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Definitions

Certain terms have very specific meanings in these regulations. These terms are defined as follows:

Academic Record
Each student’s IPFW cumulative record as maintained by the registrar in accordance with these academic regulations. Your IPFW academic record is the sole basis upon which all questions relating to such matters as grades, graduation requirements, academic standing, and scholastic recognition are resolved. Since official transcripts are produced using Indiana University and Purdue University procedures, your official transcript may, as noted in these regulations, vary somewhat from your IPFW academic record.
Credit
The semester hour, often also called “credit hour” or “hour.” Credit can be resident credit or transfer credit, as described below:
Resident Credit
Credit earned at IPFW or at another campus of the university through which you are enrolled at IPFW. There are two types of resident credit — course credit and special credit. Each is defined as follows:
Course Credit
Resident credit you earn on the basis of your enrollment in and satisfactory completion of courses. Special credit: resident credit awarded by IPFW and based on factors other than your enrollment in and satisfactory completion of courses. There are three types of special credit: Credit by examination: credit awarded on the basis of your achievement on a divisional or departmental proficiency examination.
Division/Department Credit
Credit for a course offered by a division/department and granted on the basis of substantially equivalent experience. Only the director/chair of the division/department that offers the course is authorized to award this type of credit.
Achievement Credit
Credit granted on the basis of your achievement on a nationally administered college-level examination.
Transfer (Nonresident) Credit
Credit earned from another university (other than IPFW or another campus of the university through which you are enrolled at IPFW). Transfer credits are evaluated by Admissions and accepted as transfer credit if completed at a regionally accredited institution with a grade of C– or better. Designations of plus and minus that accompany these grades will be disregarded in the evaluation of this credit.
Credit accepted as transfer credit will be equated to IPFW course numbers (or classified as “undistributed” if not equivalent to IPFW courses), and posted to your academic record at the time you matriculate or re-enter IPFW. The academic-record entry includes the name of the transfer institution, the years you attended, and the individual courses accepted for transfer. Your IPFW school/ division or department determines how credit earned at other institutions and accepted by IPFW applies to your plan of study, and the dean/director or chair of your IPFW school/division or department may request an adjustment of transfer-course equivalencies.
Student Classification
A system for classifying undergraduate students who have been regularly admitted to IPFW. Classification is determined by your advisor, and should reflect the credits you have accumulated or your progress toward completing the specific requirements of the degree program in which you are enrolled. When your classification is being determined for a future academic session, your advisor will also include courses and credits that you expect to complete by the time that session begins.
Classification Credits Completed Toward Degree
Freshman Normally, fewer than 30
Sophomore Normally, 30–59
Junior Normally, 60–89
Senior Normally, 90 or more

The registrar may establish additional classifications to serve IPFW’s record-keeping needs. Thus, your official transcript may show somewhat different codes.

Beginning Student
A student enrolling in college courses for the first time, or a student who has completed a small number of credits while in a temporary admission status, most often while still a high school student.
Advanced Placement
The admission of students to courses beyond the first course or courses in an established sequence, but without granting credit for earlier courses in the sequence.
Substitution
The replacement of a course required in a program with another course specified by the school/division or department that established the requirement.
Excusing
The replacement of a course required in a program with an equal number of credits from other courses not specified as “required.” Such an excuse requires approval of the school/division or department that established the course requirement.
Work Not Scheduled for a Regular Fall or Spring semester
Course work offered during a summer session or during a period of time that differs from a regular 16-week semester, and that is equivalent in content, contact hours, and credit value to course work offered during a regular semester. Because the length of the course differs from the regular semester, all deadlines and time periods will be prorated.
Intensive Course
A course that meets for extended class times but for fewer weeks than the course would meet in a standard summer session.
Pass/Not-Pass Option
An enrollment option that generally limits course grades to P (pass) and NP (not-pass). You may use the option to take only elective courses with limited concern for the grade. You may not elect this option for more than 20 percent of the credits required for graduation or in courses for which you have already earned a grade. Under the P/NP option, Indiana University students who earn a grade of D or F have that grade recorded on their official transcripts. Purdue University students who earn a grade of D or F have a grade of N recorded on their official transcripts.
Auditor
A student who enrolls in a course, attends class, pays full fees, but does not receive a grade or credit for the course.
Cheating
Dishonesty of any kind with respect to examinations, course assignments, or alteration of records.
Plagiarism
A form of cheating in which the work of someone else is offered as one’s own. The language or ideas thus taken from another may range from isolated formulae, sentences, or paragraphs, to entire articles copied from printed sources, speeches, software, or the work of other students.
Grade-Point Average (GPA)
A numerical calculation or report of grade averages. IPFW, Indiana University, and Purdue University GPAs are based on a four-point system with grades of A equated to 4.00 points, grades of F equated to 0.0 points, and other grades scaled accordingly (see 11. Grades).

Note: Prior to June 1993, Purdue University transcripts and related Purdue University records were computed on a sixpoint scale (A = 6.00) rather than the four-point scale (A = 4.00) used by IU and IPFW. Since June 1993, all IU, Purdue, and IPFW GPAs are computed using the same four-point scale (A = 4.00).

Purdue University