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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FTE?

The acronym comes from full-time equivalent student. FTE is the basis used to distribute state reimbursement funds to community colleges in Oregon. 

How is FTE calculated?

ORS 341.005 defines FTE as "a student or combination of several students who carries or carry among them, within a single academic year, a minimum number of clock hours of instruction, in any program, to be specified by rule by the State Board of Education." For Oregon community colleges, 510 clock hours of instruction equal one FTE (i.e., one or a group of students enrolling in classes that involve 510 clock hours of instruction will yield one FTE). 

How is this formula different from prior years?

Prior to 1995-96, the method Oregon community colleges used to calculate FTE involved both contact hours and credits -- one FTE equaled 680 contact hours, except for college transfer classes for which one FTE equaled 45 credits. 

The rationale for the old FTE calculation with its two components was tied to the heavy use of lab and shop classes in professional technical programs, which usually involved 20 hours of instruction per week. 

Changes in professional technical programming and in community college curricula led to adoption of the new formula which is intended to "level the playing field" by making no distinction between types of courses and calculating all FTE at 510 clock hours. 

Where can I find out Lane's FTE?

Try our enrollment & headcount page. 

What's the difference between "duplicated" and "unduplicated" headcount?

Unduplicated headcount is the actual number of individual students enrolled. Students may be enrolled in one or more classes, but they are counted only once. 

Duplicated headcount is the total class count. Students may be enrolled in more than one class and would therefore be counted in each class. 

Where can I find out Lane's enrollment and headcount?

Try our enrollment & headcount page. 

What is the difference between a "graduate" and a "completer"?

Graduates are students who have earned a degree or certificate from Lane. Students must have their transcripts formally verified by Student Records and have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. 

Completers are students who have completed 60 credits towards a two-year degree program or 25 credits toward a one-year certificate program but did not receive the degree or certificate and are no longer enrolled at Lane. 

What is a "core student"?

A core student is a student with a declared professional technical major who has earned 6 or more core credits toward his/her declared major. 

Core credits are credits that are required courses in the professional technical program indicated by the student's major. 

How is a student's major determined?

Majors are self-declared. Students declare a major during admission and each term during registration. Students with "undeclared" majors are assigned the major code 500 Undecided.

Who are "special population" students?

Special population students are students who are disabled, academically or economically disadvantaged, or of limited English proficiency. 

Where can I find specific information about Lane's students?

Our student demographics page contains info about ethnicity, gender, and age of Lane students. 

Where can I find specific information about Lane's staff?

Our staff demographics page contains info about employee groups, ethnicity, and gender of Lane staff.