An acronym is a word formed from the first letter(s) of a series of words (e.g., NASA for National Aeronautics and Space Administration, BOT for Board of Trustees). Acronyms are pronounced as words, unlike abbreviations. The choice between using a or an with an acronym or abbreviation depends on how it is spoken rather than whether the first initial is a vowel or consonant (e.g., a NASA scientist; an HTML class; a HEERA regulation; an FTF; a UFO).
Try to avoid pages filled with acronyms and abbreviations, which can be disruptive to the reader. Spell out the abbreviation or acronym on the first use and follow with the abbreviation in parentheses. If the subsequent reference is too far away for the average reader to remember what the abbreviation stands for, spell it out again.
Do not italicize acronyms or abbreviations.
A
AAHE: American Association for Higher Education (note for)
AB: Assembly Bill
ACE: American Council on Education
ACT: American College Test
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
ADT: Associate Degree for Transfer
ALS: Affordable Learning Solutions
AP: Advanced Placement
APC: Academic Professionals of California
API: Academic Performance Index
APIDA: Asian American
Pacific Islander Desi American
APLU: Association of Public Land-Grant Universities
ARI: Agricultural Research Institute
ASCSU: Academic Senate California State University
ASA: Academic and Student Affairs (formerly known as Academic Affairs)
ASI: Associated Students, Inc.
asf or ASF: assignable square foot (feet)
ASSIST: Articulation System Stimulating Inter-institutional Student Transfer
ATAC: Academic Technology Advisory Committee
ATI: Accessible Technology Initiative
ATOD: Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
ATS: Academic Technology Services
AVC: Assistant Vice Chancellor
AVP: Academic Vice President
B
BCLAD: Bilingual Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development
BOT: Board of Trustees (use abbreviation only in internal, informal use)
BTSA: Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment
C
CAASPP: California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
CABO: Chief Administrative Business Officers
CADAA: California Dream Act Application
CAE: Council for Aid to Education
CalPERS: California Public Employees' Retirement System
CAPP: California Academic Partnership Program
CASE: Council for Support and Advancement of Education (no the before Support)
CBEST: California Basic Education Skills Test
CCC: California Community Colleges
CCCI (followed by a number): California Construction Cost Index
CCE: Center for Community Engagement
CCSS: Common Core State Standards
CCTC: California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
CDE: California Department of Education
CDIP: Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program
CE: Continuing Education
CEQA: California Environmental Quality Act
CFA: California Faculty Association
CFO: Chief Financial Officer
CHRS: Common Human Resources System
CIO: Chief Information Officer
CLAD: Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development
CMS: Common Management System (PeopleSoft) software
CO: Chancellor's Office
COAST: Council on Ocean Affairs, Science and Technology
COLD: Council of Library Deans
CPDC: Capital Planning, Design and Construction (no ampersand in initials)
CPEC: California Postsecondary Education Commission
CRT: Course Redesign with Technology
CSEA: California State Employees Association
CSSA: California State Student Association
CSU: California State University
CSUEU: California State University Employees Union
CSUPERB: CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology
CSURMA: CSU Risk Management Authority
CTA: California Teachers Association
CTAP: California Technology Assistance Project
CTC: Commission on Teacher Credentialing
D
DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
DEIR: Draft Environmental Impact Report
DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice
DOE: Department of Education
DOF: Department of Finance
DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy
E
EAP: Early Assessment Program
EAP: Employee Assistance Program
EIN: Employer Identification Number
EIR: Environmental Impact Report
ELM: Entry Level Mathematics
EO: Executive Order
EOP: Educational Opportunity Program
EPT: English Placement Test
ESL: English as a Second Language
EVC: Executive Vice Chancellor
F
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
FAQ: frequently asked questions. OK to add s for plural.
FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board
FEA: Future Educators of America
FEIR: Final Environmental Impact Report
FIFA: Fédération Internationale de Football Association
FIPSE: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education
FISMA: Financial Integrity and State Manager's Accountability Act
FTE: full-time equivalent
FTEF: full-time equivalent faculty
FTES: full-time equivalent students
FTF: first-time freshman
FY: fiscal year
G
GAAP: generally accepted accounting principles
GASB: Governmental Accounting Standards Board
GEAR UP: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
GIS: Geographic Information Systems
GMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test
GPA: grade point average (all capital letters, no periods)
gsf or GSF: gross square foot (feet)
GRE: Graduate Record Examinations
H
HEERA: Higher Education Employer Employee Relations Act
HIPs: high-impact practices
HMEI: Hospitality Education Initiative
I
IB: International Baccalaureate
ICSUAM: Integrated CSU Administrative Manual
IGETC: Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
IHE: Institution of Higher Education
IP: International Programs
IPEDS: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
IT: information technology
ISO: Information Security Office/Officer
ITL: Institute for Teaching and Learning
IUOE: International Union of Operating Engineers
J
JHEAD: Joint Higher Education Advocacy Day
L
LAO: Legislative Analyst's Office
M
MERLOT: Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching
MFA: Multi Factor Authentication; Master of Fine Arts
MOOC: massive online open course
MOU: Memorandum of Understanding
MPP: Management Personnel Plan
MSAT: Multiple Subject Assessment Test
N
NASULGC: National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
NCES: National Center for Education Statistics
NOP: Notice of Preparation
NCAA: National Collegiate Athletic Association (divisions noted by Roman numerals I-A, I-AA, II, III)
NCATE: National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
NEA: National Education Association (headquarters in Washington, D.C.)
NEA: National Endowment for the Arts
NEH: National Endowment for the Humanities
O
OCE: Online Concurrent Enrollment
P
PII: Personally Identifiable Information
PSM: Professional Science Master's
R
RFP: Request for Proposal
RICA: Reading Instruction Competency Assessment
RSCA: Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities
RTP: Retention, tenure, promotion
S
SAC: Student Aid Commission
SAM: State Administrative Manual
SAT: Scholastic Assessment Test
SB: Senate Bill
SEIU: Service Employees International Union
SETC: State Employees Trades Council
SNAPS: Student Needs and Priorities Survey
STAR: Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (STAR Act)
STEM: science, technology, engineering and mathematics
SSAT: Single Subject Assessment Test
SSN: Social Security number
SSO: Single Sign On
SUAM: State University Administrative Manual
SUG: State University Grant
SUH: State University House
SUPA: Statewide University Police Association
T
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
TT: tenure-track
U
UAPD: Union of American Physicians and Dentists
UAW: United Auto Workers
UC: University of California
UCOP: University of California Office of the President
W
WASC: Western Association of Schools and Colleges
X
Y
YRO: year-round operations