Lexicon - Definitions - P

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P-16 EDUCATION/BUSINESS COLLABORATIVE
A group representing educational, business, and community entities that are committed to excellent education from preschool through postsecondary years in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community.

P CARD
A CPCC issued credit card used to purchase College supplies.

PART-TIME STUDENT
A student registered for fewer than 12 credit hours during fall or spring semester or fewer than 9 hours in summer term..

PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT
Pathways is a short-term training program that combines basic skills, job skills, and a specific marketable work skill.  Lindsay Embrey coordinates this program.

PEASE AUDITORIUM
A 450-seat auditorium on Central Campus named for Colonel J. Norman Pease, longtime benefactor of the College. His architectural firm was responsible for many buildings on Central Campus.

PERIODICAL HOLDINGS LIST
The listing of all issues, volumes, or parts of a periodical that are available through the library.  The list includes the format of the periodical (paper, microfilm, microfiche), whether the issues are bound or unbound, and which library houses the periodical.

PHONE CODE
In the Class Schedule, the four-digit code in parentheses following the course number used in registering by telephone.

PIN
A personal identification number employees use to operate multi-function printers (MFPs). Your PIN is used to track your usage of the MFP. MFP usage is not free. Your department will be charged for the copies and prints it makes. You may find your PIN at https://secure2.cpcc.edu/accountmanager/login.rios

PLANNING COUNCIL
A representative group appointed by the President to recommend College goals, review policy changes, and be well versed in the many initiatives of the College.

PO
Purchase Order required to expend CPCC funds for reimbursement.

POWERPOINT
PowerPoint is a presentation creation and editing application produced by Microsoft. It is commonly included as a standard in the MS Office suite of applications and will be commonly found throughout CPCC's websites and online offerings. A free "viewer" plug-in that allows users to view PowerPoint presentations without having the software installed on their system is available through the downloads area of the Microsoft web site.

PREREQUISITE
Any course that must be completed before enrolling in the course requiring the prerequisite.

PRESIDENT'S LIST
A list prepared each semester to honor students for outstanding academic achievement.  Students must be in a curriculum program, have completed at least 12 hours of credit in courses numbered 100-299, and have achieved a 4.0 grade point average with no incompletes or withdrawals.

PRIORITY REGISTRATION
Priority registration allows students who are working toward a degree, diploma, or certificate to register early for the classes they need as they get closer to graduation. Priority registration also reduces the number of students trying to register at the same time, and reduced numbers improves both system performance and staff-to-student ratio.

PROCESS EVALUATION
Measurements obtained during the implementation phase of program activities to control, assure or improve the quality of program performance or delivery. An example would be 20 group sessions were delivered, 100 students were recruited, 100% of staff were trained. Process evaluation tells you if the program was delivered like it was intended to be delivered.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Activities that provide continuing professional educational and training opportunities for CPCC employees.  Employees are required to attend specific development activities and must complete a specified number of professional development hours per year.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BUILDING
Central Campus building at the corner of Independence Blvd. and Elizabeth Ave. which houses the Majors Bookstore and the Institute for Entrepreneurship. Opposite the Information Technology Building. Address is 124 East Independence Blvd.

PROGRAM
See Curriculum.

PROGRAM CHAIR
A faculty member who receives some released time to help with administrative work of a particular curriculum program. Program chairs are appointed annually.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR
A faculty member or other instructional staff member whose primary responsibility is to coordinate a program or activity of the Instructional Unit.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Information about the program including the official definition, degree/diploma/certificate awarded, admissions processing, and a list of courses in that curriculum.

PROGRAM EVALUATION
The assessment or processes used to determine if programs are effective, delivered appropriately, and meet their objectives.

PROGRAM GPA
The grade point average of a student in the courses that are required for completion of a program. To remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a program GPA in accord with the hours for which they enroll, as prescribed by the CPCC Grading Policy. Students must have a final program GPA of 2.0 (C) in order to graduate.

PROGRAM REVIEW
A review of an academic program or discipline, either curriculum or noncredit, to determine the strengths and weaknesses and to make recommendations for improvement.  Instructional programs are reviewed on a 5-year cycle.  A follow-up report is required one year following a review.  Program Review is one way the Instructional Unit demonstrates institutional effectiveness.

PROGRAM OF STUDY
A curriculum designed around a specific discipline or technical area.  Each state approved program of study is identified with a specific program code number.