Glossary of Academic Terms
ABILITY TO BENEFIT: A potential student who is a non-high school graduate is recognized as having the ability-to-benefit from a college education after successfully earning a minimum passing score on one of the federally approved standardized tests. (See page 16 for a more detailed explanation, including the list of approved tests for individuals with disabilities on pages 63-65 in the Resource Section).
ACADEMIC: A term used to describe any collegiate course of study; a term used to describe areas of study falling under the traditional scholarly disciplines, as distinct from directly vocational or technical programs.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: Students who are matriculated into academic programs are assigned a faculty member who assists the student in setting semester course schedules and monitors that the student meets all of that academic program’s degree requirements.
ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENT: A modification made to a course or program for a student with a disability. The modification is made to a nonessential part of the course or program.
ADA: see Americans with Disabilities Act
ACCOMMODATION: see Reasonable Accommodations
ADD/DROP: A system used to change a student’s schedule after registration has been formally completed. (Usually the first week of classes. Also called Schedule Adjustment.)
ALTERNATE FORMAT: Conversion of print materials into a form accessible to individuals who cannot read standard print. Examples include Braille, e-text, and large print.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: Federal law passed in 1990 (effective beginning January 26, 1992) extending the civil rights protections offered by Section 504 to places of public accommodations, state and local governments, and employment in addition to recipients of federal funding.
ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICE: Technology, usually consisting of a transmitter and a receiver, used to enhance sound for individuals with hearing impairments. Some may be used with or without hearing aids.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY: Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.