The University of ChicagoStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for The University of Chicago. Free for students.

Private Non-Profit Liberal Arts College in Chicago, IL. Operating on a semester system.

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18K+

Total Enrollment

Liberal Arts College

Institution Type

13

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Summer Session 1 2026

The semester, explained for The University of Chicago

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 Session 1 2026
Campus terms
40
Local details
25

Academic calendar

Summer Session 1 2026 runs Jun 15, 2026 – Aug 14, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

9 entries
  1. Summer Session 1 2026Relevant now
  2. Summer Quarter 2026
  3. Summer Session 2 2026
  4. Summer Session 3 2026
  5. Summer Session 4 2026
  6. September Term 2026
  7. Autumn Quarter 2026
  8. Winter Quarter 2027
  9. Spring Quarter 2027

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Campus language

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

40 terms

B

Baker
Baker Dining Commons, located within the North Residential Commons.
Bart Mart
The retail market and convenience store located within Bartlett Hall.
Bartlett
Bartlett Dining Commons, located in a former gymnasium.
BJ
Burton-Judson Courts, a residential commons known for its gothic architecture.

C

C-Shop
The coffee shop and convenience store located in the Reynolds Club.
Cathey
Cathey Dining Commons, the primary dining hall for students living on the south side of campus.
ChoMUN
Chicago Model United Nations, the university's premier competitive collegiate MUN conference.

D

DOC
Doc Films, the oldest student-run film society in the country, screening movies in Max Palevsky Cinema.
Doc Films
The Documentary Film Group, the oldest continuously running student film society in the U.S.

F

Fourth Meal
The late-night dining period offered at select dining commons, typically starting at 9:00 PM.

H

Hallowed
Hallowed Grounds, a student-run coffee shop and pool hall located on the second floor of the Reynolds Club.
Hallowed Grounds
A student-run coffee shop located on the second floor of the Reynolds Club.
Hum/Sosc/Civ
Shorthand for the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Civilizations core sequences.
Hutch
Hutchinson Commons, a gothic-style food court in the Reynolds Club.

I

I-House
International House, a residential hall and program center for graduate and undergraduate students.
IOP
The Institute of Politics, a non-partisan extracurricular hub for public service and political engagement.

M

Maroon Dollars
A form of campus currency included in meal plans for use at retail dining locations.
Max P
Max Palevsky Residential Commons, known for its distinct colorful brick design.
MODA
The university's premier student-run fashion organization and magazine.
Munchie Mart
On-campus convenience stores located in various residence halls and buildings.

N

North
North Residential Commons, a modern dorm located on the north side of campus.

O

O-Week
Orientation Week, the week of activities for incoming first-year students before classes begin.
OCP
Off-Off Campus, the university's oldest student improvisational theater and sketch comedy troupe.

R

RSO
Recognized Student Organization; the official designation for any student-led club.

S

Scav
The annual University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt, a massive four-day event in May.
Scav
The University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt, a massive annual four-day event with a legendary list of items.
SG
Student Government, the representative body for the undergraduate and graduate student populations.
Snitchcock
A portmanteau for the Snell-Hitchcock Hall residential community.
South
South Residential Commons, a large dorm complex located near the Law School.

T

The Core
The common core curriculum, a set of required general education courses for all undergraduates.
The Midway
The Midway Plaisance, the large park that divides the north and south sides of campus.
The Point
Promontory Point, a man-made peninsula in Burnham Park popular for swimming and bonfires.
The Quads
The main quadrangles at the center of campus, often used for studying or events.

U

UChicago Time
The campus-wide convention that classes, meetings, and events start exactly 10 minutes after the scheduled time.
UCIB
The University of Chicago Investment Banking Group, a popular pre-professional club.
UT
University Theater, the primary student-led performing arts body on campus.

W

Where fun comes to die
A self-deprecating unofficial motto referencing the school's intense academic workload.
Where Fun Goes to Die
A popular, self-deprecating unofficial motto referring to the school's intense academic rigor.
WHPK
The campus radio station, broadcasting at 88.5 FM.
Woodlawn
Woodlawn Residential Commons, one of the newest and largest dorms on the south side of campus.

Places and practicalities

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

25 details
171/172
The specific CTA bus routes that provide free transportation around campus and Hyde Park for students.
baker_dining_commons
Baker Dining Commons
bartlett_dining_commons
Bartlett Dining Commons
C-Shop
The coffee shop and eatery located inside the Reynolds Club.
Canvas
The learning management system where professors post syllabi, assignments, and grades.
cathey_dining_commons
Cathey Dining Commons
Crerar
The John Crerar Library, which houses science, medicine, and technology collections.
Harper
Harper Memorial Library, specifically referring to the iconic 'Hogwarts-style' Arley D. Cathey Learning Center.
Logan
The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, a hub for creative practice and performance.
Lyft Ride Smart
A program providing students with free late-night Lyft rides within a specific campus boundary.
Mansueto
The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library, famous for its grand glass-domed reading room.
Maroon Dollars
A form of campus currency included in meal plans that can be used at campus cafes and markets.
my.UChicago
The central student portal for registration, financial aid, and official records.
Ratner
The Gerald Ratner Athletics Center, the main campus gym and pool facility.
Reynolds
The Reynolds Club, the university's primary student activities and student union building.
SafeRide
A point-to-point nighttime transportation service available to students via a mobile app.
Saieh
Saieh Hall for Economics, the home of the Department of Economics.
The Reg
The Joseph Regenstein Library, the university's main research library.
TransLoc
The mobile app used to track the real-time location of campus shuttles and buses.
U-Pass
A CTA card provided to full-time students for unlimited rides on Chicago buses and trains.
UChicago Safe
The official mobile safety app providing quick access to campus security and emergency services.
UChicago Time
The campus-wide convention that classes and meetings begin exactly 10 minutes after the scheduled time.
UCID
The official student identification number and the physical card used for building access.
UGo
The campus shuttle system that provides free transportation around campus and the Hyde Park neighborhood.
woodlawn_dining_commons
Woodlawn Dining Commons

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Summer Session 1 2026 runs Jun 15, 2026 – Aug 14, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
40 approved campus terms and 25 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.

Class of 2030 · The University of Chicago

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  • 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.
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Using DormWay at The University of Chicago

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Active Students

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Syllabi Analyzed

3

Courses on DormWay

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Introduction to Computer Science II: LectureLANGUAGE AND THE HUMAN IDENTITYMATH 15300 52 Calculus III

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Life in Chicago for The University of Chicago Students

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

Timezone

Central Time (CT)

Median Rent

$1,550

Cost of Living Index

106

Student Population

325,000

City Transportation

Walkability

77

Bikeability

72

Public Transit

Chicago Transit Authority bus network, Chicago Transit Authority 'L' rail system, Metra commuter rail

Nearest Airports

O'Hare International Airport, Midway International Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid continental

Avg Annual Temp

49.5°F

Avg Snowfall

37 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Campus North (Ellis) Garage

garage • High

Located at 5505 S Ellis Ave.

Kimbark South Garage

garage • Moderate

Located at 6021 S Kimbark Ave. Weekend rate is $11 for 24 hours.

Young, Chapin, McGiffert, Dorchester, Wells Lots

surface_lot • Limited

Mobile payment via Passport app available.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at The University of Chicago

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

13 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

Breckinridge Hall

Capacity: 95

Room types: single

Burton-Judson Courts

Capacity: 320

Room types: single, double

Campus North

Room types: single, double

Campus North Residential Commons

Capacity: 560

Room types: singles, doubles, apartments

International House

Capacity: 350

Room types: singles, doubles

Max Palevsky

Room types: single, double

Max Palevsky Residential Commons

Capacity: 712

Room types: single suites, double suites

Renee Granville-Grossman

Room types: single, double

Renee Granville-Grossman Residential Commons

Capacity: 811

Room types: singles, doubles, apartments

Snell-Hitchcock Hall

Capacity: 156

Room types: singles, doubles

Stony Island

Room types: single, double

Woodlawn

Room types: single, double

Woodlawn Residential Commons

Capacity: 1,300

Room types: singles, doubles, apartments

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Private Non-Profit

Email Domain

@thechicago.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

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