Southern College of OptometryStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Southern College of Optometry. Core organization is free for students.

College in Memphis, TN. Operating on a semester system.

Free for all Southern College of Optometry students. No credit card required.

525

Total Enrollment

College

Institution Type

Student guide · Fall Semester 2026

The semester, explained for Southern College of Optometry

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
Fall Semester 2026
Campus terms
8
Local details
7

Academic calendar

Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 26, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

6 entries
  1. Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
  2. Spring Semester 2027
  3. Summer Semester 2027
  4. Second Year Mini-Term 2027
  5. Fall Semester 2027
  6. Spring Semester 2028

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Campus language

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

8 terms

A

AOSA
American Optometric Student Association, the national student advocacy body.

B

Boards
The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) exams required for professional licensure.

C

COVD
College of Optometrists in Vision Development student chapter, focusing on vision therapy.

N

NOSA
National Optometric Student Association, dedicated to serving minority populations.

P

Part 1
The first and notoriously difficult section of the national board exams (Applied Basic Science).
Proficiencies
Practical clinical exams where students must demonstrate specific technical skills to faculty.

S

SVOSH
Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, which organizes international mission trips.

T

The Bistro
The main on-campus dining area located within the Activity Center.

Places and practicalities

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

7 details
a_square_meal_caf_catering
A Square Meal Café & Catering
IRIS
The Integrated Resource Information System, the student portal for grades and registration.
Moodle
The learning management system used for course materials and online assignments.
TEC
The Eye Center at SCO, the primary clinical facility where students see patients.
The Activity Center
The campus hub containing the gym, student lounge, and dining facilities.
The Badge
The student ID card required for building entry and operating the campus elevators.
The Tower
The 11-story main academic and administrative building of the college.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 26, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027.
How much campus context is included?
8 approved campus terms and 7 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 Southern College of Optometry

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

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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 Southern College of Optometry.

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 Southern College of Optometry

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

Upload your Southern College of Optometry syllabus to organize dates and course details

Workload planning

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Free student access

Core organization is free for Southern College of Optometry students. Optional Pro tools are in development.

Southern College of Optometry on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

1

Active Students

Life in Memphis for Southern College of Optometry Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Memphis.

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$1,100

Cost of Living Index

85

Student Population

80,000

City Transportation

Walkability

34

Bikeability

57

Public Transit

Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) bus system, MATA Main Street Trolley (heritage streetcar), Paratransit services

Nearest Airports

Memphis International Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid subtropical

Avg Annual Temp

63°F

Avg Snowfall

3.8 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

North Lot

surface_lot

Located across Madison Avenue; recently reconfigured for improved access.

Jefferson Ave Lot

surface_lot

Nearby public parking lot approximately 0.4 miles from campus.

Campus News

Latest updates from Southern College of Optometry

SCO Welcomes Class of 2030

The college welcomed 140 new students for the start of their optometry journey during orientation week.

Sep 14, 2026

Read More

Homecoming 2026 CE Program Announced

SCO alumni return to campus to share expertise during the upcoming Homecoming and Fall CE Weekend.

Sep 13, 2026

Read More

Dr. Kris Adams Receives Above and Beyond Award

Resident Dr. Kris Adams was recognized for exceptional patient care by President Lewis Reich.

Aug 29, 2026

Read More

Campus and clinics closed on January 29, 2026, due to icy road conditions.

Campus and clinics closed on January 29, 2026, due to icy road conditions.

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Southern College of Optometry

Class of 2030 Orientation

September 15, 2026

SCO Campus

Orientation week for the incoming Class of 2030, welcoming 140 new students to campus.

Homecoming and Fall CE Weekend 2026

September 25, 2026

Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis / SCO Campus

Annual homecoming event featuring continuing education sessions, alumni reconnections, and campus tours.

Optometry Gives Me Life Sponsor Appreciation Reception

September 29, 2026

Anaheim, CA

Reception for sponsors of the Optometry Gives Me Life initiative, held in conjunction with industry meetings.

Vision Science Librarians Special Interest Group Meeting

September 30, 2026

Anaheim, CA

Meeting for the Vision Science Librarians Special Interest Group (SIG).

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Email Domain

@sco.edu

Plan your semester at Southern College of Optometry

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