Academic calendar
Fall 2026 runs Aug 17, 2026 – Dec 14, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer Sessions 2026
- Fall 2026Relevant now
- Spring 2027
Campus language
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Showing 98 of 98 terms
6
- 650
- 650 Lincoln, a popular apartment-style student housing complex near the arena.
- 650 Lincoln
- A popular apartment-style student residence located near the Colonial Life Arena.
B
- Bates
- Refers collectively to Bates House or Bates West residence halls.
C
- Campus Village
- The newest residential district on the south side of campus, often called CV.
- Capi
- Capstone House, known for its revolving top floor and honors housing.
- Cappy
- Capstone House, a high-rise residence hall known for its revolving top floor.
- Capstone
- Capstone House, a high-rise residence hall known for its revolving top floor (the Top of Carolina).
- Carolina Cash
- Funds loaded onto a student ID card that can be used at various on-campus and select off-campus vendors.
- CarolinaCard
- The official student ID card used for meal plans, building access, and 'CarolinaCash'.
- CarolinaCash
- A declining balance account on the student ID used for laundry, printing, and some off-campus vendors.
- Co-Hall
- Columbia Hall, a residence hall located near the Horseshoe.
- Cocks
- The common shorthand for the Gamecocks athletic teams.
- Cocky
- The university's mascot, a costumed gamecock known for his 'magic box' entrance at games.
- Community Table
- The dining location situated within the 650 Lincoln complex.
- CP
- Carolina Productions, the student-led organization that plans campus events like concerts and movies.
D
- Dining Dollars
- Tax-free funds included with meal plans for use at on-campus dining locations.
- Dirty Mac
- McBryde A & B, an older all-male residence hall known for its social atmosphere and Spartan conditions.
- DMC
- Dance Marathon at Carolina, the university's largest student-run philanthropy event benefiting Prisma Health Children's Hospital.
- DMP
- Dance Marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy on campus (often called USCDM).
- DMS
- Dance Marathon at USC, the largest student-run philanthropy on campus benefiting Prisma Health Children's Hospital.
F
- Five Points
- The nightlife and shopping district adjacent to campus, popular with students for its bars.
- Flex
- Flex Dollars, a portion of the meal plan used like cash at on-campus retail dining locations.
- Forever to Thee
- The final line of the Alma Mater, frequently used as a sign-off or expression of school spirit.
- Fresh
- The Fresh Food Company, a major dining hall located in the McBryde building.
- FSL
- Fraternity and Sorority Life, the office overseeing Greek-letter organizations.
G
- Gamecock
- The official mascot and the term used to refer to any student or athlete at the university.
- Gamecock Alert
- The emergency notification system that sends texts and emails regarding campus safety or weather.
- Gamecock Coin
- A token used for the university's reusable to-go container program in dining halls.
- Gamecock Connection
- The online portal used to find and join student organizations.
- Gamecock Gateway
- A bridge program for students to transfer from Midlands Technical College to USC.
- Gamecock Park
- The primary tailgating area located near Williams-Brice Stadium.
- Gamecock Park
- The primary tailgating and outdoor event space near Williams-Brice Stadium.
- Gamecock Ready
- The official safety and emergency notification app for the campus community.
- Gibbes
- Gibbes Court Bistro, an all-you-care-to-eat dining hall located near the Horseshoe.
- Green Quad
- The common name for the West Quad, known for its sustainable design and LEED certification.
H
- Honey River
- Honey River Kitchen, a specific dining location known for Southern-style food.
- Honeycomb
- Honeycomb Cafe, a dining location situated near the Honors College and South Quad.
- Honeycombs
- The nickname for the McBryde residence halls, known for their distinct hexagonal window shapes.
- Honeycombs
- Honeycombs Cafe, a dining location serving the south side of campus near the Honors and Preston dorms.
- Honors
- The South Carolina Honors College Residence Hall.
M
- Maxcy
- Maxcy College, the international-themed residence hall on the Horseshoe.
- McDirty
- McBryde Hall, an all-male residence hall known for its older facilities and social reputation.
- Meal Dollars
- Funds included with meal plans specifically for use at on-campus retail dining locations.
- Meal Exchange
- A specific meal plan feature allowing students to use a dining hall swipe for a set combo at retail locations.
- Meal Plan Dollars
- Tax-free funds included with meal plans specifically for use at on-campus dining locations.
- Meal Swipes
- The primary currency of meal plans, used for entry to dining halls or specific 'meal deals' at retail spots.
O
- OMSA
- Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.
P
- Park 7
- Common shorthand for the Park Seven student apartment complex.
- Park Place
- A popular university-affiliated apartment complex near the Greek Village.
- Patt
- Shorthand for Patterson Hall, a prominent residence hall on Bull Street.
- Patterson
- Patterson Hall, a large residence hall primarily housing female students.
- Patty
- Patterson Hall, a large residence hall frequently housing sorority members.
- Pavilion
- The second-floor food court area in the Russell House featuring various retail brands.
R
- Retail Swipes
- A specific type of meal swipe used for designated combos at campus restaurants like Chick-fil-A.
- RHA
- Residence Hall Association, the organization representing students living in campus housing.
- Russell
- The Russell House University Union, the primary hub for retail dining on campus.
S
- SAB
- Student Advisory Board, often used within specific colleges to represent student interests to the dean.
- Sandstorm
- The Darude song played at athletic events where students wave white towels.
- SAPA
- Sexual Assault Peer Advocates, a student organization providing support and resources.
- SAVIP
- Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention & Prevention, a campus office providing advocacy and support services.
- SG
- Student Government, the representative body for the student population.
- SGA
- Student Government Association, the representative body for the student population.
- South Quad
- South Quadrangle, a popular apartment-style residence hall for upperclassmen.
- South Tower
- A prominent high-rise residence hall located near the Russell House Student Union.
- Spurs Up
- The official hand gesture and rallying cry of Gamecock fans.
- ST
- South Tower, a prominent high-rise residence hall on the south side of campus.
- Swipes
- Meal swipes used at dining halls as part of the university meal plan.
T
- T-Coop Cafe
- The Starbucks and dining area located on the main level of the Thomas Cooper Library.
- The 650
- Common shorthand for the 650 Lincoln apartment complex located near the arena.
- The Brickyard
- The paved area in front of the DMSB and Swearingen, often used for student tabling and events.
- The Cliffs
- Cliff Apartments, a campus housing option located near the football stadium.
- The Cockpit
- The official student section for South Carolina athletics.
- The Community Table
- The dining location situated within the 650 Lincoln housing complex.
- The Coop
- A common shorthand for the Thomas Cooper Library or the student bookstore area.
- The Coop
- The Gamecock Entertainment and dining area within the Russell House.
- The Den
- Denny's All Nighter, a late-night dining option located in the residential district.
- The Dirty Bryde
- McBryde Hall, an all-male freshman residence hall known for its social atmosphere and older facilities.
- The Grand
- The Grand Marketplace, a large dining area located within Russell House.
- The Grand Marketplace
- The main food court area located on the second floor of Russell House.
- The Honeycombs
- The McBryde residence halls, known for their distinct hexagonal window architecture.
- The Honors
- The Honors Residence Hall, specifically for students in the South Carolina Honors College.
- The Honors Dorm
- The South Carolina Honors College Residence Hall, located at the corner of Main and Blossom.
- The Horseshoe
- The historic, tree-lined central quad of the original campus, popular for studying and photos.
- The Horseshoe
- The historic center of campus which includes several small, prestigious residence halls.
- The Hub
- The central dining and social area within the new Campus Village residential complex.
- The Hub
- The primary all-you-care-to-eat dining hall located in the Campus Village residential area.
- The Marketplace
- The second-floor dining area in Russell House featuring various food court options.
- The Pavilion
- The retail food court area located on the second floor of Russell House.
- The Quads
- The Quads on Main, a centrally located apartment-style residence hall.
- The Roost
- The athletic residential area and dining facility near the stadium.
- The Towers
- McBryde Hall, a traditional-style residence hall known for its distinct tower blocks.
- The Village
- Campus Village, the university's newest residential district housing multiple dorms and a dining hall.
- The Vista
- The Congaree Vista, a downtown district with upscale dining and entertainment often visited by students.
- The Walk
- The traditional walk students take from the Horseshoe to the stadium on game days.
- Top of Carolina
- The rotating restaurant located on the 18th floor of Capstone House.
U
- USCDM
- University of South Carolina Dance Marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy on campus.
W
- Willy-B
- Williams-Brice Stadium, the off-campus home of the Gamecock football team.
- Willy-Brice
- Williams-Brice Stadium, the off-campus home of the Gamecock football team.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- bates_house_dining
- Bates House Dining
- Blackboard
- The Learning Management System (LMS) used for course materials and online assignments.
- Blatt
- The Solomon Blatt Physical Education Center, a secondary gym and pool facility.
- Carolina Alert
- The university's emergency notification system that sends text and email alerts regarding campus safety.
- Carolina Card
- The official student ID card required for building access, meal plans, and library services.
- Carolina Cash
- A declining balance account on the CarolinaCard used for laundry, printing, and off-campus partner merchants.
- Carolina Shuttle
- The university-operated bus system that moves students between campus locations.
- CarolinaCard
- The official multi-purpose student identification card used for building access, meals, and library services.
- CarolinaCash
- A declining balance account on the CarolinaCard used for laundry, printing, and off-campus partner vendors.
- Chicken Finger Wednesday
- A weekly tradition where dining halls serve chicken fingers, often resulting in long lines.
- Close-Hipp
- The building housing various academic departments, formerly the business school.
- Darla
- The Darla Moore School of Business building, known for its modern architecture.
- Dining Dollars
- Funds on the CarolinaCard specifically for tax-free food purchases at on-campus retail locations.
- DMSB
- The Darla Moore School of Business building, known for its distinctive modern architecture.
- Duo
- The two-factor authentication system required to log into university accounts.
- Flex
- Declining balance funds on the CarolinaCard used for retail dining locations on campus.
- fresh_greene_s
- Fresh Greene's
- fresh_residential_restaurant
- Fresh Residential Restaurant
- Gambrell
- Gambrell Hall, a major academic building housing many liberal arts classrooms and offices.
- Gamecock Gateway
- A bridge program for students who start at Midlands Technical College before transferring to USC.
- Gamecock iHub
- The on-campus Apple-authorized campus store for tech repairs and purchases.
- Gamecock Park
- The primary tailgating area located near Williams-Brice Stadium.
- garnet_station
- Garnet Station
- gibbes_court_bistro
- Gibbes Court Bistro
- Greene Street
- A pedestrian-only thoroughfare that serves as the main walking path through the center of campus.
- hampton_st_caf
- Hampton St. Café
- Handshake
- The platform used by the Career Center for job postings and interview scheduling.
- honeycomb_caf
- Honeycomb Café
- Koger
- The Koger Center for the Arts, used for performances and large university events.
- Meal Exchange
- A dining plan feature that allows students to use a meal swipe for a set combo at retail food locations.
- Meal Swipes
- The currency used in dining halls; one swipe typically equals one entry to an all-you-care-to-eat facility.
- Meal Trades
- A system allowing students to use a meal swipe for a set combo at retail dining locations.
- Moore
- The Darla Moore School of Business, known for its distinctive modern architecture.
- Navigate
- The platform used by students to schedule academic advising appointments.
- Patterson Hall
- A common location for the Student Health Services center.
- Reading Day
- A designated day between the end of classes and the start of finals with no scheduled exams or classes.
- RHUU
- Russell House University Union.
- Russell
- The Russell House Student Union, the center of student life and organizations.
- Self Service Carolina
- The online portal used for class registration, checking grades, and financial aid.
- SSC
- Self Service Carolina, the online portal used for class registration, financial aid, and viewing grades.
- Strom
- The Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, the primary campus gym.
- Swearingen
- The Swearingen Engineering Center, the main hub for the College of Engineering and Computing.
- T-Coop
- Thomas Cooper Library, the main undergraduate library located at the end of Greene Street.
- The Blatt
- The Solomon Blatt Physical Education Center, a secondary gym and pool facility.
- The Comet
- The public transit bus system that provides shuttle services throughout the campus and Columbia area.
- The Horseshoe
- The historic heart of the campus, featuring the oldest buildings and a large brick-pathed green space.
- The Hub
- The central online portal for student resources and campus involvement.
- The Koger
- Koger Center for the Arts, the main venue for performances and ceremonies.
- The Shuttle
- The campus bus system that transports students between different campus zones and parking lots.
- The Strom
- The Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, the university's primary gym and recreation facility.
- the_community_table
- The Community Table
- the_pavilion_at_campus_village
- The Pavilion at Campus Village
- TransLoc
- The mobile app used by students to track the real-time location of campus shuttles.
- Willy-B
- Williams-Brice Stadium, the off-campus home of the Gamecock football team.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall 2026 runs Aug 17, 2026 – Dec 14, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 98 approved campus terms and 54 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.