Editor’s note: This article is a humor column.
On Monday, the University announced a bold new addendum to the 2030 Plan — the construction of a study abroad partnership, using Charlottesville’s very own Carter Mountain. A scenic hilltop famously known among students for the iconic “Sunset Series” events — as well as the backdrop for 87 percent of their Instagram content — the campus will offer a pilot summer abroad program called “U.Va. in Carter.”
The U.Va. in Carter program has been lauded by the University’s study abroad office to be an innovative solution to help students feel more at home while studying abroad. By choosing Carter Mountain — a location that students already love and are familiar with, at least on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. — program attendees will perform at their best and gain the most out of the experience, according to Study Abroad Office Director Bea Yond.
The University administration cited a barrage of student complaints concerning traditional study abroad programs like U.Va. in Valencia as reasons for the initiative. Issues like discomfort in unfamiliar cultural environments, significant time differences, and having to figure out public transport were just a few of many reasons the University believed were harming student well-being. Third-year College of Arts and Sciences student Noablo Espanyol, who studied in Valencia during the summer of 2024, gave his own insights into the difficulties resulting from a language barrier.
“After ChatGPT and I finished Intermediate Spanish with an A, I thought I was ready,” Espanyol said. “Then someone on the street asked me for directions. I panicked, said ‘el padre’ and ran away as fast as I could.”
Additional grievances from students included demanding cultural adjustments, like having to venture into a European Starbucks instead of the Corner Starbucks, and the disturbing absence of a Juice Laundry within walking distance.
To save students from navigating the stress of awkward host family interactions, they will be housed in “Orchard Cabins” — wooden dormitories erected on top of the mountain. The construction of four of these cabins is underway. A dining plan has already been coordinated between the Carter Mountain Cider Donut team and a Darden student with a wellness podcast. This collaboration promises a “rustic and immersive experience” where students will scrounge for peaches and unripe apples themselves, as well as barter for Carter Mountain’s concessions.
All classes will be outside amidst the orchard trees, and professors will lecture in flannel while students sit on picnic blankets instead of desks. The class offerings at U.Va. in Carter will be representative of the University’s academics as a whole, with disciplines like Pre-Commerce, Commerce, Engineering, Economics and maybe one humanities course if there is enough space on the grass.
Several members of the wider Charlottesville community have inquired about the owners of Carter Mountain and permanent residents who will be affected by this upheaval — in particular, how the study abroad office plans to accommodate them throughout the change. Yond assured them that, in keeping with the University’s history, no Charlottesville residents were consulted prior to making these decisions and starting construction of the satellite campus.
“You see, locals just LOVE University students,” Yond said. “And now, they’ll get to enjoy fruit picking and sunset viewing with the added bonus of a professor tossing a cube microphone to a student awkwardly sitting on the ground nearby. Truly an unforgettable community experience.”
While the program is intended to mitigate cultural discomfort, the University administration believes that some level of controlled unease will be beneficial for students. Therefore, the mountain Wi-Fi will be turned off randomly to simulate a European cafe’s spotty service. Additionally, putting ice in any beverages will be considered an honor violation. The administration is also considering the development of “Carter Coins,” a unique currency for the cider donuts with a conversion rate nearly impossible to figure out.
Third-year College student Virginia Isfarloafers expressed indifference to these stipulations.
“Last year, I thought about studying in Senegal because it sounded like a cute island off the French coast,” Isfarloafers said. “When I found out it’s nowhere near Paris, I sobbed. Whatever character development they’re planning for us at U.Va. in Carter, it can’t possibly be worse than that.”
Tucker Tuckerson, Assistant Director of the study abroad office, indicated that if the first summer of U.Va. in Carter proves successful, the University plans to add semester and year-long options to the program. They may even introduce similar offerings at other high-culture locales in Charlottesville such as Scott Stadium or The Dairy Market.
“Studying abroad is about personal growth,” Tuckerson said. “And if students need to be within 15 minutes of a Bodo’s to truly flourish, who are we to gatekeep that journey?”
Applications will open for students before the summer of 2026.
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