University of California, DavisStudent Guide

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

Public Research University in Davis, CA. Operating on a semester system.

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Housing Buildings

Student guide · Special Session 2026

The semester, explained for University of California, Davis

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
Special Session 2026
Campus terms
71
Local details
47

Academic calendar

Special Session 2026 runs Jun 12, 2026 – Sep 11, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

13 entries
  1. Special Session 2026Relevant now
  2. Summer Session I 2026
  3. Summer Session II 2026
  4. Fall Quarter 2026
  5. Winter Quarter 2027
  6. Spring Quarter 2027
  7. Summer Session I 2027
  8. Summer Session II 2027
  9. Fall Quarter 2027
  10. Winter Quarter 2028
  11. Spring Quarter 2028
  12. Summer Session I 2028
  13. Summer Session II 2028

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Campus language

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

71 terms

A

Aggie
The official term for a UC Davis student, athlete, or alumnus.
Aggie Cash
A declining balance account linked to the student ID card for use at campus food locations.
Aggie Host
A student-staffed security division of the UC Davis Police Department.
Aggie Pack
The official student spirit organization and cheering section for UC Davis athletics.
Aggie Pack
The largest student-run spirit organization in the nation that leads cheers at sports games.
Aggie Pride
The common campus rallying cry and expression of school spirit.
AggieCash
A declining balance account linked to the student ID card used for purchasing food at campus outlets.
ARC
Activities and Recreation Center; the primary campus gym and fitness facility.
ASUCD
Associated Students, University of California, Davis; the official student government body.

B

Bike Circle
Circular traffic intersections designed specifically for bicycles to manage high-volume traffic.
BioBrew
The coffee kiosk located in the Sciences Lab Building.

C

CalPIRG
A student-run public interest advocacy group frequently seen campaigning on campus.
Campbell
Campbell Hall, a specific residence hall within the Segundo area.
COE
The College of Engineering.
CoHo
The Coffee House located in the Memorial Union, a student-run eatery serving coffee, bagels, and hot meals.
COSAF
Council on Student Affairs and Fees, which oversees student fee usage.
Cow Town
A common nickname for Davis, referencing its agricultural heritage and the presence of cows on campus.
CSI
Center for Student Involvement; the office that oversees campus clubs and organizations.
Cuarto
A residence hall area located one block off-campus, featuring suite-style rooms and its own dining commons.

D

Davis 10
The local convention where classes officially begin 10 minutes after the scheduled time (e.g., a 10:00 AM class starts at 10:10 AM).
Davis Bubble
The phenomenon of feeling isolated from the outside world due to the self-contained nature of the Davis community.
Davis Fog
The thick 'Tule fog' that settles over the campus during winter months, significantly reducing visibility.
Davis Funk
A term used to describe the quirky, artistic, and slightly eccentric vibe of the town and campus.
Davis Time
The local convention where classes and meetings often start ten minutes after the hour (though less common in formal settings now).
DC
Short for Dining Commons; the all-you-care-to-eat facilities (e.g., Segundo DC, Tercero DC).

E

Eggheads
A series of iconic white ceramic head sculptures by Robert Arneson located throughout campus.

G

Gunrock
The name of the UC Davis mascot, a blue mustang.

I

ICC
Internship and Career Center; the primary resource for student jobs and career development.

K

KDVS
The campus community radio station (90.3 FM), known for its freeform programming.

L

Latitude
A specialized dining commons in the Tercero area focused on international cuisine and global flavors.

P

Picnic Day
The massive annual open house event held in April, featuring a parade, dog races, and exhibits.

S

Scrubs
The cafe located in the Health Sciences District, popular with vet med and med students.
Sego
Common student shorthand for the Segundo Dining Commons.
Sego DC
Shorthand for the Segundo Dining Commons.
Segundo
One of the three primary freshman residence hall areas, located on the northwest side of campus.
SHCS
Student Health and Counseling Services, the campus medical and mental health provider.
Silo
A central campus food hub featuring a food court, a market, and nearby food trucks.
Swipes
The units of a meal plan used to enter the Dining Commons.

T

TAPS
Transportation Services; the department that manages parking, bike enforcement, and transit.
Terc
Common student shorthand for the Tercero Dining Commons.
Tercero
The largest freshman housing area, known for its proximity to the campus cow silos and science buildings.
The Aggie
The California Aggie, the official student-run newspaper of UC Davis.
The Arb
Short for the UC Davis Arboretum, a popular 100-acre public garden and walking path.
The Arboretum
A 100-acre public garden and waterway that runs along the south side of campus.
The Bike Barn
The central campus shop for bicycle repairs and rentals.
The Bubble
The phenomenon of Davis feeling like a safe, isolated, and bike-centric world separate from the rest of society.
The Co-ops
Refers to the Tri-Cooperatives, a unique student-run sustainable housing community on campus.
The CoHo
The Coffee House in the Memorial Union, a student-run restaurant and cafe hub.
The Colleges
The Colleges at La Rue, an on-campus apartment complex popular with upperclassmen.
The Cows
The dairy cows housed near the Tercero dorms, considered a campus landmark and stress-reliever.
The Davis Bubble
The feeling of being in a safe, isolated, and bike-friendly environment separate from the outside world.
The DC
Short for Dining Commons; the three main all-you-can-eat facilities (Tercero, Segundo, and Cuarto).
The Death Star
The Social Sciences and Humanities Building, nicknamed for its confusing, maze-like concrete architecture.
The Domes
Baggins End, a unique student-run sustainable housing community consisting of fiberglass domes.
The Eggheads
A series of ceramic sculptures by Robert Arneson scattered across campus, often used as meeting points.
The Green
A large student apartment complex at West Village primarily housing transfer and continuing students.
The Greens
The Green at West Village, a large apartment-style housing complex primarily for transfer and continuing students.
The Gunrock
A sit-down restaurant located near the Silo.
The Hammocks
The popular student lounging area on the Quad featuring permanent hammock stands.
The Leach
Leach Hall, an older residence hall in the Segundo area known for its traditional layout.
The MU
Refers to the food options located within the Memorial Union, including the Coffee House (CoHo).
The Quad
The large central grassy field used for studying, events, and the Whole Earth Festival.
The Silo
A central dining hub featuring retail options like Peet's Coffee, Crêpe Bistro, and various food trucks.
The Smell
The distinct agricultural scent, usually from the dairy cow pens, that occasionally drifts across campus.
The Triads
A specific cluster of three-story buildings within the Segundo housing area.
Tule Fog
The extremely thick ground fog that settles over Davis during the winter months.

U

Unitrans
The student-run bus system, famous for its vintage London double-decker buses.
Unitrans
The student-run bus system that provides transportation throughout the campus and the city of Davis.

W

Wall
Wall Hall, a specific residence hall within the Segundo area often associated with the Honors program.
WEF
Whole Earth Festival; a sustainable, hippie-themed festival held on the Quad every Mother's Day weekend.
Whole Earth
The Whole Earth Festival, an annual sustainable arts and music event held on Mother's Day weekend.

Places and practicalities

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

47 details
10-minute rule
The campus convention where classes end 10 minutes before the scheduled hour to allow for bike travel between buildings.
Aggie Cash
A declining balance account linked to the student ID card for purchasing food at campus eateries.
Aggie Dash
The campus shuttle service providing transportation between various campus points and the medical center.
Aggie Feed
A real-time campus notification system for news, events, and emergency alerts.
Aggie Handshake
The online platform used by the ICC for students to find internships and jobs.
Aggie Help
The centralized IT and support desk for technical issues with campus accounts.
Aggie Time
The unofficial term for the campus convention where classes end 10 minutes early to allow for travel time.
AggieCard
The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and bus fare.
AggieCash
A declining balance account linked to the student ID that can be used at campus eateries.
AggieFeed
A real-time campus news and information feed for students.
ARC
The Activities and Recreation Center; the massive primary campus gym and fitness facility.
Bike Barn
The on-campus shop located near the Silo that provides bike repairs, rentals, and sales.
Bike Circle
The circular traffic intersections on campus bike paths; new students are advised to learn the right-of-way rules quickly.
Canvas
The learning management system where professors post syllabi, assignments, and grades.
cuarto_dining_commons
Cuarto Dining Commons
Davis Time
The convention where classes and meetings start exactly 10 minutes after the posted time.
Death Star
The Social Sciences and Humanities Building, nicknamed for its complex, maze-like concrete architecture.
Double Deckers
The vintage London buses operated by Unitrans on high-traffic campus routes.
latitude_restaurant
Latitude Restaurant
Mondavi
The Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, the large glass-fronted theater near the campus entrance.
MU
The Memorial Union; the central student union building housing the bookstore, CoHo, and games area.
MyUCDavis
The primary web portal for students to access email, registration, and financial accounts.
OASIS
Online Advising Student Information System; the portal for tracking degree progress and submitting academic forms.
Pass Times
Assigned time slots during which students are allowed to register for classes.
Rock Hall
Richard L. Nelson Hall, a large lecture hall frequently used for introductory science and math courses.
SCC
The Student Community Center; houses the Cross Cultural Center and various student support services.
Schedule Builder
The online portal used by students to plan classes, check for prerequisites, and register for courses.
SciLec
The Sciences Lecture Hall, a common location for large introductory STEM courses.
segundo_dining_commons
Segundo Dining Commons
Shields
Peter J. Shields Library, the main research library on campus.
TAPS
Transportation Services; the department responsible for parking permits and enforcement (often used to refer to parking tickets).
tercero_dining_commons
Tercero Dining Commons
The 10-minute rule
The convention that classes at UC Davis officially begin 10 minutes after the hour (e.g., a 10:00 class starts at 10:10).
The Arb
The UC Davis Arboretum, a 100-acre public garden and waterway used for research and recreation.
The ARC
Activities and Recreation Center, the massive main campus gym and fitness facility.
The Bike Barn
The on-campus shop for bicycle repairs, rentals, and sales.
The Bike Barn
The on-campus shop providing bike repairs, rentals, and sales to the student body.
The CoHo
The Coffee House; a large student-run eatery located inside the Memorial Union.
The Death Star
The Social Sciences and Humanities Building, nicknamed for its complex, maze-like concrete architecture.
The Eggheads
A series of ceramic sculptures by Robert Arneson located at various points on campus, often used as landmarks.
The Mondavi
The Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, the main venue for concerts and theater.
The MU
The Memorial Union, the central student union building housing the bookstore and CoHo.
The Quad
The large grassy field in the center of campus used for events, lounging, and the Whole Earth Festival.
The SCC
Student Community Center, a hub for various student retention and resource centers.
Unitrans
The student-run bus system; free for undergrads with an AggieCard and famous for its red double-decker buses.
WarnMe
The campus emergency alert system that sends texts and emails during safety incidents.
Wellman
Wellman Hall; a major lecture hall building frequently used for large introductory classes.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Special Session 2026 runs Jun 12, 2026 – Sep 11, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
71 approved campus terms and 47 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 · University of California, Davis

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What we’ll email you about

  • Jun 15

    Aggie Advising appointments open

    Required · source

  • Jul 1

    Final official transcripts due

    Required · source

  • Jul 15

    Official AP/IB test scores due

    Required · source

  • Sep 1

    Immunization records compliance deadline

    Required · source

  • Sep 1

    UC SHIP Health Insurance Waiver due

    Required · source

  • Sep 18

    Fall Move-in begins

    Required · source

One email per real deadline. Source link cited every time. We re-check 7 days before each one fires.

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Assisted

Find a few communities to try at University of California, Davis

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

Tell us what we missed

35 mapped items from 10 public sources

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.

Worth a look

Aggie Studios

A student-run video production and photography studio within ASUCD Creative Media, providing high-quality services in photography, videography, and animation.

Source: creativity.ucdavis.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

Associated Students of the University of California, Davis (ASUCD)

The official undergraduate student government of UC Davis, responsible for advocating for student interests and managing numerous student-run services like Unitrans and the Coffee House.

Regular commitment

Source: asucd.ucdavis.edu · Verified 1 month ago

ASUCD Judicial Council

The judicial branch of student government, responsible for interpreting the ASUCD Constitution and Bylaws and resolving disputes within the association.

Source: asucd.ucdavis.edu · Verified 1 month ago

ASUCD Senate

The legislative branch of the student government, composed of 12 elected senators who pass legislation and allocate the student activities fee budget.

Regular commitment

Source: asucd.ucdavis.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

CodeLab

A student-run organization that provides a structured, project-based learning environment for students to develop their coding skills by building real-world applications.

Davis Robotics Club

A project-based club where students can learn about and build robots, competing in various competitions and working on personal projects.

Open to all

Source: robotics.ucdavis.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Visit Website

Kappa Alpha Theta

A Panhellenic Association (PHA) sorority dedicated to sisterhood, scholarship, service, and leadership. Their philanthropy supports Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

Invite only

Source: ucdavis.kappaalphatheta.org · Verified 1 month ago

Visit Website

Easy to try first

Aggie Gaming

The premier gaming club at UC Davis, hosting tournaments, social events, and LAN parties for a wide variety of video games.

Drop in any time

Davis Data Science Club

Fosters a community for students interested in data science through workshops, projects, and networking events with industry professionals.

Drop in any time

Source: davisdatascience.com · Verified 1 month ago

Visit Website

Fall Welcome

A series of events at the beginning of the fall quarter to welcome new and returning students, including the New Student Convocation and various social activities.

Drop in any time

Source: ucdavis.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

Campus rituals

Kiss the Egghead

A campus tradition where students kiss the 'Bookhead' Egghead sculpture outside Shields Library for good luck on their final exams.

Drop in any time

Source: ucdavis.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

Using DormWay at University of California, Davis

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University of California, Davis on DormWay

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Syllabi Analyzed

9

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DRA 56AFoundations of Clinical MedicineFoundations of PharmacologyHealth PsychologyPAS 400Performance AnalysisPersonality PsychologyTheatre and Dance - Topics in Entertainment Engineering

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Life in Davis for University of California, Davis Students

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

Timezone

Pacific Time (PT)

Median Rent

$1,853

Cost of Living Index

150

Student Population

40,850

City Transportation

Walkability

60

Bikeability

95

Public Transit

YoloBus, Unitrans, Amtrak Capitol Corridor

Nearest Airports

Sacramento International Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Mediterranean (hot-summer)

Avg Annual Temp

61°F

Avg Snowfall

0 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Pavilion Parking Structure

garage • High (Hourly available)

Hourly parking available via HONK and AMP Park apps.

Lot 30 (Rec Pool)

surface_lot • Moderate

Converted to A and C permit parking effective July 1, 2026.

ARC Parking Lot (Lot 25)

surface_lot • None

Closed for construction through September 11, 2026.

Upcoming Events

What's happening at University of California, Davis

Acoustic Jam Session

August 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Wyatt Deck

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at University of California, Davis

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

44 known dorm and housing options. The first 24 are shown below; the rest are available in the expandable list.

Alder Hall

Room types: double

Tercero Area

Capacity: 3,500

Room types: double, triple

ANOVA Aggie Square

Bixby Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: double

Campbell Hall

Room types: double

Cottonwood Hall

Capacity: 500

Room types: double

Cuarto residence halls

Capacity: 1,400

Room types: double, triple

Cuarto Area Halls

Capacity: 1,100

Room types: double, triple, apartment

Currant Hall

Room types: double

Emerson Hall

Room types: two-bedroom, three-bedroom

Gilmore Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: double

Hawthorn Hall

Room types: double

Kearney Hall

Room types: double

Laben Hall

Room types: double

Live Oak Hall

Room types: double

Madrone Hall

Room types: double

Mahogany Hall

Room types: double

Malcolm Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: double

Miller Hall

Room types: double, triple

Olive Hall

Room types: double

Orchard Park

Capacity: 350

Room types: single, family units

Pine Hall

Room types: double

Potter Hall

Room types: double

Primero Grove

Capacity: 300

Room types: single, family units

Show the remaining 20 housing options

Redwood Hall

Capacity: 500

Room types: double

Regan Hall

Capacity: 400

Room types: single, double

Russell Park

Ryerson Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: double

Scrub Oak Hall

Capacity: 1,200

Room types: double

Segundo

Capacity: 480

Room types: double, triple

Segundo Area Halls

Capacity: 1,500

Room types: double, triple

Sequoia Hall

Room types: double

Shasta Hall

Room types: double

Sol at West Village

Tahoe Hall

Room types: double

Talara Hall

Room types: double

Tercero residence halls

Capacity: 3,500

Room types: double, triple

The Baggins End Domes

The Colleges at La Rue

The Green at West Village

Capacity: 600

Room types: single, double

Thompson Hall

Room types: double

Tri-Cooperatives

Wall Hall

Room types: double

Yosemite Hall

Room types: double

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Public

Email Domain

@californiadavis.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

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