Academic calendar
Summer Quarter 2026 runs Jun 22, 2026 – Aug 21, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer Quarter 2026Relevant now
- Fall Quarter 2026
- Winter Quarter 2027
- Spring Quarter 2027
- Summer Quarter 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 46 of 46 terms
3
- 3-Year Program
- The accelerated degree structure that allows students to graduate in three years by attending year-round.
C
- Chesterton Common Room
- A dedicated study and recreation space located within the student apartment complex.
D
- Deus Vult
- A men's household (intentional community) that emphasizes spiritual warfare and service.
F
- Feature Film Program
- The unique curriculum where students and faculty collaborate to produce a feature-length film annually.
G
- Grand Ave
- The main thoroughfare in Escondido where students find most of their food, as the university does not have a traditional cafeteria.
- Grand Ave Eats
- A general term for the various local restaurants surrounding the campus on Grand Avenue, as there is no formal dining hall.
- Grand Avenue
- The main street in Escondido where the majority of the university's partner dining locations are situated.
H
- House System
- The organizational structure dividing the student body into four houses (Leonie, Xavier, etc.) for community and competition.
I
- Impact
- The official name for the university's orientation program for new students.
- Impact Culture
- The university's core mission and motto, frequently used to describe the goal of student projects and formation.
J
- JP
- The common shorthand used by students and faculty to refer to John Paul the Great Catholic University.
- JPC
- The standard shorthand for John Paul the Great Catholic University used by students and staff.
- JPCU
- The common abbreviation for the university used in social media handles and club names.
K
- Kettle on Grand
- A local coffee shop frequently used by students for study and social gatherings.
L
- Lat
- Common shorthand for the Latitude 33 apartment complex.
- Latitude
- Latitude 33 Apartments, the university's former primary housing; some upperclassmen remain here until the full transition to Marlowe in 2026.
M
- Manzanita
- Manzanita Roasting Company, a popular local coffee shop and roastery on Grand Ave.
- Marlowe
- Marlowe Palomar Heights, the primary student housing complex located 0.5 miles east of campus in downtown Escondido.
- Meal Dollars
- The university-provided currency used at various local partner restaurants in downtown Escondido in lieu of a traditional dining hall.
- MSP
- My Success Plan, a mandatory holistic formation program focusing on academic, human, spiritual, and mission pillars.
P
- PAC
- Programming Activities Committee, the student-led group responsible for planning campus social events.
- Pelican
- The university mascot, representing the sacrifice of Christ.
- Pro-Life Club
- One of the most active student organizations, often referred to simply as 'Pro-Life'.
S
- S3
- S3 Coffee Bar, a local cafe frequented by the campus community.
- SGA
- The Student Government Association, also referred to as the Student Council.
- Sons of Augustine
- A men's household (intentional community) focused on fraternity and spiritual development.
- St. Dismas
- The St. Dismas Guild Club, a student organization focused on prison ministry.
T
- The 33
- A common numerical shorthand for the Latitude 33 student housing complex.
- The Bubble
- A term used by students to describe the tight-knit, insular social environment of the small Catholic campus community.
- The Cafe
- The small coffee and snack bar located within the Student Center area.
- The Double
- A two-person bedroom within the student apartment units.
- The Grand
- Refers to Grand Avenue, the main thoroughfare of the 'urban campus' in Escondido.
- The Grand
- Apartments located on Grand Avenue used for student residential living.
- The Grand Tea Room
- A local establishment in downtown Escondido often mentioned in campus news and events.
- The Hub
- The student portal and physical information desk where students handle administrative tasks.
- The Hub
- The student lounge and kitchen area on the main campus where students gather to eat and socialize.
- The Lot
- The designated parking area for students and staff near the Academic Building.
- The Pelican's Plume
- The university's student-run literary and arts journal.
- The Pitch
- The annual competition where students present film or business ideas to a panel of industry professionals.
- The Quarter
- The intensive 10-week academic term; the school operates on a year-round quarter system rather than semesters.
- The Rowan
- The Rowan apartments, a secondary housing option for upperclassmen located in downtown Escondido.
- The Siena Society
- A women's household (intentional community) dedicated to spiritual and communal growth.
- The Student Center
- The central hub on Grand Ave where students can find the micro-market and communal eating spaces.
- The Terraces
- The Terraces at Escondido, an apartment complex used for upperclassmen and overflow student housing.
- The Triple
- A three-person bedroom within the student apartment units.
U
- University Day
- The official name for the university's open house and admissions events for prospective students.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- 155
- The main academic building located at 155 W. Grand Ave, housing classrooms and administrative offices.
- 220
- The Creative Arts Center (CAC) located at 220 W. Grand Ave, featuring film sets, acting studios, and editing labs.
- Academic Building
- The main campus building housing classrooms, the library, and administrative offices.
- CAB
- The Creative Arts Building, which houses the film, acting, and visual arts facilities.
- Daily Mass
- The central spiritual event of the day; class schedules are specifically designed to avoid conflict with the 11:00 AM Mass.
- Downtown Campus
- The concept that the city of Escondido itself serves as the campus, with buildings integrated into the public blocks.
- Four Pillars
- The four areas of formation (Human, Spiritual, Intellectual, and Mission) tracked through the MSP program.
- Grand
- The main academic building located at 155 W. Grand Ave, housing classrooms and the chapel.
- Juniper Room
- A specific exhibition and event space located within the Ritz Theater complex.
- Late Start
- A convention where certain morning classes or events may be delayed, typically communicated via the student portal.
- Maple Plaza
- The outdoor plaza area near the Student Life Center used for community events.
- Marlowe Walk
- The 10-minute commute from student housing to the main campus buildings along Grand Ave.
- Populi
- The primary online student information system used for registration, grades, and course materials.
- Professional Dress
- The campus dress code policy requiring students to wear professional attire (e.g., slacks, khakis, or jeans without holes) in academic buildings.
- Quarter System
- The academic calendar consisting of four 10-week terms (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) per year.
- Shooting Permit
- A required authorization form for any student film production taking place on university property.
- Stage Rules
- The specific safety and operational protocols required for students using the Soundstage facility.
- Student Life Center
- The central hub for student activities and services, located in the 200 building.
- The 155
- The primary academic building located at 155 W. Grand Ave.
- The 200
- The Student Life building located at 200 W. Grand Ave.
- The 220
- The main administration building located at 220 W. Grand Ave.
- The Badge
- The student ID card required for keyless entry into campus buildings and for checking out equipment.
- The Chapel
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chapel, located within the main Grand Avenue building.
- The Lab
- The specialized computer and editing suites used by film and design students.
- The Oratory
- The campus chapel where daily Mass and spiritual activities are held.
- The Pro Shop
- The equipment checkout window where film students rent cameras, lighting, and sound gear.
- The Quarter
- The 10-week academic term; the university operates on a year-round quarterly system rather than semesters.
- The Ritz
- The Ritz Theater, a historic venue used for classes, film screenings, and graduation ceremonies.
- The Shuttle
- The university-operated van service that transports students between Latitude 33 housing and the Grand Ave campus.
- The Soundstage
- The university's professional film and television production facility located near the main campus.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Summer Quarter 2026 runs Jun 22, 2026 – Aug 21, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 46 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.