Glossary of Terms

Administrative Withdrawal

This is for students who have experienced unforeseen or extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control that have prevented the student from withdrawing from a specific course and/or and entire semester before the withdrawal deadline (i.e., death in immediate family, extended hospitalization, divorce, homelessness, etc.). Submitting the form for an Administrative Withdrawal is only a request. Each request is at the discretion of the committee’s decision. View the Administrative Withdraw Page for further details.

Asynchronous Online

Course delivery mode that is fully online and requires no scheduled meeting times. Assignments and tests will still have set deadlines. There are no location specific requirements, however, some classes may require in-person testing at an official testing center.

Audit

To attend a class, unofficially, without receiving academic credit. For more information on audited classes, view the Catalog.

Awarded Degree

Degrees are officially awarded approximately 3 weeks after the semester you applied for graduation. Degrees are awarded once all major, minor, and credit hour requirements are completed. You will receive an email notifying you when your degree has been awarded.

Census Date

Census date is the last date of the registration adjustment period, 15% of the term beginning and end date.  This date is also the last day to drop full-term classes for 50% refund.

Class or Classification

The class or classification of a student is based on the total number of MSU Denver credit hours, including approved transfer credit.

• 0-29 = Freshman classification
• 30-59 = Sophomore classification
• 60-89 = Junior classification
• 90 or more = Senior classification

College Opportunity Fund (COF)

COF provides eligible undergraduate students with a stipend that pays for a portion of in-state tuition.  If you are a resident of Colorado, you must apply and authorize COF or you will pay more of your tuition bill. Apply for your stipend at cof.college-assist.org or call 800-777-2757 (from 303 prefix, call 303-305-3394).

Commencement

A formal commencement ceremony is held at the end of the Spring and Fall semesters. Summer graduates will attend the following Fall commencement. For commencement information, call (303) 556-6226 or visit the commencement website at riug.websiteoutlok.com/commencement. Attending commencement does not guarantee you have been awarded a degree. Please refer to the definition for Awarded Degree for more information.

Corequisite

Classes that are required to be taken simultaneously with another course.

Correspondence Course

With no class meetings, correspondence courses allow students to set an independent learning pace at home. Students submit coursework to instructors via Blackboard for self-paced online classes or by postal mail for print-based classes. Depending on the format, students have six months or one year to complete a correspondence course. However, a student is technically registered ONLY during the original semester of enrollment, and is not considered a continuing student. Once course work is completed and graded, the grade will appear on the transcript for the original semester enrolled.

Course Reference Number (CRN)

5-digit number which identifies individual classes.

Cross-listed

A number of MSU Denver academic departments have agreed to offer the same course under each department’s respective prefix. Credit is given for one prefix only.

Drop

To remove yourself from a class by the drop deadline. This will result in a refund (either 100% or 50%) and be removed from your record.

Dual Mode In-Person

Course delivery mode where the class is in-person at set meeting times and places. The class will also be live-streamed to the Dual Mode Online group. Students are not able to switch between in-person and online.

Dual Mode Online

Course delivery mode where the class is held synchronously online at set meeting times. The class will also be held in-person to the Dual Mode In-Person group. Students are not able to switch between in-person and online.

Full-Time Status (Part- Time Status)

For undergraduate students: full-time status is 12 or more semester hours and half-time is six to eight semester hours; less-than half-time is five hours or less.

For graduate students: full-time status is 6 or more semester hours and half-time is at least three semester hours.

Holds

A designation on your registration file that prohibits you from adding, or dropping classes. A hold can be cleared only by the office that placed it.

Hybrid In-Person

Course delivery mode where the class is both in-person at set meeting times and places and online. The online aspect can be held at set times through live virtual meetings or as asynchronous work.

Hybrid Online

Course delivery mode where the class is completely online, but held both at set times through live virtual meetings and as asynchronous work. There are no location specific requirements.

Hyflex

Course delivery mode that allows student to choose between attending the class in-person at set meeting times and locations, fully online asynchronously (no set meeting times), or at set meeting times synchronously online through live virtual meetings. The student can choose which method they prefer each class meeting.

Independent Study

A class in which research or creative projects are carried out under the supervision of a faculty member.

In-Person

Course delivery mode where class will be in person at set scheduled times either on-campus or at another physical location.

Inter-Institutional Registration

Registration, while enrolled at MSU Denver, for courses at the Community College of Denver with which MSU Denver has an official agreement. Inter-institutional applications and forms must be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.

Student Hub

The MSU Denver Student Hub portal is where you can obtain your records and view admissions status, financial aid status, and degree audit information.  You can also update your personal information, register for classes, pay your bill, and authorize your COF (if eligible).

Student Hub

MSU Denver ID:

A unique computer generated nine-digit number, which is used as a means of identification when accessing information from academic departments, or one of the enrollment services offices.

Non-Degree Seeking

A student who is not seeking a degree from MSU Denver. These students are not eligible for financial aid.

Overload

• Undergraduate Students:
  • Semester hours in excess of 18 for fall or spring semester and 12 for summer semester. All overloads must be approved by the appropriate dean’s office. Approval depends on the student’s GPA at MSU Denver after completion of a minimum of 15 credit hours in residence. The minimum GPA required is 3.5 for an overload up to 21 credits in fall/spring semesters. The same minimum GPA is required for an overload up to 14 credits in summer semester. Overloads exceeding 21 credits in fall and spring and 14 credits in summer must be approved by the appropriate dean’s office on an individual basis. If you have not met these requirements, you may appeal to the dean in your major. If you are an undeclared major, you should appeal to the Dean of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

• Graduate Students:
  • All graduate students wanting to take more than 15 credit hours for any semester needs to speak with their graduate advisor.

Participation Deadline

The deadline to participate in a class, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus. This is the same date as census for the class. If you do not participate by the deadline, you will be administratively dropped from the class.

Part of Term

Semesters are divided into numerous beginning and ending dates.

Pass/Fail

A grading option for certain designated classes, to be used for elective credit only. You must complete a pass/fail form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar by the required deadline (see Registration Dates/Deadlines). Major, minor, general studies and other class required for a degree or for teacher licensure may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Consult the College Catalog for specific policy requirements.

Prerequisite

Course or test score which the student must have satisfactorily completed/passed prior to registering for the desired course.

Self-Paced Asynchronous Online

Course delivery mode that is fully online and requires no scheduled meeting times. Assignments and tests will still have no set deadlines. The course must be completed within the dates of the part of term. There are no location specific requirements.

Study Abroad

Instructional activities are facilitated in another country and guided by faculty.

SynchFlex

Course delivery mode that allows student to choose between attending the class in-person at set meeting times and locations or at set meeting times synchronously online through live virtual meetings. The student can choose which method they prefer each class meeting.

Synchronous Online

Course delivery mode where the class is held at set times online through live virtual meetings. There are no location specific requirements.

Time Conflict

Registration for two classes that overlap in time, regardless of length of time. Special permission to register for these classes must be requested with the academic department.

Tuition and Fees Appeal

To request for a refund of tuition and fees due to extenuating circumstances.

Variable Credit

Optional credit hours for the same class.

Waitlist

The waitlist is an automated function available from the start of registration through the first week of class.  When an opening occurs, the first person on the waitlist will be sent an email authorizing the student to register for the open seat within 24 hours. The waitlist closes at the end of the first week of classes.

Withdraw

To remove yourself from a class by the withdrawal deadline. This will not result refund and will be reflected on your record with a “W” notation. This will not affect your GPA, but will affect your completion rate with Financial Aid.