FWIW - the UK reference was very local, as I too had to think for a second to interpret it correctly. I have noticed that across the US, abbreviations for colleges and universities are assumed by the locals to be implicitly understood, even if indecipherable or confusing to others. A reference to MSU can mean Mississippi State, Missouri State, or Michigan State, just to name the pertinent major universities. And trying to keep straight UK versus the KU! IU: Indiana? Iowa? Illinois? UI: ditto? The locals show no mercy.

It seems to be not a national attitude, but a much more localized perspective.