Baylor UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Baylor University. Free for students.

Private Non-Profit Liberal Arts College in Waco, TX. Operating on a semester system.

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19K+

Total Enrollment

Liberal Arts College

Institution Type

32

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Summer 2026 Trimester

The semester, explained for Baylor University

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Summer 2026 Trimester
Campus terms
52
Local details
37

Academic calendar

Summer 2026 Trimester runs May 4, 2026 – Aug 17, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

25 entries
  1. Summer 2026 Trimester Part of Term A
  2. Summer 2026 TrimesterRelevant now
  3. Summer Session I 2026
  4. Full Summer 2026
  5. Summer 2026 Full Summer Session
  6. Summer 2026 Trimester Part of Term B
  7. Summer Session II 2026
  8. Summer 2026 Session II
  9. Fall 2026 Semester
  10. Fall 2026 Trimester
  11. Spring 2027 Wintermester
  12. Spring 2027 Trimester
  13. Spring 2027 Semester
  14. Summer Session I 2027
  15. Summer 2027 Session II
  16. Full Summer 2027
  17. Fall 2027 Semester
  18. Spring 2028 Wintermester
  19. Spring 2028 Trimester
  20. Spring 2028 Semester
  21. Summer 2028 Trimester
  22. Summer 2028 Minimester
  23. Summer Session I 2028
  24. Full Summer Session 2028
  25. Summer Session II 2028

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

52 terms

1

1845
1845 at Memorial, a specific dining station or sub-section within Memorial Dining Hall known for premium offerings.

B

Brooks
Brooks Residential College, modeled after the Oxford/Cambridge residential system.
Brooks
The Great Hall at Brooks Residential College, which offers a more formal dining experience.
Brooks Great Hall
The formal dining hall located within Brooks Residential College.

C

CGE
Center for Global Engagement, which handles study abroad and international student services.
Christmas on Fifth
A major annual holiday festival held on 5th Street.
CL
Community Leader; Baylor's specific title for a Resident Assistant (RA) who lives in the dorms.
Collins
Ruth Collins Hall, a large traditional-style residence hall primarily for freshman women.

D

Dia
Short for Diadeloso (Day of the Bear), an annual spring tradition where classes are cancelled for a festival.
Dr Pepper Float
A weekly tradition (Dr Pepper Hour) where students gather for free floats.
Dr Pepper Hour
A weekly tradition held every Tuesday where students gather for free Dr Pepper floats.

E

Earle
Earle Hall, the residential component of the Science & Health Living-Learning Center.
East Village
East Village Dining Commons, the dining hall serving the East Village residential area and the BSB.
EV
East Village Dining Commons, the dining hall located near the science buildings and East Village residential area.

H

HRC
The Honors Residential College, located in Alexander and Memorial Halls.

I

IFC
Interfraternity Council, the governing body for traditional men's social fraternities.

K

Koke
Kokernot Hall, a traditional-style residence hall on campus.
Kokernot
Kokernot Hall, a traditional residence hall often shortened by students.

M

Martin
Martin Hall, a traditional all-male residence hall.
MCC
Multicultural Community, often referring to the Multicultural Affairs department or its associated student groups.
Mem
Memorial Dining Hall, known for its '1845' station and traditional atmosphere.
Memo
Memorial Dining Hall, often used to refer to the dining facility located near the center of campus.
Memorial
Memorial Dining Hall, often called 'Mem' or '1845' after its signature food station.
MGC
Multicultural Greek Council, representing diverse Greek-letter organizations.
Moody Starbucks
The Starbucks location situated on the garden level of Moody Memorial Library.

N

NoRo
North Russell Hall, a common shorthand for one of the twin Russell residence halls.
North Village
A residential community consisting of Heritage House, Texana House, and University House.
NoRu
North Russell Hall, a residence hall often housing members of the Impact Living-Learning Center.
NPHC
National Pan-Hellenic Council, representing historically African American Greek-letter organizations.
NV
North Village, a residential community consisting of Heritage House, Texana House, and University House.

O

OALA
Office of Access and Learning Accommodation; provides services for students with disabilities.

P

Penland
The Penland Crossroads dining hall, located within Penland Hall.
PHC
Panhellenic Council, the governing body for traditional women's social sororities.
Pigskin
Pigskin Revue; a showcase of the winning acts from the previous year's Sing during Homecoming.

R

Ring by Spring
The cultural phenomenon or pressure to be engaged to be married by the spring semester of senior year.
Ring Out
A graduation ceremony where seniors pass the 'light of learning' to juniors.

S

SA
Student Government (Student Association), the representative body for the student voice.
Sic 'em
The official university greeting and cheer, performed with the 'Bear Claw' hand sign.
Sing
All-University Sing, a massive annual musical production and competition between Greek and student orgs.
SLC
The McLane Student Life Center, the university's primary fitness and recreation facility.
SoRu
South Russell Hall, a residence hall located near the heart of campus.
Steppin' Out
A large-scale community service day held once per semester.

T

Teal
Teal Residential College, the designated dorm for engineering and computer science students.
The Bubble
The 'Baylor Bubble,' referring to the perceived social and cultural isolation of the campus from the surrounding Waco community.
The Flats
Brooks Flats, an apartment-style residence hall for upper-division students.
The Line
The Baylor Line, a tradition where freshmen wear gold jerseys and run onto the field before football games.
The Pen
Penland Hall, a prominent freshman residence hall known for its central location and large dining hall.
The Quad
Commonly refers to the North Village Residential Community, which includes Heritage, Texana, and University House.
The SUB
The food court area located inside the Bill Daniel Student Center, featuring various retail food options.
The Teal
Teal Residential College, the dorm primarily housing Engineering and Computer Science students.
Tortilla Tossing
A tradition where students throw tortillas off the Waco Suspension Bridge toward a concrete pillar.

V

VETS
Veteran Educational and Transition Services, the office supporting military-connected students.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

37 details
Bear ID
The alphanumeric username (e.g., Bobby_Baylor1) used to log into all university digital systems.
BearBucks
A debit-like account on the student ID used for laundry, printing, and various campus vendors.
BearID
The unique username (usually firstname_lastname) used to log into all Baylor digital services.
BearWeb
The primary online portal for students to register for classes, check grades, and manage financial aid.
brooks_great_hall
Brooks Great Hall
brooks_residential_college_dining
Brooks Residential College Dining
BSB
The Baylor Sciences Building, a massive facility housing the majority of science classrooms and labs.
BUS
The Baylor University Shuttle, a free bus system that transports students around campus and to nearby apartments.
Canvas
The learning management system used by professors to post syllabi, assignments, and course materials.
Cashion
Cashion Academic Center, a building connected to the business school used for classrooms and offices.
Chapel
A graduation requirement consisting of two semesters of attendance at spiritual or educational programs.
Dining Dollars
Currency included in meal plans that can be spent at on-campus retail food locations like Starbucks.
east_village_dining_commons
East Village Dining Commons
Foster
The Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, the home of the Hankamer School of Business.
ID Card
The physical Baylor ID used for building access, meal plans, and 'BearBucks' transactions.
ID Number
The 9-digit student identification number (often starting with 89) used for official paperwork.
Jones
Jesse H. Jones Library, connected to Moody Library and housing specialized collections.
Meal Swipes
The credits used for entry into the all-you-care-to-eat residential dining halls.
memorial_dining_hall
Memorial Dining Hall
Moody
Moody Memorial Library, the main research library on campus.
O-Week
Orientation Week or Welcome Week, the series of events for new students before the fall semester begins.
OALA
Office of Access and Learning Accommodation, the department responsible for student disability services.
Old Main
One of the oldest and most iconic buildings on campus, part of the Burleson Quadrangle.
Pat Neff
Pat Neff Hall, the iconic administration building with the gold dome.
PawPrints
The campus-wide wireless printing system that allows students to send documents to various printers across campus.
penland_dining_hall
Penland Dining Hall
penland_residential_restaurant
Penland Residential Restaurant
SLC
Student Life Center, the campus gym and recreation facility (pronounced 'Slick').
The BSB
Baylor Sciences Building, the massive facility housing most science classrooms, labs, and departments.
The BUS
The Baylor University Shuttle, a free transit system serving the campus and surrounding apartment areas.
The Castle
The Carroll Science Building, nicknamed for its distinct turreted architecture.
The Ferrell
Ferrell Center, the arena used for basketball, volleyball, and major events.
The Foster
The Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, housing the business school.
The Marina
The Pullin Family Marina, where students can check out kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards for free with their ID.
The SLC
McLane Student Life Center, the primary campus fitness center, gym, and recreation hub.
The SUB
The Bill Daniel Student Center, the main hub for student organizations, mail, and lounge space.
Tidwell
Tidwell Bible Building, a historic campus landmark housing the Religion and History departments.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Summer 2026 Trimester runs May 4, 2026 – Aug 17, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
52 approved campus terms and 37 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.

Class of 2030 · Baylor University

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    Final High School Transcript Due

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    Health Insurance Waiver Deadline

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    Freshman Move-In Days

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Find a few communities to try at Baylor University

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

31 mapped items from 22 public sources

Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

Worth a look

180 Degrees Consulting at Baylor

Equips students with hands-on consulting experience by partnering with nonprofits and mission-driven organizations to solve real strategic challenges.

Regular commitment

All-University Sing

A tradition since 1953 where student organizations perform 7-minute, Broadway-style musical acts in a multi-night competition.

Tryout required

Source: studentactivities.web.baylor.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Get Tickets

Alpha Kappa Psi

A co-ed professional business fraternity open to all undergraduate majors, focusing on professional development, community service, and social activities.

Alpha Tau Omega

An IFC fraternity focused on leadership development and brotherhood.

Invite only

Source: fsl.web.baylor.edu · Verified 4 days ago

Chapter Info

Baylor Activities Council (BAC)

A student-led programming board responsible for planning and executing a wide variety of campus-wide events for the student body.

Baylor Ambassadors

A service organization that provides campus tours to prospective students and assists with various university functions.

Source: baylor.edu · Verified 5 days ago

Learn More

Baylor Undergraduate Research in Science & Technology (BURST)

Promotes and supports undergraduate research in the sciences through journal clubs, lab tours, workshops, and service opportunities.

Open to all

Baylor University Chamber of Commerce

The oldest student organization on campus, responsible for upholding Baylor's greatest traditions, including the care of the university's live bear mascots.

Regular commitment

Chi Omega

A Panhellenic sorority committed to friendship, personal integrity, service to others, academic excellence and intellectual pursuits, community and campus involvement, and personal and career development.

Invite only

Source: fsl.web.baylor.edu · Verified 4 days ago

Chapter Info

Campus rituals

Christmas on 5th Street

An annual celebration that marks the start of the Christmas season on campus with a tree lighting, live nativity, carriage rides, and other festivities.

Drop in any time

Source: baylor.edu · Verified 8 days ago

Learn More

Diadeloso

Translated as 'Day of the Bear,' this is an annual university-wide holiday in the spring where classes are cancelled for a day of games, concerts, and food.

Drop in any time

Source: studentactivities.web.baylor.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

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Baylor University on DormWay

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Active Students

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Syllabi Analyzed

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Courses on DormWay

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American Literary Cultures: Toward a More Perfect Union: American Utopias and Dystopias in a Global ContextChemistry 3332Human Anatomy Lab

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Life in Waco for Baylor University Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Waco.

Timezone

Central Time (CT)

Median Rent

$1,200

Cost of Living Index

85

Student Population

30,000

City Transportation

Walkability

37

Bikeability

43

Public Transit

Waco Transit System

Nearest Airports

Waco Regional Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid subtropical

Avg Annual Temp

68°F

Avg Snowfall

0.1 in

Data sources: Limited data available from search results

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Speight Plaza Parking Facility

garage

Houses the Department of Public Safety.

5th Street Garage (Lot 5)

garage

Ideal for Brooks Residential College, Martin, and Penland residents.

8th Street Garage (Lot 8)

garage

Ideal for Brooks Flats, Collins, and Kokernot residents.

Dutton Garage (Lot 45)

garage

Ideal for North/South Russell and University House residents.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Baylor University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

30 known dorm and housing options. The first 24 are shown below; the rest are available in the expandable list.

Alexander Hall

Capacity: 325

Room types: single, double, triple

Allen Hall

Capacity: 400

Room types: single, double

Arbors

Room types: single, double apartments

Brooks College

Capacity: 420

Room types: double, triple

Brooks Flats

Capacity: 350

Room types: single, double apartments

Collins Hall

Capacity: 600

Room types: double, triple

Collins Hall LLC

Capacity: 150

Room types: double

Dawson Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: single, double, suite

Earle Hall

Capacity: 500

Room types: double, suite, apartment

Fairmont Hall

Room types: single occupancy apartment

First-Year Community Hall

Capacity: 300

Room types: double, triple

Gables

Room types: two bedroom/two bath

Heritage House

Capacity: 200

Room types: suite, apartment

Kokernot Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: single, double

Kokernot Hall LLC

Capacity: 140

Room types: double

Living-Learning Communities Hall 1

Capacity: 250

Room types: double, triple

Martin Hall

Capacity: 325

Room types: double, triple

Martin Hall LLC

Capacity: 130

Room types: double

Memorial Hall

Capacity: 325

Room types: single, double, suite

North Russell Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: single, double, triple

Penland Hall

Capacity: 550

Room types: double, triple

Penland Hall LLC

Capacity: 120

Room types: double, triple

Residential College Hall 1

Capacity: 200

Room types: double, suite-double

Sid Richardson Building

Capacity: 300

Room types: single, double

Show the remaining 6 housing options

South Russell Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: not specified in search results

Teal Hall

Capacity: 440

Room types: double

Teal Residential College

Room types: traditional double, apartment

Texana House

Capacity: 200

Room types: not specified in search results

University House

Capacity: 180

Room types: suite, apartment

University Parks Apartments

Capacity: 540

Room types: two-bedroom/two-bath, three-bedroom/three-bath, four-bedroom/two-bath

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Private Non-Profit

Email Domain

@bayloru.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

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