Academic calendar
Summer Session 2026 runs May 27, 2026 – Aug 6, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer Session 2026Relevant now
- Fall 2026 Full Term
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 70 of 70 terms
A
- APA
- Alabama Panhellenic Association, the governing body for National Panhellenic Conference sororities.
B
- Bama
- The common shorthand for the University itself.
- Bama Cash
- An optional debit-like account on the student ID used for laundry, printing, and off-campus partner restaurants.
- Bid Day
- The final day of sorority recruitment when new members receive their invitations to join.
- Bryant
- Bryant Hall, a residence hall primarily housing student-athletes and engineering students.
- Bryce Lawn
- The Bryce Lawn apartment community located near the engineering quad.
- Burke
- Burke Hall, a residence hall known for its attached dining facility.
- Burke
- Burke Dining Hall, known for its smaller, more traditional cafeteria feel.
C
- CPC
- Alabama Panhellenic Association (College Panhellenic Council), the governing body for NPC sororities.
D
- Dining Dollars
- A mandatory $350-per-semester account on the ACT Card for food purchases at on-campus retail locations.
F
- FAC
- Financial Affairs Committee, the SGA body responsible for allocating funds to student organizations.
- Fresh
- The Fresh Food Company, a popular all-you-care-to-eat dining hall located near the center of campus.
- Fresh Food
- The Fresh Food Company, a popular all-you-care-to-eat dining hall located near the stadium.
- FYC
- First Year Council, the freshman branch of the Student Government Association.
- FYE
- First Year Experience, the department managing freshman orientation and transition programs.
G
- Gameday
- The collective culture and events surrounding home football Saturdays in Tuscaloosa.
- Gump
- A nickname for a resident of Tuscaloosa or a die-hard Alabama fan (derived from Forrest Gump).
I
- IFC
- Interfraternity Council, the governing body for social fraternities.
J
- Julia's
- Julia's Market, a convenience store and deli located inside Tutwiler Hall.
L
- Lakeside
- Lakeside Residential Community, located near the Lakeside Dining Hall.
- Lakeside
- Lakeside Dining Hall, the primary dining facility for the north side of campus.
- Lakeside Dining
- The dining hall located within the Lakeside residential complex on the north side of campus.
M
- Mary B's
- A retail dining option located in Burke Hall, often used for quick grab-and-go meals.
- MDB
- The Million Dollar Band, the University's official marching band.
- Meal Swipe
- A standard entry credit used for all-you-care-to-eat access at campus dining halls.
N
- New Row
- Fraternities and sororities that were established or moved to their current locations more recently.
- NPC
- National Panhellenic Conference, the governing body for the 18 social sororities on campus.
- NPHC
- National Pan-Hellenic Council, representing the historically Black Greek-letter organizations.
O
- OFSL
- Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, which oversees the university's large Greek system.
- Old Row
- A traditional grouping of long-established fraternities and sororities on campus.
P
- Paty
- Paty Hall, a centrally located residence hall known for its proximity to the Ferg.
- Pres
- Presidential Village, the large residential community on the north side of campus.
R
- Raising Cane's
- Often just called 'Cane's,' a popular fast-food spot located in the Paty Hall building.
- Rammer Jammer
- A traditional post-victory cheer performed by students and the band.
- RC
- Ridgecrest, referring to the Ridgecrest South, East, or West residential communities often housing honors students.
- RHA
- Residence Hall Association, the student organization representing those living in campus housing.
- Ridge
- Ridgecrest (South, East, or West), a residential community often housing honors students.
- Ridgecrest
- The Ridgecrest residential community, often divided into East, West, and South.
- Riverside
- Riverside Residential Community, a suite-style housing area near the river.
- Roll Tide
- A universal greeting, cheer, and affirmation used by students and alumni.
S
- SGA
- Student Government Association, the primary student governing body.
- SOURCE
- The Source, the office and website used to manage and discover student organizations.
- SWAB
- Student Wellness Advocacy Board, a group focused on health and wellness initiatives.
- SWAG
- Student Wellness and Advocacy Group, student volunteers promoting health on campus.
- SWAM
- Student Workers of Alabama, an organization advocating for student employee rights.
- SWC
- Student Wellness Center, providing health and counseling services to students.
T
- T-Town
- A common nickname for Tuscaloosa.
- The Capstone
- A nickname for The University of Alabama, referring to its position as the 'capstone' of the state's public education system.
- The Ferg
- The food court area within the Ferguson Student Center, featuring vendors like Chick-fil-A and Panda Express.
- The Ferg Food Court
- The collection of fast-food vendors located inside the Ferguson Student Center.
- The Machine
- A secretive, long-standing coalition of Greek organizations that historically influences campus and local politics.
- The Machine
- A semi-secret coalition of Greek organizations that historically influences campus politics.
- The Quad
- The 22-acre central green space at the heart of campus, used for tailgating and recreation.
- The Source
- The office and online portal that manages all registered student organizations (RSOs).
- The Strip
- The section of University Boulevard adjacent to campus featuring bars, restaurants, and shops.
- The Walk of Champions
- The path outside Bryant-Denny Stadium featuring statues of championship-winning coaches.
- The Witt
- The Robert E. Witt Student Activity Center, which includes a juice bar and healthy dining options.
- Tut
- Tutwiler Hall, the traditional high-rise residence hall primarily for freshman women.
U
- UAB
- University Programs Board, the student-led organization that plans major campus events and concerts.
- UADM
- University of Alabama Dance Marathon, a large student-led philanthropy for Children's Miracle Network.
- UAPD
- University of Alabama Police Department, the campus law enforcement agency.
- UCC
- University Counseling Center, providing mental health services to students.
- UGC
- United Greek Council, the governing body for multicultural and special-interest Greek organizations.
- UP
- University Programs, the student-led board responsible for campus-wide events and entertainment.
- UPB
- University Programs Board, the student-led organization that plans major campus events like concerts and movies.
- UPC
- University Programs Council, the student-led group that plans campus events like concerts and movies.
- UREC
- University Recreation, the department managing gyms, intramural sports, and outdoor programs.
V
- VIP Swipe
- A premium meal swipe that can be used for specific combo meals at retail locations like Chick-fil-A or Panda Express.
Y
- Yellow Hammer
- The signature alcoholic beverage served at Gallettes, a staple bar on The Strip.
- Yellowhammer
- A signature drink at Gallettes on the Strip, synonymous with UA gamedays.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- 301 Butler
- The physical location of the University Police Department, often used as a reference for safety services.
- 301-RIDE
- The university's late-night on-demand safe transport service for students.
- 348-RIDE
- The university's on-demand safe transport service that operates during late-night hours.
- ACT Card
- The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and Bama Cash.
- Action Card
- The formal name for the ACT Card office and the student identification system.
- Bama Air
- The campus-wide wireless internet network for students and faculty.
- Bama Bound
- The mandatory orientation program for all incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Bama Cash
- An optional debit account on the ACT Card used for purchases at on-campus and select off-campus vendors.
- BDS
- Bryant-Denny Stadium, the massive football stadium located on the west side of campus.
- Bidgood
- Bidgood Hall, the historic main building for the College of Business.
- Bruno
- The Angelo Bruno Business Library, serving the Culverhouse College of Business.
- Bryant-Denny
- Bryant-Denny Stadium, the massive home venue for Alabama football.
- burke_dining_hall
- Burke Dining Hall
- Coleman
- Coleman Coliseum, the arena for basketball and gymnastics.
- Crimson Ride
- The campus bus system that provides free transportation across campus for students.
- Degree Works
- The online web-based tool used by students and advisors to monitor progress toward graduation.
- DegreeWorks
- The online academic planning and tracking tool used to monitor progress toward graduation.
- Denny
- Denny Chimes, the iconic bell tower located in the center of the Quad.
- Denny Chimes
- The iconic bell tower located on the Quad.
- Dining Dollars
- A mandatory $350 account for undergraduates used specifically for food at Bama Dining locations and some local restaurants.
- Foster
- Foster Auditorium, a historic multi-purpose venue used for volleyball and basketball.
- fresh_food_company
- Fresh Food Company
- Get on Board Day
- A massive student organization fair held each semester on the Quad to help students find clubs to join.
- Gorgas
- Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, the main and oldest library located on the Quad.
- GP
- Gordon Palmer Hall, a building frequently used for mathematics and psychology classes.
- Hewson
- Hewson Hall, the modern addition to the Culverhouse College of Business.
- lakeside_dining_hall
- Lakeside Dining Hall
- Lloyd
- Lloyd Hall, a major academic building on the Quad used for many general education classes.
- Moody
- Moody Music Building, the home of the School of Music and the Million Dollar Band.
- myBama
- The central web portal where students register for classes, check grades, and pay bills.
- Passio Go
- The mobile app used by students to track Crimson Ride bus locations and arrival times in real-time.
- Reese
- Reese Phifer Hall, the main building for the College of Communication and Information Sciences.
- Reese Phifer
- Reese Phifer Hall, the home of the College of Communication and Information Sciences.
- Rodgers
- Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering.
- Shelby
- Shelby Hall, the massive science and engineering complex on the north side of campus.
- Ten Hoor
- James Ten Hoor Hall, a major academic building housing social science departments.
- The Ferg
- The Ferguson Student Center, the hub for student life, the bookstore, and dining.
- The Joe
- Sewell-Thomas Stadium, the university's baseball stadium.
- The Quad
- The central 22-acre grassy park at the heart of campus, used for recreation and tailgating.
- The Quad
- The 22-acre central green space where students study, socialize, and tailgate.
- The Rec
- The University Recreation Center, the primary gym and fitness facility.
- TransLoc
- The mobile app used by students to track the real-time location of Crimson Ride buses.
- UA Alerts
- The emergency notification system that sends texts and emails regarding campus safety or weather closures.
- UAPD
- The University of Alabama Police Department, the primary law enforcement agency for the campus.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Summer Session 2026 runs May 27, 2026 – Aug 6, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 70 approved campus terms and 44 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.