Academic calendar
Full Summer Session 2026 runs May 11, 2026 – Aug 14, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Session One Summer 2026Summer Session One 2026
- Full Summer Session 2026Summer 2026 Full Session (MSU Academic Calendar)Summer 2026 Session OneSummer 2026 Session TwoRelevant now
- Summer Session Two 2026
- Session Two Summer 2026Summer 2026 Session Two
- Fall 2026
- Spring 2027
- Second Summer Session 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 114 of 114 terms
A
- Akers
- Akers Hall, known for its unique quad-style living arrangements in the East Neighborhood.
- ASMSU
- Associated Students of Michigan State University, the undergraduate student government.
B
- B-Square
- Brody Square, the large, multi-venue flagship dining hall located in the Brody Neighborhood.
- Briggsies
- Students enrolled in the Lyman Briggs College, a science-focused residential college.
- Brody
- The Brody Neighborhood, a complex of six residence halls sharing a large dining hall.
- Brody
- Brody Square, the large flagship dining hall in the Brody Neighborhood.
- Brody Square
- The large, multi-venue dining hall in the Brody Neighborhood.
- Burnerverse
- The network of pseudonymous student-run social media accounts that post campus memes and gossip.
C
- CAPS
- Counseling and Psychiatric Services, the university's mental health resource center.
- Case
- Case Hall, primarily known as the home of the James Madison College residential program.
- CATA
- Capital Area Transportation Authority, the public bus system serving campus and Lansing.
- Cedar Fest
- A historical reference to large-scale student gatherings and riots in the Cedar Village area.
- Cedar Village
- An apartment complex near campus known for large student gatherings and celebrations.
- COGS
- Council of Graduate Students, the representative body for graduate and professional students.
- Combo
- Combo-X-Change, a daily meal credit used for a snack, drink, and entree at Sparty's or dining halls.
- Combo-X-Change
- A daily meal credit (often called a 'Combo') used to get a meal-to-go from retail locations.
- CX
- Combo-X-Change, a meal plan benefit allowing students to grab a meal-to-go from various retail locations.
- CXC
- Common abbreviation for the Combo-X-Change meal program.
E
- East
- The East Neighborhood, home to Akers, Hubbard, and Holmes halls, located on the eastern edge of campus.
- Eat at State
- The general term for the MSU dining services and its associated website/social media.
- EL
- Common shorthand for East Lansing, the city surrounding the university.
G
- Go Green
- The first half of the university's signature call-and-response cheer (answered by 'Go White').
- Go Green, Go White
- The essential campus call-and-response cheer used at games and around town.
- Go White
- The response given when someone shouts 'Go Green'.
- Grab & Go
- Pre-packaged meal options available at various dining and retail locations for quick pickup.
- Grand River
- The main commercial street bordering the north side of campus, home to bars and shops.
H
- Heritage
- The dining hall located in Landon Hall, featuring a more traditional atmosphere.
- Heritage Commons
- The dining hall located in Landon Hall, known for its upscale atmosphere.
- Holden
- Holden Hall, a residence hall in the South Neighborhood often associated with the Honors College.
- Hub
- Hubbard Hall, a large residence hall in the East Neighborhood known for its height and high student population.
- Hubbard
- Hubbard Hall, the tallest residence hall on campus located in the East Neighborhood.
I
- ICA
- Intercultural Aide, student staff members who facilitate community and inclusion in dorms.
- IM
- Intramural Sports, recreational sports leagues and facilities available to the student body.
- IM West
- The Intramural West building, the primary fitness and pool facility on the west side of campus.
J
- JMC
- Common shorthand for James Madison College.
L
- Landon
- Landon Hall, a historic residence hall in the North Neighborhood known for its collegiate gothic architecture.
- Landy
- Landon Hall, a historic residence hall in the West Circle area of North Neighborhood.
- Late Night
- Extended dining hours offered at specific locations, often until 11:00 PM or midnight.
- LBC
- Common shorthand for Lyman Briggs College.
M
- M-A
- Mason-Abbot Hall, located in the North Neighborhood.
- Mason-Abbot
- Mason and Abbot Halls, two connected residence halls in the North Neighborhood.
- Mayo
- Mary Mayo Hall, a historic residence hall in the West Circle area.
- MSUFCU
- Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, the primary financial institution for the campus community.
- MSUPD
- Michigan State University Police Department, the campus law enforcement agency.
N
- North
- The North Neighborhood, the oldest part of campus featuring collegiate gothic architecture and halls like Landon and Mayo.
- NSO
- New Student Orientation, the mandatory program for incoming freshmen and transfer students.
R
- RA
- Resident Assistant, a student leader who lives in and manages a floor in a residence hall.
- RCPD
- Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, the office that handles academic and housing accommodations.
- REHS
- Residential and Hospitality Services, the department managing housing and dining.
- RHA
- Residence Halls Association, the representative body for students living on campus.
- Rick's
- Rick's American Cafe, a popular basement bar known for its 'Rick's sweat' atmosphere.
- River Trail
- The neighborhood consisting of Shaw, McDonel, Owen, and Van Hoosen halls along the river.
S
- Shaw
- Shaw Hall, a centrally located residence hall near the Red Cedar River.
- Sny-Phi
- Snyder-Phillips Hall, a residential complex in the North Neighborhood.
- Snyder-Phi
- Snyder-Phillips Hall, a residence hall in the North Neighborhood housing the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities.
- South
- The South Neighborhood, which includes Case, Holden, Wilson, and Wonders halls, often associated with engineering and athletics.
- South Ave
- The food court style dining area located in Case Hall.
- South Pointe
- The dining hall located in Case Hall.
- Spartan
- The collective identity for MSU students, faculty, and alumni.
- Spartan Card
- The official student ID used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- Spartan Cash
- A cash-equivalent balance loaded onto a student ID for use at campus retailers and select off-campus locations.
- Spartan Dawgs
- A nickname for MSU athletes and fans, emphasizing toughness and team spirit.
- Spartan Spirit
- The general term for the pride and culture associated with being an MSU student.
- Spartan Walk
- The tradition where the football team walks through fans to the stadium on game days.
- Sparty
- The university's mascot, or the iconic bronze statue located near the stadium.
- Sparty's
- On-campus convenience stores where students spend their Combos and Spartan Cash.
- Spartys
- On-campus convenience stores and cafes where students frequently use their Combo-X-Change.
T
- The Akers
- Akers Hall, a residence hall in the East Neighborhood known for its suite-style rooms.
- The Banks
- The commercial area along Grand River Avenue featuring shops, bars, and restaurants.
- The Banks of the Red Cedar
- A reference to the river that runs through campus, often cited in the MSU fight song.
- The Beaumont Tower
- The iconic carillon clock tower located in the North Neighborhood.
- The Brody
- The Brody Neighborhood, specifically referring to the cluster of six residence halls around the Brody Square dining hall.
- The Brody Neighborhood
- The Brody Complex, a group of six residence halls centered around a large dining hall.
- The Case
- Case Hall, a residence hall in the South Neighborhood primarily housing James Madison College students.
- The Cedar
- The Red Cedar River which runs through the center of campus.
- The Dairy Store
- The MSU Dairy Store, a famous campus spot for university-made ice cream and cheese.
- The Dairy Store
- The university-run ice cream and cheese shop located in Anthony Hall.
- The Dirty South
- A common student nickname for the South Neighborhood dorms (Case, Wilson, Holden, Wonders).
- The Edge
- The large, multi-venue dining hall located within Akers Hall.
- The EL
- Common shorthand for East Lansing, the city surrounding the university.
- The Gallery
- The dining hall located within Snyder-Phillips Hall.
- The Grand River
- Refers to Grand River Avenue, the main street separating the campus from the bars and shops of East Lansing.
- The Heritage
- The Heritage Commons dining hall located in Landon Hall.
- The Hub
- Hubbard Hall, known for being one of the tallest residence halls on campus.
- The Izzone
- The official student cheering section for the MSU men's basketball team, named after coach Tom Izzo.
- The Munnsters
- The official student section for the Spartan hockey team at Munn Ice Arena.
- The Pit
- A common nickname for the lower-level seating area in certain dining halls or the Union food court.
- The Quads
- Refers to the West Circle residence halls (Landon, Mayo, Williams, etc.) known for their collegiate gothic architecture.
- The Red Cedar
- The river that runs through the center of campus, central to MSU's identity.
- The Riv
- The Riviera Cafe, a popular and historic student bar located on Grand River Avenue.
- The Riv
- While a bar, it is often used as a landmark for the nearby River Trail neighborhood dorms.
- The River
- The Red Cedar River, which runs through the center of the MSU campus.
- The River
- The River Trail Neighborhood, referring to the group of residence halls located along the Red Cedar River.
- The River Trail
- A group of residence halls located along the Red Cedar River, including Shaw and McDonel.
- The Rock
- A large boulder on Farm Lane that is frequently repainted by student groups for promotion or activism.
- The Spartan
- The official name of the bronze statue (often called 'Sparty') located at the intersection of Chestnut and Kalamazoo.
- The Spartan Statue
- The iconic bronze statue of a Spartan warrior, often called 'Sparty'.
- The Square
- Brody Square, the large central dining hall for the Brody Neighborhood.
- The State Room
- A more formal restaurant located in the Kellogg Center that accepts certain meal plan credits.
- The Suites
- Commonly refers to Akers Hall or McDonel Hall due to their four-person suite-style room layouts.
- The Vista
- The dining hall located in Shaw Hall, popular for its central campus location.
- The Zoo
- A common student nickname for Akers Hall, known for its high-density quad-style rooms.
- Thrive
- The certified allergen-free dining hall located in 1855 Place.
- Twin Towers
- A common nickname for Hubbard Hall due to its two large residential towers.
U
- UAB
- University Activities Board, the student-led group that organizes campus events like movies and concerts.
V
- Vista
- The dining hall located in Shaw Hall, centrally located on campus.
- Vista V
- The dining hall located in Shaw Hall.
- Vista Vibe
- The dining hall located in Shaw Hall.
- VistaV
- The Vista at Shaw, the dining hall located in Shaw Hall.
W
- Walmart Wolverine
- A derogatory term used by Spartans for University of Michigan fans who did not actually attend that university.
- West Circle
- The historic group of residence halls in the North Neighborhood, including Landon, Mayo, and Williams.
- Wonders
- Wonders Hall, a residence hall in the South Neighborhood.
Y
- Yakeley
- Yakeley-Gilchrist Hall, often referred to simply as Yakeley.
- Yakeley-Gilchrist
- The combined residential community of Yakeley Hall and Gilchrist Hall.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- APID
- The 9-digit student identification number (replacing the 'A' with a '1') used for all official university records.
- BCC
- The Business College Complex, which houses the Eli Broad College of Business.
- Berkey
- Berkey Hall, a central academic building housing many social science and humanities classes.
- BPS
- The Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building.
- Breslin
- The Jack Breslin Student Events Center, where basketball games and major concerts are held.
- brody_square
- Brody Square
- CATA
- Capital Area Transportation Authority, the bus system that provides on-campus and off-campus transit.
- Combo-X-Change
- The specific meal plan benefit allowing students to grab a meal-to-go once per day.
- D2L
- Desire2Learn, the online learning management system where professors post grades and assignments.
- Enrollment Appointment
- The specific date and time a student is permitted to register for the upcoming semester's classes.
- Eppley
- The Eppley Center, part of the Broad College of Business.
- Erickson
- Erickson Hall, the primary building for the College of Education.
- Farm Lane
- The primary north-south road that serves as a central navigation landmark for the campus.
- Handshake
- The primary platform used by MSU students for job searches and career fair registration.
- heritage_commons_at_landon
- Heritage Commons at Landon
- ID Office
- The office located in the International Center where students obtain or replace their Spartan Card (ID).
- IM
- Intramural Sports Buildings (IM West, IM East, IM Circle), the primary campus fitness and recreation centers.
- IM East
- The Intramural Sports East building, a major fitness center located near the East Neighborhood.
- IM West
- Intramural Sports West, a major fitness and recreation facility near the stadium.
- Late Night
- The period when specific dining halls remain open for late-evening meal service.
- Live On
- The university's department and initiative managing on-campus housing and residential life.
- Lot 89
- A large commuter parking lot located at the far south end of campus.
- MSU Alert
- The emergency notification system that sends texts and emails regarding campus safety.
- MSU ID
- The official Spartan Card required for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- MSU ID Office
- Located in the International Center, where students go to get or replace their Spartan Cards.
- Munn
- Munn Ice Arena, the home of the Spartan hockey team.
- Olin
- Olin Health Center, the primary medical facility for student health services.
- SafeMSU
- The official university safety app featuring virtual walk-homes and emergency reporting.
- SafeRide
- A late-night transportation service provided by ASMSU for student safety.
- SIS
- Student Information System, the portal used for class registration and financial aid.
- south_pointe_at_case
- South Pointe at Case
- Spartan Card
- The official MSU student identification card used for building access and meal plans.
- Spartan Cash
- A declining balance account on the MSU ID card used for laundry and participating local vendors.
- Spartan ID
- The official university identification card required for building access, dining, and library services.
- Spartan Mail
- The university-provided Outlook/Office 365 email account required for all official communication.
- StuInfo
- The student information portal used for checking records, though largely replaced by the new SIS (Student Information System).
- The 1
- The primary CATA bus route that runs along Grand River Avenue connecting campus to East Lansing.
- The 30/31
- The most common CATA bus routes that loop through the main campus areas.
- The 30s
- Refers to the CATA bus routes numbered 30 through 39 that circulate exclusively within the campus boundaries.
- The 31
- A high-frequency CATA bus route that connects the Brody Neighborhood to the rest of campus.
- The Aud
- The MSU Auditorium, a venue for performances and large lectures.
- The Bres
- The Jack Breslin Student Events Center, where basketball games and major events are held.
- The Broad
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, known for its distinct contemporary architecture.
- The Chem
- The Chemistry Building, a major science facility located on Shaw Lane.
- The Chem Building
- The Chemistry Building, located on Shaw Lane.
- The Comm Arts
- The Communication Arts and Sciences building.
- The IM
- Intramural Sports buildings, specifically referring to IM West, IM East, or IM Circle.
- The IM
- Intramural Sports Centers (IM East, IM West, IM Circle) used for fitness and recreation.
- The Lib
- The Main Library, located near Beaumont Tower.
- The Munn
- Munn Ice Arena, the home venue for the MSU Spartan hockey team.
- The Olin
- Olin Health Center, the primary medical facility for MSU students.
- The Pav
- The Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education, often used for expos and agricultural events.
- The Red Cedar
- The river that runs through the middle of campus, dividing 'North' and 'South' campus.
- The Rock
- A large painted boulder on Farm Lane used by student groups for promotion and messaging.
- The Stadium
- Spartan Stadium, the home field for the MSU football team.
- The Union
- The MSU Union, a central hub for student life, study spaces, and food on North Campus.
- The Wharton
- The Wharton Center for Performing Arts, the campus venue for Broadway shows and professional performances.
- the_edge_at_akers
- The Edge at Akers
- the_gallery_at_snyder_phillips
- The Gallery at Snyder Phillips
- the_vista_at_shaw
- The Vista at Shaw
- thrive_at_owen
- Thrive at Owen
- TransLoc
- The mobile app used by students to track CATA bus locations and arrival times in real-time.
- Wells
- Wells Hall, a major academic building where many introductory and math courses are held.
- Wells Hall
- A major academic building known for its large lecture halls and central Starbucks location.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Full Summer Session 2026 runs May 11, 2026 – Aug 14, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 114 approved campus terms and 64 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.