2 ABCs of College: People, Places & Acronyms You Should Know
Introduction
Starting college is kind of like jumping into a new game without the tutorial. Everyone else seems to know the map, the shortcuts, and what “FERPA” stands for. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to figure out how to access your inventory (aka Canvas) and why the WiFi keeps disconnecting you.
Here’s your walkthrough.
Cascadia has a lot of support office whose entire job is to help you succeed. Whether you’re choosing classes, applying for financial aid, or just trying to find the right building, these folks are here to guide you.
This page is your starter pack:
- The top 10 terms you’ll actually need in your first quarter
- the Key offices and support services that can help you unlock new levels of success.
No side quests. No complicated menus. Just the essentials.
Top 10 College Terms
The list below contains 10 terms that you need to know in your first quarter. This list is not exhaustive! For a much more detailed list check out our glossary.
| Term | What It Means | đź’ˇ Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Syllabus | Your class roadmap. Every class you take will have a syllabus and it shares information about important class policies (like attendance and late work), information about when assignments are due, and how to contact your instructor. | Check your syllabus before asking your professor a question! |
| Prerequisite | A class or placement level that you need before you can take a specific course. It might mean having passed a certain class or placing into a certain level of English or Math. | Not every class has a prerequisite! Check the “enrollment requirements” section of the course description to see if a specific course has a prerequisite. |
| Drop vs. Withdrawal | Both of these terms refer to leaving a class before the end of the term, but they have different meanings. • Drop: Removing a class from your schedule before the 10th business day of the quarter. This class won’t show up on your transcript and you won’t get a grade. A faculty member can drop you from a class by the 10th day if you don’t attend the first class days or participate in an online class. • Withdrawal (W): Removing a class after the 10th business day of the quarter but before the 8th week of the quarter. Your transcript will show a W instead of a grade for that class, but withdrawing from a class won’t hurt your GPA. |
A faculty member can’t withdraw you from a class—it’s your responsibility to withdraw (and avoid earning a 0.0). |
| Office Hours | These are scheduled times when your instructor is available to help you—no appointment necessary. These are sometimes called “student hours” at Cascadia. Many faculty offer office hours both in-person and on Zoom. Check your syllabus or course Canvas site for information on your instructor’s office hours. | You can go even if you don’t have a question—just say hi or ask about a concept you want to understand better. |
| Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) | The DTA is a statewide agreement that allows you to complete an associate degree at a community college, like Cascadia, and transfer to many Washington State colleges and universities as a junior. Under the DTA, most of your lower-division general education requirements will already be met. | Cascadia’s DTA degree is the Associate in Integrated Studies – DTA. Learn more about transferring to another college or university. |
| Transcript | Your official academic record. It lists every class you’ve taken, the grades you earned, and your grade point average (GPA). You’ll need it if you transfer, apply for scholarships, and sometimes when you apply for a job. | You can request unofficial transcripts for free, but official ones usually require a small fee. |
| Areas of Interest | Cascadia organizes its programs into 7 Areas of Interest to help you explore possible careers and majors. | We’ll explore them much more throughout College 101, but you can find more information and explore pathways before that module! |
| FERPA | The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It’s a federal law that keeps your educational records private. That means no one, including parents or guardians, can access your grades or class info unless you give permission. | This includes enrollment information and access to your Canvas pages and grades. |
| FAFSA | The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s the form you fill out to get financial aid, like grants, work-study, and loans. You should fill out a new FAFSA every year you are attending college. | File it early—even if you think you won’t qualify. Many scholarships and aid programs use it! |
| Credit Hour | Credits are how classes are measured. It is the unit that shows how much time you spend in class per week. Most classes at Cascadia are 5 credit hours, but some lab classes may be more. Full-time students take 12–18 credits per quarter. | If you’re working or have other responsibilities, it’s okay to take fewer credits—talk to your advisor! |
Offices You Should Know
| Office | What They Do | Why You Might Visit |
| Academic Advising |
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| Activities & Resource Center (ARC) | Shared space between Cascadia and UW-Bothell that hosts student events and houses the fitness center. |
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| Bock Learning Center | Free tutoring in English, math, natural sciences, programming, and more. Work with a tutor or use it as a quiet space for studying! |
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| Counseling Center | Free, confidential mental health services for Cascadia students. |
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| Enrollment Services | Handles registration, transcripts, graduation forms, and student records. Sometimes called a registrar at other colleges. |
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| Health & Wellness Center | One-stop shop that connects you to community resources that you might need, like financial coaching, |
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| Financial Aid | Helps you meet basic educational expenses for an academic degree. |
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| Information Technology Services (ITS) | Tech support for student logins, printing, email, and campus WiFi. |
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| Kodiak Cave | Â Free on-campus food resource pantry. Open each quarter to all Cascadia students. |
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| Student Accessibility Services | Student Accessibility Services connects students to the accommodations they need to be successful in school. |
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| Violence Prevention & Advocacy | Offers confidential support to students impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, or harassment. Also provides prevention programs on consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships. |
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Wrapping Up
Understanding how college works—what terms mean and where to go for help—is a huge first step. You don’t need to memorize every acronym or office name right now, but knowing the basics puts you in control of your college experience.
The terms and offices on this page are the ones you’ll use most in your first quarter. You’ll learn more along the way—and that’s the point! College isn’t about knowing everything already; it’s about learning how to find answers, ask questions, and build the confidence to navigate what’s next.
And remember: asking for help is a skill, not a weakness.
definition
Cascadia College offers 71 pathways within 7 Areas of Interest to help students find a direct path toward a chosen profession. These are the more specific programs or fields of study that fall under the broader Area of Interest.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
