Transfer Terms

Here are key terms and definitions you may need to understand as you complete your transfer journey at Aims. 

Articulation Agreement

An arrangement between colleges and universities that facilitates the ease of transferring credits from one school to the other by outlining that certain courses offered at one school are equivalent to courses offered at the other.

Accreditation

The oversight of a university, college, or academic program by one or more outside organizations. Accreditation organizations certify that an institution is following certain guidelines and policies. 

Academic Calendar

Provides key dates and deadlines -- by term -- for an academic year, including add/drop deadlines, final withdrawal date, registration dates, mid-term and final exam periods, school holidays, and more.

Bursar 

The bursar is an administrative position and department at most four-year colleges and universities. The Bursar’s Office is responsible for invoicing and collecting payment for all tuition, fees, and other associated costs of attendance. They also issue financial aid and third-party payment refunds to students’ accounts. 

CASFA

Colorado Application for State Financial Aid is the State Financial Aid application for undocumented, Colorado ASSET students. Some institutions may require a student to fill out a CAFSA to be considered for scholarships.

COF 

College Opportunity Fund (COF) was created by the CO Legislature to provide stipends to eligible undergraduate students paying in-state tuition.

Degree with Designation

Associate degrees that the Colorado Department of Higher Education has approved for statewide guaranteed transfer to a public Colorado college or university.

FAFSA

Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application you must complete if you are seeking financial assistance through the government in the form of grants, scholarships or loans. Some institutions may require you to fill out a FAFSA to be considered for scholarships. Application opens in December for the upcoming academic year beginning in the Fall term.

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

Guarantee Transfer Course

Courses that the Colorado Department of Higher Education has designated and guaranteed to transfer into a public Colorado college or university.

Internship

An opportunity for students to gain critical real-world hands-on experience in their chosen field of study.

Major

A specific area of academic focus or specialization chosen by the student.

Minor

A secondary area of academic focus or specialization, that a student chooses to enhance their major or to simply pursue a subject of interest.

Practicum

A course designed to provide students with supervised practical experience in which students apply the materials learned in their coursework to the actual situation. An example is student teaching for education majors.

Priority Deadline

Submitting applications or paperwork by these deadlines provides students with the best chance of receiving admission offers or higher financial aid/scholarship awards

Quarter System

The academic term during which courses are taught.  Typical fall, winter, spring and summer quarters last 10 weeks.

Registrar

An administrator and office on any college campus overseeing: registration, maintaining academic records, awarding degrees and certificates, and applying transfer credits from other colleges.

Official Transcript

Official record of a student's academic work showing dates attended, courses taken, grades earned, and degrees and certificates awarded. This document is typically sent to transfer institutions electronically through Parchment. 

Parchment

Parchment is a service that allows students to access their official transcripts (from most institutions) and send them to their transfer institution. 

Student Employment

Student employment is sometimes used interchangeably with work-study. However, in addition to work-study, some institutions have institutionally funded student employment positions for students who do not qualify for federal work-study.

Transfer Credit

College credit earned at one college or university and applied and accepted for credit at a different school. Transfer credit is not factored into the current school’s GPA.

Transfer Student

A student that has already been awarded either their high school diploma or GED and has taken college courses.  In order to be considered a “transfer student” when transferring from one college/university to another the student usually will need to have earned around 24 credits.

Unofficial Transcript

Unofficial record of a student's academic work showing dates attended, courses taken, grades earned, and degrees and certificates awarded. This document can be accessed on the student’s college portal. 

Upper Division Course

An undergraduate course that is designed for and taught at the junior or senior levels. Upper-division courses are numbered 300 or 400.

Work-Study

A federal financial aid program that provides part-time employment to students based on their financial need and available jobs at the college or university.