Replacement of Alderman Road dormitories was discussed by the University Board of Visitors' Student Affairs and Athletic Committee at their meeting Monday.
The Committee adopted a resolution stating that "most of the residence halls on Alderman Road must be replaced" and that the BOV "endorses and supports" the replacement of Alderman Road residences.
In addition, the Committee outlined plans to add 400 beds for first-year student housing and 250 beds for upperclassmen housing -- including newly acquired Brandon Avenue and Valley Road apartments -- according to a University Relations press release.
The Committee recommended that first-year students continue to live in dorms primarily occupied by students of the same academic level.
"We support the notion that all first years should live in University housing," Committee Chair Thomas Farrell, II said. "I think it was unanimous restatement of a longstanding policy."
The creation of a physical connection between Alderman Road Residences and Hereford College also was discussed in Monday's meeting.
"It's very early in the process," Assistant University Architect Constance Warnock said.
Plans for a walkway or building are being considered because Hereford students have said they feel disconnected from other students, she said.
First-year Hereford resident Danielle Petrosky welcomed the idea of a closer connection of Hereford residents to their first-year peers.
"Because Hereford has upper classmen and first years, there is just this vivacious social life in Old Dorms that Hereford is lacking," Petrosky said.
Despite the Committee's recommendations, it will not be overseeing specific construction concerns.
Representatives from Student Council were in attendance at the meeting and Council President Noah Sullivan expressed confidence in the plan's ability to satisfy student concerns of isolation.
"My general thought is that if we are going to grow, they are building [new dorms] in a way that they understand the problems," Sullivan said.
Sullivan also added that the construction style of the Woody and Cauthen dorms seems to be the Committee's preferred model.
More detailed plans for selecting an architect and overseeing construction for Alderman renovations will be discussed during a BOV Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting next week, BOV member Susan Dorsey said.
Read More
Paul Cherukuri leads U.Va.’s entrepreneurship strategy as its first chief innovation officer
By Bertie Azqueta | 18 hours agoPaul Cherukuri was recently named the University’s first chief innovation officer in August, a role within the Office of the Vice President for Research that was created to help expand student entrepreneurship and start-up activity at the University.
How Youngkin reshaped Virginia during his term
By Ford McCracken | 3 days agoAfter nearly four years in office, here is an overview of how Youngkin changed Virginia.
Spanberger, Callsen and Laufer outline legislative priorities following election victories
By Brendon Bordwine | 3 days agoAs the campaigns drew to a close following sweeping Democratic victories, attention now turns to how Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and Charlottesville-area Dels. Katrina Callsen and Amy Laufer will shape the future of Charlottesville in their upcoming terms, especially for students at the University.
