Why University Housing is a Great Choice
There are many reasons why you will want to live on Grounds at the University. Here, in no particular order, are just a few reasons students say living on Grounds is better:
- Community and Lifelong Friendships
- The most important reason for living in on-Grounds housing is that
it provides a greater opportunity to meet other students. The quality
and frequency of your interaction with other students will play an important
role in your adjustment to a new institution and environment. Friendships
forged in your University days may be some of the most important and
long-lasting you make. Living together brings people together. Graduates
of the University often keep in touch with their friends from U.Va. in
many ways, such as remaining personal friends or making business alliances.
Don't underestimate the power of community!
- Resident Staff
- Our resident staff are students like yourself, so they know the answers
to the questions you're most likely to ask - but they're also trained
semi-professionals who know what to do when there's something wrong.
They know who to call when you need help they can't give, and how to
help you get through a semester! Resident staff also plan events and
fun things to do.
- Safety and Security
- Our residences are in lighted, patrolled areas. The doors are equipped
with professional-quality locks, and in the case of residence halls,
state-of-the-art electronic access systems as well. In addition to these
safety factors, you're among many people, so there's always someone
close - reasons for our very low crime rate in University housing.
- Convenience and Proximity
- Students have busy schedules! Living on-Grounds ensures you will
be close to the important centers of University life - classes, the
Health Center, the Student Union, Libraries and University events. All
residence houses are either near central Grounds or on the University
bus loop, eliminating the need for hazardous winter driving and daily
parking hassles!
- Services
- You have the support of the residence staff and services of the University
of Virginia Housing Division at your disposal. Housekeeping and maintenance
services are the top two reasons our current residents enjoy living
with us. Laundry facilities are located in each living area.
- Computer Labs and Free High-Speed Ethernet Access
- All residences have one Ethernet port per occupant. At 10Mbps, you
can surf without waiting! Some of the halls have computer labs as well
- and if you're in one that doesn't, there's a computer lab nearby in
an ITC computing facility or a library!
- Available Cable T.V.
- Cable T.V. is available in all residence areas at an additional charge.
Kick back and watch your favorite programs!
- Digital Phones in Rooms
- The University's phone system is a fully digital one, with advanced
forwarding, conferencing, and messaging services. To learn more, look
at the ITC Communications
Services homepage.
- University Transit (Bus) Service
- The UTS was started years ago to support parking, and has now grown
into a full time mass transit system, carrying over 3 million passengers
per year. UTS provides service to the hospital, academic buildings,
on- and off-Grounds student housing, and the Barracks Road Shopping
Center.
- Continual Upgrades
- New furniture is purchased annually for several areas as part of
our program to continually upgrade our facilities. The Housing Division
also continually seeks student input for the improvement of our facilities
and services.
- Dining Halls
- Dining halls are placed so there's one near every residence area
except in the case of the North Grounds residence areas, which are right
next to Barracks Road Shopping Center!
- Fridge-Microwave-Freezer Combos in Some Areas
- Units included in some areas feature a microwave oven and compact
refrigerator/freezer combination that offers convenience and cost effectiveness.
- Kitchen Areas
- Some residence halls, such as Lewis, have kitchens on every floor.
Apartments come with a kitchen accessible to every unit. If you don't
feel excited about cooking on a certain day, there's a dining hall or
snack bar such as the Castle nearby!
- Employment and Leadership Opportunities
- If you have the inclination, there's an opportunity made just for
you. Would you like to take a leadership role? We have those. Make some
money at odd times that fit your schedule? No problem!
- Economy
- All residence house costs are fixed for the academic year. All utilities
are included. In addition, if you add the cost of utilities and all
the less obvious expenses (installation charges, deposits, commuting
expenses, gas, etc.), you will find that on-Grounds living is a good
value. The convenience, quality, and opportunities to meet people are
added pluses. Avoid possible hassles with your roommate over paying
the rent each month off-Grounds. Just one payment each semester covers
all housing costs for the entire year!