SJU, just like UWaterloo, is full of acronyms. They help make conversations more efficient - but to someone who's unfamiliar they can also be alienating. When I came here as a first-year, it took me a few weeks to really understand all of the acronyms and what they represent. Once I got all of the acronyms down I really started to feel like an SJU student - and I hope with this post, you'll begin to feel the same way. We're all about inclusivity at SJU! Acronyms are listed in alphabetical order. Good luck with your head start! 

 

• AAC – Assistant Activities Coordinators. These upper-year students work with the RSLC to manage the SATs. They each have a subteam of five or so SATs and will use their experiences as former SATs to plan events and activities with them.

 

• ARBUS - Arts and Business. One of the programs in which you can academically co-register at SJU. Many St. Jerome's residents are ARBUS students.

 

• CA – Community Advisors. These upper-year students are senior Dons. They help the RSLC manage the Don team while being responsible for their own floor as well.

 

• CCR – Co-Curricular Record! Your non-academic transcript. Your CCR helps you to keep track of your extracurricular involvement at SJU and is given to you at graduation. It’s also an effective goal-setting tool! There are literally hundreds of possible opportunities to add to your CCR.

 

• CGR - Conrad Grebel College. One of the four university colleges. Home to the Peace and Conflict Studies and Music departments. 

 

• CEO – Chief Experience Officers. These upper-year students work with the Manager of Recruitment and Admissions to manage the XGs. They each have a subteam of about 6 or 7 XGs and will use their experiences to assist their team with tours.

 

• CIF – Columbia Ice Field. One of the two major gyms on campus. Most intramurals and shoe tag classes take place here. The Men’s and Women’s hockey teams play their home games at the arena and the football and rugby teams play next door at Warrior Field. CIF also houses UW`s most popular fitness room with weights and cardio machines.

 

• EV3 – Environment 3. Notable for being across from one of the bridges connecting the colleges to main campus – so many students refer to said bridge as the “bridge across from EV3,” or "the EV3 bridge."

 

• FLA – Frost Leader Advisors. These upper-year students work with the first-year Frost Leader team to plan events and activities for Frost week in the winter term.

 

• ICC – Inter-College Council. Representatives from each of the four university colleges meet once a week and plan an inter-college cup in the winter term.

 

• LC – Leadership Conference. SJU’s own, student-led conference all about leadership, usually held in January. There are two first-year positions available on the LC team!

 

• OSE – Office of Student Experience. Anything related to residence life goes through here. The RSLC, Dons, SATs - all of them work for the OSE. If you have questions about residence once you’re here, the OSE is where you go.

 

• PAC - Physical Activities Complex. The other major gym on campus. Men’s and Women’s volleyball, basketball, squash and swim teams play their home games here. PAC is set to undergo an expansion, approved by a student referendum in 2016, to connect with the SLC. This is scheduled to be completed in 2018.

 

• PALs - Peer Academic Leaders. These upper-year students work out of the SSO and provide support and guidance to students at SJU, whether co-registered or not. PALs hold workshops, stress-busters, and spend time at the Sweeney Hall front desk each week. Be sure to drop on by and ask questions!

 

• REN - Renison University College. Next door to SJU - it’s your view from all of the double rooms in residence.

 

• RSLC - the Residence and Student Life Coordinator. We’re very fortunate to have this role at SJU. They look after the Dons, the AACs (and the SATs), and SJU’s wellness staff. The RSLC deals with any major incidents that occur in residence as well.

 

• SATs - Student Activities Team. Probably the first people you’ll meet on move-in day. They’re a dedicated group of upper-year students who plan and run activities in and out of residence all year long. Become friends with the SATs; they're all super great people!

 

• SCH - South Campus Hall. This is where you go to buy your textbooks and UW swag. The main campus SSO is located here as well, along with a Tim Hortons and a 2nd-floor cafeteria with the best Shawarma on campus.

 

• SCMTs - Student Campus Ministry Team. These students assist the Director of Campus Ministry and Campus Ministry Coordinator with their 11 a.m. community mass and 7 p.m. student mass in Notre Dame Chapel, run weekly Bible study at SJU, and organize retreats throughout the year for students. First-year students can apply to be an SCMT in the winter term.

 

• SH - Sweeney Hall. This acronym isn’t said a lot (you’ll usually hear Sweeney Hall affectionately referred to as Sweeney) but you’ll probably see it on paper from time to time as SH. The OSE, SSO, Campus Ministry, and (soon) all of the faculty have their offices in Sweeney Hall.

 

• SJ1 - The building that houses the SJU library, Notre Dame Chapel, the Funcken Café, and several classrooms and offices.

 

• SJ2 - The new academic building. Lots of Arts classes are held in SJ2, along with Leadership Conference, Relay for Life, some community dinners, and other events.

 

• SLC - The Student Life Centre. Just across the creek from SJU. Home to late night snacks, the GLOW Centre, the Women’s Centre, study space, used textbooks, the campus pharmacy, and a ton of other student services.

 

• SLP - Student Leadership Program. A few SLP workshops will be held and facilitated at SJU throughout the term. Complete all 12 workshops and you’ll receive the Student Leadership Certificate!

 

• SMF - Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies. Worth noting because this Faculty of Arts department is chaired at SJU, so all of the SMF classes are taught here.

 

• STC - Science Teaching Complex. Home to UW’s largest lecture hall, the closest Starbucks - and is located across the street from SJ2.

 

• STP - St. Paul’s College. Another one of the university colleges close to SJU.

 

• SSO - The Student Success Office. Found in Sweeney Hall, this is where you go (and who you go to) when you have academic questions. The PALs and academic advisors work out of the SSO.

 

• XG - Experience Guide. An XG may have taken you on a tour of SJU when you were choosing schools. You might also know them as SJU Ambassadors. They’re a dedicated group of first and second-year students who assist the Manager of Recruitment and Admissions with undergraduate recruitment.

 

If this all seems a bit confusing to you now, don't worry. Learning all of the acronyms on campus, let alone SJU, is a process. It takes time. Keep studying this list and you'll be a pro when you show up on move-in day already knowing who the SATs are and what they do!