Emory Lingo
As you are preparing to begin your time at Emory you may come across some acronyms or phrases that you don't quite understand. From understanding what exactly a Provost is, to deciphering abbreviations like "GER" or "ESC," we're here to help you make sense of some common Emory terms and phrases.
The following resource is meant to assist you in talking-the-Emory-talk, should you ever get confused or want to learn more about a certain piece of lingo. As you are exploring during the time leading up to Orientation Week, if you come across an acronym or phrase you would like to add to our list, please let us know at ec.orientation@emory.edu. Feel free to use the filters below to help find exactly what you are looking for.
Emory Lingo
Back to topAcademic Advisors are assigned to all students. Your Academic Advisor can assist with general support, college policies, and more. You can learn more and find your individual advisor at Emory College's Academic Advising website.
Emory offers programs to support student learning. These include coaching, group study, peer tutoring, workshops and small groups. In addition, special support is available for students with special needs and those for whom English is an additional language. You can learn more at Emory College's Academic Support website.
The way many students, faculty, and staff refer to the Goizueta Business School. You can learn more at Emory's Goizueta Business School website.
A BBA is the degree type you will receive if you complete the degree requirements set forth from the Goizueta Business School.
Campus Life at Emory serves as the Student Affairs division of the University. You can learn more at Emory's Campus Life website.
Canvas is Emory's online learning management service. Many of your professors will utilize Canvas to host course content, discussion boards, assignments, and more. You will use Canvas over the summer to complete Emory Essentials. Click here to log into the Canvas website.
Through the Career Center, there are 8 different Career Clusters help you discover possible career paths in a wide variety of roles and industries where you can express your passion and interests creatively.
These clusters are:
These clusters are:
- Business
- Creative
- Environmental & Sustainability
- Health & Human Services
- Law, Policy, & Government
- Non-Profit, Education, & Advocacy
- STEM
- Pre-Law
CD is the abbreviation for Complex Directors. CDs are professional staff members who help oversee the individual residence halls on campus.
Emory's Clairmont Campus is a quick shuttle ride from Main Campus and features the Student Activity and Academic Center (SAAC) as well as several residence facilities. You can learn more at the SAAC website.
Clifton Road is one of the main streets adjacent to Emory. Along Clifton Road you will find the Woodruff Residential Center (WoodREC), a housing complex for upperclass students, and the 1526 Clifton Road building, where Student Health Services is located.
If a course is closed it simply means you will not be able to register for this course because the course is full, not accepting a Waitlist, or you may not meet certain requirements for a specific course.
College Connect or College Connect Hub is the portal where you can request an appointment with an OUE Academic Advisor, register for Academic Support services, and more services available through the Office for Undergraduate Education (OUE). You can learn more by accessing the College Connect hub website.
College Council is the Student Government of the Emory College of Arts and Sciences. You can learn more at the College Council website.
Commencement describes Emory's official graduation ceremony. The ceremony is typically held in the Quadrangle and celebrates the accomplishments of graduating students from across the entire University.
Convocation is your official academic welcome to Emory. Taking place on the day before classes begin, Convocation brings together the incoming first-year class in a traditional celebration complete with bagpipes, academic regalia, and an address from the Provost.
The Course Atlas provides descriptive listings of courses during a particular semester. The Course Atlas allows you to see how many open seats are available in a course, when it's offered, and even add the course to your OPUS Shopping Cart. You can learn more by accessing the Course Atlas website.
Cox Bridge is located in front of Cox Hall (where the Emory Clocktower is) and houses various pop-up events throughout the year.
As the primary dining facility, the Dobbs Common Table is located on the ground floor of the Emory Student Center. You can take advantage of a variety of different cuisines and daily specials there.
The Dean is a title given to the person with the authority over a specific school or college. The dean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences is Michael A. Elliott. You can learn more about Dean Elliott, and other ECAS senior leadership at the Deans & Senior Leadership of Emory College website.
The official Spirit of Emory and one of the most interesting Emory traditions.
Dooley Dollars are a component of a University meal plan. Dooley Dollars purchases are always tax-free. Additionally they enjoy a 5% discount at all dining locations except for food trucks and the Farmer's Market. As part of a campus meal plan, Dooley Dollars may only be used at campus dining locations including food trucks and the Farmer's Market. You can learn more at Emory Dining's website.
Eagle Dollars are not part of the campus meal plan and are administered through the University EmoryCard office. They may be used at a variety of on-or off-campus (e.g. bookstore or CVS) locations in addition to all dining locations. Eagle Dollar purchases are taxed at the current Georgia State tax rate. You can learn more at Emory Dining's website.
Eagle Row is the primary street that loops around Emory's campus. Many residences, including greek housing, is located along Eagle Row.
ECS 101 is a course that, as an incoming first-year student, you will take in your first fall semester. Transfer students can elect to take specifically designated sections of ECS 101 in the fall. You can learn more at the ECS 101 website.
Your Emory Email is your official form of communication at Emory. You will have access to your Emory Email upon your admission. You should make it a regular practice to check your Emory Email.
Taking place on McDonough Plaza, the Emory Farmer's Market, typically held on Tuesdays from 11am - 3pm, features fresh, seasonal local produce; artisan bread; honey; other artisan products and baked goods; fair trade and organic coffee options; and diverse lunch options.
The Emory Welcome app is your guide to Emory! Incoming students and families should use this app as a resource for the Orientation experience. From registering for classes to finding the location of your very first Coke Toast, Emory Welcome will give you the information you need to navigate Emory.
Your official ID at Emory which grants you access to your meal plan, residence hall, library, and more! Students should upload a photo for their EmoryCard by July 1. You can learn more at the EmoryCard website.
EPD is the abbreviation for the Emory Police Department. You can learn more at the Emory Police Department website.
The Emory Student Center houses many Campus Life offices. Many campus events happen within the Emory Student Center's conference rooms and Multipurpose Space on the ground level.
FERPA or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a United States federal law that governs the access to educational information and records by public entities such as potential employers, publicly funded educational institutions, and foreign governments. You can find more information about FERPA on the Office of the University Registrar's website.
The First-Year Student To-Do List is your comprehensive to-do list before starting classes at Emory. You can review the tasks at on OPUS, in Emory Essentials, and on the NSP website.
You may interact with some Graduate Assistants during your time at Emory. GAs are graduate students who may assist with research, classroom instruction, staff efforts, and various other projects.
GER is the abbreviation for the General Education Requirements, which make up a component of your Emory graduation requirements. All students complete GERs as part of their degree. The GERs are split into distinct categories with their own abbreviation codes. You can learn more by visiting the Emory College General Education Requirements website.
The Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life (OSFL) oversees Greek Life organizations at Emory. Greek Life consists of a series of social-based national organizations with individual ideals and interests. First-year students are not eligible to join Greek organizations at Emory until at least their second semester. You can learn more about at the Emory Sorority and Fraternity Life website.
This acronym stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a US law designed to protect patients' medical records. Students can learn more about what is required for new students in regards to health records by visiting the Student Health Services website for new students.
Both intramural and club sports are a great way to get involved in recreational sports and activities at Emory. Intramural Sports are typically played among students, faculty, and staff internal to Emory, whereas Club Sports are chartered organizations granted permission to compete both internally and against external opponents (including tournaments or other universities). You can find more information at the Emory Recreation and Wellness Programs website.
ISSS is the abbreviation for the Office of International Student and Scholar Services. International Students studying on an F-1 Visa will be assigned an ISSS advisor to assist with immigration and other needs specific to International Students. You can learn more at Emory's International Student and Scholar Services website.
ISW is the abbreviation for the International Student Welcome, the pre-orientation program required for students studying at Emory on an F-1 Visa. ISW will introduce you to resources tailored for international students.
Liberal Arts describes a cross-discipline educational model. Emory is a Liberal Arts institution, meaning students are expected to explore inter-disciplinary approaches to solving the challenges of today. You can learn more about Emory's view of the liberal arts by visiting the Emory College of Arts & Sciences website.
Once you declare your major, you will be assigned a Major Faculty Advisor. Major Faculty Advisors will assist in ensuring you are on track to graduate. You can learn more at Emory College's Academic Advising website.
The National Scholarships & Fellowships Program provides information and support for Emory College students, undergraduates enrolled in other Emory University divisions, and recent alumni interested in pursuing nationally competitive merit awards and internal Emory awards.
NSP is the abbreviation for the Office of New Student Programs. A part of the Office for Undergraduate Education, NSP oversees the Orientation Experience and the ECS 101 course for incoming students.
OL is the abbreviation for your Orientation Leader. OLs are undergraduate students who are trained to facilitate elements of your Orientation Week experience. As a peer mentor, your OL will help guide you through Orientation Week and can continue to serve as a point of contact regarding your experience at Emory.
OPUS, or the Online Pathway to University Students, is the online student information system that you'll use to register for classes, pay bills, update contact information, list emergency contacts, and more. You will use OPUS regularly throughout your time at Emory. You can learn more by accessing the OPUS website.
Orientation Week describes the time from Move-in through the first week of classes. Through a series of interactive events and presentations, Orientation Week is your chance to connect with fellow incoming students, learn from peer mentors, and engage with faculty members.
OUE is an abbreviation for the Office for Undergraduate Education. OUE serves as the Academic Affairs division of Emory College of Arts and Sciences, which includes academic advising, academic support, undergraduate research, and various other resources. You can learn more at the Office for Undergraduate Education website.
As one of Emory's nine schools, Oxford College is the original location of Emory College in Oxford, Georgia. While 1,500 students start their Emory journey on the Atlanta campus, 500 students start at our Oxford campus. Your Oxford classmates will join you on the Atlanta campus during junior year!
Oxford Graduate is the term given to students who completed their time at Oxford College and have transitioned to the Atlanta Campus.
The Pathways Center helps Emory College students and alumni reach their full potential through integrated career services, undergraduate research, national scholarships and fellowships, pre-health advising, and experiential learning.
Pre-Health Advising is housed in the Pathways Center and provides services and advising for students who intend to apply to a healthcare professional program, of their choice, after graduation.
A prerequisite describes a course or process that is required before enrolling in a related course. For instance, while you are registering for classes, you may find some courses have prerequisites, meaning you will need to take another course before enrolling in your initially desired course.
Emory's President serves as Emory's central leader. The President presides over various University events, including Commencement, and oversees the various Schools, Colleges, and entities of Emory University and Emory Healthcare. Emory's current president is Gregory L. Fenves. You can learn more at Emory's Office of the President website.
The Provost serves as the Chief Academic Officer of Emory University. Unlike a dean who oversees a specific college or school, the Provost oversees all academic units at the University. You can learn more at Emory's Office of the Provost website.
The Quadrangle is often described as the heart of Emory. The Quad, as it is referred to often, houses many academic buildings, including Candler Library, home to the Dean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences. The Quad also plays host to many special Emory events, most notably Commencement (Emory's Graduation Ceremony) in the Spring. The Quad is a great place to take a break from classes, catch up with friends, or study outdoors.
RA is the abbreviation for Resident Advisor. These undergraduate student leaders are located in each residence hall and provide programming and support to students living on campus.
Res Life describes your experience living on campus. This experience is coordinated by the Office of Residence Life. This includes the educational programs that are provided by the first-year residence halls. More information can be found at the Emory Residence Life website.
Residence Halls (a term that replaces the use of 'dorms') describe the living facilities for students on campus. All Residence Halls provide distinct experiences and certain amenities. You can learn more about residence halls by visiting the Emory Residence Halls website.
You will have the option to take some classes as S/U or Pass/Fail. S/U Courses do not affect your GPA. S/U courses cannot be used to fulfill GER or major requirements.
SA is the abbreviation for Sophomore Advisor. Sophomore Advisors are volunteers, chosen for their leadership skills and enthusiasm, who assist first-year students in adjusting to college life. They are sophomores who live on first-year floors and assist the RA (Resident Advisor) and CD (Complex Director) in creating an atmosphere of community.
The SAAC is located on Emory's Clairmont Campus and features an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, workout area, and gymnasium. You can also take advantage of a grab-and-go dining facility and study spaces available in the SAAC.
SGA is the abbreviation for the Student Government Association, the preeminent policy-setting organization for all undergraduate students, responsible for allocating the student activity fee and representing students on all undergraduate campuses. You can learn more at the Emory SGA website.
Your Shopping Cart is a tool in your OPUS account (under the Course Planning and Enrollment tile). You can use your Shopping Cart to hold classes ahead of your official registration time.
SILT is the abbreviation for the Office of Student Involvement, Leadership and Transitions. SILT advises several student organizations, including Student Government and the Student Programming Board, in addition to providing leadership development opportunities. You can learn more at the SILT website.
SPC is the abbreviation for the Student Programming Council, Emory's undergraduate student programming board. This student-run organization is responsible for planning many signature events for students including Dooley's Week.
Emory University Student Health Services (EUSHS) provides outpatient care for enrolled Emory students with a valid Emory ID card. You can learn more at the Emory Student Health Services website.
Swoop is the name of the eagle mascot of Emory University. Swoop helps represent Emory's athletics teams, the Emory Eagles.
Some of your classes may utilize TAs or Teaching Assistants. These individuals assist professors and also provide classroom instruction.
The College is how many students, faculty, and staff refer to the Emory College of Arts and Sciences.
The Hub is the primary database for students to explore various student organizations and events based on interests and other filters. You can learn more by accessing the Hub website. The mobile version of the Hub is the Corq app.
A transcript is your official academic record of classes, and ultimately, your degrees earned at Emory. Your transcript lists the classes you have taken, the grades you received, as well as your declared major/minor. You can request an unofficial transcript anytime through OPUS.
URP is the abbreviation for Undergraduate Research Programs. URP oversees various programs and events to help Undergraduate students participate in research opportunities. You can learn more at Emory's Undergraduate Research Programs website.
Students can choose to Withdraw from a course if needed and you meet certain criteria. When withdrawing from a course a "W" will appear on your transcript. You will learn more about this process during ECS 101, but you can also review more information at the Emory College Withdrawals website.
The First-Year Quadrangle, separate from the main University Quadrangle, is located near Eagle Hall, Raoul, and Hamilton Holmes Residence Halls. This grassy area is a great space to connect with fellow residents and engage in a variety of activities. The First-Year Quad is named for James Wagner, a former president of Emory University.
WoodPEC is the abbreviation for the Woodruff Physical Education Center. The WoodPEC houses the Offices of Recreation and Wellness as well as Emory Athletics. At the WoodPEC, students can take advantage of the gym and fitness facilities, attend various sporting events, or take part in educational fitness, dance, or nutrition classes. You can learn more at Emory's Recreation and Wellness website.