At NSU, we have our own language when it comes to locations, events and campus resources. Here are a few translations of some of the common slang we use around campus.
Fins up: The signature pose for NSU where the participant stretches their arms above their head, clasping hands together to a point, resembling the fin of a shark.
CAMPUS LOCATIONS
Commons Pagoda: The outdoor space outside The Commons and between FFV, or the Founders, Farquhar and Vettel residence halls, where barbecue grills, umbrellas and covered seating, as well as a volleyball court, are housed.
Cabanas: The Flight Deck outdoor swings and seating area.
DeSantis: The Carl DeSantis Building, known as the business school, in which many other curriculums are also offered.
Flight Deck patio or lawn: The grass area outside of Flight Deck in between the outdoor seating area.
HPD: The Health Professions Division, which houses offices for medical faculty, the dental building and clinic, the NSU Clinic Pharmacy and the NSU Student Medical Center.
Library Quad: The plot of land directly adjacent to the Alvin Sherman Library, used for a variety of events.
Outtakes: The small store next to the UC Dining Area where you can purchase snacks, drinks, medical and other supplies.
PVA: The Performing and Visual Arts wing, which is found on the second floor of the UC and features areas like the Black Box Theatre and Gallery 217. Many visual art, theatre and film courses are conducted in this wing.
Razor’s Reef: The main dining hall in the UC where students can eat meals and sit down with friends (excluding The Pit).
RecWell: The Recreational and Wellness Center, located inside the UC on the left side of the building where the gym and other rooms for fitness classes can be found.
Rosenthal: Rosenthal Student Center houses RadioX, Students Affairs, the SLCE and SOuRCe offices, as well as many other offices.
SAB: The Student Affairs Building located between the UC and the Mailman-Hollywood Building, houses multiple offices and student resources such as the Tutoring and Testing Center (TTC), the Student Activity Fee Accounts Office, the Office of Orientation and Commuter Lounge.
Shark Circle: Shark Circle is the roundabout area in front of the UC that has the Shark Fountain, which showcases our mascot in the center.
The Pit: The sunken-in area of the UC where students can study, eat and participate in events.
UC: The Don Taft University Center, which encompasses the Rick Case Arena, PVA, Flight Deck, Razor’s Reef, Outtakes, Office of Campus Life and RecPlex.
UC Spine: The center hallway of the UC where events like S.E.A Thursdays and Student Employment Job Fairs take place.
RESIDENCE HALLS
CLC: The Cultural Living Center is an apartment-style living area on campus for students who have lived on campus for 1-3 terms or are non-freshmen or transfer students.
Commons: The Commons Residence Hall available for undergraduate freshman housing.
FFV: Farquhar, Founders and Vettel apartments on campus. These undergraduate housing complexes are for non-freshmen, transfer students or students who have lived on campus for 1-3 academic terms.
Goodwin: The Leo Goodwin Sr. Residence Hall available for undergraduate freshman housing.
Mako: Mako Hall is NSU’s newest housing option, which opened in 2019 and available for all undergraduate students. This apartment-style housing is fully furnished with an in-unit washer and dryer, full-sized beds and kitchen appliances.
Rolling Hills: The Rolling Hills Apartments opened in August 2008 and are about one mile from the main campus. They house over 300 students in fully furnished studio or 4 bedroom apartments.
EVENTS
Convocation: The welcoming ceremony for new NSU students.
S.E.A Thursday: The S.E.A Board-sanctioned event traditionally held in the UC Spine, which features clubs and other organizations on campus where you can join and get free swag.
Sharkapalooza: An annual event featuring performances, giveaways, music and other fun activities.
Weeks of Welcome (WOW): The first few weeks of the semester in which events are held to welcome NSU students back to campus for the fall and winter semesters.
RESOURCES
Blendflex: The BlendFlex teaching model offered by NSU allows students the opportunity to take NSU courses through face-to-face classes, online distance learning or a mix of both. BlendFlex allows students to make a decision to attend classes remotely via Zoom and Canvas or in the traditional classroom setting on campus.
DB: Declining balance, which is found on your SharkCard that is swiped for any food items on campus.
DEIB Office: The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) office promotes diversity and inclusiveness on campus and ensures a safe and supportive environment for all students. This office helps provide students support from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds by hosting educational programs and collaborative events with NSU organizations to cultivate a unified NSU community.
ExEL units: Experiential units or credits that are required for graduation distributed by the Career Development Office.
GET app: The GET mobile application allows students to use SharkCard funds to order from on-campus eateries for pick-up or residence hall delivery.
iShark: The smartphone application that allows students to check their schedule, check shuttle routes, game schedules and other capabilities.
JobX: An online platform accessible through SharkLink that helps students find on-campus job opportunities.
N number: The number given to each student that starts with an N and ends with eight numbers. Ex: N01234567. This number is used for various forms and other activities on campus.
RA: The Residential Assistant, who is on every floor and sometimes sections of the residential halls, that helps students become acclimated to the NSU campus, connects students to campus resources and addresses facility concerns involving on-campus housing.
RadioX: NSU’s student radio station broadcasting on 88.5 FM with popular shows like the “Not So Urley Morning Show.”
RSO: An on-campus registered student organization.
S.E.A Board: The Student Event and Activities Board that organizes events that students can participate in to get involved on campus.
SharkCard: The card that functions as your ID on campus, which can be used to access printing services, dining and other information.
SharkLearn: NSU’s Canvas platform that can be accessed online via nsu.instructure.com.
SharkLink: The online platform that connects students to academic records, financial aid documents and other important links to a variety of useful platforms such as Webstar.
SharkMail: The NSU email service powered by Microsoft Office which each student is provided with in their first semester to communicate with professors and use for a variety of other applications.
SLCE (pronounced “slice”): The Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, which empowers students to get involved in leadership and service-based educational opportunities to promote critical thinking and inspire students to get involved in their local communities.
SOuRCe: The Student Organization Resource Center, which gives students support in the organizations they are involved in and helps students find organizations that best suit their interests as well as information to start their own.
SUTV: The Sharks United Television network available on cable channel 96, which features original shorts as well as recently released films.
The Current: NSU’s student-run newspaper, which publishes NSU and local news as well as student interest stories every Tuesday and online at nsucurrent.nova.edu.
Zoom: Zoom is an online video communication application that allows students to schedule, create and attend meetings for classes and social gatherings such as student organizations or virtual NSU events to ensure the health and safety of the student body.
