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The following are terms typically used within higher education and how Washington Adventist University defines a specific terminology.
- Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar is a schedule of all of the academic events that occur in an academic school year. These events include dates specific to beginning and ending of each term/semester, deadlines to add/drop or withdraw, holidays, etc.
The Academic Calendar is printed in the institution’s Academic Catalog and posted on the website. Calendar dates may get adjusted after the printing of the Academic Catalog, however the calendar on the website will be the most updated. See ACADEMIC CALENDAR .
- Academic Catalog (Bulletin)
The Academic Catalog, formerly known as the Academic Bulletin, is an official publication of Washington Adventist University. It describes the program offerings and the academic policies and procedures of the university. Every reasonable effort has been made to present factually accurate information.
However, the provisions of the Catalog are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between the university and the student. The contents of the Catalog, including tuition, charges, and fees are subject to change through normal administrative channels. Revisions are publicized by appropriate means each school year.
Any regulations adopted during the school year and announced to the students have the same force as if they were published in this Academic Catalog, which can also be known as the catalog. However, Washington Adventist University uses Academic Catalog when referring to the publication.
- Academic Honors
Washington Adventist University defines two honors groups at the end of each semester based on grade-point averages received for that semester. See ACADEMIC HONORS in the Academic Status section for details on Dean’s List and Honor Roll.
- Academic School Year
The annual time in which an institution holds classes. Washington Adventist University’s Academic Calendar typically begins in August and ends in July.
- Academic Standing
At the conclusion of the fall and spring semesters, a student’s progress is evaluated and a specific Academic Standing is assigned based on how a student has performed during the semester. This is intended to alert the student and adviser, as early as possible, to any problem that may negatively impact the students’ progress and provide ways to intercede in order to improve a student’s ability to progress.
See ACADEMIC STANDING for policy and descriptions .
- Academic Status
A student’s academic status is a general indication of that student’s eligibility to remain in school, possibly receive scholarships, earn honors, be able to obtain a student leadership position and get into certain national honor societies, etc. See ACADEMIC STATUS .
- Academic Term
Washington Adventist University defines an academic term as a portion of an academic year, the time during which the institution holds classes.
The university is under the semester system and operates as follows:
The Washington Adventist University Academic Calendar is broken out into roughly three 15-week terms. During the Fall and Spring the terms are categorized as semesters and last 15 weeks. The Summer is categorized as a term, and is divided into three sessions within the term that are roughly a month long.
Note: The SGPS (School of Graduate and Professional Studies) typically offers two 8-week long courses within a given term (Fall, Spring and Summer). During the Summer term the length of the courses may shift from 8 weeks to 7 weeks depending on the academic school year.
See ACADEMIC CALENDAR for specific term dates .
- Class Load
Instructional time means time during which a school is responsible for a student and the student is required or expected to be actively engaged in a learning activity. Instructional time is determined based upon the number of credit hours assigned to a course. A credit hour is a measure of workload at a university which is roughly equivalent to 1 hour per week.
- Class Standing
Students are classified according to the total number of semester hours they have completed. Washington Adventist University defines class standing as follows:
| Freshman |
Less than 30 semester hours |
| Sophomore |
30-59 semester hours |
| Junior |
60-89 semester hours |
| Senior |
90 or more semester hours |
- Course Examination
Credit is not granted in courses unless the student completes the required examinations and assignments, as prescribed by the instructor. Adherence to the published examination schedule is expected.
- Credit by Examination
A means by which students can earn academic credit for learning achieved in nontraditional ways.
See NON-TRADITIONAL CREDITS/ COURSE COMPETENCY PATHWAYS - Credit by examination for exam policies, fees and descriptions .
- Full-Time Status
An undergraduate student carrying 12 or more hours per semester, or a graduate student enrolled in six or more credits per semester, is considered to be a full-time student.
- Normal Study Load Limit
A normal study load is 12-18 semester hours. A student of exceptional ability may register for additional study with the approval of the academic adviser, the Student Financial Services office and the provost by submitting an overload request form found in the Office of the Registrar. A student placed on academic probation may not enroll for more than 13 semester hours. A course in which an incomplete still exists is considered in judging the course load of the student for the following semester.
- Program Length
The length of time in which a student typically takes to complete graduation requirements for a particular program. For estimated lengths of Washington Adventist University’s programs, see ACADEMIC DEGREE PROGRAMS .
- Term/Semester
The time during which the institution holds classes. A semester has a specific timeframe within an academic school year while “term” means length of time. It can refer to any block of time during the school year and has no specific length of time associated with it. A semester can be classified as a term, but not every term can be classified as a semester.
- Units of Credit
Credit is indicated in semester hours and, in accordance with federal regulations, a credit hour is an amount of student work, represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement, that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
- One semester credit hour is awarded for a minimum of 750 minutes of formalized classroom or directed faculty instruction and a minimum of 1500 minutes, based upon two additional hours of student work for each hour in class, for each week for approximately 15 weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
- At least an equivalent amount of work as required in Paragraph 1 of this definition for other academic activities as established by the university, including laboratory work, internships, practicums, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of a credit hour.
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