(Information on this page last updated: 6/28/24)
Congratulations on your admission to UVA Advance! We look forward to meeting you in July. Please review the following information, and check back often for updates!
Academics
Participants enroll in two undergraduate courses – one core course specially designed for UVA Advance students and one elective course open to all Summer Session students. Students will choose their preferred courses via a survey sent by email and UVA staff will enroll students in classes.
Click here to view the 2024 Course Catalog for UVA Advance.
During this summer’s program, you will be considered a visiting undergraduate student at the University of Virginia. As such, you are expected to follow all of the academic and non-academic policies and procedures of the University. Please review the Summer Session Academic Policies, University of Virginia Standards of Conduct, and information about the Honor System prior to your arrival.
Tuition & Fees
A student account will be established for you in the Student Information System (SIS). You will log into your SIS account to pay UVA Advance tuition and fees. Instructions for SIS activation/access will be emailed to you after classes have been assigned and you have been registered in your courses. All major credit cards are accepted, except Visa. You may choose to pay with an e-check to avoid credit card transaction fees. Information related to viewing and paying your bill is available here. (For guidance related to making international payments, click here.)
Immediately upon course registration, which the Office of Summer and Special Academic Programs will complete on your behalf beginning in mid-April, charges will be posted to your account in SIS.
The Office of Summer and Special Academic Programs reserves dormitory space and meal plans for all UVA Advance participants. Students do NOT need to apply separately for housing or dining. Housing and dining costs are included in the program fee.
Arrival & Orientation (Saturday, July 13)
Arrival day for the program is Saturday, July 13, 2024. Students are expected to check-in and move in between 8:30 am and 1:00 pm on July 13th. The schedule for orientation is below:
8:30am-1:00pm: Arrival and move-in
before 2:00pm: Lunch on your own
2:00-4:00pm: Orientation for students and parents
4:00-5:30pm: Free time and parent departure
5:30pm: Dinner for students and Resident Community Advisors
7:30pm: Dorm meeting
All UVA Advance participants will reside in Echols Dorm, which is in the McCormick Road Residence Area. Rooms are double occupancy, and laundry facilities are located in the bottom floor of the dormitory.
Information for Day of Arrival:
Important Traffic and Parking Information:
Specifics regarding University parking for move-in day will be shared soon.
Airport and Other Transit Information:
The Charlottesville airport (CHO) is served by American, Delta, and United and each of the major airline alliances, SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and One World. Taxi cabs are available at the airport (no reservation needed) for the 20 minute drive to the University area. Train service is provided by Amtrak and bus service by Greyhound. Washington, DC is 2.5 hours by car and Richmond is 1.25 hours by car. Maps, directions, and additional information on Charlottesville and Central Virginia are available here. Note: International students who will be traveling by themselves are encouraged to fly into Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO). We ask any students arriving alone to share travel plans with us in advance.
UVA ID Cards
Students will be issued a University ID card upon arrival. This ID will allow students access to Echols dorm as well as dining, library, transit, and athletic facilities. Students are required to submit a passport-style photo in advance so that ID cards are ready upon arrival. Please follow specifications and upload a photo here. Note that a government issued photo ID (passport or driver’s license) must be presented to UVA staff in order to obtain your ID card once on Grounds.
Textbooks
In coming weeks, you will be able to view a list of required textbooks for most core and elective courses on the UVA Bookstore web site. For "Campus Term," select July 2024. The cost of textbooks is not included in the program tuition and fees. You may purchase textbooks at the UVA Bookstore upon your arrival in Charlottesville.
We strongly recommend contacting professors in advance of purchasing textbooks -- many instructors primarily use digital materials posted to Canvas.
Program Excursions (Subject to Change)
- Scavenger Hunt and Field Day Activities (Team Building Challenge)
- Peach Picking at Carter Mountain Orchard
- Monticello: Home of Thomas Jefferson
- Virginia Theater Festival
- Dinner in the Dome Room of the Rotunda
Leave Policy
Students are encouraged to remain on Grounds during weekends to develop friendships, to enjoy the program’s planned activities and to catch up on homework. If a student needs to leave Grounds for an overnight stay, the student’s parent or guardian must send a written request to UVaAdvance@virginia.edu at least one week before the requested leave date. Requests should include a description of why leave is requested, the date(s) and time(s) the student will be away from UVA, and signatures from the parent or guardian and the student. A student is authorized to leave only after the UVA Advance Director sends the student's parent or guardian approval via email. Note: Students are not permitted to have cars on Grounds.
Laundry
Laundry machines are available at the bottom floor of Echols Dorm. The machines accept payment using your University ID card through Cavalier Advantage. The cost is $1.75 per washer or dryer cycle.
Receiving Mail during the Program
Letters and packages should be addressed to:
[Name of Student]
c/o UVA Advance
Echols [student room number]
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Mail will be delivered to the Page Hall mailroom and then collected by the Resident Community Advisors and transported to Echols dorm for students. Please note that mail will only be picked up twice weekly; do not mail anything perishable!
List of Suggested Items to Bring
- Bed linens (extra-long twin size: 80 inches x 36 inches) and pillow
- Towel and wash cloth
- Immunization record - UVA does not require pre-entrance health forms for Summer Session students
- Health insurance ID card
- Computer [Chromebooks are NOT supported by UVA's systems] (Please let us know immediately if you don’t have a computer)
- Cellphone
- Alarm clock
- Power strip (must have a UL rating and be fused with a reset switch)
- Clothing appropriate for class (consider layers in case of chilly air-conditioned classrooms)
- Active wear for use in the gym and for outdoor activities
- Clothes hamper
- Umbrella or rain jacket
- Sunscreen
- Walking/Hiking shoes
- One nicer outfit for evening theater event and special dinner
- School supplies
- You will be residing in a dorm room (not a hotel room), so hangers, hair dryer, iron/ironing board, shampoo, toothpaste and soap will not be provided.
- Note: Many of these items may be purchased at the University of Virginia Bookstore upon your arrival in Charlottesville.
Please consult the housing policies for information about items that are prohibited in the residence halls. Students are not permitted to have cars on Grounds.
Bear in mind that students will have to carry belongings to and from Echols dorm. We strongly advise students to pack lightly and think ahead about how luggage will be transported (wheeled bags, carts, etc).
Day of Departure
Students must vacate the dorm by NOON on Saturday, August 10. (This is a change from earlier communication)
That's all for now. We will continue to post more updates on this page. Please feel free to direct any questions to Ms. Alana Speth at 434-243-2241 or by email at aspeth@virginia.edu or UVaAdvance@virginia.edu.