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Transfer Student Newsletter: March 2005

Message from Dean Papovich

I hope that you are well settled into your courses and are beginning to feel at home in the University. I'd like to get to know each of you in person, so if you have not already done so, please make an appointment to stop in for a visit. You do not need to have a problem or concern to come in, but if you do, please call me at 924-3350.

REMEMBER: THE LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM A CLASS IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16. INSTRUCTOR'S SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED.

Fall 2005 Course Selection

Advising for course selection for the fall semester will occur for College students from March 28 through April 8. Since conferring with an advisor is central to the selection of courses, only those College students who consult with their advisors will be able to participate in timely course selection for the spring.

Before your advising appointment, go to ISIS Online and print a copy of your VISTAA report to take with you to your meeting.

To Participate in Fall Course Selection:

1) If you are a second-year student and have not yet declared a major, you need to schedule an appointment to meet with your faculty advisor between April 4 and 8 to discuss your academic plans and progress. At that meeting you will obtain your advising code number. This number will allow you access to the ISIS course enrollment system.

2) If you have declared a major, you should follow the instructions provided by your major department. In general, students need to make an appointment to see their major faculty advisor between March 28 and April 1.  If you are a third-year student who has not yet declared a major or completed a major deferral form, you should do so promptly. If you are unable to do so, please make an appointment to see me soon.

Before meeting with your advisor, you should consult the online Fall COD available March 26 at the web site for the University Registrar.

Many departments provide amplified course descriptions for the next semester. Check departmental offices or web sites for these helpful guides. As you consider courses for the spring, be sure to attend to any remaining area requirements. Do not delay fulfilling CLAS requirements, especially the foreign language requirement. Check the web site for more information.

While you must meet with your faculty advisor to receive your access code number to participate in Fall course selection, you should also feel free to confer with me. I will be available for extended office hours to meet with you during the weeks of fall course selection. Please call 924-3350 or 924-3351 should you wish to schedule an appointment.

Finishing the Semester

The last half of the semester always flies by, and if you have gotten off to something less than your usual strong performance, you may be interested in the following.

1) The withdrawal deadline is March 16. If you wish to withdraw from a class, you must complete the course withdrawal form available here in Garrett Hall. If you wish to withdraw below 12 credits, you may do so after meeting with me and completing a petition detailing the reasons for your request. Reducing your course load below 12 credits will result in an Academic Warning. You can read more about this College rule on the College's web site. Requests to withdraw after March 16 will not be approved. (Reducing your course load below 12 credits does not usually affect financial aid. Contact the Financial Aid office if you have questions.)

2) If you need additional help with your course work you should confer with your instructor. You may also try the following resources:

Looking Ahead

The University provides a range of other services in which new transfer students are often interested.

  • If you are considering studying abroad, you should contact the International Studies Office on the 2nd floor of Minor Hall. Most transfer students find that they can fit in a study abroad term.
  • The Center for Undergraduate Excellence  Ms. Nicole Hurd is the Director of the Fellowships Office. It is located in the new Harrison Institute building, next to Alderman library. The room number is 305.
  • If you have not visited the University Career Services, 924-8900 (in the Carl Smith Center, Bryant Hall), you should plan to do so soon. After familiarizing yourself with the resources there, you should make an appointment to talk with one of the special advisors in UCS who work closely with College students.
  • If you are a second-year student, you should confer soon with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the department(s) you are considering as a major. The names, phone numbers, and locations of these directors are on the last page of this newsletter. We ask you to declare your major before the end of your fourth semester. If you are having problems deciding which way to turn, let me know and I will be glad to work with you to help you make your decision.
  • If you are feeling stressed about making the transfer adjustment, consider calling the Smith Center for Counseling and Psychological Services at 243-5150. They have a number of support groups as well as individual counseling and are located in the Elson Student Health Building. Their services are confidential and free.

Also, besides offering a full menu of traditional services, the University of Virginia Library provides transfer students with access to the following resources and services:

  • Real-Time Reference; Got a question? Need help? Chat online with a librarian during the afternoons and evenings. This service is available anywhere, on or off grounds; just look for the green "Questions" button on Library pages, or connect directly at http://www.lib.virginia.edu/questions.html (When the service is closed, send an e-mail to , and librarians will respond to your query.)
  •  Research Tutorials: Would you like personalized, in-depth help with a research project? Schedule a research tutorial to meet one-on-one with a librarian at http://www.lib.virginia.edu/tutorial.html
  • Digital Resources: The U.Va. Library has some of the finest digital resources available anywhere. Search databases and retrieve full-text articles from the comfort of your dorm room. Locate images of manuscripts, maps, and rare documents. Download e-books for Microsoft Reader or your Palm Pilot. Borrow a digital camera and use video-editing software in the Robertson Media Center ... and much, much more.
  •  24-Hour Study Facilities: Need a quiet place to study or space to work on a group project? By huge popular demand, Clemons Library remains open 24 hours a day, Monday to Thursday, and until Midnight on Friday and Saturday. For your safety and convenience, an Escort Van departs from the Chapel every half hour, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9:00 p.m.- 5:00 a.m. 

The Library has many other services and resources to offer you; check out the Library home page for more information or simply ask! They will be happy to help you.

Area Requirements

Clarification of Requirements:

One course (including cross-listed courses such as AAS 101 and HIAF 203) may simultaneously meet NO MORE THAN TWO AREA REQUIREMENTS. It may also satisfy the Second Writing Requirement and/or count toward a first major, second major, or minor. Your VISTAA Report (Virginia Student Academic Audit) may incorrectly list a course as counting toward three area requirements rather than two. Be sure to check your records carefully and if you have any questions contact the College Registrar's Office (102 Garrett Hall, 924-8867) or Mr. Papovich.

Given that some courses can satisfy more than one Area Requirement, VISTAA Reports often do not reflect the preferences of students in this regard. VISTAA is an advising document only; it is not a formal or official document. As long as you meet the degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Record, you need not be concerned if VISTAA reflects a different allocation of courses. VISTAA reports are through ISIS Online. Plan to access yours and check the accuracy of your records. If you have any questions or concerns, consult the College Registrar, your advisor, or Mr. Papovich.

Remember too that once you begin your studies here, you may not fulfill remaining area requirements with additional transfer credit. You must fulfill all remaining area requirements at U.Va. The only exception is that students may complete the foreign language requirement by studying the language in a country where that language is the native language.

Useful Links

Getting More Help

Other resources containing information for Transfer Students can be found on the new Transfer Student web site, where we have tried to compile information that will be helpful not only for your early days here but that may prove useful to you now and in the future as new questions arise. Also, refer to our advising links collection, a general list of online resources to serve most advising information needs.

Please feel free to call 924-3350 or 924-3351 to arrange for a convenient time to discuss any questions you have with Dean Frank Papovich. Alternatively, you may contact Dean Papovich by e-mail at . Dean Papovich's office is located in Garrett Hall, room 211-A.

Best of luck for the remainder of the semester.

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