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The University of Virginia is a
community of scholars in which the ideals of freedom of inquiry,
freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of the individual
are sustained. The University is committed to supporting the exercise
of any right guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution and the
Code of Virginia and to educating students relative to their responsibilities.
Students' Rights
The University of Virginia seeks
to maintain an environment where students have the following rights:
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Expression - Students can
freely examine and exchange diverse ideas in an orderly manner
inside and outside the classroom;
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Association - Students can
associate freely with other individuals, groups of individuals
and organizations for purposes which do not infringe on the
rights of others;
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Freedom from Discrimination - Students
can expect to participate fully in the University community
without discrimination as defined by federal and state law and
University regulations;
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Safe Environment - Students can
function in their daily activities without unreasonable concerns
for personal safety;
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Discipline - Students can
expect discipline to be implemented through established procedures
containing all elements of due process for the adjudication
of charges, and the opportunity for continued University involvement
(as appropriate) until the resolution of the charges;
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Privacy - Students are free
of unreasonable intrusions into personal records and/or matters
relevant to identity, living space and well being;
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High Quality Resources -
Students have access to high quality resources which support
intellectual and social development;
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Counseling - Students have
access to support in managing personal adjustments, understanding
self and others, and career planning and personal decision making;
- Grievance Process - Students
have access to established procedures for respectfully presenting
and addressing their concerns/complaints to the University;
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Learning Beyond Formal Instruction
- Students have access to a variety activities beyond the
classroom, which support intellectual and personal development.
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Education - Students have
access to excellent faculty, academic technology, classrooms,
libraries, presentations and other resources necessary for the
learning process.
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Personal Growth - Students
live and study in a setting that fosters personal growth.
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Participation in Community Affairs
- Students have opportunities to interact with people and
institutions both within and beyond the University community.
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Student Activity Fee Refunds
- Students may apply for a partial refund of their student
activity fee if they do not wish to support the particular speech
activities of some student organizations receiving these funds.
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University Governance - Students
participate in the governance of the University, with opportunities
including but not limited to the Honor, Judiciary and Bad Check
Committees, allocations of student activities fees, programming
(University Union), Residence Life (resident staff and house
councils), and through membership on University and school committees.
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Prompt Responses from Administration
- Students have the right to expect prompt and courteous
responses from the University's academic and administrative
departments.
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Academic and Administrative Policies
- Students can expect academic and administrative policies
that support intellectual inquiry, learning, and growth.
Students' Responsibilities
The exercise and preservation of
these freedoms and rights require a respect for the rights of all
in the community. Students enrolling in the University assume an
obligation to conduct themselves in a manner that is civil and compatible
with the University's function as an educational institution. It
is clear that in a community of learning, willful disruption of
the educational process, destruction of property, and interference
with the orderly process of the University, or with the rights of
other members of the University, cannot be tolerated. In order to
fulfill its functions of imparting and gaining knowledge, the University
has the authority and responsibility to maintain order within the
University and to exclude those who are disruptive of the educational
process.
Standards of
Conduct
The University of Virginia is a community
of scholars in which the ideals of freedom of inquiry, freedom
of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of the individual
are sustained. It is committed to preserving the exercise of any
right guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution. However,
the exercise and preservation of these freedoms and rights require
a respect for the rights of all in the community to enjoy them
to the same extent. It is clear that in a community of learning,
willful disruption of the educational process, destruction of
property, and interference with the orderly process of the University
or with the rights of other members of the University cannot be
tolerated. Students enrolling in the University assume an obligation
to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the University's
function as an educational institution. To fulfill its functions
of imparting and gaining knowledge, the University retains the
power to maintain order within the University and to exclude those
who are disruptive of the educational process.
Generally, prohibited conduct for which a
student is subject to discipline is defined as follows (not including
violations of the Honor System and motor vehicle regulations):
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Physical or sexual
assault of any person on University-owned or leased property
or at University-sponsored or supervised functions, or conduct
which threatens the health or safety of any such person or the
physical or sexual assault of any University student, faculty
member or employee at the local residence of any University
student, faculty member or employee within the city of Charlottesville
or Albemarle County.
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Substantial damage
to University-owned or leased property or to property of a University
student, employee, faculty member or visitor occurring on University-owned
or leased property or at the residence of any student, faculty
member or employee within the city of Charlottesville or Albemarle
County.
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Unauthorized entry
into or occupation of University facilities which are locked,
closed to student activities, or otherwise restricted as to
use.
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Intentional disruption
or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary
procedures, other University activities, or activities authorized
to take place on University property.
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Unlawfully blocking
or impeding normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic on or adjacent
to University property.
- . Violation of rules governing residence
in University-owned, or leased property as stated in the Record.
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Alteration, fabrication
or misuse of, or obtaining unauthorized access to, University
identification cards, other documents, or computer files or
systems.
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Disorderly conduct
on University-owned, or leased property or at University-sponsored
functions. Disorderly conduct is defined to include sexual harassment
and acts which breach the peace or are lewd, indecent, or obscene,
and which are not constitutionally protected speech.
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Violation of University
policies or of University regulations as described in the Record
including regulations concerning the use of University facilities.
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Any violation of
federal, state, or local law if such directly affects the University's
pursuit of its proper educational purpose and only to the extent
such violations are not covered by the Standards of Conduct
and only where a specific provision of statute or ordinance
is charged in the complaint.
- Intentional conduct which violates
the rules of confidentiality, or which obstructs the operations
of the Honor Committee, the University Judiciary Committee, or
any subsidiary body.
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. Failure to comply
with directions of University officials acting under provisions
1 through 11 set out above. This shall include failure to give
identity in situations concerning alleged violations of sections
1 through 11.
Sanctions
One or more of the following sanctions for
prohibited conduct may be imposed by the Judiciary Committee upon
students, depending upon the gravity of the offense:
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Admonition An oral statement
to a student that he or she is violating or has violated institution
rules;
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Warning Notice, in writing,
that continuation or repetition of conduct found wrongful, within
a period of time stated in the warning, may be cause for more
severe disciplinary action;
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Reprimand A written censure
for violation of the specified standards of conduct placed in
the student's record, including the possibility of more severe
disciplinary sanctions should another violation occur within
a stated period of time;
- Disciplinary probation Exclusion
from participation in privileged or extracurricular activities
as set forth in the notice of probation for a period of time not
exceeding two academic semesters;
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Restitution Reimbursement
for damage to, or misappropriation of, property.
- Suspension Exclusion from classes
and other privileges or activities or from the University, as
set forth in the notice of suspension, for a definite period of
time.
Interim suspension Temporary suspension
by an official of the University of a student who has engaged
or engages in conduct which reasonably threatens the health
or safety of other members of the University, University property,
or the educational process, pending a hearing of the offense.
Upon the student's request, any student
so suspended shall be entitled to preliminary review within
24 hours before the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee.
If the student is unavailable, such review may be postponed
by the Vice President for Student Affairs until he or she is
able to attend, or for other good reason. Any student so suspended
who thereafter enters upon those areas of the Grounds denied
him or her by the terms of the suspension, other than with the
permission of or at the request of University officials or of
a duly authorized hearing body for purposes of a hearing, is
subject to further discipline and prosecution thereafter by
civil authorities. Should the interim suspension be found to
be without good cause, any notation referring to such shall
be stricken from the student's record. Should the Vice President
(or designee) affirm or otherwise modify the interim suspension,
the student may seek a hearing before the Judiciary Committee.
The Vice President or designee shall provide the student with
the name and telephone number of the chair of the Judiciary
Committee or the office to which the student may seek a hearing
which shall be scheduled as soon as practicable, subject to
the rules and procedures adopted by the Judiciary Committee.
A student so suspended must be
given the following warnings by the suspending official:
a.You are hereby temporarily suspended and
barred from (location--Grounds or portion thereof or specified
activities).You may not enter (area)
without the permission of or upon the request of University officials
or of an authorized hearing body for purposes of a hearing.
b. You are entitled to a review within
24 hours (or later for good cause) before the Vice President for
Student Affairs or his designee to determine whether this suspension
is with good cause and may continue pending a hearing before the
Judiciary Committee. It is your responsibility to request such
review and subsequent hearing and the suspending official will
notify the Vice President for Student Affairs of your wishes.
Suspension held in abeyance Exclusion
from classes and other privileges or activities or from the
University as set forth in the notice of suspension for a definite
period of time be enforced should another violation occur.
7. Expulsion Termination of student
status for any indefinite period. The condition of readmission, if
any, shall be stated in the order of expulsion.
Cases Involving
Sexual Assault
The University has established a separate
procedure to deal with allegations of sexual assault. Contact
the Office of the Dean of Students for full information on the
procedure.
Cases Involving
Psychiatric Issues
The University has established two separate
procedures to deal with allegations of misconduct for certain
student cases involving psychiatric and psychological issues:
Procedure for Psychological Hearings on Honor Offenses and Procedure
for Certain Student Cases Involving Psychiatric Issues. Contact
the Office of the Dean of Students (924-7133 or ask-odos@vir-ginia.edu)
for full information on the procedures.
Cases Decided
By the President
The University President (or his designee)
may intervene in and preempt proceedings before any University
body when the President (or his designee) determines that established
processes are unable to timely or properly adjudicate a case or
complaint involving students arrested, charged or convicted of
criminal conduct which, in the discretion of the President (or
his designee), reasonably endangers or threatens to disrupt the
University community or University operations.
The foregoing shall include, without limitation,
criminal conduct involving the possession or distribution of controlled
substances on or off University property, attempted or inflicted
bodily injury or other harm to any member of the University community,
and destruction or attempted destruction of University property.
The President's (or designee's) disciplinary review shall provide
affected students with written notice and opportunity to be heard
consistent with due process of law, and such further proceedings
as he may stipulate appropriate to the circumstances. Disciplinary
proceedings before the President (or his designee) shall not be
governed by established processes of other University bodies,
and shall terminate proceedings before any other University body
unless authorized by the President (or his designee).
The jurisdiction of University bodies
shall be subject to the continuing authority of the President to
discipline, suspend and/or expel as provided above.
Conduct in
the Residence Area
In addition to the general University regulations
described above, there exist policies employed by Resident Staff
which govern residence in University Housing. These include a
security policy, alcohol policy, living environment policy, and
a drug policy. Such policies represent basic areas of emphasis
and by no means do they constitute the entire range of Resident
Staff policy. There also exist specific regulations which define
the terms and conditions of occupancy of University Housing. While
such policies and regulations are too lengthy to be listed here,
it should be noted that they are encompassed under the University's
Standards of Conduct, specifically under standards six and nine.
Copies of these policies are available in the Office of Residence
Life.
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