Academic calendar
Fall 2026 Quad I runs Aug 31, 2026 – Oct 25, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 2026
- Summer 2026 Quad II
- Fall 2026 Quad IRelevant now
- Fall 2026 Quad II
- Spring 2027 Quad I
- Spring 2027 Quad II
- Summer 2027 Quad I
- Summer 2027
- Summer 2027 Quad II
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 55 of 55 terms
A
- ALAS
- Association of Latin American Students, a cultural club under the MOSAIC office.
- ASB
- Associated Student Body, the student government and programming board.
B
- Bobby B's
- Bobby B's Coffee Shop in Nicholson Commons, named after University President Bob Brower.
- Breaker's
- Breaker's Market, the on-campus convenience store for snacks and essentials.
- Breakers
- The Point Breakers Kitchen, a retail dining location offering custom meals and snacks.
- BSU
- Black Student Union, a student organization focused on the Black student experience and community.
C
- Caf Lane
- The central walkway in front of the cafeteria and Bobby B's, known as a prime social and people-watching spot.
- CJR
- Center for Justice & Reconciliation, an organization dedicated to social justice and human rights issues.
D
- D-Group
- Discipleship Groups, small student-led Bible study and accountability groups.
- D-Group
- Discipleship Groups, small peer-led spiritual mentorship and Bible study circles.
- D-Groups
- Discipleship Groups, small student-led Bible study and mentorship groups.
- D-Groups
- Discipleship Groups, small student-led spiritual growth and accountability groups.
F
- Finch
- Finch Hall, a residence hall primarily for sophomore and junior women.
- Flex
- The Flex Apartments, a residential complex for upperclassmen known for hosting the Flex Farmers Market.
- Fresh
- The Fresh Market, a grab-and-go convenience store located in Nicholson Commons.
G
- GAP
- The 'Get Acquainted Party' held during orientation, often jokingly called the 'Get Awkward Party' by students.
- Goodwin
- Goodwin Hall, one of the primary freshman residence halls.
H
- Hendricks
- Hendricks Hall, one of the designated freshman residence halls.
- Hooligans
- A high-energy student spirit group known for wearing striped overalls at sporting events.
I
- ISF
- International Student Fellowship, an organization supporting international students on campus.
K
- Klassen
- Klassen Hall, a three-story freshman residence hall featuring community-style living.
- Klassic
- A common student nickname for Klassen Hall.
L
- Loma
- The common shorthand name for the university and the surrounding Point Loma neighborhood.
- Lomaland
- The nickname for the PLNU campus, referencing its history as a Theosophical community.
- Lomans
- A term used to refer to students or members of the Point Loma community.
M
- MOSAIC
- Multicultural Opportunities for Students Actively Involved in Community, a student leadership group.
N
- Nease
- Nease Hall, a large freshman residence hall known for its social atmosphere.
- NROTC
- Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, a significant presence due to the nearby naval base.
O
- OSL
- Office of Student Life, the administrative department for housing and student activities.
P
- Point Break
- A coffee shop located on campus, often accessed via mobile ordering apps.
R
- Ring by Spring
- The cultural expectation or goal of being engaged to be married by the spring of senior year.
S
- SAB
- Student Activities Board, the group responsible for planning major campus social events.
- Sand Ceremony
- A tradition where new students pour sand into a communal tank to symbolize joining the community.
- Sea Lion
- The official university mascot and shorthand for student-athletes.
- Sea Lions
- The official mascot and collective name for PLNU students and athletic teams.
- SEAA
- Students for Environmental Action and Awareness, a student club focused on sustainability and environmentalism.
- SFS
- Student Financial Services, the office handling tuition, billing, and financial aid.
- Sunset
- The daily ritual of students heading to the cliffs to watch the sunset.
- Sunset Cliffs
- The adjacent coastal area where students frequently go to watch the sunset and hang out.
T
- The Bubble
- The feeling of isolation or being in a 'protected' environment on the scenic, secluded campus.
- The Caf
- The Nicholson Commons Dining Room, the main all-you-care-to-eat facility.
- The Cliffs
- Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, the coastal area immediately adjacent to campus where students hang out.
- The Colony
- The Colony Apartments, an off-campus but university-owned residential complex for upperclassmen.
- The Flats
- Young Hall apartments, typically used for upperclassmen or flex housing.
- The Flex
- The Flex Apartments, a student housing complex located slightly away from the main campus hub.
- The Green Sea
- The official student spirit section that supports Sea Lion athletics.
- The Grill
- The casual dining station located within the Nicholson Commons area.
- The Hill
- Refers to the main campus location situated on the Point Loma peninsula.
- The PBC
- Point Break Cafe, a retail dining location in Nicholson Commons serving coffee, smoothies, and meals.
- The Point
- The student-run news organization and media outlet.
- The Point
- A casual campus grill and snack bar located near the gym.
- The Seal
- The university seal on the ground in front of Nicholson Commons; tradition says stepping on it prevents you from graduating on time.
- Time Out
- A student-led Wednesday night worship service held on campus.
W
- Wiley
- Wiley Hall, a residence hall for upperclassmen students.
Y
- Young
- Young Hall, a residence hall typically housing upperclassmen.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- ARC
- Activities and Recreation Center, located within Nicholson Commons.
- bobby_b_s_coffee_company
- Bobby B's Coffee Company
- breakers_market
- Breakers Market
- Canvas
- The learning management system where professors post assignments, syllabi, and course materials.
- Chapel
- Mandatory spiritual gatherings that students must attend to earn required credits for graduation.
- Chapel Credits
- The mandatory attendance points students must earn by attending spiritual services to graduate.
- Cooper
- The Cooper Music Center, housing practice rooms and recital halls.
- Cunningham
- Cunningham Business Center, home to the Fermanian School of Business.
- Dining Dollars
- Meal plan credits specifically for retail dining at the PBC, Bobby B's, and Breaker's.
- E-Permit
- The digital parking registration system managed by the Department of Public Safety.
- eAccounts
- The online portal and app used by students to manage SeaLion Dollars and meal plan balances.
- Flex
- Flex Dollars, the declining balance currency on student ID cards used for campus dining.
- Latter
- Latter Hall, a major classroom building primarily for science and mathematics.
- Loma
- Loma Hall, which houses various academic classrooms and offices.
- myPLNU
- The official university mobile app used to access campus resources and student information.
- Nicholson
- Nicholson Commons, the central student union building housing the dining hall, bookstore, and ARC.
- NSO
- New Student Orientation, the series of events for incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- One Stop
- The central office in Draper Hall for handling financial aid, records, and student accounts.
- PBC Credit
- Dining dollars included in certain meal plans specifically for use at the Point Break Cafe and Bobby B's.
- point_break
- Point Break
- point_break_cafe
- Point Break Cafe
- Rohr
- The Rohr Science Building, used for natural science labs and lectures.
- Ryan
- Ryan Library and Learning Center, the primary academic library on campus.
- Sator
- Sator Hall, one of the modern science buildings on campus.
- Sea Lion Card
- The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- Sea Lion Dollars
- Campus-specific currency loaded onto ID cards for laundry, printing, and retail dining.
- Sea Lion ID
- The official student identification card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- Sea Lion Shuttle
- The campus transportation service that moves students between the upper and lower parts of the campus.
- SeaLion Dollars
- Rechargeable campus currency used for the bookstore, printing, and all dining locations.
- SeaLion$
- A declining balance account on the student ID card used for campus purchases like the bookstore and dining.
- Smee
- Smee Hall, the home of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry.
- The ARC
- The Activities and Recreation Center, a student hub for games, fitness, and outdoor equipment rentals.
- The Commons
- Nicholson Commons, the central student union building containing dining and student offices.
- The Greek
- The Greek Amphitheatre, a historic outdoor venue used for chapel, concerts, and graduation.
- The Lib
- Ryan Library, the primary academic library on campus.
- The Point
- The official student newspaper of PLNU, also used to refer to the campus location.
- The Point
- The student-run news organization and website (lomabeat.com) providing campus updates.
- The Shuttle
- The university transportation service that runs between the main campus and off-site parking lots.
- the_caf_main_dining_room
- The Caf (Main Dining Room)
- the_caf_nicholson_commons
- The Caf (Nicholson Commons)
- Workday
- The administrative software portal used for class registration, viewing grades, and student payroll.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall 2026 Quad I runs Aug 31, 2026 – Oct 25, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 55 approved campus terms and 41 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.