Learn the Lingo
Academic Advisor
Academic Advisors are assigned to every student. They guide students to make informed decisions, including choosing the appropriate courses related to their degree program.
Academic Probation
A warning is issued to students when their Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below the minimum level (2.00).
Academic Success Center (ASC)
Provides several free programs and resources, including tutoring, to enhance learning and student success.
Academic Suspension
Students must meet cumulative GPA standards to maintain their enrollment. Students on academic suspension have failed to raise their academic performance by the end of the probation semester.
Acronyms
- ASC – Academic Success Center
- CDC – Career Development Center
- DASA – Division of Academic and Student Affairs
- EMAS– Enrollment Management and Services
- FDOC– First Day of Classes
- FSL – Fraternity and Sorority Life
- LDOC– Last Day of Classes
- MSA – Multicultural Student Affairs
- NSP – New Student Programs
- OIED – Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity
- OIT – Office of Information Technology
- OSFA – Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
- OUR – Office of Undergraduate Research
- PFS – Parents and Families Services
- SSC– Student Services Center
- UAB – University Activities Board
- UHP – Honors and Scholars Programs
Add/Drop Period
The grace period at the beginning of the semester when students can add/drop classes without academic or financial consequences.
Agromeck
NC State University’s yearbook documents the lives of students and on-campus faculty and staff. The Agromeck is the historical record for all things NC State for that academic year; ranging from football games to campus news, the Agromeck documents it all.
Atrium
The Atrium is a food court located on the Brickyard with a variety of meal choices for your students. Meal plans, Dining Dollars, and credit/debit cards can be used here.
The Brickyard
A plaza located on North Campus is a gathering spot for students, organizations, club fairs and events. The official name of the Brickyard is University Plaza.
Campus Community Centers
NC State’s Campus Community Centers are comprised of the African American Cultural Center, the GLBT Center, Multicultural Student Affairs, and the Women’s Center. The Campus Community Centers work to cultivate a sense of community, belonging and affirmation; providing spaces of support, leadership development and education for students at NC State University.
Career Fair
Hosted by the Career Development Center, companies and organizations are invited virtually or in-person to recruit potential student employees.
Cooperative (Co-op) Education
A program through the Career Development Center, allows students to combine coursework and employment in their career field.
C-Store
Convenience stores are sprinkled across campus where students can grab the essentials whether it be snacks or something else. Meal credits and dining dollars are accepted at most C-Store locations.
CODA
Change of Degree Application (CODA) is a centralized resource for students applying to add or change majors. Learn more at studentservices.ncsu.edu/your-degree/coda.
Colleges
- CALS – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- CHASS – College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- CNR – College of Natural Resources
- COD – College of Design
- COE – College of Engineering
- COS – College of Sciences
- WCOT – Wilson College of Textiles
- CVM – College of Veterinary Medicine
- PCOM – Poole College of Management
Centennial Campus
Centennial Campus is centered around the mission of research, innovation and collaboration with over 100 different businesses and government agencies. Home to the College of Engineering, Wilson College of Textiles and Hunt Library.
Dining Dollars
Flexible funds that supplement students’ meal plans. Can be used to cover the difference if you spend more than the allotted meal credit at a campus restaurant or cafe; Buy extra meals or snacks if a meal has already been used during a meal period; Make purchases at convenience stores (C-stores) and vending machines.
Disability Resources Office (DRO)
Provides a wide range of services for students with documented disabilities to ensure equal access and full participation in curricular and co-curricular activities.
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
A federal law designed to protect the privacy of students’ education records. With this law, the university is prohibited from disclosing a student’s academic record without the student’s consent. This federal law applies to all colleges and universities that receive funding from the federal government.
Free Expression Tunnel
One of three tunnels connecting the two sides of Main Campus bisected by railroad tracks. This tunnel is a unique space designated for students to share their thoughts and feelings. It is often used to advertise and highlight special events and opportunities on campus and is ever-changing.
Grade Exclusion
Undergraduate students have the ability to select up to two NC State courses with a grade of C- or below to be excluded from their cumulative GPA. Students can apply for grade exclusions through their MyPack Portal. Parents and students can access more information about grade exclusions online at policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-16.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
GPA is a summary (semesterly and cumulative) of a student’s academic record and is determined by your student’s earned grades. To see the grading scale and a GPA calculator, visit go.ncsu.edu/gpa-calculator.
Grading System
Evaluation of a student’s performance in a particular course or section is the prerogative of the instructor(s) responsible for that course or section. To see the regular grading scale and the detailed grading regulation, visit policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-50-03.
Hill Library
NC State’s Main Campus library. Study rooms, a makerspace, a coffee shop and creamery are just some of the features of this campus resource.
Housing
- Tri-Towers – Bowen, Carroll and Metcalf
- TOTA – Tucker, Owen, Turlington and Alexander
- QUAD – Bagwell, Becton, Berr, Syme, Gold and Welch
- WOW – Women of Welch
- WISE – Women in Science and Engineering
Howling Cow
NC State’s very own premium ice cream. Howling Cow is made on campus at the Feldmeier Dairy Processing Lab in Schaub Hall and offers over 16 flavors available at creameries located on both Main and Centennial Campuses, as well as the Dairy Education Center and Creamery.
Hunt Library
The University’s Centennial Campus library offers state-of-the-art technology and innovative architecture; it draws students of every discipline for its unique features.
Incomplete (IN)
A grade of incomplete is given to a student by an instructor for work not completed due to circumstances beyond the student’s control.
Internship
Practical experience students gain (paid or unpaid) in their major while working in a professional setting.
Leave of Absence
Granted to students who request a temporary break from studies. These students maintain their admitted status but not the privileges of registered students.
The Memorial Belltower at Henry Square
A monument was built on campus to honor NC State alumni who fought and died during World War I. The Belltower, as it is known on campus, is the center of many Wolfpack traditions and is illuminated red for holidays that honor our veterans, such as Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day, and to celebrate NC State’s proudest occasions and achievements.
Main Campus
The original campus of NC State is composed of North Campus and Central Campus, separated by railroad tracks. North Campus houses many academic buildings whereas Central Campus is the hub for student activity.
Meal Credit
Meal credits enable you to purchase a meal totaling a specific amount at one of our restaurants or cafés. They can also be used to get a take-out meal at the dining hall. Have a dollar value, value changes depending on meal period.
Meal Plan
A requirement for first-year students but offered to those living on and off-campus to streamline the dining experience at on-campus restaurants and cafes. Plans come with swipes, credits and dining dollars. Variety of options to fit various lifestyles.
Meal Period
A block of time where a meal credit can be used. There are several meal periods throughout the day and students can use one swipe or meal credit per meal period. Dining dollars are not subject to the meal period rule.
Moodle (Wolfware)
A University website with pages for each course in which a student is enrolled. On Moodle, students can check grades, turn in assignments and participate in online discussions.
Nubian Message
The voice of African-American students, Nubian Message allows people to learn about different aspects of African-American culture.
Office Hours
Typically listed on the course syllabus. These are meetings held outside of class for students to spend one-on-one time with their instructor (in person or online). It is a great opportunity for students to establish a relationship with their instructors and get the additional help they may need in their classes.
Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)
Promotes mentor experiences and resources to students interested in pursuing research that matches their interests.
Pre-Requisites
Courses students are required to satisfactorily complete before registering for an upper-level course.
Red Terror
A transit service that takes students from Witherspoon Student Center to and from Carter-Finley and PNC Arena for NC State home football and basketball games.
Repeating Courses
Undergraduate students have the opportunity to repeat a course without permission if the previous grade earned was a D+ or below. To repeat a course where the grade earned was a C- or above, students must first obtain an advisor’s approval. For more information, please go online and visit go.ncsu.edu/coursereapeat.
Residence Assistant
Resident Assistants (RAs) are trained student leaders who live in the residence halls and are responsible for coordinating programs and activities and addressing questions or concerns within the residence halls.
Residence Life Coordinator (RLC)
The residence life coordinator is a professional staff who lives in the residence hall. They supervise student leaders in the residence halls and serve as a resource for the residents.
Student Services Center (SSC)
Located in Harris Hall, NC State’s Student Services Center includes the Cashier’s Office, Registration and Records and the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, providing one-stop-shop for information about academics, calendars, finances and resources.
Study Buddies
An app designed to allow students to connect with other students in their class to create a study group.
Syllabus
Distributed to all academic courses, the syllabus provides a course description, learning outcomes, course structure, instructor’s office hours and contact information. It also includes required course materials and details of the plan for the semester, helping students plan their time wisely and complete the course successfully.
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistants (TA) are graduate or undergraduate students who assist professors in teaching undergraduate classes.
Technician
The on-campus student newspaper is published Monday through Friday during the academic year and is accessible at technicianonline.com.
Technician
The on-campus student newspaper is published Monday through Friday during the academic year and is accessible at technicianonline.com.
Technician
The on-campus student newspaper is published Monday through Friday during the academic year and is accessible at technicianonline.com.
Technician
The on-campus student newspaper is published Monday through Friday during the academic year and is accessible at technicianonline.com.
T.O.T.A
(Tucker, Owen, Turling, Alexander)
A centralized living and learning community on main campus that includes Tucker, Owen, Turlington and Alexander residential halls.
UAB
University Activities Board, an activity board for students by students that creates innovative activities that stimulate, motivate, educate and involve the student body.
To stay up-to date on upcoming UAB events visit orgs.ncsu.edu/uab/events.