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Participation
Student's contribution to class discussion, often taken into account in grading.

Part-Time Student
Refers to a student who is taking fewer units than the full load. At community colleges, less than 12 credit units is considered part-time.

Pass-Fail
A system of grading that distinguishes only those who pass from those who fail.

Placement Test
A skills assessment offered to, or required of, newly enrolled students after they have arrived on campus. Institutions that use placement tests recognize that the academic preparation of students varies significantly based upon the rigor of their prior educational coursework. The results of the skills assessment are used to place or advise enrollment of students into courses appropriate to their level of readiness.

Portable Funding
This term refers to college funding that can be used at any college or university, regardless of whether or not the student remains at his or her original school or transfers to another one.

Portfolio (Assessment)
A systematic and organized collection of student work that serves as a record of learning activities. The portfolio may be used to monitor growth of a student's knowledge, skills, and abilities in a specific subject area, and often includes the student's reflections on that work. Students may or may not participate in selection contents, the criteria for selection, the criteria for judging merit, and evidence of student self-reflection.

Post-Baccalaureate
A student holds a baccalaureate or its equivalent and is not enrolled in a graduate degree program. A student pursuing a second baccalaureate is categorized as a post-baccalaureate student.

Post-Baccalaureate 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.

Postdoctoral Fellow
Usually a recent Ph.D. holder temporarily appointed to teach or conduct research.

Postgraduate Degree
An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education as official recognition for the successful completion of a program of studies past the baccalaureate level. These degrees include:

• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
• Post-Masters Certificate
• Further Professional Certificate
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree
• Middle/Intermediate Degree
• First-Professional Degree

Post-Masters Certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study requiring 24 credit hours beyond the master's degree; designed for persons who have completed a master's degree, but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctor's level.

Preliminary Examinations
Written or oral examinations given to all prospective Ph.D. candidates after they have completed doctoral coursework. The examination results determine whether candidates are admitted to the dissertation stage of the program.

Prerequisite
A course that must be completed before a student is allowed to register for a more advanced course.

Private For-Profit (Profit-Making) Institution
An educational institution owned by a partnership or a for-profit corporation.

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 offices.

Private Nonprofit 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.

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Probation
A status imposed on students whose work is unsatisfactory until they improve performance or are asked to leave the program or institution.

Professional Accreditation
Accreditation granted to a professional school or a program offered at a regionally accredited institution by accrediting commissions affiliated with national professional organizations in such areas as business, engineering, law, medicine, nursing, physical therapy, etc. Professional accreditation is also known as specialized accreditation.

Professional Judgment
Professional judgment is the discretion a financial aid administrator has to adjust, with proper documentation, the expected family contribution (EFC), the cost of attendance (COA), or dependency status of a student. Such discretion can be used when extreme changes in the student or family situation occurs, such as death, unemployment, disability, etc.

Professional School
A post-baccalaureate institution (usually within a university) that trains students in the traditional professions, e.g., law or medicine.

Professor
The common title for all university faculty members. But it is also the formal rank of senior (full) professors.

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

Proprietary Institution
Privately owned, profit-making educational institution mostly offering practical occupational skills, and that awards certificates and diplomas.

Provost
The chief academic officer of an institution.

Public Institution
An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school officials and that is supported primarily by public funds.

Qualifying Examination
Examinations given at the conclusion of master's or doctoral coursework.

Quarter
Refers to three 12-week sessions that comprise the academic year. The range may be from 10 to 15 weeks. There may be an additional quarter in the summer.

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