Glossary

A collection of groups into which individuals self report as belonging to, identifying with, or belonging to in the eyes of the community. The categories do not denote scientific definitions of anthropological origins. 

Individuals are asked to answer both the ethnicity and race questions. 

Ethnicity category:

• Hispanic or Latino: A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. People who report that they are Hispanic or Latino are only reported in this category, as required by federal reporting guidelines. 
   

Race categories:

• American Indian or Alaskan Native: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community attachment. 
   
• Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. (New category beginning spring 2010)
   
• Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. 
   
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. (New category beginning spring 2010)
   
• Two or more races (multi-racial): This category includes people who report that two or more of the following racial categories best describes them: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. (New category beginning spring 2010)
   
• White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North America.   
   

• Nonresident Alien (NRA): A person who is not a citizen or national of the United States, and who is in this country on a visa or temporary basis and does not have the right to remain indefinitely. 
   
• Race/Ethnicity unknown: Students and employees for whom neither ethnicity nor race data are available. Prior to 1996, 'unknown' was not an accepted reporting category. In accordance with federal reporting guidelines, unknowns were statistically apportioned across race/ethnic categories in percentages consistent with the known population. 

When reported to IPEDS, individuals may be counted in only 1 of the 9 categories. More information on collecting race/ethnicity: 

• IPEDS race ethnicity FAQ page
• Guidelines on collecting the data 

The official census date at the University of Michigan-Dearborn is generally the 15th day of classes in each full term.

A specific group of students established for tracking purposes. Once a cohort is established, no students are removed from the group and no students are added to the group. Cohorts can be established for many purposes but are most often used to track retention and graduation rates.

The number of unique students who graduate in a given time period. Summary data is most often displayed by year and includes students that graduate at the August, December, and May commencements.

The total number of unique awards conferred in a given time period. Summary data is most often displayed by year and includes degrees conferred at the August, December, and May commencements.  "Completions", "degrees conferred", and "degrees awarded" are interchangeable.

The total number of unique awards conferred in a given time period. Summary data is most often displayed by year and includes degrees conferred at the August, December, and May commencements. "Degrees awarded", "degrees conferred", and "completions" are interchangeable.