Glossary of Terms

Academic Computer Labs:

As a student at MSU Denver you have access to a number of computer labs to complete homework, projects, do research for classes, etc.

Attendance Policy (college)

Attendance during the first week of class is required. It contributes greatly to teaching and learning. Some departments determine a student's enrollment in a class based upon attendance during the first week of class. Consult the department for more information about the attendance policy for the class that you are attending. Students who drop classes are financially responsible for those classes in accordance with the Withdrawal/Refund Policies.

Audit

To attend a class, unofficially, paying only tuition-no fees-with no record maintained at the college.

CAPP

The Curriculum, Advising, and Program Planning (CAPP) Compliance Report is an advising tool to be used by students and their advisors throughout students' academic careers at MSCD. The CAPP Report gives students a detailed view of how their MSCD course work, and transfer work (if any), applies towards their degree, by showing which requirements have been met and which are not met. Students can view/print their CAPP Report online by using WebCAPP.

CAPP Adjustment Form

An approved CAPP Adjustment Form is required whenever a degree requirement as indicated on a student's CAPP Report is to be modified. The form contained is usually completed by the student's advisor or appropriate academic department chair, and must be signed and submitted to the Office of the Registrar, CN105 by the department chair or designee. It is highly recommended that approved adjustments be made early in the student's academic career. Click here to get form [PDF].

Census date is the twelfth working day of the fall and spring semesters and the eighth working day of the summer semester (not including weekends and holidays).

Class(ification)

The class or classification of a student based on the total number of MSCD credit hours, including approved transfer credit: 0-29 - Freshman classification; 30-59 = Sophomore classification; 60-89 = Junior classification; and, 90 or more = Senior classification.

Class Adjustment Form

To add, cancel, change days/times, or otherwise adjust a class offering.

The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is a new way for Colorado to provide state financial support to eligible students for higher education. It was created by an Act of the Colorado State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Owens in May 2004.

In the past, the state gave money directly to colleges. Now, if you authorize use of the stipend for any given term, the college you are attending will receive the funding, and you will see it appear as a credit on your tuition bill.

Students-you must apply for the College Opportunity Fund, or you'll pay more of your tuition bill.

Apply for your stipend at collegeincolorado.org or call 800-777-2757 (from 303 prefix, call 303-305-3394)

Commencement

A formal commencement ceremony is held at the end of the Spring and Fall semesters. Summer graduates will attend the following Fall commencement. For commencement information, call (303) 556-6226 or go the commencement website at www.mscd.edu/commencement.

Concurrent Registration

Application, acceptance and registration at two separate institutions at the same time.

Co-requisite

Classes that require simultaneous registration.

Correspondence Course

With no class meetings, correspondence courses allow students to set an independent learning pace at home. Students submit course work directly to instructors via mail and, in most cases, have one year to complete a course. However, a student is technically registered ONLY during the original semester and is not considered a continuing student. Once course work is completed and graded, the grade will appear on the transcript for the original semester enrolled.

Course Reference Number (CRN)

5-digit number (CRN) which identifies individual classes.

Crosslisted

A number of MSCD academic departments have agreed to offer the same course under each department's respective prefix. Credit is given for one prefix only.

Drop

To remove yourself from a class within the first 15% of the total time frame of a semester, part of term or workshop. A class may not be dropped after the first 15% of the class.

Full-Time Status (Part- Time Status)

The college generally defines full-time status as being registered for 12 semester hours in fall and/or spring semesters, eight semester hours in the summer. However, to complete a degree in four years or eight semesters, students need to take at least 15 hours a semester. Similarly, half-time is generally defined as six semester hours, fall and spring and four semester hours for summer. Less-than half-time is the other term used, which is generally defined as less than six semester hours in the fall and spring and less than four semester hours in the summer. However, for financial aid purposes 12 semester hours is also the full-time standard in the summer. To be eligible, automatically, for health insurance coverage the numbers are 10 semester hours in the fall and spring and eight semester hours in the summer.

Grades

Students can then obtain their grades in the following ways:

(a) Access MetroConnect. Grades for the current semester, as well as the previous two semesters are available and can be printed on the Web. Students can also print an unofficial copy of their transcript on the Web.

(b) Access any one of the six Kiosks on campus. Grades for the current semester, as well as the previous two semesters are also available and can be printed on the Kiosks. Students can also print an unofficial copy of their transcript on the Kiosks. Kiosk locations include:

1st Floor Student Success Building Building

Holds

A designation on your registration file that prohibits you from adding, dropping or withdrawing classes. A hold can be cleared only by the office that placed it.

Hybrid

See ONLINE.

Independent Study

A class in which research or creative projects are carried out under the supervision of a faculty member. The Office of the Registrar will process the registration after all approvals are received.

Interinstitutional Registration

Registration, while enrolled at MSU Denver, for courses at the Community College of Denver with which MSU Denver has an official agreement. Interinstitutional applications and forms must be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. Special registration deadlines are enforced.

Last Grade Stands Policy

A student may repeat any class taken at Metropolitan State College of Denver regardless of the original grade earned. Only the credit and the grade for the last attempt of the class will remain on the student's official academic record. The grade (s) for all prior attempts will be changed to the "NC" notation. Repeated class must carry the same title, class number and semester hours. To make a class change, the student must re-register and pay the full tuition for the class in question, complete the class earning a letter grade, and complete the Last Grade Stands form in the Office of the Registrar. Otherwise, the grade change will be made administratively at the time of degree evaluation. Credit duplication involving transfer, interinstitutional or state college system classs may be treated differently from the above procedures. A FAILING CLASS GRADE ASSIGNED AS A RESULT OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY IS CONSIDERED A PERMANENT "F" AND CANNOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THIS POLICY.

Last Term Attended

Refers to the last term that a student attended and received a grade or grade notation on his/her academic record. A student must reapply after three consecutive terms of absence, including the summer semester.

Metro North

North Campus located at 11990 Grant Street, Suite 102, Northglenn, Co 80233 303-450-5111.

Metro South

South Campus located at 5660 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Suite L 100, Greenwood Village, Co 80111 303-721-1313.

NC - No Credit Grade Notation

The No Credit (NC) notation is not a grade. It may indicate withdrawal from the class or class repetition. The "NC" notation may also be used in self-paced classes to indicate that the student and/or the faculty have decided to extend the student's time in the class in order to increase the student's proficiency. In this case, to earn credit the student must reregister for and pay tuition and fees for the class in a subsequent term. (The NC should not be confused with "dropping" a class which means to remove yourself from a class within the first 15% of the total time frame of a semester, part of term or workshop. A class may not be dropped after the first 15% of the class.

Non-Degree Seeking

A student who is not seeking a degree from MSCD. These students are not eligible for financial aid.

Online

Hybrid-A Hybrid class provides some instruction on the Auraria campus or another location at scheduled meetings times in a designated location. The rest of the instruction is online. There are no online fees for Hybrid classes. However, there are mandatory student fees.

Mostly Online-A Mostly Online class requires students to come to the Auraria Campus or go to an alternative site for exams or other activities, but instruction and most activities are online. There is an online fee per credit hour for all online classes.

Online-An Online class does not require students to come to the Auraria campus for any purpose, nor does it require them to go to a site where exams or other activities will be proctored. There is an online fee per credit hour for all online classes.

Overload

Semester hours in excess of 18 for fall or spring semester and 12 for summer semester. All overloads must be approved by the appropriate dean's office. Approval depends on the student's GPA at MSU Denver after completion of a minimum of 15 credit hours in residence. The minimum GPA required is 3.5 for an overload up to 21 credits in fall/spring semesters. The same minimum GPA is required for an overload up to 14 credits in summer semester. Overloads exceeding 21 credits in fall and spring and 14 credits in summer must be approved by the appropriate dean's office on an individual basis. If you have not met these requirements, you may appeal to the dean in your major. If you are an undeclared major, you should appeal to the Dean of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Part of Term

Semesters are divided into numerous beginning and ending dates. These are called parts of term. Registration procedures are designed for flexibility and convenience.

Pass/Fail

A grading option for certain designated classes, to be used for elective credit only. You must complete a pass/fail form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar by the required deadline (see Registration Dates/Deadlines). Major, minor, general studies and other classs required for a degree or for teacher licensure may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Consult the College Catalog for specific policy requirements.

Pooled Registration

MSCD and UCDHSC have formed a common pool of classes available to students at each institution. For the pool, MSCD offers classes through the School of Letters, Arts and Sciences and through the Economics department in the School of Business. UCDHSC offers classes through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students must register for pooled classes through their home institution.

Prerequisite

Course or test score which the student must have satisfactorily completed/passed prior to registering for the desired course.

Self-Paced

Designated courses that permit you to progress at your own rate. If you wish to continue self-paced courses in which you were enrolled the previous term, you must re-register and repay for those courses to receive credit.

Telecourse

Class combines television viewing, textbook, study guide and class meetings or discussions led by MSCD professors.

Time Conflict

Registration for two classs that overlap in time, regardless of length of time. Special permission to register for these classs must be requested. You should consult the dean(s) of your academic major.

Tuition and Fee Appeal

To request refund of tuition and fees.

Variable Credit

Optional credit hours for the same class.

Wait List

An official list of students waiting for an opening in a class. Students are absorbed in order; however, there is no guarantee that all students will be absorbed and students MUST DROP a waitlisted class as any other class IF the intention is not to attend. While you are wait-listed you should attend all class sessions, with permission of the instructor. You are advised to use the Web or kiosk system, daily to check if you have been enrolled in the class. Decisions are made by the department chairs and deans only. You are not charged tuition and fees for a class while you are on a wait list. If you are absorbed into a class from the wait list, you must pay for the class to avoid being assessed the 4% service charge. It is your responsibility to obtain a printout of your class schedule to determine if you have been absorbed. This is YOUR ONLY OFFICIAL NOTICE. DO NOT RELY ON VERBAL NOTIFICATION.
Note: Wait-list classes do not count toward the total enrollment for your financial aid disbursement. Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions. Wait-listed students in ONLINE CLASS DO NOT have access to classes until after they are absorbed into the class.