University Data Glossary

- 1 -

100% Graduation Rate

The rate at which a group of students successfully complete their programs within 100% of the normal time required for completion, based on program length and full-time enrollment. For example, completing an associate degree or master’s degree within two (2) years and a bachelor’s degree or doctoral/professional degree within four (4) years.

150% Graduation Rate

The rate at which a group of students successfully complete their programs within the 150% of the normal time required for completion, based on program length and full-time enrollment. For example, completing an associate degree or master’s degree within three (3) years and a bachelor’s degree or doctoral/professional degree within six (6) years.

- A -

Acceptance Rate

Acceptance rate is calculated by dividing the number of applicants who were admitted by the number of applicants for whom a decision was made by the institution.

Active (Program)

A degree program or other credential (including minors) for which the university is recruiting, admitting, advising, and instructing students, and conferring awards.

Activity Type

The specific nature or categories of activities that the grant supports. It outlines the intended use of the funds and the activities the recipients are expected to undertake.

Admitted

A designation assigned to an applicant who has been granted an official offer to enroll at the institution.

American Indian or Alaska Native

Race/ethnicity category used to report persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Applied

A designation assigned to an individual who provided the institution with an admissions application.

Asian

Race/ethnicity category used to report persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Associate's Degree

An undergraduate degree awarded after a course of postsecondary study lasting two years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma (or equivalent) and below a bachelor's degree.

Award Mod Number

A primary identifier formed by combining the Award number with the Award modification number separated by a dash.

- B -

Bachelor's Degree

An undergraduate degree awarded after a course of postsecondary study lasting three to four years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma (or equivalent) and associate degree but below graduate-level degrees.

Black or African American

Race/ethnicity category used to report persons having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

- C -

Campus

The permanent location or site of an educational institution, including its grounds and buildings. Wright State University has two campuses: Dayton Campus (Dayton, Ohio) and Lake Campus (Celina, Ohio).

Certificate

A credential awarded after a course of postsecondary study (typically lasting no more two years). Certificates are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

CIP Code

Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code used by the U.S. Department of Education to identify instructional programs within educational institutions. For more information, see https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode.

Citizenship

The state of being a member of a particular country and having rights because of it. At Wright State University, there are four citizenship statuses: U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, Permanent Resident Asylee, and Non-U.S. Citizen. International students are non-U.S. citizens.

Classification

A measure based on student level. For undergraduate students, classification is determined by total credit hours earned. Undergraduate classifications are Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior. For more information, see University Policy 3320.

College (Fiscal)

A larger unit comprised of several departments that is fiscally responsible (i.e., to which revenues and expenses can be allocated) for a given course, degree program, function, or service.

College Credit Plus (CCP)

Ohio’s dual enrollment program that provides students in grades 7-12 the opportunity to earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking courses from Ohio colleges or universities.

Concentration

An identified set of courses within a degree program indicating in-depth knowledge in a particular area of focus. Concentrations differ from majors in that the concentration must include a minimum of 50% of the curriculum within the major.

Continuing Student

A student who is not first-time or transfer-in for a given semester but one who has been been continuously enrolled at Wright State University. A readmitted student may also be considered a continuing student.

Contract

A mechanism for procurement of a product or service with specific obligations for both sponsor and recipient. Typically, a research topic and the methods for conducting the research are specified in detail by the sponsor, often in the Request for Proposal (RFP) which announces the funding opportunity. In general, there are greater performance expectations associated with contracts, including project milestones and detailed deliverables (e.g., reports). The arrangement is usually designed to benefit the sponsor by achieving an expected outcome or product.

Cooperative Agreement

An award similar to a grant, but in which the sponsor’s staff may be actively involved in proposal preparation and anticipates having substantial involvement in research activities once the award has been made.

Course

A series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject that typically last one academic term (e.g., semester).

Course Campus

The location or site at which a course section is offered. At Wright State University, course campus is also used to establish billing costs for undergraduate student credit hours.

Course Level

A measure related to course structure, organization, and degree of difficulty or sophistication. Examples at Wright State University include undergraduate and graduate/professional levels, 1000-level, 2000-level, etc.

Course Section

A segment of individuals in a course who are led by one or more instructors (teachers or professors) and whose instruction occurs at specific days, times, and locations.

- D -

Data last refreshed

The date a set of data were last updated or refreshed. Note, for most Power BI reports, data are refreshed every Tuesday on a weekly basis.

Deactivated (Program)

A degree program or other credential (including minors) for which the university is advising and instructing students, and confering awards. However, recruitment and admissions are currently suspended.

Decision

The act of notifying an applicant, who applied and fulfilled the institution's requirements to be considered for admission, of an admissions decision.

Degree

A recognition or award for completion of a prescribed course of study in an institution of higher education designated by the customary titles of associate, bachelor, master, specialist or doctor.

Department (Fiscal)

A sub-unit within a college, division, or school that is fiscally responsible (i.e., to which revenues and expenses can be allocated) for a given course, degree program, function, or service.

Designation

A quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of something.

DFW Rate

The percentage of students who received a D grade, F grade, or withdrew from a given course (or course section). At Wright State University, the following grades are included in the DFW rate: D, F, K, N, NR, NU, U, W, X, XE, and XU.

Direct from High School

A designation assigned to first-time undergraduate students who attend (enroll for classes) at Wright State University within one year after high school graduation.

Doctoral Degree (Other)

A doctoral degree that does not meet the definition of a doctoral degree (research/scholarship) or doctoral degree (professional practice).

Doctoral Degree (Professional Practice)

An award conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice.

Doctoral Degree (Research/Scholarship)

A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement.

- E -

Endowment

Funds provided by donors that have been established to provide a long-term source of income, usually for a non-profit entity. The intent is for the funds to be held in perpetuity, where only the income from the funds can be used.

English Cohort

An indicator used to track college readiness in English and determine course placement based on multiple measures including standardized test scores.

Enrolled

An individual who registered for for-credit and/or not-for-credit courses.

Enrollment Status

A designation assigned to students based on the total number of student credit hours for which they are registered for a given semester.

Equity Gap

The disparity (or difference) in an educational outcome or student success measure (e.g., grades, retention rates, etc.) across one or more student demographic traits (e.g., race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.).

- F -

First Generation

A student who is the first member of the immediate family to attend college. First generation status is derived from data in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)* or the university admissions application indicating identified parents have not attended college.  *Data derived from the FAFSA can no be disclosed without student consent.

First-time Student

A student entering Wright State University for the first time at a specific level (i.e., undergraduate, graduate, professional). This includes new students enrolled in the fall term who first enrolled at Wright State University the prior summer term. 

First-time Undergraduate (N/O)

A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending Wright State University for the first time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended Wright State University for the first time in the prior summer term, and students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).

Fiscal Services Manager

An employee who manages overall fiscal (financial) affairs for one or more assigned areas (e.g., college, division, department, etc.) of the university.

Full-time Equivalent (FTE) Student

FTE student is derived by dividing student credit hours by the full-time equivalent for a given level and given time period. For example, for a given semester and at the undergraduate level, one FTE student is equal to 15 student credit hours.

Full-time Student

An enrollment status assigned to students for a given semester. At Wright State University, full-time students include undergraduate students who are enrolled for 12 or more student credit hours and graduate/professional students who are enrolled for six or more student credit hours.

Fully Online (Program)

All (100%) of the degree requirements can be completed exclusively via distance education (online).

Fund Code

A code within the university's financial systems that identifies the source of funding for a given financial transaction.

- G -

Grade

A mark indicating the quality of a student's work. For more information about Wright State University's grading system, see University Policy 4010.1.

Graduate/Professional

A level associated with students, courses, and programs that are above the undergraduate (bachelor's degree) level.

Grant

A type of financial assistance awarded for the conduct of research or other program as specified in an approved proposal. A grant, as opposed to a cooperative agreement, is used whenever the awarding office anticipates no substantial programmatic involvement with the recipient during the performance of the activities. Grants are normally awarded by sponsors whose purpose in supporting research is scientific, cultural or philanthropic. Typically, coded as Fundamental Research (DOD 6.1).

- H -

High School GPA

A average of grade points earned in high school courses calculated  on a standard 4.0 scale. If applicable, weighted based on the school's grading policy.

Hispanic/Latino

Race/ethnicity category used to report persons of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

- I -

In-person (Program)

A substantial portion (>50%) of the degree requirements are completed in a traditional classroom setting (e.g., face-to-face).

Instrument

Identifier noting the type of award document.

Integrated Writing

Integrated Writing (IW) is a designation at Wright State University for courses focused on enabling students to improve their competency in writing. For more information, see University Policy 4245.

- M -

Major

That portion of a degree that is made up of at least 30 semester hours of specialized study leading to both breadth and depth in a particular discipline. The term major may be used interchangeably with the terms program or degree program. A Technical Major is the portion of an applied associate degree that includes at least 12 semester credit hours of coursework and constitutes an area of specialization.

Master's Degree

A graduate degree awarded after a course of postsecondary study lasting one to two years. It is a level of qualification above a bachelor's degree but below a doctoral degree.

Minor

A program of study that is made up of at least 12 semester hours in a particular discipline.

Mod Type

The award modification type, which includes Original award, No-cost time extension, and New funding increment.

Most recent data

The latest or most current information available for temporal (time-based) data. For example, the most recent semester or freeze event. 

Mostly Online (Program)

Most (80-99%) of the degree requirements can be completed exclusively via distance education (online).

Multicultural Competence

Multicultural competence is a course designation defined as the ability in personal and professional contexts to interact respectfully and effectively with diverse individuals and groups in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the worth, and protects the rights and dignity, of all. For more information, see University Policy 4250.

- N -

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

Race/ethnicity category used to report persons having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

Non-degree Student

A student who enrolls at Wright State University but is not pursuing or is not eligible to pursue a degree program.

Non-traditional Student

A student who is older than 24 years of age.

Nonresident Alien

Race/ethnicity category used to report persons who are not a citizen or national of the United States and are in this country on a visa or temporary basis and do not have the right to remain indefinitely. At Wright State University, students who are nonresident aliens are commonly referred to as international students. 

- O -

ODHE Reported Campus

The single campus assigned to a student for Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) reporting purposes. Students are reported at only one campus. A student’s campus is derived as the campus at which the student is taking the majority of their coursework (registered credit hours).

Organization Code

A code within the university's financial systems that identifies the organizational unit associated with a given financial transaction.

Other Undergraduate Population (R/Z)

Readmitted students at the undergraduate level and other undergraduate students who are not first-time or transfer-in (e.g., transient).

- P -

Part-time Student

An enrollment status assigned to students for a given semester. At Wright State University, part-time students include undergraduate students who are enrolled for less than 12 student credit hours and graduate/professional students who are enrolled for less than six student credit hours.

Partially Online (Program)

Also called hybrid, where a substantial portion (>50%) of the degree requirements can be completed via distance education (online) and there are a reduced number of face-to-face meetings.

Pell Recipient

An undergraduate student who displays exceptional financial need (based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA]) and has not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree.

Percentile

Percentile is a measure of how a score compares to other scores from the same set. It indicates the percentage of values in a set of data scores that fall below a given value. For example, if a score 75 points on a test is ranked in the 85th percentile, it means that the score 75 is higher than 85% of the scores.

Persistence Rate

The rate at which a group of students, who have not yet successfully completed their program, return for a subsequent semester.

Post-master's Certificate

A certificate that provides specialized academic study or job-specific skills training to individuals who possess a master's degree. Post-master's certificates are offered at the graduate level.

Postbaccalaureate Certificate

A certificate that provides specialized academic study or job-specific skills training to individuals who possess a bachelor's degree. Postbaccalaureate certificate may require a mix of undergraduate and graduate level coursework and therefore may be offered at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Pre-award POC

The Pre Award point of contact for this award.

Preparatory or Teacher Certification

A state-approved course of study, the completion of which signifies that an enrollee has met all the state's educational or training requirements for initial certification or licensure to teach in the state's elementary or secondary schools. At Wright State University, preparatory or teacher certification programs include licensure and endorsement programs.

Prime Sponsor

The primary organization or entity responsible for providing the funding or resources for the award.

Principal Investigator (PI)

The individual primarily responsible for the design, execution, and overall leadership of a research project or program funded by the award.

Program

A defined course of study leading to a formal award (i.e., degree, certificate, or credential).

Program Code

A code within the university's financial systems that identifies the purpose of a given financial transaction. 

- Q -

Quasi Endowment

Funds provided by donors for which the governing board of an institution or foundation establishes to function as an endowment in that the principal is to be retained and invested. However, the entire principal and income may be spent at any time at the discretion of the governing board.

- R -

Race/Ethnicity Category

Categories developed in 1997 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) used to describe groups to which individuals self-identify. The designations are used to categorize U.S. citizens, resident aliens, and other eligible non-citizens. There are nine race/ethnicity categories: Hispanic/Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Nonresident alien, Two or more races, Unknown, and White.

Readmitted Student

A student who has stopped out and re-enrolled at Wright State University for a given semester. A readmitted student may also be considered a continuing student.

Residency (Tuition)

The state residency of a student used for tuition purposes. At Wright State University, students who qualify for Ohio residency are charged in-state tuition. Those who do not are charged an additional out-of-state surcharge for tuition. For more information about Wright State University's Ohio residency policy, see University Policy 3060.

Retention Rate

The rate at which first-time undergraduate students, who started in the fall semester, return the next fall semester.

- S -

Semester

A length of time designated and assigned for the purpose of academic instruction, typically 15 weeks in length.

Sex

One of two categories (male and female) typically assigned at birth based on differences including chromosomes, reproductive organs, and endogenous hormonal profiles. 

Spendable Funds

Funds provided by donors which are available for current use.  Spendable funds may be restricted or unrestricted. Restricted funds are designated by the donor for specific projects or purposes other than general use; whereas unrestricted funds may be used for any legal purpose appropriate to the organization.

Sponsor

The organization or entity that provides financial support, resources, or funding for the award, and may include government agencies, non-profit organizations, private foundations, corporations, or other institutions interested in advancing a particular cause or area of research.

Sponsor Type

The sponsor or agency type, such as Department of Defense, National Science Foundation and Industrial.

State of Residency

The geographical state, within the United States, associated with an individual's permanent (home) address.

STEM (DHS)

A Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code that has been designated as a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field of study by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for purposes of the 24-month STEM optional practical training extension described at 8 CFR 214.2(f).

STEM (ODHE COF)

A Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code that has been designated as a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field of study by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) for purposes of the Choose Ohio First (COF) program.

Student Level

The level associated with a student's program of study and level of instruction. Student levels include College Credit Plus (CCP), undergraduate, and graduate/professional.

Student Population

A designation assigned to applicants and enrolled students based on their association with Wright State University and enrollment history as of a given semester. Examples include, first-time student, transfer-in student, readmitted student, and continuing student.

Subject

A branch of knowledge or discipline studied or taught in a class, school, college, or university.

Success Rate

The rate at which a group of students return for a subsequent semester or successfully complete their programs.

- T -

Traditional Student

A student who is under 25 years of age.

Two or More Races

Race/ethnicity category used to report persons having a combinations of two or more of the following race categories: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or White.

- U -

Undergraduate

A level associated with students, courses, and programs that are below the graduate/professional (master's and doctoral degree) level. It the first level of higher education.

Underrepresented Minority (URM)

An individual who is a member of a group that has historically comprised a minority of the U.S. population. At Wright State University, underrepresented minorities include American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics, Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders nonresident aliens, and members of two or more races.

Unknown

Data is missing or has not been reported.

- W -

White

Race/ethnicity category used to report persons having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

Wright State Core

Wright State University's designation for courses that are part of the institution's general education curriculum.

Wright State Core Element

A subset of courses within the Wright State Core grouped by broad areas of knowledge and practice.

- Y -

Yield Rate

Yield rate is calculated by dividing the number of students who enrolled by the number who applied and were admitted for a given semester.