WPI Acronyms
As you can tell, we prefer initials at WPI.
If you're new to WPI, you may think we speak in a secret code. What is the difference is between MQP and IQP? Confused when someone directs you to the ATC? What is a BME major?
Many elements of our academic program, along with our campus locations and buildings, have long names, so we commonly refer to them by their initials. The list below includes some of the most common acronyms, abbreviations, and shorthand used in the WPI community .
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AE |
Aerospace Engineering |
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ATC |
Academic Technology Center |
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BB |
Biology & Biotechnology (sometimes also BBT) |
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BME |
Biomedical Engineering |
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CA |
Community Advisors: Upperclass students who serve as peer mentors for a group of 20-30 first year students. Previously (and still sometimes referred to as) OLs (Orientation Leaders). |
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CAO |
Committee on Academic Operations (undergraduate) |
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CAP |
Committee on Academic Policy (undergraduate) |
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CASL |
Committee on Advising and Student Life (pronounced "castle") |
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CBC |
Chemistry & Biochemistry |
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CCAC |
Center for Communication Across the Curriculum or "Writing Center" (In addition to peer tutoring services, provides faculty development services) |
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CDC |
Career Development Center (for students and alumni) |
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CDR |
Completion of Degree Requirement form. Must be submitted for IQPs and MQPs. |
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CEE |
Civil and Environmental Engineering |
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CEI |
Collaborative for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (a resource for entrepreneurial speakers, innovation and entrepreneurship lending library, e-competition judges, and entrepreneurial curriculum development) |
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CGSR |
Committee on Graduate Studies and Research |
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CHB |
Campus Hearing Board (student judicial system) |
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CHE |
Chemical Engineering (sometimes still referred to as CM) |
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COAP |
Committee On Appointments & Promotions (pronounced "cope") |
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COG |
Committee On Governance ("committee on committees", runs elections) |
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CPE |
Corporate and Professional Education |
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CS |
Computer Science |
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CTAF |
Committee on Tenure & Academic Freedom (pronounced "see-taff") |
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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." |
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DSO |
Accessibility Services Office |
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ECE |
Electrical and Computer Engineering |
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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. |
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EVE |
Environmental Engineering |
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FAP |
Committee on Administrative and Financial Policy |
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FBC |
Fringe Benefits Committee |
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FFT |
Food For Thought (Morgan Center lunchtime seminar series) |
| IS | Innovation Studio |
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FPE |
Fire Protection Engineering |
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FRC |
Faculty Review Committee |
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GSG |
Graduate Student Government or sometimes GSO (Graduate Student Organization) |
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HUA |
Humanities & Arts |
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IE |
Industrial Engineering |
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IFC |
Interfraternity Council |
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IGSD |
Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division (administers the IQP and Global Projects Program) |
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IMGD |
Interactive Media and Game Development |
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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). |
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IQP |
Interactive Qualifying Project (interdisciplinary project typically completed in junior year) |
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IRB |
Institutional Review Board (provides oversight of human subjects research. |
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ISO |
International Student Organization |
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ISP |
Independent Study Project (typically a project-like academic activity conducted |
| IT | Information Technology |
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MA |
Mathematical Sciences |
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MASH |
Math and Science Help ("mash" tutors), primarily used by first-year students in Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics |
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ME |
Mechanical Engineering |
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MFE |
Manufacturing Engineering (a graduate degree program within the Mechanical Engineering) |
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MG |
Management (the department is now known as the School of Business) |
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MGE |
Management Engineering |
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MIS |
Management Information Systems |
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MQP |
Major Qualifying Project (senior project) |
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MTE |
Materials Science and Engineering (a graduate degree program within the Mechanical Engineering) |
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NR |
No Record. WPI's grade that encompasses the traditional "D" and "F" grades. |
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NSO |
New Student Orientation |
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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. |
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OSP |
Office of Sponsored Programs |
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PANHEL |
Panhellenic Council (sororities) |
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PH |
Physics |
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PLA |
Peer Learning Assistant (also referred to as "senior tutors" or "senior assistants" in some departments) |
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PW |
Professional Writing (interdisciplinary program) |
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RA |
Resident Advisor in residence halls (using "dorm" is discouraged!) or Research Assistant (in reference to graduate students) |
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RBE |
Robotics Engineering |
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ROTC |
Reserve Officers Training Corps (typically pronounced "rot see") |
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SGA |
Student Government Association |
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SOCCOMM |
Social Committee. Funds and organizes student events. |
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SSPS |
Social Science and Policy Studies |
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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. |
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TA |
Teaching Assistant or Teaching Assistantship (referring to graduate students) |
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UOAC |
Undergraduate Outcomes Assessment Committee (typically pronounced "you-awk") |