Glossary | Ask Athena

actively teaching faculty

Any faculty that is teaching during the semester of their departure.

ADE

ADE, or automated device enrollment, allows for the automatic enrollment of new devices with a MDM such as JAMF.

asset tag

An asset tag is the 6-digit code that uniquely identifies a College-owned device, with the first two numbers being the fiscal year it was purchased.

burner

A burner is a device that is meant for temporary, typically one-time, use as an alternative to your primary day-to-day device.

Central processing unit (CPU)

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain that handles all computations for a device. Cores allow the CPU to break up tasks and multitask, and the clockspeed (measured in megahertz, MHz) determines the number of computations it can make per second.

College username

Your College username, typically your first initial and family name, is the beginning of your College email address; it does not include @brynmawr.edu.

context menu

A context menu is typically opened with a right-click and lists actions specific to what was clicked, such as Copy, Undo, or Share.

contrast ratio

Contrast ratio is the difference between the lightest white and darkest black a display can produce. Generally, the higher the better.

dialog

A dialog is a secondary window that asks for, or presents, additional information. Examples include a print dialog or options dialog.

disaster recovery

Disaster recovery is the process of restoring data and functionality in the event of an emergency, such as a computer unexpectedly failing without a backup.

false positive

A false positive in antivirus occurs when a safe item is incorrectly flagged as malicious.

fiscal year

A fiscal year, sometimes referred to as FY##, is a year defined for purchasing, accounting, and budgetary purposes and typically starts in June. For example, FY26 starts June 1st 2025.

GPO

A GPO, or group policy object, is a collection of settings that determines how a device looks and behaves. It is assigned to an OU, applying to all objects within.

hub display

A hub display is a monitor with a built-in USB and Ethernet hub which can also charge a computer connected to it, all over a single cable.

image

An image is an alternate name for a SCCM Task Sequence which installs a specific version of Windows, applications, encryption, and more.

JAMF configuration profile

A JAMF configuration profile defines behavior by setting restrictions and/or settings for a computer or user. They are automatically deployed based on JAMF policies.

JAMF policy

A JAMF policy is a predefined task that can run scripts, manage accounts, install software, and more automated tasks.

List Moderator

Moderators can approve or deny pending emails and membership requests, but are unable to modify most list settings.

LLM

A LLM, or Large Language Model, is an AI system that processes and generates text by being trained on a vast and diverse dataset.

MDM

A MDM, or Mobile Device Management platform, allows for the creation and automation of deployment, management, and analysis tasks for Apple devices.

network drive

A network drive is a remote file storage location accessed via the College network. Examples include the H:, S:, Q:, and more!

nits

Nits are a unit used to measure the peak brightness of a display. Generally, the higher the better; it matters most in bright environments.

non-primary

Non-primary computers include departmental devices, public computers, kiosks, and more!

OU

An OU, or organizational unit, is a container within Active Directory used to house users and computers.

PII

PII, or Personally Identifiable Information, is information that can identify an individual - such as their SSN, driver's license number, address, or phone number.

ppi

Pixels per inch (ppi) denotes the density of pixels in a display or an image. Generally, higher is better; it matters more the closer you are to a screen.

primary

A primary computer is a College-owned device assigned to a specific full-time faculty or staff member.

Print job

A print job is a document sent to a printer to be printed.

Print queue

A print queue is a list of print jobs (e.g., documents) ready to be printed. Some printers have multiple queues with different settings, such as color printing.

Printer group

A printer group is a collection of printers that all share the same print queue, which means if you send a print job (e.g. a document) to a printer group, you can release the job at any printer in the group.

Random access memory (RAM)

RAM (Random Access Memory) is high-speed volatile storage that assists other hardware by temporarily storing data used by programs.

release print job

Release a print job from a print queue to print the item. For example: tap your OneCard at a Canon to login, select your document(s), and tap "print".

resolution

Resolution is the number of (horizontal x vertical) pixels in a given display or image. It can be abbreviated to FHD (1080p or 1920x1080) or UHD (4K or 3840x2160).

right-click

There are multiple ways to right-click:

Windows default: click the right mouse button (right-handed mouse, trackpad with mouse buttons) or click with two fingers (most buttonless trackpads)
Mac default: Control-click or click with two fingers (trackpad or Magic Mouse)
Touch screen: touch & hold

sandbox

A sandbox is a copy of the production site that is inaccessible to users and used to test changes and fixes.

Service Catalog

The Service Catalog is a College website that allows you to browse and submit requests to LITS.

SME

A SME, or subject matter expert, is an individual who has advanced knowledge in a specific field.

SoC

SoC, or system on a chip, refers to a chip that integrates most components of a computer. This is typically in reference to Apple's Silicon M-series processors.

Software Center

Software Center is an app on College-provided computers. It is the home for LITS tools, and you can use it to install certain software and run scripts.

Task sequence

A task sequence is a set of steps in SCCM that installs a specific version of Windows, applications, encryption, and more.

ticket

A ticket is a support request tracked by TeamDynamix. Each ticket usually corresponds to a specific issue, question, or request.

user role

A user role is assigned to each person with a KnowledgeOwl login, which grants various permissions for both the production and sandbox instances of Ask Athena.

VPN

A VPN or virtual private network allows your computer to connect to a different (typically far away) network.