Glossary

Technical Glossary

The technical glossary provides the specific definition for each metric used in the selected report. 

 

  • Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
    IPEDS definitions are set by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Visit the IPEDS Glossary website for IPEDS terminology and definitions.
  • Program Review
    Metric Definition
    Associate Graduation Rate - 4th-Year Graduation Rate (Overall) The percentage of first-time, full-time freshmen who enter the institution for the first time in a given fall semester and earn their degree within 4 years (200% of the time to complete), 6 years, and/or 8 years. Disaggregate as per accreditation.
    Associate Graduation Rate - 6th-Year Graduation Rate (Overall) The percentage of first-time, full-time freshmen who enter the institution for the first time in a given fall semester and earn their degree within 4 years (200% of the time to complete), 6 years, and/or 8 years. Disaggregate as per accreditation.
    Associate Graduation Rate - 8th-Year Graduation Rate (Overall) The percentage of first-time, full-time freshmen who enter the institution for the first time in a given fall semester and earn their degree within 4 years (200% of the time to complete), 6 years, and/or 8 years. Disaggregate as per accreditation.
    Course Pass Rates by Course Level The percentage of students who receive a passing grade (A, B, C, P) for all undergraduate students and (A, B, P) for graduate students in a course offered by a program compared to the same rate calculated for all courses at that level. 5-year trend. Included in the denominator for undergraduate courses are the grades D, F, W, I, NP, NB. Included in the denominator for graduate level are the grades C, D, F, W, I, NP, NB. 
    Five-Year Degree and/or Certificate Awards Trend The number of awards actually granted by program by year (starting on July 1) regardless of student declared intent. Awards are tracked by Fiscal Year. The graduation rate runs from September to August which tracks closely to the same number.
    FTES/FTEF The number of unduplicated full-time equivalent students (FTES) per full-time equivalent faculty (FTEF). 
    Gap Between Job Opening and Degree Completions Using EMSI data on job openings, calculate the difference between the number of openings compared to degree completions in the CIP code field in a given year. Proxy for workforce demand. Data source: EMSI which uses AK Department of Labor and Workforce Development data on the labor market. EMSI data includes all Alaska completions regardless of institution. Not required in AY23 Program Reviews.
    Junior Graduation Rate - Baccalaureate The percentage of students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree within four years of first reaching junior class status (60 credits). Disaggregate as per accreditation.
    Number of Program Graduates Who Continue Education The number of UAA students who completed degrees in the prior 8 to 3 years who continued their education at any degree level per the National Student Clearinghouse anywhere. Based on student’s first degree. Data are available for associate degrees and higher only.
    Number of Program Graduates Who Return to UAA to Pursue an Additional Program The number of UAA students who completed degrees in the prior 8 to 3 years who continued their education at any degree level at UAA per the National Student Clearinghouse. Data are available for associate degrees and higher only.
    Ratio of Out-of-Discipline Credit Hours to Total Credit Hours The percentage of total credit hours taken in the discipline by students outside of the discipline. 5-year trend. 
    SCH/FTEF The total student credit hours (SCH) produced per full-time equivalent faculty (FTEF) within a discipline.
    Semesters to Degree - Graduate Programs The average number of semesters taken by students to complete any graduate degree or certificate program. Determined by students who have graduated with a graduate program as their primary degree. 5-year trend. Disaggregate as per accreditation.
  • Accreditation Student Achievement Metrics (Student Success)
    Metric Definition
    Associate 4-Year Graduation Rate The percentage of first-time, full-time associate degree-seeking freshmen who enter the institution for the first time in a given fall semester and earn their degree within 4 years (200% of the normal time to complete).
    Associate 6-Year Graduation Rate The percentage of first-time, full-time associate degree-seeking freshmen who enter the institution for the first time in a given fall semester and earn their degree within 6 years (250% of the normal time to complete).
    Associate 8-Year Graduation Rate The percentage of first-time, full-time associate degree-seeking freshmen who enter the institution for the first time in a given fall semester and earn their degree within 8 years (300% of the normal time to complete).
    Baccalaureate 10-Year Graduation Rate The percentage of first-time, full-time baccalaureate degree-seeking freshmen who enter in a given fall term and earn their degree within ten years (250% of catalog time). 
    Baccalaureate 6-Year Graduation Rate The percentage of first-time, full-time baccalaureate degree-seeking freshmen who enter in a given fall term and earn their degree within six years (150% of catalog time). 
    Baccalaureate 8-Year Graduation Rate The percentage of first-time, full-time baccalaureate degree-seeking freshmen who enter in a given fall term and earn their degree within eight years (200% of catalog time). 
    Complete Tier 1 General Education Requirement (GER) Courses within the First 30 Credits The percentage of baccalaureate degree-seeking undergraduate students who complete their Tier 1 GERs within their first 30 credits in two years from when they entered as first-time freshmen. Includes only first-time to college UAA students who reach sophomore class (30 credits) and excludes transfer-in or returning students. Tier 1 GERs include foundational oral and written communication and quantitative skills courses.
    Course Pass Rates by Course Level The percentage of students who receive a passing grade (A, B, C, P) for all undergraduate students and (A, B, P) for graduate students in a course offered by a program compared to the same rate calculated for all courses at that level. Based on a 5-year trend. Included in the denominator for undergraduate courses are the grades D, F, W, I, NP, NB. Included in the denominator for graduate level are the grades C, D, F, W, I, NP, NB.
    Junior Graduation Rate The percentage of students who graduate with a bachelor's degree within 4 years of first reaching junior class status (60 credits).
    Persistence from First Fall to First Spring The percentage of first-time associate and baccalaureate degree-seeking freshmen who enter in a given fall term and return the following spring term.
    Retention from First Fall to Second Subsequent Fall Traditional measure of the percentage of first-time, full-time associate degree-seeking freshmen who enter in a given fall term and return the following fall.
    Retention from First Fall to Second Subsequent Fall Traditional measure of the percentage of first-time, full-time baccalaureate degree-seeking freshmen who enter in a given fall term and return the following fall.
    Retention from First Fall to Third Subsequent Fall The percentage of first-time, full-time associate degree-seeking freshmen who enter in a given fall term and return for a 3rd fall term 2 years later. Students who graduated before the 3rd fall are not considered as retained.
    Retention from First Fall to Third Subsequent Fall The percentage of first-time, full-time baccalaureate degree-seeking freshmen who enter in a given fall term and return for a 3rd fall term 2 years later. Students who graduated before the 3rd fall are not considered as retained.
    Semesters to Degree - Graduate Programs The average (median and mode) number of semesters taken by students to complete any graduate degree or certificate program, determined by students who have graduated with a graduate program as their primary degree. Students who changed their majors and degree types/levels during their study were excluded because such changes would make it difficult to estimate how long students pursued their degrees.