Guide to Acronyms at WPI* (*We Prefer Initials)

For an exhaustive, searchable listing, see The WPI Acronym Dictionary, created by William L. Herbert, Class of 2005.

Governance*
CAO	Committee on Academic Operations (undergraduate)
CAP	Committee on Academic Policy (undergraduate)
CGSR	Committee on Graduate Studies and Research
COAP	Committee On Appointments & Promotions (pronounced “cope”)
COG	Committee On Governance (“committee on committees,” runs elections)
CTAF	Committee on Tenure & Academic Freedom (pronounced “see-taff”)
UOAC	Undergraduate Outcomes Assessment Committee (typically pronounced “you-awk”)
CHB	Campus Hearing Board (student judicial system)
FAP	Committee on Administrative and Financial Policy
FBC	Fringe Benefits Committee
FRC	Faculty Review Committee
*For descriptions of each committee’s responsibilities, see the Faculty Handbook.
Majors, Departments, and Programs
BB	Biology & Biotechnology
BME	BioMedical Engineering
CBC	Chemistry & BioChemistry
CEE	Civil and Environmental Engineering
CHE	CHemical Engineering (sometimes still referred to as CM)
ECE	Electrical and Computer Engineering
EVE	EnVironmental Engineering
HUA	HUmanities & Arts
IGSD	Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division. Administers the IQP and Global Perspective Program.
IMGD	Interactive Media and Game Development
RBE	RoBotics Engineering
ME	Mechanical Engineering
MG	ManaGement
MIS	Management Information Systems
PH	PHysics
SSPS	Social Science and Policy Studies
Academic Program Terminology
CDR	Completion of Degree Requirement form. Must be submitted for IQPs and MQPs.
IQP	Interactive Qualifying Project (interdisciplinary project typically completed in junior year)
ISP	IndePendent Study (typically a project-like academic activity conducted one-on-one or with a small group of students)
MQP	Major Qualifying Project (senior project)
NR	No Record. WPI’s grade that encompasses the traditional “D” and “F” grades.
Suff	Short for Sufficiency, the former Humanities & Arts requirement for all students. The Sufficiency was replaced in 2006-07 with a new Humanities & Arts requirement that culminates in an Inquiry Seminar or Practicum. Time will tell whether “Suff” lives on in the student lexicon.
Faculty or Campus-Wide Services
ATC	Academic Technology Center
CCAC	Center for Communication Across the Curriculum. In addition to student tutoring services, provides some faculty development services.
CCC	Campus Computer Center
CEDA	Center for Educational Development & Assessment. Provides support for the enhancement of teaching and learning at WPI.
FFT	Food For Thought (CEDA lunchtime seminar series)
IRB	Institutional Review Board. Provides oversight of human subjects research.
ORA	Office of Research Administration
Student-Related Groups, Locations, Events, and Services*
CA	Community Advisors: Upperclass students who serve as peer mentors for a group of 20-30 first year students. Previously (and still?) known as OLs (Orientation Leaders).
CCAC	Center for Communication Across the Curriculum. Provides peer tutoring services for writing and other modes of communication. Also sometimes referred to as the “Writing Center.”
CDC	Career Development Center
DAKA	Pronounced “day-kuh.” Former name of the campus dining service provider, which is now, properly, Chartwell’s. Student lexicon continues to use DAKA, as in “Go to DAKA.”
DSO	Disability Services Office
EMSEP	Excellence in Mathematics, Science and Engineering Program. Designed to increase the access to educational opportunities for underrepresented students of African, Latino, and American Indian descent.
GSO	Graduate Student Organization
IFC	Intrafraternity Council
ISO	International Student Organization
Insight	Fall semester transitional and community-building program for all first-year students. Insight teams live on the same floor of a residence hall and are assigned a Community Advisor (CA), Resident Advisor (RA), and Faculty academic advisor (FA)
MASH	MAth and Science Help (“mash” tutors), primarily used by first-year students in Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics
NSO	New Student Orientation
OASIS	Offering Acceptance, Support and Inclusion to Students. A cultural center located at 20 Schussler Road, intended to give minority/marginalized students a place to build a community and to provide a centralized location for all students to learn about culture.
Panhel	Panhellenic Council (sororities)
PLA	Peer Learning Assistant (also referred to as “senior tutors” or “senior assistants” in some departments)
RA	Resident Advisor in residence halls (using “dorm” is discouraged!)
ROTC	Reserve Officers Training Corps (typically pronounced “rot see”)
SGA	Student Government Association
SocComm	Social Committee. Funds and organizes student events.
* There are dozens upon dozens of student groups that use acronyms.

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Last modified: Aug 15, 2007, 15:42 EDT