Glossary of Terms

Add/Drop – The period of time that registration adjustments can be made within specified start and end dates. Courses dropped do not appear on transcripts.

ASN – Alberta Student Number unique to each student studying in Alberta.

Academic Misconduct – The commission or attempted commission of any action which falsely indicates the student’s level of academic achievement,
e.g. plagiarism or cheating.

Academic Probation – The status assigned to a student who did not meet the progression requirements set by his/her program.

Admission Requirements – The minimum specific subject requirements considered for admission to a SAIT program.

Anticipated Final Grade – Self declared grades: Applicants registered in grade 12 or upgrading admission requirements can self declare an anticipated final grade. Students are required to meet or exceed the self declared grade or this could result in the conditional offer being withdrawn.

Appeal – The act or process of requesting the review of a decision by an official of SAIT. Students may appeal decisions on grades, disciplinary action, etc. All appeals must first be made to the person responsible for overseeing the initial decision. Formal appeal processes are outlined in specific SAIT policies and procedures.

Applicant – A person who has submitted a SAIT admission application for a program.

Applied Degree – A post-Diploma or post-Degree credential, formally approved by the Alberta government. It is generally a four-year program, with the prerequisite Diploma or Degree considered as the first two years of the program. It combines theoretical learning and applied training.

Audit – A value assigned to a student who is registered in a course for which no formal evaluation of the student’s performance is provided.

Baccalaureate Degree – A SAIT credential formally approved by the Alberta government. It is generally a four-year program.

Certificate – A SAIT credential formally approved by the Alberta government. It is generally a one-year program.

Certificate of Achievement – A SAIT-approved credential to recognize completion of a course or program which includes a formal evaluation of performance. It is usually offered as a non-credit course or program which is a minimum of 144 hours. Where it is offered as a credit program, it is a maximum of 29 credits and is generally less than six months in duration.

Certificate of Accomplishment – A SAIT approved credential to recognize completion of the technical training portion of an apprenticeship program. The apprentice must complete the final period and at last one other period of study at SAIT to qualify for this credential.

Challenge Exam – The challenge for credit option allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, and intellectual and other skills that would normally be found in a course. Challenge exams are administered through the academic schools and result in an assigned grade.

Communication – Asynchronous communication describes communication that does not occur simultaneously, for example, computer conferences and email. Synchronous communication is “live.” It describes communication that occurs simultaneously, for example, in chat rooms, by teleconference and videoconference.

Complaint – A written and signed statement as a result of which proceedings may be initiated.

Continuing Student Status – This applies to any student who has not been absent from a SAIT program or non-credit certificate for more than one semester.

Convocation – Refers to the annual formal graduation ceremony, at which SAIT formally recognizes academic achievement and confers credentials and other academic awards.

Co-requisite – A course that is required to be taken concurrently (in the same semester) with another course.

Credit Course – A course that is part of a program approved by the Alberta government, and that has a credit value associated with it. It is included in the calculation of the student’s grade point average.

Credential – In general, it refers to a baccalaureate, applied degree, diploma, certificate, certificate of achievement or certificate of accomplishment awarded upon successful completion of a program or, in some cases, a course. Not all SAIT programs lead to a credential.

Credential Regulations – The regulations that specify the requirements students must meet in order to be awarded a credential; for example, the total credits required, and the minimum credits that must be completed at SAIT.

CRN (Course Reference Number) – The five-digit course reference number assigned to a course section.

Dean – The academic member responsible for overseeing all credentials within a particular academic school.

Diploma – A SAIT credential formally approved by the Alberta government. It is generally a two-year program.

Distance Education – Correspondence/distance education courses offered at SAIT.

Expulsion – Permanent withdrawal of a student from SAIT, generally a result of student misconduct.

Full-time Student – A student who is registered in a minimum 60 per cent of the program credits.

Grade – The final grade for the course expressed as a value.

Mark – Values given to individual quizzes, assignments, tests, exams, etc., that reflect the degree of understanding that the student has shown for the course materials.

Mature Student – An applicant may qualify as a mature student if he/she does not possess a high school diploma and the following conditions are met:

1. The program they wish to apply requires a high school diploma, and
2. The applicant will be 18 years old prior to the date of registration or is a serving member of the Canadian Forces, and has been out of high school for one year and
3. The applicant has satisfied all of the admission requirements or alternative courses as outlined in the program descriptions. A transcript identifying these required courses must be submitted with the application.

mySAIT.ca – A secure website for students to view academic, financial and campus information via the web. Students can apply online, check their application status, view class schedules and make changes during the drop/add period, check grades, print unofficial transcripts, view financial accounts, print the Student Tax Receipt (T2202A form), check their SAIT email, and more.

Non-academic Misconduct – Non-academic misconduct behavior includes violations of established civil and criminal laws, conduct that threatens the safety or well-being of members of the SAIT community, and/or any behavior that adversely affects SAIT or its educational mission.

Non-credit Course – is a course that is not part of an Alberta government-approved program, and does not have a credit value associated with it. It is not included in the calculation of a student’s grade point average.

Part-time Student – A student who is registered in less than 60 per cent of the program credits.

Plagiarism – The wilful act of presenting another person’s work as one’s own (refer to Policy Procedures AC.3.4.1 Student Code of Conduct).

Pre-requisite – Many higher-level courses require knowledge of material covered in lower-level or other courses. Pre-requisites are used to ensure that a student has the required background to successfully complete the course. All pre-requisites are expressed in terms of specific SAIT courses.

Prior Learning Assessment – Assessment of previous post-secondary education and work experience for possible transfer credit towards a SAIT program.

Program – A prescribed curriculum leading to a SAIT credential. A program is divided into a number of courses.

Program Requirements – Programs of study require students to take specific courses, or to take courses from specified areas of study or disciplines, or to take courses at a specific level of study. These are program requirements and form part of the regulations for each program.

Registrar – The designate of SAIT.

Registration – The process of selecting and/or undertaking specific courses at SAIT.

Residency Requirement – Students may use up to a maximum of 50 per cent transfer credit towards a SAIT credential. Transfer credit includes any SAIT course previously used to obtain another SAIT credential.

Returning Student Status – This applies to any student who is returning to a SAIT program or non-credit certificate and has been absent for one or more calendar years.

Schedule – The individual student’s list of classes, rooms and times of courses.

Selection – For certain programs, SAIT may use selection procedures beyond the minimum academic admission requirements to determine eligibility for admission. Selection criteria used may include consideration of higher academic grades, essays, career investigation reports, interviews, aptitude tests etc.

Special Student Status – One who, each term, customizes his/her registration with the Academic Chair.

Student Holds – A hold may be placed on a student’s account when there is outstanding SAIT property or unpaid fees and this may prevent the student from accessing SAIT services, transcripts, and parchments.

Student ID Number – A nine-digit number assigned to each student to help with identification. Students should have their student number available whenever they contact SAIT.

Students Finance Board – The official agency in each province that is responsible for supplying loans and bursaries to students. Students can apply for Alberta Student Loans online at alis.gov.ab.ca.

Term – A period of time where instruction is broken down in an academic year. Example: Fall terms typically run from September through December and winter terms typically run from January through April.

Transcript – A complete record of all courses that a student has taken or currently enrolled in and issued by an educational institute. Transcripts will be issued at the request of the student.

Transfer Credit – Credit granted for course work successfully completed at another accredited institution.

Transfer Student Status – This applies to any student who has completed post-secondary courses at other institutes and now wishes to enrol in a SAIT program.

Unclassified Student Status – This applies to any student who has been granted permission to register into specific courses, but has not been admitted into a program and whose intent is not to graduate from a program.

U-Pass – A non-transferable, non-refundable pass allowing access to Calgary transit use at a reasonable discounted rate for qualified SAIT students.

Withdrawal from a Course – The voluntary exit of any student from a course after the drop/add deadline up to and including the withdrawal deadline date. No refund is issued and a ‘W’ grade is assigned.

Withdrawal from a Program – The voluntary exit of a student from a full-time program.