Administration
The President, Vice Presidents and Deans that serve as the officers or leaders of the College.  They are housed in the Administration Building (AD).

Admissions
The office that processes the Student Information Form for those wishing to attend the College.  All students must process an admissions form.  This office is also known as Admissions & Records and processes admission and enrollment forms, grade reports, transcripts and proof of enrollment forms.  They are located in the Admissions and Records (AR) Building.

Alumni
Alumni are students who have graduated from Phoenix College.

Arizona General Education Certification (AGEC)
The AGEC certification is included in all of the statewide transfer degrees mentioned above, but can also be earned without completing a degree. It is a 35-credit block of courses that meets lower-division university general education requirements and admission competency requirements at Arizona public universities.

Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS)
Offered in specific occupational areas and generally take two years of full-time study to complete.

Associate of Arts (AA)
Designed for students planning to transfer to four-year colleges and universities.  In general, the components of the degree meet requirements for majors   in the Liberal Arts or programs of study other than business or science. 

Associate of Arts in Elementary Education (AAEE)
Designed for the student who plans to transfer an Elementary Education program at an Arizona public higher education institution and or who plans to become a classroom instructional aide.

Associate of Arts (AA) Fine Arts - Art/Dance/Theatre
Designed for the student who plans to transfer to four-year colleges or universities.  In general, the components of the degree meet requirements for majors in Fine Arts.  The degree is designed to prepare students to meet selective admission criteria for programs such as the Bachelor of Fine Arts, which may require a portfolio or performance requirement.

Associate in Business (ABUS)
Designed for students who plan to transfer to Arizona’s
Public universities into majors that articulate with the Associate in Business General Requirements or the Associate in Business Special Requirements pathway and for students who plan to complete lower division course work toward a baccalaureate program at other degree granting institutions.  See your advisor for more specific information regarding the ABUS degree.

Associate in Science (AS)
Designed for students planning to transfer to four-year colleges and universities.  In general, the components of the degree meet requirements for majors with more stringent mathematics and mathematics-based science requirements.   

Associate in Transfer Partnership (ATP)
These degree programs are designed for students completing specific majors at a specific university. They specify the exact courses that a student would need to complete a degree. For more information see: www.maricopa.edu/academic/curric/atp.php or speak to an advisor.

Audit
Auditors are those who enroll in a course for the sole purpose of obtaining information; they receive no credit, grades, homework or tests.  If an auditor wishes to earn credit, he or she must change from audit status to credit status within the first week.  If a student wishes to audit a course for which he or she is enrolled for credit, the change must be made within the first five (5) weeks of a semester.  Auditors are subject to the same attendance policies as other students and must meet the same prerequisite requirements or obtain approval of the instructor. See the fee schedule for charges.  Financial aid is not available for audited courses

Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Also offered in specific occupational areas, these programs are one year or less.  Many students choose to earn a CCL to gain job skills and then go on to complete the AAS degree to enhance career options.

Cohort
Students that take the same classes as a group.

College Work Study
A financial aid award program which allows students to be employed on campus. For more information contact the Financial Aid Office.

Computer Commons
The Computer Commons is the open computer lab which is free to students and is located in the lower level of the Library. Students will be charged 8 cents per page for printing.

Credit Hour
The number of hours a class is scheduled to meet each week determines the value of a course or the number of credit hours you will receive for that course. For example, ENG 101 (College Composition) involves three class hours each week and is worth three credit hours. You need a specific number of credit hours in specific courses to earn a degree or certificate in an individual program.

Cumulative Grade-Point Average
Your Cumulative Grade-Point Average (C.P.A.) is the overall average from the grades and grade points you received and the credits you earned in all the courses you have taken. Grade points range from 4.00 for an A to 0.00 for an F. You must have at least a 2.00 (a C average) to graduate.

Curriculum
A curriculum is a program of courses approved for a specific degree or certificate. To earn a degree or certificate in a specific program, you must complete the curriculum for that program.

Deferment
An alternative time-line for payment of your tuition. Contact the Bursar in the Cashier’s Office for more information.

Drop-Add
Scheduled drop-add times are when you may change your original class choices by dropping a course you are registered for and/or adding a new one.  Students wishing to drop-add must do so by using the college’s Drop-Add form available in the Admissions Office.

Electives
Electives are courses of your choice, which may be taken for credit toward a degree or certificate in your curriculum. They may be chosen from a wide variety of courses.

Faculty
The teachers at your college.

Fee Delete
When a student’s courses are dropped or cancelled for lack of payment.  If that happens, students need to re-register in order to attend classes since their original classes may be filled. Check the Academic Calendar for fee delete date information.

Full-Time Student
A full-time student is one who is enrolled for twelve (12) or more credit hours in a semester.

Graduation
There is a difference between graduation and commencement. Graduation occurs when the college determines you have successfully completed all the requirements for your degree. Commencement is a ceremony; a public celebration of your accomplishment.

Graduation with Distinction
"Distinction" is defined in the dictionary as excellence. Graduation with distinction is achieved by earning a cumulative average of 3.5 or higher. It is a high academic honor and something worthy of pursuing.

Instructor
The teacher or person that teaches classes.

Learning Communities
A cohort of students taking classes that allow for one assignment to get credit in two classes. Learning Communities also help students feel more connected to fellow students, faculty, and campus.

MEID (Maricopa Enterprise Identity)
The Maricopa Enterprise ID (MEID) is necessary to obtain before accessing the My.maricopa.edu self-service center, including enrolling in or registering for classes online. It is also needed for access into Enterprise course management systems such as Blackboard.

Part-Time Student
A part-time student is one who is taking fewer than twelve (12) credit hours in a semester.

Pell Grant
This is a federal form of financial aid for eligible students. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Professor
A teacher and faculty member at your college.

Purged
When a student’s classes are dropped or canceled because of failure to pay tuition by the due date.

Re-entry Student
A student that is returning to education after an extended absence from enrollment in college.

Registration
Registration is the process of selecting and "signing up" for the courses you wish to take during the semester.

Student Number
Your student number is your permanent, official college identification number. The College uses your Social Security number for this purpose. However, if you choose not to supply or use your Social Security number, the College will assign you a student number.

Transcript
A transcript is an official record of the courses you have taken and the grades you received.