EMU Talk – A Glossary of Terms
New to EMU or the Mennonite world? You might find yourself in need of a list of frequently used abbreviations and terms. Here are some you’re bound to hear sooner or later as you settle into life on campus.
See a term that is incorrect? Know a common “EMU-ism” that isn’t here? , and let us know so we can include them.
Be sure to check out the Third Way Cafe glossary for additional terms and definitions.
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
ACRS
Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society
ADCP
Adult Degree Completion Program
ASC
Academic Support Center
B and R
Bible and religion department
Black Box
The small theater behind Main Stage in the University Commons
BSU
Black Student Union
CA
Community Advisor for a residence hall
CAC
Campus Activities Council
CD
Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in Lansdale, Pa.
Celebration
Weekly gathering in Martin Chapel consisting of praise and worship music played live and usually including prayer and scripture readings.
The Circle
Traffic circle between Lehman Auditorium and Hartzler Library. Cross-cultural groups often depart from here.
CG
Commongrounds Coffeehouse, located in the lower level of the University Commons
CJP
Center for Justice and Peacebuilding
CLC
Community Lifestyle Commitment
CoPE
Committee on Peer Education
CRaM
Culture, religion and mission — a major
CROM
Camping recreation and outdoor ministry — a major
Crossroads
EMU’s alumni magazine
“The Den”
The Royals Den Snack Shop within University Commons
Earthkeepers
Student group devoted to environmental sustainability
EMC
Eastern Mennonite College, the prior name for EMU
EMHS
Eastern Mennonite High School, in Harrisonburg, independent from EMU, though with a shared history
EMM
Eastern Mennonite Missions
EMS
Eastern Mennonite Seminary, a division of EMU
“The Fountain”
Fountain in the center of campus, formerly known as “The fishpond”
“The Great Lounge”
The main student lounge on the first floor of Northlawn.
Herm
His Royal Majesty, the royal blue lion mascot for EMU Royals athletics
“The Hill”
Large hill behind the upper parking lots that reaches from Seminary to West Dogwood Drive
HMC
Harrisonburg Mennonite Church
IEP
Intensive English Program
Inklings
Student group that meets to write, share, and discuss personal literary works.
IO
Information Office, located on the first floor of the Campus Center
IR
Institutional Research
IS
Information Systems
ISO
International Student Organization
JMU
James Madison University
“The Lawn”
Grassy area out front of Northlawn.
LMH
Lancaster Mennonite High School in Lancaster, Pa.
Loyal Royals
Group that supports EMU athletics and student athletes
LR
Learning Resources, part of EMU Helpdesk services
LSA
Latino Student Alliance
LTC
Library technology classroom
MA
Ministry Assistant for a residence hall
MainStage
Main stage for the EMU theater department located in the University Commons
MCC
Mennonite Central Committee, the relief, service and development agency of North American and Brethren in Christ churches
MDS
MEA
Mennonite Education Agency, a division of Mennonite Church USA
MEDA
Mennonite Economic Development Associates
MMN
OTM
Other than Mennonite (for lack of a better term for identifying people from various traditions who are part of the EMU community)
PA
Pastoral Assistant for a group of MAs (Ministry Assistants), or abbreviation for the state of Pennsylvania
Phoenix
Language and literature department’s student magazine
PIM
Partners In Mission, the short term missions branch of Virginia Mennonite Missions
PPHS
Pre-professional Health Sciences
PVMC
Park View Mennonite Church
RD
Resident director of a residence hall
Royals Society
Student ambassador group coordinated by undergraduate admissions to host visitors and do other special projects.
SASS
Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society
SEA
Student Education Association
SGA
Student Government Association
SiFE
Students in Free Enterprise
SLT
School for Leadership Training, an annual event hosted by Eastern Mennonite Seminary
SOAR
Summer Orientation and Registration (for undergraduate admissions)
SPI
Summer Peacebuilding Institute, an annual program of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding
STAR
Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience, a training program of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding
SVCC
Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir
SWIP
Social Work is People
TESL
Teaching English as a Second Language
TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language
UC
University Commons (usually referred to as “the commons”)
VACA
Visual and communication arts undergraduate program
VMM
Virginia Mennonite Missions, the Virginia branch of Mennonite Mission Network
VMRC
Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, located between EMU and Harmony Square
WCSC
Washington Community Scholars Center
WEMC
EMU’s radio station, hosted by JMU’s WMRA, located at 91.7 FM
“The Woods”
Area between and consisting of Elmwood, Maplewood, and Oakwood; sometimes called “The Woods Quad” or simply “The Quad.”
YPCA
Young People’s Christian Association
Y-Trip
Spring break trips through YPCA that conduct community service in areas of need.