Academic calendar
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 18, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Fall 2026 First HalfFall 2026 First Half (FH)Fall First Half 2026Fall Semester 2026 First HalfFall Semester 2026 First Half (FH)
- Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
- Fall 2026 Second HalfFall 2026 Second Half (SH)Fall Second Half 2026Fall Semester 2026 Second HalfFall Semester 2026 Second Half (SH)
- Winter Session 2026-2027Winter Session 2027
- Spring 2027 First Half (FH)Spring First Half 2027Spring Semester 2027 First Half
- Spring Semester 2027
- Spring 2027 Second Half (SH)Spring Second Half 2027Spring Semester 2027 Second Half
- Summer 2027 First Four Week Session (SF4)
- Summer 2027 First Six Week Session (SF6)
- Summer 2027 First Eight Weeks (SS1)
- Summer Session 2027
- Summer 2027 Middle Four Week Session (SM4)
- Summer 2027 Second Eight Weeks (SS2)
- Summer 2027 Last Six Week Session (SL6)
- Summer 2027 Last Four Week Session (SL4)
- Fall Semester 2027
- Winter Session 2027-2028Winter Session 2028
- Spring Semester 2028
- Summer Session 2028
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 18 of 18 terms
C
- Campaniling
- The tradition of kissing a partner under the Campanile at the stroke of midnight to become a 'true Iowan.'
- Clyde's
- Clyde Williams East, a retail dining location known for burgers and shakes located near Union Drive.
- Convos
- Conversations Dining Center, located in the basement of Oak-Elm Hall.
- Cy
- The official cardinal mascot of Iowa State University.
D
- DIS
- Destination Iowa State, the multi-day orientation program for new students held just before the fall semester begins.
F
- Freddy
- Frederiksen Court, an on-campus apartment community primarily for upper-division students.
H
- Hilton Magic
- The legendary home-court advantage and energetic atmosphere during basketball games at Hilton Coliseum.
I
- ISU PD
- The Iowa State University Police Department, the campus law enforcement agency.
L
- Lancelot and Elaine
- The names of the two resident swans that live on Lake LaVerne.
M
- MWL
- The Maple-Willow-Larch residence hall complex located on the east side of campus.
R
- RCA
- Richardson Court Association, referring to the group of residence halls on the east side of campus including Barton, Lyon, and others.
S
- Seasons
- Seasons Marketplace, the large dining center located in the Maple-Willow-Larch (MWL) complex.
- StuGov
- The Iowa State University Student Government, the representative body for all students.
- SUB
- Student Union Board, the student-led organization that plans major campus events like concerts and films.
T
- The Hub
- A central campus dining location featuring coffee, vending, and quick-service food near the library.
- The Zodiac
- The brass zodiac relief in the floor of the Memorial Union; students avoid stepping on it to prevent failing their next exam.
U
- UDA
- Union Drive Association, referring to the residence halls on the west side of campus near the Union Drive Community Center.
- UDCC
- Union Drive Community Center, the primary dining and student services hub for the west side of campus.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Beardshear
- Beardshear Hall, the main administrative building housing the Office of the President and financial aid.
- CyRide
- The city-wide bus system that is free for students to use with their ISU ID card.
- Dining Dollars
- A form of campus currency included in meal plans that can be used at retail dining locations and convenience stores.
- Flex Meals
- Meal swipes that can be used at specific retail dining locations instead of traditional dining centers.
- friley_windows
- Friley Windows
- Lied
- Lied Recreation Athletic Center, a large multi-purpose fitness facility on the east side of campus.
- Parks
- Parks Library, the main university library located at the heart of campus.
- Prep Week
- The week before final exams (formerly known as Dead Week) where major assignments and exams are restricted.
- richardson_court_marketplace
- Richardson Court Marketplace
- south_side_eats
- South Side Eats
- State
- State Gym, a major student recreation and fitness center on the west side of campus.
- The MU
- The Memorial Union, the central student union building housing the bookstore, food court, and student offices.
- union_drive_marketplace
- Union Drive Marketplace
- Workday
- The primary student information system used for course registration, viewing grades, and financial aid.
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 18, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 18 approved campus terms and 14 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.