Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

The Ohio Board of Regents recognizes the prevalence of jargon and acronyms, especially those terms which are common to higher education and state government circles. While the unnecessary use of jargon and acronyms in Regents communications is discouraged, it also is acknowledged that readers will encounter them in some degree in the course of daily reading and discussion. This glossary of acronyms and terms is provided to assist staff. Additional entry submissions are encouraged.

ACT	American College Test The American College Test assesses high school students' general education development and their ability to complete college-level work.
AICUO	Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio Founded in 1969, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio represents 52 privately supported, nonprofit colleges and universities in Ohio, conducting public relations, research and government relations work for its members.
AFIT	Air Force Institute of Technology The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the Air Force's graduate school of engineering and management as well as its institution for technical professional continuing education.
A & T	Articulation & Transfer Articulation & Transfer is a statewide policy that guarantees the transfer and application of credits to majors/degrees among all public institutions of higher learning.
BAHEE	Business Alliance for Higher Education and the Economy An affiliate of the Ohio Business Roundtable, the Ohio Business Alliance for Higher Education and the Economy is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization designed to be a catalyst, mediator and advocate for an enhanced and more strategic role for higher education as a significant contributor to the state’s economic growth. The Board of Directors consists of 12 CEOs from throughout Ohio who share a passion for higher education and its linkage to long-term economic growth.
CAS	Course Applicability System The Course Applicability System is a free web-based source for accurate information about how courses can transfer and apply to degree programs at other public institutions of higher education.
Challenges	Challenges Line items in the Regents budget for Access Challenge, Jobs Challenge, Research Challenge and Success Challenge are considered part of the core funding for Ohio's public colleges and universities along with State Share of Instruction money. The Challenges are designed to target critical higher education needs in the state: increase the college-going rate; a better trained workforce; matching money for research; and incentives for universities with more students graduating on time and at-risk students graduating at all.
CHEE	Commission on Higher Education and the Economy The Governor's Commission on Higher Education and the Economy was a 33-member commission of business, higher education and government leaders charged by Gov. Bob Taft with maximizing the public investment in higher education. Begun in 2003, the 2004 Final Report is available.
EnterpriseOhio Network	EnterpriseOhio Network The EnterpriseOhio Network is a group of 53 public two-year community and technical colleges and university branch campuses that provide a wide range of training services to Ohio employers.
ESB	Educator Standards Board Based on the recommendations made by the Governor's Commission on Teaching Success, the Educator Standards Board is charged with bringing standards-based reform to the educator level by defining standards for teachers and principals at all stages of their careers.
eTech Ohio Commission	eTech Ohio Commision eTech Ohio Commission was formed through the merger of the Ohio Educational Telecommunications Network and the Ohio SchoolNet Commission, eTech Ohio advances education and accelerates the learning of Ohioans through technology.
FAFSA	Free Application for Federal Student Aid The Free Application for Federal Student Aid must be filled out and submitted to receive grant or loan money from the federal government to attend college.
FTE	Full-time Equivalent Full-time Equivalent stands for the process the Ohio Board of Regents uses to calculate the number of students enrolled full time at colleges and universities in order to distribute state subsidy. (Reference rule OAC 3333-1-)
GEAR UP	Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs GEAR UP is a federally funded national program that encourages more young people to have high expectations, stay in school, take challenging courses and go to college.
HBCU	Historically Black College or University Short-hand reference.
HEFSC	Higher Education Funding Study Commission The Higher Education Funding Study Council is charged with reviewing all aspects of higher education funding contained in the budget and recommending any changes. The Council will also review instructional and general fees as well as room and board fees at the 13 state universities with the intent of setting limits on future increases. Several others studies will report findings to the HEFSC. The Council will issue a report by May 31.
HEI	Higher Education Information Higher Education Information is a comprehensive relational database, created and operated by the Ohio Board of Regents, that includes data on students, courses, faculty, facilities and finance supplied by Ohio's colleges universities.
HELC	Higher Education Leadership Coalition The Higher Education Leadership Coalition is the leadership of public and private higher education — university presidents, association heads, Regents and the chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents — that meets informally to discuss and coalesce around issues important to all sectors. University of Akron President Luis Proenza and Regents Chairman Edmund Adams serve as co-conveners.
IUC	Inter-University Council The Inter-University Council of Ohio was established in 1939 as a voluntary educational association of Ohio's public universities. IUC represents Ohio's 15 public universities.
Joint Council	Joint Council A combined body of the State Board of Education and the Ohio Board of Regents that seeks to ensure Ohio has a seamless P-16 pipeline of education in the state.
NCAN	National College Access Network Incorporated in 1996, the National College Access Network grew out of the informal networking of people who were involved in the burgeoning field of college access. NCAN's mission is to improve access to and success in postsecondary education for disadvantaged, underrepresented and first-generation students.
NCES	National Center for Educational Statistics The National Center for Educational Statistics is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data that are related to education in the United States and other nations.
NOCHE	Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education The Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education is the representative body and service organization for the 23 universities and colleges in a 13-county region.
OACC	Ohio Association of Community Colleges The Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC), an organization of independent public community and technical colleges, promotes the continued quality, strength, vitality and effectiveness of its members.
OACHE	Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education The Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education is an uncommon partnership of public higher education institutions and K-12 schools in the 29 counties of Appalachian Ohio, established and funded by the State of Ohio in 1993 to increase the low educational attainment of the region's citizens.
OAI	Ohio Aerospace Institute The Ohio Aerospace Institute is a private, non-profit corporation whose purpose is to advance aerospace-related capabilities through university/industry/government collaboration.
OARnet	Ohio Academic Resource Network The Ohio Academic Resource Network is the state's higher education Internet Service Provider.
OBOI	Ohio Bridges to Opportunity Initiative Under the aegis of the KnowledgeWorks Foundation, the Ohio Bridges to Opportunity Initiative seeks to ensure that more working adults earn the education and credentials necessary to succeed in a knowledge-based economy.
OBM	Office of Budget and Managment The Ohio Office of Budget and Management is a cabinet-level agency whose primary mission is to provide fiscal accounting and budgeting services to state government.
OCAN	Ohio College Access Network The Ohio College Access Network acts as a statewide coordinating body establishing and providing guidance in support of college access programs across Ohio.
OCLC	Online Computer Library Center Founded in 1967, the Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs.
OCOG	Ohio College Opportunity Grant The Ohio College Opportunity Grant, a new financial aid program for Ohio college students, will enable more needy students to attend college.
OCR	Office of Civil Rights The Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education investigates and ensures compliance with federal civil rights requirements.
ODE	Ohio Department of Education The Ohio Department of Education is a regulatory state agency overseeing Ohio's K-12 schools and school districts.
OHEFC	Ohio Higher Educational Facility Commission The Ohio Higher Educational Facility Commission issues revenue bonds that finance construction at independent, not-for-profit institutions of higher education. The Board of Regents provides staff support for the commission.
OIG	Ohio Instructional Grant Since the 1970s, the Ohio Instructional Grant, a state financial aid program, provides assistance to low-income, full-time students. OIG will merge with the Ohio College Opportunity Grant program.
OhioLINK	Ohio Library and Information Network The Ohio Library and Information Network is the electronic library system that enables higher education users to access books, journals and research databases.
OLN	Ohio Learning Network The Ohio Learning Network, a consortium of colleges and universities, that uses technology to improve teaching and learning.
Ohio Resource Center	Ohio Resource Center for Mathematics Science and Reading The Ohio Resource Center for Mathematics Science and Reading is a virtual center disseminating the best educational practices in these subject areas to Ohio education users in primary, secondary and higher education.
ORC	Ohio Revised Code All statutes of a permanent and general nature of the state of Ohio as revised and consolidated into general provisions, titles, chapters, and sections shall be known and designated as the "Revised Code," for which designation "R.C." may be substituted.
OSR	Office of Strategic Research The Ohio Department of Development's Office of Strategic Research provides data and analysis on the economic, industrial and demographic trends of the State of Ohio, its businesses and its people.
OSC	Ohio Supercomputer Center The Ohio Supercomputer Center is the state's high performance computing, networking and research center.
OTTA	Ohio Tuition Trust Authority Since 1989, the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, a state agency, has been helping Ohio families save for a college education. The Tuition Trust offers and administers Ohio's CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plan.
PCL	Partnership for Continued Learning The goal of Ohio's is to integrate Established in statue and chaired by Gov. Taft, the Partnership for Continued Learning focuses on Ohio's education pipeline from early education through postsecondary education to the workforce, strengthening Ohio's capacity to prepare every student for success in a challenging future.
PSEO	Post Secondary Enrollment Option The Post Secondary Enrollment Option is the state program that allows high school students to take courses for college credit or for high school and college credit.
RACGS	Regents Advisory Committee on Graduate Study The Regents Advisory Committee on Graduate Study — composed of graduate deans of Ohio universities — evaluates new graduate degrees and new graduate degree programs and issues reports and recommendations to the chancellor.
SAMEPAC	Science and Mathematics Education Policy Advisory Council The Science and Mathematics Education Policy Advisory Council is charged with developing a coherent overall strategy to improve math and science education in Ohio. Ohio State University President Karen Holbrook and Julian Earls, former director of the NASA Glenn Research Center, chair the council.
SASCCO	Student Access and Success Coordinating Council of Ohio The Student Access and Success Coordinating Coucil of Ohio acts as the statewide body promoting greater communication and collaboration between existing and new organizations that are committed to increasing the number of Ohioans who aspire to and successfully complete a postsecondary education.
SAT	Scholastic Aptitude Test The Scholast Aptitude Test is an assessment test, administered by the College Board, that colleges and universities use as one factor in admitting students.
SBE	State Board of Education The State Board of Education, a 19-member board, oversees the operations of the Ohio Department of Education.
SGS	State Grants & Scholarships The State Grants & Scholarships office of the Ohio Board of Regents administers state grants and scholarships.
SHEEO	State Higher Education Executive Officers The State Higher Education Executive Officers is a national organization of heads of state coordinating or governing boards of higher education.
SOCHE	Southwestern Ohio Council on Higher Education Formed in 1967, the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education is a regional consortium of colleges, universities and businesses advancing higher education through academic collaboration, corporate and community partnerships, and student success.
SSI	State Share of Instruction The State Share of Instruction is the formula used to distribute the bulk of state money provided to Ohio's public colleges and universities.
STEM	Science, Technology, Engineering and Math The acronym for science, technology, engineering and math; scientific and technical fields of study so crucial to the Knowledge Economy.
SUED	State University Education Deans The State University Education Deans is a group of education deans representing Ohio's 13 state universities that coordinates and provides cohesiveness in their oversight of teacher preparation.
TAG	Transfer Assurance Guides Transfer Assurance Guides are pathways in specific subject areas that will guarantee students' college credits to transfer from one institution to another.
Targeted Industries	Targeted Industries A training grant program offered through the EnterpriseOhio Network that can cover up to 75 percent of training costs for eligible companies with 100 employees or less. Larger employers can receive up to 50 percent reimbursement for training costs.
TFP	Third Frontier Project The Third Frontier Project is a ten-year, $1.6 billion initiative, the state's largest-ever commitment to expanding Ohio's high-tech research capabilities and promoting innovation and company formation.
WCI	Wright Centers of Innovation Wright Centers of Innovation are globally competitive research centers focused on new product development and commercialization efforts within the state. The centers include university, private research institutions and private-sector businesses as partners.
Workforce Policy Board	Workforce Policy Board Created by Gov. Taft, the board works to improve Ohio's employment and training services through systemic workforce development change. Regents Vice Chair Donna Alvarado serves as chair of the Workforce Policy Board.