Academic calendar
Fall 2026 Early 7 Weeks runs Aug 31, 2026 – Oct 16, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 2026 Session VS (Variable Summer)Summer Session VS 2026
- Summer 2026 Session LS (Late Summer)Summer Session LS 2026
- Fall 2026 Early 7 WeeksFall 2026 Early 7 Weeks (E7)Fall Early 7 Weeks (E7) 2026Relevant now
- Fall 2026
- Fall 2026 Late 7 WeeksFall 2026 Late 7 Weeks (L7)Fall Late 7 Weeks (L7) 2026
- J-Term 2027January Term (J-Term) 2027January Term 2027
- Spring Early 7 Weeks (E7) 2027
- Spring 2027 Early 7 WeeksSpring 2027 Early 7 Weeks (E7)
- Spring 2027
- Spring Late 7 Weeks (L7) 2027
- Spring 2027 Late 7 WeeksSpring 2027 Late 7 Weeks (L7)
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 32 of 32 terms
A
- AASO
- African American Student Organization, one of the largest cultural groups on campus.
B
- Bengal
- Shorthand for Bengal Hall, one of the traditional-style residence halls.
- Bengal Bucks
- General-purpose campus funds used for laundry, printing, the bookstore, and dining.
- Bengal Kitchen
- The main residential dining hall located in the Campbell Student Union.
- Bengals
- The official mascot and the collective term for Buffalo State students and athletes.
- Benji
- The name of the university's mascot, Benji the Bengal.
- BPE
- Bengals Passionate About Education, a student organization for future educators.
- Buff State
- The most common shorthand name for Buffalo State University used by students and locals.
C
- CCE
- The Civic and Community Engagement office, which coordinates volunteer and service-learning opportunities.
D
- Dining Dollars
- Tax-free funds included in meal plans specifically for purchasing food at on-campus retail outlets.
E
- Elmwood
- Refers to Elmwood Avenue and the Elmwood Village, the popular social and shopping district immediately adjacent to campus.
- EOP
- Educational Opportunity Program, providing financial and academic support to eligible students.
L
- Late Night
- The evening dining hours at the Bengal Kitchen or retail locations, popular for late-night snacks.
M
- Meal Exchanges
- A system allowing students to use a dining hall swipe at retail locations like Subway or Anchor Bar.
- Moore
- The Moore Complex, a suite-style residence hall primarily for upper-division students.
N
- Neumann
- Neumann Hall, a residence hall often used for specialty housing or upperclassmen.
- North Wing
- A specific section of the residence hall complex often referred to by its directional name.
- NT
- Shorthand for North Tower residence hall.
P
- Porter
- Porter Hall, a traditional corridor-style residence hall.
R
- RHA
- Residence Hall Association, the organization representing students living on campus.
S
- SLE
- Student Leadership and Engagement office, which oversees campus activities and Greek life.
- Spot
- Shorthand for Spot Coffee, a popular local coffee chain with a location in the Student Union.
- ST
- Shorthand for South Tower residence hall.
- STAC
- The Student Apartment Complex, a popular housing option for upper-division students.
T
- Tech Building
- Refers to the dining options located within the Technology Building, often used by students in that area of campus.
- The Quad
- The central grassy area of campus where students gather for events and socializing.
- The Strip
- Elmwood Avenue, the vibrant street adjacent to campus known for its shops, bars, and cafes.
- The Towers
- The high-rise residence halls, North Tower and South Tower, located on the west side of campus.
- The Union
- Refers to the various retail food options (like Starbucks or the food court) inside the Campbell Student Union.
U
- USG
- United Students Government, the primary student governing body that manages club funding.
V
- VPA
- The School of Arts and Sciences' Visual and Performing Arts programs.
W
- WBNY
- The student-run campus radio station (91.3 FM).
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Bacon
- Bacon Hall, primarily used for education and professional studies classes.
- Banner
- The online student information system used for course registration, checking grades, and financial aid.
- Bengal Card
- The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- Bengal Connect
- The online platform where students join clubs, track involvement, and find campus events.
- bengal_kitchen
- Bengal Kitchen
- Blue-light phones
- Emergency call boxes that also serve as designated pick-up points for the overnight escort shuttle.
- Brightspace
- The learning management system where professors post course materials and assignments.
- Bulger
- Bulger Communication Center, a central hub for large lecture halls and technology services.
- Butler
- E. H. Butler Library, the main campus library and study hub.
- C-Lot
- The large commuter parking lot located on the western edge of the campus.
- campus_house
- Campus House
- E. H. Butler
- The campus library, often referred to simply as 'the library' or 'Butler'.
- Grant-Cleveland Shuttle
- A free campus shuttle service that runs between major parking lots and academic buildings.
- Ketchum
- Ketchum Hall, an academic building housing many social science departments.
- Late Start
- Courses that begin several weeks into the semester, typically following a 12-week or 8-week schedule.
- Lot R
- A large commuter parking lot often cited in discussions regarding campus parking availability.
- MetGo
- The NFTA transit card used by students for local bus and rail travel in Buffalo.
- Moot
- Moot Hall, which houses administrative offices like Financial Aid and the Registrar.
- NFTA
- The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority; students use their ID for discounted or included access to local buses and the light rail.
- retail_dining_food_court
- Retail Dining (Food Court)
- Rockwell
- Rockwell Hall, the historic building housing the performing arts center and administrative offices.
- SAMC
- The Science and Mathematics Complex, the modern facility for STEM departments.
- The Union
- The Campbell Student Union, the central social and dining hub of the campus.
- Upton
- Upton Hall, the primary building for the fine arts and design departments.
- Weave
- The assessment software used by the university for tracking student learning outcomes and program goals.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall 2026 Early 7 Weeks runs Aug 31, 2026 – Oct 16, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 32 approved campus terms and 25 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.