Dictionary of Terms

"A" Level Certificate

Advanced level certificate, or any other high school certificate or documents, noting any other qualifications pursued prior to starting your bachelor’s degree.

ABD

All But Dissertation: a doctoral candidate who has completed required courses and examinations but not a dissertation

Academic Term

At Ohio University, a semester is one academic term. There are three terms, fall, spring, and summer, in an academic year.

Accreditation

is the recognition that an institution maintains standards requisite for its graduates to gain admission to other reputable institutions of higher learning or to achieve credentials for professional practice. The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Accreditation

Add / Drop

A process at the beginning of a term whereby students can change their course schedules, adding or dropping classes.

Admission

The process of being allowed to enter a degree program.

Application

The process by which a student requests entrance to a degree program.

Attested Copy

A copy of your official document that has been certified by the registrar of the issuing university.

Audit

To take a class without receiving a grade or credit toward a degree.

Bank Statement/Letter

Issued by the bank, indicating the type of account and amount available in U.S. dollars. If not in English, then a certified English translation should be provided. Acceptable examples of bank accounts and documents are indicated in the instructions, available on the following Graduate College Forms web page. Financial Support Form

Blackboard

A Learning Management System where faculty can post course materials and grades for students who are enrolled in the class.

Ohio University's email and calendar system.

Certificate of Enrollment

Issued by the university (in English) noting name of the degree being pursued and potential date of graduation.

Certificate of Graduation (China) 毕业证书

Issued by the university showing the day, month, and year of graduation. (See list of required documents for China.)

Certified Document

A credential (transcript or diploma) that has been confirmed as an original or an attested copy by the registrar of the issuing university.

Code of Conduct

The Student Code of Conduct sets out the behavioral expectations for students enrolled at Ohio University. All students are subject to the provisions in the Code and are advised to review it.

College

A college can be an institution of higher education or a part of a university system.

Comprehensive Exams

Oral and/or written exams taken after the completion of required coursework.

Consolidated Mark Sheets (India)

This document is not accepted for admission purposes because it does not show all attempts and/or grades. (See list of required documents for India.)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Your CV describes your previous education, work, teaching, and research experience, professional affiliations, community and volunteer experience, honors and awards, and publications.

Deferral

Change of application of admission term. (Instructions can be found here.)

Degree Certificate

Refer to Diploma/Degree Certificate.

Degree Certificate (China) 学士 学位证书

Issued by the degree-granting university showing the day, month, and year of conferral. (See list of required documents for China.)

Degree Program<

A program of study that terminates in the awarding of a degree.

Diploma/Degree Certificate

Issued by the degree-granting university showing the day, month, and year of conferral.

Diploma Supplement

Received by graduates in countries taking part in the Bologna Process. Document accompanying a higher education diploma, providing a standardized description of the nature, level, context, content, and status of the studies completed by its holder.

Distance Education

Ohio University eCampus provides degree programs and certificates through online coursework.

Dissertation

A long essay requiring original research and analyses in a particular field. A requirement for a Doctoral degree.

Doctorate

The highest attainable educational degree.

Dual Degree

Seeking to complete more than one graduate degree at Ohio University. Refer to the Graduate Catalog for details. The Dual Degree form is found here.

Due Upon Arrival – Official Original Language Diploma/Degree Certificate

An official diploma/degree certificate in the original language is required to complete your admission file. Documents certified by the registrar/records office of the degree-granting university are considered official. Bring your original documents to the Graduate College upon your arrival. Graduate College staff will make a copy and the original will be returned to you.

Due Upon Arrival – Official English Language Diploma/Degree Certificate

An official English translation of your diploma/degree certificate is required to complete your admission file.  Documents certified by the registrar/records office of the degree-granting university are considered official. Bring your original documents to the Graduate College upon your arrival. The Graduate College staff will make a copy of your documents and the originals will be returned to you.

Due Upon Arrival – Official Original Language Transcripts

An official transcript in the original language is required to complete your admission file.  Documents certified by the registrar/records office of the degree-granting university are considered official. Bring your official transcript to the Graduate College upon your arrival. The Graduate College staff will make a copy and the original will be returned to you. 

Due Upon Arrival – Official English Language Transcripts

An official English translation of your transcript is required to complete your admission file.  Documents certified by the registrar/records office of the degree-granting university are considered official. Bring your official transcript to the Graduate College upon your arrival. The Graduate College staff will make a copy and the original will be returned to you. 

ETD

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation

Final Degree Certificate

Issued by the degree-granting university showing the day, month, and year of the degree conferral.

Financial Support Form

Required from all admitted international students who require issuance of an Ohio University I-20.  Even students being fully funded by a departmental assistantship must complete this form.

General Fee

Required component of tuition which funds non-instructional student services.  Charged to every student who is enrolled in at least one class. The services and activities supported by the fee promote students' emotional and physical well-being, as well as their cultural and social development outside the classroom (Office of the Bursar).

Graduate Appointment

Graduate appointments are awarded by individual schools, academic departments, or other administrative offices. Graduate appointments provide a stipend for services as prescribed by the individual school, department, or office and may include a tuition scholarship. Appointments are classified as graduate, research, and teaching assistantships (GA, RA, TA).

Individual Mark Sheets

Issued by the degree-granting university at the end of each semester or annual examination. Individual mark sheets show ALL attempts, grades, and grade scale.  Consolidated Mark Sheets showing combined semesters and/or years from India are not accepted. 

Instructional Fee (Often referred to as Tuition)

Required fee for costs associated with instruction, a component of tuition (Office of the Bursar).

NACES

An association of independent, nongovernmental organizations providing credential evaluation services to individuals who have completed part or all of their education outside the United States. See the list below.

Non-Ohio Resident Surcharge

Required fee for all students who do not qualify for Ohio residency. Funds instructional costs the state pays for on behalf of qualifying Ohio residents (Office of the Bursar).

OU ID

Your Ohio University ID card is used to verify your status as a student, faculty or staff member in good standing. Student IDs are validated by registration/enrollment information, while staff IDs are validated based on Human Resources records.

Services that require your OU ID:

• Alden Library materials' check-out
• Ping Center, Aquatic Center, and Bird Arena memberships
• Bobcat Cash at all Culinary Services dining venues and select campus retail, vending and laundry operations
• Athletic event admission to the student section
• Meal Plans/Flex Points
• Building access in some locations
• Faculty/Staff e-mail activation and password resets
• Bobcat Depot - to purchase software, hardware, apparel, accessories, etc.

Parking*

Charges for a parking pass.

Provisional Degree Certificate

Temporary degree certificate issued by the degree-granting university until the final degree certificate can be issued. Sometimes, this document is issued before the graduation ceremony. If the student did not attend the graduation ceremony, then it is possible for the provisional degree certificate to function as the degree certificate.

SEVIS Transfer-In Request

Students admitted to Ohio University who are currently attending another institution in the U.S. on an F-1 visa must complete this form. The current international student advisor must complete page two of the form and include your SEVIS release date.  Copies of your current I-20, I-94, Visa, and Passport are also required.

Statement of Academic Goals

Review the application requirements on the program’s website for details about format and/or length.  If you have questions, please contact the academic program directly.

Student Info System/Network Fee

Required fee used to fund improved access to and assistance with information technology (Office of the Bursar).

Student Health Insurance*

Students enrolled on the Athens Campus for five (5) or more credit hours are automatically assessed the Student Health Insurance. You may opt out of the Student Health Insurance if you already have a health insurance provider. If you are eligible to waive the Student Health Insurance, the waiver option and waiver deadline will be available on your My OHIO Student Center once your registration charges have been assessed for the term.  A waiver is required only once each academic year ().Office of the Bursar

Student Legal Services Fee*

The Center for Student Legal Services (CSLS) is a law office for Ohio University students. Two licensed attorneys provide students with legal representation, advice, and education. CSLS provides contract reviews, mediation services and notary service. Every Athens campus student is automatically enrolled for this service at registration for the term. The waiver option and waiver deadline will be available on your My OHIO Student Center once your registration charges have been assessed for the term. A waiver is required once each term ().Office of the Bursar

Stipend

Periodic payment to a graduate student in exchange for a specific work assignment (e.g. an assistantship).

TAD

Thesis and Dissertation Services

Technology Fee

Required fee for the student's college, which supports instructional technology in labs, classes and classrooms (Office of the Bursar).

Transcript

Official document issued by the university showing terms of enrollment, courses, grades, and grade scale.

Transcript (China) 成绩单

Official document issued by the university showing terms of enrollment, courses, grades, and grade scale. (See list of required documents for China.)

Unconditional Admission

Students approved by the major department for unqualified admission to a graduate degree program 

WellBeing Fee*

An optional enhancement to student health care. Works with existing medical insurance to reduce the costs and expand student health care options on campus. Every Athens campus student is automatically enrolled at registration for the term. The waiver option and waiver deadline will be available on your My OHIO Student Center once your registration charges have been assessed for the term.  A waiver is required once each term (Office of the Bursar).

The WellBeing Fee helps reduce patient costs for services through Counseling and Psychological Services. Some services include:

• Emergency/Drop-in consultation
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Couples therapy
• Psychiatric intake appointments
• Psychiatric follow up appointments
• 24/7 emergency/crisis line