Grounds for Success Orientation

Grounds For Success: Academic Employee Orientation

Welcome to the University of Virginia!

Please read your welcome letter from Kelley Stuck, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.

As a new academic employee, you will attend an exciting and comprehensive in-person orientation experience. The Grounds for Success program includes information on: 

  • UVA’s leadership, structure, mission, and Strategic Plan
  • UVA culture; the employee experience and the student experience
  • Technology and Workday basics
  • Employee perks and resources
  • Next steps, including ID badges, parking and transportation and required trainings
  • Benefit and retirement plan options

As a participant, you will take home an orientation guide, an employee checklist, and other resources, which will further assist you in getting started in your new position.

If you are attending GFS orientation on or before your third day of work, please bring  identification documents to complete Part 2 of your I-9. Specialists will be available to process I-9 forms from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 

In-Person Orientation Program (Grounds For Success)

  • Orientation Dates & Times

    Orientation is held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m at Zehmer Hall throughout the year (dates below). Please arrive by 8:15 a.m. for registration. Coffee, water, and breakfast pastries will be served.

    Grounds for Success will be held on the following Mondays in 2020:

    • January 6
    • January 21*
    • February 3 and 17
    • March 2, 16, and 30
    • April 13 and 27
    • May 11
    • May 26*
    • June 8 and 22
    • July 6 and 20
    • August 3, 17, and 31
    • September 14 and 28
    • October 12 and 26
    • November 9 and 23
    • December 7 and 21 

    *GFS will be held on Tuesdays, January 21 and May 26, 2020

  • Location & Parking

    The orientation program is held at Zehmer Hall (104 Midmont Lane) - on map. Parking is free in Zehmer Hall’s lot. No parking pass is required.

    The optional afternoon activities are located in and around Newcomb Hall. See this map of UVA Grounds for help. The Central Grounds parking garage is located at 400 Emmet Street S., Charlottesville, VA 22903.

    From the Central Grounds parking garage, take the elevator to the fourth floor, and turn right off the elevator. Walk straight ahead to Newcomb Hall. The dining facility at Newcomb Hall is located on the second floor. 

    After lunch, exit the third floor of Newcomb Hall and proceed straight toward McCormick Road. Cross McCormick Road, and use any alley way immediately ahead of you (for example, Poe’s Alley) to access the Lawn, and Rotunda, which is at the North end of the Lawn. The tour meets at 2:30 p.m. on the Lawn (South) side of the Rotunda.

  • Optional Afternoon Activities

    We offer two optional and complimentary activities in the afternoon:

    1. A lunch at Newcomb Hall dining facility (new hire will be given two lunch coupons)
    2. A guided historic walking tour, which leaves from the South (Lawn) side of the Rotunda at 2:30 p.m. (no reservation required). 

    The lunch and tour will be offered on the following dates in 2020:

    • January 21
    • February 3
    • February 17
    • March 2
    • March 16
    • March 30 
    • April 13
    • April 27

    Participants will be given a code for 4 hours of parking the Central Grounds garage. 

    We encourage the manager or their designee to participate in one or both activities with each new employee. The manager should contact the new employee before his or her scheduled Grounds for Success orientation session to make arrangements. 

    Note that new hires may stay after the session to ask questions, and may not be ready to be picked up or meet until closer to 1:00 p.m.

  • Accommodation

    We strive to make this program as inclusive as possible. If you require any disability-related accommodations to fully access this program, please contact Rachel Parsley at rbp9h@virginia.edu or 434-924-3645, at least one week prior to your scheduled session.

  • Cancellation Policy

    The program follows the UVA operating schedule.  If non-designated employees are asked not to report to work, Grounds for Success is cancelled. You will be contacted for rescheduling.

Within Your First Two Weeks

  • Required Courses

    Please complete the following digital courses during your first two weeks of employment:

    1. Preventing and Addressing Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
    2. Not on Our Grounds - Responsible Employee (Title IX)
    3. Emergency Preparedness - WSC
    4. Information Security Awareness Training ISAT 

    These courses will be delivered to you via the Learning application of Workday.

  • Recommended Courses

    The following courses will be delivered to you as a campaign of three courses via the Learning application of Workday.

    1. Getting Paid and Taking Leave
    2. Policies and Standards
    3. Safety and Security

    While these courses are not mandatory, you will find them very helpful as a new employee.