Academic calendar
Summer Semester 2026 runs Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 7, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 2026 Session I
- Summer Semester 2026Relevant now
- Summer 2026 Session II
- Fall 2026 Semester
- Spring 2027 Semester
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 70 of 70 terms
A
- Anacapa
- Anacapa Village, the primary apartment-style housing for upper-division students.
- ASI
- Associated Students, Inc., the student-run auxiliary that oversees student government and campus programming.
- AV
- Anacapa Village, the apartment-style housing primarily for juniors and seniors.
B
- BASC
- Budget Allocation and Spending Committee, which manages the distribution of student fees to organizations.
- BSU
- Black Student Union, a student organization focused on the Black student experience and community.
C
- CAPS
- Counseling and Psychological Services, providing mental health support for students.
- CI
- The common informal shorthand for the university (CSU Channel Islands).
- CI
- The common shorthand and branding for California State University Channel Islands.
- CI Records
- The student portal used for class registration, grades, and financial aid.
- CI Sync
- The online portal used by students to join clubs, track involvement, and find campus events.
- CI View
- The student-run campus newspaper and news organization.
- Coastal Cup
- A coffee and snack location in Gateway Hall featuring Starbucks products.
- CSSA
- Cal State Student Association, the organization representing students across all 23 CSU campuses.
D
- DASS
- Disability Accommodations and Support Services, the office for student accessibility needs.
- Dolphin
- The campus mascot and the term students use to refer to themselves as members of the university community.
- Dolphin Dollars
- Funds loaded onto a student's ID card for use at campus dining and retail locations.
- Dolphin ID
- The official student identification card used for campus access and payments.
- Dolphin Pod
- A small peer group assigned during orientation to help new students transition.
- Dolphin Pride
- The general term for school spirit and campus community identity.
- Dolphinpalooza
- The large-scale annual music and arts festival held on campus.
- Dolphins
- The collective term for the student body and the university's athletic identity.
E
- Ekho
- The name of the campus dolphin mascot, frequently used in event titles and campus locations.
- Ekho's
- Ekho's Cafe, a late-night dining spot in the Student Union named after the campus mascot.
- Ekho's Cafe
- A late-night dining spot in the Student Union Building named after the mascot.
- EOP
- Educational Opportunity Program, providing support for first-generation and low-income students.
F
- Flex
- Flex Cash, a declining balance currency included in meal plans for use at various campus eateries.
- Flex Cash
- Dining-specific funds included in meal plans for use at campus eateries.
- Flex Cash
- Declining balance funds included with meal plans for use at any campus dining location.
- Freudian Sip
- The campus coffee shop located in the Broome Library and Student Union.
I
- I.D.E.A.S.
- Intellectual Dreamers Educating and Advocating for Students, an organization supporting undocumented students.
- Islands
- Islands Kitchen (formerly Islands Cafe), the main all-you-care-to-dine residential dining hall.
L
- Lighthouse
- Lighthouse Bistro, a dining location offering sandwiches and salads.
M
- M.E.Ch.A.
- Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, a student group promoting Chicano culture and history.
- MDC
- Multicultural Dream Center, a hub for diversity and inclusion resources.
- MEChA
- Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, a student organization for Chicano/a and Latino/a students.
- myCI
- The central web portal students use to access email, Canvas, and registration services.
Q
- QSA
- Queer Student Alliance, the primary LGBTQ+ student organization on campus.
R
- RHA
- Residence Hall Association, the representative body for students living on campus.
S
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Village, a suite-style residence hall typically for sophomores.
- Santa Rosa
- Santa Rosa Village, the newest residence hall primarily housing first-year students.
- SCV
- Common shorthand for Santa Cruz Village.
- Sea Glass
- Sea Glass Bistro, a dining location in University Hall offering made-to-order items.
- Sea Store
- The Sea Store Market, a convenience store located in the Student Union Building.
- sea-sucky
- A derogatory student slang term for the university, playing on the 'CSUCI' acronym.
- SG
- Student Government, the representative body for the student population.
- SOI
- Student Organizations & Involvement, the department that manages campus clubs.
- South Quad
- The large grassy area often used for major campus events.
- SPB
- Student Programming Board, responsible for campus events and activities.
- SRV
- Common shorthand for Santa Rosa Village.
- sushi
- A derogatory student slang term for the university, playing on the 'CI' acronym.
- Swipes
- Meal credits used specifically for entry into the Islands Cafe dining hall.
- Swipes
- Meal credits used specifically for entry into Islands Cafe.
T
- TC
- Town Center, the apartment-style housing complex located adjacent to the campus shops and restaurants.
- The Bridge
- The walkway connecting the library area to the main campus core.
- the caf
- Common student shorthand for the Islands Cafe dining hall.
- The Cafe
- Islands Cafe, the main campus dining commons.
- The CI Way
- A term used to describe the campus culture of community and inclusivity.
- The Fountain
- The central fountain near the Bell Tower, a common landmark for meeting up.
- The Hub
- A common reference to the Student Union building as a central gathering point.
- The Islands
- A common nickname for the campus or specifically the Islands Cafe.
- The Lighthouse
- Lighthouse Cafe, a quick-service dining spot located within the Student Union.
- The Mall
- The Central Mall, the large grassy area between the library and the Bell Tower.
- The Sea Store
- The campus convenience store for snacks and essentials.
- The Sip
- The Freudian Sip, the campus coffee shop with locations in the Library, Student Union, and Town Center.
- The SUB
- The Student Union Building, the central location for student organizations and social activities.
- Tortilla
- Tortilla Grill, a Mexican-style dining option on campus.
- Tortillas
- Tortillas Grill, a popular Mexican-style dining spot on campus.
- Town Center
- Town Center, an apartment complex located in the campus's commercial area, housing students and community members.
U
- USU
- University Student Union, the hub for student life and organizations.
W
- WMC
- Writing & Multiliteracy Center, the campus resource for help with papers and presentations.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- A-Lots
- General student parking lots (e.g., A1, A2, A3) requiring a valid permit.
- Aliso
- Aliso Hall, primarily used for science labs and classrooms.
- Aliso Hall
- An academic building primarily used for science and nursing classes.
- BEL
- The Bell Tower, a central campus building housing classrooms and administrative offices.
- Bell Tower
- The central academic building, often abbreviated as BT, housing many classrooms and administrative offices.
- BRO
- The John Spoor Broome Library, the main campus library and study hub.
- Broome
- The John Spoor Broome Library, the main campus library and a central study hub.
- BT
- Bell Tower, the primary academic building containing classrooms and administrative offices.
- BTE/BTW
- Bell Tower East and Bell Tower West, the two main wings of the Bell Tower building.
- Canvas
- The learning management system where professors post syllabi, assignments, and grades.
- CI Alert
- The emergency notification system that sends texts and emails to students during campus incidents.
- CI Learn
- The campus name for the Canvas learning management system.
- CI Records
- The online portal where students register for classes and view grades.
- coastal_cup
- Coastal Cup
- College Ride
- A program allowing CSUCI students to ride all Ventura County public transit buses for free with their ID.
- Del Norte
- Del Norte Hall, a major classroom building located in the North Quad.
- DOCK
- Dolphin One Card Kiosk, machines located on campus used to add funds to student ID cards.
- Dolphin Card
- The official student ID used for dining, building access, and library services.
- Dolphin Connect
- The official online platform for joining student organizations and tracking campus events.
- Dolphin Dollars
- A declining balance account on the Dolphin ID used for campus purchases.
- Dolphin ID
- The official campus identification card required for meal plans, building access, and library services.
- Dolphin Name
- The unique username used to log into all campus digital systems.
- Dolphin One
- The official multi-purpose student ID card required for dining, library services, and building access.
- Dolphin One Card
- The official campus ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- Dolphin Pantry
- An on-campus resource providing free food and hygiene products to students in need.
- DolphinOne
- The official multi-purpose student ID card used for dining, library access, and building entry.
- ekho_s_cafe
- Ekho's Cafe
- Ekhobot
- The university's automated chatbot that answers student questions via text.
- Island View
- The name of the mandatory orientation program for new students (IVO).
- islands_kitchen
- Islands Kitchen
- Late Start
- Classes that begin mid-semester, typically in an accelerated 8-week format.
- Madera
- Madera Hall, housing various academic departments and offices.
- Malibu
- Malibu Hall, used for performing arts, music, and large campus events.
- Malibu Hall
- A multi-purpose building used for performing arts, indoor sports, and large university events.
- Manz
- Manzanita Hall, a primary classroom and office building.
- Manzanita
- Manzanita Hall, a primary classroom and office building.
- MVS
- The Martin V. Smith Center for Integrative Decision-Making, housing business programs.
- mycampuspermit.com
- The website where students must purchase their semester parking permits.
- myCI
- The single sign-on web portal used to access email, Canvas, and student records.
- ParkMobile
- The mobile app used for paying for daily parking on campus.
- SAG
- Sage Hall, the building housing Student Business Services and the Registrar.
- Sage
- Sage Hall, the building housing Student Business Services, Admissions, and Financial Aid.
- sea_store_market
- Sea Store Market
- Sierra
- Sierra Hall, the primary building for science labs and sustainability programs.
- Sierra Hall
- A major academic building housing science labs and the Environmental Science & Resource Management program.
- Solano
- Solano Hall, which houses various academic departments and the campus art gallery.
- SUB
- The Student Union Building, the center for student life, dining, and organization offices.
- Swipes
- Meal credits used for entry into the Islands Cafe dining hall.
- TPS
- Transportation and Parking Services, the office located in Placer Hall where students manage parking permits and bus passes.
- VCTC
- Ventura County Transportation Commission, the bus service providing transit to and from campus.
- VISTA
- The intercity bus system (VCTC) that provides the primary public transit link between the campus and local cities.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Summer Semester 2026 runs Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 7, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 70 approved campus terms and 51 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.