University of Virginia Library

REPORT ON ACTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Rector reported that the Executive Committee, acting for the Board, had adopted on August 25, 1970, Standards of Conduct which were recommended by the President and the Board's Special Committee on Disruptive Practices. Subsequent to that date, the Committee on Disruptive Practices met further with students, faculty, and administrative representatives and recommended some changes in the wording of the Standards.

The following resolution was adopted:

• RESOLVED by The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia that the Standards of Conduct approved by the Executive Committee of this Board on August 25, 1970 be and they are hereby ratified, with changes in wording so that they read as follows:
• GENERAL
• The University reserves the right to suspend, enforce the withdrawal of, or expel a student whose academic standing is in its judgment unsatisfactory or who violates the University's Standards of Conduct. The University further automatically will enforce the dismissal of a student certified to be guilty of a breach of the Honor System by the Honor Committee.
• CONDUCT
• a. Introduction.
• Students of the University are expected to conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen, both within the University and elsewhere. For student conduct which is outside the jurisdiction of the Honor Committee but which tends to discredit or injure the University, the President is authorized by the Board of Visitors to impose such penalty as he may deem appropriate, including expulsion from the University. This authority has been delegated by the President to the Student Judiciary Committee, subject to review by the President or his delegated representative. When the penalty for bad conduct is expulsion, the student may appeal the decision to the Board of Visitors.
• b. 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. A student enrolling in the University assumes an obligation to conduct himself 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 (violations of the Honor System and Motor Vehicle Regulations are excluded):
• 1. Physical abuse of any person on University-owned or controlled property or at University-sponsored or supervised functions, or conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any such person;
• 2. Damage to property of the University or of a member of the University or visitor to the University;
• 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, or other University activities, or of other authorized activities 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, -operated or - regulated property;
• 7. Alteration, fabrication or misuse of University documents, records or identification cards, or like acts which adversely affect the University's education interest;
• 8. Disorderly conduct on University-owned, -operated, or -controlled property or at University-sponsored functions. Disorderly conduct shall include acts which violate the rights of others which tend to breach the peace, or which are deemed lewd, indecent or obscene. 'Conduct' may also include expression which exceeds the bounds of constitutionally-protected speech;
• 9. Violation of University policies or of University regulations, including regulations concerning the registration of student organizations and the use of University facilities;[1]
• 10. Any violation of federal, state, or local law if such directly affects the University's pursuit of its proper educational purposes.
• 11. Failure to comply with directions of University officials acting under provisions one through ten set out above. This shall include failure to give identity in situations concerning alleged violations of sections 1-10.
• c. Sanctions.
• One or more of the following sanctions for prohibited conduct may be imposed by the University upon students, depending upon the gravity of the offense:
• 1. Admonition: An oral statement to a student that he is violating or has violated institution rules. No admonition shall be entered as a permanent part of a student's record unless issued by an appropriate judicial body of students.
• 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 specified regulations, including the possibility of more severe disciplinary sanctions in the event of the finding of a violation of any University regulation within a stated period of time.
• 4. Disciplinary probation: Exclusion from participation in privileged or extracurricular University activities as set forth in the notice of probation for a period of time not exceeding one school year.
• 5. Restitution: Reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property.
• 6. (a) 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.
• 6. (b) Interim Suspension: Temporary suspension by an official of the University of a student who engages in disruptive conduct or in any other prohibited conduct which poses a substantial threat to the health or safety of other members of the University or to University property pending a hearing on such 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 is able to attend. Any student so suspended who thereafter enters upon those areas of the Grounds denied him by the terms of his 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 expunged 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 a duly 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 I will notify the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of your wishes. (Give name and telephone number of Chairman of Judiciary Committee to student).
• 7. Expulsion: Termination of student status for any indefinite period. The condition of re-admission, if any, shall be stated in the order of expulsion.