Academic calendar
Fall 2026 - First 7-Week Session runs Aug 24, 2026 – Oct 9, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 2026 - 11-Week Session
- Summer 2026 - Regular Session
- Summer 2026 - Session II
- Summer 2026 - Second 6-Week Session
- Fall 2026 - First 7-Week SessionRelevant now
- Fall 2026Fall 2026 - Regular Session
- Fall 2026 - Second 7-Week Session
- Spring 2027 - First 7-Week Session
- Spring 2027 - Regular Session
- Spring 2027 - Second 7-Week Session
- Summer 2027 - Maymester
- Summer 2027 - First 6-Week Session
- Summer 2027 - Regular Session
- Summer 2027 - Second 6-Week Session
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 19 of 19 terms
A
- ARHS
- Association of Residence Hall Students, the representative body for students living on campus.
C
- Canyon
- Canyon Pizza, a popular late-night pizza destination for students.
E
- East
- East Halls, the primary residential area for first-year students.
F
- Findlay
- The dining commons located in East Halls.
H
- Happy Valley
- A common nickname for State College and the surrounding Penn State community.
N
- North
- North Halls, a residential area featuring suite-style living and the Arts and Architecture interest house.
P
- Pollock
- Pollock Halls, the second-largest residential area on campus, located near the center of University Park.
- Pollock
- The dining commons located in Pollock Halls.
R
- Redifer
- The dining commons located in South Halls.
S
- South
- South Halls, a residential area housing many upperclassmen and Schreyer Honors College students.
- SPA
- Student Programming Association, the organization responsible for bringing concerts and speakers to campus.
- State
- Shorthand for State College, the town where the University Park campus is located.
T
- The HUB
- The food court and retail dining options within the HUB-Robeson Center.
- THON
- The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, the world's largest student-run philanthropy.
U
- UPUA
- University Park Undergraduate Association, the student government representing undergraduate students.
W
- Waring
- The dining commons located in West Halls.
- Warnock
- The dining commons located in North Halls.
- We Are
- The beginning of the university's signature 'We Are... Penn State' chant.
- West
- West Halls, a residential area known for its traditional architecture and proximity to the library.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Canvas
- The learning management system used for course materials and assignments.
- CATA
- The Centre Area Transportation Authority, the bus system serving the campus and local community.
- coasters_coffee_bar
- Coasters Coffee Bar
- common_grounds
- Common Grounds
- Id+
- The official Penn State identification card used for building access and meal plans.
- LionCash
- A prepaid account accessed via the student ID card for purchases on and off campus.
- LionPATH
- The university's student information system for grades, registration, and financial aid.
- Old Main
- The iconic administrative building and center of campus.
- Pattee
- Pattee and Paterno Library, the central university library complex.
- Pegula
- Pegula Ice Arena, the home of Penn State hockey.
- port_sky_caf
- Port Sky Café
- Rec Hall
- Recreation Hall, a historic field house used for athletics and student recreation.
- Starfish
- The online platform used for academic advising and scheduling appointments.
- The BJC
- The Bryce Jordan Center, the university's multi-purpose arena.
- The HUB
- The HUB-Robeson Center, the main student union building.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall 2026 - First 7-Week Session runs Aug 24, 2026 – Oct 9, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 19 approved campus terms and 15 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.