Glossary of Academic Terms

MSCHE definition: A period of time designated by a college or university that includes dates for registration, additions and deletions to students’ class schedules, beginning and ending of semesters/terms, mid-term and final exams, application for graduation, and other key activities.

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MSCHE Definition: A period of time that colleges use to measure a quantity of study. A typical academic year may consist of two semesters (fall and spring) of approximately 15 weeks each or three quarters of approximately 10 weeks each. Academic years can vary from college to college or from program to program within the same college or university. For the purposes of federal student financial assistance programs, an academic year has a minimum of 30 weeks of instructional time for a course of study that measures its program length in credit hours or a minimum of 26 weeks of instructional time for a course of study that measures its program length in clock hours. A full-time student in an undergraduate course of study is expected to complete at least 24 semester credit hours or 36 quarter credit hours in a course of study that measures its program length in credit hours, or at least 900 clock hours in a course of study that measures its program length in clock hours. Source: 20 USC 1088.

An academic year in a direct assessment program is a period of instructional time that consists of a minimum of 30 weeks of instructional time during which, for an undergraduate educational program, a full-time student is expected to complete the equivalent of at least 24 semester credit hours, 36 quarter credit hours, or 900 clock hours. Source: 34 CFR 668.10

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MSCHE Definition: A process of peer review that the educational community has adopted for self-regulation since early in the 20th century. It is a voluntary process intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of higher education, making it worthy of public confidence. Institutions choose to apply for accredited status, and once accredited, they agree to abide by the standards of their accrediting organization and to regulate themselves by taking responsibility for their own improvement.

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The Commission defines an Additional Location as a domestic or international location, other than a branch campus or an “other instructional site”, that is geographically apart from the primary/main campus and at which the institution offers at least 50% of the requirements of an educational program. Additional locations may include sites and locations utilized or established for limited, rather than ongoing provisions or programs. If a location does not meet the 50 percent rule, it should be treated as an “Other Instructional Site.”

Additional Locations are not considered to be temporary but may be rented or made available to the institution at no cost by another institution, organization, agency, or firm. The location may be organized and managed by the institution itself or by contractual agreement with a third party. Programs may be accredited by another recognized accreditor. The criterion for reporting is whether the degree or certificate is awarded in the name of your institution.

An Additional Location may not also be listed as a “branch campus” or an “other instructional site.”

The Commission’s definition of an additional location may not be the same definition the institution uses for state reporting purposes.

If a site is currently approved as an “Additional Location”, a substantive change request is required in order to close, relocate (change of address) or reclassify an Additional Location to a branch campus or other instructional site. Please see the Substantive Change policy and accompanying Substantive Change Procedures posted on the Commission’s website. You may also contact your staff liaison.

NYSED Definition: A credential issued by an institution in recognition of the completion of a curriculum other than one leading to a degree. Courses offered as part of an advanced certificate are all at the graduate level, and all courses within the certificate should be able to be applied to completion of a degree.

Number of Credits: not specified by NYSED

In practice, certificates are defined as a structured group of courses that focus on a specific field or area of knowledge. As such they may be valuable to students for job applications, career advancement or personal development. Attainment of certificates should be properly documented through the registrar’s office.

Registration Requirement: All certificates are required to be registered with NYSED.

Advanced certificates cannot be advertised until approved by NYSED.

Once a program has been approved by NSYED, elimination of any requirement for program completion requires NYSED approval.

MSCHE Definition: Also known as Transfer Articulation, this process involves cooperation between two or more higher education institutions to match courses and facilitate the transfer of students’ credits from one college or university to another.

Our articulation agreements locations are located on our Verification of Compliance page.

MSCHE Definition: A process whereby a college or university has developed and implemented steps to evaluate its overall effectiveness in achieving its mission and goals, and its compliance with Middle States accreditation standards.

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MSCHE Definition: A process which demonstrates that, at graduation or other appropriate points, an institution’s students have knowledge, skills, and competencies that are consistent with institutional and appropriate higher education goals.

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The Commission defines a branch campus as a domestic or international location of an institution that is geographically apart, independent of the main campus of the institution, and at which the institution offers at least 50% of the requirements of an educational program. The branch campus is considered independent of the main campus if it is permanent in nature; offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential; has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and has its own budgetary and hiring authority.

Branch campuses are not considered to be temporary, but they may be rented or made available to the institution at no cost by another institution, organization, agency, or firm. The branch may be organized and managed by the institution itself or by contractual agreement with a third party. A site listed as a “branch campus” may not be listed as an “additional location” or an “other instructional site.”

The Commission’s definition of a branch campus may not be the same definition the institution uses for state reporting purposes.

If a site is currently approved as a “Branch Campus,” a substantive change request must be submitted to the Commission in order to close, relocate (change of address), or reclassify a Branch Campus to an additional location or other instructional site. Please see the Substantive Change policy and accompanying Substantive Change Procedures for more information about submitting a substantive change request. You may also contact your staff liaison.

NYSED Definition: A credential issued by an institution in recognition of the completion of a curriculum other than one leading to a degree. Courses are offered at the undergraduate level and all courses within the certificate should be able to be applied to completion of a degree.

Number of Credits: not specified by NYSED

In practice, certificates are defined as a structured group of courses that focus on a specific field or area of knowledge. As such they may be valuable to students for job applications, career advancement or personal development. Attainment of certificates should be properly documented through the registrar’s office.

Registration Requirement: All certificates are required to be registered with NYSED.

Certificates cannot be advertised until approved by NYSED.

Once a program has been approved by NSYED, elimination of any requirement for program completion requires NYSED approval.

NYSED Definition: A group of courses taken within a program that allows a student to focus in a particular area of that field.

Number of Credits: not specified by NYSED

Registration Requirement: All concentrations must be registered with NYSED.

New concentrations may not be advised until approved by NYSED through the change application process.

Changes to the minimum number of credit hours required for an existing concentration requires NYSED approval.

Undergraduate concentrations should not be advertised as a major or a degree.*

*Special Note: only the NYSED Teacher Education Program defines a concentration as a major.

MSCHE Definition: Certain agreements (contracts) with an institution or organization not accredited by a federally recognized agency to provide any portion of a postsecondary educational program that leads to an academic or professional degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential on behalf of the accredited institution, are subject to review by MSCHE. Contractual relationships for the offering of academic courses must be approved by the Commission through the Substantive Change process.

MSCHE Definition: An educational process under which students are able to earn credits toward graduation by working in positions directly related to their academic major. Cooperative Education typically includes the establishment of learning objectives and the measurement of their achievement. This is done jointly by a Cooperative Education faculty advisor, the student, and the immediate supervisor in the student’s workplace. See the definition of Experiential Learning to see how that differs from Cooperative Education.

MSCHE uses the federal definition for correspondence education*. Correspondence education means: (1) Education provided through one or more courses by an institution under which the institution provides instructional materials, by mail or electronic transmission, including examinations on the materials, to students who are separated from the instructor; (2) Interaction between the instructor and the student is limited, is not regular and substantive, and is primarily initiated by the student; (3) Correspondence courses are typically self-paced; and (4) Correspondence education is not distance education.

NYSED Requirements for Undergraduate Credit: Credit toward an undergraduate degree shall be earned only for college level work.

NYSED Requirements for Graduate Credit: Credit toward a graduate degree shall be earned only through work designed expressly for graduate students.

An amount of student work defined by an institution, as approved by the institution’s accrediting agency or State approval agency, that is consistent with commonly accepted practice in postsecondary education and that (1) reasonably approximates not less than (i) One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different period of time; or (ii) At least an equivalent amount of work as required in (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours; and (2) permits an institution, in determining the amount of work associated with a credit hour, to take into account a variety of delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines, and degree levels. (Federal definition in 34 CFR § 600.2).

NYSED Definition: Semester hour means a credit, point, or other unit granted for the satisfactory completion of a course which requires at least 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) of instruction and at least 30 hours of supplementary assignments, except as otherwise provided pursuant to section 52.2(c)(4) of this Subchapter. This basic measure shall be adjusted proportionately to translate the value of other academic calendars and formats of study in relation to the credit granted for study during the two semesters that comprise an academic year.

In accordance with 34 CFR 602.24(f), the Commission “must conduct an effective review and evaluation of the reliability and accuracy of the institution’s assignment of credit hours.” Specifically, the Commission must review the institution’s policies and procedures for determining the credit hours awarded as well as the application of the institution’s policies and procedures to its programs and coursework, and make a “reasonable determination of whether the institution’s assignment of credit hours conforms to commonly accepted practice in higher education.”

Instructions must provide the following documentation:

1. Written policies and procedures for credit hour assignment covering all types of courses, disciplines, programs, degree levels, formats, and modalities of instruction. Include each policy that documents the assignment of credit hours specific to the types noted above. Specify the location of the policy in the catalog and website. The following should be clearly indicated:
   • Academic period (e.g., 15 weeks plus one week exam over two semesters)
   • Recommended instructional time (e.g., three 50-minute sessions or two 75-minute sessions per week)
   • Recommended out-of-class time requirements (e.g., twice in-class time)
2. Evidence that the institution’s credit hour policies and procedures are applied consistently across the full range of institutional offerings. If the institution is required to obtain approval from the relevant State Department of Education, compliance with this requirement should be documented. Other evidence must include:
   • Documentation from recent academic program reviews;
   • New course or program approvals;
   • Documentation for registration software/systems that ensure a consistent schedule of courses based on the credit hour assignment;
   • Academic calendars and/or schedules, and course matrices; and
   • Documentation of adherence to credit hour requirements, consistent with federal regulations, from a university system requirements, or disciplinary organization, etc.
3. A description and evidence of the processes used by the institution to review periodically the application of its policies and procedures for credit hour assignment. Indicate the individual(s) and/or entities responsible for the final review and approval.
4. A list of the courses and programs that do not adhere to the federal definition of credit hour or its equivalent as specified in the MSCHE Credit Hour Policy (e.g., online or hybrid, laboratory, studio, clinical, internship, independent study, and accelerated format) and evidence that such variations in credit hour assignment conform to commonly accepted practice in higher education.
   • Each course or program that does not adhere to the federal definition should be specified and supporting evidence that it conforms to commonly accepted practice should be provided using the criteria described above in Item 2.

NYSED Definition: Curriculum or program is the formal educational requirements necessary to qualify for certificates or degrees. A curriculum or program includes general education or specialized study in depth in a particular field, or both.

• BACHELOR’S OR EQUIVALENT

An award that normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. It also includes bachelor’s degrees in which the normal 4 years of work are completed in 3 years.

• POST-BACCALAUREATE AWARD/CERTIFICATE

Post-baccalaureate award/certificate: An award that requires completion of an organized program of study beyond the bachelor’s. It is designed for persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but does not meet the requirements of a master’s degree.

NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor’s degree for admission, they are considered sub-baccalaureate undergraduate programs, and students in these programs are undergraduate students. Master’s or equivalent: An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at last the full-time equivalent of 1 but not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor’s degree.

• POST-MASTER’S AWARD/CERTIFICATE

Post-Master’s award/certificate: An award that requires completion of an organized program beyond the master’s degree, but does not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctor’s level.

• DOCTOR’S – RESEARCH/SCHOLARSHIP

Doctor’s – research/scholarship: A Ph.D. or other doctor’s degree that requires advanced work beyond the master’s level, including the preparation and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M., and others, as designated by the awarding institution.

• DOCTOR’S – PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Doctor’s – professional practice: A doctor’s degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as “First Professional” and may include Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (L.L.B. or J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry (O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution.

• DOCTOR’S – OTHER

Doctor’s – other: A doctor’s degree that does not meet the definition of a “doctor’s degree – research/scholarship” or a “doctor’s degree – professional practice.” More information is also available on the most recent post baccalaureate degree classifications at the Association for Institutional Research website and the at the Middle States Commission on Higher Education website.

MSCHE Definition: Direct assessment involves an examination of samples of student work. Such work could include student portfolios, research papers, classroom presentations, and final exams, demonstrating that a student has attained the learning objectives that were identified in the course syllabus.

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MSCHE uses the federal definition of distance education*. Distance education means education that uses one or more of the technologies listed below to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor, either synchronously or asynchronously. The technologies may include: (1) The Internet; (2) One-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices; (3) Audioconferencing; or (4) Video cassettes, DVDs, and CD-ROMs, if the cassettes, DVDs, or CD-ROMs are used in a course in conjunction with any of the technologies listed above. A distance education course is a course in which the instructional content is delivered exclusively via distance education. Requirements for coming to campus for orientation, testing, or academic support services do not exclude a course from being classified as distance education.

NYSED Definition: One program leading to two degrees offered by a single institution (e.g., BS/MS).

In practice, students admitted to a dual degree program apply and are admitted once for both programs. Separate applications are not required for each degree that is part of dual degree program.

Registration Requirement: All dual degree programs must be registered with NYSED.

Dual Degree Programs cannot be advertised until approved by NYSED.

NOTE MSCHE Definition for Concurrent or Dual Degree: Concurrent or Dual Degrees

In these programs, often referred to as joint degrees, two separate degrees are pursued concurrently and seamlessly by the student. The degrees may be conferred by one or more institutions. For example: a dual J.D./M.B.A. program in which the transcript and diploma for the J.D. bear the name of the law school’s parent institution, while the transcript and diploma for the M.B.A. bear the name of the business school’s parent institution.

MSCHE Definition: Knowledge gained through practical work experience for which an institution, through a formalized process, may analyze and award related academic credit to a student. See the definition of Cooperative Education, to see how that differs from Experiential Learning.

NYSED Definition: Extension center or interinstitutional center is a unit of an institution located at a place other than the institution’s principal center or at another degree-granting institution, at which the institution does not offer any curricula leading to a certificate or degree, but at which the institution conducts more than 15 courses for credit or has more than 350 course registrations for credit in any academic year.

Also note MSCHE Definition of an additional location: A location, other than a branch campus, that is geographically apart from the main campus and at which the institution offers at least 50 percent of an educational program. Additional locations may be domestic or international. Institutions are required to obtain MSCHE approval of new additional locations before offering classes at such locations. In addition, institutions must report to MSCHE on activity at additional locations on an annual basis through the Institutional Profile.

NYSED Definitions for formats:

Weekend format: All requirements for the degree or other award must be offered during weekend study.

Evening format: All requirements for the degree or other award must be offered during evening study.

Evening/weekend format: All requirements for the degree or other award must be offered during a combination of evening and weekend study.

Minimum credit load for a student to be considered full-time (per semester or equivalent unit). The general rule is that a full-time student is one who is enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more contact hours a week each term. A full-time graduate student is enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, 9 or more quarter credits, or who is involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that the institution considers full-time.

NYSED Definition: Jointly registered program or program offered jointly: one program that is offered by two or more institutions.

Registration Requirements: Joint programs are required to be registered with NYSED.

In practice, an alternate route to a joint curriculum is to develop an articulation agreement between the institutions to allow for transfer of credit.

Also note MSCHE Definition for Articulation Agreement: this process involves cooperation between two or more higher education institutions to match courses and facilitate the transfer of students’ credits from one college or university to another.

NYSED Requirements: Master’s degree programs shall normally require a minimum of one academic year of full-time graduate level study, or its equivalent in part-time study, with an accumulation of not less than 30 semester hours. Research or a comparable occupational or professional experience shall be a component of each master’s degree program. The requirements for a master’s degree shall normally include at least one of the following: passing a comprehensive test, writing a thesis based on independent research or completing an appropriate special project.

NYSED Definition: A group of courses taken outside of the major program of study that allows a student to focus in a particular area.

Number of credits: not specified by NYSED

Registration Requirement: NONE

MSCHE defines an “Other Instructional Site” as any off-campus site, other than those meeting the definition of a Branch Campus or an Additional Location, at which the institution offers one or more courses for credit. Other Instructional Sites may be added though the IP (and do not require Substantive Change approval), or they may be deleted from the IP if there are no plans to use the site in the near future. That is, because 50% or more of a program cannot be completed at another instructional site, a substantive change request is not required. However, substantive change approval is required to reclassify an other instructional site to a branch campus or an additional location. Please see the Substantive Change policy and accompanying Substantive Change Procedures posted on the Commission’s website.

A facility listed as an “Other Instructional Site” may not also be listed as a “Branch Campus” or “Additional Location.” If you believe that a site is currently classified incorrectly, please contact MSCHE for guidance about how to proceed. Do not report sites where 50% or more of a program can be completed at the site. For example, sites that offer only teacher certification (conferred by the state and not the institution) should be classified as an Other Instructional Site, not an Additional Location because the institution does not confer the credential. Also, sites that may have been initially intended as an Additional Location at the time of the Substantive Change request but in actuality only meet the definition of an Other Instructional Site should be re-classified from Additional Location to Other Instructional Site.

An “Other Instructional Site” located abroad is primarily for the benefit of local students (regardless of nationality, including U.S. national) living in that country. A Study Abroad site, for purposes of this report, is for U.S. students traveling to that country for a study abroad program, as specified in the instructions for section H1: Study Abroad.

NYSED Definition: Approval by the State Education Department of a curriculum in an institution of higher education for general purposes, for admission to professional practice, or for acceptance toward a credential issued by the department or by the institution.

NOTE: new programs submitted for approval by NYSED may not be advertised until official approval has been obtained through the application process.

NYSED Definition: Semester hour is a credit, point, or other unit granted for the satisfactory completion of a course which requires at least 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) of instruction and at least 30 hours of supplementary assignments, except as otherwise provided pursuant to section 52.2(c)(4) of the Commissioner’s Regulations. This basic measure shall be adjusted proportionately to translate the value of other academic calendars and formats of study in relation to the credit granted for study during the two semesters that comprise an academic year.

Study Abroad programs may be sponsored or co-sponsored by your institution. Report only sites where your institution has “ownership” over the curriculum (i.e. determines what will or will not be taught) and where your institution specifically approves which faculty members will or will not teach.

Contracts for programs where the reporting institution has an arm’s length contractual relationship with the study abroad operators (i.e. without veto power over curriculum components and individual faculty) will be treated as if they are equivalent to articulation agreements for the purposes of the IP. They should not be reported here, but should be included, when appropriate, in your institution’s self-study report.

A Study Abroad site, for purposes of the IP, is for U.S. students traveling to that country. A geographic location of the institution that is located in a different country is primarily for the benefit of local students (regardless of nationality, including U.S. nationals) living in that country. A site should not be reported as study abroad if it is already listed as a branch campus, additional location, or other instructional site.

NYSED required components of a syllabus:

• Course description
• Course objectives
• Prerequisites
• Credits allocated
• Assignments
• Method of assessing student achievement, including the assessment rubrics at the course and project levels
• Basis of grade determination
• Bibliographic and other resources
• Other course policies related to integrity of credit
• Author(s) of syllabus

NYSED does not use this term and does not define it.

NYSED understands a track to be an informal term used by some institutions to prepare students for a particular field of study.

The term track should not be used to refer to any official program of study.

A written arrangement wherein an institution outsources some portion of one or more of its educational programs or educational business operations to a third-party provider. For purposes of substantive change, the institution is outsourcing more than 25 percent but less than 50 percent of credit-bearing educational programs to another institution or organization that is not certified to participate in title IV, HEA programs. See the Commission’s Substantive Change Guidelines, Third-Party Providers Guidelines and Contracts by Accredited and Candidate Institutions for Education-Related Services.

• Written Arrangements – International

For purposes of substantive change, a written arrangement is defined as a formal agreement for the provision of more than 25 percent of an accredited institution’s credit bearing or title IV eligible educational program by a third-party provider that is not certified to participate in the title IV federal student financial aid funding programs. The services provided by the third-party may be for the provision of a credit-bearing or title IV educational program, such as the instruction or delivery of courses, but may also include some combination of services including but not limited to curriculum development, online delivery of courses, student services, setting and validating admission requirements, or assessment. See the Substantive Change Guidelines, Contracts by Accredited and Candidate Institutions for Education-related Services, and Third-Party Providers Guidelines for examples, guidance, and best practices related to contracts and written arrangements.

A written arrangement is considered international if it is an arrangement with an entity that is based outside the United States or will be implemented in a location that is outside of the United States, whether or not the member institution is considered a domestic or international institution. Written arrangements with international entities or in international locales raise unique challenges for evaluation because of the implications of international regulations or licensing requirements and the large volume of legal documents that usually accompany such proposals. For these reasons, a request involving a written arrangement with an international entity will be reviewed by outside legal counsel and will take longer to process. The request form for international written arrangements is different from the request form for domestic written arrangements. See the International Programs Offered by Accredited Institutions Policy and Guidelines.

• Written Arrangements – Domestic 25-49%

The Commission requires approval for the initiation of a written arrangement when the third party provides more than 25 percent of a credit bearing or title IV eligible program, for both domestic and international written arrangements. The Commission also requires approval for the substantial modification of an existing written arrangement. If a contract is renegotiated, the terms change substantially, or the percentage offered by the third-party provider increases significantly (for example from 25 percent to 45 percent), the institution should revisit the contract and discuss the implications for substantive change with the Commission staff.

For purposes of substantive change, a written arrangement is defined as a formal agreement for the provision of more than 25 percent of an accredited institution’s credit bearing or title IV eligible educational program by a third-party provider that is not certified to participate in the title IV federal student financial aid funding programs. The services provided by the third-party may be for the provision of a credit-bearing or title IV educational program, such as the instruction or delivery of courses, but may also include some combination of services including but not limited to curriculum development, online delivery of courses, student services, setting and validating admission requirements, or assessment. See the Substantive Change Guidelines, Contracts by Accredited and Candidate Institutions for Education-related Services, and Third-Party Providers Guidelines for examples, guidance, and best practices related to contracts and written arrangements.

A written arrangement is considered domestic if it is an arrangement with an entity that is located or based inside the United States and the program will be implemented in a location that is located inside the United States. Written arrangements with domestic entities must be reviewed by the Commission when the third party provides more than 25 percent but less than 50 percent of the credit bearing or title IV eligible program. The Commission will not review domestic written arrangements when the third party provides more than 50 percent.