WCC Lingo

Wondering to yourself what the heck does that mean? Below are some frequently used terms and defintions to help:

CREDIT HOURS
Each course is assigned a given number of credits based on the standard principle of one (1) credit per hour of class per week. (There are exceptions!)

CERTIFICATE
These programs are designed for students interested in upgrading their skills. It prepares students for immediate employment in a variety of skilled occupations.

ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS
These are agreements signed between WCC and four-year colleges and universities. These agreements outline the degree requirements for transferring to parallel programs at those institutions. They also insure WCC graduates junior status with the opportunity to complete their baccalaureate degree in two (2) years. Agreements are on file in the resource room (STC-201).

AUDITING
This allows students to take a course for no credit. A student must formally register for the course after receiving permission to do so from the instructor.

CURRICULUM
A particular course of study in a special field.

FREE ELECTIVE
This is when students may select credit courses to complete a program after all required courses have been completed.

FULL-TIME
A student who has registered for 12 or more credits in the fall or spring semester.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
The average of the grades students receive for completed college courses. A semester GPA is computed at the end of each term. A student’s cumulative GPA is the average score for all grades from all completed courses from all terms completed by the student.

INDEPENDENT STUDY
A program in which the student carries out learning activities outside of the classroom.

LIBERAL ARTS
Generally, a course of study which allows for a broad educational experience in the humanities, social sciences or sciences.

LOAD
The number of credits a student is carrying for a particular semester.

MAJOR
A concentration in a specific field of study.

MATRICULATION
The status assigned to a student who is officially registered in a program of study leading to a degree.

PART-TIME STUDENT
A student who is taking less than 12 credits.

PREREQUISITE
A specific requirement or course which must be met before a student is eligible to take an upper level course.

PROBATION
Restricts a student from taking more than fourteen (14) credits. This usually is the result of a student’s GPA falling below 1.75 when the student is taking nine (9) or more credits. This applies to students who have passed fewer than thirty-two (32) cumulative credits.

REGISTRATION
This is the process when students sign up-up for classes to take in the Fall or Spring semesters.

TRANSCRIPT
An official record of courses taken by an individual student at an educational institution. Grades and credits earned are a part of this record.

TUITION
A sum of money which must be paid for taking courses at an educational institution.

WITHDRAWAL FROM A CLASS
To remove a course from one’s schedule after a student has registered for the course, which may have a scholastic impact on the student’s academic record. Class withdrawals must be done in person at the registrar's office.

Withdrawal prior to the fourth week of the semester: This is referred to as “dropping” a class. No letter grade or scholastic penalty will be issued on a student’s transcript for courses that are dropped.

Withdrawal up to the halfway point in a semester: Students may withdraw without scholastic penalty up to halfway through a semester. The withdrawal will be noted on a student’s transcript as a “W” and will not be calculated into a student’s GPA.

Withdrawal after the semester’s halfway point: After the halfway point in the session, only a professor may initiate a withdrawal. Withdrawals will only be granted if there are personal emergency circumstances that warrant this action. This type of withdrawal from class is noted on your record as either “WP” (Withdrawal Passing) or “WF” (Withdrawal Failure).