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Home / Colleges / Southwest Minnesota State University Southwest Minnesota State UniversityStudent Guide Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Southwest Minnesota State University. Core organization is free for students.
Public Research University in Marshall, MN. Operating on a semester system.
Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.
Free for all Southwest Minnesota State University students. No credit card required.
Research University
Institution Type
On this page Student guide City life Housing Campus details Academic calendar Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 17, 2026 – Dec 22, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
5 entries Aug 17 → Dec 22, 2026
Fall Semester 2026 Relevant now
Oct 19 → Dec 11, 2026
Fall 2026 Second Half Term
Jan 6 → May 11, 2027
Spring Semester 2027
Mar 15 → Apr 30, 2027
Spring 2027 Second Half Term
Jun 1 → Jul 30, 2027
Summer Session 2027
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Campus language Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
12 terms Search the campus glossary Showing 12 of 12 terms
C F M R S T C
C-Store The Mustang Quick Stop convenience store located in the Student Center F
Foundation Foundation Residence Apartments, apartment-style living for upperclassmen M
Mustangs The official mascot and collective name for the SMSU student body R
RHA Residence Hall Association, the representative body for students living on campus S
SAC Student Activities Committee, the primary student-led programming board for campus events
SAF Student Activity Fee, the fund managed by students to support campus clubs and events
SGA Student Government Association, the official voice of the student body
Sweetland Sweetland Hall, the newest residence hall on campus typically housing first-year students T
The Caf The Residential Dining Center located in the Food Service Center
The Coffeehouse The campus coffee shop located in the McFarland Library serving Starbucks products
The Houses The traditional residence hall system organized into smaller themed or community-based 'houses' like Cassell or Titan
The Tunnels The extensive indoor concourse and tunnel system that connects nearly every building on campus, allowing students to avoid winter weather Places and practicalities Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
16 details
BA Business Administration building
c_store C-Store
CH Charter Hall, housing education and social science departments
D2L Desire2Learn (Brightspace), the online learning management system for course materials and grades
FA Fine Arts building
gold_n_brew Gold N' Brew
IL Individualized Learning building
Mustang Card The official student ID used for meal plans, building access, and library checkouts
Mustang Tracks The online portal for student records, registration, and financial aid
PE Physical Education building and gym complex
SC Student Center, the hub for student life and dining
SM Science and Math building
smsu_caf SMSU Caf
ST Science and Technology building
StarID The universal login credential used for all Minnesota State university systems and email
subhub SubHub Quick answers Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
What academic term is relevant now? Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 17, 2026 – Dec 22, 2026.
How much campus context is included? 12 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. Using DormWay at Southwest Minnesota State University What the product handles for students.
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Campus News Latest updates from Southwest Minnesota State University
Alumni Award: Sandy Culhane '78 to be Recognized for Achievement Sandy Culhane is honored with the Alumni Achievement Award for her decades of service to patients, nonprofits, and the SMSU community.
Sep 15, 2026
Read More Students participate in 2nd SMSU 'hackathon' Over 50 students gathered for a 24-hour technology challenge to build solutions for real-world business problems posed by local companies.
Sep 15, 2026
Read More SMSU Podcast Ep. 132: Agriculture with Sarah Jacobs A discussion on SMSU's agriculture programs, highlighting faculty-to-student ratios and industry connections.
Sep 11, 2026
Read More SMSU Alert is the official emergency notification system used for threats, weather, or campus closings. SMSU Alert is the official emergency notification system used for threats, weather, or campus closings.
Read More Upcoming Events What's happening at Southwest Minnesota State University
Women's Leadership Conference 2026 September 17, 2026
A conference featuring interactive sessions, networking, and a panel discussion to encourage women to lead where they are.
Volleyball vs St. Cloud State - White Out September 18, 2026
Mustangs Volleyball home game against St. Cloud State.
Women's Swimming & Diving vs Brown & Gold Dual September 18, 2026
Exhibition meet for the SMSU Mustangs Swimming and Diving team.
Mustang Saturday September 19, 2026
Campus visit event for prospective students and families.
Career Expo 2026 September 22, 2026
Annual career fair for students to connect with employers.
Homecoming 2026 September 28, 2026
A week of festivities including class reunions, athletic events, and community celebrations through October 4.
DIY Door Decs September 30, 2026
Residence Life event for students to create door decorations.
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