Academic calendar
Summer Semester 2026 runs May 21, 2026 – Aug 12, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer Semester 2026Relevant now
- Summer 2026 First 5-Week Session
- Summer 2026 Full 8-Week Session
- Summer 2026 MBA Only 10-Week Session
- Summer 2026 Second 5-Week Session
- Fall Semester 2026
- Spring Semester 2027
- Summer Semester 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 77 of 77 terms
A
- A.S.
- Associated Students, the student government body at Cal Poly Humboldt.
- Arcata Bubble
- The phenomenon of students becoming so immersed in the unique, isolated culture of Arcata that they lose touch with outside news or trends.
- AS
- Associated Students, the student government body that manages student fees and programs.
B
- Bigfoot
- Bigfoot Sliders, a popular dining station located within the Depot.
- Bigfoot Burgers
- A popular campus eatery located near the Depot specializing in burgers and fries.
- Bigfoot Sliders
- A popular food window located within the Depot dining area.
- BLC
- Bicycle Learning Center; a student-run shop providing free bike maintenance help and tool access.
C
- Campus Apartments
- The off-campus university-owned housing located a few blocks from the main campus perimeter.
- Canyon
- The Canyon Residence Halls, located on the eastern edge of campus near the forest.
- CC Market
- The College Creek Marketplace, a convenience store and deli located in the College Creek complex.
- CCAT
- Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, a student-run sustainability demonstration house.
- CCC
- Clubs Coordinating Council, the body that oversees and funds student-run clubs.
- CCM
- College Creek Marketplace, a campus convenience store and deli located in the College Creek complex.
- College Creek
- The College Creek Apartments, typically housing upperclassmen near the soccer fields.
- College Creek Marketplace
- The on-campus market and deli located in the College Creek housing complex.
- Creek
- College Creek Apartments, a popular on-campus housing complex for upperclassmen.
- Creek Market
- The College Creek Marketplace, a retail dining and grocery location near the College Creek apartments.
- Creekview
- The Creekview Complex, featuring both apartment-style and suite-style living on the edge of the forest.
- Cypress
- The Cypress Residence Halls, known for their suite-style living arrangements.
D
- Dead Week
- The week before final exams when students typically focus exclusively on studying.
E
- EOP
- Educational Opportunity Program, providing support for first-generation and low-income students.
G
- Giant's Cupboard
- The on-campus convenience store located within the Jolly Giant Commons building.
H
- Hill Climb
- The daily physical struggle of walking from lower campus to upper campus buildings.
- HSU
- The former acronym (Humboldt State University) still frequently used by students and alumni to refer to the school.
- Humboldt
- The common shorthand for the university, still widely used following the transition to Cal Poly Humboldt.
- Humboldt State
- The former name of the university; many returning students and locals still use 'HSU' or 'Humboldt State' colloquially.
J
- Jacks
- Short for Lumberjacks, the university's mascot and the collective name for the student body.
- JGC
- Jolly Giant Commons, the main residential dining facility and social hub for students living on the Hill and in the Canyon.
K
- KRFH
- The student-run radio station (105.1 FM) broadcasting from campus.
L
- Library Cafe
- The coffee shop located on the first floor of the university library.
- Library Café
- The coffee shop located on the first floor of the campus library.
- Lucky Log
- The iconic wooden mascot statue located on campus.
- Lumberjacks
- The official mascot and nickname for Cal Poly Humboldt students and athletes.
M
- Marketplace
- The College Creek Marketplace, a grocery and deli located in the College Creek apartment complex.
- MCC
- MultiCultural Center, a hub for social justice, diversity programming, and student support.
O
- O.C.
- The Outdoor Center, which provides gear rentals and organizes outdoor excursions for students.
- O.S.L.
- Office of Student Life, the department overseeing clubs and campus activities.
- O.V.P.
- Office of Volunteer Programs, connecting students with local community service opportunities.
- Oh SNAP!
- The campus food pantry and student-led food security program.
- Oh SNAP!
- The campus food pantry and student food security program.
- OSL
- Office of Student Life, the administrative department overseeing clubs and activities.
P
- Plazoid
- A local slang term (sometimes pejorative) for individuals who spend significant time hanging out at the Arcata Plaza.
- Plazoids
- A term used to describe the eclectic mix of people who frequent the Arcata Plaza.
R
- RAMP
- Retention through Academic Mentoring Program, providing peer mentoring for first-year students.
- Redwood Curtain
- A local term for the geographic isolation of Humboldt County from the rest of California.
- RSO
- Registered Student Organizations, the official designation for all recognized campus clubs.
S
- SJEIC
- Social Justice, Equity & Inclusion Center, a campus hub for diversity and advocacy programs.
T
- The Arc
- The Student Recreation Center, the campus gym and climbing wall facility.
- The Bistro
- The Library Café/Bistro located on the first floor of the library.
- The Bubble
- The 'Arcata Bubble,' referring to the town's isolated and distinct progressive political and social culture.
- The Canyon
- The Canyon Complex, consisting of Alder, Cedar, Chinquapin, Hemlock, Juniper, Madrone, Maple, and Pepperwood halls.
- The Cup
- The Library Café, a popular spot for coffee and snacks located in the library.
- The Cupboard
- The Giant's Cupboard, a campus convenience store located in the Jolly Giant Commons.
- The Depot
- The main food court located in the University Center, featuring various local and chain vendors.
- The Flats
- The Campus Apartments, typically referring to the older apartment-style housing on the edge of campus.
- The Forest
- The Arcata Community Forest, which borders the campus and is used for hiking and research.
- The Hill
- The steep physical incline students must walk to get from lower campus to upper campus.
- The Hill
- The Hill Complex, which includes Sunset and Redwood residence halls.
- The Hill-climb
- The physically demanding walk between the lower campus (classes) and upper campus (housing/The J).
- The J
- Shorthand for the Jolly Giant Commons or its dining hall.
- The J
- Jolly Giant Commons, the primary residential complex and dining hub for first-year students.
- The J
- The Jolly Giant Commons, the primary resident dining hall on campus.
- The Jacks
- Short for Lumberjacks, the official mascot and name for the university's athletic teams.
- The JGC
- The Jolly Giant Commons, the central hub for the hill-side residence halls containing mail and recreation services.
- The JGC
- Shorthand for the Jolly Giant Commons, which houses the main dining hall and mailroom.
- The Lumberjack
- Refers to both the university mascot and the weekly student-run newspaper.
- The Lumberjack
- The Lumberjack Arena concession stand or general reference to the campus pub/cafe area.
- The Manor
- Sunset Hall, a residence hall located near Manor Drive, often grouped with the 'lower' campus housing.
- The Marketplace
- The College Creek Marketplace, a convenience store and deli located in the College Creek complex.
- The Marsh
- The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, a popular spot for birdwatching and walking near the bay.
- The Plaza
- The Arcata Plaza, the center of town where students frequent for events, farmers markets, and nightlife.
- The Quad
- The central grassy area on campus used for socializing and events.
- The Ramp
- The steep, inclined walkway that connects the lower campus (near the Library) to the upper campus (near the BSS).
- The Stairs
- The numerous and steep outdoor staircases that connect the lower and upper sections of the hillside campus.
W
- WRRAP
- Waste Reduction & Resource Awareness Program, the student-led recycling and composting initiative.
Y
- Y.E.S.
- Youth Educational Services, a department that facilitates student-led community volunteering and service-learning projects.
- YES
- Youth Educational Services, a student-led volunteer organization serving the local community.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- A&MRTS
- The Arcata & Mad River Transit System, the local bus service serving the city and campus.
- A&R
- The Admissions and Records office, responsible for registration, transcripts, and graduation.
- bigfoot_burgers
- Bigfoot Burgers
- BSS
- The Behavioral and Social Sciences Building, known for its modern design and views of the bay.
- C-Card
- The official campus identification card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- C.A.P.S.
- Counseling and Psychological Services, the campus office providing mental health support and therapy.
- C.A.R.E.
- Campus Assistance, Response, and Engagement, a service for students in crisis or needing basic needs support.
- Canvas
- The digital Learning Management System used by professors to post course materials, assignments, and grades.
- CASHNet
- The online payment portal used by students to pay tuition, housing fees, and other campus-related expenses.
- college_creek_marketplace
- College Creek Marketplace
- FH
- Founders Hall, the oldest and most iconic academic building on campus, located at the top of the main quad.
- Flex
- Flex Dollars, a declining balance currency included in meal plans that can be used at all campus dining locations.
- Founders
- Founders Hall, the oldest and most iconic academic building on campus.
- Founders Hall
- The iconic, oldest academic building on campus, known for its green roof and central location.
- GET
- The mobile app used by students to manage meal plan funds and order food on campus.
- giant_s_cupboard
- Giant's Cupboard
- Gist
- Gist Hall, home to the journalism department and the student newspaper.
- Gist Hall
- A multi-use building housing the journalism department, theater spaces, and administrative offices.
- Gold 01
- A common student parking permit designation for specific campus lots.
- Green & Gold
- The official school colors, often used to refer to school spirit or official university events.
- Green Box
- The reusable plastic meal container program used at 'The J' to reduce waste from takeout meals.
- Green Dot
- The campus-wide violence prevention and bystander intervention program.
- GSAC
- Gutswurrak Student Activities Center; the main hub for student life and clubs, formerly known as the SAC.
- Gutswurrak
- The Wiyot name for the Student Union building, often used to refer to the central student hub.
- Handshake
- The online portal used by students to find on-campus jobs, internships, and career opportunities.
- Harry Griffith Hall
- An academic building primarily housing the Department of Education and related programs.
- HGH
- Harry Griffith Hall; an academic building housing various departments and the campus bike share station.
- Humboldt ID
- The official campus identification card used for dining, building access, and library services.
- J-Points
- The declining balance currency included in meal plans, used specifically for food purchases on campus.
- Jack Pass
- The student ID card feature that provides unlimited free rides on all local bus systems (A&MRTS and RTS).
- JackPass
- The program that allows students to use their Humboldt ID card for unlimited free rides on local transit systems like RTS and A&MRTS.
- KA
- The Kinesiology & Athletics Building, housing the gym, pool, and athletic offices.
- KRT
- The Kinesiology & Recreation Theater, often used to refer to the athletics and kinesiology complex.
- Library Circle
- The main roundabout and transit hub located directly in front of the university library.
- library_caf
- Library Café
- Lumberjack
- The weekly student-run newspaper that covers campus and local news.
- Lumberjack Alert
- The campus emergency notification system that sends texts and emails during safety incidents.
- Lumberjack Card
- The official campus ID card used for meal plans, library checkouts, and electronic building access.
- Lumberjack Express
- A free campus shuttle service that provides transportation between various campus locations and parking lots.
- Lumberjack Weekend
- The university's annual homecoming and family weekend event held in the fall.
- Moodle/Canvas
- While the university transitioned to Canvas, older students may still refer to the learning management system as Moodle.
- myHumboldt
- The primary online portal used by students to access grades, registration, and financial aid.
- NH
- The Native American Forum or Natural Resources Building, often used for large lectures and cultural events.
- NHW
- Nelson Hall West, a building housing administrative offices and some academic departments.
- NR
- The Natural Resources building, home to the forestry, wildlife, and environmental science departments.
- Oh SNAP!
- The campus food pantry and basic needs resource center located in the Recreation & Wellness Center.
- Parking Kiosk
- The main information and permit booth located at the 14th and B Street entrance to campus.
- R.A.M.P.
- Retention through Academic Mentoring Program, a peer-mentoring service for first-year students.
- R.O.S.E.
- Reusable Office Supplies & Equipment; a WRRAP program where students can obtain free school and office supplies.
- RAMP
- Retention through Academic Mentoring Program, a peer-mentoring service for first-year students.
- Rave
- The campus emergency alert system used to notify students of safety issues or weather closures.
- RTS
- Redwood Transit System, the regional bus line connecting Arcata to Eureka and other coastal cities.
- SBS
- The Student Business Services building, where students handle tuition payments and financial aid.
- Sci D
- Science Building D, part of the main science complex housing labs and lecture halls.
- SH
- Siemens Hall, a primary building for business and administrative offices.
- SHW
- Student Health & Wellbeing, the campus clinic providing medical and counseling services.
- Siemens
- Siemens Hall, a central academic building housing many administrative offices and classrooms.
- Siemens Hall
- The main building for the School of Business and various administrative services.
- Student Center
- The online PeopleSoft portal where students register for classes, view financial aid, and check their grades.
- The Fishbowl
- The 24-hour computer lab and study space located on the first floor of the Library.
- The Green
- The large grassy quad area in front of the Library, often used for events and lounging.
- The GSU
- The Gutswurrak Student Union (formerly the University Center), the main building for student activities, the bookstore, and dining.
- The Hill
- The significant elevation gain between the lower campus (Athletics/College Creek) and upper campus (Dorms/BSS).
- The Lib
- The University Library, the main study and research hub on campus.
- The Lumberjack
- The award-winning, student-run weekly newspaper of Cal Poly Humboldt.
- The Quad
- The central grassy area in front of Founders Hall used for events, tabling, and socializing.
- The Ramp
- The steep, paved walkway that connects the lower academic campus to the upper residential areas and the Jolly Giant Commons.
- The Redwood Bowl
- The campus stadium used for football and track, surrounded by redwood trees.
- The Stairs
- A colloquial reference to the significant elevation changes on campus that require navigating many outdoor staircases.
- The UC
- The University Center, the central hub for student activities, dining, and the campus bookstore.
- The UC
- The University Center, the central hub for student services, the bookstore, and dining.
- the_depot
- The Depot
- the_j
- The J
- Trinity Annex
- An off-campus university building located near the edge of the main campus area.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Summer Semester 2026 runs May 21, 2026 – Aug 12, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 77 approved campus terms and 74 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.