KENTspeak: Some Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Names Used at Kent State University*
KENTspeak: Some Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Names Used at Kent State University*
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
| A&A Deans | Associate and Assistant Deans, a group consisting of associate and assistant deans from academic colleges and regional campuses that meets monthly |
| A&S | Arts and Sciences, the academic College that houses baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in sciences, humanities, mathematics, social sciences |
| AA | Affirmative Action, the office that works to ensure equal access to employment and educational opportunities in support of the University's commitment to equal opportunity, affirmative action, and diversity |
| AAUP-SU | American Association of University Professors-KSU, the chapter of this national organization that represents faculty in collective bargaining and processes outlined in the CBA |
| AAUW | American Association of University Women, a national organization with a Kent State branch. It is a social organization whose membership includes wives of full-time administrators and faculty members and full-time women faculty members and administrators, among others. |
| ACAA | Advisory Committee for Academic Assessment, a group that works with the Associate Provost for Academic Quality Improvement to address issues of academic assessment across disciplines |
| AQIP | Academic Quality Improvement Project (pronounced A-quip), the alternative regional accreditation process of the Higher Learning Commission (of North Central Association) in which Kent State has participated since 2000 |
| Banner | Banner, the product name of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software application that supports the University’s core business and administrative functions |
| CAC | College Advisory Committee, the faculty governance unit within an academic college (such as Arts and Sciences, Nursing, or Education) |
| CAO | Committee on Administrative Officers, a Faculty Senate committee charged with representing the faculty in processes for reviewing and replacing senior academic administrative officers |
| CBA | Collective Bargaining Agreement, the faculty contract negotiated between the University and AAUP-KSU. There are two CBAs in effect: one for TT faculty and one for NTT faculty. |
| CCI | College of Communication and Information, the academic College that houses undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Communication Studies (COMM), Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC), Library and Information Science (SLIS), Visual Communication and Design (VCD), and Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (IAKM) |
| CCC | College Curriculum Committee, the representative committee that oversees curricular changes within an academic college (such as Fine and Professional Arts or Communication and Information) |
| CCS | Collegeof Continuing Studies, the center for continuing education, youth programs,professional development, personal enrichment, and other outreach programs |
| CDC | Chairs and Directors Council, the group of academic department chairs and school directors that meets monthly |
| CGSE | College and Graduate School of Education, the academic College that houses degree programs in Adult, Counseling, Health, and Vocational Education (ACHVE, pronounced “achieve”), Educational Foundations and Special Services (EFSS), Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies (TLCS). The college also has 14 research, outreach, and learning centers |
| CICP | Center for International and Comparative Programs, the administrative center for the major in International Relations and the minor in North Atlantic Security Studies; this Center alsoprovides services for international scholars, coordinates faculty and student exchanges with partner universities abroad, and assists international students in the International Student and Scholars Services Office (ISSS). |
| COA | College of the Arts, the academic College that houses the School of Art, the School of Fashion Design and Merchandizing, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre and Dance. |
| COBA | Collegeof Business Administrationand Graduate School of Management, the academic College that houses degree programs in accounting, economics, marketing, finance, management and information systems, as well as the Executive MBA, Master’s in Financial Engineering, and doctoral degrees |
| COC | Committee on Committees, the Faculty Senate Committee charged nominating faculty members for appointment to positions to be filled on Senate and University boards, councils, committees, and commissions |
| COMPASS | Computerized Adaptive Placement Assessment and Support System (pronounced COMPASS), is a computerized placement assessment developed by ACT to measures mathematics, reading, and writing skills. Kent State uses this placement assessment for advising the best placement for first-year students. |
| CON | Collegeof Nursing, the academic College that houses associate degree, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in nursing |
| COT | Collegeof Technology, the academic College that houses associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree programs in aeronautics, applied business, applied science, and technology |
| DAC | Diversity Advisory Committee, a committee that serves as an advisory group to the President, Provost, and Associate Provost for Diversity on diversity issues and sponsors programs celebrating diversity and leading to greater understanding. Each regional campus also has a DAC to promote campus activities and awareness related to diversity. |
| DFAC | Division Faculty Advisory Council, Associate Degree Nursing faculty body. |
| DL | Distance (or Distributed) Learning, the broad array of course offerings delivered through V-Tel, LearnLinc, and web-based instruction |
| EHHS | Education, Health, and Human Services, the academic College that houses degree programs in Adult, Counseling, Health, and Vocational Education (ACHVE, pronounced ACHIEVE), Educational Foundations and Special Services (EFSS), Exercise, Leisure and Sport (SELS), Family and Consumer Studies (FCS), Speech Pathology and Audiology (S&PA), and Teaching, Leadership, and Curriculum Studies (TLCS). |
| EMSA | Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, the division that focuses on co-curricular programs, activities, and services, including Admissions, Adult Services, Campus Life, Career Services, Dean of Students and Ombuds, Judicial Affiairs, Recreational Services, Residence Services, Student Disability Services, Student Financial Aid, Student Multicultural Center, University Health Services, University Registrar. |
| EPC | Educational Policies Council, the group of faculty and administrators that meets monthly to oversee curricular changes, curricular planning, admissions and graduation requirements, and other issues determined by the Faculty Senate. This is a Faculty Senate Council, which is convened monthly by the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Curriculum. |
| ERIP | Early Retirement Incentive Program, a program that allows the University to purchase 1/5 of an eligible member’s accumulated service credit to a maximum of 3 years. This program, as defined in the Ohio Revised Code for all STRS employees, is initiated periodically by the University as a result of collective bargaining. |
| ERP | Enterprise Resource Planning, a collection of software applications that use a common database to integrate the University’s business processes and is accessible to users through a web portal. For Kent State, this includes human resource management; financial management; student services; advancement; and sponsored programs. |
| EXIS | Experimental and Integrative Studies, an academic program administered by the Honors College that provides a means for faculty and members of the University community to develop, offer, and test innovative, topical, or temporary courses that are not regular curricular offerings of existing academic units. |
| FAC | Faculty Advisory Committee, the faculty governance unit within each academic department (such as Finance or Biological Sciences) |
| FC | Faculty Council, the interdisciplinary faculty governance unit within each of the seven regional campuses |
| FPDC | Faculty Professional Development Center, a center that focuses on supporting faculty in their many forms of scholarship and professional work and builds communities of teacher-scholars. The Center serves faculty, graduate students, administrators, and the University community. |
| FlashLine | FlashLine, the University’s web portal that provides access to email, self-service tools, workflow applications, and important information. Flashline can be accessed directly from the University’s homepage, www.kent.edu. |
| FlashWord | FlashWord, an individual’s password to access the University’s web portal, FlashLine |
| FSAP | Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, a department within HR, this program is a free, professional and confidential service designed to assist faculty, staff, and immediate family members of Kent State University with any type of personal problem or concern |
| FYC | First Year Colloquium, US 10097, the University’s required freshman orientation course |
| Honors | Honors College, along-standing College that recruits high-ability students, challenges them with a rigorous curriculum, and supports them with close advising and co-curricular programming. It is open to students of all majors, with courses offered at the Kent Campus and five regional campuses. |
| HR | Human Resources, a division that includes Affirmative Action, Faculty Staff Assistance Program, Human Resource Development, Human Resource Services, Women’s Resource Center, and the Work/Life Program |
| IDC | Interdepartmental Charge, a transfer of funds from one University account to another (also used as a verb, “Just IDC me on that”) |
| IAAAC | International Affairs Academic Advisory Committee, a group that provides guidance to the Executive Director of International Affairs |
| IS | Information Services, the division that provides systems and technology to the University, including academic initiatives, academic computing, electronic security and compliance, New Media, and Moulton Hall operations |
| ISSS | International Student and Scholars Services, an office within the CICP,provides a broad range of services to Kent State University international students, scholars, faculty, and university administrators (including federal and state regulations) |
| JAB | Joint Appeals Board, the joint faculty-administrative body created by the collective bargaining to hear and make final recommendations to the President with regard to appeals by full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty of decisions in specified areas |
| KAPS | Kent Academic Progress System (pronounced CAPS), anautomated degree audit system that allows students to monitor their progress toward degree completion. Students can access their KAPS reports through WFS. |
| KEYS | Project K.E.Y.S., the abbreviation for “Kent State ERP is Your Solution,” the ERP/Banner installation and conversion project |
| LCI | Liquid Crystal Institute, the research center that is the focal point for international research in the field of liquid crystalline materials. Unique in concentrating on both basic research and technological development, the LCI is also home to the Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program (CPIP), leading to master’s and doctoral degrees chemical physics |
| LER | Liberal Education Requirement, a course that is part of the liberal arts core of undergraduate degrees across the University |
| MAC | Mid-American Conference (pronounced MACK), the 13-institution Division I-A athletic conference in which Kent State’s men’s and women’s teams compete |
| MAC | Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee, a University committee that focuses on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary curricula and scholarship |
| NTT | Non-Tenure-Track, the group of faculty who are full-time, non-tenure-track. There is a bargaining unit of NTT faculty and a CBA for this group. |
| OBR | Ohio Board of Regents,the 11-member coordinating board that advises the Governor on higher education policy; develops strategy involving Ohio’s public and independent colleges and universities; advocates for and manages state funds for public colleges; and coordinates and implement state higher education policies |
| OEC | Operations Effectiveness Council, a representative group that meets bi-weekly under the direction of the Associate Vice President for Research, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness |
| OLN | Ohio Learning Network, a state-wide organization founded in 1999, seeks to raise the overall educational attainment for all Ohioans by expanding access to learning opportunities;Assisting colleges and universities in their capacity and effectiveness to use technology in instruction; supporting leading-edge activities; and facilitating partnerships and collaborations among higher education, schools, business and industry, and local communities |
| PAC | President’s Advisory Council, a group whose members include the University’s executive officers, deans, chairs, and directors. |
| PAF | Personnel Action Form, the electronic form used to pay University employees |
| PERS | Public Employees Retirement System, the Ohio retirement system for classified and some administrative staff at Kent State. PERS requires an employee contribution of 8.5% and an employer contribution of 13.31%. Retirement eligibility under the PERS system is at any age after 30 years of service, at age 55 after 25 years of services, or at age 60 with 5 years of service |
| PRA | Position Request Authorization, an electronic form used to begin the process of a new or replacement hire |
| PSC | Professional Standards Committee, a Faculty Senate committee that focuses onstandards and policies for such matters as faculty rank, promotion, appointment, leave, privileges, tenure, dismissal, evaluation of academic units, and quality of instruction |
| PSEO | Post-Secondary Enrollment Option, a state-wide program that allowsappropriately qualified high school students to experience coursework at the college or university level, with their home school district paying for their tuition and books |
| PWKSU | Professional Women of Kent State University, a professional development organization open to all past and present faculty, administrators, staff, and graduate students at Kent State who are interested in women’s issues in higher education |
| RAGS | Research and Graduate Studies (pronounced RAGS), the division that oversees Graduate Studies, Sponsored Programs, Technology Transfer and Economic Development, Liquid Crystal Institute, the School of Biomedical Sciences, the University Press, the Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence, and the Institute for CyberInformation. Compliance Issues and Laboratory Safety issues are division responsibilities. |
| RC | Regional Campus, a term used to indicate all or one of the seven regional campuses of Kent State (Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas) |
| RCAOC | Regional Campuses Academic Operations Council, the group of Assistant/Associate Deans from each regional campus |
| RCFAC | Regional Campuses Faculty Advisory Committee (sometimes pronounced RICK-fack), the RC faculty governance unit with a representative from each regional campus and from the School of Technology |
| RCL | Regional Campus Library(ies), a term used to indicate all or one of the seven regional campus libraries |
| RCLDC | Regional Campus Library Directors Council, the group of library directors from each regional campus |
| RD | Regional Development Division, includes the College of Continuing Studies Economic Development and Strategic Partnerships, Regional Corporate and Community Services and the administration of the Regional Campuses. It represents all eight campuses to external audiences as part of Kent State’s overall public service mission. |
| RPIE | Research, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness (pronounced ARE-pi), is a division of Business and Finance that collects, stores, analyzes and disseminates information about the University through the design and production of both routine and ad hoc reports. RPIE also facilitates the use of strategic planning and process improvement methods to help the University and individual units to identify priorities and determine implementation plans. |
| R/T/P | Reappointment/Tenure/Promotion, the process—and sometimes the committee—in departments, schools, colleges, and regional campuses for evaluation of faculty candidates for reappointment, tenure, or promotion; committees recommend to the appropriate chair, director, or dean |
| SAC | School Advisory Committee, the faculty governance unit within an academic school (such as Art) |
| SCC | School Curriculum Committee, the representative committee that oversees curricular changes within an academic school (such as Journalism and Mass Communication or Fashion Design and Merchandising) |
| SIS | Student Information System, the database that has information about students, courses, and schedules |
| STARS | Academic Students Achieving and Reaching for Success,a support program which enhances the college and life management skills of African American freshmen enrolled at Kent State University. It includes an on-campus summer transition experience, a first-year experience, and mentoring throughout enrollment at the University. |
| STRS | State Teachers Retirement System, the Ohio public pension system for educators in which Kent State University faculty and some administrators participate. STRS requires an employee contribution of 9.3% and an employer contribution of 14%. Retirement eligibility under the STRS system is at any age after 30 years of service, at age 55 after 25 years of services, or at age 60 with 5 years of service. |
| TM | Transfer Module (or Ohio Transfer Module), a set of undergraduate courses that complies with the Ohio Board of Regents policy for allowing students to transfer credits from one Ohio public college or university to another without duplicating course requirements |
| TT | Tenure-track, the group of faculty who are in tenure-track appointments (either pre-tenure or tenured) and represented by a collective bargaining unit |
| UCM | University Communications and Marketing, a division within URD that focuses on marketing, photography, graphic design, media relations, and speeches and events for the University. |
| UCT | University Council on Technology, the University's advisory body for information technology |
| UCTE | University Council on Teacher Education, this University Council considers curricular proposals relating to teacher education and licensure, especially with those areas of teacher education that involve more than one college and/or independent school, and those that are of broad interest to the University community |
| UPBAC | University Priorities and Budget Advisory Committee (pronounced UP-back), a representative group of faculty, staff, and administrators charged with advising the President on University priorities, budgets, planning processes, and resource decisions |
| URC | University Research Council, a faculty committee that fosters and stimulates research efforts and creative projects by providing financial support for the "extra" expenses of artistic and scholarly work and undergraduate research. This group sponsors the Distinguished Scholar Award, the annual Celebration of Scholarship (spring), and competitions for summer and academic year research appointments. |
| URD | University Relations and Development, a division that includes University Communications and Marketing, Alumni Relations, University Development and Foundation, and WKSU Radio. |
| URCC | University Requirements Curriculum Committee, a subcommittee of the EPC that oversees University-wide course requirements (LER, Diversity, Writing Intensive) as well as reviews new course and program proposals |
| US | Undergraduate Studies, a set of offices and services that provide Kent State's prospective and current students the best possible chance for academic and career success. This division includes pre-college initiatives (Upward Bound, Gear Up), student success initiatives (Advising Center, Academic Success Center, EXCEL program, RETAIN advising, National Student Exchange), and transitions to the University (PASS program, University orientation). |
| USAC | University Staff Advisory Council (pronounced YOU-sack), Kent State University’s employee forum to share ideas and information related to specific university issues and topics. The group includes all staff, classified and unclassified, with representation from all divisions and regional campuses. |
| UTC | University Teaching Council, a faculty committee that supports the teaching mission of the University bystudying and recommending policies regarding enrichment and enhancement of the scholarship of teaching; recommending teaching development and unit workshop awards; collecting information on teaching and curriculum development; and publicizing teaching and curriculum development of the university, including the annual UTC Teaching Conference (fall) |
| WFFA | Web for Faculty and Advisors, the web product faculty and advisors use to view class rosters, complete registration transactions, access student information for advising, and submit midterm and final grades. |
| WFS | Web for Students, the web product students use to view course offerings, complete registration transactions, and view their grades and transcript |
| WRC | Women’s Resource Center, a center that houses the Women’s Studies Program and serves as a resource for advocacy by providing education, information, and referral programs and services |
* An unofficial list compiled by the Office of the Executive Dean for Regional Campuses, August 2007.