Living at the IRC does not require you to have a special meal plan. (Although if you are a first year, you must get a meal plan.) Instead of a mandatory IRC meal plan, there are weekly food events provided by the IRC administration that foster the community spirit through conversation over food and a space to meet new people. While these food events are not meant to replace a meal plan, taking advantage of them creates opportunities to socialize and meet friends from all of the buildings (and all over the world!).
Every Wednesday we provide a popular Continental breakfast in the "Gathering Place" of Mary Munford. Coffee, Teas, Juice, fresh bread and rolls, Greek yogurt and cereals are provided. It gets you off to a great start and is a great mid-week time to meet up with IRC friends!
Another relaxing time together is our weekly Thursday afternoon teas. Tea and Jammin receives many rave reviews as an important way for residents to catch up with a different set of friends at least once a week.
Special events are hosted by the IRC Administration. Usually they require RSVPing through email, which means you are committed to attending. See protocol/dress for each occassion.
At least one evening during the week, a different faculty member is invited to dine with a limited number of our IRC residents in our conference room (the "Fishbowl") and lead an intellectual conversation on a topic of his or her choosing, but not deliver a lecture. This meeting of professors and students facilitates conversation on fascinating topics over wonderful food. IRC residents are able to meet with talented people respected in their field, such as Ambassador Nathaniel Howell, Prof. Bill Quandt, Dr. Dick Guerrant, Prof. Sharon Davie, and many others. In addition, the faculty seem to enjoy the casual interaction as much as the students.
(!)RSVP is required. Dress is casual.
We hold dinners at the Rotunda for special occasions: a popular and fun Local Food Harvest dinner in the Fall and a Valentines' Day dinner in the spring. Council hosts Waffle Nights and other social events at least once a month. These events draw well over 150 of our residents. Also, both the Principal and Director of Studies regularly invite IRC residents to Morea House to share home cooked meals.
(!) RSVP and business casual dress is required for Rotunda dinners.
One way the IRC tries to emphasize a close connection between academics and our social community is to provide study breaks and snacks during the final examination weeks. During exam time, Breakfast of Champions, a continental breakfast, is served every day in the Munford Gathering Place. During finals week, the staff provides various late night "cookie bakes" and grilled-cheese sandwich cook-ins. Even during intense study times, the IRC emphasizes community and nourishment. (No RSVP/dress required.)
The IRC also has a theme of slow food, which emphasizes eating real food. Local, seasonal and organic food is integrated into our selection. We embrace the "go slow" philosophy of sitting down and savoring our food and our friendships.
Each Hall Floor has its own communal kitchen. There is also a large communal kitchen on the first floor of Mary Munford. Students often cook together in their hall kitchens or they may reserve the Munford Communal Kitchen or Munford patio grill for a larger dinner or cookout with fellow residents. International and trendy cooking classes are held regularly in the Munford Communal Kitchen.
International Residential College at the University of Virginia 1-100 Mary Munford Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
Phone - (434) 924-3765 Fax (434) 924-3828 Contact jjn@virginia.edu
434-924-3765
434-924-3828