Student Council discussed the insufficient orientation for University transfer students and received updates regarding Student Council’s ongoing connection with the Student Government Association of the College at Wise during Tuesday’s general body meeting. The Council also heard about the applied learning fund — wherein third and fourth years can apply to receive funding for work and internships following the end of the school year.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Council representatives expressed concern towards what they described as a lack of a proper orientation for students transferring into the University. First-year College Rep. Lucas Addison opened the conversation, saying students who are a part of the Year in Wise program are often overlooked upon transferring to the University their second year. Year in Wise is a program that allows waitlisted, in-state College of Arts and Sciences applicants to the University to attend the College at Wise for their first year and automatically transfer to the University’s College, provided that they complete 30 credits and maintain a 3.0 grade point average.
Currently, the University has a webpage that offers a directory of staff prepared to help transfer students as well as transfer events happening on Grounds. Nevertheless, Addison said he does not feel there is an accessible way for the College at Wise students to bring their concerns to Student Council upon transferring to the University.
“I’ve been concerned about the Year in Wise students,” Addison said. “They seem to slip through the cracks, especially when they transition from [U.Va. at] Wise to Charlottesville. From what I can tell, there’s not a very good transition program, and there’s not a good way for Year in Wise students to express their concerns to Student Council.”
Lily Dorathy, Student Council director of coalition engagement and third-year Batten and College student, suggested working to enhance the Council's Transfer Student Resource Guide, which is separate from the University’s transfer webpage and was written by Student Council members. This guidebook was published and last updated in March 2020 and includes information regarding Greek Life at the University, Student Health resources and infromation about Charlottesville.
Tuesday’s meeting also followed up on a previous announcement made by Valentina Mendoza Gonzalez, former Student Council president and fourth-year College student, at a general body meeting in March. During this meeting, Mendoza Gonzalez said the SGA board at the College at Wise had reached out to Student Council looking to have a connection between the two schools and possibly build a coalition.
In a statement to The Cavalier Daily, Clay Dickerson, Student Council president and third-year College student said William Rudeseal, SGA president and third-year Wise student, and an SGA student member of the board had visited the University and spoken with Dickerson and Mendoza Gonzalez in late February. During Tuesday’s meeting, Dickerson announced the SGA has invited Student Council administration to visit their campus this spring and noted this opportunity is open for any Council executive member or representative.
After discussing the Council’s relationship with SGA, Dickerson said he spoke with Nicole Hall, senior associate vice president and dean of students, regarding the applied learning fund. According to Hall, a portion of alumni donations are set aside for this fund that students can apply for to receive funding for jobs or internships following this school year.
Airbus dates for post-finals season were also announced during Tuesday’s meeting by Micah Andrews, Student Council chief of Support and Access Services and second-year College student. Airbus is a low-cost Student Council bus service that shuttles students between the University and Dulles and Richmond airports.
Dates are available on the Student Council website, with ticket options for summer and fall 2025. There will be a bus departing to Dulles May 10, and buses in the fall going to and from the University, with two buses returning to the University for fall semester move-in Aug. 18 and 21 respectively. Additionally, there will be two buses departing and two buses returning to the University for Thanksgiving break and three buses departing for winter break.
Student Council will reconvene for a regularly scheduled general body meeting Tuesday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m.
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