Beak Speak

Beak Speak is our name for all the terms and lingo you’ll get to know and love here at UTSA. Studying this list will help you make the most of being a Roadrunner!

Add/Drop
The time period (usually the first week of classes) allowing students to add or drop courses. See the academic calendar for specific dates each semester.

Advising Centers
Advisors are assigned to centers throughout the Main and Downtown Campuses.  Centers are grouped into several majors.  Academic advisors assist students with selecting classes for registration and much.  To find out which center advises your major check in with UTSA Academic Advising.

Air Rowdy
Our wireless network here at UTSA. Learn more here.

AIS
An abbreviation for Academic Inquiry and Scholarship. Designed especially for first-year students, this UTSA course explores the diverse ideas, values, and practices used within the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences to investigate and create knowledge.

Ambassadors
A student volunteer program organized by the Welcome Center designed to promote UTSA and interact with students, faculty, administrators, civic leaders, alumni and organizations in the San Antonio area. The Ambassador program was established in 1988 and assist with daily tours, commencement and more.

ASAP
Automated Student Access Program; online computer system for all UTSA students to register and access student records and general information.

Birds of a Feather
Installations around campus featuring students holding an orange feather.  These powerful images remind us that we are all different and all Roadrunners.  You belong here.

Birds Up!
This is what we do whenever we hear or say, “Birds Up!”: Open your hand with your palm facing away from you, as if you were telling someone to stop. Then, curl your first three fingers toward the center of your palm, leaving your thumb and little finger upright.

Blackboard
An online learning management system that is frequently used to support and/or supplement instruction. Log in to Blackboard Learn. Check out the UTSA Learning Hub for additional support.

Catalog
UTSA undergraduate and graduate catalogs; a publication containing information about University degree programs, regulations, policies, and course requirements.

Census Date
The last day to drop or withdraw from a course without a grade, choose the credit/no credit grading option, drop individual courses, and receive a partial refund. Connect with OneStop for help with any enrollment or registration concerns.

Chap
An abbreviation for one of the UTSA-owned housing complexes. Chaparral Village houses 1,002 students in 2-bedroom and 4-bedroom furnished apartments.

College
This is an abbreviated term for the Academic College that houses your major. 

Convo
The Convocation Center, originally where all graduation ceremonies took place. Now, it’s an awesome UTSA athletics venue.

Core
An abbreviated term for the core curriculum; part of each student’s degree program that meets requirements common to all undergraduates.

Downtown Campus (DT)
UTSA campus, located at 501 Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2017. Classes available in the Buena Vista Street, Frio Street, Monterey, and Durango buildings.

Fiscal Services
The office where payment of a student’s tuition and fees is made.

First Gen
An abbreviated term for students who identify as first-generation college students.   A first-generation student is anyone whose parent(s) or guardian(s) did not complete a four-year bachelor’s degree from a US university or college. Support is provided through the First Generation and Transfer Student Center.

FYE
First-Year Experience: the office that coordinates the Academic Inquiry and Scholarship (AIS) classes, common classes along with the peer mentors, academic resources, and more.

Hold
A restriction placed on your record by various offices that prevents you from registering for classes.

Honors College
A student who wishes to have enhanced educational opportunities may choose to be a part of the Honors College.

Incomplete
Instead of a grade at the end of the semester, a professor may give a student an “Incomplete” until the student has completed the missing assignment(s) or other work.

ITC (HemisFair Park Campus)
Institute of Texan Cultures, located at the UTSA Hemisfair Park Campus, is one of the three UTSA campuses.  The museum welcomes more than 300,000 visitors annually to view its exhibits about Texas history and culture.  Admission is free for UTSA students, faculty, and staff. 

JPL
John Peace Library

Lower Division
Classes that are at the 1000 or 2000 level.

Main or MB
An academic building that houses some administrative offices.

Main Campus
Formerly called the UTSA 1604 Campus, it is the UTSA campus located at Loop 1604 and Interstate 10.

MH
The McKinney Humanities Building houses multiple classrooms and offices and is named after esteemed donor Mary E. McKinney. It was named the Humanities and Social Sciences Building (HSS) until 2011.

myUTSA ID or abc123
Your myUTSA ID, formatted with three letters and three numbers, is your primary student ID at UTSA. You’ll need it to log into just about everything at UTSA including ASAP, the Air Rowdy wireless network, on-campus computers, Blackboard Learn, and more.  You will hear many students refer to this as your abc123.

NPB
The North Paseo Building is an interdisciplinary academic building providing large classroom spaces, a series of flexible 25-person group learning rooms on the ground floor, research labs for computer and cyber security related studies, and a mixture of faculty offices and support functions.

OLs
Orientation Leaders are a highly trained group of students that work for Orientation and Family Programs.

One Stop Enrollment Center
A one-stop solution for resolving many tasks related to enrolling and paying for your UTSA education, including questions related to Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid, and Registrar. Connect with OneStop for all your enrollment needs.

The Pantry
The Roadrunner Pantry provides access to healthy and nutritious foods for students in need.  Located in the Student Union, the pantry also offer non-food items that help make students successful.

Park West
UTSA multi-sport complex located just west of main campus.

Pre-reqs
An abbreviated term for prerequisites, which are classes that must be taken in order to enroll in certain courses.  Pre-reqs are stated for all courses in the catalog and list the background expected of all students in the course.

The Rec
Our nickname for one of the most popular spots on the main campus - the UTSA Recreation and Wellness Center.

Registrar
It’s a shorted name for the Registration and Records area that maintains students’ academic records, registration, graduation applications and transcripts.  One Stop can assist with any needs covering these areas.

RP
Abbreviation for Roadrunner Productions, a sponsored student organization that plans large-scale entertainment events and traditions.

Roadrunner Days
A series of welcome events for all new and returning students. #UTSARRDays

The Roost
A game room open to all enrolled students at UTSA, located on the second floor of the H-E-B Student Union across the center bridge. The Roost offers pool, air hockey, foosball, ping pong, board games and 6 different gaming systems.

Rowdy
This is the name given to our Roadrunner mascot.  You can see Rowdy at many events on campus and athletic events.

RowdyLink
Student engagement portal listing many ways to get involved at UTSA. Search student organizations, service opportunities, events and workshops.  Log into RowdyLink to get started.

RSO
Registered student organization.  Search for registered student organizations in RowdyLink.

The ‘Runner
An abbreviated name for the campus transportation system.

Schedule of Classes
An online tool, affiliated with ASAP, that contains class listings and important academic information for each semester.

SGA
The official voice of the student body is the Student Government Association.  There are appointed and elected officers/chairs that make up the decision-making organization.

Study Days
Designated study days before final examinations where classes do not meet.

SOSA
The Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band

SU or Student Union
The UTSA Student Union is the focal point for events, meetings, dining and relaxation for the UTSA community.

Syllabus
The class agenda and instructor policies regarding grading and testing.

Sombrilla
The covered patio area attached to the John Peace Library (JPL). Sombrilla means umbrella in Spanish. 

TRC
Tomás Rivera Center for Student Success houses tutoring and other retention programs.

UCinema
Student Union programming includes these FREE movies for students every Friday night and Saturday night during the fall and spring semesters when event guidelines are unrestricted.  Movies are typically titles available before release on DVD.

Upper-division
Classes that are at the 3000 or 4000 level.

UTSACard
Your official university identification card.  Find more information about your card at Campus Services.

VOICES
Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education and Service. VOICES is a sponsored student organization and assists students in finding and participating in a wide array of community service opportunities. 

Withdraw
Dropping all courses and no longer attending the University for the remainder of the semester. Connect with the One Stop Enrollment Center for help and support.