Student Glossary
Take a look.
Check out this resource designed to help you rock your Penn College journey. These terms are used often and are found around campus. Familiarize yourself and get ready to utilize as you navigate college.
Bursar
This office is responsible for student billing. If you have questions about your student bill, you will go to this office.
- Location: Davie Jane Gilmour Center (DJG), room 2098
- Contact: 570. 327.4762 or bursar@pct.edu
This office is our “career services” office. They offer many services including resume & cover letter support, mock interviews, a photo booth for headshots for your LinkedIn, and a free career gear closet.
- Location: Madigan Library, room 321
- Contact: careerservices@pct.edu
This office is responsible for supporting students who have accessibility challenges due to a disability or other health condition (including temporary ones such as a broken leg). If you had an IEP or 504 in the past, you may want to connect with this office as a resource.
- Location: Bush Campus Center (CC), room 202
- Contact: 570.327.5225 or dar@pct.edu
- To find out more information about accommodations and to fill out the self-disclosure form on their webpage click here.
This office is responsible for disbursing and reviewing financial aid eligibility. They can answer your questions if you receive federal grants, loans, or any scholarships.
- Location: Davie Jane Gilmour Center (DJG), room 1013
- Contact: 570.327.4766 or finaid@pct.edu
This office is responsible for maintaining student records, processing course registrations, and issuing transcripts.
- Location: Davie Jane Gilmour Center (DJG), room 1020
- Contact: 570.327.4772 or finaid@pct.edu
This office is a student’s one-stop-shop for directional support and skill building. The Hudock Center hosts academic skill building workshops through their Level Up series, peer mentoring, 1-1 success mentoring, and can make referrals to other campus resources. It also houses first-generation student initiatives and Student Advocacy.
- Location: Davie Jane Gilmour Center (DGJ), 1049
- Contact: 570.320.5228 or academicexcellence@pct.edu
BAS is the acronym used for the school that houses all business, arts, and science majors on campus. If you have questions about your major or scheduling as a first semester student and you are in a Business, Arts, and Sciences major, you can contact this school office.
- Location: Klump Academic Center (ACC), room 102
- Contact: 570.327.4521 or bas@pct.edu
ET is the acronym for the academic school that houses all engineering and technology majors. If you have questions about your major or scheduling as a first semester student and you are in an Engineering Technologies major, you can contact this school office.
- Location: Lifelong Education Center (LEC), room B1134
- Contact: 570.327.4520 or et@pct.edu
NHS is the acronym used for the academic school that houses all nursing and health science majors. If you have questions about your major or scheduling as a first semester student and you are in a Nursing and Health Science major, you can contact this school office.
- Location: Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center (ATHS), Room E257
- Contact: 570.327.4519 or nhs@pct.edu
Free tutoring for most subjects is offered through this office in a variety of formats including small group tutoring, supplemental instruction, and peer tutoring. They also offer online tutoring that is available 24/7 from their portal page.
- Location: Klump Academic Center (ACC), First Floor Wing
- Contact: 570.327.4512 or tutoring@pct.edu
A staff member who helps students plan their courses, navigate academic requirements, and make decisions about their educational goals.
These folks work directly with students to provide support for your academic success. They host both walk-in hours and one-on-one meetings with students in the Michael J. Hudock, Sr. Center for Academic Excellence, located in the Davie Jane Gilmour Center, DJG1049.
If you are looking for study skills help, or are unsure what resource you may need, stop in to speak with one of the Coordinators for Student Success.
An administrator in charge of a specific college or division within a university, such as the Dean of Arts and Sciences. There may also be assistant deans and/or program directors who report to the dean.
Peer mentors are students on campus who specialize in supporting other students. They can help you navigate your college experience and boost your academic performance by working with you to build valuable academic skills.
Check out the Peer Hub in the Hudock Center for Academic Excellence, DJG1049 to talk with one of our peer mentors or check out their webpage to schedule an appointment.
A student leader who lives in a dormitory and is responsible for assisting and supervising the students living there.
Not the same as a suspension, academic probation is the academic standing of a student who has a Graduation GPA of 1.99 or less. If a first-semester student earns a semester (and thus graduation) GPA of a .9 or below, they are placed on academic suspension for one year and not on academic probation.
This can happen for different reasons, but essentially it means that a student must spend time away from the institution. It may be for a defined time or indefinitely depending on the situation.
The timeframe at the start of each semester in which a student can add or drop courses. There may be costs associated with this, and a student needs signatures from different offices to complete the process with the Registrar’s office.
A formal assembly of members of a college or university, often for a special ceremony or event, such as welcoming new students or marking the beginning of the academic year.
A measurement that represents the amount of instructional time a student spends in class, typically one hour of classroom instruction and two hours of out-of-class work per week, per credit.
A course or requirement that must be taken at the same time (in the same semester) as another course.
The set of courses and their content offered at a school or university. Each major has a structured curriculum with a required course, electives, and sequencing.
A course that a student can choose to take for credit towards their degree, which is not specifically required by their major.
A form that students must complete to apply for financial aid from the federal government, including grants, loans, and work-study programs.
A federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records and then transfers to the student when they reach the age of 18.
A required course taken that is not a part of the “major” course curriculum. They are classes in areas such as math, communications (English), and the sciences.
A numerical representation of a student's academic performance, calculated by averaging the grades of their courses.
Money given but does not need to be repaid if certain eligibility requirements are met. For example, some federal and state grants are converted into loans if a student does not meet requirements.
A temporary position, often part-time, that provides students with practical experience in their field of study.
Found at pctedu.sharepoint.com, this is the internal webpage where you will find resources linked by each office and department. There is also contact info and people listed for these offices.
Designated times when professors are available to meet with students to discuss course material, ask questions, and seek advice or help with course content.
Students can grant access for guardians to have access to certain information like grades, financial aid, and class schedule. Every office checks this access before talking with anyone other than the student.
A course or requirement that must be completed before a student can enroll in a more advanced course.
A college-based program in the United States designed to train students to become officers in the U.S. Armed Forces. ROTC provides leadership training, military skills, and education, which can be beneficial in both military and civilian careers. It also offers financial assistance for college.
A document provided by instructors outlining the course objectives, schedule, grading policies, and required materials.
An official record of a student's academic history, including courses taken, grades received, and degrees awarded. To request a transcript, contact the Registrar's Office.
A student can withdraw (student initiated) or be administratively withdrawn (school initiated) from a course or the college by following the “withdraw” process. There are times when it may be in a student’s best interest to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade before the withdraw deadline (usually week 13) and repeat a course the subsequent semester. A student should always consult their academic advisor and instructor before initiating the withdraw process from a course.
A federal financial aid program that provides part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses.