Glossary of Terms

Privacy Officer
Person and associated office designated by the University to carry out and coordinate activities related to privacy and security of health information as required by HIPAA.
Private Data
University data protected by federal or state law (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA, Minnesota Data Practices Act), regulation, or contract (e.g. Payment Card Industry for credit cards, some research contracts).
Private Funds
Those received from individuals or external entities primarily through gifts. Funds cannot be considered private if they have been received from activities that are part of the University’s primary mission (teaching, research, outreach). Private funds include gifts from University recognized foundations, individuals, business and industry, and unrelated foundations.
Private University Departmental Event
An event held by and for a University department (college, center, department, or unit), such as a departmental retirement party or a gathering of faculty to meet with a new recruit.
Probation
A student is performing poorly academically and is “on notice” that further performance decline (or lack of improvement) will result in more severe consequences (suspension).
Probationary Period
A time period during which a new employee (either new to the University or new to the department) is evaluated by the responsible administrator/supervisor to determine whether the employee can successfully meet the responsibilities assigned to the position.
Procedures
A series of consecutive action steps related to a policy that specifies how a particular process should be completed. Procedures include information on who, what, when, and where of the policy.
Professional and Administrative employee
Employees classified within the 93xx, 96xx, and 97xx job codes and title series.
Professional Liability
Insurance that provides coverage for legal liability arising out of errors and omissions while providing professional services on behalf of the University.
Professional Services Information Sheet (PSIS)
A form that collects information about professional service providers and is required as an attachment to QCPS, PCPS and CPS requisitions.
Program Administrator
An employee of Purchasing Services who has overall responsibility for the University's Procurement Card Program.
Program and Curriculum Approval System (PCAS)
A comprehensive database of all the requirements needed to complete each academic plan and sub-plan offered on University campuses. PCAS is a web-based approval system that automatically routes all new plans, and any changes to existing plans, to the correct approvers and approval levels. PCAS also is a resource for the Graduation Planner, the University's program that supports undergraduate students' timely progress toward graduation. All University catalogs use data from PCAS.
Program Curtailment
The discontinuance, reduction, modification or redirection of an academic program or service or a non-academic program or service recognized by the senior administrative unit head (e.g., dean, chancellor, vice president) of a campus, college or administrative unit.
Program Director
Individual responsible for the oversight and compliance components of their program(s). Specifies the identification requirement for their program staff (badges or equivalent).
Program Income
Gross income earned by the recipient that is directly generated by a sponsored activity or earned as a result of the award (from OMB Circular A-110).
Prohibited Activities
Directly influencing or exerting power over the employment or academic progress of a member of the University community, including but not limited to hiring, promotion, supervision, evaluation, determination of salary, grading, and advising.
Project in lieu of a thesis
Some programs permit students to submit a project instead of a written thesis. Such projects may consist of performances, displays, working models, etc.
Promotion
A change from one classification to another classification that is assigned to a higher salary range.
Property
Any item purchased, donated or acquired through trade, regardless of value or condition. Property includes all real estate, equipment, furniture, materials, library holdings, supplies, livestock, inventories, or any item that may be used or sold.
Property Insurance
Insurance that covers the cost to repair or replace University-owned property, loss of revenue and extra expenses (cleanup and repair labor, materials, etc) arising from an insured loss. Covered Property includes University owned buildings, furniture, fixtures, computer hardware and software, valuable papers, machinery and equipment.

This program is intended to provide protection against catastrophic losses for which funds to replace the property might not be readily available.

Proposal Routing Form
An internal form used to route a proposal for sponsored funding through the process of administrative review and approval.
Proprietary research
Industrially-sponsored research that uses the sponsor's proprietary information or results in intellectual property for which the sponsor has an option to an exclusive license. These sponsors often request restrictions on who can discuss the research and under what circumstances. They also may prohibit publication of confidential company information or ask the researcher to delay publication of research results so that they can review the material for proprietary information or take steps to secure intellectual property rights to possible inventions.
Protected Health Information ("PHI")
Health information transmitted or maintained in any form or medium that:
  • Identifies or could be used to identify an individual;
  • Is created or received by a healthcare provider, health plan, employer or healthcare clearinghouse; and
  • Relates to the past, present or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual; the provision of health care to an individual; or the past, present or future payment for the provision of healthcare to an individual.
Protocol
Plan of Study approved by IRB
Provider Bank
The bank selected by the University to provide banking services required for the program.