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

The following is a list of commonly used acronyms you may hear or see written throughout the community.

• ASC – Academic Success Center
• CDC – Career Development Center
• CODA – Change of Degree Application
• DASA – Division of Academic and Student Affairs
• EMAS– Enrollment Management and Services
• FDOC– First Day of Classes
• FSL – Fraternity and Sorority Life (see below for more information)
• LDOC– Last Day of Classes
• NSP – New Student Programs
• 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.

Attendance Regulations

Professors review their attendance rules at the beginning of the semester. Students can also find attendance regulations in their course syllabus. Visit https://go.ncsu.edu/attendanceregulations for more information.

(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.

Brickyard Accounts

Creating a Brickyard Account allows parents, guardians and all who champion their students to view academic records, enrollment information and enable university communications. To learn more visit https://parents.ncsu.edu/about/ways-to-connect/.

Career Fair

Hosted by the Career Development Center, companies and organizations are invited virtually or in-person to recruit potential student employees.

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.

Cooperative (Co-op) Education

A program through the Career Development Center allows students to combine coursework and employment in their career field.

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
• CVM – College of Veterinary Medicine
• PCOM – Poole College of Management
• WCOT – Wilson College of Textiles

Course Ready

Course Ready is NC State’s digital-preferred, flat-rate course materials program designed to streamline access to essential course materials for undergraduate students enrolled in undergraduate courses at NC State.

Eligible undergraduates will be automatically enrolled and receive email instructions to access course materials. To opt-out and obtain materials elsewhere, students must do so by the semester’s census date. Learn more go.ncsu.edu/course-ready

Dining Dollars

Flexible funds that are an important part of the meal plan. For Flex plan holders, they are often used restaurants, cafes, markets and vending machines, and if they run out of dining hall guest meals or daily takeout meals, Dining Dollars can be used instead. For all other meal plan holders, they can be used anywhere. Dining Dollars come with a 5 percent discount at the register and expire at the end of the academic year.

Dining Hall Takeout

Students with either a Flex Meal Plan or Block Meal Plan can use our Dining Hall takeout program to get a full meal to-go from select dining halls or One Earth in Talley Student Union. Click here to see how it works.

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.

Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL)

The Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) acknowledges organizations that are dedicated to a values-based fraternal experience. The department aims to prepare students for society by encouraging members of the fraternity and sorority community to uphold the highest principles and ideals established by their organizations.

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. 

Get Well Meal Kit

NC State Dining provides a meal option for campus residents who are not well enough to visit a dining facility or are self-isolating to avoid spreading illness. If you are too sick to visit a dining facility, our Get Well Meal Kit is available and stocked with non-perishable foods and drinks that can be eaten at your convenience in the comfort of your room. Click here to see how to get a meal kit delivered.

Grade Exclusion

Undergraduate students can 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 maker space, a coffee shop and a creamery are some highlighted features of this popular campus resource.

Housing

• Tri-Towers – Bowen, Carroll and Metcalf 
• TOTA – Tucker, Owen, Turlington and Alexander (see below for more details)
• 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. It offers over 16 flavors and is available at creameries located on both the 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

The practical experience students gain (paid or unpaid) in their major while working in a professional setting.

Leave of Absence

This is granted to students who request a temporary break from their 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, 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.

Market

Markets are sprinkled across campus where students can grab the essentials whether it be snacks or something else. Dining Dollars are accepted at all Market locations. 

Meal Plan

A convenient way to ensure meals are covered on campus. NC State Dining offers a variety of options, but first-year students living on campus are required to have a Flex plan. Learn more at dining.ncsu.edu/meal-plans

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 the Lenovo Center 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. It provides a 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

The syllabus, distributed to all academic courses, 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 semester plan, 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.

T.O.T.A

(Tucker, Owen, Turling, Alexander) 
A centralized living and learning community on the main campus includes Tucker, Owen, Turlington, and Alexander residential halls.

University Activities Board (UAB)

Comprised of four distinct committees, the University Activities Board is a student-led organization that puts on programs with endless and ever-changing topics. They strive to enhance the student experience by providing fun or even informative campus programs to give students a break from academics.

To stay up-to-date on upcoming UAB events, visit orgs.ncsu.edu/uab/events.