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AGENDA
ITEMS
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A.
Adjudication of Sexual Assault Cases
BACKGROUND:
The University of Virginia has had procedures for the adjudication
of sexual assault cases in place since 1983. Since that time,
these procedures have been periodically reviewed and updated.
With the passage of the Higher Education Reauthorization Act
of 1992, a federal mandate requires campuses to develop and
distribute a statement regarding the institution's sexual
assault programs that are aimed at the prevention of sexual
offenses and the procedures followed once a sexual offense
has occurred. In 1994, as part of the last institutional review,
the University Committee on Sexual Assault and Judicial Review
(UCSAJR) met with various University of Virginia faculty,
administrators and students to evaluate and propose modifications
to the existing policies and procedures.
The motivation for updating the procedures was rooted in the
fact that students were not reporting their assaults, and
were not availing themselves of any avenue for redress, including
the criminal and civil courts as well as the University's
adjudication proceedings. The suspicion on the part of survivors
toward the system as a whole continues to be a problem; however,
the UCSAJR believes these modifications will have a positive
impact on the University's handling of sexual assault cases
even as students are encouraged to use the civil and criminal
courts.
The following changes are being proposed:
Revised
Board Structure: The current UCSAJR will be divided into
a Sexual Assault Board and a Judicial Review Board. This change
will allow better training for board members and will allow
each board to narrow the focus of their mission and responsibilities.
Advisors
to the Parties: The Sexual Assault Education Coordinator
will serve as an advisor to the survivor. The accused student
will similarly be supported and advised by the designated
faculty-level staff member in a unit of Student Affairs. If
these advisors are unavailable, the Vice President for Student
Affairs may appoint another faculty-level substitution. This
addition provides important support for each party throughout
the process.
Hearing
Procedures: The hearings will not utilize a legal model
of adversarial representation and witness examination. The
Chair of the hearing calls the witnesses, presents the evidence
and determines the hearing protocol. The Chair and the panelists
will question the parties and the witnesses. Following the
questioning of a witness by the panel, the parties' advisors
may also ask questions of a witness, but the Chair may disallow
questions that are irrelevant, improper, or redundant. After
all witnesses have been questioned, each party may make a
written or oral closing statement.
Appeals:
Appeals will go to the Judicial Review Board (which will hear
all Judiciary Committee appeals). Presently cases may be appealed
to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
DISCUSSION:
Copies of the Procedures for Adjudicating Sexual Assault Cases
and the University Judicial Review Board Procedures for Appeals
are attached.
ACTION
REQUIRED: None.
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B.
Alumni Association Support of the Honor System
BACKGROUND:
In recent years, the Alumni Association has provided financial
support for many of the Honor Committees programs and activities.
For example, the Parents Program, an Alumni Association sponsored
organization, has provided significant support for the development
and production of the Honor System video which is now in its
third year of production.
DISCUSSION:
This presentation will briefly describe the Alumni Associations
on-going support for the Honor System.
ACTION
REQUIRED: None.
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C.
Introduction of Student Leaders
BACKGROUND:
The election of officers in most of the student organizations
has been completed. These students play an important role
in the day to day functioning of the University.
The Honor Committee is responsible for the overall administration
of the honor system. It is composed of elected representatives
from each of the ten schools of the University. The Committee
selects a Chairperson, Vice-chairperson for Trials and Vice-chairperson
for Advisors from the elected representatives.
The Judiciary Committee is the student-run branch of the administration
that adjudicates cases of alleged violations of the University
Standards of Conduct. The committee includes judges elected
from each school, counselors, investigators and educators.
Resident Staff is lead by co-chairpersons who oversee five
program coordinators and over 200 resident staff members.
The Resident Staff program develops and maintains an environment
in University Housing which facilitates the well-being of
students and their academic, social and emotional growth.
Student Council is the representative body of the entire University.
It is Council's responsibility to ensure that the concerns
of all students are heard and addressed. Student Council also
manages the process for allocating the student activity fee
to eligible student organizations.
DISCUSSION:
Student leaders introduced to the Board.
ACTION
REQUIRED: None.
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D.
Academic Performance of Student Athletes
BACKGROUND:
Many universities share the concern that commitment to a high
level of athletic competition will not compromise the academic
integrity of the institution. The University of Virginia's
Athletics Department is committed to the successful academic
and athletic performance of all student athletes. To help
student athletes meet their academic goals, an academic support
system assists and works with these students. Despite the
pressure of competition and demands on their time, student
athletes graduate at a rate that is comparable to that of
the University's overall student body.
DISCUSSION:
This presentation will focus upon four objective measures
that indicate no significant erosion in academic standards:
NCAA Graduation Rates, Team Grade-Point Averages, ACC Honor
Roll Figures, and Distribution of Majors. The presentation
will also contain brief comments on the philosophy and operation
of the academic support system for student-athletes. Particular
emphasis will be placed upon the evolving relationship between
Academic Affairs-Athletics and the other academic and student
support resources of the University.
ACTION
REQUIRED: None.
