Academic calendar
Summer 2026 runs May 18, 2026 – Aug 7, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 2026 1st 6-Week Term
- Summer 2026Relevant now
- Summer 2026 12-Week Term
- Summer 2026 10-Week Term
- Summer 2026 2nd 6-Week Term
- Summer 2026 3rd 6-Week Term
- Fall 2026 1st 7-Week Term
- Fall 2026Fall 2026 15-Week Term
- Fall 2026 13-Week Term
- Fall 2026 2nd 7-Week Term
- Winter 2027 4-Week Winter Term
- Spring 2027 1st 7-Week Term
- Spring 2027 15-Week Term
- Spring 2027 13-Week Term
- Spring 2027 2nd 7-Week Term
- Summer 2027 1st 6-Week Term
- Summer 2027 12-Week Term
- Summer 2027 10-Week Term
- Summer 2027 2nd 6-Week Term
- Summer 2027 3rd 6-Week Term
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 20 of 20 terms
A
- ACE
- Activities Council of Events, the student-led organization responsible for planning campus social activities.
- ASA
- Asian Student Association, a common cultural student organization on campus.
C
- Commuter School
- NOVA does not have on-campus housing; students live off-campus and commute to one of the six campuses.
G
- GAA
- Guaranteed Admission Agreement, the specific transfer pathway that allows students to move to 4-year Virginia universities.
- GMU Transfer
- The most common transfer path for NOVA students, referring to George Mason University.
L
- Late Start
- Classes that begin several weeks into the semester rather than on the standard start date.
N
- Nighthawk
- The official mascot of the college, used to refer to students and sports teams.
- NOVA
- The universal shorthand name for Northern Virginia Community College.
- NVCC
- The formal acronym for the college, still frequently used by students, faculty, and in official documentation.
P
- PTK
- Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students.
S
- SGA
- Student Government Association, the primary representative body for students on each campus.
- Starbucks
- The specific coffee shop locations situated within the Alexandria Bisdorf building and the Annandale CG building.
- SVA
- Student Veterans of America, a support and advocacy group for student veterans at NOVA.
T
- The 2+2
- Refers to the guaranteed admission agreements where students spend two years at NOVA and two years at a Virginia university.
- The 703
- A reference to the local Northern Virginia area code, often used to describe the campus culture.
- The Bistro
- The specific dining facility located at the Manassas Campus.
- The Cafe
- The general term for the campus cafeteria and food court areas found at major campuses like Annandale and Alexandria.
- The CC
- A common student reference to the 'Community College' experience or environment.
- The Pit
- A common student term for the lower-level seating and vending area in certain campus buildings.
- Transfer Track
- A term used by students to describe their status as someone planning to transfer to a university after completing their associate degree.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- AA
- The Bisdorf Building, the central academic and administrative hub of the Alexandria campus.
- AB
- The Tyler Building on the Alexandria campus, housing various classrooms and labs.
- ADVANCE
- The specific partnership program between NOVA and George Mason University for streamlined transfer.
- annandale_1st_floor_caf
- Annandale 1st-floor Café
- Bisdorf
- The main academic and student services hub on the Alexandria campus.
- bookstore_caf_starbucks
- Bookstore Café (Starbucks)
- Brault
- The central administrative building located on the Annandale campus.
- Canvas
- The learning management system where students access course materials, participate in discussions, and submit assignments.
- CF Building
- The Cultural Center building at the Annandale campus, often used for dining and events.
- CG
- The Godwin Building, a primary academic building on the Annandale campus.
- CN
- The Newman Building on the Annandale campus, containing classrooms and faculty offices.
- Colgan
- The Mary Louise Jackson Amphitheater and primary academic hall on the Manassas campus.
- CS
- The Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, a major performance venue on the Alexandria campus.
- Godwin
- The CG building at the Annandale campus, serving as the central hub for student life and administration.
- Late Start
- A specific category of classes that begin several weeks into the semester (e.g., 7-week or 12-week sessions) rather than at the start.
- MyNOVA
- The single-sign-on portal that provides access to Gmail, Canvas, and SIS.
- Navigate
- The mobile app and web tool used for academic advising, degree planning, and scheduling appointments.
- NOVA Alert
- The emergency notification system that sends texts and emails about campus closings or safety issues.
- NOVACard
- The official student ID card required for library services, printing, and accessing certain campus facilities.
- Parking Permit
- The mandatory registration or physical decal required for any student vehicle parked in campus lots.
- Reynolds
- A major academic building on the Loudoun campus housing classrooms and labs.
- SIS
- Student Information System, the online portal used for class registration, checking grades, and paying tuition.
- surefire_cafe_annandale_campus
- Surefire Cafe - Annandale Campus
- The Cultural Center
- The CF building at Annandale, used for large events and performing arts.
- The Shuttle
- The free inter-campus bus service that transports students between major locations like Annandale and Alexandria.
- Tyler
- The building housing the library and student services at the Alexandria Campus.
- Waddell
- The Robert G. Waddell Center, which serves as the arts and theater hub for the Loudoun campus.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Summer 2026 runs May 18, 2026 – Aug 7, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 20 approved campus terms and 27 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.