A-B Tech InfoBase

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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.

M-1 Visa
M-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant student visa. It allows foreign students who wish to pursue technical or non-academic studies, other than language training, to enter into the U.S.
Madison Site
The A-B Tech location at 4646 U.S. Highway 25-70, Marshall, NC 28753. The Madison Site offers many classes and services for both Curriculum and Continuing Education students.
Major Elective Courses
Courses that a student may choose to take as part of his/her learning program and that count toward graduation requirements.
Master Promissory Note (MPN)
A binding legal document that you must sign when you get a federal student loan. The MPN can be used to make one or more loans for one or more academic years (up to 10 years). It lists the terms and conditions under which you agree to repay the loan and explains your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. It’s important to read and save your MPN, because you’ll need to refer to it later when you begin repaying your loan or at other times when you need information about provisions of the loan, such as deferments or forbearances.
Maximum Course Load
Students are limited to a maximum of 20 hours of course work each semester. Exceptions to this rule may be granted by the Vice President for Instructional Services.
Maximum Timeframe
For financial aid recipients, federal regulations specify that a student receiving federal financial aid must complete their program of study within 150% of the program’s published length. For example, if the published timeframe for a program is 2 years, the student has 3 years (150%) to complete the program and remain eligible for federal financial aid. When students exceed the timeframe for their programs of study, they are no longer eligible to receive financial aid; however, students can submit an appeal to the Director of Financial Aid to have their eligibility extended if there are extenuating circumstances that prevented the student from completing their program in a timely manner.
Merit-Based
Based on a student’s skill or ability; for example, a merit-based scholarship might be awarded based on a student’s high grades.
Middle College
Located on the main A-B Tech Campus in Asheville, Buncombe County Middle College (BCMC) provides high school juniors and seniors with a non-traditional setting for completing a high school diploma and earning college credits. As a cooperative-innovative high school, BCMC has partnered with A-B Tech to provide local students with a comprehensive and accessible education.
Minimester
Accelerated courses that fulfill the required contact hours in 4 weeks or 8 weeks instead of the traditional 16 weeks. Minimester courses start at various times throughout the semester and are often more intense than 16-week courses. For financial aid recipients, minimesters can affect when a student’s financial aid funds are disbursed.
Moodle
An online learning management system that A-B Tech and other colleges use, primarily to conduct online courses. It can be accessed at moodle.abtech.edu.
Moodle Online Orientation
An online course in students’ Trailhead accounts that introduces students to navigation and features of Moodle, the learning management system used by A-B Tech. Students must complete Moodle Online Orientation in order to enroll in a 100% online class.
Mountain Mobility
The City of Asheville contracts with Mountain Mobility to provide paratransit service along its routes within the City of Asheville and to the Town of Black Mountain. More information can be found at buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/transportation.
Mountain Tech Lodge
A learning facility located on A-B Tech’s main Asheville Campus that is operated by the students enrolled in the Hospitality Management Program. The Lodge is open to state employees traveling on business and guests of the school. For reservations, call (828) 398-7248.
MPN (Master Promissory Note)
A binding legal document that you must sign when you get a federal student loan. The MPN can be used to make one or more loans for one or more academic years (up to 10 years). It lists the terms and conditions under which you agree to repay the loan and explains your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. It’s important to read and save your MPN because you’ll need to refer to it later when you begin repaying your loan or at other times when you need information about provisions of the loan, such as deferments or forbearances.
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