Glossary of Common Terms
Have you overheard other UREM team members using acronyms that sound like a foreign language? Ever received an email that included an unfamiliar abbreviation? Do you find yourself wondering about the proper terms to use when talking with prospective families?
For those who answered “yes” to any of these questions, we created this Glossary of Common Terms to help you communicate efficiently with all teams that make up our unit.
Admissions Terms:
- ACs – Stands for Admissions Counselors.
- Academic deposit – A payment made by the student after acceptance to the University. This payment secures a spot in the freshman class for the student and is the first step to becoming an enrolled student. Residents pay $150; Non-residents pay $250.
- Banner/STAR – Banner/STAR is a tool used to access student records such as application status, deposit status and general information about the student such as intended major, decision, dates of decision/status, test scores, GPA, confirmations of receiving other non-application materials and contact information.
- Divisional campus – WVU has two branch campuses, WVU Beckley, home of WVU Institute of Technology and Potomac State College. Students can complete courses at these campuses and fill out a change of campus form to allow them to transfer to the Morgantown campus. To transfer to Morgantown, students must have at least a 2.0 GPA and may also need at least 24 credit hours completed.
- First-Time Freshman (FTF) – Usually seniors in high school or students who have waited a semester/year to apply but have not attended another institution as a full-time student. Dual-enrollment courses are usually taken during the junior or senior years in high school and do not count as being enrolled as a full-time student.
- First-Time Transfer (FTT) – A non-WVU student switching institutions after completing at least a semester at another institution. This will be the student’s first time at WVU.
- High-ability student – A student with an ACT at or above a 30 or the SAT equivalent with a 3.80 GPA.
- High School Access – An early college program that allows students in high school to take select courses at WVU at a reduced cost.
- Housing deposit – A payment ($225) made by the student after paying the academic deposit and filling out the housing contract online.
- Melt – When a student pays an academic deposit but then cancels their deposit or doesn’t enroll in classes.
- Merit-based scholarships – These scholarships are non-competitive scholarships based on the minimum requirements in GPA and ACT/SAT scores. As long as a completed application is filed with Admissions, a student can be eligible for these scholarships by the deadlines outlined. An application does not need to be reviewed or have a decision made before or by the deadline; we just require the application form, test scores, GPA, high school transcript and senior schedule.
- MIX – Stands for Mountaineer Information eXpress. Every admitted student receives a MIX account on their admit letter. They will use this to be able to log in to WVU systems.
- New Student Orientation (NSO) – Required of all first-time freshman students. This program is offered almost every weekday in June before the start of the student’s enrollment semester.
- Non-resident (NR) – Students who claim any other state but West Virginia as their state of residency.
- Resident (R) – Students who claim West Virginia as their state of residency.
- Regional Recruiters (RRs) – These individuals are Admissions Counselors who live in their territories.
- Special Tour (ST) – A group visiting through the Visitors Center, not during the regularly scheduled tour times.
- TUMAY cards – Inquiry cards which stand for “Tell Us More About Yourself.” These cards include Name, Date of Birth, Mailing Address, E-mail Address, High School, Year of Graduation, GPA and Field of Study. Counselors take TUMAY cards to college fairs and even private visits to accumulate more inquiries. Always ask if the student receives information from WVU before he/she fills out a card or provides a barcode for scanning.
- Term – The first semester that a student will enroll at the university. Students can enroll in either the fall, spring, or summer terms. For example, Spring 2020, Fall 2021. In Banner, these will be recorded using a number (Fall 2019 – 201908; Spring 2019 – 201901; Summer 2019 – 201905)
- Yield – The percent of students that complete the next steps (application yield, deposit yield).
SFS Terms
- Banner/STAR – Banner/STAR is a tool used to access student records such as application status, deposit status and general information about the student such as intended major, decision, dates of decision/status, test scores, GPA, confirmations of receiving other non-application materials and contact information.
- Campus Logic (CL) – Web-based program SFSS utilizes to review verification documentation, SAP appeals, EFC appeals, budget appeals, additional unsubsidized loan eligibility, etc.
- CashNet – Website where student/parent may set up a tuition payment plan for the current/upcoming term.
- Cost of Attendance (COA) – Estimate of cost to attend the university as part of the process to plan and budget for all expenses.
- Entrance and Exit Counseling – Counseling requirement through the US Dept of Education before any federal direct loans are disbursed.
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC) – Estimation of student/parent ability to contribute to students' secondary education.
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loan (FDSL) – Available to undergrads and does not accrue interest while the student is in school.
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan (FDUL) – Available to undergrads and graduate/professional students and accrue interest on disbursement.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) – Grant for undergraduates with exceptional financial need.
- Federal Work-Study (FWS) – Jobs that help students earn money to pay for college or career school.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – Form to apply for financial aid.
- FSA ID – Allows students/parents to identify themselves electronically when applying for FAFSA.
- Higher Education Adult Part-Time Student Grant (HEAPS) – Needs-based financial aid for WV students who desire to attend part-time.
- Master Promissory Note (MPN) – A legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan(s).
- Mountaineer Hub (Hub) – A division/area of SFSS that provides customer service for financial aid, student accounts, registrar and federal work-study departments.
- Peer Educators Program – Students mentoring their peers; assisting with debt management associated with college loan debt.
- Pell Grant – A subsidy the U.S. federal government provides for students who need it to pay for college.
- PLUS Loans (Parent and Grad) – Credit-based financial aid for undergraduate and graduate students.
- Private loans – Credit based financial aid.
- PROMISE Scholarship – Merit-based financial aid program for West Virginia residents.
- R2T4 – Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to apply a formula established by the U.S. Department of Education, titled R2T4, to determine the amount of federal financial aid a student has earned as of the student's withdrawal date.
- Removal for Nonpayment (RNP) – Students with balances over $1000 during fall or spring terms will be removed from classes; $200 or more during the summer sessions.
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) – Standards that ensure students are successfully completing their coursework and can continue to receive financial aid.
- Student Financial Support Services (SFSS) – Manages financial aid and student account/funds management services.
- Team Dynamix (TD) – System in which students and staff may submit online tickets for assistance in FA, student accounts, IT, etc.
- Third-Party Sponsors – Entities that pay institutional charges for a student. Ex: Military, vocational rehabilitation, etc.
- Verification – The process WVU uses to confirm that the data reported on the student’s FAFSA form is accurate.
- West Virginia Higher Education Grant (WVHEG) – The West Virginia Higher Education Grant is a need-based financial aid program designed to ensure West Virginia students with financial need are given an opportunity to pursue post-secondary education.
- WVU.afford.com – Website where students/parents may set up a direct deposit of refunds associated with their financial aid/student account.
- 529 College Savings Plan – Tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future education costs.
University Relations Terms
- Freshbooks – Invoicing software used as an Accounts Receivable tool to create, send, track and store invoicing for the unit.
- Ganttic – Scheduling software used by the Video and Photography departments to track equipment, people and campus spaces for efficient use of resources.
- Health Science Center Photography Studio (HSC Studio) – Room G290 used to take professional portraits on the HSC campus on Tuesday mornings, 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. and on Thursday afternoons, 1 - 3:30 p.m.
- Mountaineer E-News – Daily news of West Virginia University offered online for faculty and staff. Visit enews.wvu.edu to check in on WVU news and sign up for daily email briefs.
- Mountaineer U-News – Daily news of West Virginia University offered online and designed especially for students. Announcements may be submitted at students.wvu.edu.
- One Waterfront Place Studio (OWP Studio) – Room 1120 is a shared space between Video and Photography. This space is required to be scheduled on Ganttic for various activities, including professional portraits, video productions, voice-overs, educational sessions, etc.
- Pcard – Credit card issued by the state of West Virginia with daily and monthly limits to use for business purposes only.
- Slack – Communication platform software used to connect teams and workgroups with ease.
- Teamwork – Project management software to connect teams and workgroups on project statuses.
- Wufoo – An online order form to schedule photography, video and other creative services that UR offers.