Statement of Students' Rights and Responsibilities

Students’ Rights
The University of Virginia seeks to maintain an environment where students have the following rights:

• Expression - Students can freely examine and exchange diverse ideas in an orderly manner inside and outside the classroom;
• Association - Students can associate freely with other individuals, groups of individuals and organizations for purposes which do not infringe on the rights of others;
• 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;
• Safe Environment - Students can function in their daily activities without unreasonable concerns for personal safety;
• 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;
• Privacy - Students are free of unreasonable intrusions into personal records and/or matters relevant to identity, living space and well being;
• High Quality Resources - Students have access to high quality resources which support intellectual and social development;
• 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;
• Learning Beyond Formal Instruction - Students have access to a variety activities beyond the classroom, which support intellectual and personal development.
• Education - Students have access to excellent faculty, academic technology, classrooms, libraries, presentations and other resources necessary for the learning process.
• Personal Growth - Students live and study in a setting that fosters personal growth.
• Participation in Community Affairs - Students have opportunities to interact with people and institutions both within and beyond the University community.
• 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.
• 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.
• Prompt Responses from Administration - Students have the right to expect prompt and courteous responses from the University's academic and administrative departments.
• 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):

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Unauthorized entry into or occupation of University facilities which are locked, closed to student activities, or otherwise restricted as to use.
4. Intentional disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, other University activities, or activities authorized to take place on University property.
5. Unlawfully blocking or impeding normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic on or adjacent to University property.
6. Violation of rules governing residence in University-owned, or leased property as stated in the Record.
7. Alteration, fabrication or misuse of, or obtaining unauthorized access to, University identification cards, other documents, or computer files or systems.
8. 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.
9. Violation of University policies or of University regulations as described in the Record including regulations concerning the use of University facilities.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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:

1. Admonition   An oral statement to a student that he or she is violating or has violated institution rules;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. 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;
5. Restitution   Reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property.
6. 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 engages in conduct posing a substantial threat to the health or safety of other members of the University or to University property, pending a hearing of the offense.

   Upon the student’s request, any student so suspended shall be entitled to a hearing within 24 hours before the Judiciary Committee or its designated subcommittee. If the student is unavailable, such hearing may be postponed until he or she is able to attend. 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 prosecution thereafter by civil authorities. Should the interim suspension be found to be without probable cause, any notation referring to such shall be stricken from the student’s record.

   A student so suspended must be given the following warnings by the suspending official:

   1. You are hereby temporarily suspended and barred from (location—Grounds or portion thereof). 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.
   2. You are entitled to a hearing within 24 hours before the Judiciary Committee to determine whether this suspension is with probable cause and may continue pending a full trial. It is your responsibility to request a hearing and the suspending official will notify the chair of the Judiciary Committee of your wishes. (Give name and telephone number of chair of Judiciary Committee to student.)

   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@virginia.edu) for full information on the procedures.

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.

Continue to: Use of University Equipment
Return to: Chapter 4 Index