Dal Speak
Important terms
What's a CRN? A pre-requisite? An elective? If you are unfamiliar with some of the words used throughout registration, take a look at our important terms.
Learn to talk the talk
Everyone has their own unique way of speaking, and we here at Dal are no different. When you're on campus you'll likely hear people talking and wonder what in the world they're saying—whether it's a bunch of acronyms that they'll assume you know, or some local slang or sayings that you've never heard before.
Never fear! Just use this handy Dal dictionary and you'll be able to keep up with the conversation.
Did we miss any? Let us know! Send your suggestions to studentlife@dal.ca.
Dalhousie terms
| Banner Number |
Your student ID number (aka BOO number) |
|---|---|
| CCR | Co-Curricular Record is an official document from Dalhousie that will recognize your accomplishments and the experiential learning that occurs outside of the classroom (community engagement, volunteer and service leadership, and awards for exemplary contributions). |
| DalCard | Your ID card and key to pretty much everything on campus |
| Dal Dollars | Money that you load onto your DalCard |
| DalSAFE | Mobile platform for security services that houses interactive maps, parking information, and information about safety and security on campus. Subscribe for text message alerts. |
| DSU | Dalhousie Student Union: the group that represents you with certain matters on campus and resides in the SUB (see below) |
| FoodBucks | Money that comes with a meal plan and be spent on food at outlets on and off campus |
| Munro Day | Named after George Munro, the first Friday in February is designated as a Dalhousie holiday in his honour. |
| NetID | Your key to the online world at Dal (basically your username) |
| RA | Residence Assistant: the students who work for Res Life helping other students who...live in residence |
| RLM | Residence Life Manager: the friendly staff members who look after the different residences on campus and guide the RAs |
| RPA | Residence Programming Assistant - the people who plan unique and engaging events and programs for all students in residence. |
Around Halifax campuses
| Carleton | Carleton Campus: our Halifax campus that houses the faculties of Dentistry, Health Professions, and Medicine |
|---|---|
| The Cohn | The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium: the main 1,023-seat theatre in the Dal Arts Centre. Home of your induction in Orientation Week, convocation (graduation), and fantastic concerts and shows in between |
| Dalplex | The biggest athletics and recreation facility at Dal (fieldhouse, pool, courts, cardio, etc.) located on Studley Campus |
| FASS | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences |
| LSC | Life Sciences Centre (also known as "the mother ship") |
| Sexton | Sexton Campus: our downtown campus that houses the faculties of Engineering and Architecture and Planning |
| Studley | Studley Campus: our main Halifax campus that houses the faculties of Arts & Social Sciences, Computer Science, Management, and Science (also: Studley Gym, Studley House in Howe Hall) |
| SUB | Student Union Building (unless they're talking about a sub, which may be a sandwich at Subway...or a research tool in the Ocean Sciences Centre) |
| UPass | Your Halifax Transit (bus and ferry) student pass—actually, it's a little sticker that goes on your DalCard to turn it into a transit pass |
Around Halifax
| The Arm | The Northwest Arm: the body of water right by Dal's Studley Campus that juts in from the mouth of the harbour and ends at the Armdale roundabout (perfect spot for sailing, rowing, canoeing, etc.) |
|---|---|
| The BLIP | Bayers Lake Industrial Park: the generally uninspiring sprawl of big box stores on your way out of town towards Highway 103 (South Shore) |
| The Commons | The big green space in the middle of the city with ball fields, skating oval, skate park, etc. |
| The Dingle | The stone tower on the other side of The Arm, built by Sir Sanford Fleming (climb to the top for an incredible view!). Also usually refers to Fleming Park which surrounds the tower |
| Macpass | Bridge pass: if you're doing a lot of driving back and forth over the harbour, this is the way to go (load money on, and you won't be fumbling for change at the toll booth). Bonus: it can be used at the airport parking garage and can be set up for the Confederation Bridge to P.E.I. |
| New Bridge | The A. Murray MacKay Bridge: the one crossing the harbour furthest away from campus in the far north end of Halifax |
| Old Bridge | The Angus L. Macdonald Bridge: the one crossing the harbour closer to campus at the bottom of North St. (think Old Macdonald) |
| The Oval | The free speed skating oval on The Commons: you can skate on the ice during the winter (free skate rentals!), and use inline skates, scooters, and bikes the rest of the year |
| Pizza Corner | The corner of Grafton and Blowers Streets downtown: formerly the home of late-night pizza joints on three of the corners, sadly there are now only two left |
| The Halifax Waterfront | Halifax's picturesque public boardwalk that borders the Halifax Harbour and runs paralell to Lower Water street. There are a ton of small shops and restaurants along the waterfront including Cow's Ice-cream and the Halifax Seaport Market |
Around the Agricultural Campus
| Aggie | Nickname for an Agricultural Campus student |
|---|---|
| College Royal | Celebration of the long-standing tradition of agricultural showmanship and unique culture of the Agricultural Campus. |
| Dal AC | Dalhousie Agricultural Campus: our beautiful campus in Truro/Bible Hill that houses the Faculty of Agriculture |
| DASA | Dalhousie Agricultural Students’ Association: the student council of the Faculty of Agriculture that represents you on all Dal committees, acts as a connector between you and the faculty, and organizes events on campus. |
| Horseshoe | The green space in the centre of the 3 residence buildings; Fraser, Chapman and Trueman. |
| MAP Centre | Math & Physics Help Centre: a free tutoring centre provided to students taking math, physics and statistics-based courses. |
| RAC | Ruminant Animal Centre: home to the dairy cows and sheep. |
| Rams | Members of the Dal AC varsity sport teams. |
| SAIL | Student Advancement In Leadership: a non-academic opportunity focused on engaging students to be active participants in their own leadership development. |
| SLC | Student Learning Commons: located at the top floor of the MacRae Library, the SLC is designated as a place for relaxing, studying, socialising and accommodating the needs of students. It is equipped with a café, student meetings rooms, program rooms, quiet spaces and an Indigenous space. |
| Woodsmen | Varsity athletic team competing in lumberjacking sport. |
| WUSC | World University Service of Canada: global development organisation that improves education, employment and empowerment opportunities. |
Around Truro
| Civic Square | Park in downtown Truro surrounded by the Colchester Library and Truro Farmer’s Market. An open space for public gatherings and town events, and it’s also an outdoor skating rink in the winter. |
|---|---|
| Cobequid Trail | 18km walking and cycling trail network through central Colchester County, runs behind the Agricultural Campus. |
| RECC | Rath Eastlink Community Centre: multipurpose sporting facility located in Truro, with a pool, indoor ice rink and rock-climbing wall. |
Other local terms and curiosities
| Mi'kmaq | (Mig-maw): The Mi'kmaq are Aboriginal peoples who are indigenous to the atlantic provinces. Dalhousie University is located in the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq |
|---|---|
| Keji | Kejimkujik (ke-jim-coo-jik) National Park: a beautiful park of forest and lakes in the south-central part of Nova Scotia. If you like camping, you'll end up there |
| Musquodoboit | (mus-kwo-dah-bit): an area just outside Halifax on the Eastern Shore (includes Martinique Beach, the longest sandy beach in Nova Scotia) |
| The Valley | The Annapolis Valley: a beautiful agricultural area of the province, about an hour's drive from Halifax |
Grad Students Terms
| GSIS | (gee-sis / Graduate Student Information System): Where to find your program requirements and (eventually) apply to graduate |
|---|---|
| DalSpace | Where every Dalhousie graduate student thesis lives. |
| Harmonized Scholarship Process | A single application for several Faculty of Graduate Studies-managed scholarships. |
| GFP | (Graduate Funding Payment System): Where to see and maintain your graduate scholarships. |
| GradPad | A dedicated study space for graduate students in the Killam. |