Term Definitions Related Policies
Approval
notes the date the policy was adopted by the Board and the dates of any revisions.
Approved Electives
Optional courses (if any) from the "related requirements" list or any other courses that the student and their advisor determine to be appropriate and applicable to the degree.
Artistic Expression
The conscious use of skill and imagination in the production of objects or experience to communicate an idea and/or engender discussion.
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
refers to the systematic process of assessment of learning outcomes and data collection related to student learning in order to inform decisions about the improvement of teaching and learning. Assessment of student learning outcomes occurs at all levels of students’ experiences at SFCC.
Associate in Arts Degree (A.A)
is a transfer degree program designed for students majoring in such areas as the arts, business, humanities, social sciences, education and general studies.
Associate in Sciences (A.S.)
degree is a transfer degree program designed for students majoring in such areas as the physical or natural sciences, engineering and technology, and computer science.
Asynchronous
These classes are completely online without mandatory class meetings. You don’t have to be online at a fixed day and time with your fellow classmates and instructor. Your instructor and your classmates will communicate through Canvas and you can interact with them and access class resources on your own time. You complete all the assignments and meet the requirements of the class on your own schedule, meeting the deadlines set by your instructor. Your classmates and instructor are not necessarily online at the same time unless an appointment is scheduled.
Audit
The term used for registration in a credit class in which a student bears no responsibilities for completing assignments. Students receive neither grades or credit.
Audit Rule
A rule published by the New Mexico State Auditor governing the conduct of the annual audits of New Mexico public entities.
Authority
Refers to the date the policy was adopted by the Governing Board and the date of any revisions.
Authorized Access
Permission based on college role to access SFCC information technology resources.
Authorized passengers
Includes employees, students who have signed a release form, and other guests as approved by the President or his or her designee.
Authorized Representative
according to FERPA, includes any entity or individual designated by a state or local educational authority or an agency authorized to conduct any audit, evaluation or compliance or enforcement activity in connection with federal legal requirements that relate to federal- or state-supported education programs.
Authorized Social Media Staff
Members of the authorized social media staff are from the Office of Marketing and Public Relations and the Office of Information Technology. The purpose of the authorized social media staff is to help SFCC create, manage and succeed in using social media outlets to best support SFCC's academic mission.
Auxiliaries
Auxiliaries are entities that exist to furnish a service to students, faculty and/or staff, and that charge a fee that is directly related to, but not necessarily equal to, the cost of the service. Auxiliary enterprises are managed as self-supporting operations. Operations designed to serve the institution and its organizational units internally should be classified as internal service departments. Operations designed to serve individuals or groups external to the institution should be classified as public service or community education (New Mexico Higher Education Department Exhibit 20 definition).