Academic calendar
Fall 2026 runs Aug 29, 2026 – Dec 18, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 2026 8-Week Session
- Summer 2026
- Fall 2026Relevant now
- Winter 2027
- Spring 2027
- Summer Session 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 31 of 31 terms
A
- AACE
- Asian American Center for Excellence; a support program for Asian American and Pacific Islander students.
- AAMP
- African American Male Program; a mentorship and academic support initiative.
- AANAPISI
- Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, a program providing specialized student resources.
- Add Code
- The unique 4-6 digit number provided by an instructor to allow a student to join a full or closed class.
- AGS
- Alpha Gamma Sigma, the California Community College Honor Scholarship Society chapter.
- ASG
- Associated Student Government; the primary student representative body on campus.
- ASO
- Associated Student Organization, the official student government body on campus.
C
- Canvas
- The online portal used for all course materials, assignments, and grades.
D
- DSPS
- Disability Support Programs and Services; the office that handles academic accommodations.
E
- EOPS
- Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, providing financial and academic support for disadvantaged students.
G
- Great America side
- Refers to the northern edge of campus that borders the California's Great America theme park.
M
- MESA
- Math, Engineering, Science Achievement, a program supporting students in STEM majors.
- Mission Café
- The main campus cafeteria located in the Student Engagement Center (SEC).
P
- PUENTE
- A national award-winning program that helps students reach four-year colleges and universities.
S
- Saints
- The official mascot of the college, used to refer to the student body or athletic teams.
- Stadium Traffic
- A common student warning regarding the heavy congestion caused by events at the neighboring Levi's Stadium.
T
- The 101/237 Mess
- The frequent traffic gridlock at the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 237 bordering the campus.
- The 408
- Regional slang for the San Jose/Santa Clara area code, often used by students to describe the local campus environment.
- The Bistro
- The student-run restaurant and cafe operated by the Hospitality Management program, offering gourmet meals at lower prices.
- The Bridge
- The pedestrian walkway connecting the parking lots to the main campus area.
- The Cafe
- Common shorthand for the coffee and snack bar located in the Gillmor Center.
- The Fountain
- A popular meeting spot located near the front of the campus.
- The Great America Side
- The northern side of campus closest to the California's Great America theme park.
- The Grill
- The hot food station within the main cafeteria serving burgers and breakfast items.
- The Levi's Crowd
- Refers to the extreme traffic and parking congestion caused by events at the adjacent Levi's Stadium.
- The Mission
- The common shorthand name used by students and faculty for Mission College.
- The Quad
- The central outdoor grassy area between the SEC and Gillmor Center where events are held.
- Transfer track
- The academic path taken by students intending to transfer to a four-year university like a UC or CSU.
V
- VALOR
- Veterans Achievement and Learning Opportunities Resources, the center dedicated to student veterans.
W
- W
- A 'Withdrawal' mark on a transcript, often discussed by students regarding drop deadlines.
- W-Number
- The universal term for a student's ID number, which always begins with the letter W.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Add Code
- A 4-6 digit authorization code given by instructors to allow a student to join a class that is full or has already started.
- Add Codes
- Unique numeric codes provided by instructors to allow students to register for a class after the semester has started.
- Assessment
- The process (now largely based on high school transcripts) used to place students in Math and English levels.
- Canvas
- The learning management system where students access course materials and submit assignments.
- CC
- Campus Center, where the bookstore and dining are located.
- Cranium Cafe
- The virtual platform used for online counseling appointments and meeting with student service staff.
- GC
- The Gillmor Center, a three-story building housing high-tech classrooms and labs.
- HM
- The Hospitality Management building, where culinary classes and The Bistro are located.
- LA
- The Liberal Arts building, used for humanities, social sciences, and language courses.
- Late Start
- Classes that begin mid-semester rather than during the first week of the term.
- Mission Portal
- The single sign-on dashboard used to access Canvas, student email, and registration tools.
- mission_75_kitchen
- Mission 75 Kitchen
- mission_bistro
- Mission Bistro
- MT
- Modular Trailers, temporary classroom units located on the perimeter of the campus.
- MyMission
- The online student portal used for class registration, checking grades, and accessing student email.
- SEC
- The Student Engagement Center, the central hub for admissions, financial aid, and student services.
- Smart Pass
- A discounted VTA transit pass provided to students for unlimited use of local buses and light rail.
- SmartPass
- A discounted VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) transit pass available to students through the ASG.
- TAV
- The Theater and Arts Village, the complex for performing arts, music, and drama.
- the_owl_caf
- The Owl Café
- vending_locations
- Vending Locations
- VTA
- Valley Transportation Authority, the public transit system serving the campus.
- VTA Smart Pass
- A discounted transit pass provided to students for unlimited rides on local Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority buses and light rail.
- W
- A grade of 'Withdrawal' recorded on a transcript if a student drops after the deadline.
- W-Number
- The unique student identification number (starting with 'W') required for all logins and official paperwork.
- Welcome Center
- The first-stop desk in the SEC for new students needing help with applications or directions.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall 2026 runs Aug 29, 2026 – Dec 18, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 31 approved campus terms and 26 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.