Student Affairs Dictionary - Students
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Common terms used within the Division of Student Affairs
Affinity Student Celebrations
In addition to the university-wide Commencement Ceremony, students are recognized at smaller events planned as part of commencement.
AVC
Associate Vice Chancellor or Assistant Vice Chancellor
BD
Bear’s Den
Bear Necessities
An on-campus, independent, not-for-profit merchandise store where the proceeds support the mission of the Women’s Society of WashU.
BLA
Bauer Leaders Academy
BSE
Beyond Sex Ed
Career Community
Students join one or more industry-based communities to learn about career exploration and opportunities while engaging in virtual and in-person programs with career coaches, alumni and industry experts.
Career Expo
A premier recruiting event held once in fall and once in spring that connects employers with students.
CCE
Center for Career Engagement
CCPS
Center for Counseling & Psychological Services
CCxN
Cross-Cultural Connections
CDI
Center for Diversity & Inclusion
CFU
Refers to Central Fiscal Unit. The CFU manages university-wide financial operations, including the allocation of funds from the university’s eight schools.
Civic Action Weeks
A two week period designated for students and staff to host events sharing information about the social issues they care about, practicing civic dialogue, and inspiring civic action.
Civic Café
Weekly civic dialogue series delving into the issues and questions that impact public life and local communities.
Civic Fellows
A program to prepare students to become civic leaders through an in-depth experiential curriculum.
Commencement
A dedicated ceremony taking place in the spring to grant students their academic degrees and celebrate their success.
CS
Conference Services
DE&I
Diversity, equity and inclusion
December Recognition Ceremony
A ceremony taking place in December to recognize all student degree candidates.
DR
Disability Resources
Dr. G’s Fun House
Events with games, music and food held throughout the year designed for high fun and low time commitment.
DUC
Danforth University Center
DxD
Dialogue Across Difference
Emma
The email marketing customer relationship management system (CRM) used by WashU for mass communication needs.
EST
Emergency Support Team
FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FH
Field House
First-Year Finale
A fun event to celebrate students finishing their first year at WashU.
FOF
Francis Olympic Field
Gephardt
Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement
Good Eats
A food blog with Chancellor Martin and Dr. G that showcases local restaurants and the people behind them.
Handshake
WashU’s career management platform where students find internships, jobs, and career-related opportunities. Students also schedule appointments with career coaches and discover CCE workshops, events, and career expos.
Healthy Excellence
A campus-wide, multi-dimensional spectrum of programs and services that prioritize the 8 dimensions of health and well-being.
IM
Intramural Sports
Let’s Talk
Same-day, drop-in consultation with a CCPS counselor offered to students.
LIVE
Leaders in Interpersonal Violence Education
LNYF
Lunar New Year Festival
MilVets, MVS
Office of Military & Veteran Services
Moonlight Breakfast
A free meal during reading week available to all students and served by faculty and staff.
Move-In
Dedicated days during the orientation process where students move in to their campus residential communities.
MPACT
Missouri Personalized Alcohol, Cannabis and Tobacco
Mudd Field
A grass field located in the center of the Danforth campus that hosts a large variety of University activities.
NASPA
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAC
North Coast Athletic Conference
OISE
Office for International Student Engagement
Orientation
Orientation begins in May with communications sent to incoming first-year students and continues until the first day of classes. This includes a week of events getting new students orientated and connected on campus.
ORSEL
Office for Religious, Spiritual & Ethical Life
OSCCS
Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards
OVCSA
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Parent & Family Weekend
A dedicated weekend for parent and family visits.
PFO
Parent & Family Orientation
Professional Clothes Closet
Free professional/success clothing and accessories for WashU students, with days to “shop” available during the academic year.
RA
Resident Advisor
RCD
Residential Community Director
Reading Days
Days without classes designated for studying before finals.
Resident Communities
A structured, on-campus living environment, primarily for first-year students on the “South 40,” designed to blend housing with academic and social support.
Resource Fair
An event held at the beginning of each academic year designed for new students and families to explore the wide range of support services available.
RSVP
Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center
SA
Division of Student Affairs
SALT
Student Affairs Leadership Team
SAM
Student Affairs Managers
SAMC
Student Affairs Marketing & Communications
SARAH
Sexual Assault and Rape Anonymous Helpline
SBM
Stand By Me
Scholar-Champion
A student-athlete recognized for exceptional performance in both athletics and academics.
SHC
Student Health Center
South 40
Ten residential communities located at the southwest end of the Danforth Campus that serve as the home to first-year students and sophomores.
South Campus
The primary home to club sports practices and competitions.
Spectrum
Office dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ Students
St. Louis Fellows
A program where students work full-time nonprofit or civic internships, attend community events, and engage in an experiential curriculum to understand St. Louis’ history, culture, politics, challenges, and opportunities.
STAE
Student Transitions & Engagement
Stix House
Home of the Gephardt Institute
Student Activities Fair
An activities fair, held in the fall and spring, with over 400 student groups and departments. Designed to help students dive into campus and find new hobbies and shared interests.
StudLife
Common way to refer to the independent student run newspaper, Student Life.
SU
Student Union
Sumers
Sumers Recreation Center (west end of campus) or Sumers Welcome Center (east end of campus)
Swamp
A field in the center of the South 40 used for student hangouts and social events.
Symphony on the South 40
An event held at the beginning of the academic year for members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to perform in a small ensemble on the South 40.
TFCSS
Taylor Family Center for Student Success
The Date
A mandatory orientation program for all new incoming students that introduces the complexities of sexual assault, alcohol and consent.
The Longest Table
A university-wide civic dialogue event held each fall.
ThurtenE Carnival
The nation’s oldest and largest student-run carnival.
Timely Care
A 24/7, virtual care service for full-time students to address common concerns that can be safely diagnosed and treated remotely.
UA
University Advancement or University Admissions
UAA
University Athletic Association
WashU Career Insights
Online tool where students report their jobs, grad school acceptance, internships and career outcomes, plus browse industry job and internship trends.
WashU CNX
Official online student and alumni community for networking and mentorship.
WashU Votes
Voting resources, education and peer-to-peer voter engagement
WBW
Well-being Wednesdays
WILD
Walk In Lay Down
Winter Orientation
Formerly referred to as Winter Welcome, this series of events assists new students who arrive on campus in the spring.
Winter Warm-Up
A winter celebration for the Division of Student Affairs staff.
WUGO
Washington University Group Organizer
WUSA
WashU Student Associate
You might also visit...
Center for Career Engagement (CCE)
Tools, resources and connections for career readiness and lifelong success
Visit CCE
Health & Well-being
Resources and programming to help students live their healthiest lives
Visit Health & Well-being
Office of Financial Well-being
Empowering students to thrive financially at WashU and beyond
Visit Financial Well-being
Residential Life
Providing a safe environment that encourages learning and growth in an inclusive community
Visit Residential Life
More Student Affairs departments