College comes with a lot of new words, systems, and abbreviations. Use this guide to understand common academic terms, UNL tools, and campus acronyms you may see in classes, advising meetings, emails, bills, registration, or student support offices.
Academic Terms
Academic Advisor – A university staff member who helps students select courses, understand degree requirements, discuss academic goals, and address academic concerns. Find your academic advisor.
Academic Calendar – The university calendar with important dates, including the start and end of each term, holidays, tuition deadlines, drop deadlines, and withdrawal deadlines.
Academic Dismissal – A status used when a student does not meet the academic standards required to continue enrollment. Students should work with their academic advisor if they have concerns about their academic standing.
Academic Warning – A status used when a student’s cumulative GPA does not meet the minimum requirement for their college. Students on academic warning should meet with their academic advisor and use campus support resources.
Academic Standing – A student’s official academic status with the university. Examples may include good standing, academic warning, or academic dismissal.
Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) – UNL’s general education program. Undergraduate students complete ACE courses as part of their degree requirements.
Bachelor’s Degree – An undergraduate degree awarded after a student completes all university, college, major, and credit hour requirements.
Catalog – The official university resource listing academic policies, degree requirements, course descriptions, and program information.
Class Number – A unique number used to identify a specific class section during enrollment.
Course Number – The number assigned to a course. For example, a 100-level course is usually designed for first-year students, while 400-level courses are usually more advanced.
Credit Hour – A unit used to measure the amount of academic work for a course. Many courses are three credit hours. Students usually need a certain number of credit hours to graduate.
Credit/No Credit – A grading option where a student earns credit for completing a course without receiving a traditional letter grade. Students should talk with their academic advisor before choosing this option.
Drop – Removing a course from your schedule before the posted deadline. Dropping a course may affect billing, financial aid, academic progress, or full-time status.
Elective – A course a student chooses to take that may not be required for their major. Some electives still count toward graduation requirements.
Enrollment Appointment – The date and time when a student can begin enrolling in classes for an upcoming term.
Full-Time Student – An undergraduate student enrolled in 12 or more credit hours during a fall or spring semester.
General Education – Courses required for undergraduate students that support broad learning across different academic areas. At UNL, this is connected to ACE requirements.
GPA – Grade Point Average. A number used to represent a student’s academic performance. GPAs are calculated using course grades and credit hours.
Hold – A restriction on a student account. Some holds prevent students from enrolling in classes. Students can check holds in MyRED and follow the listed instructions to resolve them.
Lecture – A class format where an instructor teaches course content to a group of students.
Major – The main area of study a student chooses for their degree.
Matriculate – To be admitted to the university and begin as a student in a degree program.
Minor – A secondary area of study. A minor usually requires fewer courses than a major.
Office Hours – Times when instructors are available to meet with students. Students use office hours to ask questions, review course material, discuss assignments, or get help before they feel stuck.
Permission Code – A code or approval that allows a student to enroll in a course when enrollment is restricted.
Prerequisite – A course or requirement a student must complete before enrolling in another course.
Recitation – A smaller class meeting often connected to a larger lecture. Recitations may include discussion, problem-solving, review, or group work.
Registrar – The university office that manages student records, transcripts, enrollment, graduation records, and academic policies related to registration.
Section – A specific offering of a course. The same course may have multiple sections with different meeting times, instructors, or locations.
Syllabus – A course guide from the instructor. It usually includes assignments, due dates, grading policies, attendance expectations, required materials, and contact information.
Transcript – An official record of a student’s courses, grades, credit hours, and academic standing. Students have access to their unofficial transcript in MyRED.
Waitlist – A list students join when a class is full. If a seat opens, students on the waitlist may receive a chance to enroll.
Withdrawal – Leaving one or more courses after the drop deadline, or leaving the university for a term. Students should talk with their academic advisor and Husker Hub before withdrawing because it may affect financial aid, billing, housing, and academic progress.
UNL Systems and Tools
Canvas – UNL’s learning management system. Students use Canvas to access course materials, submit assignments, check grades, view due dates, and read course announcements.
Degree Audit – A tool showing how completed, in-progress, and planned courses apply to a student’s degree requirements.
Handshake – A career platform students use to search for jobs, internships, career fairs, employer events, and career-related opportunities.
Husker Email – A student’s official university email account. Students should check Husker Email often because university offices, instructors, advisors, and student support offices use it for official communication.
Husker Hub – A student services office that helps with scholarships, financial aid, billing, student accounts, registration, and related questions.
MyRED – UNL’s student information system. Students use MyRED to enroll in classes, check holds, view grades, manage financial aid, review billing information, and update personal information.
MyUNL – The centralized hub for essential education tools, connecting you to Canvas, MyRed, email, Handshake, Libraries, and more for a seamless university experience.
NvolveU – UNL’s platform for student organizations, campus events, and involvement opportunities.
Transferology – A tool students use to explore how courses may transfer to UNL.
Campus Support and Student Success
Academic Success Coaching – A one-on-one meeting where students work with an academic success coach in the Center for Academic Success and Transition to build skills for college success. Topics may include time management, motivation, procrastination, study strategies, test preparation, stress management, and campus resources.
Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST) – A campus resource that provides academic success coaching, academic support resources, and transition programs to help students succeed at UNL.
Center for Advocacy, Response and Education (CARE) – A university team that receives referrals when someone is concerned about a student’s well-being, safety, or success.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) – A campus resource that provides mental health support, counseling, and related services for students.
Explore Center – A campus office that supports students who are exploring majors, pre-professional pathways, or academic options.
International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) – Providing support for international students and scholars, including immigration advising, cultural and academic programs, travel signature requests, and help using the iGlobal portal.
Military and Veteran Success Center (MVSC) – supports military-connected students, including military dependents, veterans, active duty students, Guard students, and Reserve students.
Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) – A campus office that coordinates accommodations and support for students with documented disabilities.
Student Advocacy and Support (SAS) – A campus resource that helps students navigate personal, academic, financial, or other challenges affecting their college experience.
Study Stop – A UNL academic support resource where students can receive help with selected courses and study alongside peers.
Tutoring – Academic support where students work with another person to review course material, ask questions, and strengthen understanding.
Learn more about the wide range of support services available at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Career and Experiential Learning Terms
Career Fair – An event where students meet employers, learn about jobs or internships, and practice professional communication.
Cover Letter – A document submitted with a résumé to explain a student’s interest in a position and highlight relevant skills or experiences.
Experiential Learning – Learning through hands-on experiences such as internships, research, service, leadership, employment, or projects.
Internship – A work experience that helps students gain skills, explore a career field, and apply what they are learning.
Job Shadowing – An experience where a student observes a professional at work to learn more about a career field.
Networking – Building professional relationships with people who can share advice, information, or opportunities.
Reference – A person who can speak about a student’s skills, character, work habits, or experience during a job, internship, or graduate school application process.
Résumé – A document that summarizes a student’s education, work experience, leadership, skills, involvement, and accomplishments.
Undergraduate Research – A learning experience where undergraduate students participate in research or creative activity with faculty, staff, or research teams.
Additional Terms and Acronyms
AY – Academic Year
CAS – College of Arts and Sciences
CASNR – College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (pronounced kaz-ner)
CEHS – College of Education and Human Sciences
CoA – College of Architecture
CoB – College of Business
CoE – College of Engineering
CoJMC – College of Journalism and Mass Communications
CSE – School of Computing
FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid
FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. A federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.
First-Generation Student – A student whose parent or guardian did not complete a four-year college degree. Some students may define this differently based on their family or educational background.
HLCFPA – Hixson-Lied College of Fine & Performing Arts
International Student – A student who comes to the United States from another country to study at UNL. International students often work with the International Student and Scholar Office for support with immigration requirements, student visas, travel documents, and adjusting to life at the university.
Peer Mentor – A trained student leader who helps other students build connections, understand campus resources, and navigate college expectations.
TA – Teaching Assistant
Transfer Student – A student who attended another college or university before enrolling at UNL.
UGEP – Undergraduate Education Program
Undergraduate Student – A student working toward a bachelor’s degree.
Still Have Questions? University language can feel confusing at first. You do not need to figure it out alone. CAST can help you understand academic expectations, campus systems, and student success resources.
Our goal is to provide the most up-to-date information on campus resources. If you notice term or acronym is missing or needs to be updated, please let us know by emailing success@unl.edu. Your feedback helps us ensure this page remains a valuable tool.