UO acronyms

Try to avoid acronyms in formal university communications. Use only acronyms familiar to the audience. Guidance for acronym use differs in Associated Press and Chicago style.

AP style: Used for OregonNews and news releases produced by University Communications. Avoid all but the most common acronyms/initialisms, such as FBI. Do not put an acronym in parentheses after first reference. (If the abbreviated form would not be readily understood by the intended audience on second reference, don’t use it.) Wherever possible, use noun phrases: the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art becomes the art museum; the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology becomes the institute or the marine biology institute; Prince Lucien Campbell Hall becomes the hall or the building.

Chicago style: Used for other communications on behalf of the university. The most familiar acronyms/initialisms can generally be used on first reference—many of these, such as JPEG and NASA, will be listed as main entries in Merriam-Webster. Less familiar shorthand, such as HVAC and FDA, should generally be spelled out on first reference in formal text. Use of uncommon abbreviations should be limited to terms that occur five times or more within an article or chapter.

Acronyms Index

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

ACRONYM	Full Name	Usage
AAU	Association of American Universities	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the association.
AEC	Accessible Education Center	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the center.
AEI	American English Institute	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the institute.
ARC	Academic Residential Communities	Acceptable on second reference.
ASUO	Associated Students of the University of Oregon	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	Usage
BA	Business Affairs	Acceptable on second reference.
BAO	Business Affairs Office	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the office.
BCC	Black Cultural Center	Acceptable on second reference.
BoT	Board of Trustees	Do not use BoT.
BRP	Budget and Resource Planning	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	Usage
CAS	College of Arts and Sciences	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the college.
CBA	Collective Bargaining Agreement	Acceptable on second reference.
CHC	Clark Honors College	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the college.
CLLAS	Center for Latino/Latina American Studies	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the center.
CMAE	Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the center.
COE	College of Education	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the college.
CPC	Campus Planning Committee	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the committee.
CPFM	Campus Planning and Facilities Management	Acceptable on second reference.
CRM	Customer Relationship Management (platform)	Acceptable on second reference.
CSWS	Center for the Study of Women in Society	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the center.

ACRONYM	Full Name	Usage
DEI	Division of Equity and Inclusion	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the division.
DOS	Dean of Students	Acceptable on second reference.
DSGN	College of Design	Acceptable on second reference. Do not use COD. Preferred: the college.

ACRONYM	Full Name	Usage
ELC	Employee and Labor Relations	Acceptable on second reference.
EMS	Ford Alumni Center room reservation system	For internal audiences only.
EMU	Erb Memorial Union	Acceptable on second reference (or first for an internal audience).
EOC	Emergency Operations Center	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
FAC	Ford Alumni Center	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the center.
FAFSA	Free Application for Federal Student Aid	Acceptable on second reference.
FERPA	Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the office.
FIG	First-Year Interest Group	Acceptable on second reference.
FTE	Full-Time Equivalent	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	Usage
GC	General Counsel	Acceptable on second reference.
GE	Graduate Employee	Acceptable on second reference.
GEO	Global Education Oregon	Acceptable on second reference.
GS	Graduate School	Acceptable on second reference.
GTFF	Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	Usage
HEDCO	HEDCO is an acronym for HEDCO Foundation founders Harold and Ester Dornsife (and Company). It is used on first reference as the name of the building, institute, and clinic in the College of Education.	Used on first reference as the name of the building, institute, and clinic in the College of Education.
HIPAA	Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act	Acceptable on second reference.
HR	Human Resources	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	Usage
IA	International Affairs	Acceptable on second reference.
IDEAL	Inclusion, Diversity, Evaluation, Achievement, Leadership	Acceptable on second reference.
IHP	Institutional Hiring Plan	Acceptable on second reference.
IMB	Institute of Molecular Biology	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the institute.
ION	Institute of Neuroscience	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the institute.
IR	Institutional Research	Acceptable on second reference.
IS	Information Services	Acceptable on second reference.
ISSS	International Student and Scholar Services	Acceptable on second reference.
IT	Information Technology	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	Usage
JSMA	Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the museum.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USage
KC	Knight Campus	Do not use KC. Knight Campus is acceptable on second reference.
KWAX	UO classical music radio station	Used for all references.
KWVA	UO student-run radio station	Used for all references.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
LCB	Lundquist College of Business	Do not use LCB. Preferred: Lundquist College of Business or Lundquist College.
LERC	Labor Education and Research Center	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the center.
LIL	Location Innovation Lab	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the lab.
LIS	Lewis Integrative Science Building	Acceptable on second reference.
LLC	Living Learning Center	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the center.
LOA	Leave of Absence	Acceptable on second reference.
LTD	Lane Transit District	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
MBS	Marketing and Brand Strategy	Acceptable on second reference.
MKA	Matthew Knight Arena	Acceptable on second reference.
MNCH	Museum of Natural and Cultural History	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the museum.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
NTTF	Non-Tenure Track Faculty	For internal audiences only.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
OA	Officer of Administration	For internal audiences only.
OBF	Oregon Bach Festival	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the festival.
OHC	Oregon Humanities Center	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the center.
OIMB	Oregon Institute of Marine Biology	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the institute.
OP	Outdoor Program	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the program.
OPE	Other Payroll Expenses	For internal audiences only.
OtP	Office of the Provost	For internal audiences only.
OVPRI	Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the office.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
PCS	Purchasing and Contract Services	For internal audiences only.
PLC	Prince Lucien Campbell Hall	Acceptable on second reference.
PPPM	Planning Public Policy and Management, School of	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the school.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGe
RA	Resident Assistant	Acceptable on second reference.
RO	Registrar's Office

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
SEIU	Service Employees International Union	Acceptable on second reference.
SOJC	School of Journalism and Communication	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the school.
SOMD	School of Music and Dance	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the school.
SRC	Scholastic Review Committee	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the committee.
SRC	Student Recreation Center	Acceptable on second reference.
SRS	Safety and Risk Services	Acceptable on second reference.
SSEM	Student Services and Enrollment Management	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
TFAB	Tuition and Fee Advisory Board	Acceptable on second reference.
TLC	Teaching and Learning Center	Acceptable on second reference.
TRC	Tuition Refund Committee	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the committee.
TT	Tenure Track	For internal audiences only.
TTF	Tenure-Track Faculty	For internal audiences only.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
UA	United Academics	Acceptable on second reference.
UA	University Advancement	Acceptable on second reference.
UC	University Communications	Acceptable on second reference.
UESS	Undergraduate Education and Student Services	Acceptable on second reference.
UH	University Housing	Acceptable on second reference.
UHS	University Health Services	Acceptable on second reference.
UO	University of Oregon	Acceptable on second reference. Use "the UO" when referring to the institution as a whole.
UOAA	University of Oregon Alumni Association	Acceptable on second reference.
UOPD	University of Oregon Police Department	Acceptable on second reference.
UOSW	University of Oregon Student Workers	Acceptable on second reference.
UROP	Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program	Acceptable on second reference. Preferred: the program.
USS	User Support Services	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
VPEI	Vice President for Equity and Inclusion	Acceptable on second reference.
VPFA	Vice President for Finance and Administration	Acceptable on second reference.
VPN	Virtual Private Network	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
WoW	Week of Welcome	Acceptable on second reference.

ACRONYM	Full Name	USAGE
ZFIN	Zebrafish Information Network	Acceptable on second reference.
ZIRC	Zebrafish International Resource Center	Acceptable on second reference.

Search this site

University Communications Menu

University Communications

UO acronyms

Acronyms Index

COMMUNICATIONS WEBSITES