Glossary

ABLE Program: ABLE Program stands for Autobiography Program (AP) + Life Experience Program (LEP). It is a credit-earning program that allows CCNY CWE students to earn up to 20 tuition-free credits based on their life and professional experiences. 

Academic Advisor: A higher education professional who provides guidance to students about degree programs and requirements, courses, City College rules, policies, and procedures, academic supports and opportunities. Your advisor also issues permission to enroll in courses.

Academic Standards: The 2024-2025 City College Undergraduate Bulletin/Catalog states “Students are expected to maintain minimum G.P.A. requirements both overall and in major courses; not to withdraw from twelve credits during any two consecutive academic years; and pass all required courses in sequence.” For CWE students, good academic standing is a 2.0 GPA for B.A. students and a 2.8 GPA for B.S. in Early Childhood Education students.

Academic Probation: Students who do not meet the College’s academic standards will be placed on probation. This is a warning that unless academic performance improves the student will be subject to dismissal. A student is placed on academic probation when he or she fails to achieve the required standard of a 2.0 GPA. Students must make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Poor academic performance will threaten your eligibility for financial aid and scholarships. While on probation, students who make satisfactory academic progress will continue to maintain their academic standing in the College (ability to enroll in courses) but may lose their eligibility for financial aid.

Academic Dismissal: A student on academic probation will be dismissed from the College if they do not meet the minimum GPA requirements based on the number of credits attempted:

• 0-12 credits → Minimum 1.5 GPA required
• 13-24 credits → Minimum 1.75 GPA required
• 25+ credits → Minimum 2.0 GPA required

Academic Support: Non-classroom-based activities that help students develop academic strength and skills. The CWE Writing Center offers academic support in the tasks related to academic writing.

Accommodations: Accommodations and services for students with disabilities: Adhering to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act/IDEA (a federal law that protects people who have disabilities), City College grants academic accommodations and services to students with documented disabilities. This is for the purpose of permitting meaningful and equal access and full participation to all of the college's programs, services, and activities.  AAC/SDS registered students, who receive academic adjustments and auxiliary aids (extended time on exams, assistive technology, etc.), can demonstrate their knowledge without the interference of the functional impact of their disability.  Academic adjustments and auxiliary aids are individualized and determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Adjunct Professor: An instructor hired by the College to teach on a part-time basis (1 or 2 courses per semester). Adjunct professors often work at more than one CUNY college.

Attendance Policy: Students may not have more than two absences from any class per semester. This means you are required to be present for 13 of 15 class meetings. The attendance policy also applies to hybrid and online courses. If you fail to log in for one week or more in an online or hybrid course, it will count as an absence. Late arrivals to class also count toward absences. Do not enroll in a course that starts the same time your job ends for the day.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.): An undergraduate degree focused on broad, interdisciplinary learning in the humanities, social sciences, and liberal arts. It emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills. We offer:

• B.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, which helps students connect classroom learning to real-world applications, enhancing communication, critical thinking, and global awareness.
• B.A. in Social Justice and Urban Life, which examines social justice and inequality in urban communities through interdisciplinary coursework in areas like human rights, labor studies, and urban studies.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.): An undergraduate degree that focuses on technical, scientific, or professional fields, emphasizing research, analytical skills, and practical application. We offer:

• B.S. in Early Childhood Education, which prepares students to support diverse learners in urban schools and leads to New York State Initial Teacher Certification (Birth-Grade 2). The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Class Permission: Authorization to enroll in a class. Permissions are provided by your academic advisor. Class permissions always have an expiration date; if you don’t use your permission by the expiration date, CF doesn’t allow you to enroll. Contact your advisor to request an extension.

Co-Curricular Activities: Non-classroom-based activities and services that enhance the student experience. Examples at CWE include internships, scholarships and awards, and graduation orientation.

Concentration: For the B.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences and the B.S. in Early Childhood Education, a concentration is an area of study that uses multiple disciplines (e.g. history, sociology, literature) to interpret a set of related issues, topics, and problems. A concentration allows students to focus on a particular subject area and examine it through multiple lenses.

Course: A unit of teaching that usually lasts one academic term (a 15-week semester in the fall or spring), is led by an instructor, has a fixed number of students enrolled. Students earn both a grade and credit upon completion of the course. Courses can be required (you must take the course) or elective (you can choose a course from a number of options). Students are expected to do various kinds of work for each course they are enrolled in:

• Attend course sessions, on time, and prepared to engage in the work of the class
• Do assigned readings
• Do library research (articles in academic journals and periodicals)
• Participate in class discussions, including small group discussions
• Do different types of writing (summaries, reading responses, essays, research papers)
• Make individual and group presentations
• Take quizzes and examinations

Course Syllabus (Syllabus): the course syllabus, or syllabus, is a document that outlines the course objectives, topics, schedule, grading criteria, and policies. It serves as a guide for students, providing key information on expectations, assignments, and important deadlines. It will tell you how much each type of work counts toward your final grade for the course.

Dean: A senior academic leader responsible for overseeing a college, school, or division within a university. They manage academic programs, faculty, and student affairs, ensuring the institution's policies and goals are met.

Degree Audit: A degree audit is a review of a student’s progress toward completing their degree. It shows which requirements have been met and what is still needed to graduate.

Department Chair (or Chair): A faculty member who leads an academic department. They oversee courses, support faculty, and assist students with department-related concerns.

Directory: A list of contact information for administrators, advisors, staff, and faculty. It helps CCNY CWE students easily connect with the right people for academic support, guidance, and campus resources.

Division: A division is an academic unit within a college or university that groups related disciplines and departments under a broader field of study. It helps organize programs, coordinate faculty, and manage academic offerings within its area, often focusing on interdisciplinary or specialized education.

Enrollment: This means using your class permission to enroll in a class by logging on to CUNYfirst. You will search for your selected courses, place them in Schedule Builder, and click “Enroll.” This action claims your seat in a course. If you don’t enroll, your name will not appear on the class roster and you will not receive credit for the class.

Etiquette: An accepted code of behavior that demonstrates respect and consideration for other people. Etiquette includes manners, tone of voice, and the timing of interactions. Also see Netiquette.

Financial Aid: Money from the federal government, New York State government, the College, or private sources to help pay college tuition. You will find a separate list of important financial aid terms at the end of this glossary.

Important Financial Aid Terms to Know: 

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You are required to fill out the FAFSA if you want to apply for financial aid to pay for City College tuition.

Federal Pell Grant: A financial aid program of the federal government that funds full-time and part-time study.

Grants: Money awarded to students that does not require repayment.

Senior: A matriculated student who has earned between 90 and 120 credits.

Sophomore: A matriculated student who has earned between 30 and 59 credits.

Subsidized loan: A low interest loan that the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on while an undergraduate student with financial need maintains half-time enrollment.

Supplement Form: This form may qualify NY State resident part-time students (6-11 credits) additional aid, if they completed a FAFSA and TAP application.

TAP (Tuition Assistance Program): A financial aid program of the New York State government that funds full-time study only.

Unsubsidized loan: A U.S. Department of Education loan available to undergraduates and graduate students that accrues interest while a student takes classes, and does not need to be repaid until 6 months after completion of the degree or enrollment falls below half-time status.

Verification: The procedure triggered when Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) processing identifies data that appears to deviate from previous year’s submissions, or expected average responses. Individual colleges are then required to ask students selected for verification to supply copies of documents, such as parent and or student’s IRS Income tax returns to justify eligibility for aid. If you are selected for verification, you MUST provide the requested documents before your financial aid will be awarded and paid to City College.

Full Time Student: A student who is enrolled in 12 or more credits.

Full Time Professor: A professor who works full-time at a single college who is hired to teach, produce scholarly research and writing (books and articles), and provide service to the college in the form of committee responsibilities.

Grade: City College’s grading system is as follows:

A+ | Exceptional | 4 GPA
A   | Excellent | 4 GPA
A-  | Good | 3.7 GPA
B+ | Good | 3.3 GPA
B   | Good | 3 GPA
B-  | Good | 2.7 GPA
C+ | Good | 2.3 GPA
C   | Satisfactory | 2 GPA
C-  | Satisfactory | 1.7 GPA
D   | Passing | 1 GPA
F   | Failure | 0 GPA
P   | Pass 

AUD | Auditor
Listener.

FIN | F due to incomplete

INC | Incomplete
This is a temporary grade. The outstanding work must be completed by end of the following fall or spring semester. If the work is not completed by the end of the following semester, the INC is converted to a permanent grade of F on the record. The course instructor may grant the INC at the request of the student if participation requirements have been met and the only outstanding work is a paper, project, or examination. The instructor has the right to refuse a request, and can set a time limit for completion that is shorter than the end of the following semester. When the course work is completed and the final grade received, the INC grade will be replaced; a notation will be made on the student's transcript of the date of change.

NC | No Credit

PEN | Grade pending (usually for academic integrity issues)

W | Withdraw | GPA not affected
A permanent grade requested by the student after the Add/Drop period, and before the deadline in the academic calendar. This grade is assigned by the Assistant Dean of Registrar and Student Services at the written request of the student. It does not affect the grade point average.

WA | Administrative withdrawal | GPA not affected
This grade, which does not affect the grade point average, is administratively assigned (i.e. for students lacking proof of immunization).

WN | Never attended | GPA not affected
Calculated as the equivalent of an "W" in the GPA.

WU | Withdrew unofficially | GPA not affected
Used when class participation has been established at least once in a term, the student has completely stopped attending at any time before the culminating academic experience of the course, i.e., final exam, final paper, etc., and did not officially withdraw. Effective Fall 2021, a WU is calculated as the equivalent of a "W" in the GPA

Z | No grade submitted by instructor

Y | Year or longer course of study

Graduate Student: A student pursuing a master’s degree. The master’s degree program offered by the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies at CWE: 

• M.A. in the Study of The Americaswhich combines a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives, to the study of race, gender, human rights, contemporary politics, immigration, and popular culture.

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Independent Study: A course option allowing a student to explore a topic in depth under the supervision of a full-time faculty member, outside the standard curriculum. At CCNY CWE, each independent study earns 1 credit.

Interdisciplinary Studies: An academic approach that combines knowledge and methods from multiple disciplines to explore complex topics, solve problems, and provide a broader understanding of a subject.

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Lecture: A method of instruction in which a professor or instructor presents course material to a large group of students.

Liberal Arts: A broad field of study that includes humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, emphasizing critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills.

Major: An undergraduate/graduate student’s field of specialization. The majors available at CWE are:

• B.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
• B.A. in Social Justice and Urban Life
• B.S. in Early Childhood Education
• M.A. in the Study of The Americas

Master of Arts (M.A.): A graduate degree that provides advanced interdisciplinary study in the humanities and social sciences. It emphasizes critical thinking, research, and analytical skills, preparing individuals to engage with complex social, cultural, and political issues. We offer:

• M.A. in the Study of The Americas, which explores the Americas through an interdisciplinary lens, examining race, migration, human rights, politics, and culture.

Matriculate: To declare that you intend to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Netiquette: Applying etiquette to computing and online interactions.  Examples: using respectful language, avoiding online arguments, using salutations like “Dear” or “Hello” in your emails, addressing professors and staff by their titles, and signing your emails.

Non-Degree Student: A student who takes courses for credit without enrolling in a degree program.

Official Withdrawal: Withdrawing from a course by recording your withdrawal on CUNYfirst by a specific deadline (see the Academic Calendar for specific dates). Official withdrawal results in a W grade, which does not affect your GPA.

Patai Program: A special CCNY CWE program on Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies, offering courses, lectures, and an essay competition. Established by Frances S. Patai, a City College graduate and education advocate, it promotes learning to prevent injustice.

Part-Time Student: A student who is enrolled in fewer than 12 credits.

Plagiarism: The act of presenting another person’s ideas, research, or writing as your own. Examples of plagiarism include:

• Copying another person’s actual words or images without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing the words to their source.
• Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source.
• Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.
• Internet plagiarism, including submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the internet without citing the source, or “cutting & pasting” from various sources without proper attribution.

Quest Program: A community of retired and semi-retired lifelong learners at CCNY CWE, offering peer-taught courses, discussions, and cultural outings since 1995.

Registrar: The office responsible for maintaining student records, processing course registrations, and managing academic transcripts, enrollment verification, and graduation requirements. The Registrar’s Office is located at the main campus; there is no registrar physically present at CCNY CWE.

Salutatorian: The student with the second-highest academic ranking in a graduating class who delivers the opening or welcoming speech at the commencement ceremony.

Study Abroad: Semester-long and short-term programs where students live and study in another country while earning academic credit. Some programs include home-stays and cultural excursions.

Syllabus / Course Syllabus: A document that communicates essential information about a course, outlining its objectives, topics, schedule, and expectations. It defines the subject matter, the range of study—including specific themes and chronological scope—required readings, assignments, and assessment methods. Additionally, it provides grading criteria, policies, and important deadlines, detailing how different components contribute to the final grade. By clearly organizing course content and responsibilities, the syllabus serves as a comprehensive guide to the structure, policies, and learning outcomes of the course.

Transcript: The official document that records all courses taken, grades earned, honors received, and the degree conferred by the College. Official transcripts must be ordered from the Registrar’s Office. You can download and print an unofficial student record from CUNYfirst.

Undergraduate Student: A student pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
The bachelor’s degree programs offered by the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies at CWE are: 

• B.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, which helps students connect classroom learning to real-world applications, enhancing communication, critical thinking, and global awareness.
• B.A. in Social Justice and Urban Life, which examines social justice and inequality in urban communities through interdisciplinary coursework in areas like human rights, labor studies, and urban studies.
• B.S. in Early Childhood Education, which prepares students to support diverse learners in urban schools and leads to New York State Initial Teacher Certification (Birth-Grade 2). The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Valedictorian: The student with the highest academic ranking in a graduating class who delivers the farewell address at the commencement ceremony.

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