Academic calendar
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
- Spring Semester 2027
- First Summer Session 2027Summer Semester First Session 2027Summer Session I 2027
- Full Summer Session 2027
- Second Summer Session 2027Summer Semester Second Session 2027Summer Session II 2027
- Fall Semester 2027
- Spring Semester 2028
- First Summer Session 2028Summer Semester First Session 2028Summer Session I 2028
- Full Summer Session 2028
- Second Summer Session 2028Summer Semester Second Session 2028Summer Session II 2028
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 51 of 51 terms
A
- ACRN
- All Campus Radio Network, the long-standing student-run media organization and radio station.
B
- Back South
- The cluster of residence halls located furthest from the main campus center on South Green.
- Bobcat Cash
- A prepaid account on the student ID card used for laundry, printing, and off-campus partner merchants.
- Boyd
- The District at Boyd, the dining hall on West Green known for its allergen-friendly options.
- BSB
- Black Student Business Caucus, a professional organization for minority students in business.
- BSCPB
- Black Student Cultural Programming Board, which focuses on events and advocacy for Black students.
- BSU
- Black Student Union, representing the interests and culture of Black students on campus.
C
- Court Street
- The main downtown thoroughfare lined with bars, restaurants, and shops.
D
- Dirty South
- The older, traditional-style residence halls located on the back side of South Green.
E
- East Green
- The residential area known for traditional-style brick buildings and proximity to the main academic quads.
F
- Fest Season
- The series of massive outdoor street parties (e.g., Mill Fest, Palmer Fest) held in the spring.
- Flex Points
- Dining currency included with meal plans used at campus markets and cafes.
- Front South
- The residence halls on South Green closest to the academic buildings and Baker Center.
- FSL
- Fraternity and Sorority Life, referring to the Greek community on campus.
G
- Grab N Go
- Pre-packaged meal options available at Nelson, Shively, and Boyd for students on the move.
H
- Halloweekend
- The weekend of the massive, nationally-known Athens Halloween Block Party.
I
- ISU
- International Student Union, an umbrella organization representing various international student groups.
J
- Jeff Market
- Jefferson Market, a popular campus convenience store and deli on East Green.
L
- Latitude
- Latitude 39, the full-service casual restaurant located within Baker University Center.
- Latitude 39
- The casual sit-down restaurant located within Baker University Center.
N
- Nelson
- Nelson Court, the primary dining hall located on South Green.
- New South
- The suite-style residence halls on South Green, such as Tanaka, Luchs, and Sowle.
O
- OIT
- Office of Information Technology, the department responsible for campus tech support and Wi-Fi.
- OPIE
- Ohio Program of Intensive English, providing English language resources for international students.
- OU Oh Yeah
- A common university chant and response used at sporting events and rallies.
- OUCU
- Ohio University Credit Union, the local financial institution heavily used by students and staff.
R
- RHA
- Residence Hall Association, the representative body for students living on campus.
S
- SAB
- Student Alumni Board, a group connecting current students with OU alumni.
- SAC
- Student Activities Commission, the body that allocates funding to student organizations.
- SGA
- Student Government Association, the official representative body for the student voice to the administration.
- Shiv
- Shively Court, the primary dining hall located on East Green known for its grab-and-go options.
- Shively
- Shively Court, the dining hall on East Green famous for its grab-and-go options and themed meals.
- Smoothie Bar
- The popular beverage station located inside the Boyd Market.
T
- The Arch
- The Alumni Gateway at the corner of Court and Union, often used as a meeting spot.
- The Bike Path
- The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway that runs along the Hocking River through campus.
- The Bricks
- The iconic brick-paved streets of Athens and the university campus.
- The Convo
- The Convocation Center, which serves as both a sports arena and a circular residence hall.
- The District
- The District on West Green, a specific dining venue within Boyd Hall featuring multiple food stations.
- The Front Room
- The campus coffeehouse located on the fourth floor of Baker University Center.
- The Green
- One of the three main residential areas of campus (East, West, or South Green).
- The Hocking
- The Hocking River, which runs alongside the campus and is a popular spot for walking and biking.
- The Mods
- The 'modified' back south green dorms known for their unique layout and social atmosphere.
- The O-Zone
- The official student cheering section for Ohio University athletic events.
- The Quad
- The grassy area surrounded by East Green dorms like Read, Johnson, and Lincoln.
- The Ridges
- The site of the former Athens Lunatic Asylum, now housing university offices, the Kennedy Museum of Art, and hiking trails.
- The Seal
- The university seal on College Green; campus legend says stepping on it will cause you to fail your next exam or not graduate.
- Townie
- A local resident of Athens who is not a student at the university.
U
- UCM
- United Campus Ministry, a center for social justice and spiritual exploration.
- UPC
- University Programming Council, the student-led group that plans major campus events.
- Uptown
- The commercial district adjacent to campus (most cities call this 'downtown,' but at OU it is strictly 'Uptown').
W
- West 82
- The food court located on the first floor of Baker University Center.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Alden
- Alden Library, the main university library.
- arc_caf
- ARC Café
- arc_cafe
- ARC Cafe
- Baker
- Baker University Center, the main student union and hub of campus life.
- Bentley
- Bentley Hall, a major academic building housing many social science departments.
- Bird
- Bird Ice Arena, the campus facility for ice hockey and public skating.
- Bobcat Cash
- A declining balance account on the student ID used for laundry, printing, and local vendors.
- Bobcat Connect
- The online platform used to join student organizations and track campus involvement.
- Bobcat ID
- The official university identification card required for building access and meal plans.
- Bobcat Pass
- A program that allows students to ride Athens Public Transit (city buses) for free by showing their student ID.
- cafe_at_factory_street
- Cafe at Factory Street
- CATBUS
- The Campus Area Transit system that provides free bus rides for students around campus.
- CATS
- Campus Area Transit Service, the university's free shuttle bus system that loops through campus.
- DARS
- Degree Audit Reporting System, the official document used to track progress toward graduation.
- Flex Points
- Dining dollars included with meal plans that can be used at campus retail food locations like West 82 or campus cafes.
- front_room_coffeehouse
- Front Room Coffeehouse
- Green
- The campus is divided into three main residential areas: East Green, West Green, and South Green.
- Grover
- Grover Center, the home of the College of Health Sciences and Professions.
- Handshake
- The primary platform used by the university for student jobs and career services.
- Mem Aud
- Memorial Auditorium, the primary venue for large-scale performing arts, concerts, and guest lectures.
- Morton
- Morton Hall, an academic building often cited by students for its confusing layout and many stairs.
- My OHIO
- The central web portal where students access grades, registration, and financial accounts.
- My OHIO Portal
- The central online dashboard where students register for classes, check grades, and view financial aid.
- nelson_court
- Nelson Court
- O-ID
- The official Ohio University student identification card required for building access and meal plans.
- OIT
- Office of Information Technology, the help desk for student tech and Wi-Fi issues.
- Peden
- Peden Stadium, the historic home field for the Ohio Bobcats football team.
- PID
- The unique student identification number used for all official university records and logins.
- Ping
- Ping Recreation Center, the primary campus gym and fitness facility.
- The Convo
- The Convocation Center, the large circular arena used for basketball games and graduation.
- The Green
- The university's primary residential and geographic divisions (East, West, and South Green).
- The Greens
- The campus is organized into residential 'Greens' (East, West, South) rather than traditional quads.
- The Ping
- The Charles J. Ping Recreation Center, the main campus gym and fitness facility.
- The Post
- The independent, student-run newspaper covering campus and Athens city news.
- The Ridges
- The former Athens Lunatic Asylum grounds, now housing university offices and the Kennedy Museum of Art.
- west_82
- West 82
- west_82_food_court
- West 82 Food Court
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 12, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 51 approved campus terms and 37 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.