Academic Advisor: A college staff or faculty member who assists (advises) students with selecting classes, developing an academic plan, and providing guidance on career paths and graduate school options. 

Academic Calendar: Provides important dates and deadlines for each term, including the first day of classes, add/drop deadlines, final withdrawal dates, exam periods, school holidays, and other key dates throughout the academic year. 

Add/Drop Period: Students who start a class and realize it isn't the right fit, or need to switch to a different course, can make adjustments during the "add/drop" period. This is a designated timeframe at the beginning of each semester when students can add or drop courses from their schedules without any consequences, such as the dropped courses appearing on their transcripts. 

🐾 Athletic Campus: a region of campus that includes the Living/Learning Commons, Marsh/Austin/Tupper, Harris/Millis, and University Heights residence halls, the Patrick-Forbush-Gutterson athletic complex, the Gucciardi Fitness and Recreation Center, the Livak Track and Virtue Field 

🐾 “Back Five”: a nickname given to a group of residence halls on Trinity campus including Hunt, McCann, Ready, Richardson, and Sichel Halls 

BORED: A nickname for UVM BORED - A student-run events calendar and social media marketing team sharing events, tips, and trips with campus. 

Brightspace: UVM's online learning management system which allows instructors to create and deliver courses, and enables students to access course content, submit assignments, and participate in discussions. 

🐾 CALS: An acronym for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 

🐾 CAS: An acronym for the College of Arts and Sciences 

🐾 Catamount: a large wild cat  

🐾 CATCard: A digital ID card that is your all-in-one access on campus. It serves as your photo ID, meal plan, access to the library and fitness center, entry to your residence hall, and more. And it provides free bus rides on Green Mountain Transit in the greater Burlington area! 

🐾 Catamount Core: the core curriculum model designed to expose students to the liberal arts, develop skills for integrating diverse knowledge, and establish foundations for lifelong learning and active community participation. 

🐾 CCRH: an acronym for the Central Campus Residence Hall 

🐾 CEMS: An acronym for the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences 

🐾 Central Campus: a region of campus that includes Central Campus Residence Hall, Converse Hall, Howe Library, the Davis Center, Central Dining, and many academic buildings

🐾 CESS: An acronym for the College of Education and Social Services

🐾 CNHS: An acronym for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Concentration: an area of specialization within a broader field of study, focusing on a core set of courses in a specific subject area. 

🐾 Convocation: An annual celebration for first year and new transfer students that marks the official beginning of the academic year and begins the induction into the UVM community for new students. 

Course Catalog/List: An official list of academic offerings detailing course descriptions and credit hours per course. 

Coursicle: A free app and website that helps college students plan their schedules and register for classes

🐾 Davis Green: a large outdoor green space located outside of the Davis Center and Howe Library 

🐾 DC: A nickname for the Dudley H. Davis Center – The Davis Center 

Degree Audit: an enhanced tool to aid students in tracking their progress toward degree completion, it also provides an accurate representation of what requirements have been completed and what is still needed to graduate 

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that current and prospective college students (both undergraduate and graduate) in the United States complete to assess their eligibility for financial aid. 

Federal Work Study (FWS): A federal financial aid program that offers part-time employment to students based on their financial need and the availability of jobs within the university.  

FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the federal law that safeguards the privacy of students' educational records. 

First-Gen: A college student who is the first in their family to go to college 

🐾 Fishbowl: an open study space with large windows located on the 2^nd floor of the Davis Center across from the Marketplace

🐾 GSB: An acronym for the Grossman School of Business  

🐾 Gut: The nickname for the Gutterson Field House where hockey games occur. 

Handshake: UVM’s platform for job and internship opportunities 

Hold: A hold (or registration hold) may be placed on a student’s account for reasons such as academic dismissal, unmet advising requirements, unpaid debts, or failure to return library items. This hold usually prevents registration or transcript access, indicating that UVM requires resolution of specific issues or meetings with advisors before it can be lifted. 

🐾 Howe Beach: the front steps outside the front entrance of the Howe Library, on a sunny warm day you can find many students hanging out and socializing at the Beach 

🐾 Howe Library: the main library on campus offering a robust collection of books, e-books, serials, databases, periodicals, and other resources 

🐾 L&L: an acronym for the Living/Learning Commons located on Athletic Campus  

🐾 LC: an acronym for Learning Community - communities organized around a common theme and coordinated by dedicated program staff, provide easily accessible events that foster engagement outside the classroom, promote intentional integrative learning, and strengthen student connections.  

🐾 Living Well: a home base for health promotion on the UVM campus. Whether you’re looking for medical services, drop-in counseling, or help changing habits, you can find it at Living Well.

Major: The subject or area that students focus their coursework on (e.g., Computer Science) to earn their degree; students typically need to "declare" their major by the end of their sophomore year. 

🐾 MAT: An acronym for the Marsh/Austin/Tupper residential building complex 

Matriculate: to be admitted, registered, and in good academic standing at the university 

Minor: A secondary focus or area of study that students can pursue while earning their degree, requiring fewer classes than a major. 

🐾 MyUVM: an individualized webpage that gathers together information and links to information for Students, Faculty, and Staff at UVM. 

🐾 Navigate 360: A student success management platform that connects advisors, deans, faculty, staff, and students within a coordinated care network aimed at enhancing student success and ensure a positive return on education 

🐾 New Student Orientation: a comprehensive in-person orientation experience where you will learn what it means to be a UVM Catamount by exploring campus life, learning about campus resources, building community with fellow new students

Office Hours: designated times each week when professors and teaching assistants meet with students to provide additional help, discuss course material, and foster connections. Typically held in the instructor's office, the specific days and times are listed on the syllabus, and successful students make use of these opportunities every semester. 

🐾 OIE: an acronym for the Office of International Education - assisting students and faculty engaged in study abroad programs and assisting international students, scholars, faculty and staff studying and working at UVM

Outlook: the Microsoft platform that your UVM student email is housed in 

🐾 Patrick Gym: an indoor athletic facility home to the UVM athletics programs, several events throughout the year that occur in Patrick Gym such as FallFest 

🐾 PLHC: an acronym for the Patrick Leahy Honors College 

Prerequisite: courses required to take more advanced courses or apply to a program 

🐾 Pre-Orientation Program: commonly referred to as a POP, these programs are designed to immerse students in a smaller community before their New Student Orientation in August, offering opportunities for academic discovery, adventure, meaningful connections, and a sense of community that reflects various interests and experiences. 

Professor: typical term for faculty teaching at a college 

Provost: the chief academic officer responsible for advancing academic excellence, enhancing the intellectual climate, fostering faculty collaboration, supporting innovative instruction, promoting diversity and inclusion, and creating an outstanding student experience 

Pulse: The mobile app for Brightspace allows students to access their courses from their mobile devices. You can view course content, grades, course calendars and receive notifications in the Pulse app.

RA: an acronym for Resident Advisor – student leaders in residence halls who foster community, serve as mentors, and assist residents with questions, concerns, and issues throughout the academic year 

🐾 Rally Cat: the name of the UVM mascot 

🐾 Redstone Campus: a region of campus that includes Redstone Hall, Southwick Hall, Coolidge Hall, Slade Hall, Mason/Simpson/Hamilton, Wing/Davis/Wilks, the Department of Residential Life, Redstone Dining Hall, the Interfaith Center, and the Catholic Center 

🐾 Registrar: an office at UVM that manages course registration and academic records, including class scheduling and transcripts. The office provides efficient support for students, faculty, and staff with registration, record-keeping, verifications, and transfer evaluations while ensuring compliance with academic policies. 

Registration: the process of securing a spot in specific classes for enrolled students 

🐾 Res Life: a nickname for Residential Life – a department at UVM that manages on-campus housing and promotes a positive living environment for students. It provides support, resources, and programs to enhance the residential experience, fostering community and personal growth within the residence halls. 

🐾 RSENR: An acronym for the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources 

🐾 SAS: An acronym for Student Accessibility Services - a department at UVM that works with admitted students to ensure equal access to UVM academic programs and services 

🐾 SGA: An acronym for Student Government Association - A student-run governing body that encompasses all UVM clubs and organizations, advocating for policies and decisions to enhance the student experience. 

🐾 SFS: An acronym for Student Financial Services - a department at UVM that offers support for financial aid, scholarships, student loans, and tuition billing. SFS helps students navigate funding options and financial responsibilities throughout their education.  

🐾 Student ID Number: commonly referred to at a 95 number, is a nine-digit numeric identifier used to access an individual’s records within UVM’s academic and administrative systems. It always begins with "95" 

Syllabus (syllabi is the plural of syllabus): A document, often viewed by students and faculty as a binding agreement for a course, provided at the start of a term. It outlines essential elements of the course, including learning objectives, assigned readings, assignments, tests/quizzes, and other requirements or expectations.

Teams: Microsoft Teams is a collaborative communications platform that includes class teams, chat, video meetings and calls, and file sharing, allowing for collaborative document editing. 

Transcript: An official record of courses completed, and grades received at a specific institution. 

🐾 TrinCity: A nickname for the residence halls that make up Trinity Campus 

🐾 Trinity Campus: a region of campus that includes McAuley Hall, Mercy Hall, the “Back Five”, the Cottages, Jeanne Mance Hall, and Northside Dining 

 🐾 Twilight Induction: A candlelight ceremony that serves as your official induction into the University of Vermont. 

🐾 UPB: A nickname for UVM Program Board - student-led group charged with bringing exciting, dynamic, and diverse campus events and activities to YOU - the UVM student.

🐾 UVM CATS Bus: A mobile app that displays the routes and locations of the UVM CAT Shuttles in real-time, along with their stops.

🐾 WDW: An acronym for the Wing/Davis/Wilks residential building complex  

Withdrawal: To drop a class after the add/drop period 

🐾 WOW: An acronym for Week of Welcome - annual week of events during the first week of classes, featuring a variety of activities to help students connect with friends and the campus community, along with free events and food.