Acronyms and glossaries

UWaterloo loves its acronyms. Here are links to existing University glossaries/acronym guides and some terms that come up frequently in FAUW communications.

UW glossaries and acronym guides

• Waterloo-related acronyms (not including buildings)

• UWaterloo building codes

• Group, unit, and subject codes

• FAUW's Waterloo software glossary for faculty

• Institutional Analysis & Planning acronym list

• Undergraduate Studies Calendar – Glossary of Terms

• Graduate Studies Academic Calendar – Glossary of Terms

• University of Waterloo organizational charts

Key FAUW acronyms

AF&T – Academic Freedom & Tenure Committee

The Academic Freedom & Tenure (AF&T) Committee provides confidential support to individual members with workplace issues of all kinds (not just academic freedom and tenure).

FRC – Faculty Relations Committee

FRC is made up of five representatives each from the FAUW Board and the University administration. It is co-chaired by the FAUW president and the vice president academic & provost. It meets every two weeks, and is where MoA and policy changes are approved before going to the University's Board of Governors. Non-policy issues are also often resolved at FRC.

MoA – Memorandum of Agreement

The Memorandum of Agreement provides a framework governing all aspects of the relationship between the University and faculty members, including salary structure, academic freedom, discipline, and grievances. It differs from a collective agreement mainly in its (lack of) comprehensiveness. Much of what is typically covered in a collective agreement at other universities is covered in policy at Waterloo.

UWaterloo acronyms likely to come up in FAUW communications

• AVPA – associate vice-president, academic: currently David DeVidi
  The AVPA oversees undergraduate education at the University, including curriculum, policies, new programs and program reviews.

• CEPT – Course Evaluation Project Team

• CTAPT – Complementary Teaching Assessment Project Team

• EFAP – Employee & Family Assistance Program

• IAP – Institutional Analysis and Planning

• PACE – Provost’s Advisory Committee on Equity

• PACT – Provost’s Advisory Committee on Timetabling

• UARC – University Appointments Review Committee

• UTPAC – University Tenure and Promotion Advisory Committee

• VPAP – vice president, academic & provost: James Rush
  The VPAP (often shortened to just “the provost”) is the chief academic and budget officer of the University.

• W3+ – Waterloo Womxn + Nonbinary Wednesdays (co-sponsored by FAUW)

• WISC – Shatitsirótha Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre

Related organizations

CAUT – Canadian Association of University Teachers

The national organization representing university faculty, of which FAUW is a member. A portion of FAUW dues go to CAUT.

COU – Council of Ontario Universities

The COU provides a forum for Ontario’s universities to collaborate and advocate. It's like OCUFA, but for the universities themselves.

CUPE – Canadian Union of Public Employees (Local 793)

Unionized staff members in the Food Services and Plant Operations departments are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 793. The membership covers a range of positions from kitchen porters, cooks and bakers to custodians, grounds staff, trades and maintenance staff and stationary engineers.

HEQCO – Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

HEQCO is an agency of the Government of Ontario that evaluates the postsecondary sector and provides policy recommendations to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

LAAUW – Librarians' and Archivists' Association of the University of Waterloo

Librarians at UW are represented by the UWSA, but LAAUW also supports, promotes, and creates opportunities for professional librarians.

OCUFA – Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations

The provincial organization representing university faculty, of which FAUW is a member. A portion of FAUW dues go to OCUFA.

RAAS – Renison Association of Academic Staff

RAAS represents faculty at Renison University College. The association was formed in 2018 and is currently negotiating a memorandum of agreement and policies with Renison.

SJU ASA – St. Jerome’s University Academic Staff Association

The SJU ASA is the certified bargaining agent for all faculty and professional librarians at St. Jerome’s University. The SJU-ASA is unionized.

UWSA – University of Waterloo Staff Association

Our counterpart representing staff. While they represent more than twice as many people, they do not have automatic/mandatory dues and are funded only by members who opt in.