Linfield Lingo
Common Linfield phrases, acronyms and abbreviations
This page is full of common phrases you may only hear around Linfield! We like our acronyms and we'll try to spell them out for you here.
New student orientation:
ADV-course: Short for advising designated academic course, new first-year students are required to enroll in one during their first semester. The faculty member teaching the ADV-designated course is assigned as the student’s faculty advisor.
Cat Camp: A fun interactive pep rally-type event where new students learn the history and traditions of Linfield.
Convocation: The formal opening of the academic year. New students and families are welcome. Faculty and university administrators typically dress in their academic regalia (caps, gowns and hoods).
ROG: Short for your Registration and Orientation Group and lead by a ROL (see below) during orientation when you first arrive at Linfield.
ROL: Short for your Registration and Orientation Leader, a peer advisor who will guide you through orientation when you first arrive at Linfield.
Campus buildings, academics and departments:
BCMB: Short for the biochemistry and molecular biology major.
Biochem: Short for the biochemistry and molecular biology major.
CAS: Short for the College of Arts & Sciences.
CERT: Linfield's Community Emergency Response Team program. Two online courses are held each year and include training such as disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, and more.
HHPA: Short for both the building and the academic Department of Health, Human Performance and Athletics. The HHPA building is located at the corner of Linfield Avenue and Lever Street.
DEI: Short for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
EMS: Short for Educational Media Services and located in the library, EMS supports classroom needs. Students may also check out some equipment for use.
GLCS: The Department of Global Languages and Cultural Studies, located in Walker Hall
IPO: Short for the International Programming Office which provides opportunities for students to study abroad around the world.
ITS: Information Technology Services department, located in Malthus Hall on the northeast side of campus.
JAMS: Short for the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, located in Renshaw Hall and also home of the student media center, the hub for three student-run organizations – the Linfield Review (student newspaper), Wildcat Productions (video productions) and Linfield Pawdcast Network (podcasting).
LSS: Learning Support Services (see academic-related terms).
LAM: Short for Linfield Anthropology Museum, located in Walker Hall.
LEAD: Short for Leadership and Ethics Across Disciplines, a minor offered at Linfield to all undergraduate students.
LPS: Short for Linfield Public Safety, the campus safety department.
MFAC: Short for Miller Fine Arts Center, located on the south side of campus near the library. MFAC is home to the art department.
MEPN: Master's Entry into Professional Nursing, a new pathway to earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree
MSN: Master of Science in Nursing degree.
SoB: Short for the School of Business.
SON: Short for the School of Nursing.
SOAN: The combined Department of Sociology and Anthropology, located in Walker Hall.
OCE: Short for Online and Continuing Education. Also referred to as eCampus.
Pio: short for Pioneer Hall, the original building on campus that once housed the entire college.
Polisci: Short for the Department of Political Science, located in Walker Hall.
SHWCC: The Student Health, Wellness, and Counseling Center, located in Walker Hall.
SRR: The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
VBMC: Short for Vivian Bull Music Center, located on the south side of campus near the library. VBMC is home to the music department.
WSET: Short for Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Linfield is an approved program provider for WSET which provides courses and certification in WSET.
(Almost) everything else
ASLU: the Associated Students of Linfield University, Linfield’s student government.
ASLU-PC: the Associated Students of Linfield University on the Portland campus.
BSU: Short for Black Student Union, the campus organization out of DEI programs that brings together and acknowledges individuals of all diversities while striving to give unique insight and education in Black culture.
CatDome: What our football fans like to call Memorial Stadium and Maxwell Field.
Cat Zone: the student section at home football games.
Central: Linfield's new intranet site replacing inside.linfield.edu during the 2023-24 academic year. It is full of resources for Linfield's community of current students faculty and staff. (See also "Inside.")
IM field: Short for intramural field and located in front of Jane Failing Hall. It is used for many student activities in addition to intramural sports.
Inside: Linfield's intranet site, inside.linfield.edu, full of resources for current students, faculty and staff. (See also "Central.")
LAB: short for Learning Across Boundaries, LAB is where common threads of the Linfield experience intersect in a collaborative space for experiential learning, service and project opportunities. Each year LAB hosts an annual summit and various training initiatives for the Linfield community.
LABS: Linfield Associated Business Students.
LULA: Linfield University Latinx Adelante, the campus organization out of DEI programs that strengthens and supports the Latinx community.
LUP: Short for Linfield United in Pride, the campus organization out of DEI programs lays the groundwork for a healthy queer and trans community through event programming and weekly meetings designed to be both fun and educational.
Mac: Abbreviated word for the town of McMinnville.
PDX: Abbreviation for Portland and often used when referring to Linfield's Portland campus.
The Streak: refers to the Wildcat football team's streak of winning seasons – the longest of any level of college football.
Streak Street: On home football game days, Lever Street turns into "Streak Street" where vendors and games are set-up for some pre-game fun.
WEB: Short for Wildcat Events Board, a student-led group that coordinates a variety of social, cultural and recreational activities for students throughout the school year.