.  Students should make an appointment with an advisor to develop the plan and to review it frequently.

Prerequisite - A prerequisite is a required course that you must successfully complete before enrolling for a course.  Prerequisites are listed in the college catalog with the course description.

Registration - Registration is the process of selecting classes, processing selections through the Registration Office or online, and paying tuition and fees.

Returning Student -Returning students are those students who have attended PCC in the last five years but not during the previous semester.

Schedule of Classes - PCC publishes a printed and an online listing of classes offered anytime during the fall, spring, and summer terms. The schedule of classes contains all information needed to register for a class, including time, date, location, instructor, fees, and any enrollment restrictions.  Instructions for registering online, through the telephone MAX system, or in person are also found in the schedule of classes.

TBA (To Be Arranged) - TBA is a term used in the Schedule of Classes to indicate that more information is available from advisors or faculty about the course.  Frequently, TBA indicates a flexibly scheduled course that allows students to attend class at times of their own choosing.  Usually, classes with the TBA designation are offered on a self-paced basis or via the Internet. When TBA is found in the instructor column of the schedule, the course had not yet been assigned to a particular instructor at the time the schedule went to print.

Transfer Guide - University Transfer Guides list which PCC courses transfer and fulfill degree requirements at ASU, NAU and the UA.  There is a guide for each degree offered at each of the three State universities. Transfer guides are available online or from any PCC advisor or counselor.

Transcript - An official transcript is issued by the College Registrar and contains a master list of the courses a student has taken, the grade earned, and the cumulative grade point average.  "W," "I," "Y," and "P" grade are also noted on a transcript but are not calculated in the student's grade point average. Official transcripts can be requested at www.pima.edu or from any campus or District Admissions and Registration Office.  Students can also view unofficial transcripts online through the Pima website.