Welcome to University of Virginia

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Welcome

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to Charlottesville, Virginia, home to the University of Virginia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and my favorite place. Before we get started, let me explain the many ways you can explore all that our grounds have to offer. -You can click on the forward facing arrow to start walking around. -You can jump to the next stop by clicking on the "Next" button. -Now, if you already know where you want to go, you can select any location by using the list OR by clicking directly on the map. -Lastly, remember that you can explore any particular location in more detail by clicking the supplemental media icons.

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The Rotunda

Tour stop audio transcript

Here stands the Galt Statue of Thomas Jefferson, sculpted in 1861 and said to look so much like Jefferson himself that when it was unveiled to the public, his granddaughter fainted. Once revived, she exclaimed, "Add red hair and freckles, and there stands my grandfather!" The Rotunda has housed the statue since, surviving three renovations and a fire in 1895, where students saved the 2 ton artifact using a mattress. Thomas Jefferson founded UVA in 1819. At the center of his university stood this building, the Rotunda, which served as the original library. Today, the Rotunda holds classrooms and study spaces, and serves as the historic heart of UVA.

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The Lawn

Tour stop audio transcript

Thomas Jefferson believed a university should be not a house, but a village. His design for UVA became known as the academical village, where students and professors lived amongst one another. When UVA opened in 1825, professors each lived and taught their classes in one of the ten pavilions, while students lived in the neighboring rooms. While our student body has outgrown these rooms, classes are still taught in Pavilion VIII and students can apply to live, here, on the lawn. It is here you will gather for the first time with your entire class for convocation, and then again for a final time at graduation.

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Old Cabell Hall

Tour stop audio transcript

Built in 1896, Old Cabell became one of the first academic buildings outside of the original academical village. Inside its grand auditorium is a copy of Raphael's School of Athens, which was presented as a gift from an alumnus in 1902, as well as an organ that Andrew Carnegie gifted the university in 1906. Fittingly, Old Cabell houses the Department of Music and hosts over 200 performances per year. The music department is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, one of UVA's seven undergraduate schools. The other schools are Engineering, Architecture, Nursing, Commerce, Public Policy and Education. We'll expand on these schools throughout the rest of the tour!

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Nau-Gibson Hall

Tour stop audio transcript

Nau-Gibson houses history, religious studies and the department of politics. This building includes both large lecture halls, like the one shown, and smaller classrooms. Nau-Gibson is a great representation of varying class sizes at UVA: while there are large introductory courses, 55% of our classes have fewer than 20 students. Larger lectures are also paired with smaller discussion sections of about 15 students, where you can work closely on class material with a teaching assistant. Professors welcome students into their office hours, and many professors even hosts their students in their own home. UVA also pays for student-professor lunches through the ""Take Your Professor Out to Lunch"" program.

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School of Nursing

Tour stop audio transcript

McLeod Hall is part of the School of Nursing and houses some of the coolest facilities on grounds: simulator labs. These are hospital set ups with patient dummies who have blood pressure, a pulse and can even give birth! McLeod also has its own convenient lunch spot for Nursing students and faculty. The Nursing School is part of the UVA Health System, working alongside UVA hospital and the Emily Couric Cancer Center, providing undergrads hands-on experience and summer research opportunities. Here, students engage in clinical experiences in the second, third, and fourth years of the program and share in a close-knit community that stems from small, intimate classes.

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The Corner

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to the Corner, a 7 block collection of restaurants and shops right next to UVA grounds. Due to its location, The Corner remains active at all hours, as many students grab lunch with friends, read at coffee shops or play fuseball at the Student Study Lounge 1515, a space that was actually designed by students. A five minute trolley ride takes you to the Charlottesville downtown pedestrian mall, a great place for students to immerse themselves into the vibrant community, You can visit the local farmer's market, attend a concert, or just stroll past the many historic buildings.

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School of Architecture

Tour stop audio transcript

The School of Architecture wasn't constructed until 1970; however, Jefferson intended for the original university to be a 3-D textbook of architecture. Today, the A-School offers a diversity of courses, from digital storytelling to Lessons on the Lawn which, actually studies our Jeffersonian architecture. The A-School integrates a liberal arts model, allowing students to apply their disciplines across fields and to community engagement projects. For example, students have been involved with historic preservation projects around Charlottesville and even helped with the restoration of the Rotunda! In addition to hands-on professional experience, students also benefit from the state-of-the-art facilities, open studio desks, woodshops, laser printers, a digital media lab, and more!

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Fralin Art Museum

Tour stop audio transcript

This is the Fralin Museum of Art, part of the University of Virginia. The space is open to students as well as the public and houses a collection of approx. 13,000 objects, from ancient Mediterranean art to 15th century sculptures. Students can see exhibits for free during Final Fridays, a monthly showcase of the Arts at UVA including exhibits, performances, and lectures. Past exhibits have included Andy Warhol's Icons and Emilio Sanchez's Cityscapes. Students can also get more involved at the Fralin by working as docents and leading tours of the museum. Artistically-inclined students can also pursue majors in studio art and art history.

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Shannon Library

Tour stop audio transcript

In case you're worried about finding the perfect study space, UVA has 13 libraries, each with different book collections and study atmospheres. This is the McGregor Room in Alderman Library, often referred to as the "Harry Potter Room."" This charming study spot also has a rich history, as its visitors include speakers like Robert Frost and William Faulkner, and it held the US Constitution for the National Archives during WWII. All of the libraries are great research resources, both in person and online. They also have computers and printing stations, and with a collective inventory of millions of volumes, students can be assured they will find what they're looking for.

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Amphitheater

Tour stop audio transcript

This is the Amphitheater, a venue for student fashion shows, movie screenings, rallies, or just a casual lunch with friends, as it is conveniently located by many food trucks. One of the largest events that occurs here is the Fall Activities Fair. Extracurricular activities thrive at UVA, where we have hundreds of diverse clubs that gather to encourage new students' participation. What makes all of our organizations unique is their independence: organizations are founded, organized and led by students with little to no administrator control. We call this concept student self-governance and are proud of the freedom it gives us as students to impact UVA and Charlottesville.

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Office of African-American Affairs

Tour stop audio transcript

This is Dawson's Row, a collection of buildings that provide resources for African American students. First, there's the Office of African American Affairs, which provides a supportive network for Black students. OAAA's peer mentor program gives incoming black students a mentor to help them transition to university life, whether its scheduling classes or having them over for dinner. There's also the Luther Porter Jackson Black Cultural Center, which holds events to enrich the cultural knowledge of African-American and African people. Outside of Dawson's Row, there are many resources for historically underrepresented students, like the Office of Diversity and Equity and the Multicultural Student Center, a space we will soon visit!

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School of Engineering and Applied Science

Tour stop audio transcript

Rice Hall is located at the end of Engineer's Way, the heart of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, E-School for short. The E-School has nine undergraduate majors, allowing students to explore a range of interests. Much like the other schools at UVA, the E-School is committed to providing a cross-disciplinary education, as professors and students alike use research grants to study childhood diabetes, regenerative medicine technologies and ways to solve traffic congestion. Furthermore, more than 50 percent of our undergraduate students earn minors in fields such as engineering business and entrepreneurship. Students also have access to cutting edge technologies, including a 3D printing lab and a flight simulator.

Scott Stadium

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to Scott Stadium, home of the Cavalier Football Team. UVA has 23 Division I varsity sports, boasting over 20 NCAA national championships and countless Olympic apearances. UVA students get free admission to all home games, and the Hoo Crew, our energetic student section, hands out fan gear to draw the crowds. Basketball games are a fan favorite, and students go crazy cheering on the hoos at John Paul Jones Arena, pictured below. Aside from varsity athletics, students can also play on one of our 60 club sport teams, compete in casual intramural games, such as intertube water polo, or stay in shape at one of UVA's five athletic complexes.

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Alderman Road Residences

Tour stop audio transcript

This is the Alderman Road Residence Area, one of several first year living areas. All first year students live together on central grounds. Most dorms have double rooms arranged in halls, each with an upperclassman Resident Advisor and a shared bathroom. Other set-ups offer single rooms or suite style living. Dorms are co-ed and floors are generally separated by gender, with gender-neutral accommodations available by request. Grassy quads provide space for students to play frisbee, grill out, or study on a sunny day. Dorms also elect leaders who plan dorm and class-wide events throughout the year, like First Year Formal or a dorm Super Bowl watch party.

International Residential College

Tour stop audio transcript

This is the International Residential College, one of several residential communities where students can apply to live. 40% of IRC residents are international students, and all of the students share in their desire for global awareness. The 300 undergraduates that live here range from first through fourth years and make up a close-knit community that infuses academics and social life. The IRC is an enriching experience, as many residents are involved in the IRC Student Council, participate in their peer mentors program and travel together to international destinations. UVA offers other residential colleges, including Brown and Hereford Residential Colleges. Language houses are another unique option open to upperclass students.

Newcomb Hall

Tour stop audio transcript

This is Newcomb Hall, the University's student center that houses a variety of resource offices and serves as a hub of student self-governance. Inside is the Cavalier Daily Office, which produces the student-run daily newspaper. The University Programs Council also has their office in this building, where they plan events like the Teeny Tiny Petting Zoo and Open Mic Nights. Newcomb also houses the Student Activities Center, which has resources for students interested in starting their own organizations. Lastly, the university's Trial Room is on the fourth floor, where our student-run honor and judiciary committees handle violations of University policy to maintain a community of respect, safety and freedom.

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Multicultural Student Center

Tour stop audio transcript

Newcomb also includes the Multicultural Student Center and the LGBTQ Center, collaborative spaces supporting underrepresented communities through a wide array of initiatives and events. Students can reserve spaces in Newcomb for meetings and receptions. In addition, Newcomb is one of the three main dining halls on grounds, where a range of meal plans are offered to meet dietary and personal needs, such as the Ramadan Meal Plan. Separate from the main dining hall are Chick-Fil-A, Subway and Five Guys, which all accept UVA meal plans. No matter their interests or involvements, students are sure to make their way to Newcomb to eat, study or just hang out with friends.

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Admissions Office

Tour stop audio transcript

Inside Peabody Hall is the Office of Undergraduate Admission. It is here that you can call with questions about UVA and the application process. It's been a pleasure to show you around grounds. Giving tours to prospective students is just another example of student self-governance, how I try to make my impact on the university, and one of the ways I have made a home for myself here at UVA. Although this is the last stop on our virtual tour, we hope Peabody is the next stop in your college application process, as we invite you to visit grounds to see if UVA is a place you could call home.

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