Guide to Early College Lingo
UMaine Early College Glossary
How can I use this guide?
This is a quick-reference guide for Early College (EC) students. It includes common UMaine (UM) and Early College terms you’ll see in portals, emails, and courses, and it’s also a companion guide to general college language you may hear on campus or in class.
- Look up a term when you see it in Brightspace, emails, or meetings.
- Pro Tip: Once you expand a Tier section, or all of these sections at once, use your keyboard to search for the specific word(s) you’re looking for; it will bring you right to any time they pop up throughout these pages
- Mac: Cmd + F
- Windows: Ctrl + F
- Start with Tier 1, then move to Tier 2 and Tier 3 as needed.
Not seeing the word you’re looking for? Let us know! We can help you learn what it means and add it to our list. Contact our team at um.earlycollege@maine.edu.
These are terms that are specific to the University of Maine (UM Orono & Machias campuses). These include programs, processes, courses, and opportunities that are offered specifically through our team and campus.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| AMP (Academic Materials Program) | A program that helps cover or provide required course materials (rules and eligibility depend on the course and campus). Learn more on our Textbooks webpage. |
| Core Curriculum | UMaine’s foundational content areas that all students must meet, regardless of their major. Different courses can be taken to meet each requirement. Review lists of courses in each area on our Core Curriculum webpage. |
| Course Prep Sessions | Short online group orientation sessions held at intermittent days/times throughout the year to help new and returning students prepare for upcoming course(s). You can sign up for an upcoming prep session any time using our sign up form. |
| INT 193 | An introductory Early College course where students can explore their own interests and learn about careers and majors related to those. This is a required course in all Pathways, and it is highly recommended for all students to take early on in their EC experience. |
| Language Placement Exam | An online exam for students taking French or Spanish to make sure they start at the right level. This is sent to students who have applied for their first French or Spanish course beyond the “Elementary” level. |
| Math Placement Exam | An online exam that students take to figure out what level of college math is best for them (algebra, pre-calculus, or calculus). The access link to the exam is sent to students who have applied for an Early College math class with this required prerequisite and can be taken up to 3 times. |
| Pathway Checkpoint Session (PCS) | A session between a Pathways student and their EC Pathway Advisor to reflect on a recent course experience, discuss the next steps in their Pathway, and make any necessary changes. |
| Pathway Plan | An outline created by a Pathways student in ExplorEC that shows what classes they hope to take and when during their entire Pathway experience. Their EC Pathway Advisor helps them refine and develop this plan over time. |
| Pathway Summit Session | A celebratory session between a Pathways student and their EC Pathway Advisor to reflect on their full Pathway experience, recognize their accomplishments, and talk about the student’s future plans. |
| Pathway Trailhead Session (PTS) | The initial session between a student interested in a Pathway and the EC Pathways Advisor to discuss the students interests/goals, review the pathway, and work together to create an initial Pathway Plan. |
| Student Accessibility Services (SAS) | The office that you can request specific supports through for an Early College class—like extra time on tests or the use of speech-to-text |
| Academic Success Coaching | Service provided to Pathways students that they may opt into if they are interested in working with their EC Pathway Advisor on “soft skills” like time management, study habits, communication, and staying organized. |
| Writing Center | A resource where students can set up remote appointments with undergraduate students who are trained to help with college writing assignments. |
These are the most essential terms that you may encounter within your Early College experience, regardless of which institution you’re taking your class(es) through.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | The last date students can submit a completed application to be considered for a course. Applications received after this date will be marked “Late Application” and the application will not be processed. The application deadline is always 1 week before the start of the session/semester. Note: An application is only considered complete when all required information and approvals have been submitted. See the Completed Application definition for full details. Learn more about application requirements and deadlines on our ExplorEC Portal webpage. |
| Application Status | Words or phrases used in ExplorEC to represent the current condition of a course application (e.g. “Applied” or “Registered”). |
| Application Not Processed – See Notes | The application was not processed by the Early College staff for rationale that is specified in the notes section for the student and high school counselor. Learn more on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| Applied | The student has submitted an application to take a course. The next step is for the school counselor to review the application and for a parent/guardian to sign the consent form. Learn more on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| Approved-Pending Registration | The school counselor has approved the application, and it has been sent to the Early College office. The student is not yet registered for the course. Required items – such as prerequisite documentation, parent/guardian consent, and/or the signed student agreement may still be missing. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Learn more on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| Brightspace | An online learning platform where students access their courses materials, assignments, grades, and communicate with their instructor. Learn more about Brightspace on the Preparing for Your Course Section in our Step-By-Step Guide for Students. |
| Campus | A physical college location where classes and services are offered. For example, the University of Maine has physical college locations in Orono and Machias. |
| Cancelled | A course that will not run as scheduled, often due to low enrollment or other circumstances. Learn more on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| Complete Application | An application that includes all required information and is ready for review by the Early College office. A completed application includes the following: *Student signature *Parent/guardian consent *School counselor or homeschool parent approval *Prerequisite documentation (if necessary), which could include: *Placement test results *Transcripts (for courses completed outside of the University of Maine System, for first-time homeschooled students applying to certain campuses, or if requested) *AP exam results *SAT/ACT scores *Any other course specific requirements Learn more about application requirements and deadlines on our ExplorEC Portal webpage. |
| Condensed Session Course | A course taught in a shorter time frame (such as 4–8 weeks) instead of a full semester. Students cover the same material as a 15-week course, but at a faster pace, which requires a higher weekly time commitment. Early College students are not permitted to enroll in 3-week courses. Typical weekly workload: *15-week course: ~9–12 hours per week *6–7 week course: ~18–22 hours per week |
| Course Application | A course application is submitted through ExplorEC to request enrollment in an Early College course for a semester. |
| Credit | A unit that shows how much a course is worth toward a degree. |
| Credit Hour | A standard measurement of course time, usually based on hours spent in class per week. |
| Drop | A student officially stops taking a course by submitting a drop/withdrawal request in ExplorEC on or before the drop deadline. Dropped courses will not appear on the student’s transcript. For students eligible for Aspirations funding, the program will not be billed for the credits, so the course will not count toward the student’s lifetime cap of 18 credits. Self-pay students will not be responsible for payment. Learn more in the Dropping/Withdrawing from Your Course Section in our Step-By-Step Guide for Students and on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| Drop Deadline | The last day that a student can drop a course without the course appearing on their transcript. Learn more in the Dropping/Withdrawing from Your Course Section in our Step-By-Step Guide for Students. |
| Drop/Withdrawal-Bill | A student officially stops taking a course by submitting a drop/withdrawal request in ExplorEC after the drop deadline has passed, but before the withdrawal deadline. The course will appear on the student’s transcript, and the student will receive a W (Withdraw) grade. For students eligible for Aspirations funding, the program will be billed for the credits, which will count toward the student’s lifetime cap of 18 credits. Self-pay students will still be responsible for their bill. If you have billing questions, please contact the host campus for more information. Learn more on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| Dual Enrollment (Early College) | A program that allows high school students to take college courses and earn both high school and college credit at the same time. |
| Early College (Dual Enrollment) | Another term for dual enrollment—college courses taken while you are still in high school. This is the specific term the University of Maine and Maine Community College Systems use. |
| ExplorEC | The University of Maine System’s Early College’s (UMS) online application portal used by high school students to apply for college courses at the University of Maine, University of Southern Maine, University of Maine at Augusta, University of Maine at Presque Isle, University of Maine at Fort Kent, and University of Maine at Farmington. Students use ExplorEC to search for courses, submit applications, track their application status, and request drops or withdrawals. ExplorEC works together with OnCourse, the Maine Community College System’s (MCCS) application portal, as part of a shared system. The key difference is that students must apply for UMS courses in ExplorEC and MCCS courses in OnCourse, and complete the required student and parent/guardian consent forms in each system. Together, these portals coordinate enrollment and communication between students, high schools, and Maine’s public colleges and universities. |
| Grade Point Average (GPA) | A number that represents your average grades for courses taken at a specific college or university. If you take Early College courses at multiple campuses, each campus calculates its own GPA—your GPA is not combined across all campuses. Learn more on our Grades & Course Retake Policy webpage. |
| Grades | A letter that is used to show how well students performed in a course. Each grade represents a range of achievement and is usually tied to a grade point value. Learn more on the Standard University of Maine System Grading Designations webpage & Grades & Course Retake Policy webpage. |
| Late Application | Status indicating a course application was submitted and/or completed after the deadline and will not be processed by college/university. Learn more on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| MaineStreet | MaineStreet is the official secure student information system and portal for the University of Maine System (UMS). It serves as the central hub for students, faculty, and staff to manage academic records, view grades, pay bills, request transcripts, and manage personal data. Learn more about MaineStreet on our Step-By-Step Guide webpage. |
| Not Approved | Status indicating the school counselor has denied an application. It will not be sent to the college or university for registration. Learn more on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| OnCourse | The Maine Community College System’s (MCCS) Early College online application portal used by high school students to apply for college courses at Maine’s Community Colleges. Students use OnCourse to search for courses, submit applications, track their application status, and request drops or withdrawals. OnCourse works together with ExplorEC, the University of Maine System’s (UMS) application portal, as part of a shared system. The key difference is that students must apply for MCCS courses in OnCourse and UMS courses in ExplorEC, and complete the required student and parent/guardian consent forms in each system. Together, these portals coordinate enrollment and communication between students, high schools, and colleges/universities. |
| Parental Consent | Permission from a parent or guardian that allows students to take Early College courses. By giving consent, they agree that students can enroll in college classes and understand the expectations, rules, and responsibilities that come with being an Early College student. Learn more on our ExplorEC Consent Language webpage. |
| Pathway | A group of college courses designed around a specific career field or area of study. Pathways help students explore their interests, connect courses to future goals, and build a plan with purpose while taking Early College classes. Learn more on our Career Pathways webpage. |
| Prerequisite | A course or exam you must take before enrolling in a more advanced course (“pre-req”). |
| Registered | Successfully registered with the college/university. Learn more on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| Section is Full | The course has reached its maximum enrollment and no seats are available. Please apply for a different course or contact the host campus for more information. Learn more on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| Self-Pay | When a student is responsible for paying tuition and fees. The student either does not qualify for the Aspirations Waiver or the student has exceeded their lifetime limit of 18 tuition-free credits. |
| Semester | A term of study, usually lasting about 15–16 weeks. |
| Student Agreement | A form students sign to confirm that they understand and agree to the expectations of the Early College program. By signing, students agree to follow college rules, take responsibility for their courses, and understand things like grades, deadlines, and how information may be shared. Learn more on our ExplorEC Consent Language webpage. |
| Syllabus | Document outlining course expectations, assignments, and policies. This is created and provided by your instructor. For online classes, it is typically located in your Brightspace classroom. Other instructors may share it via email or hard-copy (in a live course). |
| Transcript | An official record of courses taken and grades earned. Learn more about transcripts and how to request them on our Early College Transcripts webpage. |
| Tuition | The cost of taking a course. Learn more on our Tuition and Fees webpage. |
| UMS | University of Maine System: A group of seven public universities throughout Maine that are separate and have their own Early College offices. However, while separate, these teams work closely together and follow the same UMS Early College policies and application processes. For more information, you can review our UMS Early College Website. |
| University | A higher education institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. |
| University of Maine System (UMS) Portal | The portal is a secure, single sign-on platform providing students, faculty, and staff access to essential technology services, including MaineStreet (student records), Brightspace (online learning), and their @maine.edu gmail account. Learn more about the UMS Campus Portal on our Step-By-Step Guide webpage. |
| Waitlisted | A status indicating the course is currently full and no seats are available. The student is added to the course waitlist. The student will only be registered if a spot becomes available. Learn more on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| Web/Online | A course completed over the internet. Learn more about course modalities on our Course Information webpage. |
| Withdraw | A student officially stops taking a course by submitting a drop/withdrawal request in ExplorEC after the drop deadline has passed, but before the withdrawal deadline. The course will appear on the student’s transcript, and the student will receive a W (Withdraw) grade. For students eligible for Aspirations funding, the program will not be billed for the credits, so the course will not count toward the student’s lifetime cap of 18 credits. Self-pay students will not be responsible for payment. Learn more in the Dropping/Withdrawing from Your Course Section in our Step-By-Step Guide for Students and on our ExplorEC Status Definitions, Automated Emails, and Consent Language webpage. |
| Withdrawal Deadline | The last day a student can withdraw from a course and get a W (Withdraw) grade on their transcript. Learn more in the Dropping/Withdrawing from Your Course Section in our Step-By-Step Guide for Students. |
Extra college terms you may hear or see as an Early College student.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Academic Calendar | A schedule of important dates for a college, including the start and end of classes, holidays, and deadlines. |
| AP4ME | AP4ME offers Maine high school students throughout the state the opportunity to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses in an online-asynchronous format. Students are not awarded University of Maine System credit as a result of AP4ME course participation. For students to receive future college credit via CollegeBoard, students must complete the AP Exam. Learn more on our AP4ME webpage. |
| Aspirations Program | The Aspirations Program ensures that participating students have opportunities to explore or begin a post-secondary degree or certificate while still in high school. To be eligible, students must be a publicly funded student or a registered home instruction student and meet certain general and academic requirements. The participating institutions must have course space available and may require prerequisite courses or placement exams for enrollment. The Aspirations Program is funded by the Maine Legislature and authorized under Title 20-A, Chapter 208-A. Learn more about the Aspirations program on the Maine DOE website and our Tuition and Fees webpage. |
| Asynchronous | A course where students complete work on your own schedule (no required live class time), but are still expected to stay on track and meet all deadlines set by their professor. Learn more about course modalities on our Course Information webpage. |
| Bridge Academy | A program that helps students transition from high school to college by building academic and college-readiness skills. Learn more on the Bridge Academy Maine webpage. |
| College | A school where you can take courses after high school to earn a degree or certificate. |
| Concurrent Enrollment | A type of dual enrollment where students take a college course at their high school, taught by a college-approved high school teacher, and earn official college credit. |
| Core Course | A required course that is part of a degree or program. |
| Corequisite | A course you must take at the same time as another course. |
| Course Catalog | A list of all courses offered by a college, including descriptions and requirements. |
| Course Evaluation | A survey where students provide feedback about a course and instructor (often at the end of the term). |
| Course Levels | The difficulty level of a course, typically indicated by the course number. Lower-level courses (100-level) are usually introductory and designed for students new to a subject. Mid-level courses (200-level) build on foundational knowledge and may require prior coursework. Higher-level courses (300–400 level) are more advanced and often require prerequisites and a deeper understanding of the subject. |
| Elective | An elective is a course students choose to take that is not required for a specific program. Most college programs include space for electives, allowing students to explore personal interests, try new subjects, or take courses that support their academic or career goals. |
| Equivalent Course | A course that is considered the same as another course at a different school. Learn more about transfer equivalency information on our Course Information webpage. |
| Faculty/Professor | An instructor who teaches college courses (titles vary by role and rank). |
| Fee | A charge for a service or course, separate from tuition. |
| FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) | A federal law that protects student privacy as a college student. Once students are registered for an Early College course, the grades and school information belong to them—not their parents. If students want a parent or guardian to have access to their information, they must give permission by completing an optional FERPA release form in ExplorEC. Learn more on our ExplorEC Consent Language webpage. |
| First-Generation College Student | A student whose parent(s) did not complete a four-year college degree. |
| Gen Eds or General Education Courses | Courses that cover a wide range of subjects (like math, writing, science) required for most degrees. |
| Lecture | A class format where the instructor presents information to students. |
| Liberal Arts | A broad area of study including humanities, social sciences, and sciences. |
| Major | The main subject that students study once they enroll in college. |
| Matriculate | To officially enroll in a college as a degree-seeking student. A matriculated UMaine student has also successfully paid their deposit fee. |
| Midterm | An exam or evaluation given in the middle of a course. |
| Minor | A secondary area of study in addition to a major that students study once they enroll in college. |
| Modality | The format of a course (online, in-person, hybrid, etc.). Learn more about course modalities on our Course Information webpage. |
| NACEP or National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships | The national accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships, ensuring courses taught in high schools mirror those on college campuses or online. Learn more by reviewing the NACEP National Standards of Quality. |
| NetTutor | NetTutor is an online tutoring service we provide for FREE to Early College students. Students can log on for 1-on-1 video tutoring, submit a simple question, or get a paper reviewed. Available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Learn more on our NetTutor webpage. |
| Office Hours | Times when instructors are available to help students outside of class. These are typically listed in the course syllabus, in Brightspace, or on the department or faculty webpage |
| Office of Student Records | The office that manages transcripts, enrollment, and academic records (sometimes called the Registrar’s Office). |
| Orientation | A program that introduces new students to college systems, expectations, and resources. |
| Pass/Fail Course | A course where students receive a “Pass” or “Fail” instead of a letter grade. Because these courses are not transferable, Early College students cannot take them. |
| Placement Test | An exam used to determine the right course placement level (most often for math or languages). |
| Plagiarism | Using someone else’s work or ideas without giving credit. Learn more by reviewing the UMS Academic Integrity Policy. |
| Postsecondary Education | Education after high school, including college or university. |
| Registrar (Office of Student Records) | The office that manages transcripts, enrollment, and academic records. |
| Support Services | Resources like tutoring, advising, and counseling available to students. Learn more on our Campus Specific Resources webpage and our NetTutor webpage. |
| Synchronous | A course with required live sessions with student attendance online or in-person at specific times. Learn more about course modalities on our Course Information webpage. |
| Tutor | A person who helps students understand course material. Learn more on our Campus Specific Resources webpage and our NetTutor webpage. |
| Undergraduate | A student working toward an associate or bachelor’s degree. |
Quick Reminder
If you’re ever unsure about a term, check your course syllabus first, then ask your instructor or advisor—questions are expected, especially when you’re new to college systems.
Questions?
Email um.earlycollege@maine.edu.