College of CharlestonStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for College of Charleston. Free for students.

Public Research University in Charleston, SC. Operating on a semester system.

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12K+

Total Enrollment

Research University

Institution Type

20

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Express I 2026

The semester, explained for College of Charleston

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
Express I 2026
Campus terms
46
Local details
20

Academic calendar

Express I 2026 runs Aug 17, 2026 – Oct 1, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

25 entries
  1. Summer II 2026
  2. Express I 2026Express I Fall 2026Fall 2026 Express IRelevant now
  3. Fall Semester 2026
  4. Express II 2026Express II Fall 2026Fall 2026 Express II
  5. Express I Spring 2027Spring 2027 Express I
  6. Spring Semester 2027
  7. Express II Spring 2027Spring 2027 Express II
  8. Maymester 2027
  9. Extended Summer 2027
  10. Summer Semester 2027
  11. Summer I 2027
  12. Summer II 2027
  13. Express I 2027Express I Fall 2027Fall 2027 Express I
  14. Fall Semester 2027
  15. Express II 2027Express II Fall 2027Fall 2027 Express II

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Campus language

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46 terms

B

Berry
Berry Residence Hall, located on St. Philip Street.
Buist
Buist Rivers Residence Hall.

C

CAB
Campus Activities Board, the student-led group that plans major campus events.
CABL
Charleston Association of Black Leaders, an umbrella organization for minority student leadership.
CASA
Center for Academic Success and Advising, providing tutoring and academic support.
Charleston Shuffle
The specific way students walk to avoid tripping on the uneven, historic brick sidewalks of campus.
Chick-fil-A
The on-campus Chick-fil-A located within the Berry Residence Hall complex.
Cisterning
The act of hanging out or taking photos in the iconic Cistern Yard.
CisternYard
The student media collective that includes the campus newspaper, radio station, and video production.
City
City Bistro, a dining hall located on the north side of campus.
City Market
City Market Eatery, a dining location offering grab-and-go and prepared meals.
Clyde
Clyde the Cougar, the official mascot of the College of Charleston.
CofC
The standard and most common abbreviation for the College of Charleston.
CofC
The standard abbreviation for the College of Charleston.
Cougar
The official mascot and the term used to refer to any student of the college.
Cougar Cash
A declining balance account on the Cougar Card used for on-campus and participating off-campus vendors.

D

Dining Dollars
Currency included with meal plans for use at on-campus retail food outlets.

E

Einstein's
Einstein Bros. Bagels, a popular breakfast and lunch spot located in the Stern Student Center.

G

George
George Street Apartments, upperclassman housing located near the library.

H

HSS
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

I

IFC
Interfraternity Council, the governing body for social fraternities on campus.

K

Kelly
Kelly House, a residence hall located on St. Philip Street.
King Street
The major commercial street adjacent to campus where students shop, eat, and socialize.

L

Liberty
Liberty Street Residence Hall, located above the main dining hall.
Liberty
Liberty Fresh Food Co., the primary all-you-care-to-eat dining hall.

M

Marion Square
A large public park near campus used by students for sunbathing and events.
Market 159
The campus convenience store and deli located on Calhoun Street.
Maroon Meals
Specific meal exchange credits used at retail dining locations on campus.
Maroon Money
A debit-like account on the Cougar Card used for laundry, printing, and off-campus partner merchants.
Marty's
Marty's Place, a dining location offering kosher, vegan, and vegetarian options.
McAlister
McAlister Residence Hall, a popular suite-style dorm.
McConnell
McConnell Residence Hall, located near the center of campus.

P

PEER
Peer Educators for Every Relationship, a student group focused on health and wellness education.

R

RHA
Residence Hall Association, the organization representing students living in campus housing.

S

SAB
Student Alumni Board, an organization connecting current students with alumni.
SAP
Student Acceptance Program, the group of student ambassadors who lead campus tours and recruitment.
Second Sunday
A monthly event where King Street is closed to cars, popular with students.
SGA
Student Government Association, the representative body for the student voice.
SOTA
School of the Arts, often used to refer to the department or its specific buildings.
Stern
The food court area located within the Stern Student Center, featuring retail brands like Chick-fil-A.

T

The Battery
A historic waterfront area nearby where students often go to walk or study.
The Cistern
The Cistern Yard, the iconic grassy area in front of Randolph Hall used for graduation.
The Market
The Market 159, a convenience-style store for snacks and quick meals.
The Riv
Rivers Green, the large grassy area behind the Addlestone Library used for studying and events.
The Yard
Short for the Cistern Yard, the central social and aesthetic heart of the campus.

W

Warren
Warren Place, a residence complex consisting of several houses and apartments.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

20 details
Addlestone
The Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library, the main campus library.
Beatty
The Beatty Center, part of the School of Business complex.
CARTA
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority; students ride city buses for free with their ID.
city_bistro
City Bistro
Cougar Alert
The emergency notification system that sends texts and emails regarding campus safety.
Cougar Card
The official multi-purpose student ID card used for building access and payments.
Cougar Cash
A declining balance account on the Cougar Card used at campus stores and select local vendors.
Degree Works
An online academic planning and tracking tool used to monitor progress toward graduation requirements.
Dining Dollars
Funds included with meal plans specifically for use at on-campus dining locations.
liberty_st_food_hall
Liberty St. Food Hall
Maroon Money
A debit-like account on the Cougar Card for use at the bookstore and various campus services.
marty_s_place
Marty's Place
Maybank
Maybank Hall, a primary building for liberal arts and sciences classes.
MyCharleston
The secure web portal for students to access grades, registration, and financial info.
OAKS
The online learning management system (based on Brightspace) used for all course materials.
Rita
The Rita Liddy Hollings Science Center, commonly shortened to 'Rita'.
Silcox
Silcox Gymnasium, used for physical education and recreation.
Stern
The Stern Student Center, the hub for student organizations and activities.
TD Arena
The main athletic arena for basketball and volleyball.
The Cistern
The Cistern Yard, the iconic grassy area in front of Randolph Hall used for graduation.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Express I 2026 runs Aug 17, 2026 – Oct 1, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
46 approved campus terms and 20 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 · College of Charleston

You just committed to College of Charleston.

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What we’ll email you about

  • Aug 1

    Submit immunization records

    Required · source

  • Aug 1

    Upload Cougar Card photo

    Recommended · source

  • Aug 14

    Fall tuition and fees payment

    Required · source

  • Aug 21

    First-year move-in begins

    Required · source

One email per real deadline. Source link cited every time. We re-check 7 days before each one fires.

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Find a few communities to try at College of Charleston

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

18 mapped items from 13 public sources

Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

Worth a look

Charleston 40

A select group of students who serve as official hosts and ambassadors for the College of Charleston at presidential, alumni, and admissions events.

Regular commitment

College of Charleston Founders Club

A community for student entrepreneurs to grow their businesses by providing a network of founders and investors, peer-to-peer coaching, and business development resources.

Open to all

Fencing Club

A club for students interested in learning and competing in the sport of fencing.

Open to all

Source: campusrec.cofc.edu · Verified 1 month ago

MEDLIFE

A global health organization that partners with low-income communities in Latin America to improve access to medicine, education, and development through Service-Learning Trips.

Open to all

Public Health Society

Connects Public Health majors and other interested students to promote the major, provide education on post-graduate opportunities, and organize health initiatives on campus.

Open to all

Easy to try first

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

The College of Charleston's student chapter of the ACM, the world's largest educational and scientific computing society.

Drop in any time

CofC Outdoors Club

Promotes outdoor activities and appreciation for the environment through trips and events like hiking, climbing, and kayaking.

Drop in any time

Campus rituals

Convocation and Signing the Book

An annual gathering to start the academic year where new students pass through the arch at Porter's Lodge and officially sign 'the book' to join the College community.

Open to all

Source: cofc.edu · Verified 1 month ago

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Using DormWay at College of Charleston

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College of Charleston on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

22

Active Students

23

Syllabi Analyzed

17

Courses on DormWay

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Popular Courses

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Elementary Spanish I through CultureFINANCIAL ACCOUNTINGFundamentals of EngineeringFYE – Computers, Music and ArtHistory of Art: Renaissance through ModernHistory of the Classical WorldHonors American GovernmentHuman Anatomy & Physiology I

Life in Charleston for College of Charleston Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Charleston.

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$1,632

Cost of Living Index

120

Student Population

25,000

City Transportation

Walkability

40

Bikeability

50

Public Transit

Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) buses, Dorchester Connector regional buses

Nearest Airports

Charleston International Airport (CHS)

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid subtropical

Avg Annual Temp

66°F

Avg Snowfall

0.5 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

St. Philip Street Garage

garage • Open to daily/visitor parkers; monthly permits currently unavailable.

Located at 34 St. Philip Street.

Lot 411 Meeting St.

surface_lot • Student use 24/7

Permit-only lot for students.

Upcoming Events

What's happening at College of Charleston

Wiffleball - Weeks of Welcome

August 30, 2026 at 3:00 PM

Johnson Gymnasium, 30 George St.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at College of Charleston

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

20 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

12 Glebe St.

Room types: double, triple, quadruple

291 King Street

Room types: double

99 St. Philip Street

Capacity: 59

Room types: private, double

Berry Hall

Capacity: 500

Room types: double, triple, quadruple

Brotherton Hall

Room types: double

Buist Rivers Hall

Capacity: 114

Room types: double, triple

Coming Street Commons

Capacity: 1,200

Room types: double, limited single

Craig Hall

Capacity: 200

Room types: double

George Street Apartments

Capacity: 150

Room types: private

Historic Houses

Capacity: 200

Room types: private, double, triple, quadruple

Hotels (Courtyard, Hilton, Residence Inn)

Room types: private, double

Kelly House

Capacity: 100

Room types: private, double

Liberty Hall

Capacity: 120

Room types: double, triple

Liberty Street Residence Hall

Capacity: 439

Room types: double, triple

McAlister Hall

Capacity: 120

Room types: double, triple

McConnell Hall

Capacity: 80

Room types: double

Ratrie Hall

Room types: double, single, apartment

Residence Inn by Marriott Charleston Riverview

Rutledge Rivers Hall

Capacity: 100

Room types: double

Warren Place

Capacity: 100

Room types: double

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Public

Email Domain

@collegeofcharleston.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

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