.02 Definitions.

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) Academic Credit.

(a) "Academic credit" or “credit” means the certification by the Registrar of a student's successful completion of a course leading to a formal award granted by an institution of higher education.

(b) "Academic credit" or “credit” does not include credit awarded for remedial education.

(2) “Articulation agreement” means a written agreement for the awarding of credit by an institution of higher education for the completion of coursework or prior learning at another institution or entity.

(3) “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

(4) “Course” means a collection of lessons that is intended to meet specific learning objectives and is measured in academic credits.

(5) “Course Transfer Agreement” means an articulation agreement regarding the award of credit by a receiving institution for courses completed at the sending institution that are not specific to the completion of an academic program at the receiving institution.

(6) "Credit for prior learning" means credit granted to a student from an institution of higher education for experiential learning or a nationally recognized standardized examination that has been assessed by the institution to be the equivalent of learning gained through formal collegiate instruction.

(7) “Cumulative grade point average” means the average of grades received for completed coursework at an institution.

(8) “First-time student” means a student who:

(a) Has earned a high school diploma or equivalent; and

(b) Has not earned any college credit from an institution of higher education subsequent to earning the high school diploma or equivalent.

(9) “First-time student with advanced standing” means a first-time undergraduate student who earned college credit from an institution of higher education prior to earning a high school diploma or equivalent.

(10) General Admission.

(a) “General admission” means admission to enroll as an undergraduate student at an institution of higher education.

(b) “General admission” does not include admission to a specific degree or certificate program.

(11) “General education requirement” means an institutional requirement under COMAR 13B.06.01.03.

(12) “Institution of higher education” has the meaning stated in Education Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(13) “Institution of postsecondary education” has the meaning stated in Education Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(14) “Learning outcome” or “learning objective” means a description of the knowledge, skills, competencies, or expertise that a student is expected to obtain, exhibit, or meet upon the successful completion of a specific course or program.

(15) “Non-transfer student” means an undergraduate student who attends the same institution of higher education at which they initially enrolled and has not enrolled in a course of study at another institution of higher education since that initial enrollment.

(16) “Prior Learning Transfer Agreement” means an articulation agreement for a receiving institution to award academic credit for demonstrated proficiency, a satisfactory score on a specific assessment, applied experience, or other learning experience completed at an institution of postsecondary education or other entity.

(17) “Program” or “academic program” means a structured and coherent course of study with clearly defined learning objectives and intended student learning outcomes, leading to the award of a certificate or degree, that requires the completion of a specified number of course credits from among a prescribed group of general education, elective, and discipline-specific courses.

(18) “Program Transfer Agreement” means an articulation agreement between a receiving institution and a sending institution that sets forth the course and other degree requirements within a single bachelor’s degree program offered by the receiving institution that may be completed at the sending institution.

(19) “Receiving institution” means the institution of higher education to which a student desires to transfer courses and credits.

(20) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education.

(21) “Sending institution” means an institution of higher education at which a student was previously enrolled and earned academic credit.

(22) “Transfer student” means an undergraduate student entering an institution for the first time who has successfully completed, after earning a high school diploma or equivalent, at least one course at another institution of higher education that is transferable to the institution the student is enrolling in.