A-B Tech InfoBase

We're here to help you find quick answers to common questions. Use the search box to look up key words or browse through the categories below.
Can't find what you're looking for? Click here to email us your question or call us at (828) 398-7900.

Glossary of Terms

Glossary is usually defined as an alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of knowledge. This InfoBase glossary provides a collection of InfoBase documents that define many technical terms. These terms are arranged alphabetically, but you can quickly jump to a specific term by selecting its first letter from the index of the InfoBase glossary below.

A-B Tech Access Card
Also called a BankMobile card and issued to all students. Financial aid refunds and tuition refunds are issued through this card.
A.S. Degree (Associate in Science)
The A.S. degree is designed for students who want to pursue a four-year degree in areas of study such as computer science, engineering, mathematics, the sciences, or professional programs that require strong mathematics and science backgrounds.
Academic Calendar
The academic calendar is a list of important dates for the school year. The academic calendar can be viewed at abtech.edu/academiccalendar
Academic Fresh Start
Any returning student who has not attended A-B Tech for 3 years, and upon re-enrolling maintains a 2.0 GPA for a minimum of 12 credit hours, may petition to have grades on all prior course work more than 3 years old with a grade less than a "C" excluded in calculating the cumulative GPA.
Academic Probation
Occurs when a student’s semester GPA falls below 2.0 for two semesters in a row. Student on Academic Probation will need to take specific steps in order to register for classes.
Academic Standing
This is the status of a student with respect to academic performance. Determined after each semester and based on a student’s semester GPA. Students may have an Academic Standing of Good Standing, Warning, Suspension, or Probation.
Academic Suspension
Occurs when a student’s semester GPA falls below 2.0 for three semesters in a row. Student will need to file an Academic Appeal before taking Curriculum classes again.
Academic Warning
Occurs when a student’s semester GPA falls below 2.0 for one semester. Students on Academic Warning will need to take specific steps in order to register for classes.
Academic Year
Consists of the fall, spring, and summer semesters. For example, the 2013-2014 academic year consists of the Fall 2013, Spring 2014, and Summer 2014 semesters.
Access Card (A-B Tech Access Card)
Also called Bank Mobile (formerly Higher One) card and issued to all students. Financial aid refunds and tuition refunds are issued through this card.
Accreditation
Confirms that the College meets certain minimum academic standards, as defined by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A-B Tech must be accredited to be eligible to participate in federal student aid programs.
Add/Drop
The process of adjusting a student’s schedule by dropping and/or adding courses after initial registration. Dropped courses do not appear on a student’s transcript. Full or partial refunds are available for drops, depending on when the drop occurred. The deadline for dropping/adding a class is listed on the college calendar online or in the Student Handbook. (Do not confuse "drop" with "withdraw.")
Addiction, Recovery, and Coping (ARC)
The ARC or Addiction, Recovery, and Coping program is a support and recovery program started at A-B Tech due to the impact of the opioid epidemic. The RESET is part of A-B Tech’s ARC program.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Your or your family’s wages, salaries, interest, dividends, etc., minus certain deductions from income as reported on a federal income tax return.
Admission to Selective Allied Health Programs
Admission to any of the Allied Health curricula is selective according to established criteria. There is a specific, pre-determined application period. Applicants are selected for admission to these programs based on special criteria which vary for each program and are updated annually.
Advisor
A professional staff or faculty member with expertise to help students with academic planning. A-B Tech has General Academic, Transfer, and Faculty/Program Advisors. General Academic and Transfer Advisors are available in the Bailey Student Services Building. Faculty/Program Advisors are instructors within individual academic departments who assist students within their own department or program of study. Find your advisor here: https://www.abtech.edu/myadvisor
AGI (Adjusted Gross Income)
Your or your family’s wages, salaries, interest, dividends, etc., minus certain deductions from income as reported on a federal income tax return.
Agreement to Serve (ATS)
The binding agreement you must sign to receive a TEACH Grant. By signing the ATS, you agree to teach (1) full-time (2) in a high-need field (3) at a low-income school or educational service agency that serves certain low-income schools, and (4) for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant. If you do not complete your teaching service agreement, the amounts of the TEACH Grants you received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that you must repay with interest charges from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.
ALC (Academic Learning Center)
An office in the Ferguson Building on A-B Tech’s Asheville Campus that provides free tutoring services to students in English, math, chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Application for Program Completion
Form that should be completed in cooperation with a student’s academic advisor in the last semester or two of a program. Completion of the form initiates the process of checking that requirements have been met, the awarding of the appropriate credential if requirements have been met, and communication about participating in graduation.
ARC (Addiction, Recovery, and Coping)
The ARC or Addiction, Recovery, and Coping program is a support and recovery program started at A-B Tech due to the impact of the opioid epidemic. The RESET is part of A-B Tech’s ARC program.
Asheville Campus
The main A-B Tech campus location at 340 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC 28801.
Associate Degree
An undergraduate degree granted by a college after the satisfactory completion of a two-year program of study. A student may receive any of the following from A-B Tech: A.A. – Associate in Arts Degree; A.S. – Associate in Science Degree; A.A.S. – Associate in Applied Science Degree; and A.F.A. – Associate in Fine Arts Degree.
Associate in Arts Degree (A.A.)
For students who plan to transfer to senior colleges and universities to continue study for a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. The A.A. is designed for students who want to pursue a four-year degree in one of the liberal arts disciplines or at a professional school that requires a strong liberal arts background. The mathematics and science requirements for the A.A. degree are usually fewer than for an A.S. (Associate in Science) degree.
Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.)
Students who satisfy the courses required in the A.F.A. curriculum and additional General Education courses will be eligible for admission into a university B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) program, pending portfolio review, as a junior.
Associate in Science (A.S.)
Designed for students who want to pursue a four-year degree in areas of study such as computer science, engineering, mathematics, the sciences, or professional programs that require strong mathematics and science backgrounds.
ATS (Agreement To Serve)
The binding agreement you must sign to receive a TEACH Grant. By signing the ATS, you agree to teach (1) full-time (2) in a high-need field (3) at a low-income school or educational service agency that serves certain low-income schools, and (4) for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant. If you do not complete your teaching service agreement, the amounts of the TEACH Grants you received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that you must repay with interest charges from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.
Attendance-Required
It is mandatory that the student attend at least once during the first 10 percent of the course. For online classes, a graded activity must be submitted during the first 10 percent of the course. Beginning with the fall 2017 semester, A-B Tech no longer has a centralized attendance policy that applies to all departments/classes. However, different divisions or departments can institute their own specific attendance requirements.
Audit
When a student completes or "sits in" on a Curriculum course without intending to receive credit for the course and without getting any sort of grade. Students wishing to audit a course must complete the regular registration procedures and must meet any necessary prerequisites for the course.
Award Letter
An offer that states the type and amount of financial aid A-B Tech is willing to provide if you enroll at A-B Tech, enter into a program of study, and begin taking classes at A-B Tech. After an Award Letter has been processed, a notification is sent to your A-B Tech student email account, and the Award Letter can be viewed in Self-Service.
Award Year
The academic school year for which financial aid is used to fund your education.
Changing Lives | Strengthening Communities