Welcome to our Grounds! We’re pleased thatyou are interested in the University of Virginiaand hope that you enjoy this self-guided tour.UVa, founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, is aworld-renowned institution that blends its richhistory and traditions with new and creativeideas, concepts, and cutting-edge technologyfurthering the ends of our founder’s missionof “ameliorating the condition, promoting thevirtue, and advancing the happiness of man.”

Office of AdmissionPO Box 400160, Charlottesville, VA 22904

434-982-3200 – fax: 434-924-3587undergradadmission@virginia.edu

www.admission.virginia.edu

Self-GuidedWalking Tourfor prospective students

and their families

SECRET SOCIETIESWhile walking around Grounds, you may have noticed differentsymbols and signs painted on buildings and stairs.These arethe markings of a few of the University’s secret societies,

which include the IMPs, Zs, and7s. Their appearance on Groundsdates back to around the turn ofthe 20th century. These groupsare good-natured and oftenphilanthropic in nature, donatingmoney to worthy organizationsand sponsoring scholarship.

THE CORNEROn the other side of University Avenueis the district referred to as “theCorner.” The Corner is the home tomany restaurants, shops, nightspots,and more. You will frequently find thearea filled with students and faculty.

ATHLETIC FACILITIESThe University has a number of athleticfacilities which you may wish to visit, including the Aquaticsand Fitness Center, Scott Stadium and the John Paul JonesArena.

Other AreasofInterestThis tour is by no means inclusive of everything that theUniversity has to offer. If you have time, here are a few placesyou might be interested in visiting:

THE SOUTH LAWNThe South Lawn extends from Central Grounds across JeffersonPark Avenue via a 100-foot-wide terrace. The terrace ends in

a circular plaza that sits atop acommons building, with an exteriorstair leading down to gardens.Thecommons building contains loungespaces and a cafe with three-storyglass walls. The South Lawn alsoincludes Nau and Gibson Halls.Both house departments within

the College of Arts & Sciences and also contain classrooms,student lounges, computer labs, administrative offices,conference rooms and faculty and student meeting rooms.

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTUREInfluenced by Jefferson’s passion, UVahas offered classes in architecture since1832. Established after World War I, theSchool of Architecture offers its studentsthe uniqueopportunity to be surroundedby the finest in classical structure andplanning and yet focus on the buildingdemands and ideas of the 21st century.To arrange a guided visit, please call 434-924-6442.

THE SCHOOL OF NURSINGEstablished in 1901 as a hospital-based diploma program, theSchool of Nursing became one of the University’s independentschools in 1956. Located in McLeod Hall, the school hasevolved into one of the nation’s top-rated nursing educationand research schools. Tours must be arranged in advance, andtake place Monday through Friday at noon. Call 434-924-0141for more information.

THE PAVILION GARDENSLocated behind the Pavilions, each of the ten gardens is uniqueand deserves to be explored.

EDGAR ALLAN POE’S ROOMAcross the street from the AdmissionOffice and located at 13 West Range is thehistorically preserved room of Edgar AllanPoe, who occupied the room in 1826. Theremainder of the rooms on the Rangehouse select graduate students.

RUGBY ROAD AND GREEK LIFELocated just off of University Avenueacross from the Rotunda is Rugby Road and the site of agreat deal of the University’s Greek life. Roughly 30% ofundergraduates choose to join a fraternity or sorority.

STUDENT SELF GOVERNANCEOne of UVA’s most enduring traditions and strengthsis the entrustment of much decision making tostudents. The University Judiciary Committee,Honor Committee, Student Council, Lawn SelectionCommittee, are just a few examples out of the morethan 750 independently student governed clubs andorganizations.

THE HONOR SYSTEMAt Pavilion X, the last pavilion on the east side, youmay notice a marker commemorating the birth of theUniversity’s Honor System in 1842. Over the years,the system has developed from a gentlemen’s codeof conduct to a codified expression of integrity. Sinceits inception, the student-run Honor System has beena source of pride for the University. From submissionof their admission application to their final walk downthe Lawn at graduation, students are bound not tolie, cheat, or steal while at the University. With thispromise comes benefits such as the ability to takeunproctored exams or write checks in the communitywith just a student ID. Violations are handled by theHonor Committee, composed of representatives fromall the University’s schools.

The University of Virginia offers the vast intellectual resources ofa major research University, but it fosters the intimacy, sense ofcommunity, and dedication to undergraduate life typically foundat a small liberal arts college. UVa is public, it’s one of the top-ranked public universities in the United States, and welcomeswomen and men of every background. Yet, it is highly selectiveand attracts the same students who are prized by the best privateuniversities in the country, students who will benefit fully fromthe University experience and will, in turn, contribute to ourcommunity as students, citizens, and leaders.

1. PEABODY HALLYour tour begins at Peabody Hall, which houses the Office ofUndergraduate Admission on the first floor and the Dean ofStudents on the second floor.Most of our admission informationsessionsare held atotherlargersites, but in our office we do haveprinted materials and a list ofUniversity classes you may want toattend. Also, we are available forany questions you may have aboutthe University and our admission process.

2. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LIBRARY SYSTEMThe two main libraries in central Grounds are Alderman andClemons. Alderman houses open stacks, allowing students freeaccess to materials, as well as acafé. Clemons provides abundantstudy space and 24-hour access;the library is also heavily usedfor its core collection of basic,high-usematerials, its extensiveaudiovisual collection, and itsdigital media technologies. TheUniversity currently has seventeen libraries, over 5 millionbooks, and videos, DVDs, maps, music, images, journals,manuscripts, rare books, and more. Be sure to check out theExhibit Gallery in the Albert & Shirley Small Special CollectionsLibrary.

3.THEROTUNDAThe Rotunda was designed byThomas Jefferson to be thearchitectural and intellectual heartof the “Academical Village.” Jeffersonmodeled the Rotunda after thePantheon in Rome, and referredto it as his “temple of knowledge.”

For Thomas Jefferson, learning was an integral part of life. The“Academical Village” is based on the concept that the life ofthe mind is a pursuit for all participants in the University, thatlearning is a lifelong and shared process, and that interactionbetween scholars and students enlivens the pursuit ofknowledge. The Rotunda offers guided and self-guided toursdaily. Stop inside for more information.

4. THE LAWNTheLawnextends fromtheRotunda at the north end toOld Cabell Hall at the southend. It is framed on eitherside by the Pavilions, whichhouse faculty. Between thePavilions there are individual Lawn rooms where select fourth-year students live. Jefferson created the Academical Village toencourage interaction between students and scholars and tofurther the pursuit of knowledge. The Lawn remains a bustlingcenter for the University. Some classes meet on the Lawn whenweather permits and it is common to see students studying andinteracting year-round on the Lawn. The Lawn is also the siteof Final Exercises where tens of thousands of people come tocheer on the 5000+ students graduating each spring.

5. OLD CABELL HALLOld Cabell Hall, located oppositethe Rotunda on the Lawn, housesclassrooms and a beautifulperforming arts venue. During FinalExercises, graduates “walk the Lawn”from the steps of the Rotunda to their seating area facing OldCabell Hall.

6. MCINTIRE SCHOOL OF COMMERCEThe McIntire School of Commerce was established in 1921and recently relocated to the newly renovated Rouss Hall. It isrecognized as one of the top undergraduate business schoolsin the nation. McIntire students spend their first two years in

the College of Arts & Sciencesbefore entering the school. In theirthird and fourth years studentsparticipate in an interactive teamenvironment. They specializein one or more of the following

fields: accounting, finance, information technology, marketing,management and international business.

7. AMPHITHEATERThe Amphitheater is used todaymainly for student gatheringsand occasional music events. Itisinthemidst of manyof thebuildings which comprise theCollege of Arts & Sciences. TheUniversity of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts &Sciences is the largest of UVa’s 12 schools and is the institution’sacademic core. It offers more than 50 undergraduate majorsand concentrations and more than two dozen graduate degreeprograms.

8.SCHOOLOFENGINEERING &APPLIED SCIENCES

Established in 1836, UVa offers oneof the oldest engineering schoolsin the country. The school trainsstudents for careers in an array ofengineering programs includingaerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical,environmental, materials science, mechanical, systems, andmore. Tours of the school generally are offered Monday throughSaturday at 1pm in Thornton Hall when classes are in session.No reservations are required.

9. FIRST-YEAR HOUSINGAll incoming First Year undergraduate students are required tolive on Grounds. Students find that communal living is essentialin transitioning to the Jeffersonian Model of education. All

students are guaranteed housingfor their 1st and 2ndyears,andit’s generally available to 3rdand4thyearstudents who wish toremain on Grounds. First-Yearslive in either the McCormick orAlderman Road dorms, or in

one of the residential colleges: Hereford College, Brown College,and the International Residence College. The McCormick Roadresidence halls offer a traditional hall-style dormitory, while mostof the Alderman Road halls have suites of five double-occupancyrooms and a common area. You can check out pictures and floorplans on the residence life web site.

10. THE CURRY SCHOOL OF EDUCATIONThe Curry School offers a Bachelor of Science in Education intwo program areas, CommunicationDisorders and Kinesiology. Alsooffered is a five-year Master ofTeaching Education program.Students have the opportunityto participate in ground-breakingresearch, collaborate withinternationally renowned faculty and contribute to real lifesolutions faced by those in the field of education.

11. UVA BOOKSTORE AND NEWCOMB HALLCavalier Computers, which offerscomputer merchandise and repairservices is also located in the bookstore.Newcomb Hall is the University’s studentcenter. It is the hub of student activitiesthat include a post office, dining hall, foodcourt, convenience store, game room, afull-service Bank of America, and more.Newcomb Hall also houses the officesof the University’s Honor Committee,Student Council, Greek councils, LGBTQstudent association, movie theater,the satellite orientation office, studentnewspaper, The Cavalier Daily.

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