Academic calendar
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 17, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 2026 Regular Session (OUD)
- 8-Week Summer Session 2026Summer 2026 8-Week Session
- Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
- Fall 2026 8-Week Session 1 (OAH)Fall 2026 First Half Session (OAH)
- Fall 2026 8-Week Session 2 (OIH)Fall 2026 Second Half Session (OIH)
- Winter Intersession 2026-2027 (WDD)
- Winter Intersession 2026-2027Winter Intersession 2026-2027 (WEE)
- Winter Intersession 2026-2027 (XBB)
- Winter Intersession 2026-2027 (XCC)
- Spring Semester 2027
- Spring 2027 8-Week Session 1 (OAH)Spring 2027 First Half Session (OAH)
- Spring 2027 8-Week Session 2 (OIH)Spring 2027 Second Half Session (OIH)
- 4-Week Summer Session 2027Summer 2027 4-Week SessionSummer 4-Week Session 2027
- 3-Week Summer Session 2027Summer 2027 3-Week SessionSummer 3-Week Session 2027
- Summer 2027 8-weekSummer 8-Week Session 2027
- 8-Week Summer Session 2027Summer 2027 8-Week Session
- Fall Semester 2027
- Spring Semester 2028
- 4-Week Summer Session 2028Summer 2028 4-Week SessionSummer 4-Week Session 2028
- 3-Week Summer Session 2028Summer 2028 3-Week SessionSummer 3-Week Session 2028
- Summer 8-Week Session 2028
- 8-Week Summer Session 2028Summer 2028 8-Week Session
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 54 of 54 terms
A
- ASM
- Associated Students of Madison, the official student government body of the university.
B
- Bascom
- Bascom Hill, the steep, iconic hill at the center of campus topped by Bascom Hall.
- Bascom Hill
- The steep, iconic hill at the center of campus topped by Bascom Hall and the Lincoln statue.
- Bean and Creamery
- Coffee and ice cream shops located within major dining halls like Gordon's and Four Lakes.
C
- Carson's
- Carson's Market, a dining location serving the Lakeshore neighborhood near the lake.
- Chad
- Chadbourne Residential College, a centrally located dorm focused on academic and community programming.
- Coastie
- A slang term for students from the East or West coasts, often used to describe a specific campus subculture.
D
- Dejope
- Dejope Residence Hall, the primary hub and largest dorm in the Lakeshore neighborhood.
- Der Rath
- Der Rathskeller, the iconic German-style tavern and eatery located in Memorial Union.
- Dining Dollars
- Funds loaded onto a Wiscard specifically for use at University Housing dining locations.
F
- FIB
- A slang term (standing for 'F***ing Illinois Bastard') used to describe students or drivers from Illinois.
- Flamingo Run
- The campus convenience stores located within residence halls for snacks and essentials.
- Four Lakes
- The Four Lakes Market, the primary dining facility located inside Dejope Hall.
G
- Gordon's
- Gordon Avenue Market & Event Center, the main dining hall for the Southeast residential area.
- Gordy's
- Gordon Avenue Market, the primary dining hall for the Southeast residence halls.
H
- Hoofers
- Wisconsin Hoofers, the university's large outdoor recreation and outing club.
J
- Jump Around
- The tradition of jumping to the House of Pain song between the 3rd and 4th quarters of football games.
K
- Kronsh
- Kronshage Residence Hall, a collection of smaller buildings in the Lakeshore area.
L
- Lakeshore
- The residential area on the west side of campus, known for being quieter and more nature-oriented.
- Lakeshore
- The collection of dorms located along Lake Mendota, generally considered quieter than Southeast.
- Langdon
- Langdon Street, the historic district where most fraternity and sorority houses are located.
- Liz
- Elizabeth Waters Residence Hall, a historic dorm located on Observatory Hill with views of Lake Mendota.
- Liz Waters
- Elizabeth Waters Hall, a popular residence hall located on Observatory Hill.
- Liz's Market
- The dining facility located within Elizabeth Waters Residence Hall.
M
- MCC
- Multicultural Council, a student-led group that promotes diversity and inclusion initiatives.
- Mifflin
- The annual Mifflin Street Block Party held on the last Saturday of the spring semester.
O
- Ogg
- Ogg Residence Hall, a modern dorm located near the Kohl Center.
R
- Rec Well
- Recreation & Wellbeing, the department that manages campus gyms and intramural sports.
- RecWell
- University Recreation & Wellbeing, the department responsible for campus gyms, intramural sports, and fitness programs.
- Red Card
- An off-campus meal plan and debit card accepted by many local restaurants and grocery stores.
- Rheta's
- Rheta's Market, the dining hall located within Chadbourne Residence Hall.
S
- Sconnie
- A nickname for a Wisconsin native or someone who embraces Wisconsin culture.
- Sell-block
- A common student nickname for Sellery Hall, often used to describe its high-density social environment
- Sellery
- Sellery Residence Hall, a large Southeast neighborhood dorm known for its social atmosphere.
- SOAR
- Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration, the mandatory program for incoming students.
- Southeast
- The residential area on the east side of campus, known for its proximity to State Street and high-rise dorms.
- State Street
- The pedestrian-heavy street connecting the campus to the Wisconsin State Capitol.
T
- The 80
- The free campus bus route that loops between the Southeast and Lakeshore areas.
- The Abe
- The statue of Abraham Lincoln at the top of Bascom Hill; a tradition involves sitting on his lap for photos.
- The Bean
- The Bean and Creamery, a coffee and ice cream shop found in several campus locations.
- The Bean and Creamery
- A popular cafe and ice cream shop located within the Student Union.
- The Cardinal
- The Daily Cardinal, one of the oldest student-run newspapers in the country.
- The Herald
- The Badger Herald, a prominent independent student-run newspaper on campus.
- The Hill
- Bascom Hill, the steep, central grassy incline that serves as the heart of the campus.
- The Isthmus
- The narrow strip of land between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona where the campus and downtown Madison are situated.
- The Lakeshore
- The quieter, nature-oriented western half of the campus residential area.
- The Sett
- A pub-style dining and recreation area located in Union South.
- The Southeast
- The high-density, urban-feeling eastern half of the campus residential area.
- The Southeast
- The high-rise dorm area including Sellery, Witte, and Smith, known for a more social atmosphere.
- The Stacks
- The multi-level, quiet study areas within Memorial Library.
- The Terrace
- The Memorial Union Terrace, the iconic outdoor seating area on the shore of Lake Mendota.
W
- Wiscard
- The official university ID card used for purchasing meals and accessing dining halls.
- Witte
- Witte Residence Hall, a high-capacity Southeast dorm often associated with first-year social life.
- WUD
- Wisconsin Union Directorate, the student-led board that programs events for the campus unions.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- ASM Bus Pass
- A semesterly pass provided to students that allows free unlimited rides on all Madison Metro city buses.
- B-Cycle
- The city-wide electric bike-sharing program with many stations across campus used for quick transit.
- Babcock
- Babcock Dairy Plant, the campus facility that produces the university's famous ice cream and dairy products.
- Bakke
- Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center, the newest campus gym located in the Lakeshore area.
- Bascom
- Bascom Hall, the main administrative building at the top of Bascom Hill, featuring the Abraham Lincoln statue.
- Bus Pass
- The ASM-provided semester pass that allows students to ride all Madison Metro city buses for free.
- Canvas
- The primary Learning Management System (LMS) used for course materials, assignments, and grades.
- College
- Helen C. White Hall, specifically referring to the College Library located within it.
- College Lib
- College Library, located in Helen C. White Hall, often used for late-night studying.
- College Library
- The library located in Helen C. White Hall, known for being the main late-night study spot.
- DARS
- Degree Audit Reporting System, the official tool used to track academic progress toward graduation.
- flamingo_run_at_rheta_s
- Flamingo Run at Rheta's
- four_lakes_market
- Four Lakes Market
- Grainger
- Grainger Hall, the home of the Wisconsin School of Business.
- HCW
- Helen C. White Hall, which houses the College Library and the English department.
- Helen C.
- Helen C. White Hall, which houses the College Library and the English department.
- Humanities
- The George L. Mosse Humanities Building, a large, complex structure housing history, music, and art.
- McBurney
- The McBurney Disability Resource Center, which provides academic accommodations for students.
- Mem Lib
- Memorial Library, the largest library on campus, known for its 'cages' (study carrels) and quiet research environment.
- Mem U
- Memorial Union, the historic student union building on the shore of Lake Mendota.
- Memorial Lib
- Memorial Library, the largest research library on campus, known for its quiet 'cages' or study carrels.
- Memorial Union
- The iconic student union on Lake Mendota, home to the Terrace.
- MemU
- Memorial Union, the iconic lakeside student union building.
- MyUW
- The central web portal for accessing grades, class registration, and financial aid.
- NetID
- The digital identity (username and password) used to log into all university web services.
- Red Card
- A private, off-campus meal plan card accepted by many restaurants on State Street and near campus.
- Red Gym
- The Armory and Gymnasium, a historic building that now serves as a hub for student services and multicultural centers.
- rheta_s_market
- Rheta's Market
- SafeWalk
- A student-staffed service that provides walking escorts home or to campus buildings at night.
- shake_smart
- Shake Smart
- SOAR
- Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration, the mandatory program for all incoming students.
- Starfish
- The online platform used by students to schedule advising appointments and connect with instructors.
- StarRez
- The online portal used by students to manage housing contracts and room assignments.
- Starship
- The brand of autonomous robotic rovers that deliver food across campus.
- Starships
- The autonomous white delivery robots that transport food from campus dining halls to students.
- Steenbock
- Steenbock Memorial Library, the primary library for the agricultural and life sciences campus.
- The 80
- The free campus bus route that circulates between the Southeast and Lakeshore neighborhoods.
- The Bakke
- Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center, the primary gym and wellness facility for the Lakeshore side.
- The Nick
- Nicholas Recreation Center, the primary fitness and aquatic center on the southeast side of campus.
- The Red Gym
- The Armory and Gymnasium, a castle-like building housing student services and cultural centers.
- The Red Gym
- The Armory and Gymnasium, a red castle-like building that houses student service offices like the Multicultural Student Center.
- The Shell
- The Camp Randall Sports Center, an indoor track and ice rink facility.
- The Terrace
- The Memorial Union Terrace, a famous outdoor space with lake views and sun-shaped chairs.
- The Union
- Refers to either Memorial Union (lakeside) or Union South, the primary student activity hubs.
- UHS
- University Health Services, the campus clinic providing medical and mental health care.
- Union South
- The newer of the two student unions, located near the engineering campus.
- Van Hise
- Van Hise Hall, the tallest building on campus, housing language departments and administrative offices.
- Van Vleck
- Van Vleck Hall, the main building for the Mathematics department, known for its distinct architecture.
- WiscAlerts
- The emergency notification system that sends texts and emails regarding campus safety.
- Wiscard
- The official university photo ID used for building access, dining plans, and laundry services.
- WiscMail
- The university-provided email system used for all official campus communication.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 17, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 54 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.