It’s not easy learning the As, Bs and Cs of SIPA, but you will certainly know a great share by the end of your first semester at SIPA.
At SIPA, a common conversation begins something like this:
“I’m an MPA concentrating in EE, more specifically in GEMP. I’ll have to run to OSA and OCS to get some paperwork. Will I see you at the SIPASA party?”
As you can see, it is truly a world of acronyms that, sometimes, can get you lost. But, don’t worry, we built this incredible (and up-to-date) list of acronyms that will make your life a lot easier. This list may just save you some embarrassment the next time you’re on campus for an information session or IAB tour.
Check it out!
| ACRONYM | FULL NAME | CATEGORY |
| CUIT | Columbia University Information Technology | Administrative |
| DAAF | Director of Academic Administration and Finance – the main administrative contact for your program or department | Administrative |
| DGS | Director of Graduate Studies – the main academic contact for your program or department and the liaison with GSAS | Administrative |
| DRA | Department Research Assistant | Administrative |
| OCS | Office of Career Services | Administrative |
| OSA | Office of Student Affairs | Administrative |
| PA | Program Assistant | Administrative |
| SIPASA | SIPA Student Association | Administrative |
| SSOL | Student Services Online | Administrative |
| TA | Teaching Assistant | Administrative |
| TIC | Tickets and Information Center for campus and cultural events (located in Lerner Hall) | Administrative |
| UAH | University Apartment Housing | Administrative |
| EE | Energy and Environment | Concentrations |
| EPD | Economic and Political Development | Concentrations |
| HRHP | Human Rights & Humanitarian Policy Curriculum | Concentrations |
| IFEP | International Finance and Economic Policy | Concentrations |
| ISP | International Security Policy | Concentrations |
| USP | Urban and Social Policy | Concentrations |
| CF | Conceptual Foundations | Courses |
| ESF | Energy System Fundamentals | Courses |
| POP | Politics of Policy making | Courses |
| CourseWorks | online system that lists the courses you’re enrolled in | Other |
| CUID/PID | Columbia University ID number (e.g., C001234567), | Other |
| IAB | International Affairs Building | Other |
| ISSO | International Students and Scholars Office | Other |
| Paw Print | Columbia’s network of printers | Other |
| SIPA | School of International and Public Affairs | Other |
| UNI | University Network ID, which grants you access to all Columbia online and electronic resources (e.g., abc1234) | Other |
| CAA | Columbia Alumni Association | Other |
| BC | Barnard College | Schools/Centers |
| CCNMTL | Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning | Schools/Centers |
| CDTR | Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration, and Religion | Schools/Centers |
| CEMTPP | Center for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public Policy | Schools/Centers |
| CES | Council for European Studies | Schools/Centers |
| CGEG | Center on Global Economic Governance | Schools/Centers |
| CIBER | Center for International Business Education and Research | Schools/Centers |
| CICR | Center for International Conflict Resolution | Schools/Centers |
| CSER | Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race | Schools/Centers |
| CSSW | Columbia School of Social Work | Schools/Centers |
| CURP | Center for Urban Research and Policy | Schools/Centers |
| EALAC | Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures | Schools/Centers |
| EESC | Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences | Schools/Centers |
| IAS | Institute of African Studies | Schools/Centers |
| ILAS | Institute of Latin American Studies | Schools/Centers |
| IPD | Initiative for Policy Dialogue | Schools/Centers |
| ISERP | Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy | Schools/Centers |
| MESAAS | Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, & African Studies | Schools/Centers |
| SIWPS | Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies | Schools/Centers |
| TC | Teacher’s College | Schools/Centers |
| WEAI | Weatherhead East Asian Institute | Schools/Centers |
| EMPA | Executive Master of Public Administration | Programs |
| GPPN | Global Public Policy Network | Programs |
| IFP | International Fellows Program | Programs |
| MDP or MPA-DP | Master of Public Administration in Development Practice | Programs |
| MIA | Master of International Affairs | Programs |
| MPA | Master of Public Administration | Programs |
| PEPM | Program in Economic Policy Management | Programs |
| APEA | Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis | Specializations |
| AS | Applied Science | Specializations |
| GPP | Gender and Public Policy | Specializations |
| ICR | International Conflict Resolution | Specializations |
| IMAC | International Media Advocacy & Communications | Specializations |
| IO | International Organization | Specializations |
| APAC | Asia Pacific Affairs Council | Student groups |
| ASA | Arab Student Association | Student groups |
| CI3 | Columbia Impact Investing Initiative | Student groups |
| CRWG | Conflict Resolution Working Group | Student groups |
| CSVA | Columbia SIPA Veterans Association | Student groups |
| DSSO | SIPA Defense and Security Student Organization | Student groups |
| ESA | EU/European Student Association | Student groups |
| GCI | Greater China Initiative | Student groups |
| GPWG | Gender Policy Working Group | Student groups |
| HAWG | Humanitarian Affairs Working Group | Student groups |
| HRWG | Human Rights Working Group | Student groups |
| JASSA | Japan Study Student Association | Student groups |
| LASA | Latin American Students Association | Student groups |
| MESS | Monitoring and Evaluation Student Society | Student groups |
| MFWG | MicroFinance Working Group | Student groups |
| MWG | Migration Working Group | Student groups |
| NI | Net Impact | Student groups |
| RPCVs | SIPA Returned Peace Corps Volunteers | Student groups |
| SAA | South Asian Association | Student groups |
| SCC | SIPA Consulting Club | Student groups |
| SEA | SIPA Energy Association | Student groups |
| SEASI | Southeast Asia Student Initiative | Student groups |
| SFC | SIPA Finance Club | Student groups |
| SIPA WIL | SIPA Women in Leadership | Student groups |
| SPAN | SIPA Pan-African Network | Student groups |
| STI | SIPA Turkish Initiative | Student groups |
| TMP | The Morningside Post | Student groups |
| UNSPWG | UN Studies Program Working Group | Student groups |
