To our Burlington friends and community,

In the spirit of a new academic year and connecting with our neighbors, I want to inform you of important dates and some University activities occurring during opening weekend for our students:

  • Wednesday, August 23 and Thursday, August 24: First-year and new transfer students move in to their residence hall rooms. This will take place from the early morning hours to mid-afternoon.
  • August 23–27: First year students will be in a series of activities created to help them meet each other, learn about University resources, and inform them about our community expectations while on and off campus.
  • Sunday, August 27: Returning students arrive on campus.
  • Monday, August 28: Classes begin. A week of programs continue that are designed to assist new students with getting connected to UVM as well as to welcome all of our returning students.

 

Traffic Information and Closures

Heavier than normal traffic is expected on August 23 and 24, especially along the Main Street corridor between I89 to South Williams Street. During these days, University Heights will be closed to southbound traffic at Main Street starting from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On Sunday, August 27, UVM hosts its annual Convocation ceremonies on the University Green. Enhanced safety protocols for these events include the following road closures:

  • South Prospect Street, closed between Main Street and Pearl Street from 6:30–9:00 p.m.
  • University Place, closed between Main Street to Colchester Avenue from 3:00–11:00 p.m.
  • College Street, closed between South Williams Street to South Prospect Street, from 6:30–9:00 p.m.

For questions, please contact Deputy Chief Jay Lawson with UVM Police Services at 802-656-3473.
 

Educational Programs and Social Activities

We are making a concerted effort to engage new students in programs and activities during the weekend that will encourage them to stay on campus to socialize. Highlights of the programs include Karaoke Night (Tuesday, Aug. 29, 7:00 p.m.); Crafts and Snacks at the Davis Center (Wed., Aug. 30, 1:00 p.m.); UVM Pep Rally (Fri., Sept. 1, 5:00 p.m.), and many more. View a list of all Week of Welcome activities on UVM Bored.

We are working hard with students, staff, and our city partners to create healthy relationships between students and neighbors. We hope that through our TREK students’ community service efforts, the Office of Student and Community Relations' Welcome Bag and Neighborhood Grants initiatives, and the UVM Mapping Group's responses to off-campus issues we are encouraging courteous behavior, setting a positive and welcoming tone for the year, and fostering community connections.

We acknowledge that the arrival of students back into the community can sometimes be a difficult transition. If you have questions about opening weekend activities, please contact the Department of Student Life at 802-656-2060. For concerns about on-campus activity, please call UVM Police Services (802-656-3473); for off-campus noise or disruptions, please call the Burlington Police Department (802-658-2700). For assistance with resolving issues involving UVM students and neighbors, please call the Office of Student and Community Relations (802-656-9405).

Note: If you would like to be on the notification list for university events, you can sign up online. We want you to know when an event might have amplified sound, road closures, or higher than normal traffic volume. If you have any questions regarding the list, please contact the University Event Services office at (802) 656-5665.

I wish you all the best and I appreciate your partnership and patience as we welcome our UVM students back to Burlington.

Sincerely,

David Nestor
Dean of Students