Academic calendar
Fall Term 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 21, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Spring-Summer Full Term 2026
- Summer Half Term 2026
- Fall Term 2026Relevant now
- Winter Term 2027
- Spring Half Term 2027
- Spring-Summer Full Term 2027Spring-Summer Term 2027Spring/Summer Term 2027
- Summer Half Term 2027
Campus language
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Showing 188 of 188 terms
A
- A2
- A common shorthand abbreviation for the city of Ann Arbor.
- Alice
- Alice Lloyd Hall, a residence hall on the Hill.
- Alice Lloyd
- Alice Crocker Lloyd Hall, a residence hall on The Hill that houses the Lloyd Hall Scholars Program.
B
- Baits
- Baits II, a residence hall on North Campus known for its suite-style rooms.
- Bert's
- Bert's Study Lounge and Cafe, located within the Shapiro Undergraduate Library.
- Blue Book
- The small, blue-covered paper booklets used for writing long-form exam answers.
- Blue Bucks
- A campus currency loaded onto the M-Card for use at laundry, vending machines, and campus eateries.
- Blue Bucks
- Campus currency loaded onto the M-Card for use at dining halls, markets, and laundry.
- Blue Bus
- The free campus shuttle buses that transport students between Central, North, and South campuses.
- Blue Cafe
- Small retail cafes and convenience stores located within various residence halls and academic buildings.
- Blue Market
- On-campus convenience stores located in unions and some residence halls.
- Blue Out
- A designated game day where all fans are encouraged to wear blue.
- Bluebook
- The small blue-covered notebooks used for writing essay exams.
- Bursley
- Bursley Hall, the largest residence hall, located on North Campus.
- Bursley
- The primary dining hall for students living on North Campus, located in Bursley Hall.
C
- CAPS
- Counseling and Psychological Services, the campus mental health resource.
- CCI
- Center for Campus Involvement, the hub for student organizations and campus activities.
- Central
- Central Campus, the main hub of the university where most LSA classes are held.
- Central Campus
- The main hub of the university housing the LSA college and most administrative buildings.
- Charley's
- Good Time Charley's, a popular bar and restaurant on South University Avenue.
- Charleys
- Good Time Charley's, a staple student bar and restaurant on South University Avenue.
- CoE
- The College of Engineering, primarily located on North Campus.
- Couzens
- Couzens Hall, a residence hall located near the Hill Neighborhood and the Medical Campus.
- CSG
- Central Student Government, the primary student representative body.
D
- Dance Marathon
- A major student-led non-profit organization (UMDM) that raises funds for pediatric rehabilitation.
- DANCE2XS
- A prominent hip-hop dance group on campus.
- Dining Dollars
- A specific portion of a meal plan used only at campus cafes and markets.
- DMUM
- Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan, a major student-led philanthropy.
- Don't step on the M
- A superstition that stepping on the brass 'M' in the center of the Diag will cause a student to fail their first blue book exam.
- DPSS
- Division of Public Safety and Security, the university's police and security force.
E
- E-Quad
- East Quadrangle, the residence hall that houses the Residential College (RC).
- East
- East Quad Dining Hall, which features the residential college and various international cuisines.
- East Quad
- Commonly referred to as EQ, home to the Residential College and a popular dining hall.
- EECS
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department and its associated student community.
- EQ
- East Quadrangle Residence Hall, which houses the Residential College (RC).
- EQ
- The East Quad Dining Hall, which features a distinct menu and the Residential College atmosphere.
- EQ Dining
- The dining hall in East Quad, known for its plant-based and international options.
- EQuad
- East Quadrangle, home to the Residential College.
G
- Gameday
- Refers to any Saturday when the Michigan football team has a home game.
- Go Blue
- The standard greeting, cheer, and sign-off for the Michigan community.
- GSI
- Graduate Student Instructor, the University of Michigan's specific term for a Teaching Assistant (TA).
H
- Hash Bash
- An annual event held on the Diag celebrating cannabis culture, typically on the first Saturday of April.
I
- IM
- Intramural Sports, referring to both the sports leagues and the IM Sports Building.
J
- Java Blue
- Campus-run coffee shops found in several academic buildings and unions.
- Java City
- A common coffee brand/location found in campus buildings like the Duderstadt Center.
K
- K-Grams
- A student organization focused on mentorship and pen-pal programs with local elementary students.
L
- Late Night
- Dining service offered at specific halls (like Markley or Bursley) after standard dinner hours.
- LSA
- The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, the university's largest college.
M
- M-Agination
- A student organization focused on video game design and animation.
- M-Ague
- The 'Michigan Ague,' a term for the seasonal cold or flu that spreads through dorms early in the semester.
- M-Card
- The official University of Michigan student identification card.
- M-Card
- The official University of Michigan ID card used to swipe into dining halls and access meal plans.
- M-Dining
- The shorthand for the University of Michigan's official dining services department.
- M-Go
- M-Go Blue Shops, the university-run convenience stores found in unions and some dorms.
- M-Go Blue Market
- On-campus convenience stores selling snacks, coffee, and quick meals.
- M-Go-Blue Shop
- Retail locations selling Michigan apparel and merchandise, often found in the Unions.
- M-HEAL
- Michigan Health Engineered for All Lives, a student organization focused on global health technology.
- M-Lead
- The university's leadership development program and resource hub.
- M-Run
- The Michigan Running Club, a large student organization for recreational and competitive runners.
- M-Tokens
- Reusable plastic tokens used to check out and return eco-friendly carry-out containers.
- Maize
- The specific shade of yellow that, along with Blue, makes up the school colors.
- Maize & Blue Cupboard
- The campus food pantry providing resources to students experiencing food insecurity.
- Maize and Blue
- The official colors of the University of Michigan.
- Maize and Blue
- Often used to refer to the primary colors or specific branded dining items.
- Maize and Blue Bucks
- A declining balance account on the M-Card used for food and services on campus.
- Maize and Blue Cupboard
- The campus food pantry providing resources to students experiencing food insecurity.
- Maize and Blue Rewards
- A loyalty program for students using dining services and retail locations.
- Maize Cash
- A prepaid credit account on the M-Card used for laundry and various campus vendors.
- Maize Craze
- A major student organization fair held at the beginning of the fall semester.
- Maize Money
- A declining balance account on the M-Card used for food and services, separate from Dining Dollars.
- Maize Out
- A designated game or event where all attendees are encouraged to wear maize-colored clothing.
- Maize Pages
- The online directory and database for all registered student organizations.
- Maizie's
- Maizie’s Kitchen and Market, a dining location inside the Michigan Union.
- Markley
- Mary Markley Hall, a residence hall often housing a high population of freshmen.
- Markley Pantry
- A retail food outlet located within Mary Markley Hall for quick snacks and meals.
- MDining
- The official University of Michigan dining service managing all halls and cafes.
- Meal Pops
- A term sometimes used for 'Meal Points' or the use of a meal swipe at retail locations.
- Meal Swipes
- The credits used to enter all-you-care-to-eat residential dining halls.
- MESA
- Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, an office providing support and programming for diverse student populations.
- MHacks
- The university's major student-run hackathon event held annually.
- Michigan Difference
- A phrase often used to describe the unique impact or excellence associated with the university.
- Michigan Time
- The tradition where classes and meetings start exactly 10 minutes after the scheduled time.
- Michigander
- The preferred term for a resident of the state of Michigan, used frequently on campus.
- MMB
- Michigan Marching Band.
- MoJo
- Mosher-Jordan Hall, a residence hall on the Hill known for its dining hall.
- MoJo
- The dining hall located within Mosher-Jordan, famous for its cookies.
- MoJo Cookies
- The highly popular fresh-baked cookies served at the Mosher-Jordan dining hall.
- MoJo Dining
- The dining hall within Mosher-Jordan, frequently cited for its signature cookies.
- MPowered
- A prominent student organization focused on campus entrepreneurship and career events.
- MRads
- Michigan Research and Discovery Scholars, a living-learning community focused on undergraduate research.
- MSA
- Muslim Students Association, a large student organization serving the campus Muslim community.
- Mujo
- Mujo Café, a popular coffee and sandwich spot located in the Duderstadt Center on North Campus.
N
- N-Quad
- North Quadrangle, a residence hall and academic space for upperclassmen.
- North
- Refers to North Campus, the area housing the engineering, music, and art schools.
- North Campus
- The separate campus area housing Engineering, Music, and Art programs, accessible by bus.
- NQ
- North Quadrangle, a residence hall and academic space on Central Campus.
- NQ
- North Quad Dining Hall, known for its international cuisine options.
- NQuad
- North Quadrangle, a residential and academic complex housing the School of Information.
P
- Panda
- The Panda Express location in the Michigan Union basement food court.
- Pantry
- Small convenience-style shops located within residence halls for late-night snacks.
- PCAP
- Prison Creative Arts Project, a popular student-involved social justice organization.
- Pierpont
- Pierpont Commons on North Campus, featuring a food court and the Fireside Cafe.
R
- RC
- The Residential College, a small liberal arts community within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA).
- Rick's
- Rick's American Cafe, a well-known student nightclub and bar on Church Street.
- Ricks
- Rick's American Cafe, a well-known student nightclub and bar.
- ROSS
- The Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
S
- S-Quad
- South Quadrangle, a large residence hall on Central Campus favored for its central location.
- S'party
- A derogatory nickname for Michigan State University students or their mascot.
- S'Quad
- Common shorthand for the South Quadrangle dining hall.
- SAPAC
- Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, providing education and confidential support.
- SHPE
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, a student chapter focused on professional development.
- SHW
- Student Health and Wellness, the umbrella department for campus medical and mental health services.
- Skeeps
- Scorekeepers, a popular student bar and grill on Maynard Street.
- SLC
- Science Learning Center, providing tutoring and resources for natural science students.
- SMTD
- School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
- SOAS
- Student Organization Accounts Service, which manages finances for registered student groups.
- South
- Short for South Campus, the area primarily housing athletic facilities and the golf course.
- South
- South Quad Dining Hall, one of the most popular and centrally located dining facilities.
- South Campus
- The area south of Central Campus primarily containing athletic facilities and the stadium.
- South Quad
- South Quadrangle, a popular residence hall on Central Campus known for its central dining facility.
- South Quad
- The dining hall in South Quadrangle, known for having the widest variety of food stations.
- South Quad Dining
- The dining hall in South Quad, popular for its wide variety of food stations.
- South U
- South University Avenue, a popular street for student nightlife, dining, and shopping.
- South University
- Often called 'South U,' a primary street for student bars, shops, and restaurants.
- Spinning the Cube
- A tradition of spinning the 'Endeavor' sculpture near the Union for good luck.
- SQ
- South Quadrangle Residence Hall, centrally located and known for its extensive dining options.
- SQ
- South Quad Dining Hall, often considered one of the best dining halls on campus.
- SQ Dining
- The dining hall in South Quad, considered one of the best on campus.
- SQuad
- South Quadrangle, a large residence hall on Central Campus.
- SQuad
- The dining hall in South Quad, known for having the most variety of food stations.
- SQuad Dining
- The dining hall located in South Quad, often cited as having the best food variety on campus.
- STAMPS
- The Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design.
- State Street
- The main commercial street bordering Central Campus with shops and restaurants.
- Step on the M
- A superstition that stepping on the brass 'M' in the center of the Diag will cause a student to fail their first blue book exam.
- Stockwell
- Stockwell Hall, a residence hall on The Hill that was historically all-female and is now co-ed.
- Stocky
- Stockwell Hall, a residence hall on The Hill.
- SWE
- Society of Women Engineers, a prominent professional organization on North Campus.
- Swipes
- The currency of residential meal plans, used to enter all-you-care-to-eat dining halls.
T
- TBP
- Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society frequently referenced by North Campus students.
- The Arb
- Nichols Arboretum, a large nature preserve and park popular for walking and recreation.
- The Big House
- Michigan Stadium, the largest stadium in the United States.
- The Blue Cafe
- Small retail markets located within various residence halls.
- The Blue Market
- University-run convenience stores located in various campus buildings and residence halls.
- The Cube
- A large, rotating black sculpture titled 'Enduring Ornament' located near the Union.
- The Daily
- The Michigan Daily, the university's independent student-run newspaper.
- The Diag
- The large grassy area and walkway crossroads at the center of Central Campus.
- The Fishbowl
- The glass-walled computing site and study area located in Angell Hall.
- The Hill
- The residential area containing MoJo, Alice Lloyd, Couzens, and Stockwell halls.
- The Hill
- The cluster of residence halls (MoJo, Alice Lloyd, Couzens, Stockwell) located near the CCRB.
- The Hill
- Refers collectively to the dining halls located in the Hill neighborhood (MoJo, Couzens, etc.).
- The League
- The Michigan League, which houses a basement food court with various retail options.
- The M
- The brass 'M' embedded in the center of the Diag; tradition dictates students should not step on it.
- The M on the Diag
- A brass 'M' in the pavement; legend says stepping on it will cause you to fail your first blue book exam.
- The Move
- The primary plan, party, or event that students intend to go to on a given night.
- The Mudbowl
- A grassy lot at the corner of Washtenaw and South University known for an annual mud football tournament.
- The Pantry
- Late-night snack and convenience stores located within specific residence halls.
- The Pierpont
- Pierpont Commons, the primary dining and student union hub on North Campus.
- The Rock
- A large boulder on Washtenaw Avenue that is frequently repainted by student organizations.
- The Stacks
- The quiet, narrow bookshelf aisles in the Hatcher Graduate Library, often used for intense studying.
- The Tundra
- A common nickname for North Campus, particularly during the cold and windy winter months.
- The Ugli
- Refers to Bert's Cafe located inside the Shapiro Undergraduate Library.
- The Ugli Bert's
- The Bert's Cafe located inside the Shapiro Undergraduate Library.
- The Ugli Cafe
- The Bert's Cafe located inside the Shapiro Undergraduate Library.
- The Union
- The Michigan Union, featuring a ground-floor food court and the 'M-Stops' convenience store.
- The Victors
- The university's official fight song.
- The Victors
- A retail dining area located in the Michigan Union.
- The Zoo
- A nickname for Mary Markley Hall, often used due to its high density of freshmen and lively atmosphere.
- Townie
- A resident of Ann Arbor who is not a student or directly affiliated with the university.
- Twigs
- The dining hall at Oxford Houses, known for its gluten-free and specialty options.
U
- U-Mix
- Late-night programming and food events held on Friday nights in the student unions.
- UAC
- University Activities Center, the largest student-run programming organization.
- UHS
- University Health Service, the primary healthcare provider for students on campus.
- UMDM
- University of Michigan Dance Marathon, a major student-led philanthropy org.
- UMMA
- University of Michigan Museum of Art.
- UROP
- Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, which connects students with faculty research projects.
V
- Victors
- A retail market and pantry located in the Michigan League.
- VIG
- Video Game Music Ensemble, a student organization dedicated to performing music from games.
- VIGEE
- The Video Game Ensemble, a popular student performance group.
- VSA
- Vietnamese Student Association, a large cultural organization on campus.
W
- W-Quad
- West Quadrangle, a residence hall located next to the Michigan Union.
- WCBN
- The student-run freeform radio station (88.3 FM).
- West Quad
- West Quadrangle, often abbreviated as WQ, located near the Michigan Union.
- What's the move?
- A common student phrase used to ask about social plans or the next destination.
- WISE
- Women in Science and Engineering, a program and learning community supporting women in STEM.
- WOLV
- WOLV-TV, the student-run television station.
- WOLV-TV
- The student-run television station providing original programming and news.
- WQ
- West Quadrangle, a residence hall located next to the Michigan Union.
- WQuad
- West Quadrangle, a residence hall adjacent to the Michigan Union.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Angell Hall
- The primary humanities building, often used to refer to the entire connected complex including Haven and Mason Halls.
- BBB
- The Bob and Betty Beyster Building, the primary hub for Computer Science and Engineering.
- Blue Book
- Small, blank paper booklets required for writing essay-based exams in many courses.
- Blue Bucks
- A campus-wide debit account linked to the M-Card used for laundry, printing, and food.
- Blue Bus
- The free campus shuttle system that transports students between Central, North, and South campuses.
- Bluebook
- Small, blue-covered booklets used for writing essay exams, typically purchased at campus bookstores.
- bursley
- Bursley
- Canvas
- The online learning management system used for course assignments, grades, and communication.
- CAPS
- Counseling and Psychological Services, the primary campus resource for mental health support.
- Dining Dollars
- Currency included with meal plans specifically for use at campus-owned retail food locations.
- DPSS
- Division of Public Safety and Strategy, the university's police and security department.
- east_quad
- East Quad
- Hatcher
- The Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, connected to the Ugli.
- M-Bus
- Another common shorthand for the University of Michigan bus system.
- M-Card
- The official University of Michigan student identification card used for building access and payments.
- M-Card Office
- The service center for obtaining or replacing student ID cards.
- M-Pass
- The program providing students with unlimited access to the local AAATA (TheRide) city buses.
- M-Pathways
- The administrative system behind Wolverine Access, often mentioned in technical or financial contexts.
- M-Ride
- The program allowing students to ride Ann Arbor (TheRide) city buses for free by swiping a valid M-Card.
- Magic Bus
- The real-time bus tracking application and website for the university shuttle system.
- Maize Pages
- The online directory and management system for all registered student organizations.
- markley
- Markley
- Mason Hall
- A major classroom building connected to Angell Hall and Haven Hall.
- MCard
- The official university ID card required for building access, meal plans, and bus fare.
- Michigan Time
- The traditional 10-minute passing period between classes; while official start times were standardized in 2018, the 10-minute gap remains the standard transition.
- MLB
- The Modern Languages Building, where many humanities and language classes are held.
- mosher_jordan
- Mosher-Jordan
- Night Ride
- A late-night shared transportation service provided for students within the city.
- North Campus
- The separate campus area housing Engineering, Art, and Music, typically reached via the Blue Bus.
- north_quad
- North Quad
- On the hour
- The current class start convention; U-M officially ended 'Michigan Time' (starting 10 minutes late) in 2018.
- Pierpont
- Pierpont Commons, the student union building serving North Campus.
- Ross
- The Stephen M. Ross School of Business building complex.
- SafeRide
- A free late-night transportation service providing rides to students within a designated radius.
- south_quad
- South Quad
- The Arb
- Nichols Arboretum, a large nature preserve and park near the Hill neighborhood.
- The BBB
- The Bob and Betty Beyster Building, which houses Computer Science and Engineering.
- The Big House
- Michigan Stadium, the largest stadium in the United States.
- The Connector
- A specific bus route that links Central Campus and North Campus.
- The Cube
- The 'Enduring Ornament' sculpture near the Union that students traditionally spin for good luck.
- The Diag
- The large central open space and intersection of walkways on Central Campus.
- The Dude
- The Duderstadt Center, the main library and technology hub on North Campus.
- The Fishbowl
- The glass-walled computing and study area located in Angell Hall.
- The League
- The Michigan League, a student union building known for its study spaces and the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre.
- The Pierpont
- Pierpont Commons, the student union building serving North Campus.
- The Ride
- The AAATA (Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority) city bus system, which is free for students with an M-Card.
- The Rock
- A large boulder at the corner of Washtenaw and Hill that is frequently repainted by student groups.
- The Ugli
- The Shapiro Undergraduate Library, nicknamed for its perceived aesthetic before renovations.
- The Union
- The Michigan Union, a central hub for student life and organizations on Central Campus.
- UGLi
- The Shapiro Undergraduate Library, a primary study spot on Central Campus.
- Wolverine Access
- The central web portal for student records, class registration, and financial information.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Term 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 21, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 188 approved campus terms and 51 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.