Like countless other schools, the University of Virginia has plenty of slang, shorthand and acronyms used by its students, faculty and staff. It might seem intimidating at first if you’re new to it all, but don’t worry — this guide to UVA lingo should help you get used to the unique language used by Hoos!
- A-School
- The School of Architecture.
- Academical Village
- Thomas Jefferson’s idea that living and learning are connected, which is embodied by the community of UVA students, faculty, and staff. The Lawn is built around this concept, with faculty living in the Pavilions, students in the Lawn rooms and the Rotunda — formerly the University library — at its heart.
- AFC
- Short for the Aquatic & Fitness Center, the AFC is located across from the Alderman Road residence area.
- Arts Dollars
- Students can reserve one complimentary ticket online for various arts-related events around the Grounds.
- Beta Bridge
- The bridge on Rugby Road that students frequently paint to publicize events or display messages.
- Carr’s Hill
- The home of UVA’s president, located on Rugby Road from the sports field known as “Mad Bowl,” was finished in 1909 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Following an extensive renovation and systems upgrade, the home will reopen in 2019.
- The CD
- Short for The Cavalier Daily or The Cav Daily, the University’s newspaper run and produced by students.
- CIOs
- Contracted Independent Organizations. Most student organizations at UVA are CIOs, existing independently from the University. These organizations do not have official University advisors, and the University does not supervise, direct, or control the CIOs’ activities.
- Collab
- Short for UVaCollab, the University’s online course management software. Students use it to access their course syllabi, share resources, and do many other class-related activities.
- The College
- Short for the College of Arts & Sciences
- The Colonnades
- A location near Grounds, behind Lambeth Apartments in conjunction with Lambeth Field. Some club sports play here.
- Comm School
- Short for the McIntire School of Commerce, the undergraduate business school.
- The Corner
- Located on University Avenue, the Corner is the strip of restaurants and shops that is a favorite spot for food and drink for UVA students.
- E School
- Short for the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
- Final Exercises
- UVA’s Commencement ceremony. Finals Weekend refers to the entire weekend, encompassing events on Friday and including Valediction, Donning of the Kente, Joint ROTC Commissioning Exercises and more.
- First-Year, Second-Year, Third-Year, Fourth-Year
- Instead of freshman, sophomore, junior and senior students are referred to by their year of study at the University. Why? To be a “senior” implies that a person has reached the final phase of learning, a feat that Mr. Jefferson believed impossible, arguing instead that education is a lifelong process.
- “Good Old Song”
- UVA’s alma mater. It is sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne.”
- Grounds
- The term used by students, faculty and alumni to refer to the University. “Campus” is never used.
- Honor Men
- Poem by James Hay Jr., reminiscing on his time at the University and instructing students on how to live an honorable life.
- Honor of Honors
- Refers to graduating from the University of Virginia, coined by James Hay Jr. in his poem “The Honor Men”
- Honor System
- UVA students swear to not lie, steal, or cheat.
- JPA
- Jefferson Park Avenue, off grounds housing on the opposite side of Grounds from the Corner
- JPJ
- John Paul Jones Arena, home of UVA men’s and women’s basketball, and the venue for major concerts and many special events.
- Lawnie
- Students who live on the Lawn.
- The Lighting of the Lawn
- The Lighting of the Lawn is a December evening of a cappella music and fun, culminating in a music and light show.
- Mad Bowl
- The field across the street from the Rotunda on Rugby Road.
- Mem Gym
- Memorial Gymnasium.
- Nameless Field
- The field across the street from the tennis courts, below Carr’s Hill
- Pav
- Pavilion XI, the food court located on the first floor of Newcomb Hall.
- Rugby Road
- The street in Charlottesville where most (but not all) fraternity and sorority houses are located.
- SIS
- The Student Information System, used by students to register for classes and to maintain academic records and student accounts. Students connect to SIS by going to www.virginia.edu/sis.
- USEMs
- Short for University Seminars, which are small classes for first-year students only.
- Use of “Mr.” or “Ms.” for Faculty
- University faculty are referred to as Mr. or Ms. instead of Doctor, even if they have a Ph.D. Students and faculty historically addressed each other in this manner as well.
- Virginia, Hail, All Hail
- The official alma mater of the University.
- VIRGO
- The University Library’s online search catalog, available at https://search.lib.virginia.edu.
- Wahoos and Hoos
- An alternative name for the Cavaliers or the students at the University of Virginia.
- Zs, 7s, IMPs, Purple Shadows
- A few of the secret societies on Grounds, most of which are philanthropic organizations. In some instances, members are known, but in others, members’ names are kept secret.