Data Definitions

Academic Year – The academic year consists of the summer, fall and spring terms.

Adult Learner – Students that are 23 years of age and older.

Census Date - The fourteenth calendar day from the beginning of classes, including the day on which classes begin, for spring and fall terms. Census dates for the summer enrollment are 7-12 week sessions--the 14th calendar day from the beginning of classes including day on which classes begin; 4-6 week sessions - the 7th calendar day from the beginning of classes, including the day which classes begin; terms of length up to four weeks - the final day of classes.

First-time Freshmen Enrollment Report – A report provided to the governing board (TBR) that provides a record of each first-time freshman enrolled on the census date of the entering term. It includes students whose ACT Enhanced scores are high enough to exempt them from taking the Program Assessment test and from basic and developmental work in the report.

First-time Freshmen Retention Report – A report provided to the governing board (TBR) that is used to evaluate academic progress made by students during their first six years of enrollment. The report consists of two records for each student reported in the First-Time Freshmen Enrollment Report and tracks two groups: (1) students who required remediation and (2) students who did not require remediation. The two records submitted for each student collects information pertaining to ACT scores, hours attempted, hours earned, grade point averages, enrollment patterns and identifies grade point averages earned in selected courses. The intention of this report is to track students’ academic progress until they either graduate or withdraw from school. Each cohort group is tracked for six years.

First-time Graduate Student - A student who has not previously enrolled for work creditable toward an advanced degree at any university, and who is enrolled for work creditable toward such a degree. A first-time graduate student may be a full-time or part-time student.

First-time Student - A student who has not previously enrolled for work creditable toward a bachelors or associate degree or certificate in any college, university or technical institute since they graduated from high school, but who is now enrolled for work creditable toward such degree. A first-time student may be a full-time or part-time student.

Full-time Equated (FTE) Enrollment - The sum of full-time equated undergraduate and full-time equated graduate enrollments.

Full-time Equated Graduate Enrollment - The total number of degree credits taken by graduate students divided by 12.

Full-time Equated Undergraduate Enrollment - The total number of degree credits taken by undergraduate students divided by 15.

Full-Time Student - A student who is enrolled for credit for 12 or more hours of degree credit or more per week.

Graduate Special Student - A graduate special student who is (1) non-degree seeking, holding a bachelor's or higher degree, taking courses for graduate credit only, or (2) non-degree seeking, holding a bachelor's or higher degree taking courses for both graduate and undergraduate credit, or, (3) holding a bachelor's degree, and seeking a Graduate Certificate of Credit.

Graduation Rate – Represents the percent of first-time, full-time freshmen enrolled in a public university in the summer and fall terms of an academic year who subsequently earn a baccalaureate degree at the admitting or another public institution in Tennessee within six years.

Part-time Student - A student who is enrolled for less than 12 hours of degree credit.

Pre-college Student - A high school student taking college courses in advance of high school graduation.

Readmitted Student - A student who previously attended the institution and who is not a returning student.

Retention Rate – Represents the percent of first-time, full-time freshmen returning at any level in the subsequent fall term.

Returning Student - A student who has registered at the institution during the preceding term, or, in the case of the fall term, during the preceding spring or summer term.

Transfer Student - A student who last attended another institution from which credit is acceptable toward the degree or certificate he or she is working on.

Transient or Term Special Student - A student who is regularly enrolled and in good standing at an institution other than the reporting institution and who is taking a course(s) at the reporting institution which he intends to transfer to his regular institution.

Undergraduate Special Student - An undergraduate special student is (1) non-degree seeking and holds no degree or certificate or (2) non-degree seeking, holding any level degree, but taking only courses for undergraduate credit, or (3) non-degree seeking, holding no bachelor's degree, and taking courses for both graduate and undergraduate credit, or (4) one seeking a Technical Certificate of Credit.

Source: TBR SIS Instructions