Data Definitions
This page provides standard institutional definitions for commonly used data terms to support consistency in reporting and communication. Definitions may vary when required to align with external reporting guidelines, accreditation standards, or other official methodologies. This page is a living resource and will be updated over time as additional terms are identified, standardized, or clarified.
- Affiliated Campus: The primary home campus designated for an off-campus teaching center or site based on geographic proximity to the nearest campus. For example, Lavergne and Oakland High Schools are included with Smyrna affiliate campus data and the Sparta site is affiliated with the McMinnville campus data. This affiliation guides operational coordination and student services.
- Census: The official enrollment snapshot taken at a designated point in a term or part of term (POT) and used as the final enrollment benchmark for reporting. Census is captured on Day 14 for Fall/Spring full-term, 10-week, and 7-week POTs, and for full-term Summer; it is captured on Day 7 for POTs of 6 weeks or less.
- Continuing Student: A student enrolled in a major term (fall or spring) who was also enrolled in the immediately preceding major term. Summer enrollment alone does not establish continuing status.
- Duplicated Count: A methodology where students are counted at every location or category they are associated with. For example, a student taking classes at two different campuses is counted once for each campus. This approach measures service volume and supports resource allocation and operational planning.
- Dual Enrolled Student: Refers to students who enroll in college courses offered by an institution of higher education while enrolled in high school or seeking a recognized equivalent.
- First-Time Freshman: A student who has no prior postsecondary experience attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer session, and students who entered with advanced standing (college credits or recognized postsecondary credential earned before graduation from high school).
- Full-time Equivalent (FTE): A measure of enrollment workload calculated by dividing total credit hours by 15 (FTE = credit hours ÷ 15). While 12 credit hours is considered full-time status for enrollment and aid purposes, FTE uses a 15-credit divisor to reflect the pace needed for on-time degree completion.
- Full-time Student: A student enrolled in 12 or more credit hours per semester.
- Headcount: The count of unique individuals enrolled in the institution. Each student is counted exactly once, regardless of how many campuses they attend or how many credits they are taking.
- New Special & Transient: A student enrolled in courses but not seeking a degree or certificate. This includes special students (taking courses for personal interest, professional development, and other non-degree purposes) and transient students (enrolled at another college and taking courses to transfer back to their home institution).
- New Transfer: A student enrolling for the first time who has previously attended any postsecondary institution (including technical colleges, universities, and other community colleges), regardless of whether credits transfer.
- Part-time Student: A student enrolled in less than 12 credit hours per semester.
- Readmitted: A student with prior institutional attendance who, after an absence of at least one major term (fall or spring), has returned and enrolled.
- Same Day Last Year (SDLY): A point-in-cycle comparison that aligns the current day of the registration cycle (e.g., Day 20 of registration) with the equivalent day from the previous year's cycle, rather than comparing by calendar date.
Page Last Updated: May 28, 2026