Academic calendar
School Year 2026-2027 runs Aug 11, 2026 – Jun 1, 2027. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- School Year 2026-2027Relevant now
- School Year 2026-2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 46 of 46 terms
A
- AHS
- The standard shorthand abbreviation for American High School.
- American High
- A self-deprecating nickname for the university used by students to describe its small size and social atmosphere.
- ASB
- Associated Student Body; the student government responsible for organizing school events and rallies.
- AUSG
- American University Student Government.
B
- BSU
- Black Student Union; a student organization focused on community and cultural awareness.
C
- Cassell
- Cassell Hall, typically housing upperclassmen and known for its fitness center.
D
- DECA
- A large business and entrepreneurship club that competes in regional and state conferences.
E
- Eagle
- The school mascot and the collective name for the student body.
- Eagle Era
- The name of the official student-run newspaper and media outlet.
- Eagle Spirit
- The general term for school pride and participation in campus traditions.
- Eagle's Nest
- The student-run store located near the cafeteria that sells snacks, drinks, and school spirit wear.
- Eagles
- The school mascot, used to refer to the student body or athletic teams.
- East Campus
- The newer residential complex located across Nebraska Avenue from the main campus.
F
- FBLA
- Future Business Leaders of America; a career-technical student organization.
- FUSD
- Fremont Unified School District; the governing district often discussed regarding policy changes.
H
- HOSA
- Future Health Professionals; a club for students interested in pursuing careers in the healthcare industry.
K
- Kogod
- The Kogod School of Business and its associated student organizations.
L
- Letts-Anderson
- The primary freshman housing complex, often referred to as a single unit (LA).
M
- McDowell
- A traditional-style residence hall often housing freshmen and sophomores.
- MEChA
- Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán; a club promoting Chicano culture and history.
- MGC
- Mary Graydon Center, the main hub for retail dining options like Subway and Pi & Cone.
- MSU
- Muslim Student Union; a student organization providing a space for Muslim students and cultural exchange.
N
- NHS
- National Honor Society; an organization for students who meet specific academic and service requirements.
O
- Off-campus
- The practice of upperclassmen leaving the school grounds during the lunch period to eat at nearby plazas.
P
- PUENTE
- A program and club focused on supporting underrepresented students in their path to college.
R
- Red and Gold
- The school colors, frequently used to refer to school spirit or specific spirit days.
- Red Zone
- The designated student cheering section at football and basketball games, known for high energy and school colors.
S
- SIS
- School of International Service (often used to refer to the student community and its specific orgs).
- Snack Bar
- The outdoor service windows providing quick-service food and snacks during break and lunch.
- SPA
- The School of Public Affairs.
- SUB
- Student Union Board, the group responsible for planning major campus events like concerts.
T
- TDR
- Terrace Dining Room, the university's main all-you-care-to-eat dining hall.
- The Bridge
- The Bridge Cafe, a student-run coffee shop and performance space in MGC.
- The Caf
- The main indoor cafeteria area where school lunches are served.
- The Dav
- Davenport Coffee Lounge, a popular student-run cafe located in the School of International Service.
- The Eagle
- The university's student-run newspaper.
- The Eagle's Nest
- The student-run snack bar and school store located on campus.
- The Era
- Shorthand for 'The Eagle Era,' the official student-run newspaper.
- The Nest
- The designated student cheering section at home sports games, particularly basketball and football.
- The Quad
- The central grassy area where students socialize, study, and attend campus events.
- The Quad
- The outdoor central area where many students eat lunch instead of the cafeteria.
- The Red Zone
- The designated student cheering section at football and basketball games.
- The Snack Bar
- A secondary window or area for purchasing quick snacks and drinks during break.
- The Window
- The outdoor walk-up service windows where students purchase snacks or lunch.
V
- VSA
- Vietnamese Student Association; a cultural club focused on Vietnamese heritage and community.
W
- Wonk
- A term for someone who is highly studious or policy-obsessed; used extensively in AU's branding.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- 700 Wing
- The section of the school primarily housing science and mathematics classrooms.
- 800 Wing
- The section of the school primarily housing social studies and elective classrooms.
- Advisory
- A mandatory period in the schedule used for announcements, school-wide activities, or study time.
- american_high_school_cafeteria
- American High School Cafeteria
- AU Shuttle
- The free shuttle service connecting the main campus to the Tenleytown-AU Metro station.
- Bender
- Bender Library, the main campus library.
- Block Schedule
- The system where students attend longer class periods (90 minutes) on alternating days.
- Canvas
- The Learning Management System (LMS) where teachers post assignments, files, and online quizzes.
- Don Myers
- The Don Myers Technology and Innovation Building, located on the East Campus.
- Eagle Period
- A dedicated block in the weekly schedule for students to seek academic help, attend meetings, or study.
- EagleConnect
- The university's official portal for email and administrative tasks.
- Gold Day
- A specific day in the block schedule where students attend periods 2, 4, and 6.
- ID Card
- The mandatory student identification card required for checking out books and purchasing lunch.
- Infinite Campus
- The online portal used by students and parents to track grades, attendance, and schedules.
- Katzen
- The Katzen Arts Center, housing the art gallery and performing arts spaces.
- Late Start
- Refers to the Wednesday schedule where classes begin later than the standard 8:30 AM start time.
- One Card
- The official student ID used for building access, meal swipes, and EagleBucks.
- Red Day
- A specific day in the block schedule where students attend periods 1, 3, and 5.
- SIS Building
- The LEED-certified School of International Service building, known for its glass architecture.
- Student ID
- The physical card required for checking out library books, purchasing lunch, and entering school dances.
- The 500s
- The wing of the school typically associated with older classrooms and specific departments like social studies.
- The 700 Wing
- The section of campus primarily dedicated to science and mathematics classrooms.
- The 700s
- The newest classroom wing on campus, typically housing science and modern classrooms.
- The Big Gym
- The primary gymnasium used for varsity basketball, volleyball, and school-wide rallies.
- The Eagle Era
- The official student-run newspaper that provides news and updates on campus life.
- The Eagle's Nest
- The on-campus student store where spirit wear and snacks are sold.
- The Gym
- The main athletic facility used for PE classes, basketball games, and school rallies.
- The Loop
- The designated circular driveway at the front of the school for student drop-off and pick-up.
- The Media Center
- The school library and computer lab area.
- The Portables
- The temporary classroom trailers located on the edge of the campus.
- The Quad
- The central outdoor area where students gather during lunch and passing periods.
- The Rotunda
- The prominent circular architectural feature at the front of the school, often used as a meeting point.
- The Theater
- The performing arts center used for drama productions, concerts, and large presentations.
- Tutorial
- A 35-minute block during the school day intended for students to get extra help from teachers.
- U-Pass
- The mandatory transit pass providing students with unlimited Metrobus and Metrorail rides.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- School Year 2026-2027 runs Aug 11, 2026 – Jun 1, 2027.
- How much campus context is included?
- 46 approved campus terms and 35 local details are included in full.
- Are all approved campus terms included?
- Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
- Where does this guide come from?
- Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.