Student Resource Center

Getting Help

​​​Need help? The ACE Resource Services team is ready to answer your questions about receiving ACE recommendations, accepting and utilizing ACE-endorsed transcripts and badges, and applying credits to educational and employment opportunities.

Please visit this page often, as additional resources and updates will be added as they become available.

Reach us via email:

Reach us by phone:

  • 866-205-6267, Monday through Friday, 1:00-4:00 p.m. ET
  • Outside these hours, you can request a callback (press "1") or leave a message (press "2"). A representative will call you back during regular call line hours.
Frequently Asked Questions

For more detailed answers about transcripts and college credit recommendations, visit our frequently asked questions page.

Visit Student FAQ
Understanding Higher Education

Useful ACE Resource Guides

Higher Education Glossary

 Definitions for frequently used terms

Academic Hours: Academic course credits are measured and listed in either semester hours (SH) or quarter hours (QH).

ACE Exhibit: An ACE exhibit is the full course or occupation report that appears on the Military Guide or The ACE National Guide.

Admissions: The admissions department of an academic institution manages the application process. The admissions department receives and reviews all required documents and sends out acceptances and rejections to applicants.

Adviser: An adviser helps a student select the correct courses to fulfill the requirements for his or her selected degree path and helps the student with any academic issues that may arise.

Catalog/Bulletin: College catalogs (or bulletins) provide institutional history, philosophy, policies, accreditation information, degree plans, and schedules. Each catalog applies to a particular academic year, and is considered the official policy source and contract between the student and the academic institution.

Course Description: The course description is a basic overview and explanation of the college-level course. Course descriptions can be found in the catalog/bulletin and on the institution’s website.

Curriculum or Degree Plan: The curriculum plan (or degree plan) is the outline of expectations for a student’s degree requirements. This will include core courses (general education requirements), departmental courses, electives, and any special requirements such as internships. The registrar uses this as a checklist to determine the student’s progress in meeting the program requirements.

Dean: The dean is the person in charge of an academic department or division for a college or university. A dean’s responsibilities typically include managing and overseeing curriculum, policy requirements, accreditation issues, faculty support, and student services.

Electives: In addition to taking the expected courses required to complete a degree, students may also choose courses of interest to them. These elective courses may or may not apply to the total number of credits required to fulfill a specific degree.

General Education Requirements: General education requirements are the core courses all students must take to graduate. These courses typically fall under such disciplines as English, history, humanities, science, math, social science, political science, and literature.

Grade Point Average (GPA): The average percentage grade the student earns for the semester or term.

Major: The courses required in a student’s primary selected degree path or area of study that focus on a specific subject area.

Minor: Some students chose a secondary discipline to study. This is called a minor and has fewer required courses than the major.

Registrar’s Office: The registrar’s office issues transcripts and maintains all academic records, information on class enrollments, student enrollment, honor roll, retention, and special programs eligibility.

Residency Requirements: Most colleges and universities have an academic residency requirement, which means a student has to earn a specific number of credits from that institution to earn a degree or credential.

Syllabus: A course syllabus outlines the core requirements students need to meet to pass the course, including attendance, assignments, required reading, and grading policies.