The University of Texas at Arlington

UT Arlington Terminology

Your student will undoubtedly pick up on the commonly terms used at UT Arlington quickly, but we want to keep you in the know too. The following definitions explain the most widely used ‘Maverick words’.

Activities Fair Day: Held the first Wednesday of the semester on the UC Mall, student organizations gather to educate students about opportunities available for involvement

UTA Ambassadors: Twenty UT Arlington students, elected by the student body, to serve as the official hosts of the University

Bed Races: A campus tradition where groups of students race beds on wheels at Maverick Stadium

Blaze: UT Arlington’s mascot, a white horse with a blue mane

Census Date: Last date that students can withdraw from classes with no penalties

Connections: Short for Connection Café, an all-you-can-eat dining hall at UT Arlington

Constituency Councils: Representative bodies from each of the academic colleges who work with Student Congress on policy, programs, publications, and philanthropy

Dining Dollars: an account on a Mav Express card that is connected to a student’s meal plan; it works like a debit account but may only be used for food purchases

EXCEL: Student-run campus activities board that sponsors campuswide activities such as movies, the Bed Races and concerts

FIGs: Short for Freshman Interest Groups, first-year students, grouped based on a common interest or major, that take several of their first-year courses together and engage in social and co-curricular programs

FLOC: Short for Freshman Leaders on Campus, a leadership organization for freshman

Hereford’s Head: A bust of UT Arlington’s first president, E.H. Hereford, located in the University Center; legend has it students will have good luck if they rub Hereford’s head before taking a test

IFC: Short for Interfraternity Council, the governing body for UT Arlington fraternities that belong to the North-American Interfraternity Conference

I-Week: Short for International Week, a weeklong celebration of the world’s food, dance and culture

Leadership Retreat: Annual event provides opportunity for student leaders to meet with University staff and administration and student organizations to plan, organize and set goals for the upcoming year

Library Mall: The quad area in front of the Central Library, it is host to various events and social gatherings throughout the year

MAC: Short for Maverick Activities Center, UT Arlington’s fitness and recreation building

Mav Market: Convenience store located on the main level of the University Center

Mav Money: An account on your Mav Express card that works like debit account; can be used as payment almost anywhere on campus and is accepted in some restaurants off campus

Mav Swap: An event where UT Arlington students trade in a hat or shirt from another institution for free UT Arlington gear

Maverick Stampede: Official name for welcome week, which starts the first week of classes

Mavs: Short for “Mavericks,” the campus nickname since 1971

MavsMeet Convocation: Held the beginning of the fall semester; the official welcome for new students and returning students, faculty and staff

Meals: Payment for the all-you-care-to-eat dining at the Connection Café; the number of meals a student has depends on the meal plan they purchase

MGC: Short for Multicultural Greek Council, the governing body for locally, regionally and nationally based organizations for men and women with diverse backgrounds

Movin’ Mavs: UT Arlington wheelchair basketball team, winners of seven national titles

Mr. & Ms. UTA: Co-chairs for the UTA Ambassadors

NPHC: Short for National Pan-Hellenic Council, the governing body for historically black, greek-letter, fraternities and sororities

Oozeball: Annual mud volleyball tournament, held every fall since 1989

PHC: Short for Panhellenic Council, the governing body for UT Arlington sororities that belong to the National Panhellenic Conference

RA: Short for resident assistant, an undergraduate student employed by Apartment and Residence Life to supervise floors in campus residence halls, plan academic and social activities and enforce university policies

Registration: Process of signing up for the next term’s classes

RHA: Short for Residence Hall Association

SGO: Short for Student Governance and Organizations

Shorthorn, The: Student-run newspaper

South 40: The largest parking lot on campus—it’s not really 40 acres, but got its nickname because it’s so big and south of the campus

Student Congress: The student-run, student-elected governing body for UT Arlington students

The Plaza: Located on the main level of the University Center, the food court is an eating option on campus; also refers to the area around the food court, where students eat, study and hang out with friends

UC Mall: Area between the University Center and Brazos House, also known as Centennial Plaza

UC: Short for University Center, the campus’ student union