Construction on Grounds
The University will continue construction on Grounds through the summer months, though it will terminate brick paving outside of Clark Hall before Final Exercises. The University will complete renovations in New Cabell Hall by the end of the summer and will continue to build residence halls on Alderman Road for the fall of 2015.
Historic Preservation Architect Jofy Lehendro said Rotunda construction will begin following Final Exercises, putting up construction fencing and beginning interior excavating.
“[Construction] is going to be underpinning for the new underground mechanical room going into the east courtyard and scaffolding and shoring around the main building itself will happen this summer,” Lehendro said. The University will begin replacement of capitals late next fall and expects construction to continue for the next two years.
New deans
Dean Meredith Woo of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Batten School Dean Harry Harding, and Architecture School Dean Kim Tanzer will step down at the end of this academic year. The search for new deans began in the fall with several different search committees for each school, University spokesperson McGregor McCance said in an email.
“New deans will be announced once the search processes are complete, recommendations and selections are made and contracts are finalized,” McCance said. The University has also formed a search committee for a new dean at the Darden Business School, who will retire in July 2015.
Board of Visitors meeting
The next meeting of the Board of Visitors take place June 5 and 6 to discuss the University budget for the 2015 fiscal year. The Board discussed new tuition rates for the next academic year at its most recent meeting. When factoring in all costs, in-state students will pay 3.6 percent more and out-of-state students will pay 5 percent more starting in August.
Racing 4 Health 5K and 10K
On May 31, the University will hold a benefit race to build advocacy for stroke awareness and prevention. The event, which will begin in the plaza of Newcomb Hall, is open to the public, and will feature a separate race for children 10 and under. Proceeds from the race will benefit the University’s Stroke Center and will provide funding for their research in stroke prevention and possible cures.
Reunions Weekend
On June 5-8, the Alumni Association will host the annual reunions weekend to celebrate the 5th-45th anniversaries of the University’s undergraduate classes. This celebration will reunite more than 4000 alumni with class events, seminars, dinners, tours and band parties. Current undergraduate students will serve as volunteers during the weekend, assisting the Alumni Association in planning and operating the events.
Summer orientation
This summer, the University will welcome first-year and transfer students at summer orientation. Students will be housed in the Alderman Road residential area. They will participate in group activities, campus tours and informational sessions, as well as register for classes and see their future dorms. Students have the option to register through orientation for project SERVE. Project SERVE, to be held Aug.29, is a day of service and chance for students to get a better idea of the many service opportunities at the University. Fifty-two Orientation Leaders, selected from a competitive pool of applicants, will lead orientation activities.
Charlottesville City budget
Charlottesville’s Office of Budget and Performance Management has released the proposed budget for the next fiscal year. Councilmember Kristin Szakos said the impending budget will be implemented regardless of the release of the state budget.
“Most of the state funding is only a portion of each line item, so we could implement the city portion of it first, so that nothing shuts down at the local level,” Szakos said. Szakos said no major changes are occurring in the budget, and the City’s tax structure will remain mostly the same.
“The direct tax has a small increase, to reduce the use of smoking because kids tend to not want to drive to a different locality since it’s so expensive,” Szakos said. The budget takes effect July 1, 2014.
Virginia Senate race
The U.S. Senate election for Virginia will not occur until Nov. 4, but the race will gain momentum as it moves into the summer. The incumbent Senator, Democrat Mark Warner, will be seeking reelection against Robert Sarvis, the Libertarian nominee, and the yet to be determined Republican candidate. Of those who have declared candidacy for the Republican nomination, the most prominent is Ed Gillespie, a Republican political strategist who served as a senior advisor to Mitt Romney and as the 61st Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Republicans will select their nominee at the upcoming state party convention in Roanoke June 7.
July 4 celebrations
On July 4, Monticello will celebrate Independence Day and its 52nd annual naturalization ceremony, the oldest in the country. The celebration will feature a speaker and music by the Charlottesville Municipal Band. Monticello is the historic home of Former U.S. President and University Founder Thomas Jefferson. July 4 is a bittersweet day for the University and Monticello — simultaneously marking the date of U.S. independence and that of Jefferson’s and John Adam’s deaths. The two founding fathers died on the same day, the country’s 50th anniversary.
Concerts
Vampire Weekend will be performing at the nTelos Pavilion June 10. This will be their first time playing in Charlottesville. The group continues an impressive fall 2013 and spring 2014 Charlottesville lineup, which includes The xx, Passion Pit, STRFKR, Taylor Swift and fun. A number of other concerts are also planned for this summer at the Pavilion and the Jefferson theater, such as Gavin deGraw, Fitz and The Tantrums and Sarah McLachlan. Fridays After Five, a series of free concerts at the Pavilion which began for the 27th year April 18, will also continue through the summer, ending Sept. 18.
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