A "four year memory" is a term used to describe the nature of the relationship between students and college administrators. The term refers to a student body's short attention span (4 years, or often less) for on-going, systemic issues.

For example, due to 'four year memory,' a problem may repeat itself on the college campus every few years without any substantive, long-term input from the student body. On issues of conflict between students and administrators, students are often at a distinct disadvantage due to their transitory relationship (on an individual level) with the institution. While there are sometimes attempts to bridge this 'memory gap' by uniting students from multiple graduation classes, these united efforts tend to be less focused and structured than the college administration.

A "four year memory" may also refer to any other institutional client base that has a continual, and renewing, memory gap.

While a "four year memory" refers to the student body's (non) action, a "four year promise" may refer to an administration's actions.
"Our student rep's went to the school administration to talk about a new Latino Studies program. The president seemed receptive - but they'd have to think about it, since it's a new idea."

"Dude, they are counting on your four year memory. Students have been trying to create this program for 20 years!!!"

or

"Sexual assault is such a big problem this year!"
"WTF?! Do you have a four year memory?"
by bytebrekha April 4, 2009
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The extremely safe method to not have children, consisting of waiting four years with a boyfriend/girlfriend before having sex. Also can be taken as 1 base for every year.
Mike: "You hit that yet?"
Skeeter: "Naw man, only half way through that four-year-plan. Sho aint gonna be paying no child support though, YADADAMEAN?!?"
by Mixmaster Skeeter January 24, 2006
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A year whose number is divisible by four in which most events that operate on a four year cycle take place, such as leap year, summer olympics, and the United States presidential election.
Y2K was one hectic number four year.
by gateway_gamer January 3, 2004
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A person who enters college and chooses to be gayor try an alternative lifestyle for the four years of undergratudate school.
She went to Vasar to be a four year queer.
by Aunt E March 7, 2006
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A "four year promise" is a promise that institution makes for the duration of a client's stay; once the client has left the institution, the promise is no longer heeded.

The phrase originates in the relationships between college administrators and students, which often relies on the student body's short attention span (4 years, or often less) to on-going, systemic issues. This strategy can be used by colleges to make nominal concessions in one policy 'battle,' while patiently waiting for institutional longevity & momentum to win the policy 'war,' often as a result of the passing interest of the student body.

While a "four year promise" refers to an administration's actions, a "four year memory" may refer to the student body's (non) action.
"I thought the school promised to fund that program for the next 20 years. What happened?!"
"Oh, come on - that was just a four year promise!"
by bytebrekha April 4, 2009
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The four times a year your girlfriend can't say no to anal. Birthdays, anniversaries, Xmas and Valentine's day
"Your birthday is coming up. Is Becky a four-a-year girl?"
"Four -a-year? No ways, mate, she way into anal. She doesn't go a week without."
by rivermaximus November 21, 2014
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Something we don’t want from Donald Trump
The term, “four more years”, has become the latest annoying chant by Trump supporters.
by UrbanDefinitionMaker September 29, 2020
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