University of RochesterStudent Guide

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

University in Rochester, NY. Operating on a semester system.

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Institution Type

36

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall 2026

The semester, explained for University of Rochester

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
Fall 2026
Campus terms
34
Local details
20

Academic calendar

Fall 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 23, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

11 entries
  1. Summer 2026 First 5-week Session
  2. Summer 2026 Full Summer Session
  3. Summer 2026 Second 5-week Session
  4. Fall 2026Relevant now
  5. Spring 2027
  6. Summer 2027 First 5-week Session
  7. Summer 2027 Full Summer Session
  8. Summer 2027 Second 5-week Session
  9. Fall 2027
  10. Spring 2028
  11. Summer 2028

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Campus language

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

34 terms

B

Brooks
Brooks Crossing, an apartment-style residence hall located across the Genesee River.

C

CAB
Campus Activities Board, the organization responsible for major campus events like Yellowjacket Weekend.
CCC
Campus Community Connection, the online portal for student organizations and event registration.

D

D-Day
Dandelion Day, the annual spring festival featuring music, food, and carnival rides.
D'Lions
A student organization dedicated to promoting school spirit and helping freshmen adjust to campus.
Dandelion Yellow
The official school color, distinct from standard yellow.
Danforth
The Danforth Dining Center, one of the two main all-you-care-to-eat dining halls.
Douglass
The Frederick Douglass Commons dining hall, known for its diverse food stations.

G

Geni
Genesee Hall, a modern residence hall overlooking the athletic fields.
Geno
Genesee Hall, a modern residence hall overlooking the football field.
Grab and Go
A quick-service meal option in Douglass for students with busy schedules.

H

Hillside
Hillside Market, the on-campus convenience store located in Susan B. Anthony Hall.

J

Jackson
Jackson Court, a residential area including O'Brien, Wilder, and Anderson halls.
Jackson Court
The housing area comprising O'Brien, Wilder, and Anderson halls.

M

Meliora
The university motto, meaning 'Ever Better,' used as a greeting, a goal, and a brand.

P

Painted Rocks
Large boulders on campus that student groups paint to advertise events.

R

Reading Period
The designated days between the end of classes and the start of final exams where no classes are held.
Riverview
The Riverview Apartments, a popular upperclassman housing complex across the river.
Rocky's
Rocky's Sub Shop, a popular sandwich spot in Wilson Commons.

S

SA
Students' Association, the undergraduate student government.
Southside
The Valentine and deKiewiet residential towers located across the street from the main campus.
Starbucks
The campus Starbucks location situated in Wilson Commons.
Starry
The Starbucks location situated within Wilson Commons.
Sue B
Susan B. Anthony Hall, the primary freshman residence hall.

T

The Pit
The food court located on the first floor of Wilson Commons.
The Quad
The Residential Quad, consisting of Gilbert, Hoeing, Lovejoy, and Tiernan halls.
The Rocks
The painted boulders outside the Sage Art Center used by student groups for announcements and messaging.
The Stack
The multi-level book storage area in Rush Rhees Library, often used for quiet study.
The Stacks
The multi-level, often quiet and secluded book storage areas in Rush Rhees Library.
The Tunnels
The extensive underground walkway system connecting most academic buildings on the River Campus.

U

URMC
University of Rochester Medical Center, the university's hospital and medical school complex.
UROC
University of Rochester Outing Club, which organizes outdoor excursions.

W

WRUR
The student-run radio station of the University of Rochester.

Y

Yellowjacket
The official mascot and the term used to refer to University of Rochester students.

Places and practicalities

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

20 details
Blackboard
The primary learning management system used by faculty for course materials and assignments.
Blue Line
A shuttle bus route that connects the River Campus to the Medical Center (URMC).
danforth_dining_center
Danforth Dining Center
Declining
The currency included in meal plans used specifically for food purchases at campus dining locations.
douglass_commons_dining_hall
Douglass Commons Dining Hall
Gleason
Gleason Library, a 24-hour study space located within the Rush Rhees Library complex.
Goergen
The Goergen Athletic Center, the primary gym and fitness facility.
Hutch
Hutchison Hall, which houses the biology and chemistry departments.
ID Office
The office in Susan B. Anthony Hall where students get their physical ID cards and manage accounts.
Lattimore
Lattimore Hall, an academic building primarily housing social science departments.
Morey
Morey Hall, a central academic building on the Eastman Quad.
Public Safety
The Department of Public Safety (DPS), responsible for campus security and emergency response.
Rush Rhees
The main library on the River Campus, famous for its dome and the Hopeman Memorial Carillon.
The Shuttle
The university-run bus system, including the Blue, Red, and Orange lines connecting different campuses.
the_pit
The Pit
URID
The official student identification card used for building access and meal plans.
URos
A declining balance account on the student ID used for laundry, vending machines, and off-campus partners.
Wilco
Wilson Commons, the student union building designed by I.M. Pei.
Wilson
Wilson Commons, the student union building designed by I.M. Pei.
Workday
The administrative software system used for student employment, payroll, and personal records.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 23, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
34 approved campus terms and 20 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 Rochester

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Find a few communities to try at University of Rochester

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

Tell us what we missed

30 mapped items from 12 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

Men's Ultimate Frisbee (The Piggies)

The men's competitive ultimate frisbee team, traveling to tournaments and competing nationally.

Tryout required

Source: rochester.edu · Verified 8 days ago

Join on CCC

SA Senate

The legislative branch of the SA Government, comprised of elected senators who represent the student body, pass legislation, and meet with campus officials.

Regular commitment

Source: sa.rochester.edu · Verified 8 days ago

Learn More

Students' Association Government (SA Gov)

The official student government body, responsible for funding student organizations, advocating for student interests, and improving the undergraduate experience.

Regular commitment

The YellowJackets

An internationally known all-male a cappella group, featured on NBC's 'The Sing-Off'.

Tryout required

Campus rituals

Boar's Head Dinner

One of the University's oldest traditions, a medieval-style dinner held in December featuring a procession, performances, and a feast.

Drop in any time

Dandelion Day (D-Day)

A beloved spring tradition held on the last day of classes, featuring a carnival, food trucks, student performances, and a major concert to celebrate the end of the academic year.

Drop in any time

Source: rochester.edu · Verified 8 days ago

Learn More

Resources & spaces

College Center for Advising Services (CCAS)

The primary resource for undergraduate students with academic-related questions, helping with academic planning, finding opportunities, and solving problems.

Open to all

Using DormWay at University of Rochester

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Syllabus to schedule

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Workload planning

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University of Rochester on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

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Life in Rochester for University of Rochester Students

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

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$950

Cost of Living Index

90

Student Population

50,000

City Transportation

Walkability

61

Bikeability

59

Public Transit

RTS bus system

Nearest Airports

Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid continental

Avg Annual Temp

48°F

Avg Snowfall

100 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Lot 35 Library Lot

surface_lot • Limited

Located near Rush Rhees Library; subject to construction updates as of August 2026

Lot 13 Hospital Garage

garage • High demand

Primary parking for Medical Center; highest permit rate tier

Lot 33 College Town Garage

garage • Moderate

Serves College Town and Medical Center areas

Lot 24 Scottsville Road

surface_lot • Good

Remains a free permit lot for eligible parkers with shuttle service to campus

Zone 3 South

surface_lot • Moderate

Lower cost permit zone with shuttle connectivity

Upcoming Events

What's happening at University of Rochester

Carillon Concert Series

August 3, 2026

Eastman Quadrangle

A performance as part of the Carillon Concert Series, where attendees can listen from the Eastman Quad or elsewhere on campus. Picnicking is welcome.

Young Writers Summer Camp

August 3, 2026

University of Rochester Campus

A summer camp program for young writers running from August 3 to August 7, 2026.

Summer Nosh and Network Session

August 12, 2026

Virtual

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at University of Rochester

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

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

Alpha Delta Phi

Room types: suite

Anderson Tower

Room types: suite

Barbier Hall

Room types: single, double, triple

Brooks Crossing Apartments

Room types: apartment units

Burton Hall

Crosby Hall

deKiewiet Tower

Room types: varies (suites and traditional options listed under upperclass housing)

Delta Kappa Epsilon

Room types: suite

Douglass Leadership House

Room types: suite

Drama House

Room types: suite

Ferndale Hall

Fraternity Quad (various houses)

Room types: varies

Gatewood Hall

Genesee Hall

Capacity: 150

Room types: single, double, triple

Gilbert Hall

Room types: single, double, triple

Hill Court

Room types: maisonette, apartment

Hoeing Hall

Room types: single, double, triple

Hoggatt Hall

Jackson Court

Room types: suite, apartment

Lovejoy Hall

Room types: single, double, triple

Maisonettes

O'Brien Hall

Room types: suite

Palmer Hall

Room types: private room, studio-style unit

Psi Upsilon

Room types: suite

Show the remaining 11 housing options

Riverview Apartments

Room types: apartment units (multi-bedroom)

Sigma Alpha Mu

Room types: suite

Sigma Chi

Room types: suite

Sigma Phi Epsilon

Room types: suite

Southside

Room types: large rooms, small rooms, maisonettes (2-person apartments with common room, kitchen, bathroom)

Southside Living Area (includes Valentine Tower and maisonettes)

Room types: large rooms (~10’ x 14’), small rooms (~9’ x 10’)

Susan B. Anthony Hall

Capacity: 600

Room types: double, single

Theta Chi

Room types: suite

Tiernan Hall

Room types: single, double, triple

Valentine Tower

Room types: two-person suite

Wilder Tower

Room types: suite

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Email Domain

@rochester.edu

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University of Rochester Student Guide | Calendar & Campus Life | DormWay