As a Gies student, you'll hear many terms for many policies and systems.  This guide will assist you in understanding common jargon definitions of policies and procedures that impact your decisions.

Cancellation

Ending  course enrollment before instruction has started for a future term

Commencement

Optional campus ceremonies celebrating the graduation of students with completed degree requirements

Convocation

Optional college ceremonies celebrating the graduation of students with completed degree requirements

Course Explorer

The schedule of classes by term and a browsable database of general education requirements in addition to other resources.

DARS

Degree Audit Report - An unofficial audit of progress toward the degree that reflects courses completed and currently in progress

Drop

Removing or “dropping” a course from your schedule. When you drop a course by the drop deadline for the term through Self-Service, it will not show up on your transcript. If you drop by the deadline to drop with a W, the course will appear with a W recorded which does not impact GPA calculations.

Grade Replacement

To repeat ILLINOIS courses in which a student earned a C- or below and use the new ILLINOIS grade to replace the grade they earned in the first attempt.

Graduation

Completing degree requirements and officially applying for degree conferral

Incomplete

Petitioning for extended time to complete a final due to extenuating circumstances.

Late Course Change

adding a full-term course or switching a section within a full-term course

Late Course Drop

Petitioning to drop a course after the terms drop deadline

POT

Part of Term - The university offers courses that are shorter than the full-length term. POT A courses run the first 8 weeks and POT B courses run the second 8 weeks.

Retroactive Course Drop

Withdrawing from one course after the term is completed.

Retroactive Semester Withdrawal

Withdrawing from all courses after the term is completed

Withdrawal

Withdrawing from all courses during the term.