Glossary

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All A C D E F G H I J L M N P Q R S T U Y

A

Academic Year

The fall, winter (if applicable), and spring terms define the academic year.

Academic Year Full-Time Equivalent Student Enrollment (FTE)

Academic year FTE for a semester campus is the sum of fall and spring term FTE divided by 2. If a semester campus has a short winter session (as in self-support), those “term” FTE are divided by 2. For a quarter campus, the sum of fall, winter, and spring term FTE is divided by 3. The FTE for a campus on a 4-1-4 calendar is the sum of fall, winter, and spring term FTE divided by 2. CSU Stanislaus became a semester campus in 2010-11. CSU Bakersfield and CSU Los Angeles became semester campuses in 2016-17. CSU East Bay and Cal Poly Pomona became semester campuses in 2018-19.

Academic Year Headcount

Academic year headcount for a semester campus is the sum of fall and spring term headcount divided by 2. If a semester campus has a short winter session (as in self-support), those “term” headcounts are divided by 2. For a quarter campus, the sum of fall, winter, and spring term headcount is divided by 3. Academic year headcount for a campus on the 4-1-4 calendar (Stanislaus prior to 2010-11) combines term headcount for the fall, winter, and spring terms weighted by 13, 4, and 13 [((Fall Headcount*13/30)+(Winter Headcount*4/30)+(Spring Headcount*13/30)) is the formula].

Accomodated Application

A complete application submitted within the filing period and evaluated for admission to the university.

ACT

ACT, previously known as the American College Testing program, measures educational development and readiness to pursue college-level coursework in English, mathematics, natural science, and social studies.

Admission/Acceptance Rate

The rate at which the applications are accepted. It is calculated by dividing the number of admitted/accepted students by the total number of applicants.

Admitted Student

Applicants that have been granted an official offer to enroll at a CSU.

Annualized Summer Full-Time Equivalent Student Enrollment (FTE)

Summer term FTE for a semester campus, a special program, or a 4-1-4 campus is divided by 2. Quarter campus summer term FTE is divided by 3. CSU Stanislaus became a semester campus in 2010-11. CSU Bakersfield and CSU Los Angeles became semester campuses in 2016-17. CSU East Bay and Cal Poly Pomona became semester campuses in 2018-19.

Annualized Summer Headcount

Summer term headcount for a semester campus, a special program, or a 4-1-4 campus is divided by 2. Quarter campus summer term headcount is divided by 3. CSU Stanislaus became a semester campus in 2010-11. CSU Bakersfield and CSU Los Angeles became semester campuses in 2016-17. CSU East Bay and Cal Poly Pomona became semester campuses in 2018-19.

Applicant

An individual who meets the institutional requirements for CSU admission, and who has been notified of one of the following actions: admission, non-admission, placement on waiting list, or application withdrawn by applicant or institution.

Average Class Size (ACS)

The average number of students enrolled in all sections on the census date.

C

Census Date

The census date for the summer, fall, and spring semesters of the regular sessions shall be at the end of four weeks following the first date of instruction. The census date for the summer, fall, winter, and spring quarters of the regular sessions shall be at the end of three weeks following the first date of instruction.

Cohort

The group of students sharing common characteristics over a specified period. Example first-time full-time freshmen cohort entering in fall term for tracking purpose.

College Year

The summer, fall, winter (if applicable), spring terms define the college year. For campuses that do not offer a summer term, the academic year calendar and the college year calendar represent the same time interval: fall through spring.

College Year Full-Time Equivalent Student Enrollment (FTE)

College year FTE is the sum of annualized summer FTE and academic year FTE.

College Year Headcount

The sum of annualized summer headcount and academic year headcount.

Continuation Rate

The percentage of first-time freshmen in a given fall term who returned to the institution in a subsequent fall term.

Continuing/Returning Student

A student who is not new to the institution and who had units attempted during the prior term of the regular sessions.

CSU Systemwide Discipline

Instructional program specialties that are based on classifications specific to the CSU system.

D

Degree

An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for the successful completion of a program of studies.

Denied Applicant

Students who were deemed ineligible for admission because they did not meet the CSU admission requirements.

E

Eligibility Index

An Index used for admission. A score that is calculated by multiplying high school grade point average (GPA) by 800 and adding the composite SAT (math and reading) score, or multiplying high school GPA by 200 and adding the composite ACT score to determine eligibility for admission to a CSU campus.

F

Federal Discipline

Instructional program specialties that are based on the classification of instructional programs code (CIP).

First Generation of Family to Earn a Bachelor's Degree

A student with one or more parents who attended college, and neither parent had earned a bachelor degree or higher.

First Generation to Attend College

A student who is among first generation of their family to attend a college or university; parents did not attend college.

First-Time Freshmen

A student who has no prior postsecondary experience and is attending a CSU for the first time at the undergraduate level. The definition of “first-time” allows for students to still be classified as first-time if they have earned college units prior to matriculation.

Four-One-Four Calendar (4-1-4)

The 4-1-4 calendar consists of a fall and spring term of 13 weeks with a winter term of 4 weeks. CSU Stanislaus is the only campus that had a 4-1-4 calendar. CSU Stanislaus became a semester campus in 2010-11.

Freshman

A first-year undergraduate student with 0-29.9 semester units or 0-44.9 quarter units.

Full-Time Equivalent Student Enrollment (FTE) by “Term”

Prior to 2006-07: Term FTE for both undergraduate and graduate students is the sum of total semester or quarter term credit units attempted divided by 15. Beginning 2006-07: Term FTE for undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students is the sum of total semester or quarter term credit units attempted divided by 15. Term FTE for graduate students (seeking a master’s or doctoral degree) is the sum of total semester or quarter term credit units attempted divided by 12.

Full-Time Status

For undergraduate students, full-time refers to a student who is enrolled in 12 or more semester or quarter credits. For graduate and postbaccalaureate students, full-time refers to a student who is enrolled in 9 or more semester or quarter credits.

G

Graduate Student

A student who holds an acceptable baccalaureate, or its equivalent, and is enrolled in a graduate program (master’s or doctoral).

Graduation Rate

The cumulative percentage of students in a given fall term who graduated within a designated period of time. For example, 4-year graduation rate is the proportion of entering students who earned a degree within 4 years (including the summer of 5th year where summer is a preceding term)

H

Headcount Enrollment

The number of students actively enrolled at a campus for a specified census date.

I

Incomplete Application

An accommodated application that lacks the necessary information for the university to reach an admissions decision.

Institution of Origin

The educational institution attended prior to attending a CSU campus.

International Student

International students are non-immigrant visitors who come to the United States temporarily to take classes. A non-immigrant visitor is someone who intends to stay in the US temporarily does not have US citizenship or legal permanent resident status (a "green card")

J

Junior

A third-year undergraduate student with 60.0 to 89.9 semester units or 90.0 to 134.9 quarter units.

L

Local Area

Students are granted priority admission because they are from a high school or community college within Cal State Campus local geographical area, in order to better serve the community.

M

Multiple Subject Teaching Credential

The multiple subject teaching credential authorizes the teaching credential holder to teach in public elementary schools where they are in a self-contained classroom teaching all the subjects.

N

New Student

A freshmen or transfer student at the undergraduate, graduate or postbacc level, both full-time and part-time, attending a CSU campus for the first time.

Non-Resident Alien

A student who is not a citizen or national of the United States and who is in this country on a visa or temporary basis and does not have the right to remain indefinitely. Note: Nonresident aliens are reported separately in the in racial/ethnic categories described below.

P

Part-Time Status

For undergraduate students, part-time refers to a student who is enrolled with less than 12 semester or quarter credits. For graduate students, part-time refers to a student who is enrolled with less than 9 semester or quarter credits.

Pell Grant Recipient

An undergraduate postsecondary student who received grant assistance based on financial need.

Persistence Rate

The percentage of students who return to college in the next fall semester or have earned a degree. It is the sum of the retention and graduation rate.

Postbaccalaureate Student

A student who holds an acceptable baccalaureate, or its equivalent, and are seeking a post-baccalaureate credential or certificate.

Private Institution

An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency. These institutions may be either for-profit or not-for-profit.

Public Institution

An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school officials and which is supported primarily by public funds.

Q

Quarter Calendar

The quarter calendar represents campuses that offer courses during summer, fall, winter, and spring; here each term is defined as 10 weeks of instruction. The following quarter campuses have converted to semester campuses: CSU Bakersfield and CSU Los Angeles became semester campuses in 2016-17. CSU East Bay and Cal Poly Pomona became semester campuses in 2018-19.

R

Race/Ethnicity

Categories are: Black or African American ( a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa), American Indian or Alaska Native (A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America, including Central America who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community attachment), Asian (A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam), Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands), Hispanic/Latino (A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race), White (A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa), and Two or More Races (A person who identifies with more than one of the above six races).

Redirected Application

A redirected application is one that was forwarded to another CSU campus either with or without evaluation.

Regular Admissions

Applicants are assigned regular admission status if their academic record fully meets the CSU admissions criteria.

Resident

Identifies a student’s resident status as a resident of California or as a non-resident for fee purposes.

Retention Rate

The percentage of students who continue to study in the next fall semester are counted in this rate. Retention rates are calculated based on a fall to fall enrollment.

Returning Students

A former student returning after a leave of absence of one or more terms of the regular terms who had no units attempted elsewhere during the absence from the campus.

S

SAT

Previously known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, this is an examination administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and used to predict the facility with which an individual will progress in learning college level academic subjects.

Self-Support Courses

Courses that are funded entirely by student fees.

Semester Calendar

Campuses that offer courses during fall and spring, with each term defined as 15 weeks of instruction. Campuses on a semester calendar may also have a short winter session (often self-support). The following quarter campuses have converted to semester campuses: CSU Bakersfield and CSU Los Angeles became semester campuses in 2016-17. CSU East Bay and Cal Poly Pomona became semester campuses in 2018-19.

Senior

A fourth-year undergraduate student with 90.0 or more semester units or 135.0 or more quarter units.

Single Subject Credential

The single subject teaching credential authorizes the teaching credential holder to teach the specific subject(s) named on the credential in departmentalized classes, such as those in middle schools and high schools, in grade preschool, K-12, or in classes organized primarily for adults.

Sophomore

A second-year undergraduate student with 30.0 to 59.9 units or 45.0 to 89.9 quarter units.

Special Education Teaching Credential

The special education (education specialist instruction) authorizes the teaching credential holder to teach in the disability areas of specialization, such as Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Visual Impairments, Physical and Health Impairments, and Early Childhood Special Education.

Special Program

The special programs included in CSU enrollment reporting are CalStateTEACH, International Programs, and Summer Arts.

State-Support Courses

Courses that are partially funded by the state of California.

Student Level

The current academic level of a student:

Freshmen: has 0-29.9 semester units or 0-44.9 quarter units.
Sophomore: 30.0 to 59.9 units or 45.0 to 89.9 quarter units.
Junior: 60.0 to 89.9 semester units or 90.0 to 134.9 quarter units.
Senior: 90.0 or more semester units or 135.0 or more quarter units.
Postbaccalaureate: Holding a baccalaureate or equivalent degree.

Summer session

A summer session is shorter than a regular session and is not considered part of the academic year. It is not the third term of an institution operating on a trimester system or the fourth term of an institution operating on a quarter calendar system.

T

Traditionally Underrepresented

This group includes persons who identify with the ethnic categories: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American/American Indian.

Transfer-in Student

A student entering the reporting institution for the first time, but are known to have previously attended a postsecondary institution at the same level (e.g., undergraduate, graduate).

Transitory Student

Non-degree seeking students who are enrolled at other institutions while simultaneously taking courses at CSU campus.

U

Unaccomodated Application

An application that was not accepted for evaluation. This type of applicant is not classified as denied.

Undergraduate Student

A student not holding an acceptable baccalaureate degree.

Unduplicated Application Count

The unique count of applicants within a given term.

Units Attempted

The number of units attempted for which the student is actively enrolled at the census date for the current term.

URM (Underrepresented Minorities)

Students identified as African American, American Indian, or Hispanic.

Y

Yield Rate

The percentage of student who enroll after being offered admission, i.e., the number of enrolled students divided by the number of admitted students.