Academic calendar
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
- Spring Semester 2027
- Summer Session 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 47 of 47 terms
B
- Brookland
- The neighborhood in Northeast D.C. where the university is located.
C
- Campus Min
- Campus Ministry, the center for spiritual life, retreats, and community service on campus.
- Campus Ministry
- The department that coordinates liturgical services, retreats, and service projects.
- Cardinal
- The university mascot and the term used to refer to any student of the university.
- Cardinal Cash
- A debit-like account on the student ID used for laundry, printing, and participating off-campus merchants.
- CPB
- Campus Program Board, the student-led organization that plans major campus events like Mistletoe Ball.
- CUA Gaels
- The university's competitive and performance Irish dance team.
- CUAllies
- The university's student-led LGBTQ+ advocacy and support group.
- CV
- Centennial Village, a cluster of eight traditional-style residence halls primarily for freshmen.
D
- Dining Dollars
- Funds included with meal plans specifically for use at on-campus dining locations.
- DPS
- Department of Public Safety, the campus police and security force.
F
- Flather
- Flather Hall, a prominent residence hall often housing freshmen and sophomores.
- FOCUS
- Fellowship of Catholic University Students, a prominent Catholic missionary organization on campus.
G
- Garvey
- The Garvey Hall dining commons, a newer primary dining facility on campus.
- Gibbons
- Gibbons Hall, a historic residence hall located near the center of campus.
L
- Little Rome
- A nickname for the Brookland neighborhood due to the high concentration of Catholic institutions.
M
- Metro
- The Brookland-CUA Metro station on the Red Line, the primary transit point for students.
- Millie
- Millennium North and South residence halls, typically housing upperclassmen.
- Murphy's
- Murphy's Grill, a sit-down restaurant and bar located in the Pryz.
O
- OCA
- Office of Campus Activities, which oversees student organizations and events.
- Opus
- Opus Hall, a residence hall primarily for upperclassmen and graduate students.
P
- PB
- Program Board, the student-led organization responsible for planning major campus events like concerts and formals.
- POD
- The P.O.D. (Provisions on Demand) Market, a convenience store located in the Pryz.
- Program Board
- The student organization responsible for planning major campus events like the Mistletoe Ball.
R
- Reading Day
- The designated study day between the end of classes and the start of final exams.
- Regan
- Regan Hall, one of the residence halls located in the Centennial Village area.
- Ryan
- Ryan Hall, a residence hall within Centennial Village often housing first-year students.
S
- SAPB
- Student Activities Programming Board, responsible for organizing major campus events like concerts and formals.
- SAPC
- Student Affairs Policy Committee.
- SGA
- Student Government Association, the primary representative body for students.
- Starbucks
- The full-service Starbucks located on the first floor of the Pryz.
T
- The Brookland
- The neighborhood surrounding the university, often used to refer to the local shops and restaurants.
- The Bubble
- The perceived isolation of the CUA campus from the broader Washington, D.C. environment.
- The Du
- Short for the Dufour Athletic Center.
- The Eatery
- The main all-you-care-to-eat dining hall located on the second floor of the Pryz.
- The Flather
- Flather Hall, a common residence hall for freshmen and sophomores.
- The Food Court
- The retail dining area on the first floor of the Pryz featuring various fast-casual options.
- The Lawn
- The University Lawn, the central green space used for graduation and student recreation.
- The Mall
- The University Lawn, the large green space in front of McMahon Hall where students study and socialize.
- The Metro
- Refers specifically to the Brookland-CUA station on the Washington Metro Red Line.
- The Nest
- The online portal used by students to join clubs and track campus involvement.
- The POD
- Provisions on Demand, the campus convenience store located in the Pryz for snacks and essentials.
- The Pryz
- The Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center, the primary location for student dining and services.
- The Red Line
- The Washington Metro line accessed via the Brookland-CUA station, used by students to travel downtown.
- The Shrine
- The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located adjacent to campus.
- The Student Restaurant
- The main all-you-care-to-eat dining hall located on the second floor of the Pryz.
- The Tower
- The independent student newspaper of the university.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- basilica_cafeteria
- Basilica Cafeteria
- Brookland-CUA
- The name of the Metro station that serves as the primary public transit link for the university.
- Cardinal Card
- The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- Cardinal Cash
- A prepaid account on the student ID used for laundry, printing, and at participating off-campus merchants.
- Cardinal Station
- The online student portal used for course registration, checking grades, and financial aid.
- CUA Alert
- The emergency notification system that sends texts and emails regarding campus safety or closures.
- CUA Safe
- The official campus safety mobile app used for emergency alerts and requesting safety escorts.
- CUAlert
- The university's emergency notification system that sends texts and emails regarding campus safety.
- Dining Dollars
- Funds tied to a meal plan specifically for use at on-campus retail dining locations.
- Dufour
- The Raymond A. Dufour Athletic Center, the primary facility for sports and recreation.
- garvey_dining_hall
- Garvey Dining Hall
- garvey_hall
- Garvey Hall
- Gowan
- Gowan Hall, the primary building for the Conway School of Nursing.
- Hannan
- Hannan Hall, the building housing the Department of Physics and the Herzfeld Auditorium.
- Hartke
- The Hartke Theatre, the primary venue for the university's drama and musical theatre productions.
- McMahon
- McMahon Hall, a historic academic building housing administrative offices and classrooms.
- Mullen
- The John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library, the main campus library.
- murphy_s_grill
- Murphy's Grill
- Nesting
- The practice of students claiming a specific spot in Mullen Library for long study sessions.
- pryz_food_court
- Pryz Food Court
- pryz_market
- Pryz Market
- SafeRide
- A university-operated shuttle service providing safe transportation around campus and the immediate neighborhood at night.
- The Loop
- The campus shuttle service that runs a continuous route between campus buildings and the Metro station.
- The Nest
- The centralized online portal where students register for classes, check grades, and manage financial accounts.
- The Shrine
- The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located adjacent to campus.
- Ward
- Ward Hall, the main building for the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 47 approved campus terms and 26 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.