Common Data Set 2016-2017
Commuter: A student who lives off campus in housing that is not owned by, operated by, or affiliated with the
college. This category includes students who commute from home and students who have moved to the area
to attend colle
e.
Contact hour: A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also
referred to as clock hour.
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 be
in on a certain date.
Cooperative education program: A program that provides for alternate class attendance and employment in
business, industr
, or
overnment.
Cooperative housing: College-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing in which students share room and
board ex
enses and
artici
ate in household chores to reduce livin
ex
enses.
* Counseling service: Activities designed to assist students in making plans and decisions related to their
education, career, or
ersonal develo
ment.
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
re
uired for achievin
a de
ree, di
loma, certificate, or other formal award.
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.
Cross-registration: A system whereby students enrolled at one institution may take courses at another
institution without havin
to a
l
to the second institution.
Deferred admission: The practice of permitting admitted students to postpone enrollment, usually for a
eriod of one academic term or one
ear.
Degree: An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official
reco
nition for the successful com
letion of a
ro
ram of studies.
Degree-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 occu
ational
ro
rams.
Differs by program (calendar system):
calendar system classification that is used by institutions that have
occupational/vocational programs of varying length. These schools may enroll students at specific times
depending on the program desired. For example, a school might offer a two-month program in January,
March, May, September, and November; and a three-month program in January, April, and October.
Diploma: See Postsecondar
award, certificate, or diploma.
Distance learning: An option for earning course credit at off-campus locations via cable television, internet,
satellite classes, videota
es, corres
ondence courses, or other means.
Doctor’s degree-research/scholarship: A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work
beyond the master’s level, including the preparation and defense of a dissertation based on original research,
or the planning and execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly
achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M,
and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Doctor’s degree-professional practice: A doctor’s degree that is conferred upon completion of a program
providing the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice.
The degree is awarded after a period of study such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-
professional and professional preparation, equals at least six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of
these degrees were formerly classified as “first-professional” and may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.);
Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (L.L.B. or J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry (O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine
(D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), and others,
as designated by the awarding institution.
Doctor’s degree-other: A doctor’s degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor’s degree -
research/scholarship or a doctor’s degree - professional practice.
Double major: Program in which students may complete two undergraduate programs of study
simultaneousl
.
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.
Early action plan: 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; the
student ma
re
l
to the offer under the colle
e’s re
ular re
l
olic
.
Early admission: A policy under which students who have not completed high school are admitted and enroll
full time in colle
e, usuall
after com
letion of their
unior
ear.
CDS Definitions Page 27