Glossary of Cambridge jargonGlossary of Cambridge jargonUAL - University Assistant Lecturer.
UCLES - University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate.
UCS - University Computing Service (also CS).
UL - (i) University Library; (ii) University Lecturer.
UMS - University Messenger Service.
Undergraduate - (literally: under the step) a member of the university who does not have a degree.
Union - according to context, may mean (i) a college union; (ii) CUSU; (iii) the Union Society.
Union Catalogue - a combined catalogue of all the University's Libraries and departmental libraries.
Union Society - the university debating club. Not a Students' Union.
United Clubs - (or Amalgamated Clubs) a system introduced in the early 20th century whereby students may join all the college sports clubs by means of a single subscription.
Upper River - that part of the river Cam (or Granta) flowing from Grantchester to the mill races in Cambridge.
USS - Universities Superannuation Scheme.
UTO - University Teaching Officer. See Demonstrator, Assistant Lecturer, Lecturer, Reader, Professor. UTOs are usually, but not always, also Fellows of a College. Nowadays known simply as University Officers.
Vacation - those parts of the year which are not term; a period when academic study is pursued away from the university.
Van of Death, Van of Life - student slang names for certain purveyors of fast-food, which the laws of libel prevent me identifying any more closely.
Varsity - a student newspaper.
Vet School - Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine.
Vice-Chancellor - the effective head of the University.
Visiting Scholars - a society for providing assistance and information to overseas visiting academics and their families.
Visitor - a college appointment, normally of a distinguished outside person, who may sometimes act as a court of last appeal against decisions of the Governing Body.
Warden - at Robinson College, the head of the College.
Wedding Cake - New Court, St John's College.
Week - a system of week numbering within Full Term has recently spread to Cambridge from Oxford. Used at Cambridge mainly in connection with drama, as in "a 6th-week production''. Week counting is easier at Oxford, where Full Terms start on Sundays and end on Saturdays.
West Cambridge - university site where many scientific departments are being relocated.
Whipple - museum of the History of Science, in Free School Lane.
Whittle - laboratory, on Madingley Road, of the Engineering Department.
William Harvey - lecture room at the Clinical School.
Winks - Tiddlywinks, a game played played by Winkers.
Wooden Spoon - until 1909, the object presented to the student who came bottom in the Mathematics Tripos.
Wrangler - in the Mathematics Tripos, a grade of pass equivalent to First Class Honours.
Wren - library at Trinity College.
This compilation is Copyright (C) R.D.H. Walker 1991-97. rdhw@cam.ac.uk