Murray State UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Murray State University. Free for students.

Public Research University in Murray, KY. Operating on a semester system.

Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.

Free for all Murray State University students. No credit card required.

10K+

Total Enrollment

Research University

Institution Type

18

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall 2026 First 5-Week (5A)

The semester, explained for Murray State University

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
Fall 2026 First 5-Week (5A)
Campus terms
22
Local details
14

Academic calendar

Fall 2026 First 5-Week (5A) runs Aug 18, 2026 – Sep 22, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

37 entries
  1. Summer 2026
  2. Summer 2026 10-Week (SK)
  3. Summer 2026 First ESL (E3)
  4. Summer 2026 Second 6-Week (EC2)Summer 2026 Second 6-Week (EC2) eCampusSummer 2026 Second 6-Week (S02)
  5. Summer 2026 2nd 5-Week (SH)
  6. Fall 2026 First 5-Week (5A)Relevant now
  7. Fall 2026 First HalfFall 2026 First Half (1ST)
  8. Fall 2026 10-Week (10W)
  9. Fall 2026
  10. Fall 2026 First 7-Week (EC1)Fall 2026 First 7-Week (EC1) eCampusFall 2026 First 7-Week (S01)
  11. Fall 2026 First ESL (E1)
  12. Fall 2026 First Weekender (CA)
  13. Fall 2026 Second Weekender (CB)
  14. Fall 2026 8-Week (SU2) Shandong
  15. Fall 2026 12-Week (SU1) Shandong
  16. Fall 2026 Second HalfFall 2026 Second Half (2ND)
  17. Fall 2026 Second 7-Week (EC2)Fall 2026 Second 7-Week (EC2) eCampusFall 2026 Second 7-Week (S02)
  18. Fall 2026 Third 5-Week (5C)
  19. Fall 2026 Second ESL (E2)
  20. Winter 2026
  21. Spring 2027 First Half
  22. Spring 2027
  23. Spring 2027 Second Half
  24. Fall 2027 First Half
  25. Fall 2027
  26. Fall 2027 Second Half
  27. Spring 2028 First Half
  28. Spring 2028
  29. Spring 2028 Second Half

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

22 terms

A

All-Campus Sing
A massive annual outdoor choral competition held on the steps of Lovett Auditorium.

C

CAB
Campus Activities Board, the student-led group that plans major campus events and concerts.
Clark
Clark Residential College, part of the residential college system located near the academic core.

D

Dunker
The official name of the Murray State Racer mascot.

E

Elizabeth
Elizabeth Residential College, a residential community named after Elizabeth Harkless Woods.

F

Flex
Flex Dollars, the declining balance currency used for dining on campus via the RacerCard.

H

Hart
Hart Residential College, one of the larger residential communities on the north side of campus.
Hester
Hester Residential College, known for its central location and high-rise structure.

I

ISO
International Student Organization, supporting the global student community at Murray State.

P

Pony
The Pony Express, a convenience store and grab-and-go food location.

R

Racer Nation
The collective term for the Murray State student body, alumni, and athletic fans.
Regents
Regents Residential College, often paired with White College in the central housing area.
RHA
Residence Hall Association, the governing body for students living in residential colleges.
Richmond
Richmond Residential College, a newer residential facility on the south side of campus.

S

SGA
Student Government Association, the primary representative body for students.
Shoe Tree
A campus landmark where student couples who meet at Murray State hang a pair of mismatched shoes for good luck.
Springer-Franklin
Springer-Franklin Residential College, a combined residential community on the north end.

T

T-Room
The Thoroughbred Room, a food court style dining area located in the Curris Center.
The Curris
The Curris Center, the main student union which houses multiple dining options including Starbucks.
The Quad
The central grassy lawn surrounded by historic academic buildings, used for studying and events.

W

White
White Residential College, located near the Curris Center.
Winslow
Winslow Dining Hall, the primary all-you-care-to-eat cafeteria on campus.

Places and practicalities

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

14 details
Alexander
Alexander Hall, the primary building for the College of Education and Human Services.
Canvas
The learning management system where professors post course materials and assignments.
CFSB
The CFSB Center, the university's multi-purpose arena used for basketball games and graduation.
chick_fil_a
Chick-fil-A
Curris
The Curris Center, the central hub for student life, dining, and the bookstore.
einstein_bros_bagels
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Lovett
Lovett Auditorium, the historic performance venue located on the Quad.
Pogue
Pogue Special Collections Library, known for its historic architecture and archives.
Racer Book Bundle
The university's textbook rental program that provides all required books for a flat fee per semester.
Racer Safe
The official campus safety app providing emergency alerts and safety resources.
RacerCard
The official university ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
RacerNet
The web portal used by students to register for classes, check grades, and manage financial aid.
Waterfield
Waterfield Library, the main academic library on campus.
winslow_dining_hall
Winslow Dining Hall

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall 2026 First 5-Week (5A) runs Aug 18, 2026 – Sep 22, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
22 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.

Get to know your university

Assisted

Find a few communities to try at Murray State University

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

Tell us what we missed
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.

DormWay is still mapping student communities at this campus.

We only show recommendations once we have enough public sources for Murray State University.

These are things we discovered. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

Recommendations are based on public campus sources. We do not endorse student organizations.

Using DormWay at Murray State University

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

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Workload planning

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Free student access

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Murray State University on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

4

Active Students

4

Syllabi Analyzed

4

Courses on DormWay

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Popular Courses

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Introduction to Cybersecurity and Network ManagementNetwork FundamentalsPrinciples of Information SecurityTechnology Management

DormWay integrates with Murray State University's LMS

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Canvas

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Life in Murray for Murray State University Students

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

Timezone

Central Time (CT)

Median Rent

$817

Cost of Living Index

85

Student Population

9,500

City Transportation

Walkability

60

Bikeability

50

Public Transit

Murray-Calloway County Transit System, Murray State University Racer Routes shuttle

Nearest Airports

Murray Calloway County Airport (Kyle-Oakley Field), Nearby Barkley Regional Airport (Paducah)

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid subtropical

Avg Annual Temp

58.5°F

Avg Snowfall

6 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Stewart Stadium Lot

surface_lot • High

Economy/Purple Zone; valid for any permit holder.

Hamilton Field

surface_lot

Economy/Purple Zone.

Curris Center Lot

surface_lot • Limited

1-hour spaces, blue/red zones; open to all V-Permits after 5 PM.

Campus News

Latest updates from Murray State University

Murray State Athletics Celebrates Topping Off Ceremony Inside CFSB Center

The final steel beam was placed in the CFSB Center renovation, marking a milestone for the facility's modernization ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Sep 2, 2026

Read More

Admission for fall 2027 and 2027-28 academic year now open

Prospective students can now apply for the fall 2027 semester at Murray State University.

Sep 1, 2026

Read More

Board of Regents discusses shared governance, campus construction

The Board of Regents met to discuss updates to the faculty handbook and ongoing construction projects across campus.

Sep 1, 2026

Read More

A Tornado Warning was issued for Calloway County on September 1, 2026; students were advised to shelter in place.

A Tornado Warning was issued for Calloway County on September 1, 2026; students were advised to shelter in place.

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Murray State University

Student Organization Fair

September 3, 2026

Curris Center Small Ballroom

An opportunity for students to explore and join various student organizations on campus.

Home Football Game vs. TBA

September 7, 2026

Roy Stewart Stadium

Racer Football home game at 6 p.m.

Family Weekend 2026

September 11, 2026

Campus-wide

A weekend of events for Racer families, including area attractions and campus activities.

Fall Fanfare Concert

September 14, 2026

Lovett Auditorium

Annual concert featuring Murray State music ensembles.

Charlies and Marlene Johnson Colloquium with S.G. Goodman

September 17, 2026

Murray State University

A colloquium featuring artist S.G. Goodman.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Murray State University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

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

Apartments (College Courts Apartments)

Clark Hall

College Courts

Room types: apartment

College Courts 2 Bedroom Apartment

Room types: 2 bedroom

Elizabeth Hall

Capacity: 300

Room types: single, double

Hart Hall

Capacity: 534

Room types: double, private

HC Franklin Hall

Room types: single, double, 4-bedroom suite

Hester Hall

Capacity: 308

Room types: double

JH Richmond Hall

Room types: double, private, 4-bedroom suite

Lee Clark Hall

Room types: double, private, 4-bedroom suite

Regents Hall

Capacity: 380

Room types: single, double

RH White Hall

Room types: single, double

Richmond Hall

Capacity: 270

Springer II Hall

Station 74

Room types: apartment

Station 74 at Murray State University

Room types: 2 bedroom apartment, 4 bedroom apartment

White Hall

Room types: private room

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Public

Email Domain

@murraystate.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

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