University of IowaStudent Guide

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

University in Iowa City, IA. Operating on a semester system.

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University

Institution Type

23

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Summer 2026 Twelve-Week Sub-Session

The semester, explained for University of Iowa

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 2026 Twelve-Week Sub-Session
Campus terms
46
Local details
32

Academic calendar

Summer 2026 Twelve-Week Sub-Session runs May 18, 2026 – Aug 6, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

34 entries
  1. Summer 2026 Six-Week Sub-Session I
  2. Summer 2026 6-Week Session ISummer 2026 Six-week Sub-session ISummer 6-Week Sub-session I 2026Summer Six-week Sub-session I 2026
  3. Summer 2026 Twelve-Week Sub-SessionSummer Session 2026Relevant now
  4. Summer 12-Week Sub-session 2026Summer 2026 12-Week SessionSummer 2026 Twelve-week Sub-sessionSummer Twelve-week Sub-session 2026
  5. Summer 2026 Eight-Week Sub-Session
  6. Summer 2026 8-Week SessionSummer 2026 Eight-week Sub-sessionSummer 8-Week Sub-session 2026Summer Eight-week Sub-session 2026
  7. Summer 2026 Six-Week Sub-Session II
  8. Summer 2026 6-Week Session IISummer 2026 Six-week Sub-session IISummer 6-Week Sub-session II 2026Summer Six-week Sub-session II 2026
  9. Fall Semester 2026
  10. Winter Session 2026-2027
  11. Spring Semester 2027
  12. Summer 2027 Four-Week Sub-Session
  13. Summer 2027 4-Week Session
  14. Summer 2027 Six-Week Sub-Session I
  15. Summer 2027 6-Week Session I
  16. Summer 2027 Twelve-Week Sub-Session
  17. Summer 2027 12-Week Session
  18. Summer 2027 Eight-Week Sub-Session
  19. Summer 2027 8-Week Session
  20. Summer 2027 Six-Week Sub-Session II
  21. Summer 2027 6-Week Session II

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Campus language

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

46 terms

A

ARH
Associated Residence Halls, the student government specifically for those living in campus housing.

B

Burge
Burge Hall, a large East Side residence hall known for its central dining marketplace.
Burge
The Burge Market Place, the main dining hall for east-side residents.

C

CAB
Campus Activities Board, the student organization that plans on-campus entertainment like movies and concerts.
Cambus
The free campus bus system used by students to travel between the East and West sides of campus.
Catlett
Elizabeth Catlett Hall, the newest and largest residence hall on the East Side campus.
Catlett
The Catlett Market Place, a popular dining hall located in Catlett Hall with views of the Iowa River.
Clinton Street Market
A convenience store located in Burge Hall for snacks and quick meals.
Currier
Currier Residence Hall, a historic east-side dorm often paired with Stanley Hall.

D

Daum
Daum Hall, a residence hall on the East Side connected to the Burge marketplace, often housing honors students.
Dining Dollars
Currency stored on the student ID used for tax-free food purchases at campus cafes and markets.
DM
Dance Marathon, the university's largest student-led philanthropy benefiting the UI Stead Family Children's Hospital.

F

Flex Meals
A meal plan currency used to purchase food at retail locations like the IMU or food trucks.

G

GPSG
Graduate and Professional Student Government.

H

Hawkeye Dollars
A debit-style account on the student ID used for laundry, printing, and campus dining.
Hillcrest
Hillcrest Hall, the primary residence hall and dining hub for students living on the West Side.
Hillcrest
The Hillcrest Market Place, the primary dining hall for west-side residents.

I

IC
Common shorthand for Iowa City.
ITC
Instructional Technology Centers, the various computer labs located across campus for student use.

K

Kinnick
Kinnick Stadium, the home of Iowa Hawkeye football.

M

Market Place
The general term for the all-you-care-to-eat dining halls (Burge, Catlett, and Hillcrest).
Market Places
The three main all-you-care-to-eat dining halls: Burge, Catlett, and Hillcrest.
Mayflower
Mayflower Hall, an apartment-style dorm located north of the main campus, featuring kitchens in every suite.
Meal Share
A program allowing students to donate unused guest meal passes to students in need.

O

On Iowa!
The university's official orientation and welcome program for incoming freshmen.

P

Ped Mall
The downtown Pedestrian Mall adjacent to campus, a hub for restaurants, bars, and shopping.
Pentacrest
The central campus area consisting of the Old Capitol and the four surrounding academic buildings.
Petersen
Mary Louise Petersen Hall, a modern residence hall located on the West Side near the medical campus.

R

River Room
A popular dining area located in the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) offering various food stations.

S

Stanley
Stanley Hall, an East Side dorm connected to Currier Hall.
Street Hawk
The university-operated food truck that accepts Flex Meals and moves to various campus locations.

T

T-Anne
The T. Anne Cleary Walkway, a major north-south pedestrian path through the east side of campus.
The Airliner
A historic and iconic bar and restaurant frequently visited by students and alumni.
The Daily Iowan
The independent, student-run newspaper often referred to as 'The DI'.
The Dubuque Street Crawl
The act of walking between the various popular bars located on Dubuque Street downtown.
The Dubuque Street Hill
The steep incline on Dubuque Street that students must walk to reach certain east-side dorms.
The Ped Mall
The Iowa City Pedestrian Mall, a downtown area adjacent to campus filled with shops, bars, and restaurants.
The Pentacrest
The central lawn area of campus consisting of the Old Capitol and four surrounding academic buildings.
The River
The Iowa River, which physically divides the campus into East and West sides.
The T-Anne
The T. Anne Cleary Walkway, a major pedestrian thoroughfare running through the East Side campus.
The Union
Refers to the food court and retail dining options located within the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU).
The Wave
The tradition where fans at Kinnick Stadium wave to patients in the UI Stead Family Children's Hospital at the end of the first quarter.

U

UISG
University of Iowa Student Government, the representative body for undergraduate students.
Union Station
The food court area located on the ground floor of the Iowa Memorial Union.
USG
Undergraduate Student Government (often used interchangeably with UISG).

W

West Side
The portion of campus across the Iowa River, containing the hospital, stadium, and West Side dorms.

Places and practicalities

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

32 details
Adler
Adler Journalism Building, which houses the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
AJB
Adler Journalism Building, home to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Bongo
The real-time GPS tracking system and app used to monitor CAMBUS and Iowa City transit locations.
burge_market_place
Burge Market Place
CAMBUS
The university's free bus system that connects the east and west sides of campus.
catlett_market_place
Catlett Market Place
CRWC
Campus Recreation & Wellness Center, the main campus gym featuring a climbing wall and competitive pool.
EPB
English-Philosophy Building, a major academic building on the East Side used for many general education courses.
Hawk Alert
The emergency notification system that sends texts and emails regarding campus safety or weather closures.
hillcrest_market_place
Hillcrest Market Place
ICON
Iowa Courses Online, the Canvas-based learning management system for all course materials.
IMU
Iowa Memorial Union, the student union building housing the bookstore, study spaces, and food.
Iowa One
The official student identification card used for building access, meal plans, and charging at the bookstore.
Iowa One Card
The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and charging items to the U-Bill.
Iowa OneCard
The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
ITC
Instructional Technology Centers, the various computer labs located in academic buildings and dorms.
Main
The Main Library, the largest library on campus located on the East Side.
MyUI
The primary student portal for class registration, checking grades, and managing financial aid.
Nite Ride
A free late-night transportation service provided by UI Campus Safety for students of all genders.
Old Cap
The Old Capitol building, the historic center of the Pentacrest and a symbol of the university.
pat_s_diner
Pat's Diner
PBB
Pappajohn Business Building, the primary facility for the Tippie College of Business.
SafeRide
A free transportation service provided to students to ensure safe travel across campus at night.
SH
Schaeffer Hall, a historic building on the Pentacrest housing the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The IMU
The Iowa Memorial Union, the central hub for student life, food, and the campus bookstore.
The Main
The Main Library, the primary research and study facility located on the East Side.
The Pentacrest
The central campus area consisting of five historic buildings: Old Capitol, Schaeffer, Macbride, Jessup, and MacLean.
The Rec
The Campus Recreation and Wellness Center (CRWC), featuring the gym, pool, and climbing wall.
Transit
The mobile app used for real-time tracking of CAMBUS and Iowa City transit routes.
Transit App
The official mobile app used to track Cambus locations and arrival times in real-time.
U-Bill
The centralized university billing system where tuition, housing, and campus charges are paid.
UCC
University Capitol Centre, university offices and classrooms located inside the Old Capitol Mall.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Summer 2026 Twelve-Week Sub-Session runs May 18, 2026 – Aug 6, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
46 approved campus terms and 32 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 Iowa

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  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
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Life in Iowa City for University of Iowa Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Iowa City.

Timezone

Central Time (CT)

Median Rent

$1,150

Cost of Living Index

96

Student Population

31,000

City Transportation

Walkability

65

Bikeability

75

Public Transit

Iowa City Transit, Coralville Transit, University of Iowa Cambus

Nearest Airports

Iowa City Municipal Airport, The Eastern Iowa Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid continental

Avg Annual Temp

49.5°F

Avg Snowfall

28 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Hospital Parking Ramp 1

garage • Limited

Reserved for patients and visitors 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM weekdays.

IMU Ramp

garage • Variable

Facility maintenance ongoing through Aug. 7, 2026.

Lot 85 (Hawkeye Storage)

surface_lot • High

Commonly used for student commuter and storage parking.

Upcoming Events

What's happening at University of Iowa

Art & Write Night

August 7, 2026

University of Iowa Museum of Natural History

An after-hours program welcoming artists and writers to work on projects in the museum's gallery spaces with a new inspiration prompt provided for each session.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at University of Iowa

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

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

Burge Residence Hall

Capacity: 922

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

Catlett Residence Hall

Capacity: 1,049

Room types: double

Currier Residence Hall

Capacity: 628

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

Daum Residence Hall

Capacity: 344

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

Hawkeye

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

Hillcrest Market Place

Room types: double, single, triple, quadruple

Hillcrest Residence Hall

Capacity: 823

Room types: double, single, triple, quadruple

honors student community residence hall (Daum Hall)

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

International House

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

Khaled Hall

Room types: double, single, triple, quadruple

Living Learning Communities / Open Housing options

Room types: double, single, triple, quadruple

Mayflower Residence Hall

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

other residence halls (11 total)

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

Parklawn Residence Hall

Capacity: 61

Room types: suite

Petersen Residence Hall

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

Pomerantz

Room types: double, single, triple, quadruple

Rieman

Room types: double, single, triple, quadruple

Rienow Residence Hall

Capacity: 488

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

Rita Benton

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

Riverside

Room types: single, double

Slater Residence Hall

Capacity: 489

Room types: single, double, triple, quadruple

Stanley-Paterson (if referenced as separate housing unit)

Room types: double, single, triple, quadruple

Stanley Residence Hall

Capacity: 354

Room types: variety of room types

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Email Domain

@iowa.edu

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