Terms

Calendar System

CDS Definition:

The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.

Calendar Year

TTU Definition:

A 12-month period that begins on January 1 and ends on December 31.

CIP Code

IPEDS Definition:

A six-digit code in the form xx.xxxx that identifies instructional program specialties within educational institutions.

TTU Definition:

Classification of Instructional Programs; A taxonomic coding scheme for postsecondary instructional programs, intended to standardize the organization, collection, and reporting of data about enrollment, degrees awarded, and other aspects of educational programs. The CIP is the accepted federal government statistical standard on instructional program classifications and is used in a variety of education information surveys.

Distance Education

IPEDS Definition:

Education that uses one or more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor synchronously or asynchronously. Technologies used for instruction may include the following: Internet; one-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcasts, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite or wireless communication devices; audio conferencing; and video cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs, if the cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs are used in a course in conjunction with the technologies listed above.

THECB Definition:

The formal educational process that occurs when students and instructors are not in the same physical setting for the majority (more than 50 percent) of instruction. Distance education can include courses and programs offered online, off-campus face-to-face, and electronic-to-groups.

Distance Education - Courses

CDS Definition:

An option for earning course credit at off-campus locations via cable television, internet, satellite classes, videotapes, correspondence courses, or other means.

IPEDS Definition:

A course in which the instructional content is delivered exclusively via distance education. Requirements for coming to campus for orientation, testing, or academic support services do not exclude a course from being classified as distance education.

THECB Definition:

Coordinating Board rules recognize two categories of distance education courses: fully distance education courses and hybrid/blended courses.

A fully distance education course is defined as "a course which may have mandatory face-to-face sessions totaling no more than 15 percent of the instructional time. Examples of face-to-face sessions include orientation, laboratory, exam review, or an in-person test."

A hybrid/blended course is defined as "a course in which a majority (more than 50 percent but less than 85 percent), of the planned instruction occurs when the students and instructor(s) are not in the same place."

Distance Education - Program

IPEDS Definition:

A program for which all the required coursework for program completion is able to be completed via distance education courses.

Federal Year

TTU Definition:

A 12-month period used for annual reports. Federal year runs July 1 through June 30 the following year.

Fiscal Year

TTU Definition:

A 12-month period that begins September 1 through August 31 of the following year.

STEM

TTU Definition:

STEM is an acronym to the academic disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Tuition and Fees

IPEDS Definition:

The amount of tuition and required fees covering a full academic year most frequently charged to students. These values represent what a typical student would be charged and may not be the same for all students at an institution. If tuition is charged on a per-credit-hour basis, the average full-time credit hour load for an entire academic year is used to estimate average tuition. Required fees include all fixed sum charges that are required of such a large proportion of all students that the student who does not pay the charges is an exception.

THECB Definition:

The amount of money charged to students for instructional services. Tuition may be charged per term, per course, or per credit. Required fees are those fixed sums charged to students for items not covered by tuition and are required of such a large proportion of all students that the student who does not pay the charge is an exception. The base tuition charge should be assessed only once during each term, regardless of the length of the term, or the begin date of the class.

Common Data Sets (CDS)

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Strategic Plan Data Definitions

Texas Association for Institutional Research (TAIR)

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)

TTU Internal Definitions

Classification

THECB Definition:

Rank of student as of the census date of the reporting period. Listed below are the various ranks used by the CBM reports.

• Baccalaureate - A student who has previously earned a bachelor’s degree. (CTC CBM001, CBM00S, CBM0E1)
• Continuing Education Student - Reserved for students enrolled in Continuing Education courses only for the reporting period. (CTC CBM00A)
• Doctor’s Level-Professional Practice Law - A student admitted to an approved Law program at the institution. (Univ, ICU CBM001; Univ CBM0E1)
• Doctor’s Level-Research/Scholarship - Students who are admitted to an approved doctoral degree program. This includes students who have either completed a master’s degree which the institution recognizes as the equivalent of one year’s work towards the doctoral degree on which the student is working or has earned at least 30 semester credit hours toward the proposed degree. (Univ, HRI, ICU CBM001; Univ CBM00S, CBM0E1)
• Freshman - A first year undergraduate student who has completed less than 30 semester credit hours. (Univ, CTC, HRI, ICU CBM001; Univ, CTC CBM00S, CBM0E1)
• Junior - Generally, these are students with more than 59 but less than 90 semester credit hours in a 120 hour program. (Univ, HRI, ICU CBM001; Univ. CBM00S, CBM0E1)
• Lower Division -- A student with no more than 72 semester credit hours. (CTC CBM00S)
• Master’s Level - A student with a BA or equivalent and accepted into a graduate program.
• Post-baccalaureate - A student who has previously earned a bachelor’s degree but is not enrolled in a graduate program. (Univ, HRI, ICU CBM001; Univ CBM00S, CBM0E1)
• Senior - Generally, these are students with more than 89 sch in a baccalaureate program. (Univ, HRI, ICU CBM001; Univ CBM00S, CBM0E1)
• Sophomore - Generally, these are undergraduate students who have earned more than 29 but less than 60 semester credit hours in a 120 hour program.
• Community, technical, and state colleges define sophomores as second year students or those with more than 29 but less than 72 semester credit hours. (Univ, CTC, HRI, ICU CBM001; Univ, CTC CBM00S, CBM0E1)

TTU Definition:

A classification of students, first by level, then by class. Class is determined by the progress towards a degree. At the undergraduate level, students are classified as freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior.

Degree-Seeking Student

IPEDS Definition:

Students enrolled in courses for credit and recognized by the institution as seeking a degree, certificate, or other formal award. High school students also enrolled in postsecondary courses for credit are not considered degree/certificate-seeking.

TTU Definition:

Students who are recognized as enrolled in for-credit courses in an academic program and seeking a degree upon satisfactory program completion.

Full-time Student

CDS Definition:

Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more contact hours a week each term.

IPEDS Definition:

Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more contact hours a week each term.

Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter credits, or a student involved in a thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.

Doctor’s degree - Professional practice - as defined by the institution.

THECB Definition:

In determining financial aid and graduation rates:

• An undergraduate student enrolled in 12 or more semester credit hour (SCH)s in a long semester is considered full-time.
• An academic graduate student (master’s, doctoral, or first-professional) enrolled for 9 or more semester credit hours in a long term or students involved in a thesis or dissertation preparation are considered full time by the institution.
• A first-professional medical or dental student full-time status is based on institutional definition.
• A two-year college continuing education student enrolled for 24 or more contact hours a week during a quarter is considered full-time.

TTU Definition:

A full-time undergraduate student that is enrolled in courses totaling 12 or more credit hours per semester.

A full-time graduate student is enrolled in nine or more credit hours per semester.

Part-time Student

CDS Definition:

Undergraduate: A student enrolled for fewer than 12 credits per semester or quarter, or fewer than 24 contact hours a week each term.

IPEDS Definition:

Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours a week each term.

Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.

THECB Definition:

An undergraduate student enrolled for either 11 semester credits or less or less than 24 contact hours per week each term.

A graduate student enrolled for eight semester credits or less.

TTU Definition:

An undergraduate student who is enrolled in less than 12 credit hours per semester; part-time graduate students are enrolled in less than nine credit hours per semester.

Gender

TTU Definition:

Students identify themselves as either male or female. If a student does not indicate a gender, they are reported as "unknown" or "not reported".

Level

TTU Definition:

The student’s level of enrollment (undergraduate level, graduate level, law level):

• Freshmen and Sophomore students are categorized as Lower Level.
• Junior and Senior students are categorized as Upper Level.
• Graduate students are categorized as Graduate Level.
• Law students are categorized as Law Level.

Non-Degree Seeking Student

IPEDS Definition:

A student enrolled in courses for credit who is not recognized by the institution as seeking a degree or formal award.

THECB Definition:

A student who is attending a university but who does not intend to work toward a degree; coded ’1’. Any student who has been reported as non-degree-seeking will be excluded from an initial graduation cohort. (Univ CBM001, CBM0E1)

TTU Definition:

A student enrolled in credit bearing courses who is not recognized by the college as seeking a degree or formal award.

Race and Ethnicity

CDS Definition:

Category used to describe groups to which individuals belong, identify with, or belong in the eyes of the community. The categories do not denote scientific definitions of anthropological origins. A person may be counted in only one group.

• American Indian or Alaska Native: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and maintaining tribal affiliation or community attachment.
• Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
• Hispanic or Latino: A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
• Race/ethnicity unknown: Category used to classify students or employees whose race/ethnicity is not known and whom institutions are unable to place in one of the specified racial/ethnic categories.
• Resident alien or other eligible non-citizen: A person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and who has been admitted as a legal immigrant for the purpose of obtaining permanent resident alien status (and who holds either an alien registration card [Form I-551 or I-151], a Temporary Resident Card [Form I-688], or an Arrival-Departure Record [Form I-94] with a notation that conveys legal immigrant status, such as Section 207 Refugee, Section 208 Asylee, Conditional Entrant Parolee or Cuban-Haitian).
• White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

IPEDS Definition:

Categories developed in 1997 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that are used to describe groups to which individuals belong, identify with, or belong in the eyes of the community. The categories do not denote scientific definitions of anthropological origins. The designations are used to categorize U.S. citizens, resident aliens, and other eligible non-citizens.

1. Individuals are asked to first designate ethnicity as:
   • Hispanic or Latino OR
   • Not Hispanic or Latino
2. Second, individuals are asked to indicate all races that apply among the following:
   • American Indian or Alaska Native
   • Asian
   • Black or African American
   • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
   • White

Race and ethnicity unknown: The category used to report students or employees whose race and ethnicity are not known.

THECB Definition:

A category used to describe a group to which an individual belongs, identifies with, or belongs in the eyes of the community. The categories do not denote scientific definitions of anthropological origins. A person may be counted in more than one group. (CBM001, CBM002, CBM008, CBM009, CBM00A, CBM00B, CBM00M, CBM00R, CBM00X, CBM0E1)

TTU Definition:

Categories used to describe groups to which individuals belong, identify with, or belong in the eyes of the community. The categories do not denote scientific definitions of anthropological origins.

Ethnic Origin

THECB Definition:

A code whereby students and faculty are reported in the appropriate ethnic category: 1 = Hispanic or Latino origin; 2 = Not Hispanic or Latino origin; 3 = Not answered. (CBM001, CBM002, CBM008, CBM009, CBM00A, CBM00B, CBM00M, CBM00R, CBM00X, CBM0E1)

Applicant

CDS Definition:

Applicant (first-time, first year): An individual who has fulfilled the institution’s requirements to be considered for admission (including payment or waiving of the application fee, if any) and who has been notified of one of the following actions: admission, nonadmission, placement on waiting list, or application withdrawn (by applicant or institution).

IPEDS Definition:

An individual who has fulfilled the institution’s requirements to be considered for admission (including payment or waiving of the application fee, if any) and who has been notified of one of the following actions: admission, nonadmission, placement on waiting list, or application withdrawn by applicant or institution.

TTU Definition:

Applicant (first-time, first year): An individual who has fulfilled the institution’s requirements to be considered for admission.

Admitted

CDS Definition:

Applicant who is offered admission to a degree-granting program at your institution.

IPEDS Definition:

Applicants that have been granted an official offer to enroll in a postsecondary institution.

TTU Definition:

Applicant who is offered admission status.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

CDS Definition:

(Academic high school GPA): The sum of grade points a student has earned in secondary school divided by the number of courses taken. The most common system of assigning numbers to grades counts four points for an A, three points for a B, two points for a C, one point for a D, and no points for an E or F. Unweighted GPA’s assign the same weight to each course. Weighting gives students additional points for their grades in advanced or honors courses.

Test Scores

CDS Definition:

National standardized (SAT/ACT) test scores. Include information for ALL enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted test scores. Do not include partial test scores (e.g., mathematics scores but not critical reading for a category of students) or combine other standardized test results (such as TOEFL) in this item. Do not convert SAT scores to ACT scores and vice versa. The 25th percentile is the score that 25 percent scored at or below; the 75th percentile score is the one that 25 percent scored at or above.

Test Score - ACT

IPEDS Definition:

ACT, previously known as the American College Testing program, measures educational development and readiness to pursue college-level coursework in English, mathematics, natural science, and social studies. Student performance does not reflect innate ability and is influenced by a student’s educational preparedness.

THECB Definition:

American College Test. The ACT assessment program measures educational development and readiness to pursue college-level coursework in English, mathematics, natural science, and social studies. A student who meets CB standards on designated section(s) of the ACT is exempt from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) for the related section(s). (CBM002)

Test Score - SAT

IPEDS Definition:

Previously known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, this is an examination administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and used to predict the facility with which an individual will progress in learning college-level academic subjects.

THECB Definition:

Scholastic Assessment Test. An examination administered by the Educational Testing Service and used to predict the facility with which an individual will progress in learning college-level academic subjects. A student who meets CB standards on designated section(s) of the SAT is exempt from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) for the related section(s). (CBM002)

Course Enrollment

TTU Definition:

The number of students officially enrolled in a section as of the census date.

Enrollment

CDS Definition:

Number of students enrolled as of the institution’s official fall reporting date or as of October 15.

IPEDS Definition:

This annual component of IPEDS collects data on the number of students enrolled in the fall at postsecondary institutions. Students reported are those enrolled in courses creditable toward a degree or other formal award; students enrolled in courses that are part of a vocational or occupational program, including those enrolled in off-campus or extension centers; and high school students taking regular college courses for credit. Institutions report annually the number of full and part-time students, by gender, race/ethnicity, and level (undergraduate, graduate, first-professional); the total number of undergraduate entering students (first-time, full and part-time students, transfer-ins, and non-degree students); and retention rates. In even-numbered years, data are collected for state of residence of first-time students and for the number of those students who graduated from high school or received high school equivalent certificates in the past 12 months. Also in even-numbered years, 4-year institutions are required to provide enrollment data by gender, race/ethnicity, and level for selected fields of study. In odd-numbered years, data are collected for enrollment by age category by student level and gender.

THECB Definition:

All students enrolled in credit courses at the reporting institution as of the official census date, which is the 12th class day for Fall and Spring semesters (16-week session) and the 4th class day for each of the summer terms (6-week session). To be included in this report, students must be registered by the official census date, they must be registered for one or more Coordinating Board approved course(s) for resident credit at the reporting institution whether the course is taught on-campus or off-campus (including instructional telecommunications) and the institution must collect tuition and fees in full from the student or have valid accounts receivable on record. To have a valid accounts receivable, the students are required to have a fully operational installment contract (in accordance with Chapter 54, Section 54.007 of the Texas Education Code) by the payment due date in order to be in good standing. This includes payment of half the tuition and fees as a first installment prior to the beginning of the semester and the existence of a sully-signed contract by the payment due date. Students who withdraw from all classes on or before the official census will not be included. Non-resident students taking only online courses and living outside of Texas are not included.

TTU Definition:

Registration for coursework and payment of tuition/fees constitutes official enrollment.

First Time in College (FTIC)

TTU Definition:

A first year student entering with less than 12 hours of college credit.

First Time Student

CDS Definition:

A student attending any institution for the first time at the level enrolled. Includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended a postsecondary institution for the first time at the same level in the prior summer term. Also includes students who entered with advanced standing (college credit earned before graduation from high school).

IPEDS Definition:

A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).

First Time, First-Year Student

IPEDS Definition:

FIRST TIME STUDENT: A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).

THECB Definition:

FIRST TIME FRESHMAN: An entering freshman who has never attended any college. Includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term. Also includes students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). Students who have not completed their high school work are not included. (CBM001; Univ, CTC CBM0E1).

Full Time

CDS Definition:

Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more contact hours a week each term.

IPEDS Definition:

Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more contact hours a week each term.

Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter credits, or a student involved in a thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.

Doctor’s degree - Professional practice - as defined by the institution.

THECB Definition:

In determining financial aid and graduation rates:

An undergraduate student enrolled in 12 or more semester credit hour (SCH)s in a long semester is considered full-time.

An academic graduate student (master’s, doctoral, or first-professional) enrolled for 9 or more semester credit hours in a long term or students involved in a thesis or dissertation preparation are considered full time by the institution.

A first-professional medical or dental student full-time status is based on institutional definition.

A two-year college continuing education student enrolled for 24 or more contact hours a week during a quarter is considered full-time.

TTU Definition:

A full-time undergraduate student that is enrolled in courses totaling 12 or more credit hours per semester.

A full-time graduate student is enrolled in nine or more credit hours per semester.

First Time Undergraduate Student

THECB Definition:

An undergraduate student entering college for the first-time after graduation from high school or who has never attended any college. Includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term of any college. Also includes students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). Students who have not completed their high school work are not included. (CBM001; Univ, CTC CBM0E1).

First Year Student

IPEDS Definition:

A student who has completed less than the equivalent of 1 full year of undergraduate work; that is, less than 30 semester hours (in a 120-hour degree program) or less than 900 contact hours.

THECB Definition:

Classification of a special-professional student in the first year of a medical or dental degree program. (HRI CBM001)

TTU Definition:

A student who has completed less than the equivalent of 1 full year of undergraduate work (less than 30 semester hours).

Freshman

CDS Definition:

A first-year undergraduate student.

IPEDS Definition:

A first-year undergraduate student.

THECB Definition:

A student who has completed fewer than 30 semester credit hour (SCH) in a 120 semester credit hour program. (CBM001; Univ, CTC CBM00S, CBM0E1)

Graduate Student

CDS Definition:

A student who holds a bachelor’s or equivalent, and is taking courses at the post-baccalaureate level.

IPEDS Definition:

A student who holds a bachelor’s degree or above and is taking courses at the post baccalaureate level. These students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.

THECB Definition:

A student who, after earning a baccalaureate degree, is enrolled in a course of study leading to a graduate degree (e.g., master of arts, master of science, or doctor of philosophy). (Univ, HRI, ICU CBM001; Univ CBM00S, CBM0E1)

TTU Definition:

A student who holds a bachelor’s or equivalent, is taking courses at the post baccalaureate level and is admitted to a graduate program.

New Graduate

TTU Definition:

First enrollment at Texas Tech University as a graduate student.

New Law

TTU Definition:

First enrollment at Texas Tech University as a Law student.

New Undergraduate Transfer

TTU Definition:

First enrollment at Texas Tech University as a undergraduate student after previous enrollment at another institution.

New Student Cohort

IPEDS Definition:

A specific group of students established for tracking purposes.

Student 12-Month Enrollment

IPEDS Definition:

These data were collected in the Enrollment component prior to the 2007 IPEDS collection. Data are collected for the entire 12-month academic year, while enrollment data collected in the Fall Enrollment component are fall data. Institutions report an unduplicated head count for the total number of students by gender, race/ethnicity, and level (undergraduate, graduate, first-professional) enrolled throughout the reporting period. Students included are those enrolled in any courses leading to a degree or other formal award, as well as those enrolled in courses that are part of a terminal vocational or occupational program. Institutions also report the total instructional activity for the same 12-month period for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Instructional activity data are reported in units of contact hours (sometimes referred to as clock hours) or credit hours.

Student Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment (FTE)

IPEDS Definition:

The full-time equivalent (FTE) of students is a single value providing a meaningful combination of full-time and part-time students. IPEDS data products currently have two calculations of FTE students, one using fall student headcounts and the other using 12-month instructional activity.

TTU Definition:

Student FTE is the sum of semester credit hours divided by certain denominator depending on the level of the student. Undergraduate hours divided by 15; Graduate hours divided by 12, and Law hours divided by 15. All semester credit hours, not just state-funded hours, are included.

Student End of Term Enrollment

THECB Definition:

The number of students who have not withdrawn or dropped and who were enrolled on the final day of the class if the Course End Date occurred within the reporting quarter. Students who did not qualify to be reported on the census date are not included in this total. NOTE: It is possible that a class’ end date will not occur in the same quarter as the census date. In this event, the class will be reported twice; once in the quarter in which the census date occurred with all data that is available at the time, and again in the quarter in which the end date occurs. Compare Census Date Enrollment. (CTC CBM00C)

Credit Hours

IPEDS Definition:

A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term. It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.

THECB Definition:

A unit of measure representing an hour (50 minutes) of instruction over a 15-week period in a semester system or a 10-week period in a quarter system. It is applied toward the total number of hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma, certificate or other formal award. (Univ, CTC CBM004, CBM00S)

TTU Definition:

A course’s unit of measure, representing the number of hours a student spends in-class for the course per week, which is counted toward completion of a program.

Weighted Semester Credit Hours

TTU Definition:

Total fall and spring semester credit hours taught, weighted by the funding matrix based on level and discipline. Only state-funded credit hours are included.

Persistence

CDS Definition:

Retention/Persistence: The initial cohort may be adjusted for students who departed for the following reasons: death, permanent disability, service in the armed forces, foreign aid service of the federal government or official church missions. No other adjustments to the initial cohort should be made.

THECB Definition:

Persistence Rate: The rate at which students persist in higher education, often as measured by the percentage of students who continue in higher education from one year to the succeeding year. To avoid confusion, this term is replacing the term "retention rate," which is used in the public education sector as a reference to students who are held back and not promoted to the next grade.

TTU Definition:

Persistence: A student’s continued enrollment at Texas Tech beyond any particular term.

Retention

CDS Definition:

Retention/Persistence: The initial cohort may be adjusted for students who departed for the following reasons: death, permanent disability, service in the armed forces, foreign aid service of the federal government or official church missions. No other adjustments to the initial cohort should be made.

IPEDS Definition:

A measure of the rate at which students persist in their educational program at an institution, expressed as a percentage. For four-year institutions, this is the percentage of first-time bachelors (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduates from the previous fall who are again enrolled in the current fall. For all other institutions this is the percentage of first-time degree/certificate-seeking students from the previous fall who either re-enrolled or successfully completed their program by the current fall.

THECB Definition:

Persistance Rate (Retention Rate): The rate at which students persist in higher education, often as measured by the percentage of students who continue in higher education from one year to the succeeding year. To avoid confusion, this term is replacing the term "retention rate," which is used in the public sector as a reference to students who are held back and not promoted to the next grade.

TTU Definition:

The percent of an entering cohort (typically degree-seeking, full-time freshmen) who re-enroll at TTU in the succeeding fall term. Student retention cohorts may be defined in various ways, e.g., first-time full-time, first-time part-time, etc.; likewise, the retention rate may be calculated in different ways, e.g., from the freshman to sophomore year or from the first fall enrollment through graduation date.

Degrees Awarded

CDS Definition:

From July 1 to June 30. For each of the following discipline areas, provide the percentage of diplomas/certificates, associate, and bachelor’s degrees awarded. To determine the percentage, use majors, not headcount (e.g., students with one degree but a double major will be represented twice). Calculate the percentage from your institution’s IPEDS Completions by using the sum of 1st and 2nd majors for each CIP code as the numerator and the sum of the Grand Total by 1st Majors and the Grand Total by 2nd major as the denominator. If you prefer, you can compute the percentages using 1st majors only.

IPEDS Definition:

An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for the successful completion of a program of studies.

THECB Definition:

The credential granted a student for successful completion of a set curriculum such as a degree or certificate. (CBM009)

Graduation Rates

CDS Definition:

The items in this section correspond to data elements collected by the IPEDS Web-based Data Collection System’s Graduation Rate Survey (GRS). For complete instructions and definitions of data elements, see the IPEDS GRS instructions and glossary.

IPEDS Definition:

The rate required for disclosure and/or reporting purposes under Student Right-to-Know Act. This rate is calculated as the total number of completers within 150% of normal time divided by the revised adjusted cohort.

THECB Definition:

The percentage of a given college-entering cohort of degree-seeking students who graduate in a specific period of time, normally six years. For purposes of the "Baccalaureate Graduation Rates -- First-Time-Entering Undergraduates" and "Baccalaureate Graduation Rates -- First-Time-Entering Freshmen," the cohort consists of fall first-time, full-time undergraduates (or freshmen) plus summer first-time students who continue in the fall and are full-time in the fall. The summer students need not be full time in the summer. They are evaluated for full-time status based on their fall enrollment. For two-year institutions, it is the students who graduate with an associate degree or certificate within three years. For four-year institutions, it is the students who graduate with a baccalaureate degree within six years.

TTU Definition:

A calculation based on the number of students from a given cohort that have persisted and graduated from Texas Tech. Most often, the graduation rate is calculated based on the students’ degree completion within 150 percent or normal time to degree completion, or six years.

Postsecondary Award

CDS Definition:

Includes the following three IPEDS definitions for postsecondary awards, certificates, and diplomas of varying durations and credit/contact hour requirements—

• Less Than 1 Academic Year: Requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters) or in less than 900 contact hours by a student enrolled full-time.
• At Least 1 But Less Than 2 Academic Years: Requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years, or designed for completion in at least 30 but less than 60 credit hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact hours.
• At Least 2 But Less Than 4 Academic Years: Requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years, or designed for completion in at least 60 but less than 120 credit hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact hours.

IPEDS Definition:

An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters), or designed for completion in less than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or in less than 45 quarter credit hours, or in less than 900 contact or clock hours.

Doctoral Time To Degree

TTU Definition:

Average of the total time elapsed from the start of any graduate school within the same institution to completion of the doctorate. Includes all doctoral degrees awarded in the prior fiscal year.

Student/Faculty Ratio

CDS Definition:

Report the Fall ratio of full-time equivalent students (full-time plus 1/3 part time) to full-time equivalent instructional faculty (full time plus 1/3 part time). In the ratio calculations, exclude both faculty and students in stand-alone graduate or professional programs such as medicine, law, veterinary, dentistry, social work, business, or public health in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students. Do not count undergraduate or graduate student teaching assistants as faculty.

IPEDS Definition:

The ratio of FTE students to FTE instructional staff i.e., students divided by staff. Students enrolled in "stand-alone" graduate or professional programs and instructional staff teaching in these programs are excluded from both full-time and part-time counts. "Stand-alone" graduate or professional programs are those programs such as medicine, law, veterinary, dentistry, social work, or public health, in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students (also referred to as "independent" programs). Each FTE value is equal to the number of full-time students/staff plus 1/3 the number of part-time students/staff.

THECB Definition:

Determined using a formula by dividing student FTE by faculty FTE of the same level.

TTU Definition:

The ratio of full-time equivalent students to full-time equivalent instructional faculty.

Faculty Definition (Who are included in the faculty headcount?)

THECB Definition:

The number of individual persons who are members of the faculty. Includes both part-time and full-time individuals. (CBM008)

TTU Definition:

All employees with instructional appointments and whose 9-month salary is greater than zero.

Faculty

CDS Definition:

Faculty employed on a full-time basis for instruction. (including those with released time for research)

IPEDS Definition:

Persons identified by the institution as such and typically those whose initial assignments are made for the purpose of conducting instruction, research or public service as a principal activity (or activities). They may hold academic rank titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, lecturer or the equivalent of any of those academic ranks. Faculty may also include the chancellor/president, provost, vice provosts, deans, directors or the equivalent, as well as associate deans, assistant deans and executive officers of academic departments (chairpersons, heads or the equivalent) if their principal activity is instruction combined with research and/or public service. The designation as "faculty" is separate from the activities to which they may be currently assigned. For example, a newly appointed president of an institution may also be appointed as a faculty member. Graduate, instruction, and research assistants are not included in this category.

THECB Definition:

People hired to teach classes at an institution of higher education or whose specific assignments are for the purpose of conducting instruction, research, or public service as a principal activity (or activities) and who may hold academic rank titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, other faculty or the equivalent of any of these academic ranks. (CBM008)

TTU Definition:

All employees with instructional appointments.

Full-Time and Part-Time Faculty

TTU Definition:

Full-time and part-time status as designated by TTU Human Resources.

Minority Faculty

TTU Definition:

Faculty with an ethnicity group of American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino.

Ranked Faculty

THECB Definition:

Relative standing assigned by the institution to a faculty member. The data summary for ’rank’ on the CBM008 is based on this field minus flexible-entry-only records. (CBM008)

TTU Definition:

Professorial ranks are: Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor.

Tenured

THECB Definition:

Defined as the status of a personnel position, or a person occupying a position or occupation, with respect to permanence of the position. It is the academic tradition of guaranteeing continuing employment to faculty members who have demonstrated a high level of performance in the areas of research, teaching, and service. Tenure decisions are usually made for tenure track faculty in the fifth year of employment. The data summary of ’tenure’ on the CBM008 edit is based on this field, not including "Flexible Entry only" records. A similar tenure item is on the university class report, CBM004, since the faculty report is not reported early enough in the funding terms of an appropriation year to be used to determine how many undergraduate classes are taught by tenure or tenure-track faculty. Certain faculty reported with no tenure, but who have special qualifications, are identified on the class report so they may be used in the undergraduate SCH taught computation if approved by the legislature. The additional categories are faculty with a terminal degree in the discipline, faculty with appropriate professional certification, and faculty who have extensive and recognized accomplishment in a field. (Univ CBM004; Univ, HRI CBM008) degree/certificate-seeking.

TTU Definition:

Faculty who earn tenure are afforded the right to regular annual appointments subject to the conditions of employment and assignments in effect each year.

Tenure-Track

THECB Definition:

Positions that lead to consideration for tenure. (Univ CBM004; Univ, HRI CBM008)

TTU Definition:

A status with which tenure may be possible. Faculty members in this status are typically working toward the tenure requirements.

Non-Tenured

THECB Definition:

A faculty member who is not seeking tenure. (CBM008)

TTU Definition:

Non-Tenure Track faculty are those who teach part-time or those who are full-time but do not have tenure-track status. These faculty hold title such as Instructor, Lecturer, Visiting Faculty, Adjunct Faculty, Research Scientist, and Research Professor.

Teaching Assistant (TA)

THECB Definition:

A graduate student who is teaching and/or assists a faculty member in teaching a class or laboratory (excluded are those who only serve as graders). (CBM008)

TTU Definition:

A graduate student who is teaching and/or assists a faculty member in teaching.

Graduate Part-Time Instructor (GPTI)

TTU Definition:

A graduate student who is teaching and/or assists a faculty member in teaching.

Instructional Appointment

TTU Definition:

Instructional Appointments include:

1. Direct instructional activities which include interaction with students and
2. Administrative assignments which directly supplement the teaching functions.

Student Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

TTU Definition:

Student FTE is the sum of semester credit hours divided by certain denominator depending on the level of the student. Undergraduate hours divided by 15, Graduate hours divided by 12, and Law hours divided by 15. All semester credit hours, not just state-funded hours, are included.

Faculty Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

TTU Definition:

Total of all instructional appointments as defined by the THECB. Instructional Appointments include:

2. Direct instructional activities which include interaction with students and
3. Administrative assignments which directly supplement the teaching functions.

Faculty Teaching Staff Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

TTU Definition:

Total of all instructional appointments including Teaching Assistants and Graduate Part-time instructors as defined by the THECB. Instructional Appointments include:

1. Direct instructional activities which include interaction with students and
2. Administrative assignments which directly supplement the teaching functions.

Faculty Workload

TTU Definition:

Please see OP 32.18: Academic Workload Calculation.