The semester, explained for University of South Dakota
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 First 8-Week Session
Campus terms
16
Local details
12
Academic calendar
Fall 2026 First 8-Week Session runs Aug 24, 2026 – Oct 16, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
27 entries
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Fall 2026 First 8-Week SessionRelevant now
→
Fall Semester 2026
→
Fall 2026 Second 8-Week Session
→
Spring 2027 First 8-Week Session
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Spring Semester 2027
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Spring 2027 Second 8-Week Session
→
Summer All Inclusive 2027
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Summer 2027 All Inclusive
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Summer 4-Week Session I 2027
→
Summer 6-Week Session I 2027
→
Summer 8-Week Session I 2027Summer Session I 2027
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Summer 2027 10-Week Session
→
Summer 12-Week Session 2027
→
Summer 2027 4-Week Session I
→
Summer 2027 6-Week Session I
→
Summer 2027 8-Week Session I
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Summer 2027 12-Week Session
→
Summer 4-Week Session II 2027
→
Summer 8-Week Session II 2027Summer Session II 2027
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
16 terms
Showing 16 of 16 terms
A
AWOL
Alternative Week of Learning, a program where students participate in service-learning trips during breaks.
C
CAB
Campus Activities Board, the student-led group that organizes concerts, movies, and campus events.
Coyote Cash
Funds loaded onto a student ID that can be used at on-campus dining and select off-campus vendors.
CV
Coyote Village, the apartment-style residence hall on the north side of campus.
D
D-Days
Dakota Days, the official name for USD's homecoming week and its organizing committee.
F
Flex
Dining dollars included with meal plans specifically for use at on-campus retail dining locations.
G
Go Yotes
The universal campus greeting, cheer, and sign-off.
M
McFadden
McFadden Hall, an apartment-style residence hall typically for upperclassmen.
N
North Complex
The residential cluster consisting of Beede and Mickelson halls, primarily for first-year students.
S
SGA
Student Government Association, the representative body for the USD student population.
South Complex
The residential cluster consisting of Richardson and Olson halls, primarily for first-year students.
T
The Hill
The slight incline on the north side of campus near the residence halls.
The MUC
The Muenster University Center, the primary hub for student dining and activities.
The U
The main residential dining hall located inside the Muenster University Center.
V
Verm
Shorthand for Vermillion, the town where the university is located.
Y
Yotes
Short for Coyotes, the university mascot; pronounced as one syllable ('yotes').
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
12 details
A&S
The Arts and Sciences buildings, often referring to the Pardee/Churchill/Dakota hall complex.
Charlie's
The official campus bookstore and fan shop located in the MUC and downtown Vermillion.
chick_fil_a
Chick-fil-A
Coyote Card
The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
coyote_dining_hall
Coyote Dining Hall
D2L
Desire2Learn, the online learning management system used for course assignments and grades.
MyUSD
The central web portal for students to access registration, financial aid, and personal records.
Old Main
The historic heart of campus, featuring the iconic spires and housing the Honors Program.
qdoba
Qdoba
SCSC
The Sanford Coyote Sports Center, the arena for basketball and volleyball games.
The Dome
The DakotaDome, the iconic multi-purpose stadium used for football, track, and swimming.
The Wellness
The USD Wellness Center, the main campus gym and recreation facility.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
What academic term is relevant now?
Fall 2026 First 8-Week Session runs Aug 24, 2026 – Oct 16, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
16 approved campus terms and 12 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 South Dakota
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Regular commitment
Interfraternity Council (IFC)
The governing body for fraternities at the University of South Dakota. The IFC coordinates recruitment, educational programs, and philanthropic events for its member chapters.
Men's Rugby
Competes in intercollegiate rugby.
Tryout required
Campus rituals
Rubbing Doc Farber's Statue
A campus tradition where students rub the statue of iconic professor William O. 'Doc' Farber in front of Dakota Hall for good luck and good grades.
Open to all
Resources & spaces
Academic Advising and Success Center
Provides resources to help students navigate their college journey and be successful, including learning specialists, tutoring, and Supplemental Instruction (SI).
Open to all
Academic and Career Planning Center
Provides services including interview coaching, resume/cover letter review, graduate school prep, and internship/job search assistance to all USD students.
Open to all
Recent University of South Dakota Syllabus Analyses
Browse syllabus breakdowns from University of South Dakota courses
American GovernmentCHEMISTRY SURVEYFoundations of CommunicationGeneral PsychologyIntroduction to EthicsIntroduction to Kinesiology and Sport ManagementMATH 114Medical Language
DormWay integrates with University of South Dakota's LMS
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Moodle
Supported
Connect your Moodle account to automatically sync course materials and deadlines.
Life in Vermillion for University of South Dakota Students
Everything you need to know about living and studying in Vermillion.
Timezone
Central Time (CT)
Median Rent
$900
Cost of Living Index
88
Student Population
9,500
City Transportation
Walkability
60
Bikeability
55
Public Transit
Local demand-response transit service, Intercity bus connections in nearby communities
Nearest Airports
Sioux Gateway Airport (regional, in Sioux City, IA), Sioux Falls Regional Airport (major, in Sioux Falls, SD)
Climate Averages
Climate
Humid continental
Avg Annual Temp
48°F
Avg Snowfall
30 in
Campus Operations Snapshot
Parking and Transit
Yellow Lots (A, B, C)
surface_lot
General parking; Yellow Lot A is west of DakotaDome, B is north of track complex, C is south of DakotaDome.
Blue Lots
surface_lot
Reserved for visitors; enforced 24/7.
Green Lots (14, 24)
surface_lot
General parking areas that are free of charge.
Campus News
Latest updates from University of South Dakota
Matthew R. Fairholm Named Director of Chiesman Center for Democracy
The Department of Political Science announced Matthew R. Fairholm as the next director of the Chiesman Center for Democracy.
University Libraries Announces Call for Entries for Ninth Altered Book Exhibition
USD University Libraries is seeking entries for its ninth international biennial altered book exhibition, 'Altered Book IX: Material, Structure, Concept.'