Explore UAB

Glossary of Key Terms, Acronyms, and Initialisms

AB – UAB building code for the Administration Building

ACHE – Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the coordinating board for higher education in the State of Alabama

ACT – Appointments, Changes, and Terminations document used to enter personnel actions into the UAB Oracle Administrative Systems

AdminSystems – Administrative Systems. UAB web page with links to many UAB web-based systems, including Oracle, BlazerNet, IRAP, eLAS, etc. 

AEIVA – Abroms-Engel Institute for Visual Arts

ASC – UAB building code for the Alys Stephens Center or Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center; includes Jemison Concert Hall, Morris K. Sirote Theatre, Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall, Odess Theatre; host to concerts and numerous other live performances; home of UAB departments of Theatre and Music and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra

AskIT – Tech support for all UAB-wide applications and services, available by telephone, email, chat, web, and walk-up

AWARE – UAB’s disability-management services when an employee’s job is affected by a physical, mental, or emotional impairment

Axiom – Web-based budgeting system used to track RCM metrics and to plan and report on the annual budget

B-Alert – The university’s emergency notification system, delivered via your choice of phone, email, and/or SMS text message

Banner – Student information system (student records)

Bartow – Bartow Arena, the major indoor athletics venue which also hosts large events, such as commencement

Benevolent Fund – The self-governed, consolidated charitable fund for UAB employees to support the community

Blaze – The UAB mascot, a fire-breathing dragon. It was selected in 1995, although UAB has been the Blazers since 1978

Blaze Leadership Academy – Leadership program for high potential faculty and staff

Blazer Express – UAB's bus transportation system, available for free to faculty, staff, students, and guests. Show your ONE Card to ride.

BlazerID – Username to access a number of UAB computer services and facilities

BlazerNET – Online portal for information on classes taught at UAB including student registration information

BOT – Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System, also known as “The Board”

BTAM – Behavioral Threat Assessment Management, a structured process for proactively evaluating and managing behavioral threats to the safety and well-being of members of the UAB campus community

Campus Green (aka "The Green") – Park bordered by Blazer Hall, the Commons, the Campus Recreation Center, Heritage Hall, and University Hall

Canvas – Student web-based learning management system

CAS – College of Arts and Sciences, sometimes called “The College”

CCTS – Center for Clinical and Translational Science

CIRB – Conflict of Interest Review Board

CMS – Contract Management System, the web-based system for routing, organizing, and keeping track of progress on contracts

Commons (aka The Commons on the Green) – UAB’s large cafeteria style dining hall, located on the Campus Green, next to Blazer Hall. Meals are all-you-care-to-eat

CSOB – Collat School of Business

CTL – Center for Teaching and Learning

EA Form – External Activity Form

Edge of Chaos – Collaborative space to find solutions to “wicked problems,” located on the top floor of Lister Hill Library, 1700 University Blvd

eLAS – Electronic Leave Accrual System, the web-based application for managing/tracking the benefit time accruals and usage for monthly paid employees

eReporter – Twice-weekly official email communication of UAB, and companion to the UAB Reporter and recommended alternative to mass e-mails

EA – Equity Advisor, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion advisors in each administrative unit on campus, who also serve as part of Equity Leadership Council

Faculty Profiles –Online system providing faculty with a single collation to store their professional information

FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Five Points South (aka Five Points) – Dining and entertainment district that borders UAB; centered at the intersection of 20th Street South, 11th Ave. South, and Magnolia Ave

FTE – Full time equivalent

GreenMail – Email service delivering news, announcements and information of particular interest to and for the benefit of UAB students

HIIE – Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Hill (HSC) – the Hill Student Center, UAB’s student center located at 14th Street S. and University Blvd

IACUC – Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

IDEA –Online platform for student evaluations of faculty, hosted by Campus Labs Course Evaluation

IDC – Indirect Cost

Innovation Depot – New business incubator sponsored in part by UAB, located at 1500 First Avenue North immediately north of UAB campus

IRAP – Integrated Research Administration Portal

IRB – Committee established under federal regulations for the protection of human subjects in research

KRONOS –Timekeeping system for non-exempt (hourly) employees

Lister Hill (LHL) – Lister Hill Library, UAB’s medical library

LMS – UAB faculty and staff Learning Management System (not to be confused with Canvas student learning management system)

NISP – Notification to Submit a Proposal, for approval of new programs by ACHE

ONE Card – Photo ID card providing building access, parking deck access, Blazer Express bus transportation, library check-outs, meal plans, BlazerBucks, and other services at UAB

ORACLE Administrative Systems – Web-based suite of human resources and finance modules used for administrative operations and record keeping. Includes a Self Service Application for all employees to manage various personnel matters

OSP – Office of Sponsored Programs

P&T – Promotion and tenure

P-Card – Procurement Card program providing a form of payment for allowable purchases by UAB employees.

PeopleAdmin – Online system for faculty recruitment and faculty onboarding

PI – Principal Investigator

QEP – Quality Enhancement Plan, which is a vital part of our SACSCOC reaffirmation. Our theme is “Learning in a Team Environment.”

RCM – Responsibility Centered Management, UAB’s budget model

Rec (aka Campus Recreation Center) – Facility located at 1501 University Boulevard, bordering the Campus Green, with state-of-the-art fitness equipment and wellness services.

Reporter – Companion website to eReporter that includes and expands on eReporter

RIO – Research Integrity Officer

SACSCOC – Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges; UAB’s regional accreditor

SHP – School of Health Professions

SOD – School of Dentistry

SOM – UAB Heersink School of Medicine

SON – School of Nursing

SOO – School of Optometry

SOPH – School of Public Health

Southside – The Birmingham community where UAB is located, roughly bounded by I-65, U.S. Highway 31, Red Mountain, and Railroad Park. It includes Five Points, which is south of UAB on 20th Street S.

Sterne (MHSL) – Mervyn H. Sterne Library, UAB’s library for all disciplines except medicine

Taleo – Online system for non-faculty recruitment

WAM – Workflow Approval Maintenance for routing of electronic documents in HR and Finance Administrative systems

See also: List of UAB Building Codes