BTW acronyms are a great way to shorten words, but only if the other person knows the definition. Check out our list of common University acronyms, terms, and definitions.

Acronyms, Terms and Definitions

University

  • MyU: official UMN personalized web portal
  • UMN, UofM: University of Minnesota
  • UMTC: University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  • Internet ID / x500: Same as your email before the '@.' Used for UMN email, MyU, campus computers
  • U Card: University identification card
  • Gopher GOLD Account: Allows you to make purchases across campus using your U Card. 
  • SAFE-U Alerts: Email, text or phone alerts related to a significant campus emergency or dangerous situation
  • U-Pass: Discounted University bus and train card for metro transit.

Colleges

  • CBS: College of Biological Sciences
  • CCAPS: College of Continuing and Professional Studies
  • CDES: College of Design
  • CEHD: College of Education and Human Development
  • CFANS: College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences
  • CLA: College of Liberal Arts
  • CSE: College of Science and Engineering
  • CSOM: Carlson School of Management

Programs/Offices

  • CESP: Community-Engagement Scholars Program
  • COIN: Circle of Indigenous Nations
  • GO Minnesota: Global Opportunities Minnesota.
  • GSC: Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life
  • H&RL: Housing and Residential Life. This office handles all housing-related issues.
  • ISSS: International Student and Scholar Services. This office serves international students and scholars, provides visa advising, and offers cultural programming.
  • MCAE: Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence
  • MCSE: Multicultural Student Engagement
  • MELP: Minnesota English Language Program. 
  • OSA: Office of Student Affairs
  • Rec Center: The Recreation Center provides free access to recreation facilities.
  • ROTC: Reserve Officers Training Corps
  • SCS: Student Counseling Services
  • SLS: Student Legal Service provides legal services, representation, and education to students.
  • SUA: Student Unions and Activities. This office works with our more than 600 student groups on campus and provides free activities throughout the year.
  • TASC: Tutoring & Academic Success Center
  • USG: Undergraduate Student Government

Registration

  • Add: Adding a class to your schedule. This must be done officially through MyU registration.  
  • Drop: Canceling your enrollment in a class. This must be done officially through MyU registration.  
  • ODL: Online delivery of a class.
  • Permission number: A number given to students to add courses that require additional permission from a department.
  • Schedule builder: Tool used to search for classes and plan your schedule. It does not enroll you in classes.
  • Swap: Replacing one class with a different class. 
  • Waitlist: A waitlist occurs when a course is full. You can add yourself to the waitlist to be enrolled in the course if an opening occurs.

Additional

  • APAS: Academic Progress Audit System
  • FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
  • FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
  • GPA: Grade point average
  • LLC: Living Learning Community
  • SAP: Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • SCC: Student Code of Conduct
  • Ski-U-Mah: The uniquely Minnesota battle cry (pronounced SKY-YOU-MAH)
  • SSF: Student service fee