2009 Common Data Set: Shippensburg University
Shippensburg University Common Data Sets for other years:
Table of Contents: Click on the sections in the table below
A. General Information
A1. Address Information
| Name of College or University |
Shippensburg University |
| Address, City/State/Zip |
1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299 |
| Main Phone |
717-477-7447 |
| WWW Home Page Address |
|
| Admissions Phone Number |
717-477-1231 |
| Admissions Toll-free Number |
1-800-822-8028 |
| Admissions Office Mailing Address |
Old Main 105, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg University Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299 |
| Admissions Fax Number |
717-477-4016 |
| Admissions E-mail Address |
|
URL application site on the Internet |
|
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions
A2. Source of Institutional Control
A3. Classification of Undergraduate Institution
| Classification |
Coeducational |
A4. Academic Year Calendar
| Academic Calendar |
Semester |
A5. Degrees Offered
| Degrees Offered |
Bachelor's; Post-Bachelor's Certificate; Master's; Post-Master's Certificate; Certificate |
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions
B. Enrollment and Persistence
B1. Institutional Enrollment (Men & Women):
| Undergraduates |
Full-Time |
Part-Time |
| Men |
Women |
Men |
Women |
| Degree-seeking, first-time freshmen |
802 |
873 |
1 |
3 |
| Other first-year, degree-seeking |
371 |
312 |
12 |
13 |
| All other degree-seeking |
1975 |
2277 |
89 |
133 |
| Total degree-seeking |
3148 |
3462 |
102 |
149 |
| All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses |
9 |
17 |
21 |
34 |
| Total undergraduates |
3157 |
3479 |
123 |
183 |
| First-professional |
| First-time, first-professional students |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| All other first professionals |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Total first-professional |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Graduate |
| Degree-seeking, first-time |
43 |
65 |
36 |
140 |
| All other degree-seeking |
65 |
102 |
218 |
402 |
| All other graduates enrolled in credit courses |
0 |
9 |
48 |
183 |
| Total graduate |
108 |
176 |
302 |
725 |
| Total all undergraduates |
6942 |
| Total all graduate and professional students |
1311 |
| GRAND TOTAL ALL STUDENTS |
8253 |
B2. Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category:
| |
Degree Seeking, First Time, First Year |
Degree Seeking, Undergraduates |
Total Undergraduates |
| Non-resident aliens |
3 |
15 |
19 |
| Black, non-Hispanic |
127 |
460 |
460 |
| American Indian or Alaskan Native |
2 |
15 |
15 |
| Asian or Pacific Islander |
22 |
91 |
91 |
| Hispanic |
40 |
136 |
137 |
| White, non-Hispanic |
1370 |
5630 |
5684 |
| Race/Ethnicity unknown |
115 |
514 |
536 |
| Total |
1679 |
6861 |
6942 |
Persistence
B3. Number of Degrees Awarded from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009.
| Certificates/diplomas |
25 |
| Bachelor's degrees |
1289 |
| Master's degrees |
364 |
Graduation Rates
B4 - B11. Graduation Rates:
| Initial 2003 cohort of first-time, full-time bachelor's degree-seeking undergraduate students |
1486 |
| Of initial 2003 cohort, number that did not persist nor graduate for the following reasons: deceased, permanently disabled, armed forces, foreign aid service of the federal government, official church missions |
1
|
| Final 2003 cohort, after adjusting for allowable exclusions |
1485 |
| Of initial 2003 cohort, number that completed the program in four years or less |
666 |
| Of initial 2003 cohort, number that completed the program in more than four years but in five years or less |
228 |
| Of initial 2003 cohort, number that completed the program in more than five years but in six years or less |
40 |
| Total graduating within six years |
934 |
| Six-year graduation rate for 2003 cohort |
63% |
Retention Rates
B22. Retention Rates:
| Percentage of full-time bachelor's degree-seeking students who entered as freshmen in fall 2008 (or summer 2008) enrolled as of Fall 2009 official enrollment date . |
72% |
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions
C. First-time, First-year (Freshman) Admission
Application
C1. First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Students:
| Total men applied |
3195 |
| Total women applied |
3806 |
| Total men admitted |
2298 |
| Total women admitted |
2710 |
| Total full-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) men enrolled |
802 |
| Total part-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) men enrolled |
1 |
| Total full-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) women enrolled |
873 |
| Total part-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) women enrolled |
3 |
C2. Freshman Wait-Listed Students
| Do you have a policy of placing students on a waiting list? |
No |
Admission Requirements
C3-C5 High School Requirements
| High school requirement for degree-seeking students |
High school diploma is required and GED is accepted |
| General college preparatory program requirement |
Required |
| High school units recommended |
English 4 Mathematics 3 Lab Science 3 Foreign Language 3 Social Sciences 3 |
Basis for Selection
C6. Open Admission Policy
| Do you have an open admission policy, under which virtually all secondary school graduates or students with GED's are admitted without regard to academic record, test scores, or other qualifications? |
No |
C7. Importance of Factors in First-Time, First-Year, Degree-Seeking Admission Decisions
| Academic Factors |
| Rigor of secondary school record |
Very Important |
| Class rank |
Very Important |
| Academic GPA |
Very Important |
| Standardized test scores |
Very Important |
| Application Essay |
Considered |
| Recommendations |
Considered |
| Nonacademic Factors |
| Interview |
Considered |
| Extracurricular activities |
Considered |
| Talent/ability |
Considered |
| Character/personal qualities |
Considered |
| First generation |
Not Considered |
| Alumni/ae relation |
Not Considered |
| Geographic residence |
Not Considered |
| State residency |
Not Considered |
| Religious affiliation/commitment |
Not Considered |
| Racial/ethnic status |
Not Considered |
| Volunteer work |
Considered |
| Work experience |
Considered |
| Level of applicant's interest |
Considered |
SAT and ACT Policies
C8. Entrance Exams
| Does your institution make use of SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Test scores in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants? |
Yes |
| Use of test in admission: SAT or ACT |
|
| ACT with or without Writing component for admission |
Accepted
|
| Does your institution use applicants' SAT and/or ACT essay test scores for admission? |
No |
| Does your institution use applicants' SAT and/or ACT essay test scores for advising? |
Yes |
| Does your institution use applicants' SAT and/or ACT essay test scores for placement? |
Yes |
| Does your institution use applicants' SAT and/or ACT essay test scores in place of an application essay? |
No
|
| Does your institution use applicants' SAT and/or ACT essay test scores as a validity check on the application essay? |
No |
| Latest date by which SAT or ACT scores must be received for fall-term admission |
rolling |
| Tests used by the institution for placement |
SAT, ACT, Institutional Exam
|
Freshman Profile:
C9. Percent of First-Time, First-Year Students who Submitted SAT/ACT Scores
| Percent submitting SAT scores |
99.4% |
| Number submitting SAT scores |
1669 |
| Percent submitting ACT scores |
9.9% |
Number submitting ACT scores
|
167 |
Percentile Scores
| |
25th Percentile |
75th Percentile |
| SAT Critical Reading |
440 |
530 |
| SAT Math |
440 |
550 |
Percent of First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Students with Scores in Each Range
| |
SAT Critical Reading |
SAT Math
|
| 700-800 |
0.8% |
0.9% |
| 600-699 |
9.7% |
12.8% |
| 500-599 |
39.8% |
42.5% |
| 400-499 |
44.7% |
38.0% |
| 300-399 |
5.0% |
5.8% |
| 200-299 |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| |
ACT Composite |
30-36 |
0.0% |
24-29 |
16.8% |
18-23 |
64.7% |
12-17 |
18.5% |
6-11 |
0.0% |
below 6 |
0.0% |
C10. High School Class Rank
| Percent in top 10th of high school graduating class |
9.2% |
| Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class |
31.5% |
| Percent in top half of high school graduating class |
68.9% |
| Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class |
31.1% |
| Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class |
6.1% |
| Percent of total first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted high school class rank |
84.4% |
C11 - 12. High School GPA:
C11. High School GPA:
| Percent who had GPA of 3.75 and higher |
16.2% |
| Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.74 |
15.3% |
| Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.49 |
17.1% |
| Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.24 |
19.7% |
| Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 |
23.6% |
| Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 |
7.6% |
| Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.99 |
0.5% |
| Percent who had GPA below 1.0 |
0.0% |
C12. High School GPA:
| Average High School GPA of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted GPA: |
3.23 |
| Percent of total first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted high school GPA |
99.8% |
Admission Policies
C13. Application Fee
| Does your institution have an application fee? |
Yes |
| Amount of application fee |
$30 |
| Can it be waived for applicants with financial need? |
Yes |
| Fee for students using on-line application |
Same fee
|
| Can on-line application fee be waived for applicants with financial needs |
No
|
C14. Application Closing Date
| Does your institution have an application closing date? |
No |
C15. Terms Other than Fall
| Are first-time, first-year students accepted for terms other than the fall? |
Yes |
C16. Notification of Admission Decision
| Notification to applicants of admission decision sent |
Rolling |
C17. Reply Policy for Admitted Applicants
| Date by which admitted applicants must reply ( Extensions until May 1st Granted ) |
April 1 |
| Deadline for housing deposit (Month/Date) |
April 1 |
Amount of Housing deposit
|
$100 |
| Refundable Housing deposit if student does not enroll |
Yes, in part |
C18. Deferred Admission
| May students postpone enrollment after admission? |
Yes |
| Maximum Period of postponement |
1 year |
C19. Early Admission of High School Students
| Does your institution allow high school students to enroll as full-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) students one year or more before high school graduation? |
Yes |
Early Decision and Early Action Plans:
C21. Early Decision
| Does your institution offer an early decision plan for first-time, first-year (freshman) applicants for fall enrollment? |
No |
C22. Early Action
| Do you have a non-binding early action plan whereby students are notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date but do not have to commit to attending your college? |
Yes |
| Early action closing date |
Rolling |
| Early action notification date |
Rolling |
| Early action plan is "restrictive" (limits students from applying to other early plans) |
No |
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions
D. Transfer Admissions
Fall Applicants
D1. Enrollment of Transfer Students
| Does your institution enroll transfer students? |
Yes |
| May transfer students earn advanced standing credit by transferring credits earned from course work completed at other colleges/universities? |
Yes |
D2. Number of Students who Applied, were Admitted, and Enrolled as Degree-Seeking Transfer Students
| |
Applicants |
Admitted Applicants |
Enrolled Applicants |
| Men |
536 |
371 |
230 |
| Women |
513 |
381 |
228 |
| Total |
1049 |
752 |
458 |
Application for Admission
D3. Terms for which Transfer Students May Enroll
| Terms for which transfer students may enroll |
Fall; Spring; Summer; Winter |
D4. Minimum Number of Credits Required for Transfer Student to Enroll
| Must a transfer applicant have a minimum number of credits completed or else must apply as an entering freshman? |
No |
D5. Items Required of Transfer Students to Apply for Admission
| College transcript(s) |
Required of all |
| Essay or personal statement |
Recommended of all |
| High school transcript |
Required for some |
| Standardized test scores |
Required for some |
| Statement of good standing from prior institution(s) |
Required of all |
| Interview |
Recommended for some |
D6-D8. Required GPA for Transfer Students
| Minimum high school grade point average required of transfer applicants |
N/A |
| Minimum college grade point average required of transfer applicants |
2.2 |
| Other application requirements specific to transfer applicants |
N/A |
D9. Application Priority, Closing, Notification, and Candidate Reply Dates for Transfer Students
| Fall |
Rolling admission |
| Spring |
Rolling admission |
| Summer |
Rolling admission |
Winter |
Rolling admission |
D10. Open Admission for Transfer Students
| Does an open admission policy, if reported, apply to transfer students? |
N/A |
D11. Additional Requirements for Transfer Admission
| Additional requirements for transfer admission |
N/A |
Transfer Credit Policies:
D12-D17. Transfer Credit Policies
| Lowest grade that may be transferred for credit |
C |
| Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a two-year institution |
N/A |
| Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a four-year institution |
N/A |
| Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn an associate's degree |
N/A |
| Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn a bachelor's degree |
45 |
| Other transfer credit policies |
N/A |
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions
E. Academic Offerings & Policies
E1. Special Study Options: Programs Available
Accelerated program Cooperative Education program Distance Education Double Major Dual Admission
|
Honors program Independent Study Internships Raider Plan Study Abroad Teacher Certification program
|
E3. Core Curriculum Requirements: Areas in which Students are Required to Complete Course Work Prior to Graduation
Diversity Requirement English (including composition) History Humanities
|
Mathematics Political, Economic, and Geographic Sciences Sciences (biological or physical) Social Sciences
|
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions
F. Student Life
F1. First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Degree-Seeking Students and Degree-Seeking Undergraduates in the Following Categories
| |
First-time, First-year, Freshman |
Undergrads |
| Percent who are from out of state (excluding international/nonresident aliens) |
7.3% |
5.7% |
| Percent of men who join fraternities |
n/a |
5.8% |
| Percent of women who join sororities |
n/a |
8.4% |
| Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing |
86.3% |
37.1% |
| Percent who live off campus or commute |
13.7% |
62.9% |
| Percent of students age 25 and older |
0.4% |
5.9% |
| Average age of full-time students |
18.4 |
20.5 |
| Average age of all students (full- and part-time) |
18.4 |
20.8 |
F2. Activities Offered
Campus Ministries Choral groups Concert band Dance Drama/Theater International Student Organizations Jazz band Literary Magazine
|
Marching band Music ensembles Musical theater Radio station Student government Student newspaper Television station Yearbook |
F3. ROTC
| Programs offered on campus |
Army ROTC |
| Programs offered at cooperating institutions |
None |
F4. Housing: Types of college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing available for undergraduates
Coed dorms Apartments Suites Wellness Housing Theme Housing
|
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions
G. Annual Expenses (2009-2010)
G1. Undergraduate Full-Time Tuition, Required Fees, Room and Board
| |
First-year |
Undergrads |
| In-district |
$5554 |
$5554 |
| In-state (out-of-district) |
$5554 |
$5554 |
| Out-of-state |
$13886 |
$13886 |
| Non-resident aliens |
$13886 |
$13886 |
| Required fees |
$1890 |
$1890 |
| Room and board (on-campus) |
$7086 |
$7086 |
| Room only (on campus) |
$3750 |
$3750 |
| Board only (on-campus meal plan) |
$3336 |
$3336 |
G2. Credits per Full-Time Tuition
| Minimum number of credits per term a student can take for the stated full-time tuition |
12 |
| Maximum number of credits per term a student can take for the stated full-time tuition |
18 |
G3-G4. Tuition and Fees by Year of Study and Instructional Program
| Do tuition and fees vary by year of study? |
No |
| Do tuition and fees vary by instructional program? |
No |
G5. Estimated Expenses for a Typical Full-Time Undergraduate Student
| |
Residents |
Commuters (living at home) |
Commuters (not living at home) |
| Books and supplies |
$1100 |
$1100 |
$1100 |
| Room only |
|
|
$3750 |
| Board only |
|
$3336 |
$3336 |
| Transportation |
$1600 |
$1600 |
$1600 |
| Other expenses |
$414 |
$414 |
$414 |
G6. Undergraduate Per-Credit-Hour Charges (tuition only)
| In-district |
$231 |
| In-state (out-of-district) |
$231 |
| Out-of-state |
$579 |
| Non-resident aliens |
$579 |
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions
H. Financial Aid
Items H1, H2, H2A, and H6 are reported for 2009-2010 estimated
Federal Methodology (FM) needs-analysis is used in awarding institutional aid
H1. Aid Awarded to Enrolled Undergraduates
| |
Need-based $
|
Non-need-based $
|
| Scholarships/Grants |
|
|
| Federal |
$7,218,342 |
$8,415 |
| State |
$5,490,328 |
$31,871 |
| Institutional |
$661,845
|
$333,512 |
| Other external |
$982,811 |
$942,842 |
| Total Scholarships/Grants |
$14,353,326 |
$1,316,640 |
| Self-Help |
|
|
| Student loans from all sources |
$20,008,652 |
$15,104,073 |
| Federal work study |
$132,842 |
|
| State and other work-study |
$50,508 |
$169,572 |
| Total Self-Help |
$20,192,002 |
$15,273,645 |
| Parent Loans |
$608,844 |
$3,714,030 |
| Tuition Waivers |
$515,752 |
$984,470 |
| Athletic Award |
$286,220 |
$311,260 |
H2. Number of Enrolled Students Receiving Aid
List the number of degree-seeking full-time and less-than-full-time undergraduates who applied for and received financial aid. Aid that is non-need-based but that was used to meet need should be counted as need-based aid. Numbers should reflect the cohort receiving the dollars reported in H1.
| |
First-time Full-time Freshmen |
Full-time Undergrads (inc. fresh) |
Less than Full-time Undergrads |
| a) Number of degree-seeking undergraduates (CDS item B1) |
1675 |
6594 |
239 |
| b) Number in line a who were financial aid applicants |
1508 |
5286 |
127 |
| c) Number in line b determined to have financial need |
1065 |
3807 |
117 |
| d) Number in line c who received any financial aid |
1023 |
3646 |
105 |
| e) Number in line d who received need-based gift aid |
757 |
2599 |
72 |
| f) Number in line d who received need-based self-help aid |
909 |
3296 |
92 |
| g) Number in line d who received non-need-based gift aid |
65 |
223 |
1 |
| h) Number in line d whose need was fully met |
163 |
656 |
6 |
| i) Average percentage of need met of students who received need-based aid |
67% |
69% |
50% |
| j) The average financial aid package to those in line d |
$7701 |
$7738 |
$6320 |
| k) Average need-based gift award of those in line e |
$6298 |
$5705 |
$4183 |
| l) Average need-based self-help award of those in line f |
$3285 |
$3972 |
$4198 |
| m) Average need-based loan of those in line f |
$3217 |
$3844 |
$3895 |
| n) Number in line a with no need who received non-need gift aid |
149 |
502 |
28 |
| o) Average aid package of those in line n |
$3978
|
$3969 |
$2198 |
| p) Number of students in line a who received a non-need-based athletic grant or scholarship |
73 |
254 |
0 |
| q) Average dollar amount of non-need-based athletic grant and scholarships awarded to students in line p |
$2210 |
$2352 |
$0 |
H4-H5. Undergraduate Loan Information
Percent of 2009 graduating undergraduate class (graduated between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009) who have borrowed through all loan programs
|
74% |
| Average per-borrower cumulative undergraduate indebtedness of those in above line |
$21,163 |
Percent of 2009 graduating undergraduate class (graduated between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009) who have borrowed through federal loan programs
|
73% |
| Average per-borrower cumulative undergraduate indebtedness of those in above line |
$17,492 |
H6-H7. Aid to Undergraduate Degree-seeking Nonresident Aliens
| Policy regarding financial aid for undergraduate degree-seeking nonresident alien students |
Institution-administered need-based and non need-based financial aid is available for nonresident students |
| Number of nonresident students who received need- or non-need-based aid in the last academic year |
14 |
| Average dollar amount awarded to nonresident students in the last academic year |
$8,754 |
| Total dollar amount awarded to nonresident students in the last academic year |
$122,558 |
Financial Aid forms that nonresident alien first year financial aid applicants must submit
|
Institution's own financial aid form |
H8. Process for First-Year/Freshman Students
| Financial aid forms domestic first-year (freshman) financial aid applicants must submit |
FAFSA |
H9-H11. Filing, Notification, and Reply Dates for First-Year (Freshman) Students
| Priority date for filing required financial aid forms |
March 15 |
| Deadline for filing required financial aid forms |
None |
| Students notified |
On rolling basis |
| Students must reply by (date) |
Within 2 weeks of notification |
H12. Types of Loans Available
FFEL Subsidized Stafford FFEL Unsubsidized Stafford FFEL PLUS Loans
|
Federal Perkins Loans Alternative loans |
H13. Need-Based Scholarships and Grants
Federal Pell SEOG State scholarships/grants Private scholarships
|
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) Smart Grant College/University gift aid from institutional funds
|
H14. Criteria Used in Awarding Institutional Aid
| Non-Need |
Need-Based |
Academics Athletics
|
Academics |
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions
I. Instructional Faculty and Class Size
I-1. Number of instructional faculty members in each category for Fall 2009
| |
Full-time |
Part-time |
Total |
| a.) Total number of instructional faculty |
329 |
73 |
402 |
| b.) Total number who are members of minority groups |
45 |
2
|
47 |
| c.) Total number who are women |
141 |
40 |
181 |
| d.) Total number who are men |
188 |
33 |
221 |
| e.) Total number who are nonresident aliens (international) |
NA |
NA |
NA |
| f.) Total number with doctorate, first professional, or other terminal degree |
307 |
15 |
322 |
| g.) Total number who's highest degree is a master's but not a terminal master's |
22 |
57 |
79 |
| h.) Total number who's highest degree is a bachelor's |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| i.) Total number who's highest degree is unknown or other (note: items f, g, h, and i must sum up to item a.) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| j.) Total number in stand-alone graduate/professional programs in which faculty teach virtually only graduate-level students |
17 |
5 |
22 |
I-2. Student to Faculty Ratio
| Fall 2008 Student to Faculty ratio (based on 6501 FTES students and 324 FTEF faculty). |
20 to 1 |
I-3. Undergraduate Class Size
| Undergraduate Class Sizes |
2-9 |
10-19 |
20-29 |
30-39 |
40-49 |
50-99 |
100+ |
Total |
| Class Sections |
34 |
218 |
363 |
269 |
208 |
35 |
0 |
1127 |
| Class Subsections (example: laboratory) |
1 |
38 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
57 |
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions
J. Degrees Conferred
J1: Percentage of Diploma/Certificates, Associate, & Bachelor's degrees awarded
| Category |
Diploma/Certificates |
Bachelor's |
CIP 2000 Categories to Include |
| Biological/life sciences |
0% |
5.0% |
26 |
| Business/marketing |
0% |
24.5% |
52 |
| Communications/journalism |
0% |
5.7% |
09 |
| Computer and information sciences |
0% |
3.0% |
11 |
| Education |
0% |
13.6% |
13 |
| English |
0% |
4.6% |
23 |
| Foreign languages and literature |
0% |
1.1% |
16 |
| Health professions and related sciences |
0% |
0.9% |
51 |
| History |
0%
|
|
54 |
| Mathematics |
0% |
1.5% |
27 |
| Natural resources/environmental science |
0% |
2.6% |
03 |
| Parks and recreation |
0% |
1.7% |
31 |
| Physical sciences |
0% |
1.7% |
40 |
| Public administration and social services |
0% |
4.1% |
44 |
| Psychology |
0% |
8.3% |
42 |
| Security and protective services |
0% |
6.7% |
43 |
| Social sciences |
100% |
7.1% |
45 |
| Visual and performing arts |
0% |
2.6% |
50 |
| Other |
0% |
0.4% |
24, 30 |
| Total |
100% |
100% |
|
Return to Table of Contents
See CDS Definitions