Learning the Lingo

Welcome to university! Like anything, university life has its own language, so it is important to “learn the lingo.” This will save you a lot of confusion, and you will look like a university pro.

Advisor: Faculty member who assists students in planning their courses and helps them determine their university goals. Once you have declared a major, your advisor is a professor in your major department.

Academic Probation: A student goes on academic probation when he/she is not making good grades. If the student does not improve his/her GPA, C-N may have to dismiss the student from school. Specifics are outlined in the Carson-Newman University Catalog.

Add/Drop: A student may add an additional class to their schedule within the first week of classes. A student may drop a class within a certain period of time during the semester. To determine those dates, a student should refer to the university calendar.

BCM: Baptist Collegiate Ministry, the “umbrella” of the many Christian organizations on campus.

The Cafe: Stokely cafeteria - the main dining place on campus.

C-N Connect: Your personal web connection. You will be assigned a password as soon as you register. You will be able to access your transcripts, financial aid, bills, etc.

Commencement: Graduation.

Community Life & Worship (CLW): Students at C-N are required to attend 10 CLWs a semester. CLWs include traditional chapel-type services, as well as concerts, plays, lectures, etc. CLWs are an important part of the culture of C-N.

Convocation: The formal opening assembly of each school year.

Core classes: Required classes that students take for their major.

Course numbering system: All classes have a course number and a section number. Freshman level classes are 100 level; sophomore level courses are 200 level; junior level classes are 300 level; and senior level classes are 400 level. The different sections of a specific class are annotated by a letter. For example English 101 Section A.

Credit: Recognition awarded for successful completion of coursework = credit hour.

Degree plan: A student will meet with an advisor to complete his/her degree plan when that student has 96 credit hours. A degree plan summarizes the credits the student has already earned to meet graduation requirements, and indicates the remaining requirements to be completed during the final year.

The Eagles Nest: The snack bar located in the Maddox Student Activity Center. You can use your Eagle Bucks there.

Eagle Bucks: Each student has $100 per semester in Eagle Bucks on his/her meal card. You can use these in the Eagles Nest or the Convenience Store in Butler Residence Hall.

Electives: Optional classes that you don’t have to take for your major or to fulfill a general education requirement.

Fite: The Fite Administration Building houses the Admissions Office, the Registrars Office, the Financial Aid Office, the Treasurers Office, the Presidents Office, as well as many other Administrative offices.

Freshman Fifteen: Weight gained during a student’s freshman year. Stress, lack of exercise and late night binges can contribute the freshman fifteen.

Full-time student: A student who is taking at least 12 credit hours in a semester.

General Education: Areas of learning deemed to be the common experience for students in all majors.

Independent study: A program where students can take a course under the direction of a professor and receive credit. The course is not taken in a classroom setting - all of the work is done outside of class.

Java City:  The on-campus coffee shop located in the Library.

Liberal Arts: C-N is liberal arts university. This means that you will be taking a variety of courses from several different disciplines, such as English, History, Religion, Biology, etc. We want our students to have a well rounded education, and we believe that having a broad based knowledge of subjects is essential.

MSAC: Maddox Student Activity Center.

Major: A student’s chosen field of study.

Midterms: Tests given halfway during the semester to determine a student’s progress.

Midterm grades: Faculty will post D’s or F’s for students who have those grades at the midterm point. Most only post these for freshman and sophomores. Students can check their grades on C-N Connect.

Minor: A student’s secondary field of study.

Plagiarism: Using someone’s ideas or phrases as your own. With the ease of internet these days, this has really become a problem. Make sure to use your own words when writing papers or taking essay tests. Learn how to site references correctly.

Probation (academic): Status resulting from unsatisfactory academic performance. The student’s GPA is less than the minimum requirement for academic good standing.

Probation (disciplinary): Status resulting from unsatisfactory conduct apart from academic performance. This is usually handled through the Student Affairs division.

Registration: This includes selecting and registering for your classes with your faculty advisor, updating your ID and paying your bill.

Resident Advisor (RA): Upperclassmen who live in the residence halls and enforce housing rules. These advisors assist students with problems.

Residence Life Coordinator (RLC): Professional staff who live in the residence halls and oversee the RA staff and the operation of the halls.

Registrar: School office that maintains student transcripts. At C-N, this office is responsible for class registration.

Transcript: A document that shows a student’s classes and grades.

Withdrawal: The termination of a student’s attendance in one or all classes before the end of the semester.

Work-study program: Campus jobs are available for students who are eligible for financial aid. A student will be notified by the financial aid office of their eligibility