Academic calendar
Fall 2026 - Regular Session runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Fall 2026 - Regular SessionRelevant now
- Fall 2026 - First 7-Week Session
- Fall 2026 - Second 7-Week Session
- Spring 2027 - Regular Session
- Spring 2027 - First 7-Week Session
- Spring 2027 - Second 7-Week Session
- Summer 2027 - Maymester
- Summer 2027 - First 6-Week Session
- Summer 2027 - Regular Session
- Summer 2027 - Second 6-Week Session
- Fall 2027 - Regular Session
- Spring 2028 - Regular Session
- Summer 2028 - Maymester
- Summer 2028 - First 6-Week Session
- Summer 2028 - Regular Session
- Summer 2028 - Second 6-Week Session
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 24 of 24 terms
A
- ARHS
- Association of Residence Hall Students, representing the interests of students living on campus.
B
- Blue Band
- The official Penn State Marching Band.
C
- Canyon
- Canyon Pizza, a staple late-night pizza spot known for its low prices.
E
- East
- East Halls, the primary housing area for first-year students.
F
- Findlay
- Findlay Commons, the main dining and social hub for East Halls.
H
- Happy Valley
- The popular nickname for State College and the surrounding Penn State community.
I
- IFC
- Interfraternity Council, the governing body for social fraternities.
L
- Late Night
- Late-night dining hours and options available at specific commons like Redifer or Findlay.
N
- North
- North Halls, a smaller housing area consisting primarily of suite-style rooms.
P
- PHC
- Panhellenic Council, the governing body for social sororities.
- Pollock
- Pollock Halls, the second-largest freshman housing area on campus.
- Pollock
- Pollock Commons, the dining hall serving the Pollock and South housing areas.
R
- Redifer
- Redifer Commons, the dining facility in South Halls known for its food court variety.
S
- South
- South Halls, housing area often preferred by upperclassmen and Schreyer Honors College students.
- SPA
- Student Programming Association, the group responsible for organizing free concerts and events.
- State
- Common shorthand for State College or the university itself.
T
- The Creamery
- The Berkey Creamery, the famous on-campus ice cream shop.
- The HUB
- The food court located within the HUB-Robeson Center.
- The Phyrst
- A legendary basement bar downtown, a destination for 21st birthday celebrations.
- The Suites
- Nittany Apartments and Suites, typically reserved for upperclassmen.
- THON
- The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, the world's largest student-run philanthropy.
U
- UPUA
- University Park Undergraduate Association, the student government body.
W
- Waring
- Waring Commons, the dining hall in West Halls famous for its cookies.
- West
- West Halls, known for its traditional brick architecture and the famous West cookies.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- CATA
- Centre Area Transportation Authority, the bus system serving the campus and town.
- east_food_district_buffet
- East Food District Buffet
- id+ Card
- The official Penn State student identification card used for building access and payments.
- LionCash
- A prepaid debit account linked to the student ID card for on- and off-campus purchases.
- LionPATH
- The online student portal used for enrollment, grades, and financial records.
- market_west
- Market West
- Meal Points
- The currency used specifically for the campus dining plan.
- Old Main
- The iconic administrative building and central landmark of the university.
- Pattee/Paterno
- The main library complex, consisting of the Pattee and Paterno libraries.
- pollock_commons_buffet
- Pollock Commons Buffet
- southside_buffet
- Southside Buffet
- The BJC
- The Bryce Jordan Center, the arena used for basketball games, concerts, and THON.
- The HUB
- The HUB-Robeson Center, the central student union building.
- The IM
- The Intramural Building, a large fitness and recreation facility on the east side of campus.
- The Loop
- A free CATA bus route (Blue or White) that circles the campus and downtown area.
- The Nat
- The McCoy Natatorium, the university's primary swimming facility.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall 2026 - Regular Session runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 24 approved campus terms and 16 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.