Student Glossary

Academic Calendar: The calendar for the academic year that includes key dates such as start and end date of classes, withdrawal dates, Commencement, and Final Exam schedule.

Academic Director: A university employee serving within the SEU Network who provides oversight of all academic operations of a regional campus.

Admission Application: A form or set of requirements that must be completed in order to be considered for acceptance by SEU.

Admission or Acceptance: The status granted to an applicant who meets the entrance requirements of the institution.

American College Test (ACT): One of the most common college entrance exams, consisting  of four sections including math, science, English, and reading. There is an optional writing section that is usually taken for the first time in the spring of the junior year and again in the senior year of high school.

Articulation Agreement: Formal arrangements between two or more colleges and universities that specify how courses, a general education plan, and/or major requirements transfer from one institution of higher education to another.

Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT): The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) is an interdisciplinary group that reviews referrals, collaborates with the Student Outreach and Support (SOS) team to create action plans, and monitors concerning behaviors across campus. BIT continually works to identify and address student behavioral concerns to promote safety for individuals and the campus community.

Biblical Christian Worldview: Biblical inquiry applies the primacy of Scripture to the order of God’s created world, humanity’s redemption, and His ultimate authority over humankind.

Business Office: The Business Office manages student accounts, including billing, tuition payments, refunds, and 1098-T tax forms.

 Campus Tour: An opportunity to observe campus culture, talk to current students, and visit the surrounding community.

Campus Visit Event: A recruitment event where prospective students experience university life on campus. Participants can meet current students, interact with admission and financial aid staff, dine in campus dining halls, take campus tours, and attend a class. 

Cashier: The cashier handles student payments, including tuition, fees, and other charges. They process payments, issue receipts, and may assist with account inquiries.

College Application Essay: An essay that a college requires students to write and submit as part of their admission application.

Conditional Admission: An offer of admission is contingent upon certain conditions, such as a mandated grade point average.

Creative-Aesthetic Inquiry: This mode of inquiry applies and appreciates the skills requisite for the creation and production process of expressions that give form to ideas.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT): A type of work authorization that allows international students to participate in training, such as an internship or co-op, with an off-campus employer. Work performed under CPT must be a necessary part of an international student’s degree program and has to be completed before graduation. Students are only eligible for CPT after they’ve completed their first year of studies in the U.S., except for graduate students whose program requires immediate training.

Deferral: Once a student has been admitted to a college, a student can postpone starting their studies for a specified period (usually one year). Students must apply for a deferral before beginning their studies.

Designated School Official (DSO): A Designated School Official (DSO) is a college or university employee who helps international students maintain their legal status in the U.S. and can answer questions students may have about employment, driver’s licenses, travel, and more.

Dual Enrollment: Dual enrollment, also known as concurrent enrollment, allows students, including homeschoolers, to attend two academic institutions simultaneously — typically a high school and a college — where credits count towards both high school diploma and college graduation requirements. To transfer dual enrollment courses, an official transcript from the college awarding the credit must be submitted to Southeastern University.

Emotional Support Animal: An emotional support animal is typically a dog or a cat, although this can include other species, that provides a therapeutic benefit to its owner through companionship. Although emotional support animals do not have the same rights as service dogs under ADA, they are protected under the Fair Housing Amendment Act (FHAA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). Landlords are required to provide reasonable accommodations so students are granted equal opportunity to use and enjoy their housing.

Enroll: To register or enter a school or course as a student.

F1 Visa: An F1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for those wishing to study in the U.S. Students must file an F1 visa application if planning on entering the US to attend a university or college, high school, private elementary school, seminary, conservatory, language training program, or other academic institution.

FERPA: Legal requirements that restrict what information can be shared about students. Students must sign a FERPA form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office in order for a staff or faculty member to speak to someone about a student. FERPA requires that three forms of identification be given (Student ID number, date of birth, social security number, a class the student is currently in) in order to discuss certain information about a student.

Fire Ready: The official clearance process of Southeastern University. Students must complete all applicable steps in this process prior to the start of classes each semester and moving on campus (as applicable). The Fire Ready checklist can be viewed here.

First-Generation Student (First Gen): A student who is the first in their family to attend college and whose parents did not complete a bachelor’s degree.

First Time In College Student (FTIC): A student who has not attempted and/or completed a college level course at a higher education institution or students who earn college credit while in high school.

Freshman: An undergraduate degree-seeking student who has earned 0-29 semester hours of credit.

Full-Time Student: Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours to maintain full-time status in a given semester. Graduate full-time students vary by academic program. 

Gap Year: A student’s decision to postpone their acceptance to college, usually during the year between senior year of high school and freshman year of college.

Grade Point Average (GPA): A component on high school transcripts that averages all of a student’s grades, typically on a 4.0 scale.

Graduate Assistant (GA): A graduate assistant is a salaried student employment opportunity for graduate students. Graduate assistants work a set number of hours per week and, in return, receive a designated tuition waiver amount.

Graduate Student: A student who already holds an undergraduate degree and is pursuing advanced studies leading to a master’s, doctorate, or graduate certificate. A graduate can also refer to any student who has successfully completed a program of study and earned a degree.

Graduation Rate: The percentage of a school’s first-time, first-year undergraduate students who complete their program within 150% of the published time for the program.

Higher Education: Any type of education that takes place after high school, or secondary school.

I-20: The I-20, or “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” is a document required for all F and M visa status students studying in the United States. After being accepted into a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school, international students receive the I-20 from their designated school official (DSO). This form verifies the student’s admission and eligibility to apply for a student visa.

IEP: The Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is developed to ensure that students with disabilities identified under the law who are  attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receive specialized  instruction and  services in elementary or secondary education The ADA Office (adaservices@seu.edu) will use an IEP Plan dated within 10 years to determine the accommodations used at the college level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS): A standardized test that measures English-language proficiency in reading, listening, speaking and writing. Many U.S. colleges and universities require non-native English speakers to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores as part of the admissions process.

Intercultural Development Office: The Intercultural Development Office is dedicated to supporting international and multicultural students throughout their journey at SEU, ensuring they thrive academically, socially, and culturally. The key services provided for international students are visa assistance, student orientation and support, enrollment verification, community building, and cultural awareness.

International Student: An individual who is enrolled for credit at an accredited higher education institution in the U.S. on an F1 visa, and who is not an immigrant (permanent resident with an I-51 or Green Card), or an undocumented immigrant.

Junior: An undergraduate degree-seeking student who has earned 60-89 semester hours of credit.

Legacy Student: A student applicant with familial ties to SEU.

Letter of Recommendation: As part of the admission application process, it is a letter written by a student’s teacher, counselor, pastor, coach, or mentor that assesses his or her qualifications and skills.

Liberal Arts: Academic studies of subjects in the humanities, social sciences, and the sciences, with a focus on general knowledge, in contrast to a professional or technical emphasis.

Main Campus: The ground and building location of the Lakeland, Florida campus.

Matriculate: To enroll in a program of study at SEU with the intention of earning a degree.

Natural Scientific Inquiry: Natural-scientific reasoning uses empirical observations to develop and test theories about the natural world and reveals the systematic, ordered nature of the created world.

Notarized: Certified as authentic by a public official, lawyer, or bank.

Optional Practical Training (OPT): A type of work authorization that allows international students to participate in professional work related to their field of study. OPT can take place during a degree program or after graduation. 

Orientation: SEU’s official process of welcoming new, accepted students to campus and providing them with information and policies before classes begin.

Partner Site /Extension Site: Off-campus instructional sites where SEU provides collaborative access education, including locations such as churches, parachurch organizations, and business entities.

Part-time Student: A student who is enrolled at SEU but is not taking the minimum number of credits required for a full course load.

Peer Mentor: Peer Mentors help students identify specific goals or needs and direct them toward achieving those goals. Peer mentors provide students with resources for success.

Person with a Disability: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a person with a disability as one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Postsecondary: Any type of education that takes place after high school or secondary school.

Priority Date or Deadline: The date by which a student’s application — whether for college admission, student housing, or financial aid — must be received to receive the strongest consideration.

Quantitative Reasoning: The application of basic mathematics and statistics to interpret data, draw conclusions, and solve real-world problems.

Regional Accreditation: Official recognition that SEU meets the standards of a regional accreditation association. Employers, other schools, and governments worldwide often only recognize degrees from regionally accredited schools.

Registrar: An SEU official who is responsible for registering students and maintaining their academic records, such as transcripts.

Registration: The process in which students choose and enroll in courses in MyPortal (JICS) to be taken during the academic year.

Retention Rate: The percentage of first-year students who continue at SEU for a second year of studies.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): One of the most common college entrance exams required for admission to many colleges. The SAT is made up of three sections: Critical reading, math, and writing.

SEU Calendar: A listing of important dates and events at SEU. View the SEU calendars for Lakeland Campus Events, Academic Calendars, Athletic Calendars, and Music Performance Calendars.

SEU Network: The comprehensive collection of all educational formats that SEU offers which includes the Lakeland main campus, online delivery, dual enrollment, church-based extension sites, and other partner sites.

SEU Trades: Vocational or technical training programs, designed to equip students with the practical skills and knowledge needed for various trades. The aim of the program is to prepare students for careers in industries that require specialized technical skills, often leading to certifications or associate degrees. The program might include a mix of classroom instruction, lab work, and on-the-job training through internships or apprenticeships.

SEU Worship: A collaboration between the faculty, staff, students, and alumni. SEU Worship is a reflection of the worship movement happening during weekly chapel services on our campus and within our community. Our sound is inspired by current pop music and the culture of emerging adults. Our writers aim to craft prophetic and theologically responsible lyrics for students and young adults.

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System): A computerized U.S. government database used to track international students and scholars in the United States. Once an international student is accepted by a U.S. college or university, the school is required to mail the student a Form I-20, which is a paper record of the student’s information in SEVIS. A student must pay a SEVIS fee and use the payment receipt and I-20 to apply for a visa.

Senior: An undergraduate degree-seeking student who has earned 90+ semester hours of credit.

Semesters: Periods of study that divide the academic year into two equal segments of approximately 15 to 16 weeks each.

Site Director: The designated liaison between SEU and church at an extension site within the SEU Network. This person is an employee of the church and provides the following services: local recruitment, student support, practicum coordination, and program oversight.

Socio-Historical Inquiry: This mode of inquiry explores the history and complexity of the individual, human societies, and social interaction across time.

Sophomore: An undergraduate degree-seeking student who has earned 30-59 semester hours of credit.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS): The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. (SACS) is a regional accreditor that monitors, evaluates, and accredits education institutions in the states of Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas.

Standardized Test: A national college admission exam with subject areas in English, math, reading, and science with an optional writing component. The ACT, SAT, and CLEP are popular versions in the US.

Student ID / Campus Card / Fire Card: The Student ID, also referred to as the Fire Card or Campus Card, has many functions. Students will utilize their Fire Card for meal credits, fire funds, campus cash, printing funds, the library, and ID card (for permission to be on campus). Additionally, it grants access to the residence halls and athletic events.

Student Outreach and Support (SOS): A student-focused, direct care coordination team. SOS assists students in managing stress and reducing barriers that can impact their academic success, overall wellness, and mental health. SOS accomplishes this through mentoring, coaching, providing resources, and advocating for students.

Student Success & Retention Office: An office that focuses on supporting students to stay motivated, successful, and retained throughout their college journey.

Student Worker: A student employed by SEU who works in an on-campus department. The number of hours worked weekly depends on the student worker budget for that particular department.

Study Abroad: An SEU Office that provides high-quality study abroad programming, and assists students and faculty through every stage of participation. This includes discovering which program is the best for each student, walking through the application process, and assisting with pre-departure and re-entry procedures.

Study Group: A  session of three to six students for a specific class organized by the Academic Center for Enrichment and facilitated by a peer tutor. Study Groups are typically scheduled on an as-needed basis and last 50 minutes to 1.5 hours.

Teaching Assistant (TA): An undergraduate student who assists a professor with various tasks related to teaching a course.

Term: Periods of academic study, which can include semesters or sessions.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): A test SEU requires for those students who come from countries whose official language is not English, to determine whether or not a student can speak, write, understand, and study in Standard American English.

Transfer Student: A student who enrolls in SEU after having attended another college.

Undergraduate student: A student enrolled at SEU in a two-year or four-year study program after graduation from high school, leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree.

University: A postsecondary institution that offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. “University” is often used interchangeably with “college” and “school.” 

Visa: An official mark or stamp in a passport that allows someone to enter a country for a particular amount of time. Common visa types for international students and scholars in the United States include the F-1 (student visa) and J-1 (exchange visitor visa). To apply for a U.S. visa, student applicants must first receive a Form I-20 from the college or university they plan to attend, which is created by the U.S. government’s SEVIS database.

Career Assessment: A tool for students to explore majors and careers that align with their goals and interests to cultivate their career journey.

Career Fair: An on-campus event that gives students the ability to network with employers from a variety of industries to discover job or internship opportunities.

Career services: An office at SEU that offers career counseling, workshops, and other resources to help students find internships and jobs or apply to graduate programs.

Career Week: A week of on-campus events designed to enhance career readiness for students, featuring professional headshots, resume reviews, career fairs, workshops, and more.

Church Expo: An on-campus event hosted by Career Services in an effort to support a student’s calling by finding a home church to cultivate opportunities such as full-time and part-time positions, internships, and volunteer opportunities.

Fire Funds: All meal plans include Fire Funds, which are funds placed on the student ID card to be used in on-campus dining locations, Portîco Coffeehouse, and the stadium concession stand. The Fire Funds indicated will be automatically added to the student’s Fire Card the day after Add/Drop. Unused Fire Funds expire at the end of the semester.

Market Day: An event hosted by Career Services to give students the opportunity to promote their business, sell their products, and connect with students.

Mock Interviews: Career support tool that prepares students for upcoming interviews by performing a mock interview, providing information, and answering questions.

Office of Academic Advising: A department within a college or university that provides students with guidance and support to help them navigate their academic journey. This office plays a critical role in assisting students with various aspects of their education, including course and major selection, academic planning, graduation planning, and support for academic challenges.

Registrar Office: A department within SEU responsible for managing student records and academic administration in the areas of maintaining student records, enrollment verification, course registration support, issuing transcripts and diplomas, conferring degrees, and ensuring compliance with academic policies.

Resource Days: An on-campus outdoor event to connect with students to share office services, schedule appointments, and present job opportunities.

SEU Bookstore (also known as eFollet): An on-campus and online retail store available for students to purchase textbooks, academic supplies, school merchandise, and living essentials.

SEU Chapel: A designated time and space that allows for spiritual formation and enrichment through music, worship, teaching, sermons, and reflections. Chapels are designed to help students praise God, grow in their faith, and feel welcome and connected.

Steelman Library Database: An academic tool available to students offered by the Steelman Library for research, providing scholarly information from a wide variety of resources.

TimelyCare: An online counseling resource that allows students to connect with a counselor for a virtual session in as little as 7 minutes using the TalkNow feature. Students receive 12 free sessions of scheduled counseling with a licensed counselor each year along with unlimited access to TalkNow.

VIP Days: An on-campus event that gives employers and students the opportunity to connect with those offering job positions, internships, and recruitment for camps.

AED (Automated External Defibrillator): A medical device designed to analyze the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to victims of ventricular fibrillation to restore the heart rhythm to normal. These devices are in various places around campus in case of an emergency.

Appellate Officer: Any person or persons authorized by the vice president of Student Development to consider an appeal.

Blood Drive (The Big Red Bus): An event on campus that occurs a couple of times a year to take donations of blood and parks between the Aventura and Esperanza Halls at the main entrance. Please look out for the date and times when they are coming so you too can donate.

Boost App: A mobile application that allows students to pre-order meals at on-campus restaurants.  Students can customize their meals and choose a pickup time. Participating locations include Backyard Burger, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Papa John’s at select timeframes.

Campus Map: A digital map of the buildings and spaces on the Lakeland campus.

Campus Wide Events (CWE): An on-campus student leadership team that exists to cultivate exciting experiences that create community.

Career Assessment: A tool for students to explore majors and careers that align with their goals and interests to cultivate their career journey.

Career services: An office at SEU that offers career counseling, workshops, and other resources to help students find internships and jobs or apply to graduate programs.

Career Week: A whole week of on-campus events with the purpose of creating a pathway to career readiness for each student including professional headshots, resume reviews, career fairs, workshops, and more.

Charties (Tuscana Ristorante): A nickname given to the campus restaurant, which is managed by the company Chartwells.

Church Expo: An on-campus event hosted by Career Services in an effort to support a student’s calling by finding a home church to cultivate opportunities such as full-time and part-time positions, internships, and volunteer opportunities.

Community Coordinator: A full-time, live-in, professional staff member who oversees the residential experience for students within a designated residence hall.

Community Standard Educator: A University official designated on a case-by-case basis by either the Executive Director of Student Affairs or the Vice President of Student Development to adjudicate alleged infractions in an Administrative Review, Educational Conference, or Hearing.

Commuter Life (CL): An SEU department that seeks to inspire off-campus students to engage in the culture of Southeastern University by providing unique services and programming to enhance their experience as students and to prepare them for their future.

Commuter Life Assistant (CA): The Commuter Assistant is a student leader who facilitates the academic, social, spiritual, and personal adjustment of students to the University.

Department of Spiritual Formation (DSF): Spiritual Formation serves SEU through chapel services, missions trips, worship experiences, and discipleship pathways. DSF is supported heavily by student leaders who are empowered to create an impact for the student body to encounter the living God. Students who are called into ministry and are student leaders in this department lead in practical ministry experiences to prepare them for real-world ministry through serving.

Events Board: A process found on MySEU for students to submit event proposals for approval.

Extracurricular activities: Optional activities, such as sports, that students can participate in outside of academic classes.

First Year Experience (FYE): An on-campus Student Leadership team that focuses on first-year students integrating into SEU’s campus life academically, spiritually, and socially.

Fire Guide: Fire Guides exist to create a bridge between the incoming students and our current community. By cultivating consistent communication throughout the summer, Fire Guides will create a space where incoming students feel excited to come in the fall, feel comfortable asking questions, and find a glimpse of the on-campus community in a friend who knows how to answer questions.

Food Court: A secondary eatery on campus located in the SEU Buena Vida Building.

Group Counseling (AKA Group Support): A group session led by SEU counseling and wellness staff, requiring no sign-ups. Each semester, the groups cover various topics and meet in South Pointe F5. Dates and times are announced at the start of the semester, and interested students can contact Health Services for more information.

Health Services (offered in partnership with Lakeland Regional Health) and Mental Health Services: Services that provide clinical care to all traditional undergraduate students. These services include the following: office visits, sick visits, annual physical exams, injections, medication management, and certain point-of-care lab services.

In addition, Health Services has a partnership with Lakeland Regional Health to ensure that students have the opportunity to receive well-rounded care while at school. As a part of Health Services, we ensure that all students have up-to-date immunization records through the Fire Ready process to help establish a healthy classroom environment.

The Counseling & Wellness department provides brief counseling services to full-time Southeastern University undergraduate students within a safe, Christian atmosphere.

Hearing Panel: A student-majority panel appointed by either the executive director of Student Affairs or designee, to hear allegations of violations, and they issue findings of policy violations for final decisions to be made. Hearing Panel members are comprised of members of the University Community. Only (2) students and (1) faculty/staff member will comprise the Hearing Panel for each case.

Immunizations: The process of giving a vaccine to a person to protect them against disease.

Intramural Sports: Various sports leagues, tournaments, and competitions that are held on campus for fun.

Market Day: An event hosted by Career Services to give students the opportunity to promote their business, sell their products, and connect with students.

Meal Plans: All students who live on campus are required to buy a meal plan. There are three different meal plan options for residential students to choose from: a 10-meal plan, 14-meal plan, and 21-meal plan. Plans are based on the number of meals the student will use each week. Plans reset each Monday morning and any unused meals do not carry over into the next week.

Member of the University Community: Any person who is a student, faculty member, staff member, or University official.

Mentorship Program: Under the direction of the Office of Community Standards and Responsibility, the mentoring program is structured to facilitate the pairing of experienced and professional individuals (mentors) to provide guidance, spiritual direction, support, and knowledge to students (mentees).

MMR Vaccinations: Vaccines that protect against 3 viral infections: measles, mumps, and rubella. MMR vaccine is given as a series of two doses.

Mock Interviews: Career support tool that prepares students for upcoming interviews by performing a mock interview, providing information, and answering questions.

Office of Community Standards and Responsibilities (CSR): Throughout college education, students will be developing values that translate into responsible behavior. In an effort to guide students through this period of development, as well as maintain standards that ensure the welfare and safety of the University community, Southeastern University establishes this Code of Community Standards. The Office of CSR prescribes the standards of conduct expected of students enrolled at the University, outlines actions that can be taken when conduct is not in conformity with the prescribed standards, and establishes due process procedures for the imposition of such actions.

On The Lawn (OTL): A fun event offered by Health Services once a month on the lawn between Bethany and Bauer. At this event, we offer mindfulness activities, food, and fellowship amongst peers connecting to strengthen the minds of our students.

Parking Permit: A paid-for sticker permit that allows students to park their vehicle on campus.

Policy: The written regulations of SEU as found in, but not limited to, the Community Covenant, Code of Community Standards, Residence Life, Catalogs, and Student Handbooks of each program.

Residence Hall: Any SEU-owned/operated student housing facility.

Resident Assistant (RA): The Resident Assistant is a student leader who facilitates the academic, social, spiritual, and personal adjustment of students to the Residence Hall and the University.

Smith Hall: The building in between Bethany and Bauer dorms. In this building, upstairs is the counseling area, and downstairs is the clinic. The downstairs north (left) entrance is the clinic side, and the south (right) entrance is a waiting area.

Spiritual Formation Credits: On-campus undergraduate students must earn a total of 30 credits per semester, while commuter students need 10. Opportunities to earn these credits include chapel services (3 per week), House Groups, Devotional Plans, Mission Trips, and volunteering at chapels. With over 99 opportunities available, students can easily invest in their spiritual growth. A $25 fee will be charged at the end of the semester for each missed Spiritual Formation Credit.

Student: A person who is admitted, enrolled, or registered for study at Southeastern University for any academic period.

Student Activities Center (SAC): A building on campus where many different activities take place.

Student Government Association (SGA): The official voice of the student body while acting as the formal liaison to the administration, faculty, and staff.

Student Leadership: Scholarship opportunities for students on campus to be involved in the culture of campus life while also strengthening their own personal leadership styles.

The Furnace (Sportsplex): The gymnasium located on the SEU Lakeland campus.

University Official: Any person employed by the University, performing assigned administrative or professional responsibilities.

Academic Standing (AKA Academic Condition): The status of a student’s academic performance in relation to the Southeastern University standards and policies. It is determined by the student’s cumulative and term Grade Point Average (GPA). Academic standing categories typically include “Good Standing,” “Academic Notice,” “Academic Probation,” and “Academic Suspension,” each with specific GPA requirements and implications. Maintaining good academic standing is essential for continuing enrollment, eligibility for financial aid, and participation in certain university activities. Academic Standing is evaluated by the Office of the Registrar at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters.

AI (Artificial Intelligence): Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. These processes include learning (the acquisition of information and rules for using it), reasoning (using rules to reach approximate or definite conclusions), and self-correction. AI systems are designed to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation.

AICE: The AICE Program is an International Pre-University Preparation Program, part of the Cambridge Assessment Group, a not-for-profit organization and a department of the University of Cambridge in England. Students can earn college credit through participation in the program, usually while still in high school.

Academic Integrity: The ethical standard that requires all students to be responsible for completing his/ her own learning and course work, and that a student will give credit to any source or idea that is not his/her original content by using appropriate scholarly references and citations.

Academic Notice: A student’s cumulative GPA is in good standing (2.0 or greater) but their term GPA is less than 2.0.

Academic Probation: A student is no longer in good standing and is placed on Probation 1 (P1 hold) when the cumulative and term GPA are both below 2.0. Probation 2 (P2 hold) occurs when a student ends their P1 semester with a term GPA at or above 2.0, but the cumulative GPA is less than 2.0. Undergraduate students are limited to 12 credit hours when placed on academic probation. For more information on academic probation view policies within the academic catalog.

Academic Success Portfolio: This online course is available to all students on probation due to a GPA below 2.0 at the end of the semester. Notified and enrolled in this 8-week course on MyFire, students benefit from the Academic Success Portfolio, a comprehensive support program designed to improve academic performance. Beyond being just a course, it offers targeted strategies and resources, personalized coaching, and tools to enhance study habits, time management, and critical thinking skills. This holistic approach aims not only to raise GPAs but also to equip students for long-term academic success and personal growth.

Academic Suspension: A student on probation 1 (P1) or Probation 2 (P2) who ends the term with below a 2.0 term GPA, and they are recommended for academic suspension (SU hold), indicating a minimum of one semester off.

Academic Year: An annual period during which a student attends and receives education at SEU between August to April or May. The SEU academic year is divided into semesters and sessions for online, partner, and most graduate students.

Add/Drop Deadline: The last date that a student may register or drop classes without any financial penalty.

Add/Drop Period: The designated time a student has to add and drop courses from their schedule before their schedule is finalized for the semester.

Associate Degree: An undergraduate degree awarded by SEU upon successful completion of a two-year program.

Advanced Placement (AP): Advanced Placement high school courses, offered by College Board, in which a student takes an exam and based on the score, can receive college credit.

Audit: To take a class to gain knowledge about a subject, but without receiving credit toward a degree.

Bachelor’s Degree: An undergraduate degree awarded bySEU upon successful completion of a program of study, requiring at least four years (or the equivalent) of full-time study.

Career or Cumulative GPA: The grade point average a student earns based on all of their college coursework; this can range from 0 to 4.0

Catalog Year: The catalog year begins at the start of each fall semester and ends at the end of the summer semester. A student remains under the catalog degree requirements that they are admitted with unless they choose to update to the current catalog year through the major/minor declaration form.

Commencement: The graduation ceremony that eligible students may participate in. Commencement ceremonies take place at the end of each fall and spring semester.

Course: A regularly scheduled class on a particular subject.

Course Load: The number of courses or credits a student takes during a specific session or semester.

Course Substitution: When a course replaces another course as approved by the department chair. Upon approval, the substitution is reflected on the advising worksheet otherwise known as the degree audit.

Course Withdrawal: A requested action taken by a student to remove themselves from a course to avoid failure; a student still must pay for the course and the course remains on a student’s transcript with a W grade but does not affect a student’s GPA. Course withdrawal must be requested before the 60% point of the course, and deadlines can be located on the academic calendar.

College: SEU is made up of colleges, organized by discipline and includes all associated majors, minors, and certificates. SEU’s colleges are Bartnett College of Ministry and Theology, Jannetiddes College of Business, Communication, & Leadership, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, College of Education, and College of Natural and Health Sciences.

College Credit Hours: Units that SEU uses to indicate that a student has completed and passed courses that are required for a degree.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP): CLEP is a program where students can take a test to show they have mastered a particular introductory subject area and receive college credit toward their degree. Find additional information here.

Core requirements: Courses that students are required to complete to earn a degree.

Co-requisite: Two courses that must be taken during the same semester.

Course Code: Each course is assigned a 4-letter code with 4 numbers indicating the department that the course is part of and the level and credits of a course (e.g., BIOT 1133 is a Bible Old Testament course, a 1000 level course as indicated by the first number, and is worth 3 credits as indicated by the last number).

Curriculum: A program of study within a major or minor made up of a set of courses offered by SEU.

Certificate: A focused program of study that allows students to gain specialized knowledge and skills in a specific area, without the commitment of a full degree program. These programs are shorter and often more flexible, making them ideal for students who want to enhance their expertise or career prospects in a particular field. A certificate can be completed in a shorter time frame, and the credits earned may also count towards a degree if you choose to pursue further education. Degree-seeking students may declare a certificate if the credit hours count towards their program requirements. Certificate-only seeking students are considered non-degree seeking.

Course Overload: A course overload occurs when a student registers for more credits than the standard number required for timely degree completion. Typically, this means taking more than the recommended number of courses in a semester. Overloading may incur additional charges, but it allows students to explore additional subjects or accelerate their progress

Dean’s List: SEU students who excel academically may qualify for the Dean’s Honor List. To qualify, a student must be enrolled for 12 hours or more and attain or surpass a scholastic grade point average of 3.5 from the previous semester of enrollment. Letters of Achievement are emailed to students who meet the criteria for Dean’s honor after final grades are posted at the end of each fall and spring semester.

Declarations Form (Major/Minor/Certificate): A form processed by the Office of Registrar and completed by students when they want to change their declared area of major, minor or certificate.

Divine Design: The biblical concept of a student’s unique God-created design that is nurtured and developed while at SEU.

Divine Design Credits: Most undergraduate degrees at SEU have a required Divine Design credit hour component. As a component of the SEU Foundational Core Experience, this Divine Design requirement gives students the space to discover and develop their Divine Design to serve Christ and the world through Spirit-empowered life, learning, and leadership. Students can explore areas of interest beyond their major, helping them determine or confirm their choice of major while gaining valuable knowledge for success after graduation.

Dean: The head of a college, which is divided into various departments. The dean oversees the academic and administrative functions of the college.

Degree: A diploma or title awarded to students by SEU after successful completion of a program of study.

Department: A division of a SEU made up of faculty and support staff, that instructs in a particular field of study.

Degree Audit: A list of course requirements that a student must meet to earn a degree within a specific major of study.

Degree Conferral: A student will receive a degree conferral (posting of degree earned/awarded) when all degree requirements are complete and a graduation application has been submitted. Degree conferral is posted on the student’s transcript, showing completion of the degree program.

Degree Plan: A two or four-year plan created for each degree program that outlines which courses to take each semester to complete the degree within two years for an associate or four years for bachelors.

Department Chair: Several of the colleges at SEU are divided into departments which have a head known as the department chair.

Discipline: An area of academic study.

Directed Study: A student registers for a course via directed study to work one one-on-one with the instructor when the course needed is not offered in that term and there is no approved substitution. Students approved for directed study are typically graduating seniors.

Doctorate: The highest academic degree awarded by SEU upon successful completion of an advanced program of study.

Double Major: A student who completes the course requirements for two majors at the same time.

Early Alert Process: A process to provide early warning and follow-up support for students who are identified by faculty and staff as having academic difficulties (including lack of attendance/participation, need for tutoring, plagiarism/cheating) or lack of resources anytime during the semester.

Electives: Courses that students can choose to take for credit toward a degree, but are not required.

Exempt: Not required to do something that other students may be required to do.

Enrollment Verification: An official document that confirms your status as an enrolled student. This document may be required for various purposes, such as applying for financial aid, obtaining insurance, securing a student discount, or verifying your enrollment for an employer. The verification includes details like your name, enrollment status (full-time or part-time), and the semester(s) you are registered for. You can request an enrollment verification at seu.edu (located at the bottom of the page).

Ethical Academics: This refers to an online course in which students who have committed plagiarism are enrolled. Completion of this course is required to avoid a Z grade on their transcript. This course is located on MyFire. The Office of Student Success and Retention gets a notification via the Early Alert process that a student has plagiarized class work and the student receives an email and a phone call to go over the situation.

Experiential Learning: An educational approach where learning occurs through direct experience and active participation rather than solely through traditional instruction or theory. It emphasizes practical engagement, reflection, and real-world application.

 Good Standing: Students with a 2.0 or higher semester and cumulative GPA are considered to be in good academic standing.

Keyword Search: Keywords are words you come up with to describe your topic when searching in electronic databases.

Faculty: A school’s teaching and administrative staff who are responsible for instructing students.

Final Official Transcript: A final official transcript is received directly from the issuing institution (whether on paper and still in the envelope or a certified electronic copy) that is properly signed/authenticated and consists of the complete record of student coursework including a final GPA and/or date of graduation if applicable.

Foundational Core: The portion of a degree that contains the courses that are not specific to a student’s major but are required by most majors and are usually completed within the first two years.

Hybrid Course: A course that meets face-to-face and also has online coursework requirements.

IB (International Baccalaureate): A high school program which enables students to take exams similar to the A system and earn college credit

Independent Study: An academic course that allows students to earn credit for work done outside of the normal classroom setting. The reading or research assignment is usually designed by the students themselves or with the help of a faculty member, who monitors the progress.

Internship: An experience that allows students to work in a professional environment to gain training and skills. Internships may be paid or unpaid and can be of varying lengths during or after the academic year.

IP: Short for coursework “in progress” and entered in the final grade field; transcripts will sometimes use WIPN, which stands for “work in progress.”

Major: The academic subject area or program of study that a student chooses to focus on during his or her undergraduate studies.

Major Core: The portion of a degree that contains the specialized courses for a student’s selected major.

Master’s Degree: A graduate degree awarded by SEU upon successful completion of an advanced program of study, typically requiring one or two years of full-time study beyond the bachelor’s degree.

Minor: An academic subject area that a student chooses to have as a secondary focus on during their undergraduate studies. A minor has 18 prescribed credit hours in a specific field, but is not typically required.

Midterm: An examination held during the midpoint of a semester or term

MTWRF: On a student’s class schedule, MTWRF represents the days of the week the class meets. Monday (M), Tuesday (T), Wednesday (W), Thursday (R) and Friday (F).

MyFIRE: A student’s learning management system where they can access their online course material online and view grades posted throughout the semester.

MyPortal (JICS ): SEU’s student information system where a student registers for classes, views degree audit, accesses and pays bill, and completes various forms.

MySEU: Students access this portal to find information about student departments and complete various forms.

Official Transcript: An Official Transcript is a document produced and certified by SEU either in a sealed envelope or sent electronically via a certified transcript service that provides a complete and unaltered list of all the studies completed with a high school or university attended by a student.

Open Advising: A time period that occurs each semester in which undergraduate main campus students are to meet with their faculty advisor before registering for the following semester’s courses. Open Advising takes place in October in the fall semester and April in the spring semester.

Override: Special permission required for course registration, granted to a student, allowing them to register for a course under specific conditions that normally wouldn’t be allowed. For example, if a student  has not completed a prerequisite, is taking a course outside their  division, want to enroll in two courses at the same time, or are exceeding the usual course load, they will need an override. Once the relevant department or faculty approves the student’s request, the Office of the Registrar will process the override so they can register for the course.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism means using someone else’s work without giving them proper credit. Plagiarizing involves using words, ideas, or information from a source without citing it correctly.
Self-plagiarism means using one’s own work for credit for more than one assignment. Students must obtain faculty permission to re-use work previously submitted for a grade.

Practicum: An opportunity to earn credit hours through an experience that includes learning and skill-building. Some programs require a major specific Practicum. All students have the opportunity to participate in general or Divine Design elective Practicum credit.

Preliminary Audit: A degree audit filled in for a potential transfer student using unofficial transcripts to determine how a student’s courses will unofficially or potentially transfer into the institution.

Prerequisite: A required course that must be completed before a student is allowed to enroll in a more advanced one.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA): A flexible, efficient way of earning college credits for college-level knowledge a student has acquired through expertise developed outside the classroom.

Proctoring: Proctoring is the monitoring of an exam by an approved neutral person, who ensures the integrity of the exam, environment, and test-taker are upheld.

Provost: The senior academic officer of a college or university who typically oversees all academic policies and curriculum-related matters.

Pulse App: A mobile application that allows students the ability to access MyFIRE which has course material. Instruction with more information on how to download the app is located here.

Reference Librarian: Reference librarians recommend, interpret, evaluate, and/or use information resources to help patrons with specific information needs.

Semester or Term GPA: The grade point average a student earns based on one semester of work; this can range from 0 to 4.0.

Session A: The first 8 weeks of an online course semester.

Session B: The second 8 weeks of an online course semester.

Success Coaching: Guided student support by a success coach, which includes building & walking through a plan to help students achieve academic success. The goal of success coaching is to improve student academic performance, navigate university policies, and utilize available resources to improve their overall GPA. Success coaching is offered to designated students who need additional academic support.

Student Acknowledgement Survey: A required attendance confirmation survey, within MyFire, due the first week of the course before the add/drop deadline. If students does not complete this survey, they will be dropped from the course during week two of the term.

Syllabus: A syllabus is a document provided by instructors at the beginning of a course. It outlines the course objectives, schedule, assignments, grading criteria, and other relevant information. Students refer to the syllabus to understand course expectations and requirements.

Transfer credit: Credit is granted toward a degree based on courses completed at another college or university.

Transient: Coursework taken at another institution while enrolled simultaneously at SEU. Transient status must be approved through the Office of the Registrar before enrolling at the other institution.

University Withdrawal: The process in which a student formally notifies the Office of Student Success and Retention of their intent to withdraw from all courses and leave Southeastern University. The Office of Student Success and Retention assists students throughout the process, which is initiated via email to retention@seu.edu.

504 Plan: The 504 Plan is developed to ensure a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives accommodations. The ADA Office (adaservices@seu.edu) will use a 504 Plan dated within 10 years to determine the accommodations used at the college level.

 Academic Advising: A collaborative process and partnership between the advisor and student used to support the student toward academic success. Advisors help the student set and achieve academic goals, acquire helpful information and services, and make responsible decisions consistent with degree requirements.

Academic Advisor: A member of a school’s faculty or staff who provides advice and guidance to students on course selections and degree planning. An advisor can also help students navigate academic policies and offer support for academic challenges. Staff advisors are available to assist undergraduate students with course selection when an assigned faculty advisor is unavailable or when otherwise needed.

Accommodations: Academic supports or auxiliary aids that give a person with a disability equal access to all programs and services provided by the university. Accommodation requests are submitted to adaservices@seu.edu.

ACE (Academic Center for Enrichment): ACE is Southeastern University’s learning & tutoring center. The center provides services such as  tutoring, academic support, computers, laptops, printing, a textbook reference library, quiet study rooms, and athletic study hall, all  at no additional cost.

ACE Tutor: A student who is a certified tutor, employed by ACE, and  runs tutoring sessions and workshops.

Advising Worksheet: Electronic degree audit that shows a student’s academic progress toward their degree. Students have access to their advising worksheet in MyPortal (JICS) in the degree audit portlet on the “student” tab. (Also known as degree audit.)

Brainfuse: Online tutoring services and paper review available to all SEU students at no additional charge. Access is linked through MyFire, under the “Need Help?” tab.

Faculty Advisor: An expert in their field of study, they are assigned to main campus undergraduate students and all graduate students. They are the first point of contact for course selection and academic mentorship. Undergraduate faculty advisors are available during the Fall and Spring semesters. Graduate faculty advisors are available year-round.

Medical Documentation: Medical documentation must be submitted from a physician licensed in a field related to the stated disability. The documentation must note the diagnosed disability, the limitations presented by the disability, and recommended accommodations. The medical documentation must be dated within 10 years.

Open Advising: A time period that occurs each semester in which undergraduate main campus students are to meet with their faculty advisor before registering for the following semester’s courses. Open Advising takes place in October in the fall semester and April in the spring semester.

Open Registration: The designated time for students to register for the next semester.

Semester Continuance: A student may occasionally have an issue or life event that prohibits him/her from finishing a semester successfully within the designated term. The Semester Continuance Policy is designed to assist a student in completing a semester of courses successfully by extending the deadline for a specified time to complete the required coursework.

Service Animal: As defined by Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

Temporary Medical Accommodation: A temporary medical accommodation is granted to any student attending Southeastern University who has experienced an unexpected injury or illness. This accommodation will implement supports that allow the student to complete coursework they have missed as a result of being incapacitated due to their injury or illness. Typically, this accommodation is granted for a maximum of 2-3 weeks and must be requested close to the date of the injury or illness.

Workshop: A workshop is a group study session for a specific class organized by ACE and facilitated by a peer tutor. A workshop may occur every week or be scheduled on an as-needed basis for the class.

Affidavit of Support: An official document proving adequate funding from an individual or organization to cover an international student’s educational and living expenses while enrolled at a U.S. college or university.

Contributing parent on the FAFSA: If your parents are divorced, separated, or never married, and don’t live together, the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12 months is the contributor and must provide their information. If both parents provided an equal amount of financial support or if they don’t support you financially, the parent with the greater income and assets is the contributor and must provide their information.

Contributor: Any individual required to provide consent and approval for federal tax information (FTI) along with their signature on the FAFSA form, including the student; the student’s spouse; a biological or adoptive parent; or the parent’s spouse (stepparent).

Cost of Attendance (COA): Sometimes also referred to as the “budget, the Cost of Attendance is the total amount (not including grants and scholarships) that it may cost you to go to school for the year. COA includes tuition and fees; housing and meals; and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, and loan fees. It also includes miscellaneous and personal expenses, such as an allowance for the rental or purchase of a personal computer; costs related to a disability; and reasonable costs for eligible study-abroad programs.

Dependent Student: The status of most first-year college students and students under the age of 24; used for financial aid calculation. Dependent students must report their parents’ income and assets on the FAFSA. For more information, please contact Student Financial Services.

Direct Costs: Represent costs that students are responsible to pay to Southeastern University. Costs on your aid offer are estimated and represent average expenses. Some students may have higher or lower costs based on specific choices (such as on-campus housing or a meal plan).

Enrollment Confirmation Deposit: The enrollment confirmation deposit is normally a specified fee amount that is the first step in confirming your intent to enroll at a university and can be submitted upon an offer of admission to the university.

Enrollment Intensity: The percentage of full-time enrollment at which a student is enrolled, rounded to the nearest whole percent, used to determine a student’s annual Pell Grant award. For example, if full-time enrollment is 12 or more credit hours and the student is enrolled in 7 hours, the enrollment intensity would be (7 ÷ 12) x 100% = 58%.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): Annual aid application used by U.S. citizens and permanent residents to apply for financial aid from U.S. federal and state governments, as well as to determine other need-based financial aid and to qualify for any government funding (including loans).. International students are not eligible for U.S. government aid, so a FAFSA will not be needed.

FAFSA FTI (Federal Tax Information) Approval: Formal approval granted by an applicant and any applicable contributors for a given FAFSA cycle to retrieve and use FTI to determine an applicant’s federal financial aid eligibility as well as permit the redisclosure of FTI by the Department of an eligible institution; state higher education agency; or a designated scholarship organization for the application, award, and administration of student aid programs. An applicant and contributor (if applicable) must provide approval once each year. If FAFSA FTI approval is not provided, the student will not be eligible for any Title IV aid until the approval is provided by each contributor.

FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS): The student’s output document, providing a summary of data input on the FAFSA form.

Family Size: Formerly known as the “household size” on the FAFSA. It captures the appropriate number of family members and dependents in the applicant’s household, within the IRS Code.

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan: Loans that the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on while you’re in school at least half-time, for the first six months after you leave school (referred to as a grace period), and during a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments).

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan: Loans that the borrower is responsible for paying the interest on during all periods. If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).

Federal Parent PLUS Loan: A loan available to the parents of dependent undergraduate students for which the borrower is fully responsible for paying the interest regardless of the loan status.

Federal Pell Grant: A Federal grant awarded to students with substantial financial need, as determined by the FAFSA. The amount varies annually and by enrollment level.

Federal Tax Information (FTI): Data and information related to federal tax paying. It includes a return or return information received directly from the IRS or obtained through an authorized secondary source such as the U.S. Department of Education. FTI also includes any information created by the recipient that is derived from a federal return or return information received from the IRS or obtained through an authorized secondary source. Other return information considered FTI includes the taxpayer’s name, mailing address, identification numbers including Social Security number or employer identification number, any information extracted from a return, including names of dependents or the location of a business, information on whether a return was, is being, or will be examined or subject to other investigation or processing, information contained on transcripts of accounts, the fact that a return was filed or examined, investigation or collection history, or tax balance due information.

Federal Work Study (FWS): A federal student aid program that provides part-time employment while the student is enrolled in school to help pay his or her education expenses. The student must seek out and apply for work-study jobs at his or her school. The student will be paid directly for the hours he or she works and may not automatically be credited to pay for institutional tuition or fees. The amount you earn cannot exceed the total amount awarded by the school for the award year. The availability of work-study jobs varies by school. Please note that Federal Work-Study earnings may be taxed in certain scenarios; however, the income you earn will not be counted against you when calculating your Student Aid Index (SAI) on your FAFSA.

Fees: An amount of money charged by colleges and universities, in addition to their tuition, to cover costs of services such as libraries, student services, and computer technology.

Financial Aid Offer Letter: An aid offer is the documentation sent from SEU to the student that details how much financial aid the student is eligible for. The aid offer is sent following the student’s submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and acceptance to attend a college or university.

Financial Aid: Monetary assistance applied toward postsecondary education, which can consist of gift aid, work-study, or loans. Financial aid can come from federal and state governments, colleges, and private organizations.

FSA ID (StudentAid.gov Account Username and Password): Username and password used to log in to all Federal Student Aid products and tools on StudentAid.gov. All contributors must create and use an FSA ID.

Grant: A type of financial aid that consists of an amount of money given to a student, often by the federal or state government, a company, a school, or a charity. A grant does not have to be repaid. “Grant” is often used interchangeably with “scholarship.”

Grants and Scholarships: Student aid funds that do not have to be repaid. Grants are often need-based, while scholarships are usually merit-based. Occasionally you might have to pay back part or all of a grant if, for example, you withdraw from school before finishing a semester. If you use a grant or scholarship to cover your living expenses, the amount of your scholarship may be counted as taxable income on your tax return.

Independent Student: To be considered an independent, a student must meet any one of the following criteria as defined by the federal government — 24 years of age; married; have status of a graduate or professional student; have legal dependents other than a spouse; be an orphan or ward of the court (or have been a ward of the court until age 18); is an emancipated minor, is homeless or a veteran. Independent students report only their own income and assets (and those of a spouse) when applying for financial aid.

Indirect Costs: Represent average costs students may have to pay to other parties throughout the academic year. Some students will have higher or lower costs based on specific choices (such as off-campus housing options or book purchases).

Loan Fees: Upfront fees charged by a lender (including federal student loans) for processing a new loan application. It is compensation for putting the loan in place. Origination fees are quoted as a percentage of the total loan.

Loan: Borrowed money that must be repaid with interest. Loans from the federal government typically have a lower interest rate than loans from private lenders. Federal loans, listed from most advantageous to least advantageous, are called Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Parent PLUS Loans. You can find more information about federal loans at StudentAid.gov.

Merit Aid/Merit Scholarships: A type of financial aid awarded by SEU to students who have demonstrated special academic ability or talents, regardless of their financial need. Most merit aid has specific requirements if students want to continue to receive it, such as maintaining a certain GPA.

Need-Based Aid: Financial aid that is awarded based on need as determined by the family’s financial situation, including the student’s SAI/EFC, and in consideration of other anticipated aid. Need-based aid can and often does vary from year to year based on the family’s financial situation. Pell Grants, Federal Work Study, Subsidized Loans, and Southeastern Grants are all examples of need-based aid.

NelNet: Nelnet is a 3rd party that SEU partners with for our official SEU payment plans, as well as for students to view and make payments on their SEU student account. You can access your account via JICS under the Student Finances tab and will be redirected to your SEU Nelnet account from there.

Net Price Calculator: An online tool that allows students and families to calculate a personalized estimate of the cost of a specific college or university, after taking into account any scholarships or need-based financial aid that an applicant would receive.

Net Price: An estimate of the actual cost that a student and his or her family need to pay in a given year to cover education expenses for the student to attend a particular school. Net price is determined by taking the institutional cost of attendance and subtracting any grants and scholarships for which the student may be eligible.

Non-Federal Private Education Loan: A private education loan is a loan issued expressly for postsecondary education expenses to a borrower (either through the educational institution or directly to the borrower) from a private educational lender, rather than as a Title IV, HEA loan offered by the Department of Education.

Professional Judgment (special circumstances): Special or extenuating situations (such as the loss of a job) that impact a student’s financial condition and support a financial aid administrator adjusting data elements in the COA or in the SAI calculation on a case-by-case basis.

Professional Judgment (unusual circumstances): Conditions that justify a financial aid administrator adjusting a student’s dependency status, commonly referred to as a dependency override, based on an unusual situation (e.g., human trafficking or parental abandonment).

Provisionally Independent Student: If a student indicates they have unusual circumstances or indicates for the first time they are unaccompanied and homeless, or at risk of being homeless (without a designation from a specified entity), the FPS will consider the student to be provisionally independent and will allow them to fill out the FAFSA form as an independent student. The SAI will remain provisional and not official until the student’s college makes a final determination. The Financial Aid Administrator (FAA) will determine if the student’s circumstances make them eligible to apply independently and, if so, make any necessary updates to formally make the student independent.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): Students are required to maintain a certain cumulative GPA and complete a certain percentage of the credit hours they attempt to remain eligible for financial aid annually. Failure to meet these standards may result in the loss of aid. Visit the SEU catalog for SEU’s full SAP policy and details.

Scholarship: A type of financial aid that consists of an amount of money given to a student by a school, individual, organization, company, charity, or federal or state government. “Scholarship” is often used interchangeably with “grant.”

Student Aid Index (SAI): Replacing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as a formal evaluation of a student’s approximate financial resources to contribute to their postsecondary education for a specific award year. The SAI is determined annually via submission of the FAFSA.

Student Financial Services (SFS): An SEU department that supports students’ financial needs by managing financial aid and scholarships, assisting with application and renewal processes for federal, state, and institutional aid, and answering questions about financial aid and student accounts. Student Financial Services addresses any financial inquiries or issues students might encounter during their academic journey, including navigating their financial responsibilities effectively and ensuring they have the resources needed to focus on their education.

TEACH Grant Program: Provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete coursework needed to begin a career in teaching. If you do not meet the requirements of your service obligation, all TEACH Grants you received will be converted to Direct Unsubsidized Loans. You must repay these loans in full, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement. Service obligation information can be found here.

Tuition Payment Plan: A tuition payment plan offered by an institution may allow students to spread out their payments. It includes an extension of credit of 90 days or less in which the educational institution is the lender, or of one year or less where an interest rate will not be applied to the credit payment.

Tuition: An amount of money charged by SEU per semester, per course, or per credit, in exchange for instruction and training. Tuition generally does not include the cost of textbooks, housing, meals, and other fees. Tuition rates are determined annually and are subject to change.

VA Benefits: Benefits that help Veterans, service members, and their qualified family members with needs like paying college tuition, finding the right school or training program, and getting career counseling. You can find more information here: https://www.va.gov/education/.

Verification: A process by which a financial aid applicant is selected, after submission of their FAFSA, to confirm that the information submitted is accurate. Southeastern University partners with a company called Inceptia to complete this process. Students selected for verification must complete this process to receive any federal or need-based aid, including student and parent loans.