Academic calendar
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 17, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 2026 Full-term Session ISummer Full-term Session 2026Summer Semester 2026 Session I Full-Term
- Summer Semester 2026 Session II (6-Week)Summer Session II 2026 (6-Week)
- Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
- Spring Semester 2027
- Summer 2027 6-Week Session ISummer 2027 Session I (6-week)Summer Session I (6-Week) 2027Summer Sessions 2027 Session I (6-Week)
- Summer 2027 8-Week Session ISummer 2027 Session I (8-week)Summer Session I (8-Week) 2027Summer Sessions 2027 Session I (8-Week)
- Summer 2027 10-Week Session ISummer 2027 Session I (10-week)Summer Session I (10-Week) 2027Summer Sessions 2027 Session I (10-Week)
- Summer 2027 Full-term Session ISummer 2027 Full-Term Session ISummer 2027 Session I (Full-term)Summer Session I (Full-Term) 2027Summer Sessions 2027 Session I Full-Term
- Summer 2027 6-Week Session IISummer 2027 Session II (6-week)Summer Session II (6-Week) 2027Summer Session II 2027 (6-Week)Summer Sessions 2027 Session II (6-Week)
- Fall Semester 2027
- Spring Semester 2028
- Summer 2028 6-Week Session ISummer 2028 Session I (6-week)Summer Session I (6-Week) 2028
- Summer 2028 8-Week Session ISummer 2028 Session I (8-week)Summer Session I (8-Week) 2028
- Summer 2028 10-Week Session ISummer 2028 Session I (10-week)Summer Session I (10-Week) 2028
- Summer 2028 Full-term Session ISummer 2028 Full-Term Session ISummer 2028 Session I (Full-term)Summer Session I (Full-Term) 2028
- Summer 2028 6-Week Session IISummer 2028 Session II (6-week)Summer Session II (6-Week) 2028
Campus language
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Showing 57 of 57 terms
B
- Buff & Blue
- The official school colors, often used to refer to school spirit or athletic teams.
- Buff & Blue
- The Buff & Blue Market, a campus convenience store and deli located in the University Student Center.
- Buff and Blue
- The official school colors, used to describe school spirit or athletic gear.
D
- Dining Dollars
- Funds specifically allocated for use at university-run dining halls and select vendors.
- District
- District House, a major residence hall that also houses several basement dining options.
- District
- The food court area located in the lower level of District House.
- District Dining
- The food court area in the basement of District House featuring various retail concepts.
F
- Foggy
- The Foggy Bottom Campus, GW's main urban campus in downtown D.C.
- FSK
- Francis Scott Key Hall, a residence hall located on 20th Street.
- FSS
- First-Year Service Scholars, a program focused on community service and civic engagement.
G
- Guthridge
- Guthridge Hall, an upperclassman residence hall located on F Street.
- GWOC
- The George Washington Outing Club, a student group for outdoor enthusiasts.
- GWorld
- The student ID card, used for building access, dining, and as a debit card at local vendors.
- GWorld
- The student ID card system used as a debit card for both on-campus and off-campus dining partners.
- GWTV
- The student-run television station providing campus news and entertainment.
I
- Ivory
- Shenkman Hall, frequently referred to by its former name, Ivory Tower.
J
- JBKO
- Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Hall, an upperclassman apartment-style dorm.
K
- Kogan
- Kogan Plaza, the central outdoor gathering space between Gelman Library and Lisner Auditorium.
M
- Meal Deals
- Fixed-price meal options available at specific campus dining partners for students on a meal plan.
- MSSC
- Multicultural Student Services Center, which supports underrepresented student populations.
P
- PB
- Program Board, the student-led organization that plans major events like Fall Fest and Spring Thing.
- Pelham
- Pelham Commons, the primary dining hall located on the Mount Vernon campus.
- Potomac
- Potomac House, a freshman residence hall located on F Street.
R
- Raise High
- The university's official fight song title and common rallying cry/motto.
- Rev
- Short for 'Revolutionaries,' the university's official mascot and moniker.
- Revos
- Short for Revolutionaries, the university's official moniker adopted in 2023.
- Revvies
- A nickname for the 'Revolutionaries,' the university's official moniker adopted in 2023.
- RHA
- Residence Hall Association, the representative body for students living in campus housing.
S
- SA
- Student Association, the primary student government body at GW.
- Shenkman
- Shenkman Hall, formerly known as Ivory Tower, a popular upperclassman dorm with a food court.
- Shenkman
- The dining hall located in Shenkman Hall (formerly Ivory Tower).
- South
- South Hall, an upperclassman residence hall known for being one of the most modern on campus.
T
- The Bubble
- The phenomenon where students rarely leave the immediate blocks of the Foggy Bottom campus.
- The Buff & Blue
- The main dining hall located within the University Student Center.
- The District
- The dining area located in the basement of District House, featuring various food stalls.
- The Eatery
- The all-you-care-to-eat dining hall located in the basement of Thurston Hall.
- The Hatchet
- The GW Hatchet, the university's independent student-run newspaper.
- The Hatchet
- The GW Hatchet, the university's independent, student-run newspaper.
- The Hippo
- The unofficial mascot of GW, referring to the bronze hippopotamus statue on H Street.
- The Quad
- The grassy area between Gelman Library and the University Student Center, a popular hangout spot.
- The USC
- Dining options located within the University Student Center, including the main food court.
- The Vern
- The Mount Vernon Campus, GW's secondary campus located in the Foxhall neighborhood.
- The Vern
- A collective term for any residence hall located on the Mount Vernon Campus.
- The Vern
- The dining hall and facilities located on the Mount Vernon campus.
- The Vex
- The Mount Vernon Express, the shuttle bus that transports students between the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses.
- The Yard
- University Yard, the central open green space on the Foggy Bottom campus used for events and lounging.
- The Zoo
- Thurston Hall, historically known for its high density and social reputation.
- Thurston
- Thurston Hall, the largest freshman residence hall known for its social scene.
- Thurston
- The all-you-care-to-eat dining hall located on the lower level of Thurston Hall.
- TRAiL
- GW Trail, the student organization dedicated to outdoor excursions and hiking.
- TRAiLS
- The outdoor adventure program that organizes hiking, kayaking, and camping trips for students.
V
- Vernie
- A student who lives on the Mount Vernon campus, often used to describe the freshman experience there.
W
- West Hall
- The primary large-scale residence hall on the Mount Vernon Campus.
- Western
- Western Market, a food hall on Pennsylvania Ave where students frequently use GWorld credits.
- Western Market
- A popular food hall near campus where students frequently use GWorld credits.
- Whole Foods
- The grocery store on I Street where students frequently use GWorld funds for groceries and hot bar meals.
- WRGW
- The student-run radio station broadcasting from the University Student Center.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- 4-Ride
- The university's late-night shuttle service providing safe transportation around the Foggy Bottom campus.
- Banweb
- The online portal used by students to register for classes, check grades, and access financial aid info.
- Buff and Blue
- The official school colors, often used to refer to school spirit or university identity.
- buff_brew
- Buff & Brew
- DegreeMap
- The web-based tool used by students and advisors to track progress toward graduation requirements.
- district_house
- District House
- Duquès
- Duquès Hall, the primary building for the GW School of Business.
- FixIt
- The online maintenance request system used by students to report issues in residence halls.
- Foggy Bottom-GWU
- The Blue, Orange, and Silver line Metro station located directly on the Foggy Bottom campus.
- Funger
- Funger Hall, a major classroom building used for many introductory undergraduate courses.
- Gelman
- Gelman Library, the main university library located on H Street.
- GET App
- The mobile application used to manage GWorld balances and upload ID photos.
- GWorld
- The physical student ID card required for building access, laundry, and using meal plan funds.
- GWorld Card
- The physical ID card required for building access, laundry, and printing services.
- Handshake
- The online portal used by students to find on-campus jobs, internships, and career resources.
- Lisner
- Lisner Auditorium, the university's large performance venue.
- MPA
- The Media and Public Affairs building, housing the School of Media and Public Affairs.
- pelham_commons
- Pelham Commons
- SafeRide
- The mobile app-based service used to request 4-RIDE transportation during late-night hours.
- SEH
- Science and Engineering Hall, a major research and classroom facility on 22nd Street.
- shenkman_dining_hall
- Shenkman Dining Hall
- shenkman_hall_dining_hall
- Shenkman Hall Dining Hall
- Smith Center
- The Charles E. Smith Center, the university's main athletic arena and gym.
- Tap
- The act of using a GWorld card on a proximity reader to gain access to buildings or elevators.
- Tap Access
- The requirement to tap a GWorld card on a reader to enter any campus building or residence hall.
- The Smith Center
- The Charles E. Smith Center, the university's main arena for basketball and athletics.
- The USC
- University Student Center, the hub for student life (formerly known as the Marvin Center).
- The Vex
- The Mount Vernon Express, a shuttle bus that runs 24/7 between the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses.
- thurston_dining_hall
- Thurston Dining Hall
- thurston_hall_dining_hall
- Thurston Hall Dining Hall
- U-Pass
- A program providing students with unlimited rides on the Metrorail and Metrobus for a flat fee per semester.
- USC
- University Student Center, the hub for student organizations, dining, and administrative offices.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 17, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 57 approved campus terms and 32 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.