The Unofficial Dictionary of SIPA Acronyms
When you first arrive at SIPA, you quickly realize you’re not just starting graduate school - you’re learning a new language.
Between emails, class syllabi, and everyday conversations, acronyms are everywhere. If you’re a prospective student, don’t worry - everyone starts out slightly confused.
So here’s your unofficial guide to the most common SIPA (and Columbia) acronyms you’ll hear once you’re on campus.
The Acronyms You’ll Actually Hear
SSOL - Student Services Online
Columbia’s academic portal.
Through SSOL, students:
- Register for classes
- Adjust schedules
- View grades
- Manage enrollment records
During registration season, SSOL becomes very popular.
CAC - Columbia Alumni Center (Career Advising & Connections)
SIPA’s career hub.
CAC supports students with:
- Resume and cover letter reviews
- Internship and job search strategy
- Interview prep
- Employer networking events
OSA - Office of Student Affairs
One of the most student-facing offices at SIPA.
OSA helps with:
- Academic advising
- Registration and enrollment questions
- Student well-being
- Community programming
ISSO - International Students and Scholars Office
An essential resource for international students.
ISSO supports students with:
- Visa guidance
- CPT and OPT authorization
- Immigration documentation
- Travel signatures and compliance questions
If you’re an international student, ISSO quickly becomes one of the most important offices you’ll interact with.
TA - Teaching Assistant
Graduate instructors who support courses and hold office hours.
PA - Program Assistant
Graduate students who work in offices (i.e. Admissions, OSA, CAC, etc)
IAB - International Affairs Building
SIPA’s home base for classes, events, and study spaces.
MPA - Master of Public Administration
MIA - Master of International Affairs
The two flagship degree programs at SIPA.
UNI - University Network ID
Your Columbia login.
Your UNI gives you access to:
- Course platforms
- Library systems
- Campus resources
Getting your UNI is one of the first moments that makes it all feel official.
Seeple - a SIPA person (student, staff, faculty)
Concentration Acronyms You’ll Hear Around Campus
Once students declare a concentration, they often refer to it by acronym:
CEE - Climate, Energy, and Environment
DSP - Data Science for Policy
D&G - Development and Governance
HRGE - Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
IFIEP (sometimes shortened to IFEP) - International Finance and International Economic Policy
ISD - International Security and Diplomacy
TPI - Technology Policy and Innovation
USP - Urban and Social Policy
It sounds like code at first - but very quickly, it becomes second nature.
Common SIPA Terms That Aren’t Acronyms (But You’ll Still Hear Them)
Vergil
Columbia’s online library search system.
Reader
A course grader who provides feedback on assignments.
Shopping Week
The first week of classes when students explore courses before finalizing schedules.
Add/Drop
The period when students can adjust their class enrollments.
And just like that, you've become proficient in your new language!