Academic calendar
Fall Term 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 Term 2026
- Summer 12-Week Session 2026
- Summer 6-Week-2 Session 2026
- Summer 4-Week-3 Session 2026
- Fall Term 2026Relevant now
- Winter Recess / Intersession 2026-2027
- Spring Term 2027
- Summer 12-Week Session 2027Summer 2027 12-Week SessionSummer Term 2027
- Summer 2027 4-Week-1 SessionSummer 4-Week-1 Session 2027
- Summer 2027 6-Week-1 SessionSummer 6-Week-1 Session 2027
- Summer 2027 4-Week-2 SessionSummer 4-Week-2 Session 2027
- Summer 2027 6-Week-2 SessionSummer 6-Week-2 Session 2027
- Summer 2027 4-Week-3 SessionSummer 4-Week-3 Session 2027
- Fall Term 2027
- Spring Term 2028
- Summer 12-Week Session 2028Summer 2028 12-Week SessionSummer Term 2028
- Summer 2028 4-Week-1 SessionSummer 4-Week-1 Session 2028
- Summer 2028 6-Week-1 SessionSummer 6-Week-1 Session 2028
- Summer 2028 4-Week-2 SessionSummer 4-Week-2 Session 2028
- Summer 2028 6-Week-2 SessionSummer 6-Week-2 Session 2028
- Summer 2028 4-Week-3 SessionSummer 4-Week-3 Session 2028
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 37 of 37 terms
B
- Bouquet
- Bouquet Gardens, university-owned apartment-style housing typically for upperclassmen.
C
- Cardiac Hill
- The steep incline of DeSoto Street that students must climb to reach upper campus and the Petersen Events Center.
D
- Dining Dollars
- Funds included with a meal plan that can be used at various on-campus retail dining locations.
F
- Forbes Street
- Forbes Street Market, the university-run grocery store located on Forbes Avenue.
H
- H2P
- Short for 'Hail to Pitt,' the official slogan and universal greeting for students and alumni.
- Holland
- Holland Hall, a historic freshman dorm that formerly served as a women's residence.
L
- Lothrop
- Lothrop Hall, a residence hall known for having mostly single rooms and proximity to the medical complex.
- Lower Campus
- The main part of campus located in the flat area of Oakland, including Cathy and the Towers.
M
- Market
- A common legacy term for 'The Eatery' still used by upperclassmen and alumni.
- Meal Swipes
- The currency used to enter all-you-care-to-eat dining halls like The Eatery or The Perch.
N
- Nationality Rooms
- The 31 classrooms in the Cathedral of Learning designed to represent different cultures and eras.
- Nordenberg
- Mark A. Nordenberg Hall, a freshman dorm frequently cited for its modern amenities and central location.
- Nordy
- Mark A. Nordenberg Hall, a highly-coveted freshman residence hall known for modern amenities.
O
- Oakland Zoo
- The official student cheering section for the Pitt men's basketball team.
- OCC
- Outside the Classroom Curriculum, a program that tracks student involvement in extracurricular activities.
P
- Panther Funds
- A discretionary debit account on the Pitt ID used for laundry, printing, and participating off-campus merchants.
- PPC
- Pitt Program Council, the student-led organization responsible for planning major campus events like Fall Fest.
R
- RSA
- Resident Student Association, the organization representing students living in university housing.
S
- Schenley Cafe
- The food court area located on the lower level of the William Pitt Union.
- SGB
- Student Government Board, the elected body representing the undergraduate student interest.
- South O
- South Oakland, the residential neighborhood adjacent to campus where the majority of upperclassmen live in off-campus housing.
- South Oakland
- The residential neighborhood south of Forbes Avenue where the majority of upperclassmen live in off-campus housing.
- Sutherland
- Sutherland Hall, the primary residence hall located on upper campus near the athletic facilities.
- Sweet Caroline
- The Neil Diamond song played at football games where students shout 'Eat Sh*t Pitt' (directed at rivals) or 'Let's Go Pitt'.
T
- The Dirty O
- The Original Hot Dog Shop, a legendary (now closed) eatery often used as a landmark for the corner of Forbes and Bouquet.
- The Eatery
- The main dining hall located in the basement of Litchfield Towers, formerly known as Market Central.
- The O
- The Original Hot Dog Shop, a legendary former landmark in Oakland; though closed, it is still frequently referenced as a location marker.
- The Perch
- The dining hall located in Sutherland Hall, serving students on upper campus.
- The Pete
- Shorthand for the Petersen Events Center, often used when referring to going to the gym or a basketball game.
- The Pete
- Refers to the food court and quick-service dining options located within the Petersen Events Center.
- The Pete Climb
- The arduous walk up the hill or stairs to reach the Petersen Events Center.
- The Quad
- The residential area comprising Brackenridge, Bruce, and McCormick Halls, forming a central courtyard.
- The Union
- Refers to the food court and facilities within the William Pitt Union.
- Towers
- Litchfield Towers, the three cylindrical residence halls (A, B, and C) that house the majority of freshmen.
- TPN
- The Pitt News, the university's independent, student-run daily newspaper.
U
- Upper Campus
- The area of campus located at the top of the hill, including Sutherland Hall and the Pete.
W
- WPTS
- The student-run FM radio station (92.1) based in the William Pitt Union.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- 10A
- The most frequently used campus shuttle route that connects lower campus to upper campus.
- Benedum
- Benedum Hall, the main building and hub for the Swanson School of Engineering.
- Canvas
- The online learning management system where professors post syllabi, assignments, and course materials.
- Cathy
- The Cathedral of Learning, the 42-story Gothic Revival skyscraper that serves as the center of campus.
- Chevron
- Chevron Science Center, the primary building for chemistry labs and classes.
- Hillman
- Hillman Library, the university's primary research library.
- Panther Card
- The official university photo ID used for building access, meal plans, and riding city transit.
- Panther Funds
- A discretionary spending account on the Panther Card used for laundry, printing, and at various off-campus partners.
- PeopleSoft
- The student information system (often accessed via HighPoint) used for class registration, grades, and financial aid.
- Pitt ID
- The Panther Card, used for building access, meal plans, transit, and library services.
- Pitt Shuttle
- The university's private bus system that runs specific routes connecting lower, middle, and upper campus.
- Posvar
- Wesley W. Posvar Hall, the largest classroom building on campus, housing social sciences and business.
- PRT
- Pittsburgh Regional Transit (formerly Port Authority); students ride city buses, light rail, and inclines for free with a valid Pitt ID.
- SafeRider
- A university-operated late-night shuttle service that provides safe transportation for students within the campus area.
- The Pete
- The Petersen Events Center, the university's basketball arena and a major student recreation center.
- the_eatery
- The Eatery
- the_perch
- The Perch
- WPU
- William Pitt Union, the primary student activity center and home to many student organizations.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Term 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 37 approved campus terms and 18 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.