ODU Vocabulary
Academic Advisor
Assists students in developing meaningful educational plans that will be compatible with career aspirations and will empower them to meet their full potential.
Accreditation
Having met standards established by professional bodies.
Add/Drop
The time period at the start of each semester when students may enroll or un-enroll in classes without academic or financial penalty. After the drop deadline, students may withdraw from classes and a financial obligation is incurred
ARC
Acronym for Adjusted Resident Credit, one time option available after one year separation from ODU. All credits below a "C" are removed and the returning grade point average does not include previous grades.
Audit
To enroll in a course without receiving credit or grade. Audited courses will be subject to the normal fees and regulations of the University. Regular attendance is expected, but tests and examinations are not required. No grade will be recorded.
Blackboard
A course management product utilized in a majority of courses at ODU. Common functions that can be performed in Blackboard include course announcements, web site for syllabus and course materials, grade book, drop box for electronic assignments, quizzes online, and discussion board.
CAP
Acronym for Career Advantage Program. Program linking career assistance, resources, and experience. Provides the opportunity for all ODU students to gain practical work experience for credit related to major through internships and co-op experiences.
CMC
Acronym for Career Management Center. www.odu/edu/cmc
CME
Acronym for Center for Major Exploration
CRN
Acronym for Course Registration Number. Five digit identification number, assigned to each course section offered by the University.
Catalog
Official University publication which states basic University policy and major requirements for every program offered at Old Dominion University.
CDA
Acronym for Chief Departmental Advisor. Faculty person designated to coordinate student advising for the department.
CLEP
Acronym meaning the College Level Examination Program of the College Board which provides an opportunity to receive credit.
Credit
Official acceptance and recording of the work of a student in a particular course of study.
Credit Hour
A unit of academic credit, usually representing attendance at one scheduled hour of instruction per week throughout a semester.
CO-OP
Acronym for Cooperative Education Program. This program offers students who enrolled in approved programs the opportunity to integrate academic study with actual work experience relating to their career objectives.
Co-Requisite
Course which must be taken at the same time or along with another course.
College
An organizational unit of several academic departments (example: the College of Business and Public Administration).
Curriculum Sheet
Document outlining required courses for a major.
Early Alert
Progress grades posted for 100- and 200-level courses during week 5 of the semester. Students with multiple low progress grades are contacted by their advisors to discuss their options.
Dean
The head of a particular college within the University; person having charge of some aspect of administration.
Declared Major
A discipline that the student has officially declared as their major by visiting the department's office and completing a major declaration form.
DegreeWorks
DegreeWorks is a degree evaluation tool. It is designed to assist advisors and students with course planning, measuring progress toward degree completion, and curriculum advising.
Developmental Course
Non-degree skill-building credit course which expands and improves students' ability to successfully complete college level work. (These courses do not count towards graduation)
Elective Course
Course taken which is not specified as a degree requirement.
Exit Examination
Test administered to determine student's writing proficiency. May be taken during junior or senior year. This exam must be passed prior to receiving a degree from Old Dominion University.
FERPA
Acronym for Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. A federal law designed to protect the privacy of educational records. When a student enrolls in ODU, they become the owner of their records and must be consulted in advance of granting access to others.
Foreign Language Placement
Test used to place students in appropriate foreign language courses.
General Education
The common core classes of the baccalaureate degree. Students gain basic skills and intellectual perspectives to engage in analytical and critical thinking as well as develop the ability to make reasoned judgments.
GPA
Acronym for grade point average.
Grade Forgiveness
Students who receive a grade of C- or lower may repeat that same course to improve the overall grade point average (GPA). Once the course is retaken only the second grade earned, whether higher or lower than the original grade, will be calculated in the GPA.
Hold
A block that an office or department can place on a student's account preventing access to information and ability to make schedule changes until resolved. A list of potential holds can be found on the Registrar's website: www.odu.edu/ao/registrar/registering/holds/
IDS
Acronym for Interdisciplinary Studies. This degree program is for students whose goals require the combination of two or more disciplines into a single degree.
Intended Major
That which a student is considering as a possible discipline in which to major.
Leo Online
An easy-to-use system that allows you to register for classes, adjust your schedule (drop, add, and withdraw), check for holds, and pay your tuition.
Lower Division Course
Course numbered 100 or 200.
Major
A subject or discipline in which a college student concentrates.
MIDAS
Acronym for Monarch Identification and Authorization System. Coordinates identity and password management for the university community.
Minor
A subject or field of study which supplements a student's major subject or course in order to provide grater job opportunities or to provide recognition of study in a second academic area.
myODU
One-stop access to several University systems including email, Blackboard, Leo Online, and DegreeWorks. Located at my.odu.edu.
Non-Degree Credit
Credit which does not count towards graduation requirements.
NuRide
Ridesharing network that enables you to electronically link up with other riders/drivers and make arrangements to share the ride. www.nuride.com
OCCS
Acronym for Office of Computing and Communications Services. Technical support can be accessed at 1501 Webb Center or 757-683-3192.
ODU Alerts
Urgent notification system, comprised of a variety of methods by which the University can contact students, faculty and staff, including text messages, instant messages, emails, and calls to home/office/cell phones.
ODU CareerLink
On-line database system linking resumes, jobs, interviews, contacts, and events.
Open Registration
Begins the 6th day of the registration period. During open registration, all admitted students (except those required to attend PREVIEW) may register for classes. No time ticket is required during open registration.
Pre-registration
Refers to the first 5 days of the registration period for any term. Only currently registered, degree-seeking students with time tickets may register during pre-registration.
Prerequisite
Course required before enrolling in a higher level course; e.g., ENGL 110C is a prerequisite for ENGL 211C. A passing grade is required.
Preview
Orientation for students enrolling in Old Dominion University for the first time.
Probation
A student is placed on academic probation when the student's cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters of attendance. Students on academic probation are expected to improve their cumulative GPA by achieving a semester GPA of 2.0 or better during each semester of attendance. Failure to achieve a 2.0 semester GPA at the end of a fall or spring semester while on probation results in academic suspension.
Proficiency
Demonstration of adequate skills or abilities.
Register
To officially enroll in a course.
Registrar
Official keeper of records for the University. 116 Rollins Hall, 757-683-4425.
Required Course
Course that must be completed in order to become certified for graduation.
Seminar
Any meeting for exchanging information and holding discussion (typically small size).
Student Escort Service
Operates seven days a week 5:30pm-12:30am. Students may request escorts between campus buildings and parking garages by calling the Escort Service hotline at 757-683-3477 or utilizing the outdoor call boxes on campus.
S.O.S.
Acronym for Student Ombudsperson Services. Assists students who are having difficulty understanding and navigating University policies and procedures. SOS can help students with absence notifications, course withdrawals, emergency loans, housing issues, etc. 2008 Webb Center, 757-683-3442.
Suspension
Interruption of student's attendance at the University due to poor academic performance or disciplinary problems.
Syllabus
An outline of a course and a brief statement of what is expected from each student enrolled in the course.
TA
Acronym for teaching assistant.
TCI
Acronym for Transition to College Inventory. Assessment required of all first year students. Must be completed prior to registering for second semester.
Time Ticket
Time tickets are automatically assigned to currently enrolled, degree-seeking students approximately one month before pre-registration begins. If you do not have a time ticket, you cannot register until open registration, which begins the Saturday after pre-registration begins. You do not need a time ticket to register during open registration.
TOEFL
Acronym for Test of English as a Foreign Language required of applicants whose native language is not English.
Tenure
Status assuring a professor of permanence of position or employment.
Transcript Evaluation
Process of verifying courses from other institutions to insure compatibility with courses offered by Old Dominion University.
UIN
Acronym for university identification number, an individual eight digit number used to identify student and employee records.
Unofficial Withdraw
A student who stops attending classes without officially withdrawing will receive a grade of "WF" except if the student's performance has been an "F", in which case a grade of "F" will be assigned. The grade of "WF" will carry no points, but will be computed in the student's grade point average.
Upper Division Course
Course numbered 300 or 400.
Warning
A student will be placed on academic warning for one semester when the student's cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 at the end of a semester, including summer sessions. A student on academic warning may not enroll in more than 14 credits per semester of attendance. A student on academic warning must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 at the end of the next semester of attendance to be in good standing. Failure to achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 results in academic probation.
Withdraw
After the first 7 calendar days of the semester and through the end of the 10th week of a regular semester (or its equivalent for nonsemester courses), a student may withdraw from any course with a grade of "W" assigned. The "W" grade is not computed in a student's GPA.
Writing Sample
Placement test administered to determine student's level of writing proficiency.
