Glossary of Terms


The Pace Glossary
 

  • Admission Counselor – A University representative who guides prospective students throughout the admission process. Each state, region, or city has a designated Pace admission counselor. To learn more about finding your admission counselor, please email ugnyc@pace.edu for New York City, or ugplv@pace.edu for Westchester.
  • Birnbaum – Refers to the Birnbaum Library, located on the New York City campus.
  • CAP – A program for first-year students enrolled at Pace. CAP students take classes geared toward helping them adjust to the academic pressures of a college education.
  • Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) – Encompasses programs such as First-Year Programs, the Tutoring and Writing Centers, and Challenge to Achievement at Pace. CAE also administers first-year placement testing for all incoming Pace students.
  • Common Application – A general college application that can be used when applying to multiple colleges or universities. Pace University accepts the Common Application, as long as it is submitted with a mandatory Pace supplement. There is no preference given to applicants who apply to Pace through either the Common Application or Pace’s application for admission.
  • Co-op and Career Services – The Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services helps place more than 1,000 Pace students in career-enhancing internships every year. Students may consult with Co-op and Career Services for help with resumes, cover letters, business correspondence and etiquette, and more. All workshops and services are free to Pace students and alumni. All Pace students have access to Co-op and Career Services’ online database of employer information and alumni industry contacts.
  • Core Curriculum – All Pace University students must enroll in a set number of courses/credit hours which are part of the Core Curriculum. These courses cover the liberal arts and help students develop essential critical thinking skills and a global perspective.
  • Deferral – When a student is accepted but chooses to enroll at a later semester than the one for which he or she applied.
  • DoIT – The Department of Information Technology at Pace. DoIT is in charge of maintaining Internet connectivity, helps students solve minor technical problems, and serves as a resource for faculty and staff encountering technological difficulties. DoIT also runs both campuses’ computer labs.
  • Dyson – The Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, where students study everything from biology to theater arts. More than 2,5000 students are enrolled in Dyson.
  • Early Action – By marking “Early Action” on an undergraduate application for admission, the applicant is notifying Pace that they would like to receive an admission notice sooner. Early Action applicants must submit completed applications by December 15 in order to qualify. Students are NOT required to enroll at Pace University if they apply Early Action.
  • Kessel – Refers to the Kessel Student Center, the Westchester campus’ main student union.
  • Lienhard – The Lienhard School of Nursing, where students study toward a nursing degree and go on to take clinical exams. More than 500 students are enrolled in Lienhard.
  • Lubin – The Lubin School of Business, where students obtain degrees in various fields of business, such as marketing and human resources management. Lubin is the largest school school at Pace, with more than 2,800 students enrolled.
  • Mortola – Refers to the Mortola Library, located on the Westchester campus.
  • MyPace Portal – The one-stop place to learn about upcoming Pace events, news, and announcements. The portal also allows students to view bills, make financial aid payments, and check grades.
  • OSA – Stands for the Office of Student Assistance, and encompasses: financial aid, student accounts (bursar), and registrar services.
  • Pace Press – The New York City campus’ student-run newspaper.
  • Paw Print – The Westchester campus’ student-run newspaper.
  • Pforzheimer Honors College – A program designed for students who achieved academically during high school. To be eligible for admission, students must have scored SAT Math and Verbal scores of 550 or higher, AND have a cumulative SAT score of 1200 or higher. In addition, students must also have maintained a high school average of 90 or higher.
  • Pulse – A weekly electronic newsletter sent to all Pace students that highlights upcoming events, student achievements, and important Pace-related announcements.
  • School of Ed – The School of Education, where Pace students study to become adolescent or special education teachers in a variety of subjects. The School of Education enrolls more than 220 undergraduate students.
  • SDACA – Stands for Student Development and Campus Activities. SDACA works with student clubs and organizations and also organizes University-sponsored programming and events throughout the academic year.
  • Seidenberg – Refers to the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, where students study various aspects of computing and information science. Seidenberg enrolls more than 700 undergraduate students.
  • Setter – Pace’s mascot for our 17 NCAA Division II athletic teams. 
 

Financial Aid

  • Defer – Students may choose to postpone their loan repayment period; doing so is called deferring your loans. During a “grace period” after graduation, many lenders (both private and public) will allow you to postpone loan repayment.  
  • FAFSA – Students and their families can receive money from the U.S. government to fund their education by filing out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Based on factors such as parental income, the results of the FAFSA help determine how much money a student can be granted or may borrow for their college education. Visit the FAFSA website here. 
  • Grants – Similar to scholarships, grants are provided to students for various reasons such as financial need, academic achievement, or both. Grants are available through Pace University, the U.S. Department of Education, and some states, and do not need to be repaid. 
  • Interest rate – Because lenders give students the ability to borrow sums of money, they charge interest on the amount of the loan up until the time that money is repaid.  An interest rate is the percentage of the total amount borrowed that a lender charges a borrower for the loan. Interest rates are determined by a number of factors, and there are different interest rates for each type of loan. Some loans have fixed interest rates and some are variable.  
  • Loans – College loans can be acquired either through the U.S. Department of Education or private lenders. Loans must be paid back—and often accrue interest while a student or parent pays back the loans. Interest rates and repayment terms vary per loan.  
  • Private lender – A private lender could be a bank, credit union, or another financial institution. A private lender is not affiliated with a university or the government.
  • Scholarships – Pace offers various scholarships to students based on a number of factors: financial need, academic achievement, community involvement, and areas of study. Scholarships do not need to be repaid. 
  • Subsidized – Federal Subsidized Direct Stafford Loans are available to qualified students with subsidized interest, meaning the federal government pays the interest on the loan while a student is in college. So, no payments need to be paid until the student stops attending at least half-time. The government does not pay any other portion of the loan during or after college, and the loan begins collecting interest following a six- or nine- month “grace period” after the student stops attending at least half-time (6 credits per semester). 
  • TAP – The Tuition Assistance Program is a grant provided through New York State to students who are: legal U.S. residents, residents of New York State, and attend college in New York State. Visit their website here. 
  • Unsubsidized – Federal Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans are also available to students if they require additional money beyond what grants, scholarships, or subsidized loans cover. These loans will accrue interest while a student is in school. It is recommended that students pay the accruing interest while they are in school; otherwise the interest is capitalized on the loan. Capitalizing means that the interest is added to the principle amount of the loan and then interest accrues on that amount also.