Santa Monica CollegeStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Santa Monica College. Free for students.

College in Santa Monica, CA. Operating on a semester system.

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College

Institution Type

Student guide · Summer 2026

The semester, explained for Santa Monica College

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Summer 2026
Campus terms
21
Local details
17

Academic calendar

Summer 2026 runs Jun 22, 2026 – Aug 14, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

19 entries
  1. 6-Week Summer 2026Summer 2026 6-week SessionSummer 6-Week Session 2026Summer Session 2026 6-Week Session
  2. Summer 2026Summer 2026 8-week SessionSummer 8-Week Session 2026Summer Session 2026 8-Week SessionRelevant now
  3. Fall 2026 1st 8-Week Session
  4. Fall Semester 2026
  5. Fall 2026 12-Week Session
  6. Fall 2026 2nd 8-Week Session
  7. Winter Session 2027
  8. Spring 2027 1st 8-Week Session
  9. Spring Semester 2027
  10. Spring 2027 12-Week Session
  11. Spring 2027 2nd 8-Week Session
  12. Summer Session 2027 6-Week Session
  13. Summer Session 2027 8-Week Session

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

21 terms

A

A.S.
Associated Students, the official student government body at SMC.
AGS
Alpha Gamma Sigma; the California Community College Honor Scholarship Society chapter at SMC.
ASO
Associated Students Organization; the student government body that manages campus activities and fees.

C

Cayton
The Cayton Center, the primary student hub housing food vendors and the Associated Students offices.
Corsair
The official mascot and the term used to refer to any student attending SMC.
Corsair Connect
The student web portal used for registration, checking grades, and managing financial aid.

D

DSPS
Disabled Student Programs and Services, the office for accessibility and accommodations.

E

EOPS
Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, providing support for students with economic or educational challenges.
Everytable
The healthy meal service and storefront located on the main campus known for affordable pricing.

F

Food Truck Alley
The designated area on Pearl Street where various food trucks park to serve students.

I

ICC
Inter-Club Council; the representative body for all registered student clubs on campus.

P

PTK
Phi Theta Kappa; the international honor society for two-year colleges.

S

SMC
Santa Monica College; the shorthand used by students and faculty for the institution.

T

The Bodega
The SMC student food pantry providing free food and supplies to students in need.
The Caf
The main cafeteria located in the Student Services Center on the main campus.
The Coffee Shop
Commonly refers to the Everytable or the snack bar area in the cafeteria for quick caffeine.
The Corsair
The award-winning, student-run newspaper and media outlet of SMC.
The Garden
The Organic Learning Garden, a student-run space where food is grown and agricultural workshops are held.
The Pearl
Refers to the main campus location situated on Pearl Street.
The Quad
The central grassy area on the main campus where student events and club rows are held.
Transfer
The primary cultural focus at SMC, referring to the process of moving to a four-year university.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

17 details
Airport
The Airport Arts Campus, a specialized satellite facility for ceramics and fine arts.
Any Line, Any Time
The program that allows students to ride any Big Blue Bus for free after paying the mandatory student fees.
BBB
Big Blue Bus; the Santa Monica transit system which students can ride for free or at a discount with a valid pass.
Big Blue Bus
The Santa Monica municipal bus system, the primary mode of transit for the majority of students.
Bundy
The Bundy Campus; a satellite location near the Santa Monica Airport used for health and education classes.
CMD
Center for Media and Design; the satellite campus on Stewart Street for film, tech, and media majors.
Corsair Card
The official student ID card required for library services, printing, and gym access.
Corsair Connect
The online student portal used for enrollment, checking grades, and managing financial aid.
Drescher
Drescher Hall; a multi-story building on the main campus housing the bookstore and various labs.
HSS
Humanities and Social Sciences building; the main hub for history, psych, and sociology classes.
Late Start
Classes that begin mid-semester (usually 8-week sessions) rather than at the start of the term.
Malibu
The Malibu Campus; SMC's newest satellite location serving the Malibu community.
PAC
Performing Arts Center; the satellite campus on 11th Street housing the music and arts programs.
Sci
The Science Building, the primary facility for STEM lectures and laboratory work.
Starfish
The student success platform used to schedule counseling appointments and receive academic alerts.
The 11th Street
Common shorthand for the Performing Arts Center (PAC) campus location.
The 7
The Big Blue Bus Route 7 (and Rapid 7), the most common bus line used to reach the Pico Boulevard main campus.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Summer 2026 runs Jun 22, 2026 – Aug 14, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
21 approved campus terms and 17 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.

Get to know your university

Assisted

Find a few communities to try at Santa Monica College

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed
Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

DormWay is still mapping student communities at this campus.

We only show recommendations once we have enough public sources for Santa Monica College.

These are things we discovered. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

Recommendations are based on public campus sources. We do not endorse student organizations.

Using DormWay at Santa Monica College

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Life in Santa Monica for Santa Monica College Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Santa Monica.

Timezone

Pacific Time (PT)

Median Rent

$1,898

Cost of Living Index

200

Student Population

30,000

City Transportation

Walkability

82

Bikeability

88

Public Transit

Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Los Angeles Metro E Line (Expo) light rail

Nearest Airports

Los Angeles International Airport (nearby), Santa Monica Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Mediterranean (warm-summer coastal)

Avg Annual Temp

61°F

Avg Snowfall

0 in

Campus News

Latest updates from Santa Monica College

Crime Alert

Off-campus assault near the CMD campus at Olympic Blvd and 26th Street.

More Than 7,000 SMC Students Graduated Last Week

SMC celebrated its 96th Commencement on June 16, 2026, with 7,068 students receiving degrees and certificates, the second-largest class in the school's history.

Jun 22, 2026

SMC Career Services Advisor Presents on AI in Job Search

Ann Marie Leahy presented strategies for AI-supported resumes and ethical AI use at the CCCAOE Spring 2026 Conference.

Jun 17, 2026

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Email Domain

@santamonicacollege.edu

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