Any type work, two choices being Tevas and Birkenstocks . On the other end of the spectrum, Charlottesville turns into a bear during the late fall and winter months. Boots not only protect your feet from freezing cold and dampening rain, they also help when walking around the confines of school. The University has more hills than just about anywhere, so get ready to walk. Tennis shoes and loafers are nice, but sandals and boots are indispensable.
Shoes are irrelevant, however, without the proper bodily clothing.
The most vital part of your UVa attire is layers. I cannot stress this point enough. The only way to prepare for this is many layers of clothing. As November rolls into town, a winter coat develops into your new best friend. All kidding aside, the weather here is nothing short of brutal.