Academic calendar
Summer Full-Term Session 2026 runs May 11, 2026 – Aug 21, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 8-week DBA Session I 2026
- Summer Full-Term Session 2026Relevant now
- Summer 7-week Undergraduate Session I 2026
- Summer 5-week Session II 2026
- Summer 8-week DBA Session II 2026
- Summer 7-week Undergraduate Session II 2026
- Summer 5-week Session III 2026
Campus language
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Showing 111 of 111 terms
A
- ADC
- Amateur Dramatic Club; the university's primary student-run theatre group
- Adult Learner
- The common term used to describe the majority of the student body, reflecting the college's focus on non-traditional students.
- ALANA
- A student organization focused on the interests of African, Latinx, Asian, and Native American students.
- ASL
- Alpha Sigma Lambda, the premier national honor society for non-traditional adult students.
B
- Bedder
- A college staff member responsible for cleaning student rooms and communal areas
- Boatie
- A student who participates in rowing.
- Buttery
- The college cafeteria or snack bar for informal daily meals
C
- Caius
- Gonville & Caius College (pronounced 'Keys')
- Cambridge SU
- The university-wide Students' Union (formerly CUSU)
- Cantab
- A student or graduate of the University of Cambridge (short for Cantabrigian).
- Catz
- St Catharine's College
- CC
- The standard shorthand abbreviation for Cambridge College.
- CC
- Common shorthand for Cambridge College itself.
- CCAA
- Cambridge College Alumni Association.
- CCG
- Cambridge College Global, the institution's online-only learning division.
- CCPSA
- Cambridge College Psychology Student Association
- CCSC
- Cambridge College Student Council, the governing body for student activities and advocacy.
- CCSS
- Cambridge College Student Senate, the primary student representative body.
- Chuch
- Churchill College
- Clunch
- Weekday lunch served at Gonville & Caius College.
- Court
- The traditional quadrangles or courtyards around which college buildings and student rooms are arranged.
- Crunch
- Saturday brunch served at Gonville & Caius College.
- CUAFC
- Cambridge University Association Football Club.
- CUBC
- Cambridge University Boat Club, responsible for the annual Boat Race against Oxford.
- CUED
- Cambridge University Engineering Department.
- CUMS
- Cambridge University Music Society.
- CUSU
- Cambridge University Students' Union (now part of Cambridge SU)
D
- DoS
- Director of Studies; the fellow responsible for overseeing a student's academic progress
E
- Emma
- Emmanuel College
- Engling
- A student studying English.
F
- Fitz
- Fitzwilliam College
- Food Truck Row
- The designated area at Hood Park where various food trucks provide lunch options for students.
- Formal
- Formal Hall; a traditional multi-course meal where students wear academic gowns
G
- Girton
- Girton College (often used to refer to its distant location from the city center).
- Grad Hall
- A specific dining session or hall designated for graduate students (MCR members).
- GSA
- Global Student Association, an organization for international and domestic students to share cultures.
- GSO
- Global Student Organization, a group dedicated to supporting and connecting international students.
- Gyp
- A small kitchen or kitchenette located within college accommodation.
- Gyp
- A small kitchenette (Gyp room) located near student rooms for light cooking and tea-making.
- Gyp
- A gyp room; a small communal kitchenette for preparing light snacks
H
- Hall
- The main dining hall or the standard evening meal service
- High Table
- The elevated table at the end of the Hall reserved for the Master, Fellows, and their guests.
- Hood Park
- The surrounding business park area containing various external food vendors and food trucks used by students.
- Hood Park Kitchen
- The nearby food hall and primary off-campus dining destination for students and faculty
I
- ILP
- Independent Learning Project; the signature capstone research project required for graduation.
- Intensives
- A common term for accelerated courses that meet for long hours over a single weekend or short period.
- ISH
- International Student Housing, referring to partner housing arrangements for non-local students.
- ISO
- International Student Organization, serving the college's diverse international student body.
J
- JCR
- Junior Combination Room; the student union for undergraduates and their common room
- John's
- St John's College
- Johns
- St John's College
M
- Mathmo
- A student studying the Mathematics Tripos
- May Week
- The week in June after exams featuring garden parties and May Balls
- MCR
- Middle Combination Room; the student union for postgraduates and their common room
- MDR
- Minimum Dining Requirement; a pre-paid meal credit system used by some colleges
- Medwards
- Murray Edwards College
- Moodle
- The Learning Management System (LMS) where students access course materials and submit assignments
- MyCC
- The central web portal used by students to access grades, registration, and financial aid
N
- NatSci
- A student studying the Natural Sciences Tripos
- New Court
- A specific residential quadrangle found in several colleges, most notably the 'Wedding Cake' building at St John's College.
- NSLS
- The National Society of Leadership and Success, a leadership honor society with an active campus chapter.
P
- Pennying
- A traditional drinking game where a penny is dropped into a student's drink, requiring them to finish it.
- Pidge
- A student's pigeonhole (mailbox), usually located in the Plodge.
- Plodge
- The Porter's Lodge, the main entrance and security hub of a college.
- Porter
- Staff members who manage the college lodge, handle security, and distribute mail.
- Punt
- A flat-bottomed boat used on the River Cam, propelled by a long pole.
- Punting
- The quintessential Cambridge activity of propelling a flat-bottomed boat along the river using a long pole.
R
- Robbo
- Robinson College
- Robinson
- Robinson College.
S
- SAL
- Student Affairs and Leadership, the office overseeing student life and clubs.
- SGA
- Student Government Association, often used interchangeably with the Student Senate.
- SOE
- School of Education, the academic division for teaching and administration programs.
- SOM
- School of Management, one of the primary academic divisions.
- SOP
- School of Psychology and Counseling, the academic division for mental health programs.
- SOPP
- School of Psychology & Counseling, one of the college's major academic divisions.
- SOU
- School of Undergraduate Studies, the division for associate and bachelor's degree programs.
- St Eddies
- St Edmund's College
- SU
- The Cambridge Students' Union, the university-wide representative body for all students.
- Sullivan Square
- Commonly used to refer to the cluster of fast-food and local eateries near the T station.
- Super
- Short for 'Supervision,' the core small-group teaching sessions that define the Cambridge academic experience.
- SVA
- Student Veterans Association, providing support and community for military-affiliated students.
- SVO
- Student Veterans Organization, supporting military-affiliated students
- Swap
- A social meal or 'formal' shared between two different colleges or societies.
T
- The 100
- The amenity center at 100 Hood Park Drive often used by students for breaks and casual dining.
- The Anchor
- A popular nearby outdoor venue in Charlestown often frequented by students for food and social events.
- The Backs
- The picturesque area where college gardens and buildings back onto the River Cam
- The Backs
- The scenic area of gardens and parkland behind the riverside colleges along the River Cam.
- The Bistro
- Refers to 'The Bistro at Hood Park,' a popular nearby eatery frequented by students for lunch and coffee.
- The Cafe
- The on-site dining area located within the 500 Rutherford Avenue campus building.
- The Cam
- The River Cam, the central waterway used for rowing and punting
- The Castle
- A common nickname for Girton College, referring to its Victorian Gothic architecture and distance from the city center.
- The Colony
- Off-site student housing for St Catharine's College located at Russell Street.
- The Commuter
- A term reflecting the primary identity of the student body, as the college has no traditional dorms.
- The Graphic
- The primary off-campus apartment complex in Charlestown partnered with the college to provide student housing.
- The Hood
- Student shorthand for the Hood Park campus location.
- The Hub
- The central student lounge and resource area located on the first floor of the Boston campus.
- The Hub
- The central student lounge and gathering space at the Boston campus where students eat and socialize.
- The Lounge
- The designated student common area at the Boston campus equipped with vending machines and seating for commuter meals.
- The Merger
- Common student shorthand for the 2024 integration of Cambridge College into Northeastern University.
- The Plodge
- The Porter's Lodge; the main entrance and security hub of a college where students collect mail and keys.
- The Portal
- Common student term for MyCC, the online student management system.
- The T
- The MBTA subway system, specifically the Orange Line used by most commuters.
- The Town
- A local nickname for Charlestown, the neighborhood where the main campus is located.
- The Union
- The Cambridge Union Society, the university's famous debating and free speech club.
- The Whale
- The nickname for the dome-shaped dining hall and residential building at Murray Edwards College.
- Tit Hall
- Trinity Hall (distinct from Trinity College)
- Tradesman
- The popular cafe and pizza bar located within the Hood Park campus complex where students frequently eat.
- Tripos
- The formal name for undergraduate degree courses and their associated examinations
V
- Van of Death
- The 'Uncle Frank's' late-night food van, the rival to the Van of Life
- Van of Life
- The 'Trailer of Life' late-night food van in Market Square
W
- Week 5 Blues
- The common period of exhaustion or low mood experienced by students halfway through the intense 8-week term.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- 500 Building
- The primary academic facility located at 500 Rutherford Avenue
- 500 Rutherford
- The main campus building located in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston.
- Arts School
- A university building on Bene't Street containing lecture rooms and libraries
- C-Stop
- Shorthand for the Community College station on the Orange Line, the closest transit point to the Hood Office Park
- CamCard
- The University ID card used for building access, library services, and meal payments
- CamSIS
- Cambridge Student Information System; the portal for records, grades, and exams
- Canvas
- The Learning Management System (LMS) where students access course materials and submit assignments.
- Catz
- St Catharine's College.
- CC Global
- The college's learning management system (Canvas) used for all online and hybrid course materials.
- CC ID
- The mandatory student identification card required for building entry and security clearance at the 500 Rutherford entrance.
- CC Online
- The digital learning management system (Canvas) where students access coursework.
- cc_bistro
- CC Bistro
- cc_store
- CC Store
- CCID
- The official student identification card required for building access and library services.
- Charlestown
- Common shorthand for the college's main Boston campus location.
- Charlestown Campus
- The official name for the main Boston-area site following the college's relocation
- CharlieCard
- The MBTA transit card used for commuting; students often discuss semester-based discount passes.
- Coming Up
- The act of arriving at the university for the start of a new term.
- DoS
- Director of Studies; the fellow responsible for a student's academic progress
- Downing Site
- A central campus area primarily housing biological science departments and museums.
- Going Down
- The act of leaving the university at the end of a term.
- Hood
- The main Boston-area campus located within the Hood Office Park in Charlestown.
- Hood Office Park
- The name of the campus complex in Charlestown where the main building is located.
- Hood Office Park
- The business complex in Charlestown where the college is headquartered.
- Hood Park
- The office and retail park complex that houses the Cambridge College campus.
- Hood Park Shuttle
- The free shuttle service connecting the Sullivan Square T station to the campus
- Hood Parking
- The designated parking areas within the Hood Office Park available for student use
- ID Badge
- The mandatory identification card required for scanning into the 500 Rutherford Avenue building.
- ILP
- Individual Learning Plan, a mandatory academic requirement or capstone project for many degree programs.
- Intensives
- Condensed, high-credit courses typically held over full weekends or short, concentrated periods.
- Lawrence
- The regional campus location serving students in the Merrimack Valley.
- Lawrence Center
- The regional campus location serving students in the Lawrence, MA area.
- Mainsburys
- The large Sainsbury's supermarket on Sidney Street, the primary grocery spot for central students.
- Matriculation
- The formal ceremony and process of being admitted as a member of the University.
- Moodle
- The Learning Management System (LMS) used for course assignments and online learning
- MyCC
- The central student web portal used for registration, checking grades, and financial aid.
- One-Stop
- A centralized service model where students can handle all administrative needs in one location.
- OneCard
- The official student ID card required for building access and library services.
- OneLogin
- The single sign-on portal required to access student email and college applications
- Orange Line
- The MBTA subway line used to access the campus via Sullivan Square.
- Orgasm Bridge
- The nickname for the bridge at Trinity Hall, named for the sensation of cycling over its steep curve.
- Parking
- The designated parking areas for students at Hood Park, often requiring a specific permit or validation.
- Parking Validation
- The process of getting a parking discount for the Hood Park Garage, essential for commuting students.
- Pidge
- A student's pigeonhole (mailbox) located in the Porter's Lodge
- Placet
- The formal Latin term used during graduation ceremonies to signify that a candidate has passed.
- PLAR
- Prior Learning Assessment Review; a program allowing students to earn credit for professional experience.
- Plodge
- The Porters' Lodge; the main entrance and security hub of a college.
- Plodge
- The Porter's Lodge; the college reception desk for keys, mail, and security
- Porters
- College staff responsible for security, mail, keys, and student welfare
- Raven
- The central web authentication service used to log into university online resources
- Rutherford
- Common shorthand for the main Boston campus location on Rutherford Ave.
- SARC
- Student Academic Resource Center, which provides tutoring, writing assistance, and academic coaching.
- Semester T-Pass
- A discounted public transit pass program available to students through the college.
- Sidge
- The Sidgwick Site, the primary campus hub for arts, humanities, and social sciences.
- Sidgwick
- The Sidgwick Site; the main campus for humanities and social sciences
- Sidgwick Site
- The main campus area for arts, humanities, and social science faculties.
- SoCal
- The regional campus location in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
- Springfield
- The regional campus location serving students in Western Massachusetts.
- Springfield Center
- The regional campus location serving students in the Springfield, MA area.
- SSO
- Single Sign-On; the unified login system for accessing college email and the MyCC portal.
- Stash
- Branded clothing or accessories representing a college, society, or sports team
- Student ID
- The physical identification badge required for building access and utilizing library resources
- Success Coach
- A dedicated staff member assigned to students to assist with academic planning and persistence.
- Sullivan
- Shorthand for Sullivan Square Station, the MBTA Orange Line stop that serves the Charlestown campus.
- Sullivan Square
- The nearest MBTA Orange Line station, serving as the primary transit hub for the campus.
- Supervision
- Small-group teaching sessions (usually 1-3 students) with a specialist, the core of Cambridge teaching.
- T-Pass
- The discounted MBTA transit pass available to students through the college
- The Arc
- The Alison Richard Building located on the Sidgwick Site
- The Backs
- The scenic area of gardens and parks where colleges back onto the River Cam
- The Cam
- The River Cam, which runs through the heart of the university and is central to student life.
- The Fitz
- The Fitzwilliam Museum
- The Hood
- The Hood Office Park, the commercial complex in Charlestown where the main campus is situated.
- The Hub
- The central student lounge and resource area within the main building.
- The Hub
- The integrated student service center that provides one-stop assistance for registration, bursar services, and financial aid.
- The Library
- The physical and digital resource center located on the first floor of the main building.
- The Lodge
- The Porters' Lodge; the main entrance and administrative hub of a college.
- The Orange Line
- The MBTA subway line that students use to reach the Charlestown campus.
- The Pidge
- A student's pigeonhole or mailbox, typically located in the Plodge
- The Plodge
- The Porters' Lodge; the main entrance and security hub of a college
- The Plodge
- The Porter's Lodge; the main entrance and security hub of a college
- The Porters
- College staff who manage security, keys, and student welfare at the Plodge
- The Proctors
- University officials responsible for maintaining discipline and overseeing formal ceremonies.
- The Seeley
- The Seeley Historical Library, known for its distinctive architecture
- The Shuttle
- The free transport service between Sullivan Square and the campus provided by Hood Park.
- The Success Center
- Common shorthand for the Student Success Office area where advising and tutoring occur.
- The T
- The Boston MBTA subway system, essential for commuting to the Charlestown campus.
- The Town
- A local nickname for Charlestown, the neighborhood where the main campus is situated.
- The Town Common
- The central open gathering and study space within the 500 Rutherford building.
- The UL
- The University Library; the massive central copyright library
- Tit Hall
- Trinity Hall, one of the constituent colleges of the university.
- Tripos
- The formal name for the undergraduate degree courses and their associated examinations.
- U-Bus
- The Universal bus service that connects various university sites and the city center
- UL
- The University Library, the main research library and a legal deposit library.
- UniOfCam
- The primary wireless network available across the university campus and colleges.
- Universal
- The 'U' bus service that connects various university sites and colleges across the city.
- UPay
- The cashless payment system used by many colleges for meals and laundry services.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Summer Full-Term Session 2026 runs May 11, 2026 – Aug 21, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 111 approved campus terms and 96 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.