University of the District of ColumbiaStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for University of the District of Columbia. Free for students.

Public Research University in Washington, DC. Operating on a semester system.

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Free for all University of the District of Columbia students. No credit card required.

4K+

Total Enrollment

Research University

Institution Type

2

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall 2026 Semester

The semester, explained for University of the District of Columbia

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 Semester
Campus terms
9
Local details
13

Academic calendar

Fall 2026 Semester runs Aug 17, 2026 – Dec 17, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

8 entries
  1. Fall 2026 SemesterRelevant now
  2. Fall 2026 First Eight Week Session
  3. Fall 2026 Second Eight Week Session
  4. Spring 2027 Semester
  5. Spring 2027 First 8-Week Session
  6. Spring 2027 Second 8-Week Session
  7. Summer 2027 First 6-Week Session
  8. Summer 2027 Second 6-Week Session

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Campus language

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

9 terms

3

3003
3003 Van Ness, the primary off-campus apartment complex partnered with the university for student housing.

C

CAB
Campus Activities Board, the student-led group responsible for planning campus events.

F

Firebird Cafe
The main dining hall located within the Student Center (Building 38).
Firebirds
The official mascot and the collective term used to refer to UDC students and athletic teams.

S

SGA
Student Government Association, often used interchangeably with USGA.

T

The Food Court
The retail dining area in the Student Center featuring various fast-food options.
The Plaza
The central outdoor concrete area on the Van Ness campus where students gather and events are held.
The Vintage
An off-campus apartment building located at 3110 Mt. Pleasant St NW used for university-sponsored housing.

U

USGA
Undergraduate Student Government Association, the primary student governing body.

Places and practicalities

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

13 details
Bertie Backus
The UDC Community College campus located at 5171 South Dakota Ave NE.
Blackboard
The Learning Management System (LMS) used by faculty for course materials and assignments.
Building 38
The Student Center, which houses dining, the bookstore, and student life offices.
Building 41
The main academic building housing the library, administrative offices, and classrooms.
Building 44
The science and engineering building on the Van Ness campus.
Building 71
The numerical designation for the Bertie Backus campus building.
fuddruckers_express
Fuddruckers Express
MyUDC
The central web portal for students to access grades, registration, and financial aid information.
OneCard
The official university ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
stack_d
Stack'D
udc_cafe_laurene_s
UDC Cafe (Laurene's)
udc_chick_fil_a
UDC Chick-fil-A
Van Ness-UDC
The Red Line Metro station located directly adjacent to the main campus, serving as the primary transit point.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall 2026 Semester runs Aug 17, 2026 – Dec 17, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
9 approved campus terms and 13 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 University of the District of Columbia

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 University of the District of Columbia.

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 University of the District of Columbia

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

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Workload planning

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University of the District of Columbia on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

4

Active Students

5

Syllabi Analyzed

5

Courses on DormWay

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Popular Courses

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Architectural Studio IIIFundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology I, LaboratoryFund Hum Anat & Phy I lecturePreservation Rehabilitation Tech 1(Community Design)Quantitative Reasoning

DormWay integrates with University of the District of Columbia's LMS

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Life in Washington for University of the District of Columbia Students

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

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$1,800

Cost of Living Index

152

Student Population

170,000

City Transportation

Walkability

76

Bikeability

69

Public Transit

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metrorail, Metrobus, DC Circulator, Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC), Virginia Railway Express (VRE)

Nearest Airports

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid subtropical

Avg Annual Temp

58.3°F

Avg Snowfall

13.7 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Van Ness Campus Main Garage

garage • 24/7 controlled access

Discounted rate of $4.00 available for students, faculty, and staff with UDC ID.

Building 52

garage

Designated for tenants only (students, staff, and faculty).

Days Inn Lot – Upper Deck

surface_lot

Designated for business rentals, contractors, and Building 52 overflow.

Campus News

Latest updates from University of the District of Columbia

Student K'Vonte Petty Presents Summer Research at U.S. Army STEM Symposium

UDC student K'Vonte Petty presented AI and autonomous vehicle research at the U.S. Army HBCU-MI SPARK Symposium, showcasing STEM innovation.

Aug 25, 2026

Read More

UDC at 175: A Conversation with Chief Operating Officer David Franklin

COO David Franklin discusses investments in technology, infrastructure, and student services as UDC marks its 175th anniversary.

Aug 13, 2026

Read More

Firebird Mariposa Wellness Garden Creates Space for Reflection and Learning

UDC launched a new community-focused outdoor initiative to advance urban agriculture, environmental education, and student well-being.

Aug 10, 2026

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UDC Application Deadline Extended to Support Students

The university extended its undergraduate application deadline to August 7 to provide options for students whose plans changed unexpectedly.

Aug 6, 2026

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Head of UDC School of Education Selected for National Fellowship

Anika Spratley Burtin joined the Deans for Impact Academy to strengthen educator preparation and leadership nationwide.

Aug 3, 2026

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at University of the District of Columbia

Career Services Informational Session

August 31, 2026

Building 56, Atrium

An interactive information session designed to help students prepare, feel confident, and make meaningful connections with employers.

First Wednesdays

September 2, 2026

Building 56, Atrium

A recurring monthly event for campus engagement and community building.

CAUSES Farmer's Market

September 5, 2026

UDC Campus

A community farmer's market hosted by the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences.

Freshman 101 - UDC Greeks

September 8, 2026

UDC Campus

An event to support freshmen with tips and tricks on surviving the first year and staying engaged with campus resources.

Student Lounge Fall 2026 Meet Up

September 8, 2026

Building 56, Student Center Student Lounge

Kick off the semester with open pool tables and friendly competition to meet new people and build community.

Meet & Greet - Deloitte

September 9, 2026

Building 38, Room 203 - Windows Lounge

An introductory session for students to meet representatives from Deloitte.

UDC ServSafe Food Protection Manager Course

September 14, 2026

UDC Community College (UDC-CC)

A professional certification course for food protection management.

CEEJH Environmental Justice & Health Disparities Symposium

September 17, 2026

Building 56, Room 113 - Ballroom

A symposium focused on environmental justice and health disparities in the community.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at University of the District of Columbia

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

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

3003 Van Ness

Room types: apartment

AVA Van Ness

Room types: apartment

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Public

Email Domain

@udc.edu

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