Eastern Kentucky UniversityStudent Guide

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

Public Research University in Richmond, KY. Operating on a semester system.

Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.

Free for all Eastern Kentucky University students. No credit card required.

15K+

Total Enrollment

Research University

Institution Type

14

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Summer 2026 Full Term

The semester, explained for Eastern Kentucky 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 Full Term
Campus terms
39
Local details
23

Academic calendar

Summer 2026 Full Term runs May 18, 2026 – Aug 7, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

16 entries
  1. Summer 2026 First Six Weeks
  2. Summer 2026 Full TermRelevant now
  3. Summer 2026 Second Six Weeks
  4. Fall 2026 First Seven Weeks
  5. Fall 2026
  6. Fall 2026 Second Seven Weeks
  7. Winter 2026Winter 2026-2027
  8. Spring 2027 First Seven Weeks
  9. Spring 2027
  10. Spring 2027 Second Seven Weeks
  11. Summer 2027 First Six WeeksSummer 2027 UNA Part of Term
  12. Summer 2027
  13. Summer 2027 Second Six WeeksSummer 2027 UNB Part of Term

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Campus language

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

39 terms

B

Big E
A reference to the university's 'Big E' spirit or the Big E Central service hub.
BSU
Black Student Union, an organization focused on the interests and culture of Black students.
Burnam
Burnam Hall, a historic residence hall located near the center of campus.

C

CAB
Campus Activities Board, the student-led group that plans concerts, movies, and social events.
Case
Case Kitchen, the main all-you-care-to-eat dining hall on campus.
Case Kitchen
The main residential dining hall located within Case Hall.
Clay
Clay Hall, one of the traditional high-rise residence halls.
Colonel
The official mascot and the term used to refer to any EKU student or alumnus.

E

Einstein's
Einstein Bros. Bagels, located in the Weaver Building.
Eternal Flame
A monument on campus dedicated to the university's spirit; legend says if it goes out, a disaster will occur.

G

Grand
Grand Campus, the university's apartment-style housing complex.
Greeks
General term for the fraternity and sorority community on campus.
GSA
Gender and Sexuality Alliance, a student organization supporting LGBTQ+ students and allies.

J

Java
Java City, the coffee shop located in the John Grant Crabbe Main Library.
Java City
The coffee shop located inside the John Grant Crabbe Main Library.

M

Martin
Martin Hall, a large suite-style residence hall on the north side of campus.
Mattox
Mattox Hall, a residence hall located near the library and dining facilities.

N

North
North Hall, a modern suite-style residence hall.

O

One Eastern
The university's slogan and identity representing campus unity and the 'Colonel' family.
OSL
Office of Student Life & First-Year Experience, the department overseeing clubs and campus involvement.

P

Powell
The food court area located within the Powell Student Center.

R

Rec the Ravine
A popular annual campus event featuring outdoor activities and games in the Ravine.
RHA
Residence Hall Association, the organization representing students living on campus.
Richmond
The local city surrounding the campus, often used to refer to off-campus social life.
Rub the Toe
The tradition of rubbing the left toe of the Daniel Boone statue for good luck before exams.
Rubbing the toe
A campus tradition of rubbing the foot of the Daniel Boone statue for good luck.

S

SGA
Student Government Association, the representative body for the student voice.
South
South Hall, a suite-style residence hall located near the fitness center.
Stratton
Stratton Cafe, a dining location situated within the Stratton Building.
Stratton Cafe
A dining location in the Stratton Building, popular with Justice & Safety students.
Sullivan
Sullivan Hall, a historic residence hall known for its front porch and proximity to the Ravine.

T

Telford
Telford Hall, a high-rise residence hall typically housing freshmen.
The Campus Beautiful
The long-standing nickname for the Eastern Kentucky University campus.
The Grille
The retail dining area located in the basement of the Powell Student Center.
The Loop
The campus shuttle bus system that transports students around the university grounds.
The P.O.D.
Provisions on Demand, small convenience stores located across campus for snacks and essentials.
The Ravine
Used as a verb or noun to describe hanging out in the central campus park area.

W

Walters
Walters Hall, a residence hall located on the north side of campus.
WEKU
The university's public radio station and student media outlet.

Places and practicalities

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

23 details
Alumni
Alumni Coliseum, the primary indoor arena for basketball and major university events.
Big E Central
The 'one-stop' office in the Whitlock Building for financial aid, registrar, and billing services.
Big E Transit
The free campus shuttle bus system that runs multiple routes through campus and Richmond.
case_kitchen
Case Kitchen
Colonel Card
The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
Colonel Cash
A declining balance account on the student ID that can be used at both on-campus and select off-campus vendors.
colonel_grill
Colonel Grill
Degree Works
The web-based tool students use to track their academic progress and graduation requirements.
Dining Dollars
Funds included with meal plans that can be used at retail dining locations like Chick-fil-A or Starbucks.
EKU Direct
The online student portal used for class registration, checking grades, and financial aid.
Keen Johnson
A historic campus building housing the ballroom and faculty club, often used for formal events.
Meal Flex
Dining dollars included with meal plans specifically for use at on-campus retail food locations.
Model
Model Laboratory School, the K-12 school located directly on the EKU campus.
myEKU
The primary web portal where students register for classes, check grades, and view financial aid.
S.A.F.E. App
The official campus safety app providing emergency contacts, 'Friend Walk' tracking, and tip reporting.
stratton_caf
Stratton Café
The AC
Alumni Coliseum, the main indoor arena for basketball and large university gatherings.
The Lib
The John Grant Crabbe Main Library.
The Powell
The Powell Student Center, the central hub for student organizations and dining.
The Ravine
The iconic outdoor amphitheater and green space used for concerts, studying, and socializing.
The Rec
The Student Recreation and Wellness Center, the main campus gym and fitness hub.
The Whitlock
The Whitlock Building, which houses essential student services like Big E Central.
Whitlock
The Whitlock Building, which houses essential student services like Admissions and Financial Aid.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Summer 2026 Full Term runs May 18, 2026 – Aug 7, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
39 approved campus terms and 23 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 · Eastern Kentucky University

You just committed to Eastern Kentucky University.

The four months ahead don’t need to be one giant open tab. Sign up and we’ll only email you when Eastern Kentucky University actually needs you to do something this summer — orientation, housing, course registration, immunization. That’s the whole product.

What we’ll email you about

  • Jun 15

    Final day for roommate requests

    Recommended · source

  • Jun 20

    Final Orientation Registration Deadline

    Required · source

  • Jul 15

    Immunization Records Due

    Required · source

  • Aug 1

    Tuition and Fee Payment Deadline

    Required · source

  • Aug 13

    Big E Welcome / Move-In

    Required · source

One email per real deadline. Source link cited every time. We re-check 7 days before each one fires.

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Assisted

Find a few communities to try at Eastern Kentucky University

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

Tell us what we missed

27 mapped items from 11 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

Alpha Delta Pi

A member of the Panhellenic Council, founded on the principles of scholarship, leadership, service to others and sisterhood.

Invite only

Source: greeklife.eku.edu · Verified 8 days ago

Learn More

Campus Activities Board (CAB)

The campus-wide programming body of SGA, responsible for planning and implementing events like concerts, lectures, comedians, and other special events for students.

Source: sga.eku.edu · Verified 8 days ago

Learn More

Chi Omega

A social sorority and member of the Panhellenic Council, focused on friendship, personal integrity, service to others, academic excellence, and campus involvement.

Invite only

Cultural Greek Council (CGC)

The governing body for culturally-based fraternities and sororities at EKU.

Source: eku.edu · Verified 2 months ago

Learn More

EKU Bass Fishing

A competitive fishing team that participates in collegiate bass fishing tournaments.

Open to all

Source: campusrec.eku.edu · Verified 2 months ago

Learn More

Easy to try first

Big E Welcome

A series of events at the start of the fall semester to welcome new and returning students to campus, including the Big E Kickoff, Powell Palooza, and the Big E Bash.

Drop in any time

Resources & spaces

Colonel's Cupboard and Colonel's Closet

An on-campus resource that assists EKU students experiencing food insecurity by providing free food, as well as toiletry items and clothing.

Open to all

Source: studentlife.eku.edu · Verified 8 days ago

Learn More

EKU Counseling Center

Provides confidential mental health services for students, including individual and group therapy, crisis support, and wellness workshops.

Open to all

Using DormWay at Eastern Kentucky University

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

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Workload planning

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Free student access

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Eastern Kentucky University on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

5

Active Students

DormWay integrates with Eastern Kentucky University's LMS

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Life in Richmond for Eastern Kentucky University Students

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

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$900

Cost of Living Index

90

Student Population

16,000

City Transportation

Walkability

40

Bikeability

35

Public Transit

EKU Shuttle, Madison County Transit

Nearest Airports

Blue Grass Airport (Lexington)

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid subtropical

Avg Annual Temp

55°F

Avg Snowfall

10 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Zone C Lots

surface_lot • Real-time availability via EKU Park app

For commuting students with Brown Zone C permits.

Zone R Lots

surface_lot • Real-time availability via EKU Park app

For residence hall students with Blue Zone R permits.

Alumni Coliseum

surface_lot • Available for visitors

Primary lot for visitor parking with a daily permit.

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Eastern Kentucky University

Big E Welcome Kickoff and Welcome Walk

August 15, 2026

Eastern Kentucky University Campus

The official kickoff event for incoming freshmen as part of the Big E Welcome week.

STEM START 2026

August 16, 2026

Eastern Kentucky University Campus

A 4-night, 4-day experience designed to equip first-year STEM students with skills needed for success in college.

New Faculty Symposium

August 4, 2026

Eastern Kentucky University Campus

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Eastern Kentucky University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

14 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

Burnam Hall

Room types: double occupancy bedrooms

Clay Hall

Room types: double occupancy rooms

Eastern Scholar House

Room types: apartment

Grand Campus Apartments

Room types: four-bedroom apartments

Keene Hall

Room types: double rooms

Martin Hall

Room types: simple suites, super suites

Mattox Hall

McGregor Hall

Room types: double rooms

North Hall

Room types: simple suites, super suites

Palmer Hall

Room types: traditional rooms

South Hall

Room types: double super suites, individual super suites

Sullivan Hall

Room types: double occupancy bedrooms

Telford Hall

Room types: traditional suites, double occupancy bedrooms

Walters Hall

Room types: double occupancy bedrooms

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Public

Email Domain

@easternkentuckyu.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

Plan your semester at Eastern Kentucky University

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