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.

Paratransit
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. Contact Mountain Mobility directly at (828) 250-6750 for eligibility.
Parchment
An online service that students use to order official A-B Tech transcripts. To order a transcript through Parchment visit abtech.edu/transcripts.
Parent PLUS Loan
A Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is a federal direct loan for which parents can apply. More information can be found at studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/plus.
Parking Decal
Required vehicle identification and registration for all A-B Tech students and faculty/staff. These decals (or car window sticker) for Curriculum students are available in the Bailey Student Services Building. Continuing Education students taking classes for two weeks or longer may obtain parking decals in the Ferguson Allied Health and Workforce Development Center on the Asheville Campus. Faculty/Staff can obtain parking decals from HR in the Sunnicrest Building on the Asheville Campus.
Part-time Student
A student enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters or fewer than 9 credit hours during the summer semester. Financial aid recipients must be registered 12 credit hours or more in the summer in order to be considered full-time and to receive the full amount of their summer Pell Grant award. For financial aid purposes, 12 credits or more is full-time, 9-11 credits is 3/4-time, 6-8 credits is half-time, and 1-5 credits is 1/4-time or less-than-half-time.
Pass Rate
Also called completion rate, pass rate is the overall percentage of credits a student has successfully completed, based on the total amount of credits that have been attempted at A-B Tech (including any credits that have been transferred into A-B Tech). The Financial Aid Office calculates pass/completion rate and uses this figure, along with cumulative GPA, to determine whether a student is maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Students must maintain a minimum completion rate of 67% (for students who have completed 30+ credits) or 50% (for students who have completed 1-29 credits) to remain eligible for financial aid.
Payment
The use of money or other funds (such as financial aid award funds) to cover the cost of tuition and fees. Payment options can be viewed at abtech.edu/payments.
Payment Plan
A plan that allows Curriculum students to pay for their tuition/fees throughout the semester in separate payment installments, rather than paying for the entire cost of their tuition/fees up-front before the semester starts. Payment plans generally consist of 3 payment installments, and can be set up online through E-Cashier at abtech.edu/payments or your Self-Service account.
Pearson VUE
A computer-based testing provider for certifications and licensures. A-B Tech provides a location for some Pearson VUE tests. Pearson VUE tests can be scheduled at pearsonvue.com.
Pell Grant
A grant for undergraduate students from the federal government that does not have to be repaid. To apply for a Pell Grant, students need to complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. The amount of Pell Grant a student received is determined by a number of factors, including the information provided on the FAFSA (such as income, assets, etc.), the cost of attendance, and the student’s enrollment status.
Personal Counseling
A student support service in which an A-B Tech Counselor is available either by phone or face-to-face to assist a student with personal issues. A-B Tech provides free counseling services to A-B Tech Curriculum students. The Counselors are available by appointment in the Bailey Student Services Building on the A-B Tech Asheville Campus.
Phi Beta Lambda
A-B Tech’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter.
Phi Theta Kappa
A-B Tech Honor Society. Membership is by invitation only for students who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 after completing at least 12 credit hours of Associate Degree coursework.
Placement
The process that allows A-B Tech to assess the student’s level in English and Math, so that the College can place the student in the appropriate level of classes. Placement options include the NC-DAP test (administered by A-B tech), an alternate test like the SAT or ACT (not administered by A-B Tech), or transfer credits in college-level English or Math. Additional information about placement can be viewed at abtech.edu/placement.
Placement Test
A test given to Curriculum students entering A-B Tech, which allows the College to determine a student’s proficiency in various subjects, so that the student can be placed in the appropriate level of courses. A-B Tech’s general placement test for incoming Curriculum students is called the NC-DAP, which tests students knowledge of reading comprehension, sentence skills, arithmetic, elementary algebra and college level mathematics.
Plan
An arrangement made between the student and their advisor to determine which classes the student should take during the upcoming semester. Most students must have their advisor set up an educational plan before every semester in order to register for the upcoming semester. This ensures the student is taking classes that keeps them on track to completing their program of study in a timely manner.
Plus Loans
A loan available to graduate students and parents of dependent undergraduate students for which the borrower is fully responsible for paying the interest regardless of the loan status.
Post-Secondary Institution
Education beyond high school is referred to as post-secondary. An example of a post-secondary institution is a college or university, such as A-B Tech.
Pre-Limited/Pre-Selective Information Session
An information session that must be completed by all students interesting in a Selective or Limited program at A-B Tech prior to meeting with an advisor. It can be completed online or in person. For more information, visit abtech.edu/selective-limited-programs.
Prerequisite
One or more courses that must be completed or other knowledge, skills, or standards that must be demonstrated before a student is permitted to take certain courses; for example, ENG 111 is a prerequisite for ENG 112, so ENG 111 must be completed before a student can register for ENG 112. A course’s prerequisites are listed in the College Catalog and in Self-Service. Prerequisites completed at other institutions can be used by sending a transcript from that institution to A-B Tech.
President’s List
Students who qualify for the President’s List must 1) be enrolled in an academic program (degree, dipoma, or certificate) 2) carry minimum of 12 credit hours of curriculum courses 3) be enrolled in only courses numbered 100 and 4) must have a 4.0 quality point average during the semester under consideration.
Priority Registration
A process that allows returning students or students with disabilities to register for classes before registration opens for new students. Priority registration is typically held the first week of regular registration.
Private Loan
A nonfederal loan made by a lender such as a bank, credit union, state agency, or school.
Probation (Academic)
Occurs when a student’s semester GPA falls below 2.0 for two semesters in a row. Students on Academic Probation will need to take specific steps in order to register for classes.
Promissory Note
The binding legal document that you must sign when you get a federal student loan. 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 this document 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.
PSB/HOAE (Psychological Services Bureau/Health Occupations Aptitude Exam)
An exam required as part of the process to apply to most of our Selective Allied Health Programs. The PSB/HOAE Health Occupations Aptitude Exam is designed to determine a candidate’s readiness and ability to successfully complete a program as a health care professional. It will assess the student’s abilities, attitude and skills and knowledge in a variety of areas and is part of the required educational curriculum for a healthcare practitioner.
Psychological Services Bureau/Health Occupations Aptitude Exam (PSB/HOAE)
An exam required as part of the process to apply to most of our Selective Allied Health Programs. The PSB/HOAE Health Occupations Aptitude Exam is designed to determine a candidate’s readiness and ability to successfully complete a program as a health care professional. It will assess the student’s abilities, attitude and skills and knowledge in a variety of areas and is part of the required educational curriculum for a healthcare practitioner.
Purge Date
The date on which students’ classes are dropped from their registration schedules due to unpaid tuition and fees. Students who have paid their balance in full, set up a payment plan for the current semester, or have financial aid in place for the current semester are not affected by purge dates.
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