Tiger Vocabulary
Often colleges and universities seem to operate by using their own language. Words, phrases or abbreviations are used in conversation or descriptions that might be challenging to understand for anyone not already immersed in the university culture. To help aid in that understanding, we have compiled a comprehensive list of college language and our own unique Tiger lingo, listed in alphabetical order.
Accreditation - Certification that a school or institution has met standards set by an outside review organization.
Articulation Agreement - An agreement between two or more institutions to transfer courses. The agreement identifies specific courses that may be taken at participating institutions in lieu of courses at the University of Memphis.
Blue Line - Complimentary shuttle service for students with various pick-up/drop-off locations around campus and nearby sites.
Bursar - Manages and directs services and activities involving student financial accounts
Canvas - Online course management system used in classes to take quizzes and tests, have online forum discussions and turn in coursework.
Carpenter Complex - An apartment-style residence hall north of Central Avenue.
Shirley C. Raines Centennial Place - Residence hall at Patterson Street and Norriswood Avenue with traditional single- and double-rooms along with 24 apartments.
Canvas - Online course management system used in classes to take quizzes and tests, have online forum discussions and turn in coursework.
Commencement - Graduation ceremony that honors graduating students in all schools and colleges.
Convocation - An event held on the first day of the semester where students learn UofM traditions and are introduced to staff and faculty members.
Course Catalog - A semester-based listing of course offerings and academic requirements. Whichever course catalog a student enters into the University with will be their academic requirements for college completion.
CRIS - Campus Recreation and Intramural Services is located south of Southern Avenue. The office manages the Student Recreation and Fitness Center which offers workout equipment, a pool, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts for students, faculty, and staff. Student access is free.
Daily Helmsman - The student newspaper on campus.
Disability Resources for Students (DRS) - An office on campus to support students with special learning needs and accommodations.
Elective - A course that is not required for a major or minor. For example, if your student is majoring in history, they may take an art class as an elective.
FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA must be filled out to be awarded grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs.
FedExForum - Basketball arena located in downtown Memphis, where the men's basketball team plays their home games. The Forum is also home to the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.
Fieldhouse - On-campus athletic facility where the women's basketball team competes when at home. (Elma Roane Fieldhouse)
Final Exam Period - Period of time when final examinations are administered to students.
Frosh Camp - A four-day immersive extended-orientation camp for incoming freshmen. It is held 2-3 times during the summer and allows students to meet campus leaders and fellow classmates to build lasting friendships.
Graduate Assistant (GA) - A graduate student assisting a department or office in its daily functions.
Go Tigers Go! - Chant from the University fight song that can be heard at athletic functions and around campus.
Graduate Student - Student who has completed a bachelor's degree and is working on completing a master's or doctoral degree.
Greek - A member of a fraternity or sorority.
Holds - A hold may be placed on a student's academic record for various reasons, such as non-payment of tuition and fees, not returning library books, library fines, not satisfying immunization records, parking fines or academic reasons. Most holds prevent students from registering or release of a student's academic records. Students should check their myMemphis account to contact the correct office to satisfy the requirements to have the hold removed.
"I'm So Glad I Go to the UofM" - University song that can be heard at athletic events.
Incomplete - A temporary grade given to a student who has to leave a class with the intention of completing it within the next semester. An "I" will appear on the student's transcript until all requirements have been fulfilled.
Internship - A part-time or full-time temporary job in a real-world setting closely related to a student's area of study. It may be done for college credit and it may be a paid or unpaid position.
Liberty Bowl - Football stadium, located at Central Avenue and East Parkway, where the football team plays its home games. (Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium)
LLC - Living Learning Complex-Honors and Scholars Housing. A residence hall located on Patterson Avenue that houses honors, themed or major-based communities of students.
Loan - Money borrowed through government financial aid programs or private institutions to pay for tuition and educational expenses. Loans must be repaid after graduation or withdrawal from school.
Major - The area that a student chooses to specialize in for their studies.
MATA - Memphis Area Transit Authority provides public transit services by bus in the Memphis metro area.
Minor - Academic area that a student chooses to specialize in that requires fewer courses than a major.
myMemphis - The central portal system that allows students, faculty and staff to manage their personal information and University-related accounts. Students can register for classes, view their financial aid package, student accounts, transcripts and request enrollment verification.
Office Hours - Times each week that professors and instructors are in their office to speak with students. Professors usually announce their office hours on the first day of class and on their print or web-based course material.
Prerequisite - A course that must be completed before a student can enroll in a more advanced course.
Priority Parking Permit - Students can opt to purchase a priority parking permit for select gated access parking lots or garages for an additional fee each semester.
Provost - Chief University officer who oversees all academic areas of the University.
Resident Assistant (RA) - Typically an upper-level student who manages and oversees a group of rooms and the students living in them in a residence hall.
Registered Student Organization (RSO) - There are more than 200 RSOs on campus for students to get involved in. The Student Government Association (SGA) and Student Activities Council (SAC) are two examples of student organizations.
RSO Fair - On the first day of classes, all Registered Student Organizations participate in a fair for all students to attend and learn about different opportunities available on campus.
Student Academic Success - Departments in Student Academic Success connect students and their families to the resources needed to succeed academically.
Student Affairs - Departments within Student Affairs connect students and their families to resources that help them become engaged and involved in campus life, leadership, military resources, multicultural resources, career, volunteerism and more
Study Day - The day before the start of the final exam period during most regular semesters that is set aside for studying and exam preparation. No classes or student events/activities are scheduled this day.
Syllabus - An outline from the professor of the requirements, academic policies, and schedule of assignments for the course.
Teaching Assistant (TA) - A graduate-level student assisting in the teaching of an undergraduate course with a professor.
Tiger Den - Dining location in Jones Hall that offers options including an all-you-care-to-eat buffet-style dining hall and Subway
Tiger Eat$ - All full-time undergraduate students taking at least one class on-campus receive $350 in Dining Dollar$ in the Fall and Spring semesters to be used at any on-campus dining facility or vending machine.
Tiger Patrol - A safety escort service operated through Police Services that deploys trained student employees to accompany students to their car or residence hall at night.
Tiger Funds - Money added to a student's account allowing their campus ID card to be used like a debit card for transactions at locations across campus, including dining locations, some vending machines, the bookstore, and various locations off campus. Funds can be added to a student's account through the Bursar's Office in Wilder Tower or online.
Tiger Lane - Special place located near the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium where Memphis Tiger students, alumni and fans can gather to tailgate.
Tiger Leadership Institute (TLI) - Tiger Leadership Institute is a program that intends to make long-term leadership education available to any undergraduate student. Three levels of training are offered, with each level having a specific audience and purpose.
Tiger Learning Communities - are learning communities that use clusters of courses to connect different disciplines to a common theme. The specially selected faculty incorporate their specific theme in assignments and activities throughout the semester.
Tiger Link - A software system utilized in Career Services for students to access job and internship listings, career fair information, on-campus interview schedules, resume and cover letter templates, online practice interviews, and the ability to schedule career advising appointments through an online calendar system.
Tiger Scholarship Manager - Online portal for students to apply for internal and external scholarships.
TOM's (Tigers of Memphis) Restaurant - A restaurant located in the University Center with popular food options and space for students to gather. It includes a big screen television and pool tables for students to enjoy.
TigerXpress - Online system for paying student fees and reviewing financial statements pertaining to student's account.
TigerZone - An online operating system and mobile app that houses all of the registered student organizations. This portal shows students what events are happening on campus and what RSO's they can plug into.
TOM - University of Memphis live mascot, TOM the Tiger. TOM (Tigers of Memphis) lives in a sanctuary in North Mississippi and his care is funded by the Highland Hundred booster club. TOM is a regular visitor at home football games.
Transcript - An official university statement of a student's academic record.
University Center (UC) - Building on campus that houses student services, including a 24/7 computer lab, campus post office, student organization offices, dining options and meeting and event space. Often called the heart of campus, it is the central gathering place for students
UMDegree - Online course planning and degree tracker to help students keep up with their number of credits, courses still needed for their major and completed classes.
Undergraduate - A student who is working toward a bachelor's degree.
UUID - The University Identification number assigned to each student upon application to the University. This number is located on your student's Campus Card as well as in their MyMemphis account.
Wilder Tower - Tallest building on campus that houses many of the student services offices, including the Registrar, Bursar, Admissions, Financial Aid, Recruitment, Orientation, Career Services, Counseling Center and Disability Resources for Students.
Work-Study - A federal financial aid award that is need-based and earned over time by working in an on-campus job designated as "work-study". The federal government subsidizes 75% of the hourly wages a student earns through an on-campus work study job. Students who are not eligible to receive a work study award can also find employment on campus as a regular student worker.
