To
Parents of First-Years
From
Christopher Holstege, MD, Interim Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer

Dear New UVA Families:

Move-In for new students is fast approaching, and I’m writing with a few quick reminders, which I hope you find helpful, as well as information on important events taking place during the move-in period.

By way of introduction, I have taken on the role of Interim Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer at UVA while a search is underway for a permanent Vice President. Joining me in leading the division during this period is Cedric Bernard Rucker, who is serving as Interim Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. We are both looking forward to serving our exceptional student body during this transition. We are especially excited about the new students joining us next week.

We are grateful you and your student have chosen UVA. This is a special time for your family, and we are honored to be part of it. My wife and I have launched six children into college life, so I fully understand what an exciting yet bittersweet time this can be.

President's Welcome

Please join us in person or virtually for this special event.

Welcome from President Jim Ryan
Q&A to follow

Thursday, August 17, 4:00 p.m.
Old Cabell Hall
Join Livestream

If you would like President Ryan to answer specific questions, please send them in advance to [email protected].

General Move-in Tips: For all arrivals

Main Resource: The Housing & Residence (HRL) Life website is the best source of information about Move-In. If you don’t find an answer to your question online, contact:

Arrival and Unloading: Follow the instructions for your student’s residence hall on Parking & Transportation’s move-in page. Students should proceed to their room, using their ID card for access, and family members are welcome to join them.

Long-Term Parking: Once you’ve unloaded your vehicle, you will need to move your car to a long-term parking area. Please see P&T's move-in page for more information.

University Transit Service (UTS) will operate bus service from Copeley Road (near John Paul Jones Arena). UTS drivers can assist students and families returning to first-year residence areas from long-term parking areas.

Residence Hall Meetings: Students must attend a welcome meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the day their building has move-in appointments. Students arriving on a different day should check in with their Resident Advisor (RA) when they arrive.

Safety: From the first day on Grounds, it's important for students to practice good safety habits. When moving into a new residence hall (or apartment), students should not leave personal items unattended or doors unlocked. Please help us reinforce smart safety with your student.

Tips For August 17 & 18

Arrival and Unloading: Parking & Transportation will have staff near many of the first-year residence halls on August 17 and 18 to help direct students and families. 

Please note, unloading close to residence halls is only available during your scheduled move-in appointment time.  You will be able to pull up your car in line relatively close to your building, unload, and then continue to longer-term parking (see above). The driver needs to stay in the vehicle at all times.

Greeters: Dressed in blue T-shirts, Greeters will help unpack your car and carry items into the residence halls. A limited number of large, wheeled bins will be available for use in many areas as well. Resident Advisors (RAs) and other members of the Resident Staff will be on hand at the residence halls, and University officials will be circulating throughout Grounds to provide help and answer questions.

Other Things to Know

Dining Options: Several dining locations on Grounds will be open during Move-In for your convenience. On August 17 and 18, UVA Dine staff will be on hand at welcome tents offering free goodies. Please see the UVA Dine website for details about locations and hours of operation.

Police Assistance: The University Police Department (UPD) will be set up on August 17 and 18 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Gilmer Hall to provide assistance. Students can register their bicycles or scooters at those times or they can use the online registration form.

Saturday Evening Student Events: Students will be busy each day with activities after they move in. Of special note, Saturday evening will include a free student concert at John Paul Jones Arena. Following the concert, students can head to the Aquatic & Fitness Center for the Hoos Home welcome event featuring free food trucks, music, crafts, and games from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Many other activities throughout August and September, all part of Wahoo Welcome, will help your student make new friends, learn about the University, and adjust to academic life.

Sending Mail to Your Student: Use the Mailing Address Finder to make sure letters and those very welcomed care packages get to your student properly. Learn more about sending mail to students living on Grounds.

Deposits to Cavalier Advantage: Once deposits are made to your student’s Cavalier Advantage account, they can easily use their UVA ID card to pay for laundry, printing, vending and other incidentals. 

  • You can add funds online to your student's Cavalier Advantage account. You will need to know your student’s nine-digit University ID Number (found on the back of their UVA ID card). 
  • Online transactions require a $25 minimum deposit plus a $2 processing fee; cash deposits of any amount made on Grounds at designated machines do not incur a processing fee. 
  • Go to the Cavalier Advantage website to learn more.

Dean Rucker and I look forward to your arrival, and we wish you well as you prepare for this transition in the life of your student and your family. Please call on us if we can help in any way.

See you next week!

Safe travels and kindest regards,

Christopher Holstege, M.D.
Interim Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer