10 Glossary of Terms Used in This Calendar

In this calendar “Grenfell Campus” or “Grenfell " refers to Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, "Labrador Campus" refers to Labrador Campus of Memorial University, and “Marine Institute” refers to the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. “University”, when capitalized, refers to Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Academic standing:

is an enrolment status normally determined each semester by a regular evaluation procedure used to assess whether or not students are meeting the standards prescribed for continuing in the University and/or their programs.

Academic unit:

refers to a centre, department, division, faculty, program or school, other than an administrative unit, as the context requires.

Academic year:

runs from September 1 to August 31.

Accelerated course:

is a course that is offered in a shorter time frame than a semester or session.

Administrative unit:

refers to an office, division or centre, other than an academic unit, as listed on the University website.

Appeal:

is the challenge of, or the request for review of, a judgment regarding the application of regulations.

Assignment:

is an evaluative exercise including but not limited to assigned work, term papers and projects.

Asynchronous:

a course component where students and the instructor engage with course content and each other at different times, over a prescribed range of time (e.g., a day, a week), without the need to be in the same location.

Certificate:

is an academic designation awarded for the completion of a specified program of study which is of shorter duration than a degree or diploma.

Challenge for credit:

is the request for consideration of academic credit resulting from experience or knowledge gained elsewhere for which transfer credit cannot be awarded.

Convocation:

is a large formal gathering where a graduation often takes place.

Co-requisite course:

is a course which may be taken concurrently with or successfully completed prior to the course for which it is required.

Course:

is a unit of work in a particular subject normally extending through one semester or session, the successful completion of which normally carries credit toward the fulfilment of the requirements of certain degrees, diplomas or certificates.

Course number:

courses are designated by four characters. The first character signifies the level of the course. Where all four characters are numeric, the last three are used by academic units to indicate various information such as course sequence and area of study. Where the last character is alphabetic, the letter:

• A or B identifies a linked course. No credits or points are given until the "B" part is successfully completed.
• C identifies an English course that does not carry credit towards a degree, diploma or certificate.
• F identifies a foundation course that is intended to remedy a specific academic weakness and does not carry credit towards a degree, diploma or certificate.
• L identifies a period of university-level learning involving residency outside of Canada, normally through the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
• T identifies an undergraduate teaching internship offered by the Faculty of Education.
• W identifies a course in either a work term in a co-operative program or a special project in certain of the professional schools and faculties and may or may not be assigned credit hours.
• X identifies a course which represents an entire semester's work and carries at least 15 credit hours.

Courses offered outside of the normal time frame:

are those with different start and/or end dates than those of the semester or session.

Credit hour:

is the measure used to reflect the relative weight of a given course toward the fulfilment of appropriate degree, diploma, certificate, major, minor, or other program requirements. A weight of 1 credit hour normally means that the course meets for lectures one hour per week for the duration of a semester or two hours per week for the duration of a session. Unless otherwise indicated, a course normally has a credit value of 3 credit hours.

Credit-restricted courses:

are courses which are closely related but not equivalent. Credit is limited to one of the credit-restricted courses. Normally, credit-restricted courses cannot be substituted, one for the other, to satisfy program requirements.

Cross-listed courses:

are courses which are listed under two or more academic units and which can be taken for credit from one unit only. Cross-listed courses can be substituted, one for the other, to satisfy program requirements.

Degree:

is an academic designation awarded for the completion of a specified program of study which is of longer duration than a diploma or certificate.

Diploma:

is an academic designation awarded for the completion of a specified program of study which is of shorter duration than a degree and longer duration than a certificate.

Equivalent courses:

are those which are determined to be equal for credit determination, although the subject area or course number will differ. These are normally identified with the phrase "Same as".

Examination:

is an evaluative exercise including but not limited to tests, quizzes or mid-terms, final or supplementary examinations.

Foundation course:

is a course intended to remedy a specific academic weakness and is identified by the letter "F" as the last character of the course number. A foundation course does not carry credit towards a degree, diploma or certificate.

GPA:

is the abbreviation for grade point average.

Graduand:

is someone who is eligible to graduate.

Graduate:

is someone whose academic degree, diploma, or certificate has been awarded.

Graduation:

is the awarding of an academic degree, diploma, or certificate. No formal in-person ceremony is necessary although this often occurs at a convocation.

Head of academic unit:

includes but is not limited to co-ordinator, dean, department head, division head, associate vice-president academic, vice-president, or equivalent.

In-absentia graduation:

is the awarding of a degree, diploma, or certificate without a formal in-person ceremony.

In-class work:

is any part of the evaluation in a course which is to be completed by the student in a supervised setting, at a time and location designated by the University.

Inactive courses:

are courses which have not been offered in the previous three academic years and which are not scheduled to be offered in the current academic year.

Last week of the lecturing period in a semester or session:

consists of the final five days of lectures, including statutory holidays on days when lectures would otherwise be held, in a semester or session.

Lecturing period:

is a designated period of lectures within a semester or session as defined by the University Diary.

Linked course:

is a course comprising two components and is normally identified by the letter "A" or "B" as the last character of the course number. No credits or points are given until the "B" part is successfully completed.

Major:

is a subject or field of study which a student normally specializes in during the course of degree studies.

Minor:

is a subject or field of study which a student normally pursues secondary to a major during the course of degree studies.

Online course

is a for credit university course delivered entirely over the Internet. Examinations may be written at exam sites or online. Students access course materials and participate in course activities through Memorial University of Newfoundland's learning management system.

Parchment:

is the paper on which a student’s academic credential is detailed after it has been awarded.

Prerequisite course:

is a course which must be successfully completed prior to commencing the course for which it is required.

Program:

is a series of courses, the successful completion of which, if all requirements are met, qualifies the candidate for a degree, diploma or certificate.

Registration:

is the process of selecting, enrolling in, and being assessed fees for courses.

Registration period:

is, in any semester, the period extending from the first day of registration to two weeks following the first day of lectures, as stated in the . In any session, it is the period extending from the first day of registration to one week following the first day of lectures, as stated in the .

Repeatable course:

is a course that may be taken for credit in several semesters to a maximum number of credit hours. All such courses shall have specified both the number of credit hours assigned per semester and the maximum number of credit hours to be awarded.

Semester:

is a period of approximately fourteen consecutive weeks during which there are at least twelve weeks of lecture. Normally the Fall semester commences in early September, the Winter semester in early January, and the Spring semester in early May.

Session:

is a period of approximately seven consecutive weeks in the Spring semester during which there are at least six weeks of lecture. The first half of Spring semester is designated as Intersession; the second half of Spring semester is designated as Summer session.

Student Self-Service:

is a suite of e-business student services including registration and the provision of personalized student information.

Synchronous

a course component where students and the instructor engage with the course content and each other at the same time.

Take-home work:

is any part of the evaluation in a course which is to be completed by the student without supervision or a designated location, normally subject to a due date determined by the University.

Teaching and Learning:

• Asynchronous Learning is learning outside a scheduled time and place by accessing course content, activities, materials and assignments provided by an instructor through an online platform. Methods of asynchronous learning include, but not limited to, recorded presentations, self-directed projects, posted lecture notes and facilitated discussions within a learning management system.
• Learning Management System is a software application used in the development and delivery of academic courses. The system includes tools for the delivery of course content, instructor-student communications, and assessments.
• Proctored Assessments are completed under the supervision of an invigilator. These assessments may occur in-person, remotely with an invigilator, or with the assistance of technology but is always supervised.
• Remote Learning is learning that is facilitated in times of face-to-face class interruptions (e.g., a scheduled absence, a snow day or an emergency situation) through an Instructor’s preferred technology, often with asynchronous activities complemented by synchronous activities, selected to best meet course outcomes under the circumstances.
• Synchronous Learning requires students to interact with instructors in real-time through online platforms and web conferencing to engage in and learn about course content, activities, materials and assignments.

Transcript:

is the complete and unabridged report of a student's academic record.

Transfer credit:

is academic credit granted for work completed at an institution other than Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Waiver:

is the permission granted by the appropriate authority for exemption from a particular program requirement and/or a particular university regulation.