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IPEDS Glossary of Terms

A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W #

Terms	Definitions
ABROAD	Any geographic location not in the aggregate United States, which includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the outlying areas.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM	Instructional program leading toward an associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctor's, or first-professional degree or resulting in credits that can be applied to one of these degrees.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT	This functional expense category includes expenses of activities and services that support the institution's primary missions of instruction, research, and public service. It includes the retention, preservation, and display of educational materials (for example, libraries, museums, and galleries); organized activities that provide support services to the academic functions of the institution (such as a demonstration school associated with a college of education or veterinary and dental clinics if their primary purpose is to support the instructional program); media such as audiovisual services; academic administration (including academic deans but not department chairpersons); and formally organized and separately budgeted academic personnel development and course and curriculum development expenses. Also included are information technology expense related to academic support activities; if an institution does not separately budget and expense information technology resources, the costs associated with the three primary programs will be applied to this function and the remainder to institutional support. FASB institutions include actual or allocated costs for operation and maintenance of plant, interest, and depreciation. GASB institutions do not include operation and maintenance of plant or interest but may, as an option, distribute depreciation expense.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT (EXPENDITURES)	Expenditures for the support services that are an integral part of the institution's primary mission of instruction, research, or public service. Includes expenditures for libraries, museums, galleries, audiovisual services, academic computing support, ancillary support, academic administration, personnel development, and course and curriculum development. Also includes expenditures for veterinary and dental clinics if their primary purpose is to support the institutional program.

ACADEMIC YEAR	The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3 quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 plan.

ACCELERATED PROGRAMS	Completion of a college program of study in fewer than the usual number of years, most often by attending summer sessions and carrying extra courses during the regular academic term.

ACCREDITING AGENCIES	Agencies that establish operating standards for educational or professional institutions and programs, determine the extent to which the standards are met, and publicly announce their findings.

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION	This is the total depreciation charged as expenses to date (in the current year and in prior years) on the capital assets of the institution. Many institutions had not historically recorded depreciation. When FASB insitutions implemented FASB Statement No. 117 in 1995 and when GASB institutions implement GASB Statement No. 34, accumulated depreciation to date was or will be recognized upon implementation. When a capital asset is removed from the accounting records due to disposal or end of the asset's useful life, the depreciation accumulated through the years on the asset is also removed from the records.

ACT (AMERICAN COLLEGE TESTING PROGRAM)	The ACT assessment 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.

ADDITIONS TO PERMANENT ENDOWMENTS	Institutions often have endowment funds that are classified as permanent endowments; these are funds that must be held in perpetuity with only the income generally available for use. When a GASB insitution receives gifts restricted to a permanent endowment, the gift is reported on the Statement of Revenues, Expenses, and Changes in Net Assets below all operating and nonoperating activities on a line titled "additions to permanent endowments." Any investment income on permanent endowments that must be added to the nonexependable fund is not reported in this category but is reported as nonoperating revenue.

ADDITIONS TO PHYSICAL PLANT ASSETS	Land, buildings, improvements other than buildings, equipment, and library books that are added during the fiscal year through purchases, by gifts-in-kind from donors, and from other additions, but excludes construction in progress.

ADJUNCT FACULTY	Non-tenure track faculty serving in a temporary or auxiliary capacity to teach specific courses on a course-by-course basis. Includes both faculty who are hired to teach an academic degree-credit course and those hired to teach a remedial, developmental, or ESL course; whether the latter three categories earn college credit is immaterial. Excludes regular part-time faculty (who, unlike adjuncts are not paid on a course-by-course basis), graduate assistants, full-time professional staff of the institution who may teach individual courses (e.g., a dean or academic advisor), and appointees who teach non-credit courses exclusively.

ADJUSTED COHORT	Revised cohort minus total allowable exclusions.

ADJUSTMENTS TO BEGINNING NET ASSETS	Unusual and infrequent adjustments that are not recorded as current year revenues, expenses, gains, or losses. This includes adjustments for retroactive applications of changes in accounting principles and prior period adjustments. This line on the IPEDS Survey may be set as an automatic balancing line; preparers should review the amount automatically generated to be sure data entry errors have not caused an incorrect amount to be shown.

ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT	The administrative office in a multi-campus environment. This may also apply to the parent or lead campus in a system with one or more branch campuses.

ADMISSIONS	Applicants that have been granted an official offer to enroll in a college or university.

ADMISSIONS TEST SCORES	Scores on standardized admissions tests or special admissions tests.

ADULT BASIC EDUCATION	Courses designed primarily for students 16 years of age and older to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic. These courses are not intended to be part of a program leading to a high school degree, nor are they part of any academic, occupational, or vocational program at the postsecondary level.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT	Advanced placement courses are college-level courses taught in high school. Students may take an examination at the completion of the course; acceptable scores allow students to earn college credit.

AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS	(Term applies to GASB institutions only.) This is a broad term to define legally separate organizations that are affiliated or associated with a primary institution. These organizations generally should be analyzed to determine if they should be reported as a component unit of the primary institution. These are organizations created for the primary purpose of assisting a primary institution to accomplish its mission and programs but are not subject to the institution's organizational or procedural oversight. Fund-raising foundations, athletic associations, alumni associations, and research foundations are some examples of organizations affiliated with colleges and universities. Depending on the organizational structure and other factors some organizations may be considered component units and reported by the primary insitution and others will not be.

AICPA COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY AUDIT GUIDE MODEL	The AICPA Industry Audit Guide: Audits of Colleges and Universities issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) contained the primary standards for financial reports of public colleges and universities prior to the effective date of GASB Statement Nos. 34 and 35. Standards of this Guide were permitted as one alternative by GASB Statement No. 15 for public institutions. GASB institutions must all implement Statement Nos. 34 and 35 not later than periods beginning after June 15, 2003. At that time the Guide will be effectively obsolete. Once the AICPA issues the AICPA Industry Audit Guide: Audits of State and Local Governments, GASB institutions will be subject to its provisions. FASB institutions also followed the AICPA Audit Guide until 1995 when FASB Statement No. 117 was implemented. FASB institutions are now subject to the AICPA Industry Audit Guide: Audits of Not-for-Profit Organizations.

ALL OTHER SPORTS COMBINED	Any sport not specified separately (in the Graduation Rate data collection). Includes sports such as golf, tennis, lacross or field hockey where teams participate in intercollegiate athletics competition. Does not include cheerleading or dance teams even though the institution might award aid to students participating in these activities under the auspices of the athletic department.

ALL OTHER STUDENTS	Includes all other students except first-time students (in the Enrollment data collection).

ALLOWANCES	An allowance refers to the manner in which student financial aid is treated in an institution's general purpose financial statements. If a student receives student financial aid through a deduction in tuition and fees or in auxiliary enterprise charges then the deduction is called an allowance. NACUBO, in its advisory report AR 97-1, states "A scholarship allowance is the difference between the stated charge for goods and services provided by the institutions and the amount which is billed to students and/or third parties making payment on behalf of students. In considering what is or is not revenue; the following rule applies: amounts received to satisfy student tuition and fees will be reported as revenue only once (e.g. student fees, gifts, investment income) and only amounts received from students and third-party payers to satisfy tuition and fees will be recognized as tuition and fee revenues."

AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.

ANNUITY AND LIFE INCOME FUNDS	Funds carrying a stipulation that the institution make payments to one or more specific beneficiaries.

APPLICANT	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).

APPLICATION FEE	That amount of money that an institution charges for processing a student's application for admittance to the institution. This amount is not creditable toward tuition or required fees, nor is it refundable if the student is not admitted to the institution.

ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and Pacific Islands. This includes people from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands, American Samoa, India, and Vietnam.

ASSETS	Physical items (tangible) or rights (intangible) that have value and that are owned by the institution. An asset is useful to the institution because it is a source of future services or because it can be used to secure future benefits. Assets are usually divided into two categories, current and fixed. Current assets are those that can be readily turned into cash. Fixed assets are those which cannot readily be turned into cash without disrupting the operation of the institution. Fixed assets include intangible assets consisting of certain nonmaterial rights and benefits of an institution, such as patents, copyrights, trademarks and goodwill. Categories of assets include the following items: 1) cash, cash equivalents, and temporary investments; 2) receivables (net of allowance for uncollectible accounts); 3) inventories, prepaid expenses, and deferred charges; 4) amounts held by trustees for construction and debt services; 5) long-term investments; 6) plant, property, and equipment; and 7) other assets (those assets not falling in one ore more of the above six categories). The exact categories of assets that must be used are not specified and the above are examples only. GASB institutions are required to report assets under two categories - current assets and noncurrent assets.

ASSOCIATE'S COLLEGES (CARNEGIE)	These institutions offer associate's degree and certificate programs but, with few exceptions, award no baccalaureate degrees.

ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE	An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work.

ATHLETIC SUBCOHORT	Those students in the revised cohort who received athletically-related student aid to play a specific sport.

ATHLETICALLY-RELATED STUDENT AID	Any scholarship, grant, or other form of financial assistance, offered by an institution, the terms of which require the recipient to participate in a program of intercollegiate athletics in order to be eligible to receive such assistance.

AUDIT OPINION	The purpose of an audit performed by external (or outside) auditors is to issue an audit report that usually consists of a one-page "opinion" letter on the general-purpose financial statements. The "opinion" paragraph of the letter usually states that "In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position as of (date) and the results of operations for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting standards generally accepted in the United States." If the auditor cannot state completely the substance of the previous "opinion" sentence, then the auditor will add a phrase such as "...except for..." and state the basis for the exception. When the auditor includes exceptions to the opinion, the opinion is considered to be a "qualified opinion;" when no such exception is included the opinion is considered to be an "unqualified opinion."

AUDIT/AUDITING (A CLASS)	This occurs when a student elects to take a course, but does not wish to receive credit for the course toward a degree or other formal award. Since this activity is not credit bearing, it is not counted in the Enrollment survey, Part D - Instructional Activity. The students are not counted as part of EF-Fall Enrollment if they are exclusively auditing their classes.

AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES (EXPENDITURES) FOR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS	Expenditures for essentially self-supporting operations of the institution that exist to furnish a service to students, faculty, or staff, and that charge a fee that is directly related to, although not necessarily equal to, the cost of the service. Includes mandatory and nonmandatory transfers. Examples are residence halls, food services, student health services, college stores, and barber shops.

AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES (EXPENSES)	Expenses for essentially self-supporting operations of the institution that exist to furnish a service to students, faculty, or staff, and that charge a fee that is directly related to, although not necessarily equal to, the cost of the service. Examples are residence halls, food services, student health services, intercollegiate athletics (only if essentially self-supporting), college unions, college stores, faculty and staff parking, and faculty housing. Also included are depreciation related to auxiliary enterprises (if separately assigned by the institution). FASB institutions also charge or allocate interest expense to auxiliary enterprises.

AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES (REVENUES)	Revenues generated by or collected from the auxiliary enterprise operations of the institution that exist to furnish a service to students, faculty, or staff, and that charge a fee that is directly related to, although not necessarily equal to, the cost of the service. Auxiliary enterprises are managed as essentially self-supporting activities. Examples are residence halls, food services, student health services, intercollegiate athletics, college unions, college stores, and movie theaters.

AVOCATIONAL PROGRAMS	Instructional programs in personal interest and leisure categories whose expressed intent is not to produce postsecondary credits, nor to lead to a formal award or an academic degree, nor result in occupationally specific skills.

BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES--GENERAL (CARNEGIE)	These institutions are primarily undergraduate colleges with major emphasis on baccalaureate programs. They award less than half of their baccalaureate degrees in liberal arts fields.

BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES--LIBERAL ARTS (CARNEGIE)	These institutions are primarily undergraduate colleges with major emphasis on baccalaureate programs. They award at least half of their baccalaureate degrees in liberal arts fields.

BACCALAUREATE/ASSOCIATE'S COLLEGES (CARNEGIE)	These institutions are undergraduate colleges where the majority of conferrals are at the subbaccalaureate level (associate's degrees and certificates), but bachelor's degrees account for at least ten percent of undergraduate awards.

BACHELOR'S DEGREE	An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that normally requires at least 4 but NOT more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes ALL bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year COOPERATIVE (WORK-STUDY PLAN) PROGRAM. A cooperative plan provides for alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also, includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4 years of work are completed in 3 years.

BACHELOR'S OR EQUIVALENT DEGREE-SEEKING SUBCOHORT	Those students in the revised cohort who were seeking a bachelor's or equivalent degree upon entry.

BALANCE OWED ON PRINCIPAL	Balance owed on indebtedness principal (at the beginning/end of the year) is that amount shown in the liability section of the plant fund balance sheet.

BENEFITS	Payments made to an individual over and above that received in the form of a salary or wage. Frequently this is associated with an insurance payment.

BLACK, NON-HISPANIC	A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa (except those of Hispanic origin).

BOARD CHARGES	The charge for an academic year for meals, for a specified number of meals per week.

BOOK VALUE	Book value of a physical asset is the dollar value of the physical asset at the time of construction or purchase of that asset, or, if the asset is a gift, the market value of the asset at the time of the gift. It may also be thought of as the difference between the balance of a plant asset account and its related accumulated depreciation account.

BOOKS AND SUPPLIES	The average cost of books and supplies for a typical student for an entire academic year (or program). Do not include unusual costs for special groups of students (e.g., engineering or art majors), unless they constitute the majority of students at your institution.

BRANCH INSTITUTION	A campus or site of an educational institution that is not temporary, is located in a community beyond a reasonable commuting distance from its parent institution, and offers organized PROGRAMS of study, not just courses.

BUILDINGS	Capital assets built or acquired for occupancy and use by the entity. These are structures such as classrooms, research facilities, administrative offices, storage, etc. Includes built-in fixtures and equipment that are essentially part of the permanent structure. Buildings held for the production of revenue are investments.

CAFETERIA PLAN	See Other Insurance Benefits.

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

CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS	These are nonoperating revenues appropriated to a GASB institution by a government with the requirement that the funds be used primarily to acquire, construct, or improve capital assets, including buildings, land, equipment, and similar capital assets. Note that all appropriated funds used to acquire capital assets are not necessarily classified as capital appropriations, such as some general state appropriations used to acquire capital assets. Capital appropriations would all be reported in this category even if some amounts are expended for items that are not capitalized if the appropriation is designated primarily for capital assets. If an appropriation includes material amounts for both capital assets and other purposes, the revenues should be split beween appropriate revenue categories. For example, if an appropriation is made for startup expenses of a new program and construction of a building for the program, the revenue would be split between state appropriations and capital appropriations.

CAPITAL ASSETS	This term is used by GASB for tangible or intangible assets that are capitalized under an institution's capitalization policy; some of these assets are subject to depreciation and some are not. These assets consist of land and land improvements, buildings, building improvements, machinery, equipment, infrastructure, and all other assets that are used in operations and that have initial useful lives extending beyond one year. Includes collections of works of art and historical treasure and library collections; however under certain conditions such collections may not be capitalized. Includes property acquired under capital leases and intangible assets such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, goodwill, and software. Excluded are assets that are part of endowment funds or other capital fund investments in real estate. When depreciable assets are capitalized, the cost is recorded as an asset and is included in expenses through depreciation. The capitalization policy defines the types of assets and minimum dollar values (i.e., equipment costing $5,000 or more) that an institution will capitalize; generally amounts not subject to capitalization are treated as expenses.

CAPITAL GRANTS & GIFTS	These are revenues of a GASB institution - other than capital appropriations - where the funding source external to the institution specifies that they be used primarily to acquire, construct, or improve capital assets. Included would be gifts designated for a capital project. As with capital appropriations, the grant or gift must be primarily to acquire capital assets and, if so, all the revenues would be included in this classification even if nominal amounts were expended for other than capital assets. Thus a sponsored project that is funded primarily for operating expenses but includes funding for capital assets essential to the project would be grants and contracts - operating revenues. If a grant or gift includes material amounts for both capital assets and other purposes, the revenues should be split between appropriate revenue categories.

CAPITAL LEASES	Capital assets may be acquired under lease arrangements in certain circumstances, as provided in FASB Statement No. 13 (applicable to both FASB and GASB institutions). These are leases where the institution in substance acquires the capital asset or the right to use it for most or all of its economic life through a lease arrangement. Institutions are required to recognize such assets in their financial statements and also to recognize the lease payment obligations as liabilities. The lease is basically considered a form of financing used to acquire the capital asset. Capital leases are subject to depreciation the same as other capital assets.

CAPITAL OUTLAY	The costs of acquiring plant assets, adding to plant assets, and adding utility to plant assets for more than one accounting period.

CARNEGIE CLASSIFICATION CODE	Doctoral/Research Universities-Extensive Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive Master's Colleges and Universities I Master's Colleges and Universities II Baccalaureate Colleges--Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Colleges-General Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges Associate's Colleges Specialized Institutions Theological seminaries and other specialized faith-related institutions Medical schools and medical centers Other separate health profession schools Schools of engineering and technology Schools of business and management Schools of art, music, and design Schools of law Teachers colleges Other specialized institutions Tribal Colleges and Universities

CASUAL EMPLOYEES	Persons who are hired to work during peak times such as those that help at registration time or those that work in the bookstore for a day or two at the start of a session.

CERTIFICATE	A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.

CEU	Continuing education unit. One continuing education unit is normally defined as 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS	This is the term used to describe the net amount of revenues, expenses, gains, and losses for the reporting period. A line of this description appears on the Statement of Revenues, Expenses, and Changes in Net Assets for GASB organizations and on the Statement of Activities for FASB organizations.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR	The principal administrative official, or chief executive officer, responsible for the direction of all affairs and operations of a postsecondary education institution or that component of an organization that conducts postsecondary education and may report to a governing board.

CIP (CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS)	An NCES publication that provides a numerical classification and standard terminology for secondary and postsecondary instructional programs.

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

CLERICAL AND SECRETARIAL	Persons whose assignments typically are associated with clerical activities or are specifically of a secretarial nature. Includes personnel who are responsible for internal and external communications, recording and retrieval of data (other than computer programmer) and/or information and other paperwork required in an office. Also includes such occupational titles such as switchboard operators, including answering service; telephone operators; bill and account collectors; billing and posting clerks and machine operators; bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks; payroll and timekeeping clerks; procurement clerks; file clerks; clerical library assistants; human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping; shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks; secretaries and administrative assistants; computer operators; data entry and information processing workers; desktop publishers; mail clerks and mail machine operators (except postal service); office clerks (general); office machine operators (except computer); and proofreaders and copy markers.

CLOCK HOUR	See Contact Hour.

COHORT	A specific group (of students) established for tracking purposes. [For this survey, the initial cohort is defined as all students who enter an institution as full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students during either (1) the fall term of a given year, or (2) between September 1 and August 31 of the same academic year.]

COLLEGE WORK-STUDY PROGRAM (CWS)	(Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title IV, Part C; Public Laws 89-329, 92-318, 94-482, et al; 42 USC 2751-2756b.) Provides part-time employment to eligible postsecondary students to help meet educational expenses. This program provides grants to institutions for partial reimbursement of wages paid to students.

COMPLETER	A student who receives a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award. In order to be considered a completer, the degree/award must actually be conferred.

COMPLETERS WITHIN 150% (OF NORMAL TIME)	Students (within a cohort or subcohort) who completed their program within 150% of the normal time to completion. See Normal Time.

COMPONENT UNIT	(Term applies to GASB institutions only.) Legally separate organizations for which the governing board and/or managment of the primary institution is financially accountable. In addition, a component can be another organization for which the nature and signficance of its relationship with a primary institution is such that exclusion would cause the primary institution's financial statements to be misleading or incomplete. Component units are required to be reported in the financial statements of the primary institution, either discretely presented or by blending, effective with fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2003.

COMPREHENSIVE FEE	The one fixed amount of money charged by an institution that covers tuition, required fees, room, and board. For some institutions, this amount may also cover books and supplies.

CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS	Capital assets under construction or development that have not yet been placed into service, such as a building or parking lot. Capital assets are not subject to depreciation while in a construction in progress status.

CONTACT HOUR	A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock hour.

CONTACT HOUR ACTIVITY	The provision of coursework to students which can be measured in terms of contact or clock hours. For the purposes of this survey, to determine total contact hour activity, multiply the contact hour value of the program by the number of students enrolled in the program. For example, a 600 hour program with 6 students enrolled would contribute 3600 contact hours were completed during the timeframe. However, if 3 students completed their program but the remaining 3 only completed half the program, the institution should report 1,800 hours for the first three students and 900 hours for the second group; or a total of 2,700 hours toward the 12-month total.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION	Programs and courses designed specifically for individuals who have completed a professional degree (such as law, medicine, dentistry, or social work) to obtain additional training in their particular field of study.

CONTINUOUS BASIS (FOR PROGRAM ENROLLMENT)	A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that enroll students at any time during the academic year. For example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might allow students to enroll and begin studies at various times, with no requirement that classes begin on a certain date.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM AFFILIATED ENTITIES	Revenues from non-consolidated affiliated entities, such as fund raising foundations, booster clubs, other institutionally-related foundations, and similar organizations created to support the institution or organizational units of the institution. The IPEDS Finance Survey for FASB institutions includes a separate line for these revenues. For GASB institutions, such revenues would be reported as gifts.

COOPERATIVE (WORK-STUDY PLAN) PROGRAM	A program that provides for alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government.

CORRESPONDENCE	Method of instruction with students receiving structured units of information and accompanying material completely through the mail.

COUNSELING SERVICE	Activities designed to assist students in making plans and decisions related to their education, career, or personal development.

CREDIT	Recognition of attendance or performance in an instructional activity (course or program) that can be applied by a recipient toward the requirements for a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.

CREDIT COURSE	A course that, if successfully completed, can be applied toward the number of courses required for achieving a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.

CREDIT FOR LIFE EXPERIENCES	Credit earned by students for what they have learned through independent study, noncredit adult courses, work experience, portfolio demonstration, previous licensure or certification, or completion of other learning opportunities (military, government, or professional). Credit may also be awarded through a credit by examination program.

CREDIT HOUR	A unit of measure representing an hour (50 minutes) of instruction over a 15-week period in a semester or trimester 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.

CREDIT HOUR ACTIVITY	The provision of coursework to students which can be measured in terms of credit hours. For the purposes of this survey, to determine total credit hour activity, multiply the credit hour value of the course by the number of students enrolled in the course of credit. For example, the credit hour activity for a 3-credit course with an enrollment of 30 students is 90 credit hours. Using this as a guide, compute the credit hours attempted for each course and sum the activity for all credit hour courses over the total 12-month period. Enrollment is based on the number of students enrolled at the close of the official drop/add period or other census date.

CURRENT ASSETS	Assets that are reasonably expected to be realized in cash or sold or consumed during the next normal operating cycle (normally one year) of the institution. Liquidity or nearness to cash is not the basis for determining classification as current or noncurrent. Thus cash or investments intended for liquidation of liabilities due beyond the one-year period would not be current assets. All current and noncurrent classifications should be determined as discussed in chapter 3 of the AICPA's Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43. May include cash and cash equivalents, investments, accounts and notes receivables, and inventories among others; however all of these assets may have portions that are noncurrent.

CURRENT FUNDS EXPENDITURES (AND TRANSFERS)	The costs incurred for goods and services used in the conduct of the institution's operations. Includes the acquisition cost of capital assets, such as equipment and library books, to the extent current funds are budgeted for and used by operating departments for such purposes. Includes: (1) Educational and general expenditures and transfers for -- Instruction Research Public services Academic support Student services Institutional support Operation and maintenance of plant Scholarships and fellowships (2)Auxiliary enterprises (3)Hospitals (4) Independent operations

CURRENT FUNDS REVENUES	Unrestricted gifts, grants, and other resources earned during the reporting period and restricted resources received in non-exchange transactions for which any time restrictions have been met, or which have been earned in exchange transactions. Includes current funds revenues from the following: Tuition and fees Government appropriations (Federal, state, and local) Government grants and contracts (Federal, state, and local) Private gifts, grants, and contracts Endowment income Sales and services of educational activities Auxiliary enterprises Hospitals Other sources Independent operations

CURRENT LIABILITIES	Liabilities whose liquidation is reasonably expected to require the use of resources classified as current assets or the creation of other current liabilities within the next year. All current and noncurrent classifications should be determined as discussed in chapter 3 of the AICPA's Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43. May include accounts payable, accrued salaries and wages, deferred revenues, and long term debt current portion, among others.

CURRENT REPLACEMENT VALUE	The current costs to replace all buildings owned, rented, or used by the institution. Represents recent appraisal value or what is currently carried as insurance replacement value. Is not considered the replacement values of those buildings which are a part of endowment or other capital fund investments in real estate. This figure is not a book value figure.

CV (Calculated Value)	CV is used to designate fields, primarily in the Finance surveys, that are generated (or calculated) based on data provided on other lines within the same part of the survey. For example, a "balance" line or "other" detail line will be calculated as the difference between the Total line and the sum of the remaining detail.

DAY CARE SERVICE	A student service designed to provide appropriate care and protection of infants, preschool, and school-age children so their parents can participate in postsecondary education programs.

DEDUCTIONS FROM PHYSICAL PLANT ASSETS	These deductions represent a decline in the value of physical plant assets resulting from selling, razing, fire, and other hazards, or other disposition of the assets.

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

DEGREE/CERTIFICATE-SEEKING STUDENTS	Students enrolled in courses for credit who are recognized by the institution as seeking a degree or formal award. At the undergraduate level, this is intended to include students enrolled in vocational or occupational programs.

DEPRECIATION	The allocation or distribution of the cost of capital assets, less any salvage value, to expenses over the estimated useful life of the asset in a systematic and rational manner. Depreciation for the year is the amount of the allocation or distribution for the year involved.

DIFFERS BY PROGRAM (CALENDAR SYSTEM)	A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that have occupational/vocational programs of varying lengths. These schools may enroll students at specific times depending on the program desired. For example, a school might offer a 2-month program in January, March, May, September, and November; and a 3-month program in January, April, and October.

DIPLOMA	A formal document certifying the successful completion of a prescribed program of studies.

DISCOUNTS AND ALLOWANCES	In general a discount or allowance refers to a reduction in the amount charged for goods or services. The discount or allowance is reported as a reduction of revenues (rather than as expenses). Common discounts or allowances of colleges and universities relate to tuition and fees, student housing, and other student charges. If a student receives a reduction in tuition and fees or in auxiliary enterprises charges because of scholarships and fellowships or other nonexchange transactions provided by the institution, then the reduction is called an allowance. Reductions in amounts charged for goods or services should be reported as expenses (and revenue recognized at normal amounts) if such reductions are given in exchange for goods or services provided to the institution, such as part of a compensation package (such as fee waivers provided to employees and graduate assistants).

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

DOCTOR'S DEGREE	The highest award a student can earn for graduate study. The doctor's degree classification includes such degrees as Doctor of Education, Doctor of Juridical Science, Doctor of Public Health, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in any field such as agronomy, food technology, education, engineering, public administration, ophthalmology, or radiology. For the Doctor of Public Health degree, the prior degree is generally earned in the closely related professional field of medicine or in sanitary engineering.

DOCTORAL/RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES--EXTENSIVE (CARNEGIE)	These institutions typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs, and they are committed to graduate education through the doctorate. They award 50 or more doctoral degrees per year across at least 15 disciplines.

DOCTORAL/RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES--INTENSIVE (CARNEGIE)	These institutions typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs, and they are committed to graduate education through the doctorate. They award at least ten doctoral degrees per year across three or more disciplines, or at least 20 doctoral degrees per year overall.

DORMITORY CAPACITY	The maximum number of students that the institution can provide residential facilities for, whether on or off campus.

DROP OUT	A student who left the institution and did not return.

DUAL CREDIT	A program through which high school students are enrolled in advanced placement (AP) courses, taught at their high school, that fulfill high school graduation requirements and may earn the student college credits.

DUAL ENROLLMENT	A program through which high school students may enroll in college courses while still enrolled in high school. Students are not required to apply for admission to the college in order to participate.

DUNS NUMBER	The Data Universal Numbering System code. This is a 9-digit number assigned by the Dun & Bradstreet Information Corporation to any entity providing products, goods, or services.

EARLY ACTION	An admission plan that allows students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification dates. If admitted, the candidate is not committed to enroll (unlike early decision). Students may reply to the offer under the college's regular reply policy.

EARLY ADMISSION	A policy under which students who have not completed high school are admitted to and enrolled full-time in college, usually after completion of their junior year.

EARLY DECISION	A plan that allows students to apply and be notified of an admission decision (and financial aid offer, if applicable) well in advance of the regular notification date. Applicants agree to accept an offer of admission and, if admitted, to withdraw their applications from other colleges. There are three possible decision applications: admitted, denied, or not admitted but forwarded for consideration with the regular applicant pool, without prejudice.

EDUCATIONAL AND GENERAL (E&G)	Educational and general expenses are recorded for all expenses that are not for auxiliary enterprises, hospitals, or independent operations. Educational and general expenses are normally categorized as instruction, research, public service, academic support, student services, institutional support, scholarships and fellowships, and operation and maintenance of physical plant for GASB institutions. For FASB institutions, operation and maintenance of physical plant is not included due to the requirements of the not-for-profit guide.

EIN (ENTITY NUMBER)	The number assigned to an institution by the Internal Revenue Service for tax purposes.

EMPLOYEE FRINGE BENEFITS	Cash contributions in the form of supplementary or deferred compensation other than salary. Excludes the employee's contribution. Employee fringe benefits include retirement plans, social security taxes, medical/dental plans, guaranteed disability income protection plans, tuition plans, housing plans, unemployment compensation plans, group life insurance plans, worker's compensation plans, and other benefits in-kind with cash options.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOR CURRENT STUDENTS	Activities intended to assist students in obtaining part-time employment as a means of defraying part of the cost of their education.

ENDOWMENT ASSETS	Consists of gross investments of endowment funds, term endowment funds, and funds functioning as endowment for the institution and any of its foundations and other affiliated organizations.

ENDOWMENT FUNDS	Funds whose principal is nonexpendable (true endowment) and that are intended to be invested to provide earnings for institutional use. Also includes term endowment and funds functioning as endowment.

ENDOWMENT INCOME	Consists of: (1) the unrestricted income of endowment and similar funds; (2) restricted income of endowment and similar funds to the extent expended for current operating purposes, and (3) income from funds held in trust by others under irrevocable trusts. Excludes capital gains or losses unless the institution has adopted a spending formula by which it expends not only the yield but also a prudent portion of the appreciation of the principal. Gains spent for current operations are treated as transfers rather than endowment income.

ENDOWMENT YIELD (DIVIDENDS, INTEREST, RENTS, ROYALTIES, ETC.)	Earnings (not realized gains) on investments of endowments regardless of distribution made of the earnings to various institutional funds. Includes interest, dividends, and amortization of purchased discounts and premiums.

ENTERING STUDENTS	Students coming into the institution for the first time. For the purposes of this survey, report the total number of undergraduate students that entered an institution for the first time in the fall term. It is important to include: students who initially attended the prior summer term and returned again in the fall; all first-time, first-year students; students transferring into the institution at any undergraduate level for the first time; both full-time and part-time students; and all degree and certificate-seeking as well as non-degree/certificate seeking students.

EQUIPMENT	Moveable tangible property such as research equipment, vehicles, machinery, and office equipment that meets the institution's capitalization policy for capital assets.

EQUITY	The excess of a private, for-profit institution's assets over its liabilities. It is the claim or stake of the owners.

EXCLUSIONS	Students from the cohort or subcohort who left the institution for any of the following reasons: died or were totally and permanently disabled; to serve in the armed forces; to serve with a foreign aid service of the Federal Government, such as the Peace Corps; or to serve on official church missions.

EXECUTIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND MANAGERIAL	Persons whose assignments require management of the institution, or a customarily recognized department or subdivision thereof. Assignments require the performance of work directly related to management policies or general business operations of the institution, department or subdivision. Assignments in this category customarily and regularly require the incumbent to exercise discretion and independent judgment. Included in this category are employees holding titles such as: top executives; chief executives; general and operations managers; advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers; operations specialties managers; administrative services managers; computer and information systems managers; financial managers; human resources managers; purchasing managers; Postsecondary education administrators such as: presidents, vice presidents (including assistants and associates), deans (including assistants and associates) if their principal activity is administrative and not primarily instruction, research or public service, directors (including assistants and associates), department heads (including assistants and associates) if their principal activity is administrative and not primarily instruction, research or public service, assistant and associate managers (including first-line managers of service, production and sales workers who spend more than 80 percent of their time performing supervisory activities); engineering managers; food service managers; lodging managers; and medical and health services managers.

EXPENSES	These are the outflow or other using up of assets or incurrence of liabilities (or a combination of both) from delivering or producing goods, rendering services, or carrying out other activities that constitute the insitution's ongoing major or central operations or in generating revenues. Alternatively, expenses may be thought of as the costs of goods and services used to produce the educational services provided by the institution. Expenses result in a reduction of net assets.

EXTENSION CENTERS	See Off-Campus Centers.

EXTENSION DIVISION	A unit of the institution that provides institutional services including the planning, organization, and delivery of extended campus offerings. To carry out these activities, it generally maintains its own enrollment, personnel, and financial records separate from those of the main institution (although an institution may include these records in its own institutional data base). It does not grant either degree-credit or degrees, but these may be awarded by the institution for instruction provided through the extension division.

FACULTY	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.

FALL COHORT	The group of students entering in the fall term established for tracking purposes. This includes all students who enter an institution as full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduate students during the fall term of a given year. Also see: First-time first-year student.

FALL TERM	The part of the academic year that begins between late August and November 1.

FASB	Financial Accounting Standards Board. This board is recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as the body authorized to establish accounting standards. In practice it defers to GASB the setting of accounting standards for local and state government entities.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS (REVENUES)	Revenues from Federal governmental agencies that are for training programs, research, or public service activities for which expenditures are reimbursable under the terms of a government grant or contract. (Includes Pell Grants for public institutions only.)

FEDERAL GRANTS	These are transfers of money or property from the Federal government to the education institution without a requirement to receive anything in return. These grants may take the form of grants to the institutions to undertake research or they may be in the form of student financial aid. Federal Grants for purposes of conducting research are reported under the Federal Grants revenue category by both public and private institutions.

FEDERAL GRANTS (grants/educational assistance funds)	Grants provided by federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, including Title IV Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOGs). Also includes need-based and merit-based educational assistance funds and training vouchers provided from other federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored educational benefits programs, including the Veteran's Administration, Department of Labor, and other federal agencies.

FELLOWSHIPS	Grants-in-aid and trainee stipends to graduate students. Excludes funds for which services to the institution must be rendered, such as payments for teaching. Excludes loans.

FICE CODE	A 6-digit identification code originally created by the Federal Interagency Committee on Education. The code was used to identify all schools doing business with the Office of Education during the early sixties. This code is no longer used in IPEDS; it has been replaced by the OPE ID code.

FIDUCIARY FUNDS	Resources held and administered by the institution when it is acting in a capacity for individuals, private organizations, or governments. These are funds the institution holds in a trustee or agency capacity for others and the funds therefore cannot be used to support the institution's own programs. Included are pension (and other employee benefit) trust funds, investment trust funds, private-purpose trust funds, and agency funds (i.e., agency transactions). Fiduciary funds are not included in entity-wide financial statements of GASB organizations, but separate "fund" financial statements of the fiduciary funds only are included with the financial statements.

FINANCIAL AID	Grants, loans, assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, tuition waivers, tuition discounts, veterans benefits, employer aid (tuition reimbursement) and other monies (other than from relatives/friends) provided to students to meet expenses. This includes Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans made directly to students.

FIPS (Codes)	Federal Information Processing Standards codes (FIPS codes) are a standardized set of numeric or alphabetic codes issue by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to ensure uniform identification of geographic entities throughout all federal government agencies.

FIRST-PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE (POST-DEGREE)	An award that requires completion of an organized program of study designed for persons who have completed the first-professional degree. Examples could be refresher courses or additional units of study in a specialty or subspecialty.

FIRST-PROFESSIONAL DEGREE	An award that requires completion of a program that meets all of the following criteria: (1) completion of the academic requirements to begin practice in the profession; (2) at least 2 years of college work prior to entering the program; and (3) a total of at least 6 academic years of college work to complete the degree program, including prior required college work plus the length of the professional program itself. First-professional degrees may be awarded in the following 10 fields: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.) Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Law (L.L.B., J.D.) Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.) Medicine (M.D.) Theology (M.Div., M.H.L., B.D., or Ordination) Optometry (O.D.) Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)

FIRST-PROFESSIONAL STUDENT	A student enrolled in any of the following degree programs: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.) Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Law (L.L.B., J.D.) Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.) Medicine (M.D.) Theology (M.Div., M.H.L., B.D., or Ordination) Optometry (O.D.) Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)

FIRST-TIME FIRST-YEAR STUDENT	A student attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. 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).

FIRST-TIME STUDENT	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).

FIRST-YEAR STUDENT	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.

FOUR-ONE-FOUR PLAN	The 4-1-4 calendar consists of 4 courses taken for 4 months, 1 course taken for 1 month, and 4 courses taken for 4 months. There may be an additional summer session.

FRESHMAN	A first-year undergraduate student.

FRINGE BENEFITS	See Employee Fringe Benefits.

FRINGE BENEFITS EXPENDITURES	Cash contributions (of the institution) in the form of supplementary or deferred compensation other than salary. Excludes the employee's contribution.

FULL-TIME INSTRUCTIONAL FACULTY	Instruction/research staff who are employed full time and whose major regular assignment is instruction, including those with released time for research. Also, includes full-time faculty for whom it is not possible to differentiate between teaching, research and public service because each of these functions is an integral component of his/her regular assignment.

FULL-TIME STAFF (EMPLOYEES)	The type of appointment at the snapshot date determines whether an employee is full time or part time. The employee's term of contract is not considered in making the determination of full or part time. Employees are counted only once even if employed multiple ways (e.g., a full-time employee who also teaches part time on a per course basis is counted only as full time). Also, a full-time employee who has an additional overload part-time appointment, contract, or course payment is counted as full time.

FULL-TIME STUDENT	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 students involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that are considered full time by the institution. First-professional - As defined by the institution.

FULL-YEAR COHORT	The group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period September 1 through August 31 that is established for tracking and reporting graduation rate data for institutions that primarily offer occupational programs of varying lengths. Students must be full time and first time to be considered in the cohort.

FUNDS FUNCTIONING AS ENDOWMENT (QUASI-ENDOWMENT FUNDS)	Funds established by the governing board to function like an endowment fund but which may be totally expended at any time at the discretion of the governing board. These funds represent nonmandatory transfers from the current fund rather than a direct addition to the endowment fund, as occurs for the true endowment categories.

GAINS	These are increases in the institution's net assets from peripheral or incidental transactions. This is in contrast to revenues, which occur from the institution's ongoing major or central operations. Whether a transaction generates revenue or a gain depends on the relationship of the transaction to the institution's activities. For example, the sale of computers by a college store might be part of ongoing central activities while the sale of surplus computers from administrative offices might not be.

GASB	Governmental Accounting Standards Board. This board establishes accounting standards for local and state entities including governmental colleges and universities. In the IPEDS Finance Survey, institutions that follow the standards of the GASB are referred to as "GASB institutions" (althought they are frequently called public institutions).

GASB GOVERNMENTAL MODEL USING STANDARDS PRIOR TO GASB 34	Prior to the GASB model using GASB 34 and 35, some governmental colleges and universities used the "governmental model" of financial reporting. This reporting model and standards, followed primarily by some institutions with taxing authority, used the same financial reporting standards as state and local governments. Those institutions previously using this model and who have not implemented GASB Statement Nos. 34 and 35 should continue to use the same model until their required implementation date of GASB Statement Nos. 34 and 35.

GASB MODEL USING GASB 34 & 35	GASB Statement Nos. 34 and 35 require all governmental colleges and universities to issue financial statements using the reporting model and standards of those statements. The required implementation date is based on annual revenues, with implementation dates from years beginning after June 15, 2001, to June 15, 2003. Until such time as the standards of these statements are implemented, institutions are required to continue using the model previously used. The two previous models are the GASB governmental model using standards prior to GASB 34 and the AICPA College and University Audit Guide model.

GED	Normally refers to the Tests of General Educational Development, which provide an opportunity to earn a high school credential. The GED program, sponsored by the American Council on Education, enables individuals to demonstrate that they have acquired a level of learning comparable to that of high school graduates.

GIFTS	Revenues received from gift or contribution nonexchange transactions. Includes bequests, promises to give (pledges), gifts from an affiliated organization or a component unit not blended or consolidated, and income from funds held in irrevocable trusts or distributable at the direction of the trustees of the trusts. Includes any contributed services recognized (recorded) by the institution. FASB and GASB standards differ somewhat on when to recognize contributions or nonexchange revenues, with FASB standards generally causing revenues to be recognized earlier in certain circumstances.

GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS (REVENUES)	Revenues received by an institution through acts of a legislative body, except grants and contracts. These funds are for meeting current operating expenses and not for specific projects or programs. The most common example is a state's general appropriation. Federal appropriations accounted for by the institution as operating revenue should be classified as grants and contracts - operating for purposes of IPEDS reporting. Appropriations primarily to fund capital assets are classified as capital appropriations.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTS	Students employed on a part-time basis for the primary purpose of assisting in classroom or laboratory instruction or in the conduct of research. Graduate students having titles such as graduate assistant, teaching assistant, teaching associate, teaching fellow, or research assistant typically hold these positions. Students in the College Work-Study Program are not included in this category. Employees hired on a full-time basis (not students) are to be reported as "other professionals."

GRADUATE STUDENT	A student who holds a bachelor's or first-professional degree, or equivalent, and is taking courses at the post-baccalaureate level. These students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.

GRADUATION RATE	The rate required for disclosure and/or reporting purposes under Student Right-to-Know. Calculated as the total number of completers within 150% of normal time divided by the revised cohort minus any allowable exclusions.

GRANTS - NONOPERATING	Revenues from governmental and nongovernmental parties where the revenues are not directly generated by operating activities of the institution but from nonexchange transactions. Although such revenues may be used for operating expenses, the revenues remain nonoperating. Includes Pell grants and similar resources from all levels of government used for scholarships and fellowships.

GRANTS AND CONTRACTS (REVENUES)	Revenues from governmental agencies and nongovernmental parties that are for specific research projects, other types of programs, or for general institutional operations (if not government appropriations). Examples are research projects, training programs, student financial assistance, and similar activities for which amounts are received or expenses are reimbursable under the terms of a grant or contract, including amounts to cover both direct and indirect expenses. Includes Pell Grants and reimbursement for costs of administering federal financial aid programs. Grants and contracts should be classified to identify the governmental level - federal, state, or local - funding the grant or contract to the institution; grants and contracts from other sources are classified as nongovernmental grants and contracts. GASB institutions are required to classify in financial reports such grants and contracts as either operating or nonoperating.

GRANTS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT	These are local monies awarded to the institution under local government student financial aid programs. If the local government selects the student recipients and simply transmits the funds to the institution for disbursement to the student, the amounts are not recorded as revenues and consequently there are no discounts & allowances or scholarships and fellowships expenses. If the funds are made available to the institution for selection of student recipients, then the amounts received are recorded as revenues and subsequently as discounts & allowances or scholarships and fellowships expenses. On the form for "Student Grants" FASB institutions will record the total of all such amounts whether recipients are selected by the government or by the institution. Where recipients are selected by the institutions, GASB institutions will report these amounts on the form for Scholarships and Fellowships and on the line for "Grants by local government."

GRANTS BY STATE GOVERNMENT	These are state monies awarded to the institution under student financial aid programs, including the state portion of State Student Incentive Grants (SSIG). If the state government selects the student recipients and simply transmits the funds to the institution for disbursement to the student, the amounts are not recorded as revenues and subsequently there are no discounts and allowances or scholarships and fellowships expenses. If the funds are made available to the institution for selection of student recipients, then the amounts received are recorded as revenues and subsequently as discounts and allowance or scholarships and fellowships expenses. On the form for "Student Grants" FASB institutions will record the total of all such amounts whether recipients are selected by the government or by the institution. Where recipients are selected by the institutions, GASB institutions will report these amounts on the form for Scholarships and Fellowships and on the line for "Grants by state government."

HBCU	Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Accredited institutions of higher education established prior to 1964 with the principal mission of educating Black Americans. Federal regulations (20 USC 1061 (2)) allow for certain exceptions to the founding date.

HEALTH EDUCATION ASSISTANCE LOAN (HEAL)	Federally insured loans to students attending eligible health professions schools. Section 730 of the Public Health Service Act requires HEAL schools to maintain records on student loans granted under this program.

HEGIS	The Higher Education General Information Survey system conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics between 1966 and 1985. A system comprising several surveys of institutions that are accredited at the college level by an agency recognized by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. These surveys included institutional characteristics, enrollment, degrees conferred, salaries, employees, financial statistics, libraries, and others. HEGIS surveys were sent to approximately 3,400 accredited institutions of higher education.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR RECOGNIZED EQUIVALENT	A document certifying the successful completion of a prescribed secondary school program of studies, or the attainment of satisfactory scores on the Tests of General Educational Development (GED) or another state specified examination.

HISPANIC	A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

HOME STUDY	Method of instruction designed for students who live at a distance from the teaching institution. Instructional materials are provided to the student through various media with structured units of information, assigned exercises for practice, and examinations to measure achievement, which in turn are submitted to the teaching institution for evaluation, grade assignment, and the awarding of credit.

HOSPITAL SERVICES	Expenses associated with a hospital operated by the postsecondary institution (but not as a component unit) and reported as a part of the institution. This classification includes nursing expenses, other professional services, general services, administrative services, and fiscal services. Also included are information technology expenses, actual or allocated costs for operation and maintenance of plant, and depreciation related to hospital capital assets. FASB institutions also charge or allocate interest expense to hospitals.

HOSPITALS (REVENUES)	Revenues generated by a hospital operated by the postsecondary institution. Includes gifts, grants, appropriations, research revenues, endowment income, and revenues of health clinics that are part of the hospital unless such clinics are part of the student health services program. Sales and service revenues are included net of discounts and allowances. Revenues associated with the medical school are included elsewhere. Also includes all amounts appropriated by governments (federal, state, local) for the operation of hospitals.

HOUSING PLAN (RESTRICTED)	Plans which restrict beneficiaries to choose from only institution-owned housing.

IN-DISTRICT STUDENT	A student who is a legal resident of the locality in which he/she attends school and thus is entitled to reduced tuition charges if offered by the institution

IN-DISTRICT TUITION	The tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school. This may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.

IN-STATE STUDENT	A student who is a legal resident of the state in which he/she attends school.

IN-STATE TUITION	The tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements.

INDEBTEDNESS ON CAPITAL ASSETS	These are liabilities associated with the debt incurred in financing the institution's capital assets, including bonds, mortgages, notes, capital leases, and any other outstanding debt that was incurred to acquire, construct, or improve capital assets. Excluded is indebtedness issued and backed by the state government and that will be repaid by the state from sources other than institutional funds.

INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS (EXPENSES)	Expenses associated with operations that are independent of or unrelated to the primary missions of the institution (i.e., instruction, research, public service) although they may contribute indirectly to the enhancement of these programs. This category is generally limited to expenses of a major federally funded research and development center. Also included are information technology expenses, actual or allocated costs for operation and maintenance of plant, and depreciation related to the independent operations. FASB institutions also charge or allocate interest expense to independent operations. Excluded are expenses of operations owned and managed as investments of the institution's endowment funds.

INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS (REVENUES)	Revenues associated with operations independent of or unrelated to the primary missions of the institution (i.e., instruction, research, public service) although they may contribute indirectly to the enhancement of these programs. This category generally includes only those revenues associated with major federally funded research and development centers. Excluded are the net profit (or loss) from operations owned and managed as investments of the institution's endowment funds.

INFRASTRUCTURE	Capital assets consisting of roads, bridges, drainage systems, water and sewer systems, and other similar assets. Infrastructure assets usually have longer useful lives than other capital assets such as buildings. Infrastructure is subject to depreciation (if depreciable assets) unless the "modified approach" is used; see GASB Statement 34, paragraphs 23-36, for information on the modified approach.

INITIAL COHORT	Cohort. A specific group (of students) established for tracking purposes. [For this survey, the initial cohort is defined as all students who enter an institution as full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students during either (1) the fall term of a given year, or (2) between September 1 and August 31 of the same academic year.]

INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION	Formerly used in IPEDS to define an institution that was accredited at the college level by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. These schools offered at least a one-year program of study creditable toward a degree and they were eligible for participation in Title IV Federal financial aid programs.

INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNT	An account in which the institution maintains fiscal control of revenues or expenditures and has full knowledge of the amounts flowing through the account.

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS	These are scholarships and fellowships granted and funded by the institution and/or individual departments within the institution, (i.e., instruction, research, public service) although they may contribute indirectly to the enhancement of these programs. Also, includes scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on state of residence or major) for which the institution designates the recipient; athletic scholarships; and the like.

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS (Funded) (Allowances)	These are institutional resources restricted for student aid, such as scholarships and fellowships. Private institutions generally report these grants as allowances. Only if control over how these resources will be spent shifts to the student will the amount be reported as a revenue and expense.

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS (Unfunded) (Allowances)	These are scholarship and fellowships awarded to students from unrestricted institutional resources. Generally private institutions report these resources as allowances. Only if control over these resources passes to the student are these resources reported as revenue and expense.

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS FROM RESTRICTED RESOURCES	These are institutional grants funded from restricted-expendable resources for student aid, such as scholarships and fellowships. Total amounts granted during the year (without considering the amount that may be subsequently classified as discounts & allowances) should be reported. FASB institutions report on the form "Student Grants" and GASB institutions report on the form "Scholarships and Fellowships."

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS FROM UNRESTRICTED RESOURCES	These are institutional grants funded from unrestricted resources. Total amounts granted during the year (without considering the amount that may subsequently be classified as discounts & allowances) should be reported. FASB institutions report on the form "Student Grants" and GASB institutions report on the form "Scholarships and Fellowships."

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT	This functional expense category includes expenses for the day-to-day operational support of the institution. Includes expenses for general administrative services, central executive-level activities concerned with management and long range planning, legal and fiscal operations, space management, employee personnel and records, logistical services such as purchasing and printing, and public relations and development. Also included are information technology expenses related to institutional support activities; if an institution does not separately budget and expense information technology resources, the costs associated with student services and operation and maintenance of plant will also be applied to this function. FASB institutions include actual or allocated costs for operation and maintenance of plant, interest and depreciation. GASB institutions do not include operation and maintenance of plant or interest, but may, as an option, distribute depreciation expense. Appropriate allocations of institutional support should be made to auxiliary enterprises, hospitals, and independent operations.

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT (EXPENSES) FOR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS	Expenses for the day-to-day operational support of the institution. Includes expenses for general administrative services, executive direction and planning, legal and fiscal operations, administrative computing support, and public relations and development. Excludes expenditures for physical plant operations.

INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM	Two or more postsecondary institutions under the control or supervision of a single administrative body.

INSTRUCTION	This functional expense category includes expenses of the colleges, schools, departments, and other instructional divisions of the institution and expenses for departmental research and public service that are not separately budgeted. Includes general academic instruction, occupational and vocational instruction, community education, preparatory and adult basic education, and regular, special, and extension sessions. Also includes expenses for both credit and non-credit activities. Excludes expenses for academic administration where the primary function is administration (e.g., academic deans). Also included are information technology expenses related to instructional activities if the institution separately budgets and expenses information technology resources (otherwise these expenses are included in academic support). FASB institutions include actual or allocated costs for operation and maintenance of plant, interest, and depreciation. GASB institutions do not include operation and maintenance of plant or interest, but may, as an option, distribute depreciation expense.

INSTRUCTION (EXPENSES) FOR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS	Expenses of the colleges, schools, departments, and other instructional divisions of the institution and expenses for departmental research and public service that are not separately budgeted. Includes general academic instruction, occupational and vocational instruction, community education, preparatory and adult basic education, and remedial and tutorial instruction conducted by the teaching faculty for the institution's students. Also includes expenses for both credit and not-credit activities. Excludes expenses for academic administration if the primary function is administration (e.g., academic deans).

INSTRUCTION COMBINED with RESEARCH and/or PUBLIC SERVICE	Persons for whom it is not possible to differentiate between teaching, research and public service because each of these functions is an integral component of his/her regular assignment. These employees may hold academic rank titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, lecturer or the equivalent. Included in this category are all officers holding titles such as, associate deans, assistant deans, and executive officers of academic departments (chairpersons, heads, or equivalent) if their principal activity is instruction combined with research and/or public service.

INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITY	The provision of coursework to students which can be measured in various terms.

INSTRUCTIONAL FACULTY (FULL TIME)	Those members of the instruction/research staff who are employed full time and whose major regular assignment is instruction, including those with released time for research. Also, include full-time faculty for whom it is not possible to differentiate between teaching, research and public service because each of these functions is an integral component of his/her regular assignment. Includes all faculty reported in the Employees by Assigned Position (EAP) component, full-time, non-medical category, as either Primarily instruction or Instruction combined with research and/or public service. For example, count as full time faculty on the SA component, those faculty who fall into the following categories: a full-time faculty member who is 50 percent instruction and 50 percent research and is classified as primarily instruction on the EAP; a full-time employee who is 40 percent instruction, 40 percent research, and 20 percent public service and is classified as primarily instruction on the EAP; and any full-time faculty for who it is not possible to differentiate between teaching, research, and public service and thus (combined category on EAP).

INTEREST	The price paid (or received) for the use of money over a period of time. Interest income is one component of investment income. Interest paid by the institution is an interest expense.

INVESTED IN CAPITAL ASSETS, NET OF RELATED DEBT	Net assets of GASB institutions that consist of capital assets, net of accumulated depreciation and reduced by the outstanding indebtedness on capital assets. FASB institutions do not use this classification; most of the equivalent net assets would be reported as unrestricted net assets.

INVESTMENT GAINS	The gain derived from the investment of capital. Such gains may take the form of a market appreciation of the value of the investment. The gain may be realized if the asset or capital is sold or unrealized it the asset or capital is not sold.

INVESTMENT INCOME	Revenues derived from the institution's investments, including investments of endowment funds. Such income may take the form of interest income, dividend income, rental income or royalty income and includes both realized and unrealized gains and losses. Investment income may be reported net of investment expenses. FASB institutions use the term "investment return."

INVESTMENT RETURN	Income from assets including dividends, interest earnings, royalties, rent, gains (losses) etc.

IPEDS	The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics. IPEDS began in 1986 and involves annual data collections. All postsecondary institutions that have a Program Participation Agreement with the Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education are required to report data using a web-based data collection system. IPEDS also surveys approximately 3,000 other schools that offer postsecondary education programs.

IPEDS UNIVERSE	All postsecondary institutions known to exist at any one point in time.

JOB TRAINING PARTNERSHIP ACT (JTPA)	Legislation effective beginning Federal Fiscal Year 1984, enabling Private Industry Councils (PICs) in service areas defined within each state to support job training programs. Provisions of the legislation deal with the authority of the councils, the range of allowable programs, and special populations to be served.

LAND AND LAND IMPROVEMENTS	Capital assets consisting of land and improvements such as athletic fields, golf courses, lakes, etc. Land is nondepreciable; some land improvements are depreciable and some are nondepreciable.

LESS THAN 9/10-MONTH SALARY CONTRACT	The contracted teaching period of faculty employed for less than 2 semesters, 3 quarters, 2 trimesters, or 2 4-month sessions.

LIABILITIES	Debts and obligations of the institution owed to outsiders or claims or rights, expressed in monetary terms, of an institution's creditors. Two types of liabilities are often defined, short-term and long term. Short-term liabilities are those that will be satisfied or paid within one year. Long-term liabilities are those which will not be satisfied within a year. Liabilities include: 1) accounts payable; 2) deferred revenues and refundable advances; 3) Post-retirement and post-employment obligations; 4) other accrued liabilities; 5) annuity and life income obligations and other amounts held for the benefits of others; 6) bonds, notes, and capital leases payable and other long-term debt, including current portions; 7) government grants refundable under student loan programs; and 8) other liabilities (those liabilities not falling in one or more of the above seven categories). The exact categories of liabilities that must be used are not specified and the above are examples only. GASB institutions are required to report liabilities under two categories - current liabilities and noncurrent liabilities.

LIBRARY	An organized collection of printed, microform, and audiovisual materials which (a) is administered as one or more units, (b) is located in one or more designated places, and (c) makes printed, microform, and audiovisual materials as well as necessary equipment and services of a staff accessible to students and to faculty. Includes units meeting the above definition which are part of a learning resource center.

LIBRARY COLLECTIONS	Expenditures for all print material, microfilm, microfiche, audiovisual materials such as records and films, and computer software that is part of the collection made available to patrons and that are capitalized under the institution's capitalization policy. Excludes expenditures for hardware of any kind (e.g., computer terminals, microfiche readers, record players, and projectors). Capitalized library collections may or may not be subject to depreciation, depending on the institution's policy.

LIBRARY MATERIALS ACQUISITIONS (EXPENDITURES)	Expenditures for all print material, microfilm, microfiche, audiovisual materials such as records and films, and computer software. Excludes expenditures for hardware of any kind (e.g., computer terminals, microfiche readers, record players, and projectors).

LIBRARY OPERATING EXPENDITURES	The funds expended from the library budget regardless of when the funds may have been received from Federal, state, or other sources. Includes salaries and wages, expenditures for print materials, current serial subscriptions, microforms, machine-readable materials, audiovisual materials, other collection expenditures, preservation, furniture and equipment, computer hardware, postage, telecommunications, on-line database searches, contracted computer services, and all other operating expenditures. Excludes salaries and wages for maintenance and custodial staff, microcomputer software used only by library staff, and expenditures for capital outlays.

LOAN FUNDS	Funds that have been loaned, or are available for loans to students, faculty, and staff.

LOANS TO STUDENTS	Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.

LOCAL APPROPRIATIONS, EDUCATION DISTRICT TAXES, AND SIMILAR SUPPORT	Local appropriations are government appropriations made by a governmental entity below the state level. Education district taxes include all tax revenues assessed directly by an institution or on behalf of an institution when the institution will receive the exact amount collected. These revenues also include similar revenues that result from actions of local governments or citizens (such as through a referendum) that result in receipt by the institution of revenues based on collections of other taxes or resources (sales taxes, gambling taxes, etc.)

LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY (LEA)	A public board of education or other public authority legally constituted within a state for either administrative control of or direction of, or to perform service functions for public elementary or secondary schools in (1) a city, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision of a state; (2) such combination of school districts or counties a state recognizes as an administrative agency for its public elementary or secondary schools; (3) any other public institution or agency that has administrative control and direction of a public elementary or secondary school; and (4) any other public institution or agency that has administrative control and direction of a vocational education program.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS (REVENUES)	Revenues from local government agencies that are for training programs and similar activities for which amounts are received or expenditures are reimbursable under the terms of a local government grant or contract.

LOCAL GRANTS	These are local monies awarded to the institution under local government student aid programs.

LOCAL GRANTS (REVENUES)	A sum of money or property bestowed on a postsecondary institution by a local government. These amounts can be treated as an allowance, an agency transaction, or as a student aid expense in the institution's general purpose financial statements and are reported differently depending on their treatment. Generally, however, private institutions report these grants as allowances when applied to the student's account and as local grant revenues when received.

LONG-TERM DEBT	Debt of the institution in the form of bonds, notes, capital leases, and other forms of debt that are repayable over a period greater than one year. See long term debt current portion.

LONG-TERM DEBT - CURRENT PORTION	This is the amount of long-term debt that is expected to require current assets to pay or liquidate during the next year.

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS	Money or capital invested for purposes of receiving a profitable return over a period of time of more than one year. Long-term investments should be distinguished from temporary investments based on the intention of the organization regarding the terms of the investment rather than the nature of the investment itself. Includes the following items: 1) cash held until appropriate investments are identified; 2) repurchase agreements and other money market media; 3) equity securities and mutual fund investments; 4) debt securities; 5) real estate held for income production; 6) beneficial interest in trusts; and 7) other. GASB institutions report these investments under "noncurrent assets."

LOSSES	These are decreases in net assets from an organization's peripheral or incidental transactions and other events affecting the organization other than those that result from expenses.

MANDATORY TRANSFERS	Those transfers that must be made to fulfill a binding legal obligation of the institution. Includes mandatory debt-service provisions relating to academic and administrative buildings, including (1) amounts set aside for debt retirement and interest; and (2) required provisions for renewal and replacements to the extent not financed from other sources. Also includes the institutional matching portion for Perkins Loans when the source of funds is current revenue.

MARKET VALUE	This is the value of a good as determined in the market at a specific point in time or what individuals in the market for the good are willing to pay to obtain the good at a given point in time.

MASTER'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES I (CARNEGIE)	These institutions typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs, and they are committed to graduate education through the master's degree. They award 40 or more master's degrees per year across three or more disciplines.

MASTER'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES II (CARNEGIE)	These institutions typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs, and they are committed to graduate education through the master's degree. They award 20 or more master's degrees per year.

MASTER'S DEGREE	An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.

MEDICAL SCHOOL STAFF	Staff employed or employees working in the medical school component of a postsecondary institution or in a free standing medical school. Does not include staff employed or employees working strictly in a hospital associated with a medical school.

MEDICAL SCHOOLS AND MEDICAL CENTERS (CARNEGIE)	These institutions award most of their professional degrees in medicine. In some instances, they include other health professions programs, such as dentistry, pharmacy, or nursing.

MILITARY INSTALLATIONS	One or more buildings or sites owned or operated by the U.S. Army, #004d72, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, including Reserves and National Guard.

NATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION	Institutional accreditation normally applies to an entire institution, indicating that each of its parts is contributing to the achievement of an institution's objectives, although not necessarily all on the same level of quality. The various commissions of the regional accrediting associations, for example, perform institutional accreditation, as do some national institutional accrediting agencies.

NCES	The National Center for Education Statistics, which is the statistical branch of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, a principal operating component of the U.S. Department of Education.

NET ASSETS	The excess of assets over liabilities or the residual interest in the institution's assets remaining after liabilities are deducted. The change in net assets results from revenues, gains, expenses, and losses. FASB institutions classify net assets into three categories: permanently restricted, temporarily restricted, and unrestricted. GASB institutions classify net assets into three categories: invested in capital, net of related debt; restricted (with separate display of restricted-expendable and restricted-nonexpendable net assets); and unrestricted. Although the terms are similar, the composition of the categories of net assets between FASB and GASB institutions can differ significantly.

NET GRANT AID TO STUDENTS (Expenses)	Scholarship and fellowship student financial aid treated as an expense because the institution incurs an incremental expense in the provision of a good or service. Thus, payments made to students or third parties in support of the total cost of education are expenses if those payments are made for goods and services NOT provided by the institution. Examples include payments for services to third parties (including students) for off-campus housing or for the cost of board provided by institutional contract meal plans.

NET INCOME	The final figure in the income statement when revenues exceed expenses.

NEW HIRES	Persons who were hired for full-time permanent employment for the first time, or after a break in service, between July 1 and September 30 of the survey year. These do not include persons who have returned from sabbatical leave.

NON E & G CURRENT FUNDS EXPENDITURES	Includes self-supporting operations of the institution that furnish a service to students, faculty, or staff and charge a fee related to the service. Also includes funds expended for operations that are independent of the mission of the institution.

NON-MEDICAL (SCHOOL STAFF)	Staff employed or employees working in a postsecondary institution, except those employed or working in the medical school component of the institution. Staff employed or employees working in the postsecondary component of a hospital or medical center that offers postsecondary education as one of its primary missions. Staff employed or employees working in first-professional schools (e.g., law schools, dental schools, schools optometry) except medical schools. NOTE: Employees who work strictly in hospitals associated with medical schools should not be counted in the IPEDS surveys.

NONCREDIT COURSE	A course or activity having no credit applicable toward a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.

NONCURRENT ASSETS	Assets that are not reasonably expected to be realized in cash or sold or consumed during the next normal operating cycle (normally one year) of the institution. Liquidity or nearness to cash is not the basis for determining classification as current or noncurrent. Thus cash investments intended for liquidation of liabilities due beyond the one-year period would be noncurrent assets, as would assets segregated for the liquidation of long-term debts (including amounts due within the next operating cycle). Assets designated to be used to acquire, construct, or improve capital assets would be noncurrent. All current and noncurrent classifications should be determined as discussed in chapter 3 of the AICPA's Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43.

NONCURRENT LIABILITIES	Liabilities whose liquidation is not reasonably expected to require the use of resources classified as current assets or the creation of other current liabilities within the next year. This includes the noncurrent portion of long-term debt and long-term accrued liabilities (such as for compensated absences, claims & judgments, and post-employment/post-retirement benefits). This also includes the liability for refundable advances to the federal government for the Perkins Loan Program and similar loan programs. Noncurrent liabilities will also include debt due within the next operating cycle if payment will be made from segregated assets classified as noncurrent assets. All current and noncurrent classifications should be determined as discussed in chapter 3 of the AICPA's Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43.

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

NONMANDATORY TRANSFERS	Those transfers from current funds to other fund groups made at the discretion of the governing board to serve a variety of objectives, such as additions to loan funds, funds functioning as endowment, general or specific plant additions, voluntary renewals and replacement of plant, and prepayments on debt principal.

NONOPERATING	GASB requires that revenues and expenses be separated between operating and nonoperating. Operating revenues and expenses result from providing goods and services. Nonoperating activities are those outside the activities that are part of the operating activities of the institution. Most government appropriations are nonoperating because they are not generated by the operations of the institution. Investment income is nonoperating in most instances because institutions are not engaged in investing as an operating activity. Gifts are defined as nonoperating. Nonexchange transactions generate nonoperating revenues.

NONRESIDENT ALIEN	A person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and who is in this country on a visa or temporary basis and does not have the right to remain indefinitely.

NORMAL TIME TO COMPLETION	The amount of time necessary for a student to complete all requirements for a degree or certificate according to the institution's catalog. This is typically 4 years (8 semesters or trimesters, or 12 quarters, excluding summer terms) for a bachelor's degree in a standard term-based institution; 2 years (4 semesters or trimesters, or 6 quarters, excluding summer terms) for an associate's degree in a standard term-based institution; and the various scheduled times for certificate programs.

OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAM	A program of study consisting of one or more courses, designed to provide the student with sufficient knowledge and skills to perform in a specific occupation.

OCCUPATIONALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAM	An instructional program, below the bachelor's level, designed to prepare individuals with entry-level skills and training required for employment in a specific trade, occupation, or profession related to the field of study.

OFF-CAMPUS CENTERS (EXTENSION CENTERS)	Sites outside the confines of the parent institution where courses are offered that are part of an organized program at the parent institution. The sites are not considered to be temporary but may be rented or made available to the institution at no cost by another institution or an organization, agency, or firm.

OFF-CAMPUS FACILITY	A teaching facility located some distance away from the educational institution which operates it.

OFFICIAL FALL REPORTING DATE	The date (in the fall) on which an institution must report fall enrollment data to either the State, its board of trustees or governing board, or some other external governing body.

OPE ID	Identification number used by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) to identify schools that have Program Participation Agreements (PPAs) so that its students are eligible to participate in Federal Student Financial Assistance programs under Title IV regulations. This is a 6-digit number followed by a 2-digit suffix used to identify branches, additional locations, and other entities that are part of the eligible institution.

OPEN ADMISSION	Admission policy whereby the school will accept any student who applies.

OPERATING	GASB requires that revenues and expenses be separated between operating and nonoperating. Operating revenues and expenses result from providing goods and services. Operating transactions are incurred in the course of the operating activities of the institution. GASB includes in operating activities all those that do not fit within the cash flow categories of noncapital financing activities, capital and related financing activities, or investing activities. See GASB Statement No. 9 for more details on cash flow categories. There is a high degree of consistency between exchange transactions and operating, but there are a few exceptions.

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PLANT (EXPENSES)	This functional expense category includes expenses for operations established to provide service and maintenance related to campus grounds and facilities used for educational and general purposes. Specific expenses include utilities, fire protection, property insurance, and similar items. This function does not include amounts charged to auxiliary enterprises, hospitals, and independent operations. Also included are information technology expenses related to operation and maintenance of plant activities if the institution separately budgets and expenses information technology resources (otherwise these expenses are included in institutional support). Institutions may, as an option, distribute depreciation expense to this function. FASB institutions do not use this function; instead these expenses are charged to or allocated to other functions.

OTHER ACADEMIC CALENDAR SYSTEM	Category used to describe "non-traditional" calendar systems at 4-year and 2-year degree-granting institutions. These can include schools that offer primarily on-line courses or "one course at a time".

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE	Persons whose assignments require management of the institution, or a customarily recognized department or subdivision thereof, but who are subordinate to employees classified as executive and managerial. Assignments require the performance of work directly related to management policies or general business operations of the institution, department or subdivision. Assignments in this category customarily and regularly require the incumbent to exercise discretion and independent judgment. Included in this category are all employees holding titles such as assistant, associate vice presidents (if no direction of others is required); assistant, associate deans (if no direction of others is required); assistant, associate directors; assistant, associate department head, if their principal activity is administrative; assistant, associate managers (including first-line managers of service, production and sales workers who spend more than 80% of their time performing supervisory activities).

OTHER DEGREE-SEEKING SUBCOHORT	Students in the revised cohort who were other than bachelor's degree seeking upon entry.

OTHER E & G EXPENDITURES AND TRANSFERS	These are current funds expenditures not included elsewhere. Examples are expenditures for libraries, administration, academic computing, career guidance, admissions, registrar activities, executive planning, legal and fiscal operations, and public relations.

OTHER EXPENSES	The amount of money (estimated by the financial aid office) needed by a student to cover expenses such as laundry, transportation, entertainment, and furnishings. (For the purpose of this survey room and board and tuition and fees are not included.)

OTHER FEDERAL GRANTS	These are federal monies awarded to the institution under federal government student aid programs, such as Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, DHHS training grants (aid portion only), State Student Incentive Grants, and other federal student aid programs. Pell grants are not included in this classification. If the federal government selects the student recipients and simply transmits the funds to the institution for disbursement to the student, the amounts are not recorded as revenues and subsequently there are no discounts & allowances or scholarships and fellowships expenses. If the funds are made available to the institution for selection of student recipients, then the amounts received are recorded as nonoperating revenues and subsequently as discounts & allowances or scholarships and fellowships expenses. On the form for "Student Grants" FASB institutions will record the total of all such amounts whether recipients are selected by the government or by the institution. GASB institutions will report on the form for Scholarships and Fellowships those amounts where recipients are selected by the institution on the line for "Other federal grants."

OTHER INSURANCE BENEFITS (CAFETERIA PLAN)	An insurance plan that gives an employee the option of selecting a combination of health care and insurance benefits (e.g. hospital, medical, surgical, dental care, and group life insurance).

OTHER PROFESSIONAL STAFF (SUPPORT/SERVICE)	Persons employed for the primary purpose of performing academic support, student service, and institutional support, whose assignments would require either a baccalaureate degree or higher or experience of such kind and amount as to provide a comparable background. Included in this category are all employees holding titles such as business operations specialists; buyers and purchasing agents; human resources, training, and labor relations specialists; management analysts; meeting and convention planners; miscellaneous business operations specialists; financial specialists; accountants and auditors; budget analysts; financial analysts and advisors; financial examiners; loan counselors and officers; computer specialists; computer and information scientists, research; computer programmers; computer software engineers; computer support specialists; computer systems analysts; database administrators; network and computer systems administrators; network systems and data communication analysts; counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists; counselors; social workers; health educators; clergy; directors, religious activities and education; lawyers; librarians, curators, and archivists; museum technicians and conservators; librarians; artists and related workers; designers; athletes, coaches, umpires; dancers and choreographers; music directors and composers; chiropractors; dentists; dietitians and nutritionists; optometrists; pharmacists; physicians and surgeons; podiatrists; registered nurses; therapists; and veterinarians.

OTHER SEPARATE HEALTH PROFESSION SCHOOLS (CARNEGIE)	These institutions award most of their degrees in such fields as chiropractic, nursing, pharmacy, or podiatry.

OTHER SOURCES (REVENUES)	Revenues not covered elsewhere. Examples are interest income and gains (net of losses) from investments of unrestricted current funds, miscellaneous rentals and sales, expired term endowments, and terminated annuity or life income agreements, if not material. Also includes revenues resulting from the sales and services of internal service departments to persons or agencies external to the institution (e.g., the sale of computer time).

OTHER SPECIALIZED INSTITUTIONS (CARNEGIE)	Institutions in this category include graduate centers, maritime academies, military institutes, and institutions that do not fit any other classification category.

OTHER SPECIFIC CHANGES IN NET ASSETS	These are changes that occur infrequently rather than on a regular basis, but still affect the net assets of the institution. Included in this category are: actuarial gain or (loss) on split interest agreements; gain or (loss) on sale of plant assets; other gain or (loss); discontinued operations; extraordinary gain or (loss); and cumulative effect of change (s) in accounting principle.

OTHER THAN 9/10-MONTH AND 11/12-MONTH SALARY CONTRACT	The contracted teaching period of faculty employed for other than 2 semesters, 3 quarters, 2 trimesters, 2 4-month sessions, or 11-12 months, but still considered full-time employees (as defined by the institution).

OUT-OF-STATE CENTERS	Sites where courses or programs are offered that are in a state different from the state of the main campus.

OUT-OF-STATE STUDENT	A student who is not a legal resident of the state in which he/she attends school.

OUT-OF-STATE TUITION	The tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the institution's or state's residency requirements.

OUTLYING AREAS	Includes American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

PART-TIME STAFF(EMPLOYEES)	The type of appointment at the snapshot date determines whether an employee is full time or part time. The employee's term of contract is not considered in making the determination of full or part time. Employees are counted only once even if employed multiple ways (e.g., a full-time employee who also teaches part time on a per course basis is counted only as full time). Also, a full-time employee who has an additional overload part-time appointment, contract, or course payment is counted as full time. Casual employees (hired on an ad-hoc basis or occasional basis to meet short-term needs) and students in the College Work-Study Program are not considered part-time staff.

PART-TIME STUDENT	Undergraduate - A student enrolled for either 11 semester credits or less, or 11 quarter credits or less, or less than 24 contact hours a week each term. Graduate - A student enrolled for either 8 semester credits or less, or 8 quarter credits or less.

PATIENT CONTRACTUAL ALLOWANCES	Contractual allowances provided to insurers or other group health providers.

PAYMENTS MADE ON PRINCIPAL	These are payments made on plant loan debt to reduce the principal of the loan, regardless of the source of funds.

PELL GRANT PROGRAM	(Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart I, as amended.) Provides grant assistance to eligible undergraduate postsecondary students with demonstrated financial need to help meet education expenses.

PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM (FORMERLY NATIONAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS)	(Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part E, as amended, Public Laws 89-329, 92-318, et al; 20 USC 1087aa-1087hh.) Provides low interest loans to eligible postsecondary students (undergraduate, graduate, or professional students) with demonstrated financial need to help meet educational expenses.

PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED	Net assets of FASB institutions that must be maintained in perpetuity. Permanently restricted net assets increase when institutions receive contributions for which donor-imposed restrictions limiting the instituiton's use of an asset or its economic benefits neither expire with the passage of time nor can be removed by the organization's meeting certain requirements. Donor-imposed restrictions on the use of the investment income on the assets may also change the amount of such net assets. Permanent endowment funds are the most common example.

PHYSICAL PLANT ASSETS	These assets consist of land, buildings, improvements other than buildings, equipment, and library books. Excluded are assets that are part of endowment or other capital fund investments in real estate. Construction in progress is excluded from this total until completed.

PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR PROGRAM COMPLETERS	Assistance for students in evaluating their career alternatives as well as in obtaining full-time employment upon leaving the institution.

POST-MASTER'S CERTIFICATE	An award that requires completion of an organized program of study of 24 credit hours beyond the master's degree, but does not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctor's level.

POSTBACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE	An award that requires completion of an organized program of study requiring 18 credit hours beyond the bachelor's; designed for persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of master.

POSTBACCALAUREATE STUDENT	A student with a bachelor's degree who is enrolled in graduate or first-professional courses.

POSTSECONDARY AWARD, CERTIFICATE, OR DIPLOMA (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.

POSTSECONDARY AWARD, CERTIFICATE, OR DIPLOMA (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.

POSTSECONDARY AWARD, CERTIFICATE, OR DIPLOMA (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.

POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION	The provision of a formal instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students who are beyond the compulsory age for high school. This includes programs whose purpose is academic, vocational, and continuing professional education, and excludes avocational and adult basic education programs.

POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTION	An institution which has as its sole purpose, or one of its primary missions, the provision of postsecondary education. Postsecondary education is the provision of a formal instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students beyond the compulsory age for high school. This includes programs whose purpose is academic, vocational, and continuing professional education, and excludes avocational and adult basic education programs.

PREDOMINANT CALENDAR SYSTEM	See Calendar System.

PRIMARILY INSTRUCTION	Persons whose specific assignments customarily are made for the purpose of conducting instruction or teaching and who hold academic rank titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, lecturer or the equivalent. Included in this category are deans, directors, or the equivalent, as well as associate deans, assistant deans, and executive officers of academic departments (chairpersons, heads, or equivalent) if their principal activity is instruction.

PRIMARILY PUBLIC SERVICE	Persons whose specific assignments customarily are made for the purpose of carrying out public service activities such as agricultural extension services, clinical services, or continuing education and who may hold academic rank titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor. Included in this category are deans, directors, or the equivalent, as well as associate deans, assistant deans, and executive officers of academic departments (chairpersons, heads, or equivalent) if their principal activity is public service.

PRIMARILY RESEARCH	Persons whose specific assignments customarily are made for the purpose of conducting research and who hold academic rank titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or titles such as research associate or postdoctoral fellow. Included in this category are deans, directors, or the equivalent, as well as associate deans, assistant deans, and executive officers of academic departments (chairpersons, heads, or equivalent) if their principal activity is research.

PRIMARY OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITY	The principal activity of a staff member as determined by the institution. If an individual participates in two or more activities, the primary activity is normally determined by the amount of time spent in each activity. Occupational activities are designated as follows: Executive, administrative, and managerial Other administrative Faculty (instruction/research/public service) Graduate assistants Other professional (support/service) Technical and paraprofessional Clerical and secretarial Skilled crafts Service/maintenance (See separate definitions).

PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT (PROFIT-MAKING) INSTITUTION	A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives compensation other than wages, rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk.

PRIVATE GIFTS, GRANTS, AND CONTRACTS (REVENUES)	Revenues from private donors for which no legal consideration is involved and from private contracts for specific goods and services provided to the funder as stipulation for receipt of the funds. Includes only those gifts, grants, and contracts that are directly related to instruction, research, public service, or other institutional purposes. Includes monies received as a result of gifts, grants, or contracts from a foreign government. Also includes the estimated dollar amount of contributed services.

PRIVATE INSTITUTION	An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported primarily by other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials.

PRIVATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTION	A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives no compensation, other than wages, rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both independent nonprofit schools and those affiliated with a religious organization.

PROGRAM	A combination of courses and related activities organized for the attainment of broad educational objectives as described by the institution.

PROGRAM CATEGORY	A summary of groups of related instructional programs designated by the first 2 digits of its appropriate CIP code.

PROGRAM OF AT LEAST 2 YEARS BUT LESS THAN 4 YEAR	Programs requiring at least 2 years but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college level work, including associate's degrees and programs that can be completed in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact hours to obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, of formal award.

PROGRAM OF AT LEAST 4 YEARS	Programs designed to be completed in at least 8 semesters or 12 quarters to obtain a degree, diploma, or other formal award. Includes programs resulting in all bachelor's degrees and other baccalaureate level or equivalent degrees, as well as 5-year cooperative programs, and those programs in which the normal 4 years of work are completed in 3 years.

PROGRAM OF LESS THAN 2 YEARS	Programs requiring less than 2 years of full-time equivalent college level work (4 semesters or 6 quarters) or less than 1,800 contact hours to obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or quarter in the summer.

PROGRAM SPECIALTY	A specific instructional program that can be identified by a 6-digit CIP code.

PROGRAM WITH NO FORMAL AWARD	Any formally organized program with stated educational objectives and well-defined completion requirements that does not lead to a formal award.

PSD	The Postsecondary Statistics Division within NCES where IPEDS is conducted.

PUBLIC INSTITUTION	An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school officials and which is supported primarily by public funds.

PUBLIC SERVICE	This functional expense category includes expenses for activities established primarily to provide noninstructional services beneficial to individuals and groups external to the institution. Examples are conferences, institutes, general advisory services, reference bureaus, and similar services provided to particular sectors of the community. This function includes expenses for community services, cooperative extension services, and public broadcasting services. Also included are information technology expenses related to the public service activities if the institution separately budgets and expenses information technology resources (otherwise these expenses are included in academic support). FASB institutions include actual or allocated costs for operation and maintenance of plant, interest, and depreciation. GASB institutions do not include operation and maintenance of plant or interest, but may, as an option, distribute depreciation expense.

PUBLIC SERVICE (EXPENSES) FOR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS	Expenses specifically for public service and for activities established primarily to provide non-instructional services beneficial to groups external to the institution. Examples are seminars and projects provided to the particular sectors of the community. Includes expenses for community services, cooperative extension services and public broadcasting services.

QUARTER CALENDAR SYSTEM	A calendar system in which the academic year consists of 3 sessions called quarters of about 12 weeks each. The range may be from 10 to 15 weeks. There may be an additional quarter in the summer

QUASI-ENDOWMENT FUNDS	See Funds Functioning as Endowment.

RACE/ETHNICITY	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. A person may be counted in only one group. The groups used to categorize U.S. citizens, resident aliens, and other eligible non-citizens are as follows: Black, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native Asian/Pacific Islander Hispanic White, non-Hispanic

RACE/ETHNICITY UNKNOWN	Category used to classify students or employees whose race/ethnicity is not known and institutions are unable to place them in one of the specified racial/ethnic categories.

REMEDIAL COURSES	Instructional courses designed for students deficient in the general competencies necessary for a regular postsecondary curriculum and educational setting.

REMEDIAL SERVICES	Instructional activities designed for students deficient in the general competencies necessary for a regular postsecondary curriculum and educational setting.

RESEARCH	This functional expense category includes expenses for activities specifically organized to produce research outcomes and commissioned by an agency either external to the institution or separately budgeted by an organizational unit within the institution. The category includes institutes and research centers and individual and project research. This function does not include nonresearch sponsored programs (e.g., training programs). Also included are information technology expenses related to research activities if the institution separately budgets and expenses information technology resources (otherwise these expenses are included in academic support.) FASB institutions include actual or allocated costs for operation & maintenance of plant, interest, and depreciation. GASB institutions do not include operation & maintenance of plant or interest but may, as an option, distribute depreciation expense.

RESEARCH (EXPENSES) FOR PRIVATE INSTITUTONS	Expenses for activities specifically organized to produce research outcomes and either commissioned by an agency external to the institution or separately budgeted by an organizational unit within the institution. The category includes institutes and research center, and individual and project research. Does not include nonresearch sponsored programs (e.g., training programs).

RESIDENCE	A person's permanent address determined by such evidence as a driver's license or voter registration. For entering freshmen, residence may be the legal residence of a parent or guardian.

RESIDENT ALIEN (AND OTHER ELIGIBLE NON-CITIZENS)	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).

RESTRICTED CURRENT FUNDS	Those funds available for financing operations but which are limited by donors or other external agencies to specific purposes, programs, departments, or schools. Externally imposed restrictions are to be contrasted with internal designations imposed by the governing board on unrestricted funds.

RESTRICTED NET ASSETS	Assets held by the institution upon which restrictions by donors have been placed. These restrictions may be temporary or permanent. They restrict the institution in its use of the assets and/or the period of time for which the restriction applies.

RESTRICTED-EXPENDABLE	Net assets of GASB institutions that are expendable but subject to imposed restrictions. Restrictions exist when constraints placed on use are either (a) externally imposed by creditors, grantors, contributors, or laws and regulations of other governments, or (b) imposed by law through constitutional provisions or enabling legislation.

RESTRICTED-NONEXPENDABLE	Net assets of GASB institutions subject to restrictions that prohibit the expenditure of the net assets in perpetuity. Restrictions exist when constraints placed on use are either (a) externally imposed by creditors, grantors, contributors, or laws and regulations of other governments, or (b) imposed by law through constitutional provisions or enabling legislation. Permanent endowments are the most common example.

REVENUES	The inflow of resources or other enhancement of net assets (or fund balance) of an institution or settlements of its liabilities (or a combination of both) from delivering or producing goods, rendering services, or other activities that constitute the institution's ongoing major or central operations. Included are revenues from fees and charges, appropriations, auxiliary enterprises, and contributions and other nonexchange transactions. Revenues are reported net of discounts and allowances (that is, the revenue reported is reduced by the amount of discounts and allowances) for FASB institutions and for GASB institutions that have implemented GASB 34.

REVISED COHORT	Initial cohort after revisions are made. This number is the number from which graduation and transfer-out rates will be calculated. Cohorts may be revised when the institution discovers that incorrect data have been reported in an earlier year. If no data are preloaded in this column, please enter your cohort data here.

ROOM CHARGES	The charges for an academic year for rooming accommodations for a typical student sharing a room with one other student.

SALARIES AND WAGES	Amounts paid as compensation for services to all employees - faculty, staff, part time, full time, regular employees, and student employees. This includes regular or periodic payment to a person for the regular or periodic performance of work or a service and payment to a person for more sporadic performance of work or a service (overtime, extra compensation, summer compensation, bonuses, sick or annual leave, etc.).

SALES AND SERVICES OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES (REVENUES)	Revenues from the sales of goods or services that are incidental to the conduct of instruction, research or public service. Examples include film rentals, sales of scientific and literary publications, testing services, university presses, dairy products, machine shop products, data processing services, cosmetology services, and sales of handcrafts prepared in classes.

SALES AND SERVICES OF HOSPITALS (REVENUES)	Revenues (net of discounts, allowances, and provisions for doubtful accounts) generated by hospitals from daily patient, special and other services. Revenues of health clinics that are part of a hospital should be included in this category, unless such clinics are part of the student health services program.

SAT (SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE 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.

SCHOLARSHIPS	Grants-in-aid, trainee stipends, tuition and fee waivers, and prizes to undergraduate students.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS (EXPENDITURES)	Expenditures made in the form of outright grants-in-aid, tuition and fee waivers, prizes, and trainee stipends to individuals enrolled in formal undergraduate or graduate coursework, either for credit or noncredit. Includes Pell Grants and aid to students in the form of tuition or fee remissions. Excludes those remissions that are granted because of faculty or staff status, or for which services to the institution must be rendered, such as payment for teaching, or student loans. Also excludes College Work-Study Program expenses.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS (EXPENSES)	This functional expense category includes scholarships and fellowships treated as expenses because the institution incurs an incremental expense in the provision of a good or service. Thus, payments, made to students or third parties in support of the total cost of education are expenses if those payments are made for goods and services not provided by the institution. Examples include payments for services to third parties (including students) for off-campus housing or for the cost of board provided by institutional contract meal plans. The amount of expense in this function is the total of all institutional scholarships and fellowships reduced by the amount that are classified as discounts & allowances. The FASB survey uses the term "net grants aid to students" rather than "scholarships and fellowships."

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS (General term)	Outright grants-in-aid, trainee stipends, tuition and fee waivers, and prizes awarded to students by the institution, including Pell grants. Awards to undergraduate students are most commonly referred to as "scholarships" and those to graduate students as "fellowships." These awards do not require the performance of services while a student (such as teaching) or subsequently as a result of the scholarship or fellowship. The term does not include loans to students (subject to repayment), college work-study program expenses, or awards granted because of faculty or staff status. Also not included are awards to students where the selection of the student recipient is not made by the institution (although the selecting party may refer to the award as a scholarship or fellowship); these are often internally accounted for as agency transactions or through asset or liability accounts (they do not generate revenues, expenses, or discounts & allowances). Those amounts used to offset institutional fees and charges are reported as discounts and allowances and those in excess of fees and charges are reported as scholarships and fellowships expenses.

SCHOOLS OF ART, MUSIC, AND DESIGN (CARNEGIE)	These institutions award most of their bachelor's or graduate degrees in art, music, design, architecture, or some combination of such fields.

SCHOOLS OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (CARNEGIE)	These institutions award most of their bachelor's or graduate degrees in business or business-related programs.

SCHOOLS OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY(CARNEGIE)	These institutions award most of their bachelor's or graduate degrees in technical fields of study.

SCHOOLS OF LAW (CARNEGIE)	These institutions award most of their degrees in law.

SECTOR	One of nine institutional categories resulting from dividing the universe according to control and level. Control categories are public, private not-for-profit, and private for-profit. Level categories are 4-year and higher (4 year), 2-but-less-than 4-year (2 year), and less than 2-year. For example: public, 4-year institutions; public, 2-year; etc.

SEMESTER CALENDAR SYSTEM	A calendar system that consists of two semesters during the academic year with about 16 weeks for each semester of instruction. There may be an additional summer session.

SERVICE/MAINTENANCE STAFF	Persons whose assignments require limited degrees of previously acquired skills and knowledge and in which workers perform duties that result in or contribute to the comfort, convenience, and hygiene of personnel and the student body or that contribute to the upkeep of the institutional property. Includes titles such as fire fighters; law enforcement workers; parking enforcement workers; police officers; security guards; lifeguards; ski patrol; cooks and food preparation workers; food and beverage serving workers; fast food and counter workers; waiters and waitresses; other food preparation and serving related workers; building cleaning and pest control workers; grounds maintenance workers; electrical and electronic equipment mechanics; installers and repairers; radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers; avionics technicians; electric motor, power tool, and related repairers; vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers; control and valve installers and repairers; heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers; air transportation workers; motor vehicle operators; and parking lot attendants.

SHARED LIBRARY	A facility housing an organized collection of printed, microform, and audiovisual materials, and (a) is jointly administered by more than one educational institution, or (b) whose funds or operating expenditures have been received from more than one educational institution. The location of the facility is not a determining factor.

SKILLED CRAFTS STAFF	Persons whose assignments typically require special manual skills and a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the processes involved in the work, acquired through on-the-job-training and experience or through apprenticeship or other formal training programs. Includes occupational titles such as welders, cutters, solderers and brazers; bookbinders and bindery workers; printers; cabinetmakers and bench carpenters; plant and system operators; stationary engineers and boiler operators; water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators; crushing, grinding, polishing, mixing, and blending workers; medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians; painting workers; photographic process workers and processing machine operators; and etchers and engravers.

SPECIAL ADMISSIONS TESTS	Tests prepared by or for a particular institution, or state (for state institutions) and administered by the institution, for purposes of determining prospective students' skills and competencies.

SPECIALIZED ACCREDITATION	Specialized accreditation normally applies to the evaluation of programs, departments, or schools which usually are parts of a total collegiate or other postsecondary institution. The unit accredited may be as large as a college or school within a university or as small as a curriculum within a discipline. Most of the specialized accrediting agencies review units within a postsecondary institution which is accredited by one of the regional accrediting commissions. However, certain of the specialized accrediting agencies accredit professional schools and other specialized or vocational or other postsecondary institutions which are free-standing in their operations. Thus, a "specialized" or "programmatic" accrediting agency may also function in the capacity of an "institutional" accrediting agency. In addition, a number of specialized accrediting agencies accredit educational programs within non-educational settings, such as hospitals.

STAFFORD LOANS (FORMERLY GUARANTEED STUDENT LOANS)	(Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV-B, as amended, Public Law 89-329; 20 USC 1071.) Provides guaranteed loans for educational expenses from eligible lenders to vocational, undergraduate, graduate, and first-professional students at eligible postsecondary institutions.

STANDARDIZED ADMISSIONS TESTS	Tests prepared and administered by an agency independent of any postsecondary education institution, for purposes of making available to prospective students, information about the students' academic qualifications relative to a national sample. Examples are the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Testing (ACT).

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS	State and local monies awarded to the institution under state and local student aid programs, including the state portion of State Student Incentives Grants (SSIG).

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS (REVENUES)	Revenues from state and local government agencies that are for training programs and similar activities for which amounts are received or expenditures are reimbursable under the terms of a state or local government grant or contract.

STATE GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS (REVENUES)	Revenues from state Government agencies that are for training programs and similar activities for which amounts are received or expenditures are reimbursable under the terms of a state government grant or contract.

STATE GRANTS (REVENUES)	A sum of money or property bestowed on a postsecondary institution by a state government. These amounts can be treated as an allowance, an agency transaction, or as a student aid expenses in the institution's general purpose financial statements and are reported differently depending on their treatment. Generally, however, private institutions report these grants as allowances when applied to the student's account and as state grant revenues when received.

STATE OF RESIDENCE	A person's permanent address as determined by such evidence as a driver's license or voter registration. For entering freshmen, state of residence may be the legal state of residence of a parent or guardian.

STATE UNKNOWN	Status used when the reporting institution is unable to determine from existing records the home state or residence of the student.

STATE/LOCAL GRANTS	Grant monies provided by the state such as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) (formerly SSIG's); merit scholarships provided by the state; and tuition and fee waivers for which the institution was reimbursed by a state agency. Local government grants include scholarships or gift-aid awarded directly to the student.

STATUS DATE	For the Graduation Rate survey, August 31 of the reporting year, at which time institutions determine the status of their cohort for tracking purposes.

STOP OUT	A student who left the institution and returned at a later date.

STUDENT RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT	Also known as the "Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act" (P.L. 101-542), which was passed by Congress November 9, 1990. Title I, Section 103, requires institutions eligible for Title IV funding to disclose completion or graduation rates of certificate- or degree-seeking, full-time students entering an institution to all students and prospective students. Further, Section 104 requires each institution which participates in any Title IV program and is attended by students receiving athletically-related student aid to annually submit a report to the Secretary. This report is to contain, among other things, graduation/completion rates of students receiving athletically-related student aid by race/ethnicity and gender and by sport, and the average completion or graduation rate for the four most recent years. These data are also required to be disclosed to potential student athletes (and others) when the institution offers athletically-related student aid.

STUDENT SERVICES (EXPENDITURES) FOR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS	Funds expended for admissions, registrar activities, and activities whose primary purpose is to contribute to students' emotional and physical well-being and to their intellectual, cultural, and social development outside the context of the formal instructional program. Examples are career guidance, counseling, financial aid administration, and student health services (except when operated as a self-supporting auxiliary enterprise).

STUDENT SERVICES (EXPENSES)	This functional expense category includes expenses for admissions, registrar activities, and activities whose primary purpose is to contribute to students' emotional and physical well-being and to their intellectual, cultural, and social development outside the context of the formal instructional program. Examples include student activities, cultural events, student newspapers, intramural athletics, student organizations, supplemental instruction outside the normal academic program (remedial instruction for example), career guidance, counseling, financial aid administration, and student records. Intercollegiate athletics and student health services may be included except when operated as self-supporting auxiliary enterprises. Also included may be information technology expenses related to student service activities if the institution separately budgets and expenses information technology resources (otherwise these expenses are included in institutional support). FASB institutions include actual or allocated costs for operation & maintenance of plant, interest, and depreciation. GASB institutions do not include operation & maintenance of plant or interest but may, as an option, distribute depreciation expense.

STUDY ABROAD	Arrangement by which a student completes part of the college program studying in another country. Can be at a campus abroad or through a cooperative agreement with some other U.S. college or an institution of another country.

SUMMER SESSION	A summer session is shorter than a regular semester and not considered part of the academic year. It is not the third term of an institution operating on a trimester system or the fourth term of an institution operating on a quarter calendar system. The institution may have two or more sessions occurring in the summer months. Some schools, such as vocational and beauty schools, have year-round classes with no separate summer session.

SUPPLEMENTARY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS (SEOG)	(Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Public Laws 89-329, 92-318, 94-482, et al; 20 USC 1070b-1070b-3.) Provides eligible undergraduate postsecondary students with demonstrated financial need with grant assistance to help meet educational expenses. The grants are made directly to institutions of higher education, which select students for the awards.

SYSTEM	An organization of two or more institutions of higher education under the control or supervision of a common administrative governing body. Governing bodies generally have the power to act in their own name, to hire and fire personnel, enter into contracts, etc. A coordinating body without these powers or a section of a state agency usually would not be considered a system office.

TEACHER CERTIFICATION	Program designed to prepare students to meet the requirements for certification as teachers in elementary, middle/junior high, and secondary schools.

TEACHERS COLLEGES (CARNEGIE	These institutions award most of their bachelor's or graduate degrees in education or education-related fields.

TECHNICAL AND PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFF	Persons whose assignments require specialized knowledge or skills which may be acquired through experience, apprenticeship, on-the-job-training, or academic work in occupationally specific programs that result in a 2-year degree or other certificate or diploma. Includes persons who perform some of the duties of a professional in a supportive role, which usually requires less formal training and/or experience than normally required for professional status. Included in this category are mathematical technicians; life, physical, and social science technicians; agricultural and food science technicians; chemical technicians; geological and petroleum technicians; nuclear technicians; paralegals and legal assistants; miscellaneous legal support workers; health technologists and technicians; dietetic technicians; pharmacy technicians; licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses; medical records and health information technicians; opticians, dispensing; healthcare support occupations; nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants; physical therapist assistants and aides; massage therapists; dental assistants; medical assistants; and pharmacy aides.

TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED	Net assets of FASB institutions whose use by the institution has been limited by donor specification as to use or the time when use may occur (such as a later period of time or after specified events have occurred).

TENURE	Status of a personnel position, or a person occupying a position or occupation, with respect to permanence of the position.

TENURE TRACK	Status of personnel positions that lead to consideration for tenure.

TERM ENDOWMENT FUNDS	Funds for which the donor has stipulated that the principal may be expended after a stated period or on the occurrence of a certain event.

TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TOEFL)	Standardized test designed to determine an applicant's ability to benefit from instruction in English.

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES AND OTHER SPECIALIZED FAITH-RELATED INSTITUTIONS (CARNEGIE)	These institutions primarily offer religious instruction or train members of the clergy.

TOTAL TRANSFER-OUT STUDENTS (NON-COMPLETERS)	Total number of students from the cohort or subcohort who transferred out at any time within 150% of normal time to completion. A transfer-out student is a student who has not completed or graduated from the program in which he or she was enrolled, but who has subsequently enrolled at another eligible institution in any program for which the reporting institution provided substantial preparation.

TRANSCRIPT	An official record of student performance showing all schoolwork completed at a given school and the final mark or other evaluation received in each portion of the instruction. Transcripts often include an explanation of the marking scale used by the school. (GRS1, GRS2, GRS2A, GRS1S)

TRANSFER-IN STUDENT	A student entering the reporting institution for the first time but known to have previously attended a postsecondary institution at the same level (e.g., undergraduate, graduate). The student may transfer with or without credit.

TRANSFER-OUT RATE	Total transfer-out students divided by the revised cohort minus allowable exclusions.

TRANSFER-OUT STUDENT	A student that leaves the reporting institution and enrolls at another institution. (For the Graduation Rate survey, transfer must occur within 150% of normal time to completion of the student's program.)

TRANSFER-PREPARATORY PROGRAM	A program designed specifically to provide a student with the basic knowledge needed to transfer into a higher level program. For example, this may be the first 2 years of a baccalaureate level program for which the institution does not offer an award, or 2 years of undergraduate study needed for entrance into a first-professional program, or 1 or more years of undergraduate study needed for entrance into health services fields.

TRANSFER-READY STUDENTS	A student who has successfully completed a transfer-preparatory program. (These students are counted as completers for Graduation Rate survey purposes.)

TRANSFERS FROM THE ENDOWMENT FUND TO THE CURRENT FUND	This is the amount of the capital gains on the endowment fund that is allocated to be spent for current fund activities under the "total return" concept.

TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (CARNEGIE)	These colleges are, with few exceptions, tribally controlled and located on reservations. They are all members of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.

TRIMESTER CALENDAR SYSTEM	An academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks each.

TUITION AND FEES (REVENUES)	Revenues from all tuition and fees assessed against students (net of refunds and discounts & allowances) for educational purposes. If tuition or fees are remitted to the state as an offset to the state appropriation, the total of such tuition or fees should be deducted from the total state appropriation and added to the total for tuition and fees. If an all-inclusive charge is made for tuition, board, room, and other services, a reasonable distribution should be made between revenues for tuition and fees and revenues for auxiliary enterprises. Tuition and fees excludes charges for room, board, and other services rendered by auxiliary enterprises.

TUITION AND FEES (REVENUES) (pre-GASB34)	Revenues from charges assessed against students for educational purposes. Includes tuition and fee remissions or exemptions even though there is no intention of collecting from the student. Includes those tuition and fees that are remitted to the state as an offset to the state appropriation. Excludes charges for room, board, and other services rendered by auxiliary enterprises.

TUITION AND REQUIRED FEES	Tuition - Amount of money charged to students for instructional services. Tuition may be charged per term, per course, or per credit. Required fees - Fixed sum charged to students for items not covered by tuition and required of such a large proportion of all students that the student who does NOT pay the charge is an exception.

TUITION PLAN (RESTRICTED)	Plans for dependents (including spouses) of faculty members which restrict the beneficiary to attendance at only the institution where the faculty member is employed.

UNCLASSIFIED STUDENT	A student taking courses creditable toward a degree or other formal award who cannot be classified by academic level. For example, this could include a transfer student whose earned credits have not been determined at the time of the fall report.

UNDERGRADUATE	A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or technical program below the baccalaureate.

UNDUPLICATED COUNT	The sum of students enrolled for credit with each student counted only once during the reporting period, regardless of when the student enrolled.

UNEXPENDED PLANT FUNDS BALANCE	Unexpended resources in the plant fund derived from various sources to finance the acquisition of long-lived plant assets and their associated liabilities.

UNITID CODE	Unique identification number assigned to postsecondary institutions surveyed through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

UNIVERSE	See IPEDS UNIVERSE.

UNRESTRICTED CURRENT FUNDS	All funds, including institutional funds, received for which no stipulation was made by the donor or other external agency as to the purpose for which the funds should be expended.

UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS	The net assets of both FASB and GASB institutions that do not fit the definition of other categories of net assets. These are net assets held by the instituiton upon which no restrictions have been placed by the donor or other party external to the institution.

VESTED RETIREMENT PLAN	One in which the full amount of the contribution by the institution and by the state and local government, with accumulations thereon, will be made available as a benefit in case of death while in service and with no forfeiture in case of resignation or dismissal from the institution.

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION EDUCATION BENEFITS (VA)	Those benefits that are paid for student assistance at approved postsecondary education institutions for three types of beneficiaries: surviving spouses and children, discharged veterans, and active military personnel in special programs.

WEEKEND COLLEGE	A program that allows students to take a complete course of study and attend classes only on weekends.

WHITE, NON-HISPANIC	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East (except those of Hispanic origin).

11/12-MONTH SALARY CONTRACT	The contracted teaching period of faculty employed for the entire year, usually a period of 11 months.

12-MONTH PERIOD	The 12-month period used by the institution for reporting a full year of activity. This time period should be consistent among all IPEDS surveys and from year-to-year.

25th Percentile	The score that 25 percent of the students (submitting test scores) scored at or below.

3/2 PROGRAM	A program of study that normally requires the first 3 years of undergraduate study at one institution and the last 2 years of study at another institution in order to attain a bachelor's degree. These programs are predefined by the institutions and are normally offered when an institution is unable to grant a degree in a particular field or program of study.

5-YEAR PROGRAM	A program offered by an institution that is defined in the catalog as requiring a student to take courses over a 5-year period in order to attain a bachelor's degree. These include, but are not limited to, 5-year cooperative programs which alternate class attendance with employment.

75th Percentile	The score that 25 percent of the students (submitting test scores) scored at or above.

9/10-MONTH SALARY CONTRACT	The contracted teaching period of faculty employed for 2 semesters, 3 quarters, 2 trimesters, 2 4-month sessions, or the equivalent.