Academic calendar
Fall 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Fall 2026Relevant now
- Spring 2027
- Summer I 2027
- Summer II 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 25 of 25 terms
A
- Ackley-Shilling
- The combined name for the Ackley and Shilling residence halls, often treated as a single community.
B
- BCC
- Refers to the dining options and food court located within the Bernhard Center.
- Bistro
- Bistro3, the dining facility located in the French/Zimmerman/Davis residential area.
- Bronco
- The official mascot and the term used to refer to any WMU student or athlete.
- Bronco Bucks
- A debit-style account on the student ID used for purchasing food and services across campus.
C
- CAB
- Campus Activities Board, the student-led organization that plans major campus events and concerts.
D
- Dining Dollars
- Funds included with specific meal plans that can be used at campus cafes and retail food locations.
E
- Eldridge-Fox
- The combined name for the Eldridge and Fox residence halls.
F
- FYE
- First-Year Experience, a program designed to help new students transition to university life.
G
- GSA
- Graduate Student Association, representing the interests of graduate-level students.
R
- RHA
- Residence Hall Association, the representative body for students living on campus.
- Row the Boat
- A popular athletic mantra and cheer originating from the football program.
T
- The Bistro
- A popular cafe and dining location located within Sangren Hall.
- The Heights
- Shorthand for Western Heights, the modern residence hall complex located near the center of campus.
- The Knoll
- The grassy, hilly area near the library and student center often used for outdoor studying and socializing.
- The Little Three
- A collective term for the older, smaller residence halls: Smith, Burnham, and Ernest Burnham.
- The Market
- General term for campus convenience stores like the one in the Valley Dining Center or the Bernhard Center.
- The Valley
- The geographical area of campus where the Valley I, II, and III dorms are situated, known for being at a lower elevation.
- The Valleys
- Collective term for the Valley I, Valley II, and Valley III residence hall complexes located in the lower campus area.
- The Zoo
- A common nickname for the city of Kalamazoo, where WMU is located.
V
- Valley Dining
- The Valley Dining Center, the largest and primary dining hall for students living in the Valleys.
- VDC
- Valley Dining Center, the primary large-scale dining facility serving the Valley residence halls.
W
- W-ID
- The unique student identification number (starting with a W) used for all official university business.
- WIDR
- The student-run radio station, broadcasting at 89.1 FM.
- WSA
- Western Student Association, the primary student government body at WMU.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Bronco Card
- The official university photo ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- Bronco Express
- The service center located in the Bernhard Center for questions regarding financial aid, accounts, and registration.
- Bronco Transit
- The free campus bus system that shuttles students between main campus, the engineering campus, and local apartments.
- dash_grab_n_go
- DASH Grab'n Go
- Elearning
- The university's online learning management system (D2L Brightspace) used for course materials and assignments.
- GoWMU
- The central web portal for students to access grades, registration, and financial accounts.
- Miller
- Miller Auditorium, the large performing arts venue on campus.
- Parkview
- The Parkview Campus, home to the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, located three miles from main campus.
- parkview_caf
- Parkview Café
- Sangren
- Sangren Hall, the central hub for the College of Education and Human Development.
- student_center_dining
- Student Center Dining
- The Bernhard
- The Bernhard Center, which serves as the student union and houses the bookstore and various services.
- The Rec
- The Student Recreation Center (SRC), the main campus gym and fitness facility.
- Waldo
- Waldo Library, the main university library.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall 2026 runs Aug 31, 2026 – Dec 19, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 25 approved campus terms and 14 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.