At a large university like Penn State, names and places are often shortened to save time and space. So here is a list of common acronyms and abbreviations you are likely to hear or read, or even find yourself using, during your college career.

AAAS -- African and African American Studies, a major offered in the College of the Liberal Arts

ARHS -- Association of Residence Hall Students, the student group focused on concerns and events involving on-campus students

Arts Fest -- Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, which takes place downtown in July

BBH -- biobehavioral health, one of the majors offered in the College of Health and Human Development

BJC -- The Bryce Jordan Center, at the corner of University Drive and Curtin Road, home to Penn State basketball and concerts

CAPS -- Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, located in Ritenour Building, offers help to students with mental health issues

CATA -- Centre Area Transportation Authority, runs the buses in State College, as well as the Loop and Link on campus

CCSG -- Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, represents students at Penn State locations other than University Park

DSS -- Distinguished Speaker Series, using money from the student activity fee, brings in big-name speakers like Chuck D and Ben Stein

DUS -- Division of Undergraduate Studies, the Penn State college for those undecided on a major

ESACT -- Exercise and sport activities; in high school, it was known as gym class, but in college, ballroom dancing and golf are among the 1.5 credit classes to choose from

FTCAP -- Freshman Testing, Counseling and Advising Program, takes place the summer before freshman year

GSA -- Graduate Student Union, the government representing graduate students

HUB (Robeson Center) -- Hetzel Union Building, the student union

HDFS -- human development and family studies, a major in the College of Health and Human Development

IFC -- Interfraternity Council, governing body of Penn State's fraternities

IM (Building, Sports) -- The Intramural Building is located across from Shields Building, and intramural sports are played as an alternative to NCAA sports by thousands of students each year

IST -- Information Sciences and Technology, Penn State's newest college opened in 1999, and a new building for the school is being constructed on West Campus

ITS -- Information Technology Services, formerly known as CAC, handles the university's computer systems

JoePa -- Joe Paterno, Penn State's football coach for the last 52 years, the all-time winningest football coach in Division I-A (also contributed money to the library, which bears his name)

Kines -- Kinesiology, a major offered in the College of Health and Human Development

LGBTA -- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered students and their allies, several groups exist on campus for these students.

LIAS -- Library Information Access System, the online library system, at www.lias.psu.edu

MRC -- Multicultural Resource Center, located in 122 Grange, provides counseling and educational services for minority undergraduate students

MSIS -- Management Science and Information Systems, a major offered in the Smeal College of Business

NPHC -- National Pan-Hellenic Council, the governing body of Penn State's historically black fraternities and sororities

OISM -- Operations and Information Systems Management, a major offered in the Smeal College of Business Administration

OPP -- Office of Physical Plant, responsible for maintenance on campus

PHC -- Panhellenic Council, governing body of Penn State's sororities

PSU -- Penn State University, "Let's Go PSU," a common chant at football games; "We Are Penn State," another chant at football games

QWK Rock -- 97.1 FM, a local radio station. Other popular radio stations are Beaver 103, 103.1 FM and Revolution 101, 101.1 FM

RA -- Resident assistant, student who lives in a dorm and is responsible for enforcing university policy and conducting floor activities

Rescom -- Residential Computing, students who offer assistance to on-campus students with computer problems

ROTC -- Reserve Officers Training Corps, located in Wagner Building

SHC -- Schreyer Honors College, located in Atherton Hall

Thon -- Dance Marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, takes place every February and raises money for children with cancer

UHS -- University Health Services, located in Ritenour Building, offers students physical and mental health services

UPAC -- University Park Allocation Committee, appropriates the student activity fee to student groups for activities

USG -- Undergraduate Student Government, the organization that represents undergraduate students

UTS -- University Testing Services, grades Scantron exams and e-mails scores

VAB -- Vegetarian Advisory Board, a group that meets monthly to discuss offering vegetarian options in the dining commons

WKPS -- The Lion, 90.7 FM, Penn State's student radio station

XF -- a grade indicating a student failed a class due to cheating

YAF -- Young Americans for Freedom, a conservative student group

Z's -- sleep, something you will never get enough of in college

-- by Matt Hymowitz