Glossary
Academic Year:
The academic year at a university can be divided-up into four quarters (fall, winter, spring and summer) or into semesters, depending on the terms established by the university. Each quarter or semester will last for at least 10 weeks. At the end of each quarter or semester, there is a final exam period. There is also a short break between each quarter/semester.
Assignment:
Out-of-class work required by a professor, for example, reading books, writing papers, or doing a lab report. Your professor will expect the assignment by a certain date.
Credit Hours:
The quantity of work a student does at university is measured in credit hours. The number of credit hours a course is worth is usually based on the number of hours it meets each week. To complete your degree, you must have a specific number of credit hours in relation to the amount required per major.
Department of Homeland Security:
A Cabinet level department responsible for securing the nation’s borders and managing the immigration process.
Final:
An exam given at the end of a quarter, usually on all the academic material covered in class.
Grades:
The quality of a student’s academic work is measured by letter grades; A (excellent), B (above average), C (average), D (lowest acceptable), F (failing).
I-20 Form:
A certificate of eligibility for an F-1 student visa or F-1 immigration status.
Major:
The field in which you are trying to earn your degree.
Mid-Term:
A test given around the middle of each quarter/semester.
Passport:
A document issued by an authority of a particular country proving citizenship status.
Quarter:
A term of academic study typically lasting 10 weeks.
Semester:
A term of academic study typically lasting 15 weeks.
Quiz:
A test given during the quarter/semester, sometimes unannounced.
SEVIS:
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. The electronic reporting and record keeping system that eventually will be part of every non-immigrant student office with direct connections to ICE officers and US embassies and consulates abroad. SEVIS requires the college to record, on an “events-based” schedule, I-20 issuance, work recommendations and authorizations, student violations, etc.
Visa:
A travel stamp issued by the US Department of State. It does not grant permission to enter or remain in the United States. It allows the holder of the visa to apply at a port of entry for admission to the USA. At the port of entry, the decision on whether or not to admit the individual, and in which status, is made by an entirely different agency of government, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Prospective Student Athlete (PSA):
Any High School aged student athlete entering into their 3rd Year of secondary education.
Student-Athlete:
A student playing sports for a college or university must adhere to all NCAA, institutional and athletic department regulations regarding academics and athletics.
Captain of Team/Program:
Each coach will define different roles for a team captain. Generally, the captain will act as a liaison between the members of a team and the coaches.
Sports Psychologist/Counsellor:
This adult is a member of an athletic department’s support and medical staff. A coach may utilize the counsellor/psychologist for performance enhancement of the student athlete may utilize the counsellor to help with personal problems.
Sports Nutrition Expert:
As a member of an athletic department’s support and medical staff, a nutritionist may work in conjunction with the athletic training staff to provide nutritional education for student-athletes. The nutrition expert may work in conjunction with the counselling staff or additional medical staff in the treatment of eating disorders or weight management issues.
Team Physician:
A qualified and licensed medical doctor oversees the medical care of the student athletes. An athletic program may have a variety of different specialists on staff (i.e. orthopaedic, family practitioner, dentist, etc).
Academic Support Coordinator:
As a member of an athletic department’s support staff, this person supervises student athletes in all academic areas. The function of an Academic Support Coordinator may include class scheduling, study hall supervision, tutoring and any additional academic related functions.
Senior Women’s Administrator:
This member of the university personnel assists the senior athletic department staff to ensure the representation of women’s interests, including equity and gender based issues.
Director of Compliance:
The role of the Compliance Department is to monitor, assist and administer all conference and NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA rules and regulations. All department staff and student athletes are required to follow all rules including eligibility, financial aid, recruitment etc. The Director of Compliance may also function as a liaison between the Department of Athletics and the Offices of Admissions, Registrar, Financial Aid and any additional administrative offices.
Sports Information Director (SID):
The SID is responsible for all the media publications and press-releases regarding athletics and student athletes.
Director of Facilities:
This member of the university’s staff is responsible for the up-keep, scheduling and usage of an athletic department’s facilities.
Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR):
The FAR is a full-time member of the institution’s faculty who works with the senior members of the athletic department to uphold the academic integrity of the institution. The FAR also ensures the welfare of the student athlete and makes certain that academic services are available to all student-athletes at the institution. In addition, the FAR sits on any committee formed to address any student athlete appeals for example, transfer requests).
Associate/Assistant Athletic Director:
This member of the university’s personnel assists the Director of Athletics in overseeing designated areas or sports of the Athletic Department. The Assistant AD may act as a liaison between the Director of Athletics and the coaching staff. Additionally, the Assistance AD is the first administrator above the coach that will be able to help student athletes.
Athletic Director/Director of Athletics:
The AD is responsible for the overall management of the department, including the supervision of the Compliance Office, all coaches and support staff. The AD reports directly to the President/Chancellor of the institution.
President/Chancellor:
The President of the college or university administers the total program of the academic institution, including athletics.
Written Correspondence:
Letter, note, postcard, email, text message, instant message or fax
Coach-to-Coach Contact:
Unlimited conversation between college coaches and your club/team coaches.
Unofficial Visit:
A campus visit where the student-athlete visits the educational institution at his or her own expense. There are no limitations on the amount of unofficial visits a potential student athlete is allowed to have.
Official Visit:
A campus visit where the institution pays for the visit. A potential student athlete is only allowed to have a maximum of five official visits per annum.
Home Visit:
A visit by the college coach to the home of the potential student athlete.
SAT Exam:
Standardized test used for NCAA eligibility and college placement.
ACT Exam:
Standardized test used for NCAA eligibility and college placement.
Contact:
Off campus face-to-face encounter between the potential student athlete and coach; this can take place a maximum of four times.
Evaluation:
When a coach can assess the academic and athletic abilities of a potential student athlete.
Quiet Period:
No off-campus contacts or evaluations although on-campus contacts are permitted.
Dead Period:
No in-person contacts or evaluations on or off campus.
National Letter of Intent (NLI):
Signed commitment to attend and compete at an educational institution.
NCAA Eligibility Centre:
A department within the NCAA that decides if an incoming student athlete has met the minimum academic standards to participate in college athletics.
Redshirt:
The NCAA defines a redshirt season as one in which the student athlete does not participate against outside competition for the institution in which they are enrolled. Students can become ‘redshirts’ if they are unable to compete due to medical reasons, they are academically ineligible, or possibly not ready to meet with the physical demands of college sport. Just one second of competition counts as a season of competition. However, there are medical exceptions which allow an athlete who has participated in less than 20% of the seasons fixtures to be deemed a ‘redshirt’ without losing a year of eligibility.
Freshman:
A student in their first year of college education.
Sophomore:
A student in their second year of college education.
Junior:
A student in their third year of college education.
Senior:
A student in their fourth and final year of college education.
Fraternities & Sororities:
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students, present mainly at colleges and universities in North America. Typically, fraternities are single-sex, initiatory organizations and membership is considered active during the undergraduate years only. Fraternities may sometimes be considered mutual aid societies, providing academic and social activities. Some groups also maintain a fraternity house, providing residential and dining facilities for members.
Walk-On Athlete:
Seek to be a part of the athletic program of the college they are attending and will participate in a ‘trial’ or ‘scrimmage’ match to impress the coach and gain a spot on the team. Some programs are more open to this than others.
Recruited Walk-On Athlete:
Are potential student athletes that are asked to join the program but receive no financial or admission assistance from the college’s athletic department.
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