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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):

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  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 University policies or regulations referenced in The Record , including policies concerning residence and the use of University facilities.
  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 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. Intentional, reckless, or negligent conduct which obstructs the operations of the Honor or Judiciary Committee, or conduct that violates their rules of confidentiality.
  12. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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:
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
  1. 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

  • Services
  • Requirements

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