Student Rights and Responsibilities
Introduction
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.
Student
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 Programs Council), 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.
Student's
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):
- Physical
or sexual assault of any person on University-owned or leased property, at any University
sanctioned function, at the permanent or temporary local residence of a
University student, faculty member, employee , or visitor, or in the city of
Charlottesville or Albemarle County.
- Conduct which intentionally or recklessly threatens the health or safety of any person on University-owned or leased property, at a University sanctioned function, at the permanent or temporary local residence of a U niversity student, faculty member, employee or visitor, or in the city of Charlottesville or Albemarle County.
- Unauthorized entry into or occupation of University facilities which are locked, closed to student activities or otherwise restricted as to use.
- Intentional disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, other University activities, or activities authorized to take place on University property.
- Unlawfully blocking or impeding normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic on or adjacent to University property.
- Violation of University policies or regulations referenced in The Record , including policies concerning residence and the use of University facilities.
- Alteration, fabrication, or misuse of, or obtaining unauthorized access to University identification cards, other documents, or computer files or systems.
- Disorderly conduct on University-owned or leased property or at a University-sanctioned function. Disorderly conduct is defined to include but is not limited to acts that breach the peace, are lewd, indecent, or obsc ene, and that are not Constitutionally protected speech.
- Substantial damage to University-owned or leased property or to any property in the city of Charlottesville or Albemarle County or to property of a University student, employee, faculty member, or visitor, occurring on University-owned or leased property or at the permanent or temporary local residence of any student, faculty member, employee or visitor.
- Any violation of Federal, State, or local law, if such directly affects the University's pursuit of its proper educational purposes and only to the extent such violations are not covered by other Standards of Conduc t and only where a specific provision of a statute or ordinance is charged in the complaint.
- Intentional, reckless, or negligent conduct which obstructs the operations of the Honor or Judiciary Committee, or conduct that violates their rules of confidentiality.
- Failure to comply with directions of University officials acting under provisions 1-11 set above. This shall include failure to give identity in situations concerning alleged violations of sections 1-11.
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:
- Admonition
An oral statement to a student that he or she is violating or has violated
institution rules; 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; 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; 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:
- You
are hereby temporarily suspended and barred from (locationGrounds
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.
- You
are entitled to a review within 24 hours (or later for good cause)
before the Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her 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.
- 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. Cases
Decided By the President
The University President (or his/her designee) may intervene in and preempt
proceedings before any University body when the President (or his/her 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/her 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/her 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/her 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.
University
Regulations
The Regulations listed below can be found in The
Undergraduate Record and The
Graduate Record.
Academic
Regulations
- Accommodations
for Students with Disabilities
- Attendance
in Classes
- Auditing
Courses
- Changes
in Class Schedules (Add/Drops)
- Diplomas
- Final
Examinations
- Grading
System
- Academic
Grievance Procedure
- Leaves
of Absence and Withdrawals
- Petitions
- Readmission
- Registration
- Repeated
Courses
- Student
Status
- Transcripts
Non-Academic
Regulations
- Address
Changes
- Alcohol
and Drug Policy
- Resources
- Amplified
Music
- Bicycle
Policy
- Computer
Usage Policy
- Conduct
- Confidentiality
of Student Records
- Dogs Running
at Large
- Dormitory
Visitation
- Use of
University Facilities
- Firearms
- Fundraising
Projects By Student Organizations on University Grounds
- Grievance
Procedure
- Hazing
- Misuse
of Student IDs at Athletic Events
- Non-Discrimination
Policy
- Security
Policy
- Sexual
Harassment Policy
- Solicitors
and Sales Representatives
- Use of
University Equipment
- University
Services and Activities
- Warning
About Videotapes and Copyright Law
The Honor
System
- Origin
- Responsibilities
- The Honor
Committee
- Juries
- Honor
Advisors and Honor Educators
- The Bad
Check Committee
Department
of Parking and Transportation Services
- Registration
of Motor Vehicles
- Parking
Permits
- Enforcement
- Modification
of Privileges
Department
of Student Health
This document
is published by the Office of the Vice President for Student
Affairs. For questions or additional information concerning this
document, please contact:
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Southwest Wing, The Rotunda
P.O. Box 400303
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Phone: (434) 924-7984
E-mail: vpsa@virginia.edu
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