March 2020 YEARS IN THE MAKING In the Fall of 2018, Student Council legislation FB18-11 was passed with the goal of constructing an online handbook for transfer students at the University of Virginia. This initiative was continued in Fall 2019 with the passing of FB19-15. The following, “An Unofficial Transfer’s Guide to Grounds,” outlines essential information about steps to take and helpful suggestions before and after transfer students arrive at the University of Virginia. This handbook was completed by UVA transfer students in an effort to share institutional and cultural knowledge, as well as their first-hand accounts of their experiences at UVA. In order to reflect the current needs of incoming and current transfer students, this collective effort falls on us, the transfer community, to maintain and represent accurate information. The version history of the current handbook reflects the many iterations it has undergone and will undergo. If you see any outdated information or have suggestions for future versions, please email [email protected]. To all transfers - new and old - welcome to the University of Virginia! We are thrilled to have you on grounds! The unique challenges that many UVA transfer students face can often lead to confusion and unwarranted stress, especially in their first semesters. The Transfer Resources Committee created the following handbook, which consists of compiled UVA and non-UVA resources, perspectives from different transfer students, and difficult-to-find academic and social information in order to help alleviate confusion and stress. Additionally, we hope that this handbook will act as a platform to amplify the transfer student voice. Although the transfer student community can easily be overlooked (as the incoming fall transfer class size is about 600 students each year), it is still a presence that matters and has enriched our University’s community and culture. Whether you are graduating in 2 or 3+ years, are a veteran or a parent, or are coming from a community college or another four-year institution, UVA is for you. We hope that this handbook will help ease your transition in some way. WITHGRATITUDE, Alexandra Dizon & Darynha Gnep Transfer Resource Committee Co-Chairs Student Council 1 This project was made possible with the contributions of the following individuals, groups & offices: UVA Student Council Transfer Advisory Board Transfer Resources Committee Co-Chairs Alexandra Dizon | acd2sw | CLAS '20 Darynha Gnep | dg3gg | CURRY '21 Members Adam Rayburn | ar3tn | CLAS ‘21 Alex Naupari | apn3s | COMM ’21 Anneda Rong | aar2dk | CLAS ‘22 Caroline Stratos | cms3er| CLAS ‘21 Christina Ngo | cmn8bp | NURS ’21 Farren Shannon | fas5f | CLAS ’21 Favio Herbas | fch8p | CLAS ‘20 Jei-Ming Ang | ja3zm | CLAS ‘21 Kara Bell | knb7cg | CLAS ‘21 Karan Goyal | kg3be | CLAS ‘21 Kerry Bush | kb4fs | CURRY ‘20 Lauren Wells | lcw3fa | CLAS ’22 Naomi Collins | nc9ub | CLAS ‘20 Nina Dickenson | nsd5aj | CLAS ‘22 Vincent Lattanze | vhl8bw | CLAS ‘22 With Aditional Help From 2020 Transfer Student Peer Advisor Team UVA Peer Financial Counseling UVA International Studies Office UVA Orientation & New Student Programs The Guide to Grounds is a student-driven effort, and is not officially sponsored by the University 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Student Life 23 Forward 1 Greek Life & Staying Safe 23 Transfer Resource Committee 2 LGBTQ+ Life 23 Table of Contents 4 CIOs & Service 24 Before You Transfer 5 Sports & Sporting Events 24 25 Now What? 5 Community Building 25 When & Where? 6 Research, Internships & Jobs 26 Orientation 7 Student Centers Academics 9 Study Abroad 28 Programs & Considerations 28 Introduction 9 Finances 29 Choosing Classes 9 Next Steps & Resources 29 Declaring Majors & Minors 10 Requirements 11 Health 30 First Semester Tips 11 Student Health 30 Transportation 14 Insurance & Forms 30 Mental Health & Stress 30 Parking 14 Student Wellness Organizations 31 Bus System 14 Exercise 32 Bikes & Scooters 15 Planes & Trains 15 Navigating Grounds 34 Carpools 15 Welcome Week & Traditions 34 Gameday Parking 16 Study Spaces 34 Residential Life 18 The Good Old Song 35 The Honor System 35 Housing 18 Dining 19 All About Charlottesville 36 The Corner 36 Finance 22 Nature & Hiking 36 Financial Aid 22 The Downtown Mall 36 Scholarships & Work Study 22 Parks & Shopping 37 Personal Finance 22 Weekly Deals & Fun Events 37 UVA Dictionary 38 4 BEFORE YOU TRANSFER Congratulations! You've been Should You Take Summer Classes? accepted. Now what? UVA summer classes are typically very intense. They meet for several hours Monday through Friday since they fit an UVA Transfer "Getting Started" Checklist entire semester’s material into one month. Recieved Your Transfer Credit Evaluation? However, they are still very doable, especially if you are only taking one class If the registrar has given you your transfer at a time. credits, log into your Student Information Taking a summer class is a great way to System (SIS) account and use the "Advising adjust to the workload and familiarize Report" feature to figure out which area yourself with Grounds before the semester requirements you need to graduate. begins. Transfer Course Requirements from all You can also take summer classes at a schools community college or other institution the Haven’t Received Your Transfer Credit summer before you transfer as long as you Evaluation? stay below the 60 credit transfer limit. One of the most stressful parts of transferring is figuring out which class Pre-Transfer Summer Opportunity credits from your previous institution will There is a pilot program called the UVA transfer over. UVA has created a website Summer Advancement Program (around that lists many different universities and Summer Session III). Depending on whether their classes that have already been this program is continued, this four-week evaluated by the registrar. Those classes will summer program takes place during session show the equivalent to UVA classes and III (July 11-August 7th) that prepares transfer whether credit will be given from those students to become integrated into the classes at the previous university. University. UVA Course Equivalents You will be contacted by Dean Ozment to College of Arts and Sciences Transfer apply Credit Evaluator Housing is provided (Old Dorms) If credits are not accepted or they Classes are depended on your major have seem to have missed a class, (prerequisite classes) you can fill out this form and you Provide your name, major, and a statement can manually request for the of 110 words or less for your interest registrar to look at the courses. Engineering Transfer Course Equivalencies Only 60 credits can be transferred to the University. If you go over 60 credits, though, you can decide which credits to transfer, choosing only the most important classes to keep. If you earned an Associates Degree, make sure to send your official transcript AFTER graduation. We recommend that you do not send it early, as this may affect how some classes are counted toward your degree requirements. 5 When & Where Are You Transferring Transferring From an Out-of-State University From? If you’re transferring from a university outside of Virginia, it’s essential to socialize early as Transferring From a Community College transfer students from Virginia might already Transferring into UVA can be a huge daunting know students at UVA and may be more task, but students transferring from a familiar with the Virginia lingo.The UVA community college can experience an even dictionary in the back of this handbook is a greater shock due to the dramatic increase good way to familiarize yourself with the lingo in coursework and adjustment to a new we use. It can be easy to feel left out, but that lifestyle. UVA is known for having many feeling will go away with time. If you don’t libraries and study spots to explore as well know anyone coming into UVA, try networking as many clubs/groups/extracurriculars to with friends of friends who are current UVA discover. The community at UVA is much students or who know someone who is a more involved than at most community student at UVA in order to have a familiar face colleges. There will be typically many more around Grounds. opportunities on Grounds to explore and join these groups. However, despite the large Transferring as a Non-Traditional Student number of organizations, do not feel Don’t be afraid to engage in extracurricular pressured to join everything at once! It is student groups, even if everyone is younger! important to prioritize your courses to prepare for the large shift in academic rigor. Other Helpful Tips: In order to overcome the unique challenges Non-traditional students can live in that come with transferring from a graduate housing with their family community college, it is important to stay on There are childcare options at UVA top of school work, study whenever you can, and visit your professors’ office hours More on Student Health Insurance and because community college courses are Vaccine options for Non-Traditional Students (typically) significantly less rigorous than UVA can be found in the “Health” section of the courses. Additionally, it can be discouraging handbook. to not get the “traditional” first-year college experience, which even other four-year Transferring in the Spring university transfer students experience, but Transferring in the Spring can be especially you CAN still have a fulfilling college challenging because there are much fewer experience! And in reality, you aren’t missing students and, consequently, less support. out on much. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself as a transfer student to others! You’ll be surprised Transferring From Another Public Institution how many transfer students are around, and Transferring into the university from another how open people are to help you out once public institution does have some key they hear that you’re new to UVA.