Colleges University of Virginia

University of Virginia www.virginia.edu

University of Virginia is a public institution that was founded in 1819. Founded by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia’s historic campus is set on 1,682 acres in the city of Charlottesville. It’s referred to among insiders as Mr. Jefferson’s University or simply “The University” and contains his Academical Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only first-year students are required to live on campus, and many upperclassmen live in off-campus apartments or fraternity and sorority houses. The University houses one of the 25 remaining original copies of the Declaration of Independence, called a Dunlap Broadside, in its Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library. Famous writer Edgar Allen Poe was forced to leave the school after losing his tuition money to gambling, but his dorm room on the lawn is still preserved and on display for visitors. The school also has its own distinct lingo: The campus is referred to as the “grounds,” the central quad is the “lawn,” and students are either a first, second, third or fourth year.

Academics

The University is composed of eight undergraduate and three professional schools. UVA’s graduate programs include the highly ranked Darden Graduate School of Business, Curry School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Law and School of Medicine. UVA offers 48 bachelor’s degrees, 94 master’s degrees, 55 doctoral degrees, 6 educational specialist degrees, and 2 first-professional degrees (Medicine and Law) to its students. The University is the first and longest serving public member of the Association of American Universities in the American South, and It is classified among R1 Doctoral Universities: Very high research activity. The student-faculty ratio at University of Virginia is 15:1, and the school has 49% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Economics, and Criminal Justice.

Special Highlights

Activities & Special Events. The University offers more than 700 student clubs and organizations. The student life building is called Newcomb Hall. It is home to the Student Activities Center and the Media Activities Center. Many events take place at the University, on the Lawn and across Grounds. One of the largest events is Springfest, hosted by the University Programs Council. It takes place every year in the spring, and features a large free concert, various inflatables, and games. Another popular event and tradition is Lighting of the Lawn in the winter, which is a light and music show that serves as a tribute to the September 11 attacks. Another popular event is Foxfield, a steeplechase and social gathering that takes place nearby in Albemarle County in April, annually attended by students from the University of Virginia, neighboring colleges, and local residents.

University Library. The University of Virginia Library is a vital resource for students, faculty and scholars worldwide. With several major facilities, labs and programs, the Library offers critical support to academic endeavors at UVA and beyond. At its heart lies Shannon, a sprawling complex housing works in the humanities and social sciences. Beyond that, Clemons Library offers resources in film, television, drama, and dance as well as tutoring and advising services. UVA is also home of the renowned Albert & Shirley Small Special Collections Library, which holds a signature collection of more than 20 million objects including manuscripts, archival records, rare books, maps, broadsides, photographs, and audio-video recordings. In addition, there are libraries serving the Darden School of Business, the University Health System, and the UVA School of Law.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

University of Virginia is an iconic public institution of higher education, boasting nationally ranked schools and programs, diverse and distinguished faculty, a major academic medical center, and proud history as a renowned research university. UVA researchers focus on intellectual and societal challenges that impact the greater good, creating new knowledge that moves the world forward. As part of this effort, the University invests in several cross-disciplinary initiatives, including the Data Science Institute and Biocomplexity Institute and Initiative. UVA is also home to globally recognized research on hypersonic flight for NASA and other organizations. The Charlottesville area has previously been named the No. 1 fastest growing metropolitan area for venture capital in the US. A majority of the successful startups in have been started by or funded by both UVA students and graduates, including the popular Reddit website, which receives hundreds of billions of annual page views.

Student Reviews…

“Besides the great physical environment the university has a great social environment, and this includes both the students and professors. All of my professors ensured me a well-rounded education. The community of peers at UVA can be very competitive at times, but many have become some of my best friends. I would love to see an increase in art classes.”