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Official, accurate, and unbiased information and analysis

Definitions

Below is a list of definitions provided by New York State Education Department (SED) except where otherwise noted.

additional location

Defined by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an “additional location” is a location, other than a branch campus, that is geographically apart from the main campus and at which the institution offers at least 50 percent of an educational program.  Cornell has several additional locations, including the medical college in Qatar.  (See also “branch campus.”)

award

The degree or certificate granted for completion of an academic program e.g. Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.).

branch campus

The New York State Education Department defines a branch campus as a unit of an institution located at a place other than the institution’s principal location at which the institution offers one or more complete curricula leading to a certificate or degree.  The NYC Tech Campus is a “branch campus” in the eyes of New York State.

As defined by Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a “branch campus” offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential; has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and has its own budgetary and hiring authority.  By this definition, Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City constitutes Cornell’s only “branch campus.”

certificate

A credential issued by an institution in recognition of the completion of a curriculum other than one leading to a degree.

course

An organized series of instructional and learning activities dealing with a subject.

credit

A unit of academic award applicable towards a degree or certificate offered by the institution.

curriculum or program

The formal educational requirements necessary to qualify for certificates or degrees. A curriculum or program includes general education or specialized study in depth in a particular field, or both.

distance learning

Formal learning activity in which the student is separated by a distance from the source of the instruction, and usually from the associated support services (e.g. library, academic advising) as well. Most but not all distance learning involves the use of one or more technological delivery systems, such as satellite delivery of video or computer communication.

extension center or interinstitutional center

A unit of an institution located at a place other than the institution’s principal center or at another degree-granting institution, at which the institution does not offer any curricula leading to a certificate or degree, but at which the institution either conducts more than 15 courses for credit or has more than 350 course registrations for credit in any academic year.

extension site or interinstitutional site

A unit of an institution located at a place other than the institution’s principal center or at another degree-granting institution, at which the institution does not offer any curricula leading to a certificate or degree, and at which the institution conducts no more than 15 courses for credit and has no more than 350 course registrations for credit in any academic year.

evening format

All requirements for the degree or other award must be offered during evening study.

weekend format

All requirements for the degree or other award must be offered during weekend study.

evening/weekend format

All requirements for the degree or other award must be offered during a combination of evening and weekend study.

initial degree program

The first college degree program the institution is authorized by the Regents to offer.

institutional representative/designated person

The individual designated by the institution as the official liaison with the Office of College and University Evaluation of the State Education Department on all matters having to do with submission and approval of proposals for new programs, changes or discontinuances, as well as with institutional review and accreditation by the Board of Regents.

jointly-registered program, or program offered jointly

One program that is offered by two or more institutions.

new level of study

A degree level above the highest level the institution is currently authorized to offer (e.g. master’s degree for a baccalaureate-level institution).

other instructional site

Defined by Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an “other instructional site” is a location, other than a branch campus or additional location, at which the institution offers one or more courses for credit

professional degree

Defined by the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (8 CRR-NY 3.47 Requirements for earned degrees), post-baccalaureate degrees are either “academic degrees” (or “research degrees”) or “professional degrees.” The only degrees that are “academic” are the M.A., the M.S., the M.Phil. and the Ph.D.  All other graduate degrees are “professional,” including the M.B.A., the M.Eng., the M.F.A., the J.D., the D.V.M., and so forth.

program title

The name of the degree or certificate program, usually indicating the subject field of the program or the major (e.g. Human Resource Management, Latin American Studies, Chemistry).

research degree

Degrees that are referred to as “research degrees” at Cornell include the following graduate-level degrees: M.A., M.S., and Ph.D.  Occasionally the D.M.A. (Doctor of Musical Arts) and the M.F.A. (Master of Fine Arts) are also considered research degrees.  See also: professional degree.

registration

Approval of the State Education Department of a curriculum in an institution of higher education for general purposes, for admission to professional practice, or for acceptance toward a credential issued by the department or by the institution.

semester hour

A credit, point, or other unit granted for the satisfactory completion of a course which requires at least 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) of instruction and at least 30 hours of supplementary assignments, except as otherwise provided pursuant to section 52.2(c)(4) of the Commissioner’s Regulations. This basic measure shall be adjusted proportionately to translate the value of other academic calendars and formats of study in relation to the credit granted for study during the two semesters that comprise an academic year.