How to Speak "Scranton"
Abbreviations and campus slang giving you trouble? You came to the right place!
Colleges and universities have unique languages, and The University of Scranton is no different. On campus, the people you interact with use abbreviations and terms that you may not be familiar with. While we encourage you to ask for clarification whenever you find yourself wondering what people mean, we recognize that this can be hard, especially when you're new to our community.
To make things a little easier, we've prepared this comprehensive guide to the language of the University. The guide is broken up into five major categories, and these categories are further subdivided so that you can find exactly what you're looking for at any point.
Search the guide below throughout your time at Scranton, and you'll be speaking like Royalty before you know it!
A
- AC – Area Coordinator; professional staff member responsible for the supervision of Resident Assistants (RAs); responds to health and safety concerns throughout the week and assists students in navigating residence life
- Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (AMDG) – “For the greater glory of God;” setting aside personal ambition to serve God in all of one’s pursuits
- Advisor – Professional staff or faculty member who provides guidance in achieving academic goals; helps with academic planning, course selection, decision-making, support, goal setting, and career development
- AMH– Alumni Memorial Hall
B
- Big P.O.D. – On-campus convenience store and dining location with various choices located below the Montrone Residence Hall on Mulberry Street (across from the DeNaples Center)
- Blackboard.com – Website where students can track Dining Flex, Library printing funds, and Royal Card debit balances, as well as number of meals remaining
- BRN – Brennan Hall
- Bursar – The University’s central billing and collection point; processes all tuition payments and RoyalCard deposits
- BYR – Byron Center Gymnasium
C
- CAPP Sheet – A document that lists all courses required for students to graduate with their chosen major(s), minor(s), and concentration(s); a useful tool to track academic progress (courses taken, courses needed, and grades)
- CAS – College of Arts and Sciences
- Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) – CTLE provides students with academic support and classroom and housing accommodations; services include, but are not limited to, essay help, peer tutoring, assistance with time management, and study skill development.
- Chapman Lake/The Lake – University-owned retreat center located approximately 30 minutes from campus; used for retreats and other University-sponsored events
- CLP– McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts
- Cognate – Required courses outside of one's major(s) that support one’s major(s)
- E.g., A biology major requires an understanding of and proficiency in both chemistry and physics, so biology majors are required to take courses in chemistry and physics. A biology major’s required chemistry and physics courses are called cognates.
- Community Based Learning (CBL)/Service Learning – Out of class experiences designed to supplement students’ in-class learning while addressing off-campus community concerns; some degree programs require students to complete a certain amount of CBL hours before graduation
- Concentration – A specific area of emphasis within one’s major; adding a concentration will shape which classes one takes to fulfill one’s major’s graduation requirements
- Contemplatives in Action – Jesuit notion of encouraging individuals to engage in regular reflection and to use the insights derived from this reflection to inform one’s work in the world
- Counselor – Masters or doctoral degree-level professional trained to assist students in promoting mental wellness; examples of counseling topics include adjusting to college, managing stress and emotions, depression, and anxiety
- CSA – Commuter Student Association; student club open to all students that hosts various events throughout the year
- Cultural Diversity (D)
- Cura Personalis – “Care for the (whole) person;” respecting each individual as a child of God, with unique gifts and needs
D
- D2L (Desire to Learn) – An online platform where professors post important class information (e.g., syllabi, assignments, discussion boards)
- DE – Denis Edward first-year residence hall
- Dean of Students – Student advocate who works with students and their families to navigate challenges and crises (social, academic, and familial); serves as a support person and directs students to appropriate resources
- DeNaples Center (TDC) – Hub for Student Life
- DeNaples Circle – Pickup/drop off area between The DeNaples Center (TDC) and the Parking Pavilion
- Discernment – Spiritual paradigm for making significant life choices; especially useful when one has many options, all of which are potentially good
- DO – Domestic Outreach Service program; allows students to serve marginalized populations across the United States over January Intersession and Spring Break
E
- ELH – Edward Leahy Hall
- Eloquentia Perfecta (EP) – Latin phrase meaning “perfect eloquence;” courses with EP designations improve students’ oral and written communication skills and include First-Year Seminar (FYS), First-Year Writing (FYW), First-Year Oral Communication (FYOC), First-Year Digital Technology (FYDT), and Writing Intensive (EPW) courses
F
- F.I.R.S.T. – First-Years Involved in Reflective Service Together; opportunity for incoming students to participate in five days of service in the Scranton community prior to Fall Move-In
- Finding God in All Things – Seeking to understand the way in which God is present in one’s daily work and interactions; seeking to incorporate one’s faith into one’s daily tasks
- First – First floor food court in the DeNaples Center (TDC); cafeteria-style dining with choices from nationally recognized chains (e.g., Chick-fil-a, Which Wich)
- Flex – Funds included in your meal plan that are usable at any on-campus dining location, including both P.O.D.s; flex can purchase food and any item in either P.O.D.
- Forming and Educating Agents of Change – Teaching behaviors that reflect critical thought and responsible action on moral and ethical issues
- Founder's Green – Green outside of Brennan Hall (BRN)
G
- GA – Graduate Assistant; graduate student (a student who holds at least a bachelor’s degree) who teaches parts of certain undergraduate courses
- General Education (GE) Curriculum – A set of courses that allow students an opportunity to understand the breadth and depth of a major; areas of natural science, social/behavioral science, quantitative reasoning, cultural diversity, writing, humanities, philosophy, and theology
- GLM – Gannon, Lavis, and Mackillop first-year residence halls
- Go Forth and Set the World on Fire – Popular saying of St. Ignatius’ which calls one to use one’s talents and passion to transform one’s community
- GPA – Grade Point Average; number (out of 4.00) representing how well one performs in one’s classes
H
- Humanities/Culture – Courses in history, literature, foreign language, art/music history, and theatre
- Humanities/Culture: Arts (CA)
- Humanities/Culture: Foreign Languages (CF)
- Humanities/Culture: History (CH)
- Humanities/Culture: Interdisciplinary (CI) – Courses that combine two areas of study
- E.g., HUM 296 (Dante’s Inferno and the Florence of His Times) incorporates history and literature
- Humanities/Culture: Literature (CL)
- HYL – Hyland Hall
I
- IGNITE – University-sponsored leadership conference open to all college students in Northeastern Pennsylvania; keynote speaker and breakout sessions address leadership topics including communication, resilience, problem solving, and diversity
- IMPACT – Overnight retreat for first-year students interested in augmenting leadership skills
- Intersession – Condensed semester in January; each Intersession class meeting equals roughly one week of regular semester instruction
- ISP – International Service Program; seven to ten-day opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the cultures of developing nations in Central and South America
J
- Jesuit (S.J.) – A member of the Society of Jesus; one of the largest religious orders in the Catholic Church; founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius of Loyola
- JOH – John Long Center
K
- KSOM – Kania School of Management
L
- Late Night – Additional meal period between 8:00pm and 11:00pm (Sunday through Thursday) or 10:00pm (Friday and Saturday) in the first-floor food court in the DeNaples Center (TDC)
- Late Night at Scranton – Social programming on Friday and Saturday nights hosted by clubs and departments; events are coordinated and partially funded by the Center for Health Education and Wellness (CHEW)
- LaundryView – Website allowing students to check the availability of washers and dryers in residence halls, in addition to the amount of time remaining on these units
- Linden Circle – Common meeting spot for groups at corner of Linden Street and Monroe Avenue, near the flag poles
- Little P.O.D. – On campus convenience store located on the first-floor of the DeNaples Center
- LSC – Loyola Science Center
M
- Madonna – Madonna de la Strada chapel; located on Monroe Ave past the Fitness Center
- Magis – “More;” a restless desire for excellence grounded in gratitude
- Major – Primary focus of study; students may decide to have multiple majors
- MBI – Molecular Biology Institute
- McDade Hall– Another name for the Center for Literary and Performing Arts (CLP)
- Metanoia – A transformative change of heart, usually as the result of a spiritual conversion; the goal of a Scranton education
- MGH – McGurrin Hall
- Minor – Generally 18 credits of study in an area of interest outside of your major(s); students may decide to have multiple minors
N
- Natural Sciences (E) – Courses in biology, chemistry, physics, etc.
O
- OA – Orientation Assistant; student volunteers responsible for facilitating events during New Student Orientation and Fall Welcome Weekend; OAs serve as resources for students and answer general campus questions
P
- PACT – Promoting Awareness of the College Transition; mandatory program for new students that focuses on building healthy relationships and navigating the college transition
- PASSPORT – Required program offered by CAS and KSOM designed to introduce first-year students to the ideal of transformative education through a series of co-curricular activities
- PCPS – Panuska School of Professional Studies
- Pearn Auditorium - Brennan Hall (BRN) 228
- PHE – Peer Health Educator; nationally certified student volunteers who design and implement wellness-related programs on campus
- Philosophy/Theology (P)
- PNC Auditorium – Loyola Science Center (LSC) 133
- Provost – Senior academic administrator; person in charge of the University’s academic affairs
Q
- Quantitative Reasoning (Q) – Courses in math and statistics
R
- RA – Resident Assistant; student staff member responsible for residence hall security and programming; responsible employee who serves as a resource for students navigating challenges and crises
- RA on Duty – Resident Assistants responsible for responding to lockouts, noise complaints, health and safety concerns, and other general residence hall concerns from 8:00pm to 8:00am; the RAs on Duty can be contacted via a phone number posted in each residence hall
- Registrar – Responsible for maintaining academic student records and overseeing University enrollment, graduation, class registration, and official academic transcript requests
- ResLife – Residence Life; office located in Condron Hall responsible for the oversight and maintenance of residence halls, as well as residential and off-campus student life
- Ridge Row – Parking lot across the train tracks behind the Byron Recreation Complex
- ROC – Rock Hall
- Rose Room – Brennan (BRN) 509
- Royal – Funds usable at all on-campus locations including dining locations, the University bookstore, the library, vending machines, and laundry rooms
- Royal Ride – Van available to students requiring medically necessary transportation assistance throughout the week; available for all students desiring transportation between designated stops on Thursday from 10:00pm to 1:00am and Friday and Saturday from 10:00pm to 3:00am
- RoyalCard/ID/Swipe – Multipurpose photo ID card for all students, faculty, and staff; serves as a meal pass, library card, access card for residence halls and academic buildings, and debit card
- RoyalSync/Presence – Online Facebook-like platform used by clubs and organizations to plan and advertise events; many important campus forms are available on RoyalSync
S
- SEL – Scranton Emerging Leaders program; eight-week seminar for any student interested in meeting people and developing various leadership skills
- SMU – Smurfit Hall
- SO – Student Officer; University work study students who work with the University Police Department (UPD) to ensure general campus safety; responsible for escorting members of the Scranton community around campus and responding to community concerns
- Social/Behavioral Sciences (S) – Courses in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, etc.
- STT – St. Thomas Hall (connected to the Loyola Science Center)
T
- T.A.P.E.S.T.R.Y. – Mandatory four-year professional development program in PCPS (the Panuska College of Professional Studies) designed to help students to excel academically in the Jesuit tradition; each year focuses on a different Jesuit ideal and incorporates different departmental requirements
- TA – Teaching Assistant; undergraduate student (a student who is working to complete a bachelor’s degree) who assists professors with teaching parts of certain classes and grading assignments
- The Business Honors Program – A four-year program designed for students eager to develop their skills in economics, entrepreneurship, operations management, accounting, finance, international business, marketing, and management
- The Business Leadership Honors Program (BLDR) – A two-year program for students of all majors designed to enhance one’s understanding of basic leadership concepts and theories
- The Estate – Admissions Building; located next to Alumni Memorial Hall (AMH)
- The Faculty/Student Research Program (FSRP) – A program designed to allow students to probe a single topic in-depth through one-on-one collaboration with a professor
- The Green/The Dionne Green – Field between The DeNaples Center (TDC) and the Loyola Science Center (LSC)
- The Honors Program – A research-based program involving independent projects, tutorials, and one-on-one faculty mentoring
- The Magis Honors Program in STEM (Magis) – A four-year program designed to offer students a more intense, interdisciplinary research experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
- The Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program (SJLA) – A four-year, cohort-based program designed to provide students with a robust liberal arts education; students develop writing, oral, and critical-thinking skills through specially designed courses in philosophy, theology, and literature
- Third – Fresh Food Company on the third floor of the DeNaples Center (TDC); all-you-care-to-eat, buffet-style dining
- TR – Tuesday/Thursday classes; “R” stands for Thursday on one’s class schedule
U
- Unity of Heart, Mind, and Soul – Developing the whole person by integrating all aspects of our lives into a cohesive whole
- UPD – University Police Department; fully accredited police department serving the University of Scranton campus and surrounding area; located on the second floor of the Parking Pavilion
W
- WLC – Wellness Center
- Women & Men for and with Others – Sharing one’s gifts and talents, pursuing justice, and demonstrating concern for the poor and marginalized
- Writing Intensive (EPW)
