240 Glossary
The entries which follow have been prepared by the Calendar Editor for information only. If needed, official definitions should be obtained from a member of the Registrar's Office staff.
Academic Schedule—A schedule of events and deadlines of importance to students and prospective students, covering the period of the University's academic year, July 1 to June 30.
Academic Year—The consecutive twelve-month period from July 1 through June 30.
Admission or Readmission—Acceptance of a candidate for enrolment in a specified program and Faculty.
Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA)—AGPA is calculated on all university transferable coursework completed in the most recent two terms of study, provided they contain a minimum of 
24. If those two terms contain less than 24, then all work in the next most recent term(s) will be included in the calculation until the minimum total of 24 has been achieved. Two-term courses will be considered as second-term courses in these calculations. For applicants who have attempted less than 24 of transferable postsecondary work, the AGPA will be based on all university or university transfer credits attempted.
Advanced Placement—The process whereby students are excused from taking a particular course (usually at the junior level), because they have already acquired the knowledge necessary to proceed into another course in the subject at a more advanced level. Advanced placement, unlike advanced standing, does not serve to reduce the number of courses that a student must complete for the degree.
Advanced Standing—See Transfer Credit.
Aegrotat Standing—Provision whereby a Faculty may grant deserving students credit in one or more courses in which they have missed the final examination because of illness.
Audit Only Students (Auditors)—are those registered in one or more courses, exclusively on a not-for-credit basis.
Bear Tracks—A secure web-based service program for applicants, students, and employees. (A current list of Bear Tracks services can be found at www.registrarsoffice.ualberta.ca/Online-Services/Bear-Tracks-Resources.aspx).
Calendar—An annual publication of academic regulations, schedules, programs of study, and course descriptions.
Cooperative Education Program—A program that formally integrates a student's academic studies with work experience in employer organizations. Work experiences are paid.
Corequisite—A requirement, usually a course, that must be previously passed or taken in conjunction with another course
Course Weight—See Units of Course Weight.
Course Load Requirement—The number of courses a student is expected to take while in attendance in a given academic session.
Credit—The quantitative measurement assigned to a course. At the University of Alberta a credit is equivalent to one unit of course weight.
Credit by Special Assessment (Credit by Challenge)—The procedure whereby a student may seek credit in certain specified courses without actually registering in and taking the courses at the University of Alberta. This privilege is limited to students who have been admitted to the University.
Credit Course—A course that carries credit toward a degree or diploma.
Degree with Distinction—The notation which is inscribed on the permanent record and graduation parchment of a candidate for any degree, except an honors or graduate degree, if the candidate has obtained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher over the last two years of the program.
Degree with Honors (Honors Program)—A four-year concentrated course of study under the supervision of one of the departments in the Faculty of Arts or Faculty of Science.
Entrance Requirements—Academic background necessary for admission to a particular program of study.
Extension Students—Students who are registered in any of the courses offered by the Faculty of Extension. These courses may or may not lead to certificate, degree, diploma or citation credit.
Faculty—A formal subdivision within the University whose mission is the administration of programs and courses relating (usually) to common fields of study and academic disciplines.
Fall Term—The period of the academic year which runs from September through December.
Fall/Winter (September-April)—The period of the academic year which runs from September through April.
Fee Index—See Units of Fee Index and Fee Index Value. Represented in this Calendar by the symbol fi.
Fee Index Value—A dollar value set, normally annually, by the Board of Governors and used in the calculation of instructional fees. See also Units of Fee Index.
First-Class Standing—A distinction awarded to students who obtain a grade point average of not less than 3.5 while enrolled in a full, normal academic course load in the academic year in question.
Fresh Start Program—An Open Studies program that allows some first- and second-year students who are assigned unsatisfactory academic standing to reestablish satisfactory standing.
Full-Time students—students who are registered for credit in the equivalent of 9 or more in a Fall/Winter term. In Spring/Summer terms, a student is considered full-time if one of these conditions applies: a class of 3 weeks duration with 3 or more units of course weight; or a class of 6 weeks duration with 6 or more units of course weight; or a class of 6 weeks duration with 3 course units of course weight and attendance of 10 hours per week.
GFC (General Faculties Council)—The University governing body that has statutory authority over academic matters and student affairs.
Grade Point Average (GPA)—A measure of a student's weighted average obtained by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total units of course weight attempted.
Grade Points—A weighted value assigned to the grade a student receives in a course, obtained by multiplying the grade by the units of course weight. Used in computing grade point averages.
Graduate Students—Students admitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
Interdisciplinary Course—A course that is offered jointly by two or more departments, not necessarily in the same Faculty.
Nonmatriculated Applicants—Students who are at least 21 years of age, and who are given permission to enrol in a degree program although they do not meet the regular admission requirements of a Faculty.
Off-campus student—A student whose registration in a given term consists exclusively of designated off-campus sections of courses (including, but not limited to, internet delivery, project, thesis, internship, practicum, study-abroad, and individual study courses as well as courses taught at locations other than the University of Alberta campuses).
On-campus student—A student whose registration in a given term consists primarily of designated on-campus sections of courses (courses taught at any University of Alberta campus).
Open Studies—A program in which students may register in selected credit courses, but are not admitted or committed to a degree or diploma program.
Part-Time Students—Students who are registered for credit in the equivalent of fewer than 9 in a term. See Course Load Requirement.
Practicum Program—A program that formally integrates a student’s academic studies with volunteer or work experience in employer organizations. Work experiences are generally unpaid.
Prerequisite—A preliminary requirement, usually another course, which must be met or waived before a course can be taken.
Reading Week—A recess near the middle of the second term designed to allow students to catch up on outstanding reading and to prepare for the oncoming final examinations.
Readmission (see Admission or Readmission)
Reappraisal—The process of having a final examination paper reread in a particular course. Reappraisals apply only to final examination papers. (see §23.5.4(2) Academic Regulations)
Reexamination—The provision whereby students may be granted (subject to the conditions published by their Faculties) a further examination in a course if their standing following the final examination is unsatisfactory. (see §23.5.5 Academic Regulations)
Residence Requirements—See Transfer Credit, Course Load Requirement.
Seminar—A group of students who meet regularly for reports and discussion in an area of research under the guidance of a professor.
Single Term Course—A course with a weighting factor of less than six that normally extends over one University term.
Spring/Summer (May-August)—A period of lessons and study during the months of May through August which is divided into two, six-week terms. The first term runs from the first week of May to the second week of June, inclusive; the second term runs from the first week of July to the second week of August, inclusive.
Spring Term—The period of the academic year which runs from May through June.
Statement of Results—An unofficial copy of the student's year-end academic results, with neither an original signature nor a seal.
Summer Term—The period of the academic year which runs from July through August.
Term—The academic year is divided into four (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) terms for the purposes of registration and the scheduling of classes and examinations.
Term Examination—An examination which is conducted prior to the time that the instructional portion of a course has been completed.
TOEFL—Test of English as a Foreign Language.
Transcript—A statement of the student's entire official academic record bearing the original signature of an authorized member of the Registrar's staff and the official seal of the University.
Transfer Credit (Advanced Credit)—Course credit which an institution accepts towards a degree and which the student has not earned in the course work at that institution. A maximum of two years of transfer credit will be granted toward a U of A undergraduate degree program. (See §§14.2.2 and 23.2.1)
Tutorial—Instruction given to students individually or in small groups.
Two Term Course—A course with a weighting factor of six or greater that normally extends over two consecutive University terms.
Undergraduate Student—Students registered at the University of Alberta in a Faculty other than the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research or the Faculty of Extension, or Open Studies.
Units of Course Weight—A numerical used in computing grade point average, which reflects the amount of class time devoted to the course and represented in the Calendar by the symbol .
Units of Fee Index—A numerical used in computing instructional fees for courses. It is normally twice the value of the Units of Course Weight for a course, but can be set differently by the Board of Governors when special fees considerations are made. See also Fee Index Value.
Visiting Student Certificate Program—A unique program that allows international students the opportunity to spend one calendar year at the University of Alberta enrolled in intensive English as a Second Language classes as well as regular academic courses alongside Canadian students.
Weighting Factor—A unit used in the calculation of a student's overall grade point average. In most Faculties a weight of six is assigned to a two-term course (or equivalent) and a weight of three to a single term course.
Winter Term—The period of the academic year which runs from January through April.
