Academic calendar
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
- Winter Semester 2027
- Summer Semester 2027 First 6 WeeksSummer Session 2027 - First 6 Weeks
- Summer 2027 First 6 Weeks
- Summer 2027 12 WeeksSummer 2027 12-Week SessionSummer Semester 2027 - 12 WeeksSummer Semester 2027 (12 Weeks)Summer Session 2027 - 12 Weeks
- Summer 2027 Second 6 WeeksSummer Semester 2027 Second 6 WeeksSummer Session 2027 - Second 6 Weeks
- Fall Semester 2027
- Winter Semester 2028
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 36 of 36 terms
A
- Anchor Up
- The official university slogan and cheer used at athletic events and ceremonies.
B
- Blue
- The Blue Connection, a dining and retail location in the Kirkhof Center.
- Blue Connection
- A combination dining area and convenience store located in the Kirkhof Center.
C
- CAB
- Campus Activities Board, the student-led group that plans major campus events like concerts and films.
- Calder
- Calder Art Residence, specialized housing for students enrolled in art and design programs.
D
- Dining Dollars
- Flexible spending currency included in meal plans for use at on-campus retail food locations.
- DSR
- Disability Support Resources, the office providing accommodations and support for students with disabilities.
F
- Fresh
- The Fresh Food Company, the primary all-you-care-to-eat dining hall in the Commons.
- Fuel
- The primary dining area located within the Commons building.
G
- GV
- The most common shorthand abbreviation for Grand Valley State University.
- GVPD
- Grand Valley Police Department, the on-campus law enforcement agency.
K
- Kleiner
- Kleiner Commons, a dining hall and social hub located on the north side of campus.
L
- Laker Effect
- The university's term for the collective positive impact of its students and alumni on the community.
- Laker Food Co
- The official name for the university's dining services provider.
- Little Mac
- The pedestrian bridge that spans the ravine, connecting the north and south sides of the Allendale campus.
- LV
- Laker Village Apartments, a popular housing complex for upperclassmen.
N
- Niemeyer
- The Glenn A. Niemeyer Learning and Living Center, which houses the Frederik Meijer Honors College.
O
- OMA
- Office of Multicultural Affairs, which provides support and programming for diverse student populations.
- OSL
- Office of Student Life, the hub for student organizations and leadership programs.
S
- SAB
- Student Alumni Board, a group that connects current students with GVSU alumni.
- SGA
- Student Government Association, the representative body for the GVSU student population.
- South
- South Apartments, a residential area located on the southern edge of the Allendale campus.
- South C
- South Campus Apartments, located near the athletic fields.
- South Campus
- The residential area on the south end of the Allendale campus, including the Connection and South Apartments.
- South E
- South Apartments Building E, a specific residential building in the South Campus housing complex.
- STU
- Student Senate, the representative body for the GVSU student population.
T
- The 50
- The Laker Line (Route 50) bus that transports students between the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses.
- The Bubble
- The feeling of isolation students experience while living in Allendale, away from the city of Grand Rapids.
- The Clocktower
- The Cook Carillon Tower, a central campus landmark that chimes every fifteen minutes.
- The Clusters
- Traditional-style living centers on the north side of campus, grouped in small 'clusters' of buildings.
- The Connection
- A dining facility on the south side of campus featuring multiple food stations and a convenience store.
- The Dish
- The dining hall located inside Kleiner Commons on the north side of campus.
- The Little Mac
- The pedestrian bridge over the ravines that connects the north and south sides of the Allendale campus.
- The Lobby
- The Lobby Shop, convenience stores located in various buildings like Kirkhof and the Connection.
- The Pendulum
- The Foucault pendulum located in the lobby of Padnos Hall, a common landmark for meeting up.
- The Ravines
- The Ravine Apartments, located on the north side of the Allendale campus.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- ASH
- Au Sable Hall, which primarily houses the social science departments.
- Banner
- The online student information system used for class registration, checking grades, and financial aid.
- DEV
- The DeVos Center, the main building of the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus downtown.
- devos_einstein_bros_bagels
- DeVos Einstein Bros. Bagels
- Dining Dollars
- Funds attached to a meal plan that can be used at any on-campus dining or retail location.
- fresh_food_co
- Fresh Food Co.
- idc_starbucks
- IDC Starbucks
- KHS
- Kindschi Hall of Science, a modern facility for biology and health sciences.
- Kirkhof
- The Kirkhof Center, GVSU's student union building.
- kirkhof_lobby_shop
- Kirkhof Lobby Shop
- Laker Card
- The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library checkouts.
- Laker Mobile ID
- The digital version of the student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- MAK
- Mackinac Hall, the largest academic building on the Allendale campus, known for its confusing layout.
- marketplace_starbucks
- Marketplace Starbucks
- Mary I
- The Mary Idema Pew Library, the main campus library and study space.
- meadows_grill
- Meadows Grill
- Meal Exchange
- A program allowing students to use a meal swipe for a designated 'combo' meal at retail dining locations.
- Meal Swap
- A feature of the meal plan that allows students to trade a dining hall swipe for a specific combo meal at retail locations.
- Meal Trades
- A feature of meal plans allowing students to 'trade' a dining hall swipe for a combo meal at retail locations.
- PAD
- Padnos Hall of Science, the main building for natural science labs and classrooms.
- Route 50
- The Laker Line, a high-frequency bus route connecting the Allendale campus to the Pew (Downtown) campus.
- The 50
- The Rapid bus route (Route 50) that provides the primary transit link between the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses.
- The Fieldhouse
- The GVSU Fieldhouse and Arena, the primary complex for indoor athletics and recreation.
- The Lib
- The Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons.
- The Rapid
- The public transit system for the greater Grand Rapids area, which GVSU students ride for free with their ID.
- the_dish
- The Dish
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 36 approved campus terms and 26 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.