Glossary of Terms

AACC - American Association of Community Colleges
AAC&U - American Association of Colleges and Universities
ABET - Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
See under ETAC of ABET.
Academic Senate
The Academic Senate is the faculty governance body of Queensborough Community College (QCC) that makes recommendations to the president on policy and curriculum.
Academic Service-Learning
A high impact practice that places students in a work environment directly related to their curriculum whereby the overall experience compliments their academic objectives.
Academic Year
Following CUNY guidelines, QCC operates on an academic year divided into two equal semesters of 15 weeks duration, a short winter intersession of three weeks, and various shortened summer sessions.
Academies
See under Queensborough Academies.
ACBSP - Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs
A national specialized accrediting body for business programs.
ACC - Academic Computing Center
The ACC supports instructional technology and related pedagogy and provides support for faculty development initiatives involving eLearning (see below), ePortfolio (seebelow), HIPs (see below), and grant and CUNY-sourced projects designed to enhance teaching and learning. Hardware support encompasses classroom podiums and related technology, as well as digital audio and video recording devices. Software support includes applications used by faculty in their teaching. For students, the ACC laboratory houses a large computer facility, with Internet access and printing capability.
ACEN - Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN, formerly the National League for Nursing Accrediting Association, NLNAC)
The official accrediting agency of the Nursing program at the college.
Accuplacer
The computerized portion of the placement tests in reading and mathematics, Accuplacer assesses the skills levels of applicants to CUNY as part of the admissions process.
ADA/504 Compliance
Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination and requires employers with federal contracts or subcontracts that exceed $10,000 to take affirmative action to hire, retain, and promote qualified individuals with disabilities. All covered contractors and subcontractors must also include a specific equal opportunity clause in each of their nonexempt contracts and subcontracts.
America's Promise CUNY TechWorks
is a US Department of Labor funded initiative of CUNY's Office of Continuing Education and Workforce Programs (CEWP). The mission of CUNY TechWorks is to connect underrepresented and low-income New Yorkers to the growing number of opportunities in the tech sector and to equip students with technical skills that are in high demand in today's labor market.
APPLE (Academic Preparation Program for Law Enforcement) Corps
A partnership between CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, and the New York Police Department, creates pathways in the first two years of the Associate's degree or the Bachelor's degree for students working toward public service careers at the NYPD. Prospective APPLE Corps students will be recruited through and in partnership with the New York City Department of Education.
ASAP - Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP)
Assists students in earning associate degrees within three years by providing a range of financial, academic, and personal supports including comprehensive and personalized advisement, career counseling, tutoring, waivers for tuition and mandatory fees, MTA MetroCards, and additional financial assistance to defray the cost of textbooks.
ATB - Ability to Benefit
The Ability-to-Benefit test is required of students seeking state financial aid who did not graduate from high school in the United States.
Auxiliary or Queensborough Community College Auxiliary Enterprises Association Inc
The Auxiliary supports certain student activities and provides facilities and auxiliary services for the benefit of the campus community and The City University of New York.
Blackboard
An online learning management system that provides asynchronous access to course materials, assignments, and class discussions.
Blackboard Collaborate
An online synchronous communication platform that allows instructors to conduct individual course sessions or complete courses in a virtual face-to-face modality. Collaborate is also useful for virtual office hours, online homework help sessions, and group work.
Blackboard Content Management System
A storage space within Blackboard where instructors may upload course materials that may be used in multiple courses and even be shared with other instructors for use in their courses.
BTECH - Business Technology Early College High School
Campus Writing Center
Located in the Library Building, the center provides writing support for all students, including support for students preparing for the ACT writing examination and enrolled in writing-intensive courses.
CAPC - College Advisory Planning Committee
Chaired by the president, the CAPC consists of administrative, faculty and student leaders and is responsible for the discussion of the strategic planning for the college and of college priorities and major initiatives.
Capital Budget Master Plan
This plan, which is university based, is the one that reflects the major renovation and construction projects to be undertaken on the campuses.
The Career Direct Program
empowers students to become advocates of their own professional aspirations and to optimize their personal and professional potential, through direct connections with potential employers leading to experiential learning, internships and employment opportunities across these five major A.A.S. degree tracks: Medical Assistant, Computer Information Systems, Internet and Information Technology, Business Management – Marketing, and Administration and Technology.
Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) Training Program
non-credit, 46-hour CRPA Certification Workshop and three-credit Addictions and Dependencies course. Certified Recovery Peer Advocates (CRPA's) are individuals who have been certified to provide coaching, support, information, guidance and motivation to those seeking or sustaining recovery from a substance use diagnosis, and have their own lived experience.
CCO - College Compliance Office
CCCSE - Center for Community College Student Engagement
CETL - Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Reporting to Academic Affairs, CETL is the primary site on campus for the discussion of community college pedagogical issues and provides guidance and workshops that focus on pedagogical concerns and techniques and on the development of pedagogical research. Working in conjunction with the Academic Computing Center, CETL hosts faculty development workshops in the technology available to instructors and students and has computer facilities for faculty use.
CDO - Chief Diversity Officer
Compliance officer in the Office of Affirmative Action/Pluralism and Diversity/Compliance.
Chinese Academy
full-year program designed for K-12 students to help them learn fundamental Chinese language with different proficiency levels through the exercises of listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as to introduce the Chinese tradition and culture.
Classified service
A division of the workforce determined by Civil Service Law and subject to CUNY Civil Service Regulations, this group includes Gittleson titles, 220 titles (see below), and the information systems title series.
CLIP - CUNY Language Immersion Program
An immersion program that provides intensive, full-time instruction (25 hours a week) in the English language to learners of English as a second language who are at a proficiency level, based on their CUNY Skills Assessment Tests in reading and writing, too low for proper placement in Academic Literacy courses. The purpose of attending CLIP is to bring student proficiency up to the level of Academic Literacy students.
CLT - College Laboratory Technician
CLTs are members of the instructional staff performing laboratory functions and technical duties that are highly skilled and non-teaching in nature.
Collaborative Assignments and Projects
One of the designated HIPs (see below) at the college; the most popular collaborative project, the Student Wiki Interdisciplinary Group (SWIG), partners English and remedial reading and writing courses with a content course to create a shared student‐centered online space, allowing students to share their work with others.
College Discovery
The College Discovery (CD) Program has been part of the City University of New York over 50 years, providing low-income students with financial assistance to obtain a college education. This educational opportunity program provides counseling, academic support service, and, in certain cases, financial aid to students who would otherwise be unable to attend college because of economic circumstances.
College Focus
College Focus is a program for high school students who are on track to graduate but whose reading, writing, and/or math Regents scores indicate that they will enter college with remedial needs. These intensive courses prepare students to take actual CUNY assessment tests at the end of the course.
College Now
College Now at QCC makes it possible for qualified high school students to participate in college preparatory classes or college-level courses given at their high schools or, in some cases, on campus.
Common Intellectual Experience
One of the HIPs (see below) designated by the college. The annual campus-wide common intellectual experience is called the Common Read. This program promotes integrative learning across the curriculum through voluntary participation of faculty. Past readings have been The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot, and The Road of Lost Innocence, by Somaly Mam.
COMPACT
Compact is a financial agreement among the university, the individual colleges, and the city and state. In this agreement, the state and city agree to provide funding to maintain basic services and facilities at the campuses and to increase tuition only modestly each year. The colleges agree to raise money, at levels established by the university, and to improve productivity. The result of the productivity savings and tuition increases is a fund for each college to sponsor special initiatives related to improving teaching and learning and academic support services.
Completion Report
The ultimate phase of the strategic planning process (see under Strategic Plan below), the Completion Report is the Strategic Plan with one additional column at the far right that contains information whether the college completed or met its targets. These are targets set both by CUNY and by the college.
Contact Hours
The full-time faculty teaching load is set by contractual agreement at twenty-seven (27) contact hours per academic year.
COPE - College Opportunity to Prepare for Employment
A program that provides a broad range of support services to students who are receiving public assistance or who meet specific economic guidelines and assists students in finding long-term economic self-sufficiency and independence through gainful employment.
CSTEP - College Science and Technology Entry Program
Increases the number of traditionally underrepresented students interested in pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Health Related fields and Licensed Professions. This program provides Academic and Career enrichment, Internship and Research Placements and various other resources to help students achieve their academic goals and succeed.
CTAS - Center for Tutoring and Academic Support
The newly named Center for Tutoring and Academic Support comprises what were previously the Campus Writing Center and Student Learning Center. Located on the first floor of the Schmeller Library Building, the center provides tutoring for writing assignments across the curriculum as well as for all subjects except mathematics (see Math Learning Center).
CUE - Coordinated Undergraduate Education
CUE is a university-funded program to promote university educational priorities concentrating on the first-year experience and USIP (University Summer Immersion Program, see below).
CUNY Academic Commons
A Web-based meeting and collaboration space for all CUNY faculty where people and groups can find others with similar research and personal interests; a place for discussions and sharing of materials and thoughts with colleagues from around CUNY; available at http://commons.gc.cuny.edu/.
CUNY Assessment Test
Tests in reading, writing, and mathematics administered by CUNY to assess the skills of students who have not scored high enough on the SAT or regents in Math or English.
CUNY BOT - The Board of Trustees
Is the governing body of The City College of New York (CUNY). Charged by the University of the State of New York with the operation of CUNY, the BOT has bylaws and policies that are to be observed by all units of CUNY, each unit given certain responsibilities delegated by the BOT. Each unit is charged by the BOT with having a Governance Plan that is approved by the BOT. Each unit has its own Governing Body responsible for setting policies at the local unit and forwarding proposals of policies to the BOT for its approval. College policies and proposals for degree programs and curricular matters approved by the local governing body are then submitted to the BOT and then to the State Education Department for final approval.
CUNY Explorers
Partnership between the DOE, the Mayor's College Access for All Initiative and CUNY to ensure that every 7th grade student has the opportunity to visit a college campus to promote high school, college, and life success.
CUNYfirst
An integrated suite of software that runs all computer systems overseeing student administration, finance, and human resources.
CUNY Start
CUNY-bound students whose math, reading and/or writing scores on the CUNY Assessment Tests indicate that they need to develop basic skills may opt to participate in CUNY Start, a pre-collegiate program intended to improve reading, writing, and/or math skills and reduce the amount of time spent in required remedial "catch-up" courses.
CUNY Master Plan
The master plan is the overarching plan, with areas of priority and focus, that the university sets for the individual colleges. The components of the master plan then become the organizational model by which the college's strategic plan (see below) is structured.
CUNY Portal
CUNY Portal is the one-stop access point to CUNY services for all members of the university community, including private and secure CUNY information, Blackboard, Degreeworks, and benefits.
DASNY - Dormitory Authority of the State of New York
The organization responsible for major construction on campus.
DegreeWorks
Online Advisement System. DegreeWorks is a web-based application that allows students to view their progress toward degree. On screen or in the form of a two- to four-page print out, it lists all requirements, including courses taken, courses currently being taken, skills assessment tests, and transfer credits.
Dual/Joint Degree Programs
Dual/joint degree programs are state-approved (2+2) agreements in which students, jointly admitted to both institutions, earn the associate degree from the community college, fulfilling specific program and degree requirements like minimum grade-point average (GPA), and then transfer seamlessly to the baccalaureate college.
ET - The Engineering Technology Department
ECP - Executive Compensation Plan
This term is used to refer to positions covered by the Executive Compensation Plan. Titles include administrator, dean, vice president series, and president.
eLearning
A term that encompasses the pedagogies and technologies used in various online teaching and learning modalities, including Web-enhanced (see below), partly online or PNET (see below), and fully online or FNET (see below).
ELL - English Language Learners
According to the federal government, an LEP (limited English proficient)/ELL is an individual who: 1) is 3 to 21 years of age, 2) is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary or secondary school, and 3) was not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English.
ePortfolio
An ePortfolio is an electronic medium by which students can archive their academic and personal work and document and explore their own self-growth as individuals and as students.
ESL - English as a Second Language
EM - Enrollment Management
Led by the Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management, this group of administrators meets weekly to analyze enrollment figures and plan for future semesters, fostering greater communication among Finance and Administration, Student Affairs, and Academic Affairs.
ETAC of ABET - Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
The college has three accredited programs: Computer Engineering Technology, Electronic Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering Technology.
Executive team
Chaired by the college president, this group comprises all vice presidents, deans, and executive directors.
Face-to-Face
The term used to describe students meeting with faculty in assigned classrooms.
Facilities Master Plan
Description of the College's plan regarding allocation of resources to improve buildings, offices, and other campus facilities to support learning.
Factbook
Produced each year by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment since 1999, the Factbook includes, among other things, enrollment, demographic, and graduation data of students, by departments and curricula. It is available on the QCC website.
Faculty
This group comprises teaching members of the instructional staff (see below) and includes full-time titles: instructor, lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. Some faculty function as counselors and librarians. Adjuncts are employed to teach part-time or to perform related duties on a part-time basis.
FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Prepared annually by current and prospective college students (undergraduate and graduate) in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid (including the Pell Grant, Federal student loans, and Federal Work-Study).
FEC - Faculty Executive Committee
The principal agency of the faculty responsible for the academic status, role, rights, obligations and freedoms, and other matters concerning the welfare of the faculty. The chair and six other committee members are elected by the full faculty.
FNET
Fully online instruction: 100% of scheduled class meetings are replaced with online activities or virtual meetings; all class work, including examinations, is online.
FTE - Full-time equated student (usually used in the plural: FTEs)
Defines the equivalent number of full-time students (at 15 credits/semester) when all full-time students and all part-time students are combined in one calculation. For example, an enrollment of four full-time students at 12 credits each combined with four part-time students at 3 credits each yields an overall enrollment of 4 FTEs (and headcount enrollment of 8).
Functional title
Specific position title that describes function, this group is separate and apart from the payroll title that identifies instructional or classified grouping.
Gittlesons
This group comprises clerical and administrative employees in the titles of CUNY office assistant and CUNY administrative assistant.
Global and Diversity Learning
In this HIP (see below), students learn about the different aspects of intercultural interaction and communication, including intercultural learning (through programs like Study Abroad), human rights and social justice, social inclusion, and sustainable development.
GPA - Grade Point Average
An ongoing measure of student performance that is calculated by the Registrar's Office upon completion of each semester. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in courses needed for a student's curriculum is required for graduation.
Grades - W, WN, INC, etc.
See Academic Standing.
HEO title series - Higher Education Officer
Individuals in this series perform administrative duties. Titles include: higher education officer (HEO), higher education associate (HEA), higher education assistant (HEa), and assistant to higher education officer (aHEO).
HIPS - High Impact Practices
Nationally-recognized pedagogical strategies that improve student learning outcomes, seven HIPs are designated at QCC: Academic Service-Learning, Global and Diversity Learning, Collaborative Programs and Projects, Common Intellectual Experiences, Undergraduate Research, and Writing Intensive.
Instructional staff
The instructional staff comprises all full-time and part-time teaching faculty titles and non-teaching titles, including the college laboratory technician (CLT) title series and the higher education officer (HEO) title series.
IR - Office of Institutional Research
Office on campus responsible for data collection and data analysis. Reporting to Strategic Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Effectiveness, the IR director conducts and provides reports of campus surveys, produces the annual Factbook (see above), and assists with the planning, developing, and executing of data and research projects involving courses and programs and various initiatives and projects, including grant-funded projects.
IRB - Institutional Review Board
The IRB is responsible for the review of all protocols involving human subject research.
IT title series
Individuals in this series perform administrative duties in the Office of Information Technology.
JVN - Job Vacancy Notice (formerly, Position Vacancy Notice).
Kids and Teens College
designed to support the strong foundation that school and home provides by offering courses and training in elementary preparation, art, STEM, specialized preparation for high school and college admission, and code academy for Pre-K-12.
KHRCA - Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center and Archives
The Harriet and Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center & Archives is both an archive and educational center that uses the lessons of the Holocaust to educate current and future generations about the ramifications of unbridled prejudice, racism, and stereotyping.
Learning Centers
Used to describe tutorial services on campus: the Academic Literacy Learning Center, the Campus Writing Center, the Mathematics Learning Center, and the Student Learning Center.
Learning Communities
One of the HIPs (see above) designated at the college; a cohort of students who take two or more courses linked together.
Mathematics Learning Center
Provides tutorial support for students in remedial and credit-bearing mathematics.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
A voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that is dedicated to quality assurance and improvement through accreditation via peer evaluation. Middle States accreditation instills public confidence in institutional mission, goals, performance, and resources through its rigorous accreditation standards and their enforcement.
Milestone Scholarship
To support timely progress toward degree completion, Queensborough offers Summer and Winter Session Milestone Scholarships to help students reach their “thirty-credit milestone.” The scholarship applies to a course to be taken during the Summer or Winter session. Upon completion of that course, students will have met or exceeded the “thirty- credit milestone” of their education here at Queensborough.
MSEIP - Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program
Office of Military and Veterans Services (MVS)
Part of the Student Affairs Division, the MVS office, Library Building -Rm 421, is the main resource on campus that serves all student veterans, service members and military dependents currently attending. The office provides assistance with the application and certification of VA educational benefits, academic advisement, admissions assistance, course registration, military deployment and/or activations, programing of student life events, outside agency referrals and any concerns related to this population.
NCES/IPEDS - National Center for Education Statistics/Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System
NNES - Non-native English speakers
OAA - Office of Academic Affairs
OAS - Office of Admission Services
OIRA - Office of Institutional Research and Assessment
Office of Pre-College, Continuing Education and Workforce Development
is an educational resource to the community, providing accessible and quality programming for students seeking to enrich their personal lives, advance their academic skills, or develop their professional careers.
Office of Research
The mission of the Research Office is to promote and support the research, scholarly, and creative pursuits of the CUNY community, to provide assurance to funding agencies and to the public that research at the University is conducted in accordance with the highest ethical standards, and to enhance technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and economic development activities.
OneCard
See TigerCard.
OSA - Office of Student Affairs
OSHA - Occupational and Safety Health Administration
This agency in the US Department of Labor organization determines and enforces policies concerning safety and health in occupational environments. These policies have been incorporated into the general policies and procedures of the college; the office responsible for ensuring compliance is Environmental Health and Safety.
OTPS - Other Than Personnel Services
All college budgets have both “Personnel” and “OTPS” budget lines. When paying individuals for work, budget items appear under “Personnel.” When paying for supplies or materials, budget items appear under “OTPS.”.
Pathways
In fall 2013, CUNY implemented the common core across its undergraduate colleges. Pathways establishes a new system of general education requirements, a university-wide common core of 30 credits with common learning outcomes, and new transfer guidelines across the University that ensure more uniform transfer credit.
P & B - Personnel and Budget Committee
The College P & B committee, which consists of the department chairs and the chief academic officer and is chaired by the president, considers appointments, reappointments, promotion, and compensation with respect to the instructional staff and recommends actions on such matters to the president. Each academic department has its own elected P & B.
PEG - Program to Eliminate the Gap
During times of budget exigency, New York City may require mid-year budget reductions; such measures are referred to as a PEG.
PELL
Unlike loans, Federal Pell Grants do not have to be repaid. Federal Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree and demonstrate financial need. Students apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
PMPs - Performance Management Plan (targets and outcomes)
Established by the university, this report includes the key performance indicators and targets (percentages and numbers) for community and baccalaureate colleges.
PNET
Partially online: 30-80% of scheduled class meetings are replaced with online activities or virtual meetings; also known as “blended” or “hybrid.”.
POE - Port of Entry
Established in 1980, the Port of Entry Program is an intensive language development program designed to provide international students and new immigrants with the language skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to succeed in higher education and professional careers in the United States.
PSC - Professional Staff Congress
The bargaining unit of The City University of New York (CUNY).
Project Prize
Through a wide variety of activities sponsored collaboratively by QCC and schools in Queens, students in Project PRIZE receive at least six hours a week of additional guidance and instruction to help make their middle and high school years as productive as possible.
PTK - Phi Theta Kappa
An international honor society that recognizes and encourages scholarship among two-year college students, providing opportunities for the development of leadership and service and an intellectual climate for the exchange of ideas and ideals, for the lively fellowship for scholars, and for the stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence.
PVN - Personnel Vacancy Notice
Personnel Vacancy Notice (previously used term; new term Job Vacancy Notice, see above).
QCC - Queensborough Community College
Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York.
QCC Fund or Queensborough Community College Fund, Inc.
A separate 501c3 not-for-profit corporation of QCC established for the express purpose of encouraging, receiving, and administering gifts, grants, contributions, and donations of real and personal property to or for the benefit of the college.
QPAC - Queensborough Performing Arts Center
Throughout its 50-year history, QPAC has successfully produced over 1,200 performances and served over one million individuals in its intimate 875-seat theater. QPAC is ly committed to expanding public access to the arts for everyone; its affordable prices allow Queens working families, younger generations, and seniors the opportunity to enjoy first-rate performances locally.
QSA - Queensborough Student Association
Charged with the administration and distribution of student fee monies in a coordinated effort to enhance student life and their educational experience.
QSVA - QCC Student Veterans Association
Instituted during the Spring 2006 semester as the Veterans Club, this group emerged as an active club during the Spring 2009 semester and was renamed the Queensborough Student Veterans Association (QSVA). The QSVA is open to all Queensborough Community College students.
Queensborough Academies
Academies are cohorts of students organized according to the curricula in which they are enrolled and whose programs, faculty, and academic and student support services contribute to a more focused and engaging undergraduate experience that leads to successful transfer or a career. There are five academies: Business, Health-related Sciences, Liberal Arts, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), and VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts).
RFCUNY- The Research Foundation of the City University of New York
A not-for-profit educational corporation that manages private and government sponsored programs at The City University of New York (CUNY). Since 1963, RFCUNY has provided CUNY with the administrative infrastructure that supports sponsored program activities.
RIO - Research Integrity Office
Each College or School appoints individuals to serve in various compliance functions, as defined below. These individuals implement CUNY policies and procedures at the College/School, raise awareness amongst their research community, provide education and training and perform quality improvement functions as applicable to the College/School.
SGA - Student Government Association
Student government led by its executive board, which consists of a president, executive vice president, administrative vice president, programming vice president, vice president for evening students, vice president for part-time student and treasurer.
Single Stop
The Single Stop Office connects students to social services and resources that might be needed to assist students in completing their studies. Services and resources include free benefits screening, financial coaching, legal assistance, tax preparation and filing, and health insurance.
SSD
Services for Students with Disabilities.
ST 100. Introduction to College Life, a 10-hour, PNET no-credit course
Designed to introduce new students to QCC. Students are given information regarding academic requirements, college policies, success strategies, and mental health and wellness.This class is required of all new full-time freshmen.
Staff
Staff comprises all employees not represented by the PSC (see above) but by the other unions. This group is differentiated from faculty and instructional staff (see above) and includes civil service positions like Buildings & Grounds personnel and secretaries and also supervisory positions like information systems titles, administrative superintendents, and engineers.
Starfish
Starfish is an integrated planning and advisement system that makes it possible to take a more holistic approach to student success, providing “early alert” outreach to students, more consistent follow-up for students at risk in a variety of ways, and clearer tracking of student outcomes.
STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics; one of the Queensborough Academies.
STEM Waiver Program
The STEM Support Expansion Program provides tuition waivers for students taking certain STEM courses in order to promote credit accumulation in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Queensborough will be providing tuition waivers to students taking STEM courses in the Winter and Summer intersessions. Classes in which the STEM waivers will apply will be scheduled each semester so students will be able to enroll and receive a tuition waiver. Eligibility requirements will apply to certain courses.
Strategic Plan
Part of the college's overall assessment and planning, the Strategic Plan sets out the institutional priorities and targets that the college seeks to meet and involves the input of faculty, student leaders, and constituencies across campus. Each year, the Completion Report (see above) documents how the college has achieved its goals and targets.
The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V)
The purpose of this Act is to supplement the career and technical and employability skills for all students who elect to enroll in credit and non-credit education.
Student Learning Center
Providing tutorial support for all students and located in the Library Building, the center offers tutoring in the following subjects: Business, Natural Sciences, Foreign Languages, Social Sciences and History.
SWIG - Student Wiki Interdisciplinary Group
TAP - NYS Tuition Assistance Program
A program which helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back. Students apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the TAP Application.
Tech fee
The fee paid by all students to support the purchase, maintenance, and dissemination of technology across campus. A college-wide committee, with student representation, is responsible for developing the plan (Technology Plan; see below) and monitoring the budget for these efforts.
Technology Plan
Developed by a college-wide committee and funded by Tech Fee money (see above), the Technology Plan is the plan by which the college purchases, maintains, and disseminates technology across campus.
TigerCard - (formerly OneCard)
The faculty, staff, and student ID card system that provides access to services on campus.
Title IX
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language
The TOEFL® test is the most widely respected English-language test in the world, recognized by more than 8,500 colleges, universities, and agencies in more than 130 countries, including Australia, Canada, the U.K. and the United States.
Tutoring or tutorial services
See under Learning Centers.
220 titles
Skilled trades titles whose salaries and certain working conditions are governed by a determination of the New York City comptroller.
UAPC - University Application Processing Center
UFS - University Faculty Senate
Unclassified staff
CUNY's teaching and non-teaching instructional staff (see above).
Undergraduate Research
In this high impact practice, students engage in faculty guided research in the areas of STEM, Music, English, Social Sciences and more. Students participating in undergraduate experiences have won many awards, published in scientific journals, and presented at regional and national conferences.
USIP - University Summer Immersion Program
USIP, which is funded by CUNY, offers immersion experiences to students in an effort to expedite their progress to credit-bearing courses.
VAPA - Visual and Performing Arts
One of the Queensborough Academies and an A.S. degree program, with concentrations in Art and Design, Dance, Music, and Theatre.
Veterans Center
An office space in the Student Union's lower level (room 5) for the integration and socialization of student veterans, service members and military dependents attending QCC. It also serves as the operations center for the Student Veterans Association (QSVA).
Web-enhanced
Instructional modality in which no scheduled class meetings are replaced, but some of the course content and assignments, as well as required or optional activities, are online.
WI - Writing-intensive
A HIP (see above), writing-intensive is the designation given to course sections whose instructors have gone through the WID/WAC training (see below) and adopted a mode of instruction in which writing is more centralized to assist students both with the writing itself and with the deeper learning of material. Two WI courses are required to fulfill the requirements of an associate degree at the institution.
WID/WAC - Writing in the Disciplines/Writing Across the Curriculum
Part of a university-wide initiative for nearly two decades, the WID/WAC program sponsors faculty development workshops in which faculty are encouraged to incorporate this pedagogical mode into their own course material both to improve writing and to deepen understanding of course material. The WID/WAC committee is charged with recommending policy concerning WI to the Academic Senate, approves the lists of WI courses offered each semester, and adjudicates student WI appeal cases.
1199SEIU Trainingcontract training for 1199 union members who are current employees of Mount Sinai West to upgrade to “Emergency Room Technicians.”

Sexual Misconduct Definition and Terms

Affirmative Consent
Knowing, voluntary and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity. Consent can be given by words or actions, as long as those words or actions create clear permission regarding willingness to engage in the sexual activity. Silence or lack of resistance, in and of itself, does not demonstrate consent. The definition of consent does not vary based upon a participant’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Consent may be initially given but withdrawn at any time. Consent to any sexual act or prior consensual sexual activity between or with any party does not necessarily constitute consent to any other sexual act.

In order to give consent, one must be of legal age (17 years or older). Consent is required regardless of whether the person initiating the act is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Consent cannot be given when a person is incapacitated, which occurs when an individual lacks the ability to knowingly choose to participate in sexual activity. Incapacitation may be caused by lack of consciousness or being asleep, being involuntarily restrained, or if the individual otherwise cannot consent. Depending on the degree of intoxication, someone who is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicants may be incapacitated and therefore unable to consent.

When consent is withdrawn or can longer be given, sexual activity must stop.
Complainant
Refers to the individual who alleges that she/he has been the subject of sexual harassment, gender-based harassment or sexual violence, and can be a CUNY student, employee (including all full-time and part-time faculty and staff), or visitor. Under this policy, the alleged incident(s) may have been brought to the college’s attention by someone other than the complainant.
Complaint
An allegation of sexual harassment, gender-based harassment or sexual violence made under this policy.
Dating, Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence
A pattern of coercive behavior that can include physical, psychological, sexual, economic and emotional abuse, perpetrated by one person against an intimate partner. Such violence may occur in all kinds of intimate relationships, including married couples, people who are dating, couples who live together, people with children in common, same-sex partners, and people who were formerly in a relationship with the person abusing them.
Forcible Touching/Fondling
Intentionally touching the sexual or other intimate parts of another person without the latter’s consent for the purpose of degrading or abusing such person; or for the purpose of gratifying the actor’s sexual desire.
Gender-Based Harassment
Unwelcome conduct of a nonsexual nature based on an individual’s actual or perceived sex, including conduct based on gender identity, gender expression, and nonconformity with gender stereotypes that is sufficiently serious to adversely affect an individual’s participation in employment, education or other CUNY activities. The effect will be evaluated based on the perspective of a reasonable person in the position of the complainant. An example of gender-based harassment would be persistent mocking or disparagement of a person based on a perceived lack of stereotypical masculinity or femininity.
Managers
Employees who have the authority to either (a) make tangible employment decisions with regard to other employees, including the authority to hire, fire, promote, compensate or assign significantly different responsibilities; or (b) make recommendations on tangible employment decisions that are given particular weight. Managers include vice presidents, deans, directors, or other persons with managerial responsibility, including, for purposes of this policy, department chairpersons and executive officers.
Rape and Attempted Rape
The penetration or attempted penetration, no matter how slight, of any body part by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of that person.
Respondent
Refers to the individual who is alleged to have committed sexual harassment, gender-based harassment or sexual violence against a CUNY student, employee, or visitor.
Retaliation
The adverse treatment of an individual as a result of that individual’s reporting sexual harassment, gender-based harassment or sexual violence, assisting someone with a report of sexual harassment, gender-based harassment or sexual violence, or participating in any manner in an investigation or resolution of a sexual harassment, gender-based harassment or sexual violence report. Adverse treatment includes threats, intimidation and reprisals by either a complainant or respondent or by others such as friends or relatives of either a complainant or respondent.
Sexual Activity
  • penetration, however slight, of the vulva or the anus by the penis, hand/fingers or other object;
  • contact between the mouth and the penis, the mouth and the vulva, or the mouth and the anus;
  • intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of any person; or
  • intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing of any other body part, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person.
Sexual Assault
Any form of sexual activity that occurs without consent.
Sexual Harassment
Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including but not limited to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, graphic and electronic communications or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
  1. submission to or rejection of such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a condition of an individual’s employment or academic standing or is used as the basis for employment decisions or for academic evaluation, grades, or advancement (quid pro quo);

    or
  2. such conduct is sufficiently serious that it alters the conditions of, or has the effect of substantially interfering with, an individual’s educational or work experience by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment (hostile environment). The effect will be evaluated based on the perspective of a reasonable person in the position of a complainant.
Conduct is considered “unwelcome” if the individual did not request or invite it and considered the conduct to be undesirable or offensive.

While it is not possible to list all circumstances that might constitute sexual harassment, the following are some examples of conduct that might constitute sexual harassment depending on the totality of the circumstances:
  1. Inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact or suggestive body language, such as touching, groping, patting, pinching, hugging, kissing, or brushing against an individual’s body;
  2. Verbal abuse or offensive comments of a sexual nature, including sexual slurs, persistent or pervasive sexually explicit statements, questions, jokes or anecdotes, degrading words regarding sexuality or gender, suggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations;
  3. Visual displays or distribution of sexually explicit drawings, pictures, or written materials; or
  4. Undue and unwanted attention, such as repeated inappropriate flirting, staring, or making sexually suggestive gestures.
For purposes of this policy, sexual harassment also includes acts that violate an individual’s right to privacy in connection with her/his body and/or sexual activity such as:
  1. Recording images (e.g. video, photograph) or audio of another person’s sexual activity, intimate body parts, or nakedness without that person’s consent;
  2. Disseminating images (e.g. video, photograph) or audio of another person’s sexual activity, intimate body parts, or nakedness, if the individual distributing the images or audio knows or should have known that the person depicted in the images or audio did not consent to such disclosure;
  3. Viewing another person’s sexual activity, intimate body parts, or nakedness in a place where that person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy, without that person’s consent.
Sexual Misconduct
Sexual harassment, gender-based harassment or sexual violence, as defined in this policy.
Sexual Violence
An umbrella term that includes:
  1. sexual activity without affirmative consent, such as sexual assault rape/attempted rape, and forcible touching/fondling;
  2. dating, domestic and intimate partner violence;
  3. stalking as defined below.
Stalking
Intentionally engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person with whom the perpetrator currently has, previously has had, or desires to have, some form of sexual or romantic relationship, that:
  1. is likely to cause reasonable fear of material harm to the physical health, safety or property of such person, a member of such person's immediate family or a third party with whom such person is acquainted; or
  2. causes material harm to the mental or emotional health of such person, where such conduct consists of following, telephoning or initiating communication or contact with such person, a member of such person’s immediate family or a third party with whom such person is acquainted; or
  3. is likely to cause such person to reasonably fear that her/his employment, business or career is threatened, where such conduct consists of  appearing, telephoning or initiating communication or contact at such person's place of employment or business, and the actor was  previously clearly informed to cease that conduct.
Visitor
An individual who is present at a CUNY campus or unit but is not a student or an employee.

Campus Cultural Centers

Kupferberg Holocaust Center exterior lit up at nightOpens in a new window
Kupferberg Holocaust Center Opens in a new window

The KHC uses the lessons of the Holocaust to educate current and future generations about the ramifications of unbridled prejudice, racism and stereotyping.

Russian Ballet performing at the Queensborough Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window
QPAC: Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window

QPAC is an invaluable entertainment company in this region with a growing national reputation. The arts at QPAC continues to play a vital role in transforming lives and building stronger communities.

Queensborough Art Gallery exterior in the afternoonOpens in a new window
QCC Art Gallery

The QCC Art Gallery of the City University of New York is a vital educational and cultural resource for Queensborough Community College, the Borough of Queens and the surrounding communities.