Academic calendar
Fall Quarter 2026 runs Sep 23, 2026 – Dec 11, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer 2026 Six-week Session
- Summer 2026 Nine-week SessionSummer Quarter 2026
- Fall Quarter 2026Relevant now
- Winter Quarter 2027
- Spring Quarter 2027
- Summer Quarter 2027
- Fall Quarter 2027
- Winter Quarter 2028
- Spring Quarter 2028
- Summer Quarter 2028
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 26 of 26 terms
A
- AS
- Associated Students, the student-led government and programming body of the university.
- ASP
- Associated Students Productions, the group responsible for organizing concerts and campus events.
B
- Bellinghamster
- A colloquial term for a local resident of Bellingham.
- Bham
- Common shorthand for the city of Bellingham.
- Birnam
- Birnam Wood, the university-owned apartment complex located off the main campus ridge.
- BT
- Buchanan Towers, a suite-style residence hall on the south end of campus.
E
- ESC
- The Ethnic Student Center, a hub for many of the university's cultural and identity-based clubs.
K
- KUGS
- The student-run FM radio station (89.3) based in the Viking Union.
M
- Mathes
- Mathes Hall, a high-rise residence hall known for its views of the bay.
- Miller Market
- A popular grab-and-go convenience store and deli located in Miller Hall.
N
- Nash
- Nash Hall, a high-rise residence hall located next to Mathes Hall.
O
- OC
- The Outdoor Center, which provides equipment rentals, excursions, and a bike shop.
R
- Red Square
- Fisher Plaza, the central brick-paved gathering space on campus.
T
- The Arb
- Sehome Hill Arboretum, the forested park adjacent to campus popular for hiking and hammocking.
- The Atrium
- The food court area located in the Academic Instructional Center (AIC) on south campus.
- The Bricks
- A nickname for Red Square, often used as a warning because the bricks become very slippery when it rains.
- The Commons
- Viking Commons, the primary dining hall located near the Viking Union.
- The Fountain
- Fisher Fountain, the large landmark in Red Square often used as a meeting point.
- The POD
- P.O.D. (Provisions on Demand) Markets, small convenience stores found across campus.
- The Ridge
- The Ridgeway residential complex, consisting of several halls like Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Kappa, Omega, and Sigma.
- The Stacks
- Fairhaven residential complex, nicknamed for its vertical suite-style layout.
- The Underground
- A coffee shop and snack bar located on the lower level of the Viking Union.
- The VU
- Shorthand for the Viking Union, the primary student union building.
- The VU
- The Viking Union dining area, often referring to the cafe or the main food court.
V
- Viking Dollars
- Declining balance currency loaded onto a student ID for use at campus dining locations.
W
- Western Wednesday
- The weekly tradition of students and staff wearing Western Washington University gear.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- AIC
- The Academic Instructional Center, divided into East and West wings on south campus.
- AW
- Arntzen Hall, a major classroom building on the south side of campus.
- Banner
- The web portal used for class registration, checking financial aid, and viewing transcripts.
- Canvas
- The learning management system where professors post syllabi, assignments, and grades.
- CF
- The Communications Facility, a modern building housing computer labs and media classrooms.
- Degree Works
- The online tool used by students and advisors to track progress toward graduation requirements.
- fairhaven_commons_planet_eats
- Fairhaven Commons (Planet Eats)
- Old Main
- The historic administrative building (OM) housing the President's office and student services.
- Red Square
- The central brick-paved plaza between the library, Bond Hall, and Miller Hall.
- ridgeway_commons_the_eatery
- Ridgeway Commons (The Eatery)
- The CF
- The Communications Facility, home to computer science and journalism labs.
- The PAC
- The Performing Arts Center, located on the western edge of campus overlooking the bay.
- The Shuttle
- The late-night student shuttle service that provides safe transportation around campus and nearby neighborhoods.
- viking_commons
- Viking Commons
- viking_union_retail_dining
- Viking Union Retail Dining
- Web4U
- The online portal used for class registration, checking grades, and financial aid.
- Western Card
- The official multi-purpose student identification card used for meals, building access, and bus fare.
- WTA
- Whatcom Transportation Authority; students use their Western Card as a bus pass for the local transit system.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Quarter 2026 runs Sep 23, 2026 – Dec 11, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 26 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.