Common Acronyms and Definitions

Does everything at ��ɫ��ý have an acronym? Almost! Here's your guide to learning our acronyms and special terms.

Acronyms and Definitions

ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
BOG: ��ɫ��ý Board of Governors
CAC: Canady Creative Arts Center
CAHS: College of Applied Human Sciences
Carruth: Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services
Chambers: John Chambers College of Business and Economics
CBC: Center for Black Culture
CCAM: College of Creative Arts and Media
CLASS: Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success
CLIMB: Chambers College of Business and Economics’ Living-Learning Community (stands for Connect Lead Innovate Motivate Belong)
COA: Cost of Attendance
CPoS: Course Program of Study. CPoS is the required curriculum for awarding a degree, certificate, or other recognized credential.
The Crossing: Evansdale Crossing building
CWE: Center for Writing Excellence
DA: The Daily Athenaeum
Dietary Restrictions: If you have allergies, special dietary needs or nutrition goals, we have you covered. Learn more at .
Dining Dollars: Virtual dollars included in ��ɫ��ý dining plans that can be used for food and drinks in locations around campus. They can be used instead of meal swipes or when your daily/weekly limit of meal swipes on your dining plan is reached. Funds can be added anytime.
Dining Plan: Dining plans are prepaid meal packages (which typically include Dining Dollars) you can use across campus. All students who live in a residence hall must buy a dining plan. You’ll need to pick an option (usually by mid-summer for the fall semester) or you will be assigned one.
DEI: Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
DL: Direct Loan
Eberly: Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
E. Moore Hall: Elizabeth Moore Hall
EFC: Expected Family Contribution, a financial aid calculation of what your family is expected to pay toward your ��ɫ��ý expenses – tuition, fees, living costs, etc.
ERC: Evansdale Residential Complex (AKA Towers and includes Bennett, Braxton, Lyon and Brooke Towers))
FAA: Financial Aid Administrator
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a form that needs to be completed each year to qualify for aid and scholarships.
FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FFEL: Federal Family Education Loan
FPL: Federal Perkins Loan Program
FSA: Federal Student Aid
FWS: Federal Work-Study
GA: Graduate Assistant
GEF: General Education Foundation (a group of courses required by all majors to provide students with general knowledge in more than one area)
GPA: Grade Point Average
GRA: Graduate Research Assistant
GRE: Graduate Record Examinations
GTA: Graduate Teaching Assistant
HSC: Health Sciences Center
Housing and Food Charges: Fees charged for a residence hall room (or other living facility) and meals during the school year.
The Hub: One-stop shop for student financial aid, scholarships, student accounts and student employment, located in Evansdale Crossing building
ITS: Information Technology Services
The Lair: Mountainlair student union, located downtown
Living-Learning Communities: These on-campus communities are focused on a field of study or shared passion of the students who live there (such as business, global cultures, or the arts). Immerse yourself in what you love, connect with faculty and make friends.
Meal Swipe: Single transaction used to eat one meal. They do not carry over between semesters.
Mountaineer Card: Our student ID is called the . It’s your key to services all over campus.
MIX: Mountaineer Information Xpress
Mountie Bounty: Like a prepaid debit card, your ID can hold real money (you or a family member can add it anytime). Use it at dining locations, campus laundry machines, printing and copying, vending machines, library fees and the ��ɫ��ý Bookstores.
NSO: New Student Orientation
OSA: Office of Student Accommodations
OUR: Office of the University Registrar
Payment Plan for Tuition and Housing: You can sign up for a monthly payment plan so you don’t have to pay your tuition and/or housing expenses in one lump sum at the start of the semester. Sign up at .
Payments Accepted: ��ɫ��ý accepts checks, money orders or certified bank checks, made out to: ��ɫ��ý or ��ɫ��ý. The check should include your name and ��ɫ��ý ID number.
PLUS: Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students
Promise Scholarship: Merit-based financial aid program for West Virginia residents.
PRT: Personal Rapid Transit, serves as the University's primary mass transit system for students and employees.
Resident Assistant: Known as “RAs,” resident assistants are just what their name says: students who live on your floor whose purpose is to help you. They’re friendly. They know their way around campus and the community. And they will point you in the right direction, no matter your issue or question.
Residence Life Specialist: Each hall has a residence life specialist, a live-in professional staff member who provides direction for student learning and success as well as ensuring a safe and secure living environment, 24/7.
The Rec: Student Recreation Center
ROOTS: Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Living-Learning Community
Ruby: Ruby Memorial Hospital
SGA: Student Government Association
STAR: platform used to access all student information (schedule, transcripts, housing, financial aid, and more)
Statler: Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
SURE: Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
TA: Teaching Assistant
TRIO: Not an acronym. Originally made of three programs, TRIO helps first-generation, low-income and disabled students.
U92: W��ɫ��ý 91.7, ��ɫ��ý’s College Radio Station
UPark: University Park, an apartment complex that includes residence hall Oakland Hall, located in the Evansdale area of campus.
UPlace: University Place, an apartment complex that includes residence hall Seneca Hall, located in Sunnyside.
WELL ��ɫ��ý: Delivers comprehensive wellness education to all ��ɫ��ý students through engaging programs, services and educational resources.