Academic calendar
Fall 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 2026 Term C
- Summer 2026 Term B
- Fall 2026Relevant now
- Spring 2027
- Summer 2027 Term B
Campus language
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Showing 64 of 64 terms
A
- ASBC
- Activities and Service Budget Committee, the SGA branch responsible for allocating student fee funds.
B
- Be Out Day
- A massive annual spring festival and tradition hosted by the SGA.
C
- CAB
- Campus Activity Board, the organization responsible for planning major student events and entertainment.
E
- EFFORT
- Effective Fashion For Our Rattlers Today, a prominent campus modeling and fashion organization.
- Effortless
- Common shorthand for the Effortless Beauty modeling troupe.
- ESUA
- Efferson Student Union and Activities, the department managing campus life and union facilities.
F
- FAMUly
- A term used to describe the close-knit community and lifelong bonds between students and alumni.
- Flex
- Flex Dollars, the declining balance currency attached to student meal plans for on-campus retail dining.
- Flex Bucks
- The campus dining currency included with meal plans for use at retail food locations.
- Fried Chicken Wednesday
- A weekly campus-wide tradition where the dining halls serve a soul food menu.
- Fried Chicken Wednesday
- A weekly campus dining tradition featuring a specific menu that is a staple of FAMU culture.
G
- Gibbs
- Gibbs Hall, a prominent male residence hall on campus.
M
- M100
- The Marching 100, FAMU's world-renowned marching band.
- Marching 100
- The world-renowned Florida A&M University marching band.
- Market Friday
- A weekly social tradition on The Set featuring vendors, music, and Greek life performances.
- Market Monday
- A weekly tradition on The Set featuring vendors, music, and student organization tables.
N
- NPHC
- National Pan-Hellenic Council, representing the 'Divine Nine' historically Black fraternities and sororities.
- NSBE
- National Society of Black Engineers, a prominent professional organization on campus.
O
- OGG
- Orange & Green Guides, student ambassadors who lead campus tours and orientation.
- Orange and Green
- The university's official colors, often used to describe school spirit.
- Orange Room
- A popular social and dining spot featuring retail food options.
- OSA
- Office of Student Activities, which oversees campus events and clubs.
P
- Paddyfoote
- A former multi-building dorm complex often cited by alumni and older students in campus lore.
- Paddyfote
- Paddyfote Hall (historically significant, though usage varies based on renovation status).
- Palmetto
- Palmetto North and South apartment complexes.
- Palms
- Palmetto Street Apartments or Palmetto South, typically housing upperclassmen.
- PDR
- The President's Dining Room, a restaurant-style dining option known for higher quality service.
- Polk
- Polkinghorne Village, a popular apartment-style residence hall.
- PV
- Polkinghorne Village, a primary residential complex on campus.
R
- Rattler
- Any FAMU student, alumnus, or fan.
- Rattler Strike
- The specific hand gesture (a claw) used by students and alumni to show school spirit.
- Rattler's Nest
- A popular dining hall located in the Foote-Hilyer Administration Center.
- RSO
- Registered Student Organization, any of the 300+ officially recognized student clubs.
S
- SAB
- Student Activities Board, the organization responsible for planning major campus events.
- Sampson
- Sampson Hall, one of the traditional all-male residence halls on campus.
- Sampson/Young
- Sampson and Young Halls, traditional-style residence halls often grouped together.
- SBI
- School of Business and Industry, often used to refer to the students and culture within that specific college.
- Set Friday
- A weekly tradition on The Set featuring music, vendors, and Greek life performances.
- SGA
- Student Government Association, the primary student representative body.
- Snake
- To act in the spirit of a Rattler or to participate in campus traditions.
- Strike
- Short for the university motto 'Strike, Strike, and Strike Again!'; used as a greeting or cheer.
T
- The Bottom
- The lower-elevation area of campus near the gym and stadium
- The Cafe
- The main campus dining hall located in the Student Union.
- The Den
- Rattler's Den, a food court area featuring various retail dining options.
- The Galley
- The dining facility located near the lower part of campus/housing.
- The Highest of Seven Hills
- A poetic reference to the university's physical and metaphorical standing.
- The Hill
- The FAMU campus, famously situated on the highest of Tallahassee's seven hills.
- The Hub
- A major dining facility and eatery located near the FAMU Towers.
- The Nest
- The Rattler's Nest, a popular dining hall located in the Foote-Hilyer Administration Center.
- The Orange Room
- A popular food court area located in the Science Research Center.
- The Pit
- A specific dining or social area within the campus food service facilities.
- The Set
- The brick-paved center of campus life where students socialize and hold events.
- The Set
- The central outdoor area where food trucks and vendors congregate, especially on Fridays.
- The Top
- The Top Cafe, the primary all-you-care-to-eat dining hall located on the upper level of the student union.
- The Top Cafe
- The main residence dining hall located on the upper level of the campus dining facility.
- The Towers
- FAMU Towers North and South, the university's newest hotel-style residence halls.
- The Village
- FAMU Village (East and West), suite-style housing for freshmen and upperclassmen.
- The Yard
- General slang for the campus grounds, particularly in the context of Greek life and social events.
- Towers
- FAMU Towers (North and South), the university's newest hotel-style residence halls.
- Tropical
- The on-campus Tropical Smoothie Cafe location.
- Truth
- Sojourner Truth Hall, a newer suite-style residence hall.
V
- Venom Landing
- A new 700-bed residence hall scheduled to open for the Fall 2025 semester.
W
- We Brag Different
- The university's iconic slogan celebrating its unique legacy and excellence.
Y
- Young
- Young Hall, a residence hall often paired with Sampson Hall.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Canvas
- The learning management system where students access course materials and submit assignments.
- CASS
- The Center for Access & Student Services, a one-stop shop for admissions, financial aid, and registrar services.
- Coleman
- Coleman Memorial Library, the main campus library.
- FAMnet
- The university's network ID system used for logging into campus Wi-Fi and computers.
- FAMU Alert
- The emergency notification system for campus-wide safety updates.
- Flex Dollars
- Dining currency included with meal plans that can be used at various on-campus eateries.
- Foote-Hilyer
- The Foote-Hilyer Administration Center, where financial aid and admissions are located.
- Gaither
- Gaither Gymnasium, used for athletic events and assemblies.
- Green Lot
- Refers to student-designated parking areas requiring a specific permit.
- iRattler
- The central online portal for registration, grades, and financial aid.
- iStrike
- The student engagement platform used to track campus involvement and organization events.
- Lawson Center
- The Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium, used for basketball and major events.
- Lee Hall
- The historic administrative building and main auditorium.
- Mobile ID
- The digital version of the Rattler Card stored on a smartphone for contactless entry and payments.
- pizza_express
- Pizza Express
- Rattler Bucks
- A form of campus currency loaded onto the Rattler Card for use at retail dining locations.
- Rattler Card
- The official student ID card used for meal plans, building access, and library services.
- rattler_s_kitchen
- Rattler's Kitchen
- Safe Team
- The student-run safety escort service for walking across campus at night.
- SBI
- The School of Business and Industry building.
- Set Friday
- A weekly social tradition on The Set featuring music, vendors, and Greek life performances.
- SJGC
- School of Journalism & Graphic Communication building.
- starbucks_food_court
- Starbucks (Food Court)
- The Bottom
- The lower-elevation area of campus near the athletic fields and Bragg Memorial Stadium.
- The Grand Ballroom
- The primary event space located within the Efferson Student Union.
- The Hub
- The Student Service Center where financial aid, registration, and other services are located.
- The Lawson Center
- The Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center, the arena for basketball games and commencement.
- The Quad
- The central grassy area surrounded by academic buildings, used for studying and outdoor activities.
- The Set
- The social heart of campus on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, where students gather for events.
- The Union
- Efferson Student Union & Activities Center
- the_food_court_starbucks
- The Food Court (Starbucks)
- the_hub
- The Hub
- the_top_cafe
- The Top Cafe
- Tucker Hall
- A central academic building known for housing many liberal arts classes and faculty.
- Venom
- The Venom Express, the campus shuttle bus system.
- Venom Express
- The campus shuttle bus system that runs interior and perimeter routes.
- Venom Tracker
- The mobile app used by students to track the real-time location of campus shuttles.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 64 approved campus terms and 37 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.