Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions 

How can I access my student’s grades or academic records? 

Under Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), colleges cannot share a student’s academic information without the student’s written permission. Students may grant access through their university portal, MyMocsPass. We encourage families to maintain open communication with their student regarding academic progress. 

Who should my student contact for academic advising? 

Students are assigned an Academic Adviser which can be viewed on MyMocsNet. Advisers assist with: 

• Course selection
• Degree planning
• Academic policies
• Career and graduate school preparation 

What happens if my student is struggling academically? 

If a student is struggling, they should: 

• Meet with their academic adviser
• Attend professor office hours
• Utilize tutoring and academic support services
• Develop a structured study schedule 

Early action and consistent support are key to improvement. 

How does billing and financial aid work?

The Bursar’s Office manages billing and payment collection. The Bursar will issue a MocsExpress statement. detailing all fees due on a student's account. Fees must be paid or a payment plan must be set up by the payment deadline for each semester to avoid course cancelation. 

Financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study) is applied to the student’s account before the semester begins. 

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually to remain eligible for state and federal financial aid. 

If a balance remains, payment plan options may be available.

What is a registration hold?

A hold may be placed on a student’s account due to: 

• Unpaid balances
• Missing advising requirements
• Health or immunization documentation
• Disciplinary matters
• Parking or Library Fines 

Holds prevent course registration until resolved.

What is the Add/Drop period?

The Add/Drop period occurs at the beginning of each semester. During this time, students may: 

• Add courses
• Drop courses without them appearing on their transcript 

After the deadline, dropped courses may appear as a “W” (Withdrawal). 

What is the difference between a major, minor, and concentration?

Major: Primary area of study 

Minor: Secondary area of study requiring fewer credits 

Concentration: Specialized focus within a major 

Students must declare a major but may choose to add a minor or concentration. 

What dining options are available? 

UTC offers several meal plan options. Key terms include: 

• Croads (Crossroads Dining Hall): All-you-can-eat dining facility
• Mocs Bucks: Dining dollars included in a meal plan
• Mocs Swap: Trade one meal swipe for a retail meal
• Scrappy Cash: Funds loaded onto a student’s ID card for campus purchases 

What safety resources are available?

UTC provides: 

• Campus Police
• Emergency alert systems
• Residence hall security
• Health and counseling services 

Students are encouraged to stay informed and utilize campus safety resources.

What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous classes? 

Synchronous: Live virtual classes held at scheduled times 

Asynchronous: Pre-recorded lectures completed on the student’s schedule

How can my student get involved? 

Students can participate in: 

• Student organizations
• Intramural sports
• Campus events
• The Honors Program
• Leadership Programs
• Study Abroad
• Internships
• And more! 

Involvement supports leadership development and student success. 

Who maintains academic records? 

The Registrar’s Office maintains: 

• Official transcripts
• Enrollment verification
• Academic standing records
• Registration information 

What does “First-Generation Student” mean?

A first-generation student is someone whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor’s degree. UTC offers support resources tailored to first-generation students.

What is Commencement?

Commencement is the official graduation ceremony held at the end of each academic semester. Students must apply for graduation in advance. 

MOC-TIONARY: Glossary of Common UTC Terms 

Academic Adviser

College staff or faculty member who assists students (advisees) with course selection, developing an academic plan, and providing advice regarding careers and/or graduate school. 

Academic Integrity / Honor Code 

Ethical standards applied to all students regarding conduct related to academic performance (papers, tests, etc.). Some colleges have detailed codes of conduct and honor codes. Penalties vary from failing the work in question to expulsion from the institution.

Academic Service Scholars Program 

Renewable award for eligible first-time undergraduate students. 

Add/Drop 

A short time period at the beginning of the semester in which students may add or drop courses from their schedules without them showing up on their transcript.

Adjunct Professor

A professor who teaches on a limited-term contract.

Asynchronous 

A virtual class that consists of pre-recorded lectures. 

ARC (Aquatic and Recreation Center) 

Campus recreation and aquatic facility.

Blue Book

A thin notebook of about 20 lined pages used by students for exams and essays, often purchased at the campus bookstore.

Bookstore 

The UTC Bookstore is operated by Barnes & Noble College. The bookstore offers new and used textbooks, course packages, reference materials, and required supplies for classes. The UTC Bookstore also carries imprinted clothing, greeting cards, imprinted novelties, and snacks. 

Bursar

Office responsible for billing and collecting fees and disbursing financial aid. 

Canvas 

Learning Management System (LMS) used for coursework. 

Class Standing 

Refers to a student’s official year in school — first-year (freshman), sophomore, junior, or senior — based on the number of college credits completed. 

Commencement 

Graduation ceremony held at the end of each academic semester. 

Concentration 

An area of specialization focusing on a core number of classes in a specific field. In some majors, students must choose at least one concentration. 

Corequisite 

A course that must be taken at the same time as another course 

Course Name/Number

A cataloging system containing letters and numbers to designate a course by department and academic level (e.g., ENGL 1010). 

Course Section 

When the same course is offered multiple times in the same semester, each offering is designated with a section number (e.g., ENGL 1010-01, ENGL 1010-02). 

Credit Hour 

A way of measuring how much credit a student receives for attending a course, typically corresponding to the hours per week in class.

Croads (Crossroads Dining Hall) 

All-you-can-eat dining location where students can use a meal swipe or pay independently. 

Cumulative / Overall GPA

The total number of quality points divided by the total number of attempted GPA credit hours, including hours for which the student received an F. 

Dean 

The top administrator and academic officer within a college or school. 

Dean’s List 

A high academic honor awarded each semester based on GPA. 

Double Major 

Completing the degree requirements for two majors while earning one degree. 

Elective

A class not required for your major or minor. 

Faculty 

Instructors or professors who teach college courses.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

A form completed by U.S. students to determine eligibility for federal student financial aid.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. 

Federal Work Study 

Provides part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for college. 

Fee Schedule 

Breakdown of all fees paid outside of tuition and housing (e.g., Student Activity Fee, Athletic Fee). 

First-Generation Student 

A student whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor’s degree. 

General Education 

Required set of courses all students must complete (e.g., math, English, science, communication, culture, society). 

General Parking Pass 

Allows parking in areas designated as “General” on campus. 

Graduate Student 

A student who already holds an undergraduate degree and is pursuing advanced studies (master’s, doctorate, or certificate). 

Greek Life 

Fraternities and sororities. 

Hold (Registration Hold)

A restriction placed on a student’s account due to academic, financial, disciplinary, advising, or compliance issues. 

Honors Program 

Provides intellectual challenges, resources, and support to highly motivated students while encouraging service and leadership. 

Hybrid Course

Part online, part in-person. 

Incomplete Grade

Temporary grade awarded when a student cannot complete coursework due to circumstances beyond their control. Students typically have one semester to complete requirements. 

Interdisciplinary Studies

Programs that combine classes from two or more academic disciplines.

Internship 

Opportunity to gain hands-on, real-world experience in a chosen field of study. 

Lab / Laboratory Class

Hands-on learning environment, often paired with a lecture portion of a course. 

Major 

Primary concentration of courses in a student’s main field of study. 

Mid-Term Exams 

Exams given around the middle of the term to establish mid-term grades. 

Minor

Secondary area of study that complements a major or explores an additional interest.

Mocs Swap 

Trade one meal swipe at Crossroads for a meal at a retail location during designated times. 

MWF / TR 

Abbreviations for class meeting days: 

• MWF = Monday, Wednesday, Friday
• TR = Tuesday, Thursday 

MyMocsNet

Central portal for academic, financial, and general UTC resources. Students access registration and bill statements through MyMocsNet. 

MyMocsDegree 

Online tool used by students and advisors for course planning and degree tracking. 

Non-Credit Course 

Course that does not count toward degree requirements. 

Office Hours 

Designated times when students can meet with professors outside of class. 

Placement Tests 

Tests used to determine a student’s proficiency level for proper course placement. 

Plagiarism 

Academic dishonesty that occurs when a student uses someone else’s words or ideas without proper attribution. 

Postsecondary Education 

All educational programs after high school (technical schools, community colleges, universities). 

Prerequisite 

A course required before enrolling in a more advanced course.

Probation (Academic Probation) 

Academic status when a student’s GPA falls below a 2.0. 

Provost 

Senior academic officer of a college or university.

Quiet Hours 

Designated times when minimal noise is required in residence halls.

Quality Point 

Numeric value assigned to course grades, used to calculate GPA. 

RA (Resident Assistant) 

Student leader who lives in residence halls and supports residents. 

Registration 

The process of enrolling in classes for an upcoming academic term.

Registrar 

Office responsible for maintaining student academic records.

Reserved Parking Pass 

Allows parking in “Reserved” areas only.

Rubric 

Scoring guide used to outline expectations and grading criteria for assignments.

Greek Life Recruitment 

Process of joining Greek organizations.

Scantron 

Bubble answer sheets used for quizzes and exams. 

Scrappy Cash

Funds deposited onto a student’s Mocs Card for campus purchases. 

Study Abroad

College coursework completed outside the United States. 

Suite 

Shared living space in campus housing with bedroom(s), common area, and bathroom. 

Syllabus 

Course outline including material, assignments, policies, and due dates. 

Synchronous 

Virtual class held at a consistent scheduled meeting time.

Transcript (Official Transcript) 

Official record of courses taken and grades earned.

Undecided Student 

Student who enters college without declaring a major.

Undergraduate Student 

Student pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. 

Unofficial Transcript 

Transcript printed on plain paper without the university seal or registrar’s signature. 

Weighted GPA 

GPA that accounts for course difficulty in addition to grades.

Withdrawal 

Dropping a course (or all courses) after the add/drop period; recorded as a “W” on the transcript. 

Work-Study 

Federal financial aid program providing part-time employment based on financial need and job availability.

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