Academic calendar
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 1, 2026 – Dec 16, 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 10-Week Session 2027
- Summer Session II 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 44 of 44 terms
A
- ACE
- Academic Center for Excellence, providing tutoring and academic support services.
- Annex
- The Bethune Annex, which houses both student residents and a major campus dining hall.
- Annex Caf
- The dining hall located within the Bethune Annex residence hall.
- Annex Cafe
- The dining hall located within the Bethune Annex residence hall.
- ASB
- Alternative Spring Break, a high-profile service program where students travel to perform community service.
- Axis
- The Axis at Howard, an apartment-style residential building.
B
- Bethune
- Mary McLeod Bethune Annex, a residence hall primarily housing freshman women.
- Bison
- The official mascot and the term used to refer to any Howard student or alumni.
- Bison Bucks
- The declining balance currency loaded onto student ID cards for use at campus eateries.
- Blackburn
- The Armour J. Blackburn University Center, the primary hub for student dining and activities.
- Blackburn Cafe
- The main buffet-style dining hall located in the Armour J. Blackburn University Center.
- Bleed Blue
- An expression of school spirit and loyalty to Howard University.
- Bleeding Blue
- A term expressing deep school spirit and loyalty to Howard (whose colors are blue and white).
- Bleu
- Refers to the 'Bleu Room' or specific high-profile social events often held in Blackburn.
C
- CAB
- Campus Activities Board, the student-led group responsible for planning major campus events like Homecoming.
- COAS
- College of Arts and Sciences, the largest academic unit at the university.
- Cook
- Cook Hall, a residence hall typically housing upperclassmen and graduate students.
D
- Dining Dollars
- Funds included with meal plans specifically for use at on-campus retail dining locations.
- Drew
- Drew Hall, a traditional all-male residence hall located on the north end of campus.
H
- Hilltop Dining
- The main cafeteria-style dining facility located within the Bethune Annex.
- HU! You Know!
- The university's signature call-and-response chant used at rallies and sporting events.
- HUAB
- Howard University Alternative Break, a service-learning program for students.
- HUSA
- Howard University Student Association, the primary student government body.
J
- Jazzman's
- The popular coffee and snack shop located inside the Blackburn Center.
N
- NPHC
- National Pan-Hellenic Council, the governing body for the 'Divine Nine' historically Black Greek-letter organizations.
P
- Probate
- A high-energy public performance where new members of a Greek organization are revealed.
S
- SAB
- Student Activities Board, the organization responsible for planning major campus social events.
- SGA
- Student Government Association, often used interchangeably with HUSA or specific college governments.
- Simply To Go
- The grab-and-go meal option available in various dining locations.
- Slowe
- Lucy Diggs Slowe Hall, an off-campus residential facility for Howard students.
T
- The Annex
- The dining hall located within the Bethune Annex residential building.
- The Caf
- The primary dining hall located within the Armour J. Blackburn University Center.
- The Cafe
- The main buffet-style dining hall located on the upper level of the Blackburn Center.
- The Hilltop
- The name of the student-run newspaper, often used to refer to campus news or the paper's office.
- The Mecca
- A revered nickname for Howard University, signifying its role as a central hub of Black intellectual and cultural life.
- The Punch Out
- A retail food court area in the Blackburn Center known for late-night options and quick meals.
- The Punchout
- The retail food court located in the basement of the Blackburn Center.
- The Quad
- Harriet Tubman Quadrangle, the historic residence complex for freshman women.
- The Towers
- Howard Plaza Towers (East and West), the university's apartment-style upperclassman housing.
- The Valley
- The lower-elevation area of campus near the Burr Gymnasium and Greene Stadium.
- The Yard
- The central grassy quadrangle in front of Founders Library where students socialize and events are held.
- Towers
- Howard Plaza Towers (East and West), the large apartment-style residence halls for upperclassmen.
U
- UGSA
- Undergraduate Student Assembly, the legislative branch of the student government for undergraduates.
Y
- Yardfest
- The major outdoor concert and festival held on The Yard during Homecoming week.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- bethune_annex_dining_hall
- Bethune Annex Dining Hall
- bethune_c_store
- Bethune C-Store
- Bison One Card
- The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- Bison Safe
- The university's official mobile safety app for emergency alerts and campus police contact.
- bison_brew
- Bison Brew
- BisonHub
- The student information system used for course registration, checking grades, and financial aid.
- Blackburn
- The Armour J. Blackburn University Center, the central hub for student life, dining, and meetings.
- Bunche
- Ralph J. Bunche Center, focused on international affairs and research.
- Bunche Hall
- Ralph J. Bunche Hall, home to various social science departments.
- Cap and Gown
- The campus bookstore where students purchase graduation regalia and textbooks.
- Capstone
- The third-party management company that oversees several of the university's residential properties.
- Cathy Hughes
- The Cathy Hughes School of Communications building.
- Dining Dollars
- Funds attached to the meal plan that can be used at various on-campus retail food locations.
- Douglass
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall, a key academic building housing classrooms and the history department.
- Founders
- Founders Library, the university's main library and most recognizable architectural landmark.
- Greene
- The C.B. Powell Building, often referred to by the name of the School of Business (Greene Hall).
- HU Move
- The university-operated shuttle bus system that transports students between campus buildings and local transit stops.
- jazzman_s
- Jazzman's
- LiveSafe
- The mobile safety app recommended for students to report tips and use the 'SafeWalk' feature.
- Locke
- Alain Locke Hall, the primary building for the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Locke Hall
- Alain Locke Hall, the primary building for the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Med+Proctor
- The third-party platform Howard uses for students to submit required immunization records.
- MedStar
- Refers to the Howard University Hospital or the associated medical services on campus.
- The A-Building
- The Mordecai Wyatt Johnson Administration Building, housing the university's executive offices.
- The Hilltop
- The student-run newspaper, which serves as the primary source for campus news and announcements.
- The Shuttle
- The campus bus system that transports students between the main campus, West Campus, and local metro stations.
- The Valley
- The lower area of campus containing Greene Stadium and Burr Gymnasium.
- The Valley
- The lower-elevation area of campus near the gymnasium and stadium, often used for outdoor events.
- The Yard
- The central grassy quadrangle and heart of the campus where major events and gatherings occur.
- towers_c_store
- Towers C-Store
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 1, 2026 – Dec 16, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 44 approved campus terms and 30 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.