Glossary of Terms Frequently Used on SXU’s Web Pages

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Term	Definition
Academic Advising	A one on one appointment each semester with a faculty or staff member to determine the classes needed to make progress toward a degree as well as develop meaningful educational, personal, and career goals. Students often use these appointments to learn more about majors.
Academic Advisor	An academic advisor helps you choose the right classes for your major, stay on track to graduate, and understand school policies. They can also help you if you're thinking about changing your major, struggling in a class, or want to talk about your academic goals.
Academic Dismissal	Students that do not meet the minimum required grade point average after a minimum of two semesters may be dismissed from the University. Students who do not meet a required grade point average receive this warning. An academic warning typically comes before an academic dismissal.
Academic Probation	A status or period in which a student is under the required cumulative GPA. Students who do not meet the required grade point average or completion rate receive a warning the first time they enter probation. Students that do not adjust their performance or behavior may be at risk of dismissal.
ACT	An entrance exam used by colleges and universities to make admission decisions. This exam measures students' English, reading, math, science, and writing abilities.
Add-Drop Period	The add/drop period takes place the first two weeks of each term/semester. This is the time students can make final adjustments to their schedules such as adding or dropping classes. It is highly recommened for students to make any adjustments to their schedule in the first week of classes. The second week of classes will require instructor permission to get into any classes.
Alumni	Individuals that have graduated from a college or university.
Alumni Network	A community of former students who can be a valuable resource for mentoring, networking, and career advice.
AP (Advanced Placement)	A college-level course students take in high school and receive college credit if they receive acceptable scores on their AP exam(s).
Asynchronous	This refers to activities or interactions that do not happen in real-time. Participants can engage at their own pace and convenience, without needing to be present or active simultaneously. For example, in an asynchronous online course, students may watch pre-recorded lectures and submit assignments on their own schedule.
Audit	An option that allows students to take a course to learn material without earning credit.

Term	Definition
Baccalaureate	A bachelor degree.
Bachelor Degree	A degree awarded to students that attend a four-year college or university. Students typically receive a bachelor of art or bachelor of science degree.
Brainfuse Onling Tutoring	Brainfuse is a 24/7 online service commissioned by SXU. It is free to all students and can be accessed via CANVAS.

Term	Definition
Canvas	An online educational system students use to access their course materials, syllabi, documents, grades, and submit assignments.
Career Advising	This is a type of support where you meet with someone who helps you think about your future after college. You’ll explore what kind of work fits your interests and strengths, get help finding internships or job opportunities, and learn how to prepare materials like resumes and cover letters. You can also get guidance on how to plan for graduate school or different professional paths.
Career Advisor	A career advisor helps you explore different career paths, build your resume, find internships or jobs, and get ready for interviews. They support you in figuring out what you want to do after college and how to get there.
Career Assessment	Tools that help identify interests, skills, values, and personality traits to guide career choices.
Career Development Center	A center that provides career readiness assistance to all students and alumni.
Career Exploration and Planning	The process of examining different career paths best suited for students through self-assessment and setting career goals to achieve them. This also includes helping students identify skill gaps and how to develop those skills.
Career Peer Mentors	Trained students who assist their peers with career-related guidance, such as reviewing resumes, preparing for interviews, and exploring career paths.
Center for Learning and Student Support	A center where students can go for subject tutoring and assistance with developing papers for their classes. This center also houses academic support specialists to assist with addressing difficulties in their courses.
Class Schedule	A list of courses a student is enrolled in that includes information such as room number and meeting times.
Co-Curricular Activity	A university activity or event that occurs outside the classroom.
Code of Conduct	A set of guiding principles and expectations of student behavior both on and off-campus.
College	A branch of the university that contains academic divisions or schools. Saint Xavier University has two colleges including the College of Liberal Arts and Education and the College of Nursing, Health Sciences and Business.
College-to-Career Expo	A fair that connects students with organizations and employers offering jobs, internships, volunteer experiences, and graduate school opportunities.
Commencement	A formal name for graduation.
Commuter	A student that travels back and forth to campus and does not live in the residence halls.
Completion Rate	The percentage of attempted courses a student is completing.
Core Value	These are the fundamental values or beliefs that guides an organization. The core values of Saint Xavier University include Respect, Excellence, Compassion, Service, Hospitality, Integrity, Diversity, and Learning for Life.
Corequisite	A course that must be taken within the same semester as another course.
Cougar Card	The student identification card of Saint Xavier University.
Counseling Center	An office on campus that provides free individual counseling for students.
Course Catalog	A list of courses offered by the university each academic year.
Course Number	The number associate with a specific course such as TS-100 for Transitions.
Cover Letter	A personalized letter that accompanies a résumé and explains why you’re a strong candidate for a specific role.
CPM (Cougar Peer Mentor)	A mentor that is assigned to incoming students as part of ROAR (orientation) and serves as the learning assistant in Transitions (TS-100).
Credit Hour	A way of measuring how much credit a student receives for attending a course. One credit hour is equivalent to 50 minutes of instruction across 15 weeks. Most classes are 3 credit hours.
Curriculum	A set of courses required to earn a degree within a major.

Term	Definition
Dean	An academic dean is a professional staff member who oversees a school within the university. A dean of students is a professional staff member who oversees student life outside of the classroom.
Dean's List	An honor recognizing outstanding academic achievement for full time students with a GPA of 3.75 or higher.
Default	Failure to repay a student loan.
Deferment	An option offered by some loan lenders which allows students to delay payment on a loan.
Degree	A title or diploma awarded to students when they complete their coursework and graduate.
Degree Requirements	A set of courses required to earn a degree within a major.
Double Dipping	A single course that satisfies two or more degree program requirements (e.g., major, minor, general education).
Director	An individual that oversees their unit.
Division	A unit within a college at the university which consists of faculty or staff in a specific area.
Drop	Pulling out of a class within the allocated period (drop date) noted on the “Withdrawal and Tuition Refunds” page.
Dual Degree or Major	When a student is pursuing two degrees.

Term	Definition
Elective	A course that a student chooses to take which may also count toward their degree requirements.
Elevator Pitch	A brief, persuasive summary of your background and career goals, typically used in networking situations.
Employer	An organization that employs people with positions.
Experiential Learning	Hands-on work experience (internships, co-ops, service learning) that complements classroom education.

Term	Definition
Faculty	Professors or instructors that teach courses at the university.
FAFSA	The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is an application students must complete to receive financial aid from the government.
Federal Work Study	Part-time work offered by the university as part of a student's financial aid package from the federal government. Acceptance of federal work study does not guarantee employment at Saint Xavier University.
FERPA	The Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act provides guidelines on how colleges and universities protect or share student information.
Final Exam	An exam given to students at the end of a course. Final exams are typically given during the last week of classes (finals week).
Finals Week	The last week of the semester where students take final exams.
Financial Aid	Financial support students receive for college expenses including loans, scholarships, work study, and grants. Some financial support such as student loans must be paid back.
First Destination Survey	A survey conducted by career services to track graduates’ employment or education status shortly after graduation.
First-Generation Student	A student without a parent or guardians that attended college. These students are the first in their immediate family to go to college.
First-Year Student (Also Called Freshman)	A first-year college student that has completed fewer than 30 credit hours. The term “freshman” is often used synonymously.
Full-Time Student	A student that takes 12 or more credit hours.

Term	Definition
General Education (Gen Ed Classes)	A portion of degree requirements all students must take. These courses may include humanities, social science, history, and language courses.
Grade Point Average (GPA)	A numerical measure of academic performance, typically on a 4-point scale. Students have both a Semester GPA and an Overall or Cumulative GPA.
Graduate Student	A student that earned an undergraduate degree and is now pursuing advanced studies to earn a masters or doctorate degree.
Grant	A form of financial aid awarded to students that does not need to be paid back.
Group Advising	This is a group session that allows students (typically first-year) to ask brief questions about course selection and degree requirements.

Term	Definition
Handshake	The academic and career management system used by the Career Development Center. Students can use this to search for jobs or access resources.
Hold	A restriction on the academic record which limits a students ability to register for classes, receive their diploma, or other actions until the hold is removed.
Honorable Mention	An honor recognizing outstanding academic achievement for part time students with a GPA of 3.75 or higher.
Humanities	A categorization of classes which include art, music, literature, philosophy, religious studies, and languages.
Hybrid (Blended) Course	A class style in which course materials and instruction are done both online and in a physical classroom.

Term	Definition
IB	The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a program that allows individuals to earn college credit while in high school.
Informational Interview	A meeting where a student interviews a professional to learn about a particular career path or industry.
Instructor	A faculty member that teaches a course.
Internship	A temporary professional position where students can gain experience in their chosen field as well as develop skills valued by employers. These experiences may be paid or unpaid.
Interview	A formal one-on-one meeting with an organization to determine whether or not an applicant is a fit for an opportunity. These opportunities typically include jobs or admission into a university or college.
Intramurals	Informal sports played at a university.

Term	Definition
Job Shadowing	A process that allows individuals to follow and observe an experienced professional during their workday to gain firsthand knowledge of the job.
Junior	A student that has completed between 60-89 credit hours.

Term	Definition
Lab	A part of a class that has a hands-on component. Lab is short for laboratory.
Lecture	A course where the faculty member teaches primarily through oral instruction.
LinkedIn	A professional networking platform used to build a digital resume, connect with professionals, and find opportunities.
Loan	A form of financial aid awarded to students that needs to be paid back.

Term	Definition
Major	The primary subject area a student chooses to focus on during their college education.
MAP Grant	The MAP Grant (Monetary Award Program) is financial aid provided by the state of Illinois to help students from low-income families pay for college. It does not need to be repaid and is awarded based on financial need. The fullest amount of the grant will be awarded to students enrolled in 15+ credits per semester.
Master's Degree	A degree that typically comes after a bachelor degree and takes approximately two years to earn.
Matriculation	The process of a student enrolling at a university and registering for courses.
Meal Plan	Funds available to a student to purchase meals on campus at various dining establishments.
Mentor	An experienced professional who provides guidance and support in career development.
Micro-Internship	Professional, paid, short-term assignments that are often completed remotely.
Midterm Exam	Exams that are taken at the mid-point of the semester.
Midterm Grade	The grade a student has in their course at the mid-point of the semester.
Minor	A secondary subject area a student chooses to focus on during their college education. Not all students declare a minor.
Mission/Mission Statement	A statement that outlines an organization's intent and operational goals.
Mock Interview	A practice interview with a staff or faculty member who acts as an employer to ask interview questions and provide feedback.
MySXU Portal	An online self-service tool where students can access their email, resources such as Canvas, registration tools, and account information.

Term	Definition
Natural Science	A branch of science that includes subjects such as biology, chemistry, astronomy, physics, and geology.
Navigate	A student interface that helps connect students with their support team (e.g., faculty, advisors, learning center, etc.) and builds belonging, structure and proactive guidance at pivotal moments. Also available in the Navigate mobile app.
Net ID	A username assigned to students that is used to log in to systems across the university.
Networking	The process of building mutually beneficial relationships with other professionals.
Nontraditional student	A student that starts college later in life.

Term	Definition
Office Hours	Time set aside by professors to meet with students outside of the classroom.
Online Classes	Classes that students take virtually or remotely outside of a traditional classroom. Students typically use Canvas to access course content.

Term	Definition
Part-Time Student	A student that takes less than 12 credit hours.
Pass/Fail	A grading option where a student is assigned pass (P) or fail (F) instead of a traditional letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F.
Pell Grant	Federal financial aid awarded to undergraduate students that does not need to be repaid.
Placement Exam	An exam first-year students take to determine where they place in a particular subject (most often English or Math).
Plagiarism	The act of using and passing off someone else's work as your own. Plagiarism also includes submitting work you previously submitted for another class without professor consent. Plagiarism is a violation of the student code of conduct.
Portfolio	A collection of work samples (especially for creative fields) that showcases your skills and accomplishments.
Priority Registration	A date assigned to certain groups of students that need to register for their classes sooner than the general student population. Priority registration is given to in-season athletes and students with documented disabilities.
Professional Materials	Documents and tools students use to present themselves professionally, such as résumés, cover letters, portfolios, Handshake and LinkedIn profiles.
Provost	A senior-level academic officer of a university who oversees all academic policies and matters related to the curriculum.

Term	Definition
Readmission	The process of returning to a university or college after being dismissed.
Rebound	A mandatory course for first-year undergraduate students who fall under the required 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of their first semester.
Reference	A source of information or a person that can be contacted to speak about someone's ability or reliability when applying for a job. References are commonly needed when applying for jobs.
Registrar	An individual responsible for managing student records.
Registration	The process of enrolling in courses.
Registration Date	A date in which a student can begin registering. These dates may vary from student to student depending on a number of factors. Each SXU student has an assigned registration date and that is the earliest the student is able to register for courses.
Requisite	A course that must be taken before another course.
Residence Halls	Buildings on campus where students live, eat, and engage in co-curricular activities.
Resident	A student that lives on campus.
Resident Assistant (RA)	A student that lives and works in a residence hall on campus. Resident Assistants serve as resources to students and model appropriate student behavior.
Resource	A form of support or aid to help students be successful in college. Resources can be in the form of money, educational materials, or physical items.
Resume	A document used to apply for jobs that highlights skills, past experience, and education.
ROAR (Registration, Orientation, and Academic Readiness)	ROAR is the start of our orientation program and provides you with essential resources and information to prepare you to transition to college. ROAR will provide information about your first-semester classes and introduce you to our Catholic, Mercy heritage, campus resources and support services -- people and areas that will enrich your Saint Xavier University experience. ROAR stands for Registration, Orientation, and Academic Readiness.
RSO (Registered Student Organization)	A student club centered around a particular area of interest which can be social, educational, recreational, or service-related

Term	Definition
Sanction	A disciplinary action against a student who violates the code of conduct.
SAT	An entrance exam used by colleges and universities to make admission decisions. This exam measures students' writing, critical thinking, and math abilities. In contrast to the ACT, science is not measured.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)	A status that indicates a student is adequately progressing toward their degree. Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress may lose their ability to receive financial aid.
Scholarship	A form of financial aid awarded to students that does not need to be paid back.
School	A branch of the College of Nursing, Health Sciences and Business, including the Graham School of Management and the School of Nursing.
Semester	A period of time in which a university holds courses typically not exceeding 16 weeks. Saint Xavier University has fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Senior	A student that has completed 90-120 credit hours.
SOC (Student Organization Center)	A workplace and meeting space for student leaders and registered student organizations.
Social Science	A categorization of classes which include psychology, sociology, criminal justice, and anthropology to name a few.
Soft Skills	Interpersonal and non-technical skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, adaptability) that are critical in the workplace.
Sophomore	A student that has completed between 30-59 credit hours.
STAR Method (Also Called SOAR Method)	A structured approach for answering behavioral interview questions (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Student Accounts	An office that helps students with their tuition bill.
Student Advising Center	A center that provides academic advising to students
Student Life	This office on campus encourages student involvement and oversees student activities, student leadership, and registered student organizations.
Student Planning	A system that students use to register for their classes and track academic progress.
Student Success Academy	The Student Success Academy (SSA) is a summer bridge program for a select group of incoming first-year students and focuses on developing the necessary skills required for advanced learning at the college level. The program is hosted by the Center for Learning & Student Support in the summer prior to the start of the fall semester.
Study Abroad Program	A program that allows a student to live and study in another country.
Subsidized Student Loan	A student loan that does not accrue interest while a student is in school and payments can be deferred until after graduation.
Syllabus	A document provided by professors which outlines course expectations, due dates, office hours, and other important information about a class.
Synchronous	This refers to activities or interactions that occur in real-time, where participants are engaged simultaneously. For instance, a live video conference or a classroom lecture would be synchronous, as everyone is participating at the same time.
Synergy Conference	A student-led leadership conference that typically occurs in the spring semester.

Term	Definition
Technical Skills	Job-specific knowledge or abilities (e.g., coding, data analysis, lab techniques).
Term	Another term for semester.
The Hub	An information technology department that assists students with their technology needs.
Title IV	Title IV federal student funds are used to cover tuition and fees for eligible courses that are part of a student's degree program. A student can only receive Title IV funding for courses that are part of their eligible degree program, including both required courses and elective courses. If a student has already completed the maximum number of eligible courses, any additional courses taken would not be eligible for Title IV funding.
Transcript	An official record that lists the courses a student has taken along with grades.
Transfer Credits	Credits taken at another institution outside Saint Xavier University that a student would like to transfer in to receive academic credit.
Transfer Student	A college student that has taken courses at another college before enrolling at Saint Xavier University.
Transferable Skills	Skills applicable across multiple jobs and industries (e.g., problem-solving, communication, organization).
Transitions	A first-year college course all students take their first semester to help with the transition to college life.
TRIO	An office that provides support services for students who are first generation, low-income, and or students with disabilities.
Tuition	The cost of taking courses at a university. This cost typically does not include housing and food, fees, and books.
Tutor	A student that provides assistance in learning course materials in a particular subject area. Tutors work in the Center for Learning & Student Support.

Term	Definition
Undergraduate	A student pursuing a bachelor degree.
Unsubsidized Loan	A loan that accrues interest while a student is in school.

Term	Definition
Virtual Career Fair	An online event where students interact with employers via video or chat.
Virtual Learning	Taking classes online instead of in person, either partially or fully, using digital tools like video lectures and discussion boards.
Vocational Training	Education that prepares you for a specific trade or career, such as welding, cosmetology, or medical assisting.

Term	Definition
WAC (Warde Academic Center)	A building on the Saint Xavier University campus that houses majority of the student services offices.
Waitlist	An option that allows students to add themselves to a list of queue for a class that is full. Students on the waitlist are admitted to a class if an enrolled student drops the course.
Withdrawal	Pulling out of a course after the initial drop date. Withdrawing appears as a “W” on transcripts
Writing Consultant	A tutor that provides assistance in writing assignments across all disciples. Writing consultants work in the Center for Learning & Student Support.
WXAV	The official radio station of Saint Xavier University.

Term	Definition
Xavierite	The official newspaper of Saint Xavier University.