Academic calendar
First Semester 2026 runs Mar 16, 2026 – Aug 8, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- First Trimester 2026
- First Semester 2026Relevant now
- Second Trimester 2026
- Second Semester 2026
- Third Trimester 2026
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 31 of 31 terms
A
- AS
- Associated Students, the student-run government and hub for campus organizations.
C
- Carrillo
- The dining commons known for its outdoor seating and proximity to the campus pools.
D
- DLG
- De La Guerra Dining Commons, popular for its 'Late Night' meal service and central location.
- DP
- Del Playa Drive, the oceanfront street in Isla Vista known for its social scene.
E
- EOP
- Educational Opportunity Program, which provides support for first-generation and low-income students.
- EVPLA
- External Vice President for Local Affairs, an AS office focused on Isla Vista community issues.
F
- FT
- Francisco Torres, the former name and still universal nickname for the Santa Catalina towers.
G
- Gaucho
- The official mascot and the term used to refer to any student at the university.
- GKPAC
- The Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center, the campus's primary theater and event space.
I
- IV
- Isla Vista, the square-mile student community bordering the university campus.
- IVP
- Internal Vice President, a key leadership role within Associated Students.
M
- MCC
- MultiCultural Center, a space dedicated to social justice, cultural events, and community building.
- Motor
- Shorthand for the campus location, derived from its primary entrance on Motor Avenue.
N
- NPS
- Non-Public School, the official designation for the on-campus Vista School.
- Nutrition Services
- The official name for the campus food and dining program that serves residents and students.
O
- Ortega
- The dining commons that primarily offers take-out and 'grab-and-go' meal options.
P
- Port
- Common student shorthand for Portola Dining Commons.
- Portola
- The dining commons located within the San Joaquin complex, serving Vista Del Mar residents.
R
- Residential
- Common shorthand for the Therapeutic Residential Services program.
- RHA
- Residence Halls Association, the representative body for students living in university housing.
- RISE
- Vista RISE, the campus-based Substance Use Disorder Services (SUDS) program.
S
- Santa Cat
- Common shorthand for Santa Catalina, the high-rise residence hall adjacent to San Joaquin.
- SJ
- San Joaquin Villages, the large apartment complex that includes the Vista Del Mar cluster.
T
- The Cottages
- The residential living units for youth residing on the campus.
- The Feast
- Referring to the community-wide Thanksgiving meal, a long-standing campus tradition.
- The Lagoon
- The scenic body of water on the campus point, a popular spot for walking and relaxing.
- The Loop
- The bus route (Line 24) that circles through Isla Vista and connects to the main campus.
- The Towers
- Tenaya Towers, the two high-rise residential buildings in San Joaquin.
- The Vista
- The primary shorthand used by students, staff, and the community for the entire campus and agency.
V
- VDM
- Shorthand for the Vista Del Mar cluster within the San Joaquin Villages.
- VDM
- Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, the parent organization of the campus.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- 3200
- The street number often used as shorthand for the main administrative office.
- Access Card
- The official student ID card used for dining, bus fare, and building access.
- BARC
- Billing Accounts Receivable Collections, the system used to manage and pay student fees.
- Baron School
- The Henry and Marcia Baron School for Exceptional Children, specializing in autism services.
- Black Family Campus
- The official name of the 18-acre main campus site (Joyce & Stanley Black Family Campus).
- GauchoSpace
- The campus learning management system used for course materials and assignments.
- GOLD
- Gaucho On-Line Data, the essential portal for class registration, grades, and schedules.
- HSSB
- Humanities and Social Sciences Building, a major location for lectures and department offices.
- Mariposa
- One of the residential buildings located within the Vista Del Mar cluster.
- Mono
- A residential building in the Vista Del Mar cluster of San Joaquin.
- Motor Ave
- The main street and primary access point for the campus (3200 Motor Ave).
- Sierra
- A residential building in the Vista Del Mar cluster of San Joaquin.
- SRB
- Student Resource Building, which houses various student services, lounges, and meeting rooms.
- Tenaya
- The two main towers (North and South) that anchor the San Joaquin Villages.
- The 24
- The Santa Barbara MTD Line 24 bus, the essential transit link between San Joaquin and campus.
- The 24x
- The express bus line that connects the San Joaquin/Vista Del Mar area to the main campus.
- The Kaufman
- Shorthand for the Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center.
- The Lib
- Davidson Library, the main campus library and primary location for research and study.
- The Vista School
- The main K-12 educational building serving students on campus.
- UCen
- The University Center, the central hub for the bookstore, food court, and student services.
- vista_del_mar_middle_school_cafeteria
- Vista Del Mar Middle School Cafeteria
- Wraparound
- The integrated service model used to coordinate care and logistics for families on campus.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- First Semester 2026 runs Mar 16, 2026 – Aug 8, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 31 approved campus terms and 22 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.