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 and University Judiciary 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 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.