Academic calendar
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
- Spring Semester 2027
- Summer Session I 2027
- Summer Session II 2027
- Summer Session II 2027
- Fall Semester 2027
- Spring Semester 2028
- Summer Session I 2028
- Summer Session II 2028
- Summer Session II 2028
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 29 of 29 terms
C
- Chips
- Short for Chippewas, the university's nickname and mascot.
E
- East
- The residential community consisting of the newer Celani and Fabiano halls.
- East Community
- The cluster of residence halls on the east side of campus, including Saxe, Herrig, Woldt, Emmons, Celani, and Fabiano.
F
- Fire Up
- The universal campus greeting and rallying cry, short for 'Fire Up Chips.'
- Flex
- Declining balance dollars included with meal plans for use at on-campus retail food locations like Starbucks or Subway.
L
- LAS
- Leadership Advancement Scholars, a cohort of students awarded the Leadership Advancement Scholarship.
M
- MAC
- Mid-American Conference, the NCAA Division I athletic conference in which CMU competes.
- Main Street
- The primary off-campus thoroughfare where many popular student bars and local restaurants are located.
- Meal Exchange
- A meal plan feature allowing students to use a residential meal swipe for a set combo at retail locations like the UC.
- Meal Swipes
- The credits used to enter all-you-care-to-eat residential restaurants.
- Mt. P
- A common abbreviation for Mount Pleasant, the city where the university is located.
P
- PHC
- Panhellenic Council, the governing body for the university's sororities.
R
- RHA
- Residence Hall Association, the organization representing and providing programming for students living on campus.
S
- SAC
- Student Activity Center, the main campus facility for fitness, intramural sports, and recreation.
- SAPA
- Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates, a student-led organization providing support and education.
- SGA
- Student Government Association, the primary representative body for the CMU student voice.
- South
- The residential community on the south end of campus, including Beddow, Merrill, Thorpe, and Sweeney halls.
- South Community
- The residence halls located on the south end of campus, including Calkins, Larzelere, Robinson, and Trout.
- Swipes
- The individual meal credits used to enter residential restaurants.
T
- The Island
- The grassy, landscaped area located between the Bovee University Center and Park Library.
- The Market
- On-campus convenience stores (C-Stores) located in various residential areas for snacks and essentials.
- The Quads
- The residential complex consisting of Beddow, Merrill, Thorpe, and Sweeney halls.
- The Res
- Short for Residential Restaurant, referring to the buffet-style dining halls located within the living communities.
- The Rez
- Robinson Hall, often referred to by students as 'The Rez' due to its location and community feel.
- The RFoC
- Real Food on Campus, the primary residential dining hall located in the Residential College.
- The Seal
- The university seal on the ground near Warriner Hall; campus legend dictates that stepping on it will cause you to fail your next exam.
- The Towers
- The four high-rise residence halls on the north side of campus: Carey, Cobb, Troutman, and Wheeler.
- The UC
- The University Center, which houses the main food court and retail dining options.
- The UC Food Court
- The retail dining area located within the Bovee University Center.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Anspach
- Anspach Hall, a major academic building housing many humanities and social science departments.
- Blackboard
- The learning management system (LMS) where professors post syllabi, assignments, and grades.
- Central Card
- The official student ID card used for building access, meal swipes, and library checkouts.
- central_eats
- Central Eats
- CentralCard
- The official student identification card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- CentralLink
- The official online portal used by students to access grades, registration, and financial information.
- Degree Works
- The online academic planning tool used to track progress toward graduation requirements.
- dine_connect
- Dine & Connect
- food_hall_at_merrill
- Food Hall at Merrill
- Gold Card
- The official CMU student identification card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- Gold Lot
- Specific commuter parking lots designated by gold signage, requiring a corresponding permit.
- Gold Lots
- Designated parking areas for students with commuter permits, marked with gold signage.
- Gold Permit
- The specific parking permit required for freshmen living on campus to park in designated student lots.
- I-Ride
- The Isabella County Transportation Commission bus system that provides transit around campus and the city.
- Kelly/Shorts
- Kelly/Shorts Stadium, the university's football stadium.
- Moore
- Moore Hall, the building that houses the School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts and campus media outlets.
- Park
- Park Library, the primary university library and a central study hub.
- SafeRide
- A free late-night transportation service provided by the SGA to ensure students get home safely.
- The IAC
- Indoor Athletic Complex, a large facility used for indoor track, football practice, and other athletic events.
- The SAC
- Student Activity Center, the main campus facility for fitness, recreation, and intramural sports.
- The UC
- Bovee University Center, the central hub for student services, the bookstore, and retail dining.
- the_eatery
- The Eatery
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 29 approved campus terms and 22 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.