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About U.Va.
- Who is the president of U.Va.?
The president of U.Va. is John T. Casteen III. He has been U.Va.'s president since August 1990. He is the University's seventh president, preceded most recently by Robert M. O'Neil (1985-1990) and Frank L. Hereford Jr. (1974-1985). President Casteen's biography can be found on the President's Office Web site.
- When was U.Va. founded?
The University of Virginia was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson. The cornerstone of the University's first building was laid in 1817, with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe in attendance. The first class entered U.Va. in 1825, and the first degree was conferred in 1828. See also the Short History of U.Va.
- What programs and activities does U.Va. offer for the community?
The University’s Community Resource Guide describes more than 400 programs that U.Va. provides. The guide may be downloaded or viewed online. Single copies are available free of charge; multiple copies cost $2 each. To request copies, contact U.Va.’s Community Relations Office at P.O. Box 400229, Charlottesville, VA 22904, via e-mail, or by phone at (434) 924-1321. In addition to the guide, the Outreach Virginia Web site provides descriptions of hundreds of services and programs that the University offers.
- How can I tell what is going on at U.Va. on a particular day?
To find out more about what is happening at U.Va. on a particular day, visit the University’s Things To Do/News web page, with links to two daily calendars of cultural events and athletics schedules around Grounds and beyond. Or you can visit the U.Va. Today Web site, which features news and events of interest.
- What are U.Va.'s colors and mascot (and what is a Wahoo)?
Orange and blue were adopted as the University of Virginia's official athletic colors in 1888. The University's mascot is a Cavalier. Although the Cavalier is the official mascot of the University, the Cavaliers are also often referred to as the Wahoos, a term derived from a line in "The Good Old Song," U.Va.'s "alma mater."
- When is graduation?
Final Exercises are scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2008.
- How do I find/apply for a job at U.Va.?
Information on applying for faculty, staff, temporary, and student employment is available through the Human Resources web site. Search for faculty & staff job openings. Learn more about student employment.
- How many students does U.Va. have?
In the 2005-06 school year, the University enrolled a total of 20,399 students: 13,401 undergraduates, 4,699 graduate students, 1,694 first-professional students (law and medicine), and 605 on-Grounds Continuing Education students. More detailed information on enrollment is offered in the enrollment section of U.Va.'s Online Data Digest.
- What does U.Va. do to promote diversity?
The University of Virginia envisions and cultivates a community of understanding, tolerance, and respect. To learn more about U.Va. diversity, visit: U.Va. Diversity | VP and Chief Officer for Diversity & Equity.
Academics
- How many schools does U.Va. have, and what degree programs do they offer?
The University of Virginia has ten schools: the School of Architecture, the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the McIntire School of Commerce, the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Nursing all offer both undergraduate and graduate studies. The Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, the School of Law, and the School of Medicine offer graduate studies. The Curry School of Education offers graduate degrees and a 5-year dual degree program with the College of Arts and Sciences through which students receive both an undergraduate degree and a master's of education. The School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers a part-time undergraduate degree and many other programs and graduate study. Further information, including academic departments within each school, is available on the Schools and Admissions page.
- Does U.Va. have a major in ...?
For a list of majors, please see our Degrees Offered page. You may also want to view our list of Schools, Departments, and Academic Programs.
- Does U.Va. offer part-time degree programs?
In early 2001, the University of Virginia introduced the bachelor of interdisciplinary studies (BIS) degree, offered through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. The curriculum for the degree has four components: liberal studies seminars, a concentration, elective courses, and a capstone project. All elective courses for the BIS are upper-level courses currently taught in the regular undergraduate programs of the schools of Arts and Sciences, Commerce, and Engineering. For more information, visit the School of Continuing and Professional Studies BIS page.
Admission
- When can I apply to U.Va.?
U.Va. welcomes applications from first-year candidates, as well as from applicants seeking to transfer from other accredited universities or colleges. First-year candidates typically apply during their final year of high school; the postmark deadline is January 2 (or November 1 for the binding Early Decision Plan). Transfer candidates may apply after one or two years of college work elsewhere; the postmark deadline is March 1 for enrollment in Fall semester (available in all six of the undergraduate schools) or November 1 for enrollment in Spring semester (available only in the College of Arts and Sciences). For further information about the application process, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admission web site.
If you are interested in applying to one of U.Va.'s graduate schools, select the appropriate link on U.Va.'s Graduate Students page.
- How do I transfer to U.Va. from another university or college?
The University of Virginia welcomes applications from students seeking to transfer from other accredited colleges and universities. Each year more than 500 transfer students enroll; a quarter are nontraditionally aged, and a third come from the Virginia Community College System. Admission information for transfer applicants.
- Does U.Va. offer campus tours and prospective student interviews?
The Office of Admission welcomes visitors to the University and is especially delighted to host prospective students and their families. The deans of admission offer hour-long information sessions throughout the year; these sessions are followed by guided tours of the Grounds. A schedule of sessions and tours is available on the Undergraduate Admission page. While the Office of Admission neither requires interviews nor uses them in the evaluation process, the deans of admission do meet with students on an individual basis to answer questions and to provide counseling. Such appointments do not affect the admission decision. Prospective students who wish to stay overnight in a dormitory should contact the Monroe Society, an undergraduate organization that hosts prospective students.
- What does U.Va. look for in prospective students?
Although U.Va. is a state-supported school, it has always carried out Thomas Jefferson's wish that it be an international university, bringing together students from around the world to foster that broadening of perspective encouraged by a varied and cosmopolitan environment. Accordingly, while the Committee on Admission expects both intellectual ability and academic achievement from all successful applicants, it also strives to understand each applicant in personal terms, seeking evidence of good character, imagination, leadership, facility in self-expression, commitment to service, and any other qualities that would contribute to the University community.
Tuition & Financial Aid
- How much does it cost to attend U.Va.?
Visit the following sites to acquire information about the cost of attending the University of Virginia: Student Financial Services (estimated cost of attendance) | Facts-at-a-Glance (tuition & fees chart) | Stats & Facts (tuition & fees chart) | Data Digest (detailed statistics).
- What is Access U.Va.?
Access U.Va. is an ambitious financial-aid program – unprecedented among U.S. public institutions – designed to keep higher education affordable for all students who qualify for admission, regardless of economic circumstance. Learn more about Access U.Va.
- What is U.Va.'s central telephone number and mailing address?
The central telephone number for U.Va. information is (434) 924-0311. The University of Virginia does not have one zip code or a central mailing address. However, there is an online listing of the most frequently requested addresses and telephone numbers.
- How do I find a current U.Va. student, professor or staff member?
Use the University's people search or the U.Va. online telephone directory to find currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff.
- How do I contact a U.Va. alumnus?
The University has an alumni email directory that can help you contact alumni. Reunion information, alumni news, and membership information are on the Alumni Association web site.
- How can I find a physician from U.Va.'s medical center?
The Directory of Physicians is an easy central way to find a physician at U.Va. The directory is searchable by physician name or by keyword. View other medical center services from the Health System web site.
Visiting
- Can I take a tour of the campus?
A schedule of sessions and tours for prospective students is available on the Undergraduate Admission site.For historical tours, free guided tours of the Rotunda and Lawn are provided year-round. Tours meet daily (except during the three-week holiday break in Dec.-Jan. and during the final exam period during the first three weeks of May) at 10, 11, 2, 3, and 4 at the Rotunda entrance facing the Lawn. Call (434) 924-7969 for more information. Tours are accessible to individuals in wheelchairs, and interpreters are available for the hearing impaired. The Rotunda has brochures with walking tours of the academical village, the Rotunda, and the Pavilion Gardens. You can also take one of several virtual tours from our About the University Web site.
- Where is U.Va. located, and where do I park when I get there?
The University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, approximately 120 miles southwest of Washington, DC. Two major highways, Interstate 64 and US 29, intersect close to the University Grounds. Detailed directions to the University and maps of the University are available for online viewing.
The University's central hourly visitor parking garage is on Emmet Street, about a block south of the intersection with University Avenue. Visitor and patient parking is also available in two University parking garages across from the University Hospital. The University's garages have parking spaces designated for persons with disabilities. There is also hourly parking on "the Corner" in municipal garages on Elliewood Avenue, Fourteenth Street, and Wertland Street.
- What is Charlottesville like?
Charlottesville, located in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, is home to over 40,000 residents with a metropolitan population nearing 200,000. For more demographic information, see Charlottesville's community profile and quality of life profile.
Charlottesville is a small, thriving city, 120 miles from Washington DC. It has a community symphony orchestra, a light opera company, Renaissance vocal groups, It celebrates the Film Festival every fall and the Festival of the Book every spring. The downtown area is an eighteen-block, brick-paved pedestrian mall with more than thirty outdoor cafes and restaurants, numerous modern theaters as well as a cinema focusing on foreign and independent films. From April through October, Charlottesville celebrates Fridays After Five downtown, with live bands at its new amphitheater. Contemporary performers like the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Charlottesville's own Dave Matthews Band, and the Flaming Lips have all been a part of the music scene.
The countryside around Charlottesville, especially in the spring and fall, ranks among the most beautiful sites in the nation. The area offers numerous Civil War sites and historical road markers detailing more than two hundred years of history. See Exploring the University and Charlottesville for more information.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the country's largest private, nonprofit preservation organization, named Charlottesville to its 2007 list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual list of unique and lovingly preserved communities in the United States. Charlottesville was selected from 63 destinations in 27 states that were nominated by individuals, preservation organizations and local communities. Read more.
The Chamber of Commerce web site offers a wealth of information about Charlottesville/Albemarle as does the Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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