Complied here are a list of terms associated to college-specific language and LMU culture. It is our hope to dispel forms of hidden curricula by explaining coded language and college going jargon. This is list is not exhaustive and will continue to be built upon.
Alternative Breaks (AB)—Alternative Breaks (run through CSA) are local, national, and international service trips and cultural exchanges during university breaks and holidays.
Academic Advisor—“Your New Best Friend” a.k.a. the person who will explain policies and procedures, provide guidance, give direction in your next four years. If you have a major/minor in a different college than your major, you may have an additional advisor.
Academic Disqualification—When you have two consecutive semesters (Fall or Spring) in which the work earns you a GPA of 2.0 or in which you fail to meet conditions imposed by the Dean or other academic entity.
Academic Probation—C average (2.0) in term, major, program, or cumulative GPA
Academic Integrity—Students must represent themselves truthfully, claim only work that is their own, acknowledge their use of others’ words, research results, and ideas, using the methods accepted by the appropriate academic disciplines, and engage honestly in all academic assignments.
Academic Good Standing—Undergraduate students must maintain a C average (2.0) in term, major, program, and cumulative GPA. The calculation is based upon courses taken in Fall and Spring semesters only.
ACE—Academic Community of Excellence (ACE) prepares underrepresented students (as defined by the U.S. Department of Education) and other students of color to pursue graduate and professional school.
APSS—Asian Pacific Student Services (see EIS)
ARC—Academic Resource Center (ARC) is home to University Advising, Tutoring Programs, and First To Go.
B.A.—Bachelor of Arts
B.S.—Bachelor of Science
BCLA— Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts (primarily humanities and social sciences, also the largest college at LMU).
CLC—Christian Life Community
Core Courses: General liberal arts courses that meet the university graduation requirements.
CPD—Career and Professional Development (CPD) provides career coaches, networking events, internships, and Career Treks.
CSA—Center for Service and Action (CSA) offers service and immersion opportunities locally and abroad.
Graduation Requirements—General education requirements consist of a certain number of units that cover a variety of fields designed to stimulate an interest in areas of knowledge not necessarily related to a student’s major field.
Brightspace—Platform embedded in MyLMU that provides instructors and students with instructional and communication tools for Web-based on-line instruction and learning.
Class Standing—Class level based on the amount of units earned.
CFA—College of Communication and Fine Arts
Closed and Restricted Classes—Courses not open to all students, i.e. majors only, prerequisites needed, etc.
CLSS—Chicano Latino Student Services (see EIS)
College—There are six colleges within the university:
- Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts (BCLA)
- College of Business Administration (CBA)
- College of Communication and Fine Arts (CFA)
- School of Education (SOE)
- School of Film and Television (SFTV)
- Seaver College of Science and Engineering (Seaver)
Course Load—Units enrolled per quarter.
DegreeWorks—Platform that tracks your progress towards your degree. Accessible through PROWL.
Registration Appointment—The first available time that you may enroll in classes through PROWL for a specific semester.
EIS—Ethnic and Intercultural Services (EIS) is to support the intercultural learning and development of students, specifically those from historically underrepresented backgrounds at LMU. Departments:
- APSS (Asian Pacific Student Services)
- BSS (Black Student Services)
- CLSS (Chicano Latino Student Services)
- JSL (Jewish Student Life)
- MSL (Muslim Student Life)
- LGBTSS (LGBT Student Services)
- TLC (The Learning Community)
FERPA—Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is designed to protect the privacy of students by limiting third party access to student education records. It restricts what student information we can share, even to family members and friends.
Flags—required that at least six of your classes meet the flag requirements for graduation involving oral skills writing, and others, denoted with the following acronyms:
- LINL: Information Literacy
- LWRT: Writing
- LORS: Oral Skills
- LQTR: Quantitative Literacy
- LENL: Engaged Learning
FTG—First To Go (FTG) offers resources and opportunities for first-generation college students.
GPA—Grade Point Average.
Graduate with Honors—Highest: top 2%, High: next top 4%, Honors: next 10% of graduating class.
Honors (or University Honors Program)—Program with honors core courses, intellectual immersion outside the classroom, and honors community.
PROWL—LMU’s web service which provides student’s access to enrollment, checking grades, checking billing status, change address, etc.
LGBTSS—LGBT Student Services (see EIS)
Loyolan—The weekly student newspaper.
Incomplete—An Incomplete, or an “I,” is a provisional grade which denotes that a student’s work was of passing quality but incomplete.
Internships—An internship is a transformative educational experience in which students take on meaningful responsibilities within an organization and contribute to its. Depending on the position it is either paid, unpaid, or for course credit.
JSL—Jewish Student Life (see EIS)
Late Add/Withdrawal—This refers to late course additions or courses withdrawals after the posted deadline allowing for changes. Petitions must be submitted with documentation for consideration by the Dean.
LMU email—LMU web E-Mail account. The official means of communication on campus.
Major—A coordinated group of courses in a field of specialization.
Minor—A sequence of selected courses (18 - 24 units) designed to enhance an area of interest. A minor is not required.
MSL—Muslim Student Life (see EIS)
Office Hours—Hours set aside by instructors and advisors for meeting with students during the semester.
OBSS—Office of Black Student Services (see EIS)
ONIF—Office of National and International Fellowships
Plagiarism—The copying of language, structure, or ideas of another and attributing the work to one’s own efforts, using another’s work without giving credit.
Prerequisites—A required course that must be met prior to enrollment in a particular course.
Registrar—Only official “Office of Records” for students pursuing degrees at LMU, the Office of the Registrar is authorized to issue official transcripts, award degrees, certify enrollment, etc.
Registration Holds—Prevents registration until hold is cleared by department. PROWL indicates needed action by the student and/ or the department who placed the hold. (To check: Log into myLMU>select “PROWL” from the “Academics” tab>Select “Student Services”>Select “Registration”>Select “Spring 2021” from the dropdown menu>Your holds will be listed here. Holds will be outlined in red and will need to be addressed by contacting the “originator” of the hold.
Service Organizations—Commonly known as “service orgs," are ten organizations, each with their own unique history, mission and service commitments:
- Agapé
- Belles
- Creare
- Crimson Circle
- Espérer
- Gryphon Circle
- Ignatians
- Magis
- Marians
- Sursum Corda
SES—Student Employment Services provides on-campus, part-time, and seasonal jobs, assists with training and support, and processes employment paperwork for students.
SFL—Sorority and Fraternity Life
S/NC—Satisfactory/No Credit grading basis. Must receive a “C or better” to receive credit.
Study Abroad—Study Abroad Program. Students may study in other courses for university credit.
TA—Teaching Assistants. Graduate students who hold discussion sections and who help provide additional guidance under the direction of the instructor.
TLC—The Learning Community (see EIS)
Transfer Agreements—Classes from other institutions that have been approved by the LMU Registrar’s Office as LMU equivalents and can be counted as certain core courses (search “transfer agreements” on LMU’s website and scroll to find the college you are looking to transfer credits from).
Unit—Measure of work required for a course.
Waitlist—On-line waiting list for closed courses.