AAAS 

African American and Africana Studies. Students in this major and minor explore the experiences of people of African descent in the African Diaspora, including the United States, Africa, Caribbean, Latin America and Europe. 

ALMA

Association of Latinos Motivated to Achieve. This organization strives to educate students on the issues affecting the Latino community.

ASD 

Admitted Students Day. This spring event is an opportunity for accepted students to visit campus. 

ASE 

Annual Student Exhibition. A monthlong exhibition in the Berman Museum of Art that showcases the work of our student artists. 

BAPS

Brodbeck Anders Pre-health Society. This group focuses on educating students about health-care professions and preparing them to succeed in medical and graduate studies. 

BCMB 

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. These sciences—offered as a major and a minor—investigate how cells and molecules function to make life possible. Growth, development, reproduction, genetics, sensory function, memory, immunological defenses, diseases, and every biological response can be explained in terms of the structures and interactions of cells and molecules. 

Bears’ Den

Large meeting room located outside of the entrance to the dining hall in Upper Wismer.

Bear Tracks

The uniquely-Ursinus online journaling platform where students can engage in deep self-reflection based on their learning experiences in and out of the classroom.

BPS

Beardwood, Paisley, Stauffer. This connected trio of residence halls for first-year students is located between Wismer Center and Facilities, behind “Getting Involved VIII,” our famous sculpture of a woman knitting on a bench.   

BWC

Brodbeck, Wilkinson, Curtis. This connected trio of residence halls for first-year students is located between Reimert Hall and Myrin Library.

CEDC 

Collegeville Economic Development Corporation. This local non-profit helps shape Collegeville to be an appealing destination for businesses and a great community for families. 

CIE 

Common Intellectual Experience. A two-semester course for first-year students that brings academic inquiry to the central questions of a liberal arts. 

CTCL 

Colleges That Change Lives. This nonprofit organization recognizes colleges for their ability to help students succeed. Ursinus has the distinction of being one of only 45 colleges featured in the nation.

CoSA 

Celebration of Student Achievement. Every April, classes are rescheduled for a day and the entire Ursinus community comes together to attend talks, poster sessions and performances presented by students from every discipline. 

CPD 

Career and Post-Graduate Development. This office seeks to ensure that students and graduates are strongly positioned to succeed. They arrange internships and externships; handle student employment; run workshops focusing on resumes and graduate school; and host our annual job fair.

CPPC 

Campus Planning and Priorities Committee. A committee that focuses on strategic-plan formation and oversight and review of requests for tenure-track positions. 

EMS 

Event Management System. This software is used to reserve spaces on campus. 

ENV 

Environmental Studies. This major and minor studies human interaction with the environment in the interests of solving complex problems. 

EV

Escape Velocity. Our student-run dance company hosts a show every semester.

F/S Dining Room 

Faculty/Staff Dining Room. This space, located in the dining hall in Upper Wismer, is reserved for faculty and staff. 

FLB 

Floy Lewis Bakes Center. This athletic building houses a fitness center, dance room, pool, field house, classrooms, Natural juice bar and the Helfferich Gymnasium.

Gauntlet

Following convocation—the formal opening of the academic year for first-year students—faculty, staff and students line up in a “gauntlet” outside of Bomberger Hall to welcome and cheer on the newest class of Bears. The same type of formation takes places four years later as the class exits commencement and passes through a gauntlet formed by faculty.

GOLD 

Graduates of the Last Decade. This terms refers to students who have graduated in the last 10 years. 

Grizzly

Our weekly school newspaper is produced by and for the students of the college.

HaMM Lab

Heart and Muscle Metabolism Lab. This laboratory provides opportunities for students interested in pursuing research on metabolic adaptations that occur in both cardiac and skeletal muscle.

HEP

Health and Exercise Physiology. This major and minor prepare students for graduate-school opportunities in exercise physiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, gerontology, wellness management, sports medicine, and health and physical education teacher certification. 

IDC 

Innovation and Discovery Center. This building, which connects Pfahler and Thomas Halls, houses classes, labs and collaborative spaces, as well as the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good and the U-Imagine Center for Integrative and Entrepreneurial Studies. 

IIE 

Institute for Inclusion and Equity. This office, located in Lower Wismer, offers a central space for all students from equity-seeking groups. 

ILA Form

Internship Learning Agreement Form. This is completed by the student in collaboration with the faculty internship adviser and the host site supervisor for an internship. 

IRB 

Institutional Research Board. This group ensures appropriate protection of all research subjects to address specific issues related to research of humans. 

IL

Interlibrary Loan. Provides access to resources beyond Myrin Library to support the research and information needs of faculty, students and staff.

IR

International Relations. This interdisciplinary program, which is offered as a major and a minor, encourages students to use the knowledge and skills of anthropology, economics, history and politics to learn about peoples, societies and governments around the world as well as the international organizations that influence cooperation and conflict.

ISS 

Institute for Student Success. Responsible for developing persistence, self-awareness and independence in all students. This group handles tutoring, help rooms, disability services, advising and more.

LIT 

Library and Information Technology. Unites the traditional functions of the library, information technology and event technology. 

MAPS 

Minority Association of Pre-medical Students. Provides students (with an emphasis on those underrepresented) with knowledge, skills and experiences that are both prerequisite and in connection with professional participation in health-care fields. 

MCS 

Media and Communication Studies. This major and minor prepare students for graduate work in media and communication studies; careers in the communication and information industries; and leadership positions in business, law, politics and education. 

NIH 

National Institute of Health. Government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the medical fields of science and engineering. 

NSF 

National Science Foundation. Government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. 

PDR 

President’s Dining Room. Room located off of the main dining hall on the upper level in Wismer.

PIT

Pfahler, IDC, Thomas. Refers to all three buildings.

Ruby

The name of the Ursinus College yearbook, which has been published in 1896 and was named for Ursinus English Professor Samuel Vernon Ruby.

SEO

Student Engagement Office (formerly SAO or student activities). Offers leadership opportunities through more than 100 student clubs and organizations, which include student government and Greek life, as well as groups related to the arts, community service and more. In addition, the SEO offers programs, resources and services intended to contribute to the social, educational and cultural learning at the college. 

SASA

Southeast Asian Student Association. A student group dedicated to increasing diversity by hosting cultural events on and off campus.

SFS 

Student Financial Services. This office administers a comprehensive program of aid funded through Ursinus, as well as federal, state, and private sources. 

SkM Lab

Skeletal Muscle Lab. Provides opportunities for students interested in pursuing research on cells.

SMART 

Sexual Misconduct & Advocacy Resource Team. Group of faculty and staff prepared to appropriately and compassionately support students who are affected by sexual violence. 

SMC 

Sports Medicine Clinic. Home of the Ursinus College Sports Medicine Department, which is located on the ground floor of the Floy Lewis Bakes Center. 

SPTQ 

Student Perception of Teaching Questionnaires. Provides schools and teachers with a means of gaining valid and useful feedback about the quality of their teaching. 

STAT 

Students Today Alumni Tomorrow. Campus organization focused on exposing students to what it means to be proud Ursinus alumni and Bears for Life. It is composed of enthusiastic students dedicated to educating the campus community about philanthropy as it relates to the college, increasing student engagement and school spirit, and advocating on behalf of the office of advancement.

SUN

Sankofa Umoja Nia (Black Student Union). The purpose of this organization is to foster a sense of awareness and promote educational and cultural programs throughout the Ursinus community.

UCARE

Ursinus Center for Advocacy, Responsibility and Engagement. The hub for community engagement and social advocacy at Ursinus College. Through partnerships with more than 30 community agencies, UCARE provides a variety of hands-on service opportunities and trainings for our students.

UCDC 

Ursinus College Dance Company. Group of dancers and associated personnel who work together to perform dances as a spectacle or entertainment. 

USGA 

Ursinus Student Government Association. Seeks to accurately represent the study body in decisions affecting the students and conversations with administration.

UDAC 

Ursinus Day Academic Convocation. The official start of the academic year and welcome for the new class of students. 

XLP

Experiential Learning Project. 100% of students complete the XLP via an internship, externship, teaching assignment, creative or research project, civic-engagement commitment, or semester studying abroad.