UVM Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines


University Policy

Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities

Policy Statement

By choosing to attend the University of Vermont, each student accepts responsibility for promoting the community’s welfare by adhering to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.  Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action by the University. 

Reason for Policy

Some actions cannot be tolerated because they seriously interfere with the basic purposes and processes of an academic community or with the rights accorded other members of the community.  By formulating a general code of rights and responsibilities, the University reaffirms the principle of student freedom coupled with personal responsibility and accountability for individual action and the consequences of that action.

Strategic Direction

This policy supports the strategic goal of creating an environment that is consistent with and promotes the climate and community enshrined in "Our Common Ground."  It helps to foster a culture of inclusion and openness and to promote positive changes in student culture and behavioral norms, both as expressed in the University's Strategic Action Plan.

Applicability of Policy

The Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (the "Code") applies principally to conduct that occurs on University premises or at University-related activities or facilities including class sessions and all other educational activities. University premises means all land, buildings, facilities, and other property owned or leased by the University of Vermont.  Off-campus conduct may also subject a student to disciplinary or other appropriate administrative action when it is reasonably perceived to pose an imminent threat of harm to the safety of the student or others or reflects on a student's fitness to continue in the academic program in which s/he is enrolled.  In addition, the University may respond to other off-campus student conduct through non-disciplinary or administrative interventions.  Repeated conduct of this kind may cumulatively form the basis for on-campus judicial action.

Responsible Official

The University official responsible for oversight of this policy is the Dean of Students.

Policy Elaboration

Introductory Statement

Some actions cannot be tolerated because they seriously interfere with the basic purpose and processes of an academic community, or with the rights accorded other members of the community. By formulating a general code of ethics, rights, and responsibilities, the University reaffirms the principle of student freedom coupled with personal responsibility and accountability for individual action and the consequences of such action.

Students are not only members of the academic community but also members of the larger society. Thus they retain the rights, protection, guarantees, and responsibilities that are held by all citizens. A student is not immune to prosecution by local, state, or federal enforcement agencies, whether or not the University takes action on the violation.

The Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (the "Code") applies principally to conduct that occurs on University premises or at University-related activities or facilities. “University premises” means all land, buildings, facilities, and other property owned or leased by the University of Vermont. Off-campus conduct may also subject a student to disciplinary or other appropriate administrative action if it is reasonably perceived to pose an imminent threat of harm to the safety of the student or others or reflects on a student's fitness to continue in the academic program in which s/he is enrolled.

A.  Definitions 

1. The term "student" means any person taking or auditing any courses at the University of Vermont. Any course registration, whether in a non-degree or degree-granting program of undergraduate, graduate, or professional studies, characterizes the registrant as a "student" from the point of registration to the completion of the course of study. Persons who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have clearly manifested an intent to attend, remain in attendance, or to return to the University of Vermont as students are considered "students." Examples include, but are not limited to, students who are enrolled but not taking classes due to an academic break, medical leave, suspension, or other personal leave; persons who demonstrate an intent to enroll by registering for courses; and students participating in study abroad programs.

2. The term "University official," as used in this Code, means any person employed by the University and acting on behalf of the University.

B.  Students' Rights

The University of Vermont is an academic community in which all students, faculty, and staff ¬share responsibility for both individual growth and the continued welfare of the community. As members of the University community, students can reasonably expect the following:

1.  Students have the right to freedom from discrimination and harassment on the basis of
race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or gender identity or expression.

2.  Students shall have the opportunity to participate in the formulation of policy directly affecting students through membership on appropriate committees as determined by the President or other recognized constitutional groups within the University.

3.  The University shall not interfere with the rights of students to join associations that promote their common interests as students.

4.  Students should receive accurate and plainly stated information about the maintenance of acceptable academic standing, graduation requirements, and individual course objectives and requirements.

5.  In keeping with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and its implementing regulations, students have the right to view their education records and the expectation that those records will be protected from unauthorized disclosure.
 
6.  In all instances of general discipline, academic discipline, and academic evaluation, students have the right to fair and impartial treatment.

7.  The University of Vermont considers freedom of inquiry and discussion essential to a student's educational development. Thus, the University recognizes the right of all students to engage in discussion, to exchange thought and opinion, and to speak, write, or publish freely on any subject, in accordance with the guarantees of the federal and Vermont constitutions. This broad principle is the cornerstone of education in a democracy. Student groups may freely select persons they wish to invite as guest speakers or performers. There are no restrictions on the points of view expressed by speakers other than those imposed by national or state law. The invitation to an outside speaker does not imply approval or sponsorship of his/her views by the University nor by the group inviting that individual.

8.  Students are free to engage in peaceful and orderly protest, demonstration, and picketing that does not disrupt functions of the University.

9.  Students have the right to be free from illegal searches and seizures.

10.  Students have the right to freely exercise their full rights as citizens. The University affirms the right of students to exercise their freedoms without fear of University interference.
 

C.  Students' Responsibilities

Students, student organizations, and their respective guests are responsible for knowing and behaving consistently with this Code as well as federal, state, and local laws.

1. General Provisions

a. Students who assist others in violating any provision of this Code may be charged with a Code violation to the same extent as those persons committing a violation.

b. Students are responsible for the activities that occur in their residence hall rooms and the shared living space in suite style residence halls (Living/Learning suites, Wright Hall, Trinity and University Heights) where applicable. Therefore, students are expected to properly secure their living area(s) at all times.  Students are also responsible for ensuring that all guests know and behave consistently with this Code while on campus. Any person involved in an incident who is not an assigned occupant of the room or suite where the incident occurred will be deemed a "guest" under this Code.  All assigned occupants of a room or suite may be subject to the same sanctions under this Code as the actual violators.

c. Attempts to violate this Code, including unsuccessful attempts, are prohibited and are subject to the same response under this Code as are actual violations.

2. Prohibited Acts

a. Offenses Against Persons

1) Threatening or causing physical harm or abuse to one’s self or another person. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, personal injury, physical restraint against a person's will, and holding or transporting an individual against his or her will.

2) Threatening or causing non-physical abuse of or abusive behavior toward another person, including, but not limited to, verbal or written statements that constitute a form of expression unprotected by law, such as obscenity, fighting words, or defamation. Non-physical abuse means psychological abuse or abusive behavior through verbal or written statements that are intended or could reasonably be foreseen to cause disruption, embarrassment, humiliation, shame, fright, grief, or intimidation.

3) Any actual or threatened non-consensual sexual act.

4) Stalking, which is defined here as willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following, contacting, or harassing another person in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to feel frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested.

b. Property Offenses

1) Destroying or vandalizing property, or intending to destroy or vandalize property, including, but not limited to, University owned or leased property, fire alarms, extinguishers, and other safety devices.

2) Trespassing upon, forcibly entering, or otherwise proceeding into unauthorized areas of University owned or leased buildings or facilities, their roofs, or the residential space of another without permission.

3) Unauthorized or inappropriate use of University property or the property of others.

4) Unauthorized or inappropriate use, duplication, or possession of keys, computer access codes, long distance caller identity codes, or other security mechanisms.

5) Theft or unauthorized possession of property or services.

6) Embezzling, defrauding, or using false pretenses to procure money, property, or services.

7) Knowingly purchasing or possessing stolen or embezzled property, money, or services.

8) Any willful or malicious burning of any real or personal property of another.

c. Public Order/University Order Offenses

1) Possessing or using weapons, ammunition, explosives, flammable substances, or other dangerous devices. “Weapons” means any object or substance designed or used to inflict a wound, cause injury, or incapacitate, including but not limited to all firearms, pellet guns, air pistols, air rifles, knives, black jacks, metal knuckles, nunchaku, fireworks, explosives, biological agents, and chemicals such as "mace" and tear gas. Replicas and facsimiles of weapons are also considered weapons and are therefore prohibited.

2) Creating a fire, safety, or health hazard.

3) Falsely reporting a fire or other emergency situation by actions such as activating a fire alarm or pre-alarm cover when there is no reasonably perceived emergency.

4) Impeding or obstructing an investigation, or failing to identify oneself or to comply with the directions of University officials, their authorized agents, or local police agencies acting in the performance and scope of their duties.

5) Operating a motorized vehicle in violation of traffic rules or so as to endanger people or property, or having a motorized vehicle on campus except as permitted by University policies and procedures.

6) Having an animal on campus, except as permitted by University policies and procedures.

7) Littering.

8) Causing any object to be ejected from windows, roofs, or balconies of University-owned or leased buildings.

9) Conveying information that the student knows or should know to be false, by actions such as forging, altering, or causing any false information to be entered into a University record or to be presented at a University proceeding or to a University official.

10) Possessing, providing, distributing, selling, or manufacturing any form of false University, federal, or state issued identification.

11) Impersonating any University official.

12) Elimination of bodily fluids or waste, such as urine, feces, vomit, or blood, in places or receptacles not designed for receipt of such substances.

13) Indecent exposure, including “flashing” and all exposure prohibited by Vermont law.

14) Tampering with or misuse of any fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire alarms.

15) Failure to evacuate any building during a fire alarm.

16) Gambling, which includes bookmaking or pool setting for profit, promoting or setting up a lottery for money or property, or winning or losing money or other valuables by play or hazard at any game.

17) Using grills, barbecues, or other similar devices except as permitted in writing by University Dining Services.


d. Other Offenses

1) Violation of University policies.   Students, student organizations, and their respective guests are prohibited from violating University policies.  Some examples are the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy, the Equal Opportunity in Educational Programs and Activities Policy, the Firearms Policy, the University Computer and Network Use Policy, the Sexual Harassment Policy, and the Residence Halls Policy. The University creates and modifies policies on a regular basis. Students are responsible for knowing and behaving consistently with all University policies, including any modifications thereof. Questions about University policies should be referred to the contact officials identified in those policies.
 
2) Criminal offenses.  A violation of any local, state, or federal criminal law is a violation of this Code, even if the specific criminal conduct is not listed above.  Criminal conduct will be regarded as a violation of this Code irrespective of whether the offense is prosecuted in a court of law. The University may inform law enforcement agencies of perceived criminal violations and may elect to defer internal judicial action until prosecution of the criminal violation has been completed. Exoneration from criminal charges will not result in immunity from University disciplinary proceedings.

3) Academic Offenses.  Please refer to the Code of Academic Integrity.

D. Procedures

Reporting Violations

Any student, UVM Police Services officer, or member of the University staff, faculty, or community may report any perceived violation of this Code to the Center for Student Ethics and Standards (CSES).  Perceived criminal activity should be reported immediately to UVM Police Services, which will then share information with the Dean of Students or CSES as appropriate.  Upon receipt of a report from any source, CSES may decide, in its sole discretion, whether to proceed with the judicial process.

When CSES elects to adjudicate a report, it may do so by a pre-hearing conference with the accused student or by adjudicating the matter through the student judicial process.

CSES may wait for any outstanding incident report, such as a police report or Affirmative Action investigation report, before proceeding with the judicial process.
 
Interim Suspensions

Generally, a student’s status is not altered pending hearing or appeal, unless preliminary evidence demonstrates that a student's continued presence on campus would pose a threat to the student's health or safety or the health, safety, or well-being of other persons within the University community.  In that case, the student may be suspended on an interim basis. Except in an emergency situation, the Dean of Students or designee will communicate with the student before instituting the suspension. The Dean of Students or designee will state, in writing, the terms and conditions of the interim suspension.

Notice of Charge

When a reported violation is forwarded for adjudication, the accused student (the "Respondent") will be promptly notified of the alleged violation in writing (the "Charge"). The Charge will state what portion of the Code was allegedly violated. The Charge also will include a meeting or hearing date or will instruct the Respondent how to arrange a hearing date. If the Respondent fails to arrange a hearing date as instructed, a hearing date will be selected by the Hearing Officer or Judicial Council.

Pre-Hearing Disposition of a Charge

CSES may elect, in its discretion, not to send a Charge forward to a hearing.  Rather, the Charge may proceed by means of a pre-hearing conference.  This will typically occur when a Respondent admits to having engaged in the prohibited conduct.  Rather than hold a hearing, a CSES staff member will discuss the incident with the Respondent, and the Respondent will sign an agreement accepting responsibility for his or her actions and agreeing to the sanctions to be imposed by the University. If an agreement is signed during the meeting, the Respondent will receive a letter summarizing the discussion and the sanctions imposed. The letter and signed agreement will become part of the student's judicial file. The staff member's assignment of sanctions is not subject to appeal. Failure of the student to follow up with the recommended action or sanctions may result in further disciplinary action. If the Respondent does not sign the agreement, the matter will proceed to a hearing.

The Student Judicial Process

1. Preliminary Provisions
 
a. Hearing Officers and Judicial Councils. A charge is heard either by one or more Hearing Officers or by a Judicial Council.  Whether a charge is heard by a Hearing Officer or a Judicial Council depends on timing and caseload.  Cases heard during the summer or during vacations will usually be heard by a Hearing Officer.  Hearing Officers are professional staff at the University.

Judicial Councils are usually comprised of two or more students, one faculty member, and one staff member. The Faculty Senate and the Staff Council will be asked to appoint members to serve on Judicial Councils. Student members are invited to apply to serve the following academic year.

Each Judicial Council is advised by a Judicial Council Advisor, who oversees the hearing. The Advisor is a non-voting member of the Council and writes the hearing decision on behalf of the Council at the conclusion of the hearing.

b. Unbiased Adjudicator. Hearing Officers and Judicial Council members shall remove themselves from hearing a case if they believe that they cannot be unbiased.  Respondents may seek the removal of Hearing Officers or Judicial Council Members as follows:
 
Hearing Officer. The Respondent will be notified at least three business days before the hearing of the identity of the Hearing Officer who will consider the Charge. If the Respondent believes that the Hearing Officer cannot be unbiased, s/he must write to the Director of CSES or the Dean of Students to request a replacement, stating the specific reasons s/he believes the Hearing Officer would be biased. The written request must be made a minimum of two business days before the hearing is scheduled to be held. If the Judicial Affairs Officer agrees, s/he will reassign the Charge, but the hearing date will remain unchanged if possible.

Judicial Council. At the beginning of the hearing, the Judicial Council members will introduce themselves. The Respondent will be given the opportunity to object to a particular Council member if s/he believes the Council member cannot be unbiased. The Judicial Council Advisor shall determine whether the Council member will continue to serve.

c. Scheduling Hearings. The hearing will normally be conducted within twenty academic days after the date the Charge is sent. If the Respondent wishes for the matter to be heard during a University vacation period or wishes for the hearing to take place more than twenty academic days after the Charge is sent, s/he must submit to CSES, no later than forty-eight hours before the scheduled hearing, a written request, including the reasons for the request. The request may be granted for good cause, but will not be granted if (1) an extension would make a hearing impracticable, (2) the University's interest is deemed too great to postpone the hearing, or (3) the extension would be fundamentally unfair. The University may, due to an administrative need, extend the hearing date beyond twenty academic days or hold a hearing during a vacation period.

If the Respondent fails to attend the hearing, except when there are exigent circumstances, the hearing will proceed and a finding will be reached based upon available evidence. Failure of the Respondent to appear will not be considered evidence of guilt.

d. Advisors. The Respondent may bring an advisor to the hearing.  The Respondent must notify the Hearing Officer or Judicial Council at least twenty-four hours in advance of the hearing of his/her intent to have an advisor and the advisor's name. All advisors must be members of the University community, must have no other role in the hearing, and may not speak or otherwise represent their advisees. Advisors may not be lawyers, although CSES may permit a lawyer as an advisor when related criminal charges are pending. In such instances, the attorney or other advisor may be permitted to make a brief statement at the conclusion of the hearing.

e. Witnesses. A witness is a person who has personal knowledge of the incident at issue. Character witnesses are considered irrelevant and will not be permitted to testify. A person who serves as a witness may not serve in any other capacity during the hearing.

f. Witness Lists. The Respondent must submit a list of witnesses to the Hearing Officer or Judicial Council no later than twenty-four hours before the hearing. The list should include each witness's name and a summary of the witness's expected testimony. It is the Respondent's responsibility to bring his/her witnesses to the hearing at the scheduled date and time.

g. Multiple Respondents. If one incident results in more than one student being charged with violating the Code, the Hearing Officer or Judicial Council may request that the hearings be combined. A student may request a separate hearing, which will be granted for good cause shown.

2. Hearing Procedures

a. Closed Hearing. All proceedings are closed, except that an alleged victim may be given permission by a Hearing Officer or Judicial Council to attend.

b. Hearing Record.  Hearings are not usually recorded, as the decision letter serves as documentation of the evidence presented and decision reached.  A hearing may be audio tape recorded if CSES deems it appropriate.  In those cases, the tape recording will remain on file in CSES until it is destroyed or discarded along with other disciplinary records.

c. Maintaining Order. The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council chair are responsible for maintaining order during the hearing and may take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure an orderly hearing.

d. Presenting Evidence and Questioning Witnesses. The Respondent will have an opportunity to present relevant information and witnesses in response to the Charge. The Respondent will have the opportunity to examine all information leading to the Charge and to respond to all witness testimony. The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council may question witnesses. The Respondent may not question witnesses directly, but may submit questions to the Hearing Officer or Judicial council, who will decide which, if any, of the questions to ask witnesses.

e. Requesting Evidence. The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council may request the presence of relevant witnesses.

f. Sexual Offenses. A victim of an alleged sexual offense or assault may testify via an intercom or other remote audio or video device, so that s/he may testify without face-to-face contact with the Respondent. The identity of all witnesses who testify must be made known to the Respondent. In no event may testimony via intercom or other remote device be used to keep the alleged victim's identity from the Respondent.

g. Anonymous Evidence and Evidence Received Outside the Hearing. The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council may refuse to accept or hear any evidence coming from an anonymous source or evidence that is presented outside of the hearing.

h. Relevant Evidence. The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council will decide whether to admit evidence. The rules of evidence used in courts of law are not followed in this judicial process. Generally, a Hearing Officer or Judicial Council will agree to hear evidence that is relevant to the subject matter of the hearing and is fair and reliable under the circumstances of the case. Character evidence is generally not considered relevant.

i. Adjudicatory Standard. The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council will determine whether the Respondent is "responsible" or "not responsible" for the alleged violation. The Respondent will be presumed "not responsible" until proven otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence. A preponderance of the evidence is reached when the Hearing Officer or Judicial Council concludes that it is more likely than not that the Respondent violated this Code as alleged in the Charge.

j. Written Hearing Decision. The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council will provide a written decision stating what evidence was considered and how the decision was reached. If the Respondent is found responsible, the hearing decision will state what sanctions will be imposed.

k. Notice of Appeal Right. The Respondent will be notified upon receiving the hearing decision that s/he has a right to appeal that decision, as described below, to the Dean of Students within five business days of the date the hearing decision was sent.

3. Appeal Procedures

a. Bases for Appeal. The hearing decision may be appealed for the following reasons only:  (1) a procedural error unfairly and materially affected the outcome of the case, (2) evidence has been discovered that was not reasonably available at the time of the hearing, or (3) there was a clear abuse of discretion on the part of the Hearing Officer or Judicial Council.

b. Submitting an Appeal. To appeal, the Respondent must submit a written statement to the Dean of Students stating, as precisely as possible, the basis for the appeal.

c. Consideration of Appeal. Upon receipt of the appeal, the Dean of Students or designee may elect to meet with the Respondent to discuss the appeal and, if appropriate, hear new evidence at the Dean’s sole discretion. The alleged victim may be given an opportunity to respond to the appeal at the Dean’s sole discretion.

d. Written Appeal Decision. The Dean of Students or designee will render a written decision regarding the appeal within five business days of the appeal meeting. The appeal decision may modify the hearing decision, including sanctions, as warranted. The appeal decision is final.

4. Post-Hearing Process

If the Respondent fails to comply with the sanctions finally imposed upon him/her, a Hearing Officer or Judicial Council may impose additional sanctions on the Respondent, up to and including dismissal from the University. [In addition to the sanctions listed in the next section, the Hearing Officer or Judicial Council may place a hold on the student's future registration privileges with the University. Such a hold results in a cancellation of all pre-registered courses. The hold remains in effect until the outstanding judicial matter and sanctions have been resolved.]


E.  Descriptions Of Judicial Sanctions

Hearing Officers and Judicial Councils will impose sanctions after determining that a respondent has violated this Code.  When doing so, they may consider mitigating and aggravating circumstances.  Factors that may be considered include the following:

•    Present demeanor of the respondent.
•    Past judicial history of the respondent, including the completion of judicial sanctions from past judicial cases.
•    Nature of the offense.
•    Severity of the damage, injury, or harm resulting from the offense.
•    Whether the respondent promptly took responsibility for his or her actions.
•    The respondent's honesty (or lack thereof) and cooperation with staff during any investigation and subsequent judicial proceeding.
•    Whether the violation involved an action directed at another based on his or her race, religion, ethnic origin, gender, age, physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

All judicial sanctions can be applied to individual students and/or student organizations. Sanctions which may be imposed include, but are not limited to, the following:

A Disciplinary Warning is an official written notification that a student's behavior is in violation of University regulations or standards, which clarifies expected behavior in the future. Further misconduct may result in more serious sanctions.

Disciplinary Probation is an official written notification that further violation within the probationary period will result in more severe disciplinary action, which may include suspension or dismissal from the University. Probationary status is issued for a stated period of time and may include specific restrictions on the student.

Educational Sanctions: The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council may require completion of a variety of educational sanctions, which may include:
•    a formal apology, in writing or in person
•    a public presentation
•    reading books
•    watching videos
•    a reflective essay or a research paper on a designated topic
•    alcohol and other drug education which may require the completion of:
o    Alcohol and other drug education
o    Consultation with Alcohol and Drug Services and completion of all referrals made as a result of the consultation
o    A specified number of sessions with a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CDAC)

The respondent must pay all fines or fees associated with alcohol and other drug education consultations and classes, as well as those for sessions with a CDAC.

Community Restitution: The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council may also require performance of a specified number of community restitution hours. This sanction will be fulfilled either on or off campus, as specified. On-campus service will take place in a specified department.

Restitution: The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council may require restitution for damage done or other payment for expenses incurred as a result of the respondent's actions. Restitution may be required to the University, a specific department, or a specific individual, as designated by the appropriate hearing officer or council.

Fines: The Hearing Officer or Judicial Council may levy fines payable to the University.

Suspension From Residence Halls: This sanction prohibits the student from residing in any University-operated residence hall on either a temporary or a permanent basis. The respondent may reapply for housing after the stated period of suspension. Specific restrictions on access to residence halls during the period of suspension may also be imposed. Suspension usually includes forfeiture of any fee rebate for the remainder of the housing contract.

Deferred Suspension:  This sanction is an educational sanction, as determined by the Hearing Officer.  It allows a student to avoid suspension by attending Project Discovery meetings and counseling sessions.

Suspension From the University: This sanction separates the student from the University for a specified period of time. This sanction prohibits attendance at any classes and participation in the University Study Abroad program during the suspension period. The terms of the suspension may restrict access to University grounds or buildings, as well as attendance at University-sponsored social events, or other functions, as deemed appropriate by the Dean of Students or designee. The student may not register or enroll until the stated period of suspension is completed and any requirements for the period of suspension are fulfilled.

Dismissal: This sanction separates the student permanently from the University of Vermont.

F.  Judicial Records

Records of all judicial proceedings and sanctions will be maintained by CSES.
Records of suspension from the residence halls, suspension from the University, or dismissal from the University are permanent. Records of warning, probation, or other sanctions will be destroyed upon the student's graduation. Judicial records of a student who has voluntarily withdrawn from the University will be destroyed after two consecutive years of withdrawal unless the records include sanctions of suspension from the residence halls or suspension or dismissal from the University. In that case, the records are permanent.

Judicial records are personal and confidential.  Students may inspect their records at reasonable times. These records may also be shared with other University officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the information they contain. Under no circumstances will any personally identifiable information be released to any external individual, agency, or organization except with the prior written consent of the student or as otherwise required by law.

G.  Parent Notification.

As allowed by the 1998 Higher Education Amendments, the University sends written notification to the parents or guardians of students who are under twenty-one years old when they have been found responsible for violating the University's Alcohol and Other Drug policy. The notification letter does not include information from prior incidents or any case specifics. For detailed information to be shared with parents or any other third party outside the University, a signed waiver from the student is required.

Definitions

The term "student" means any person taking or auditing any courses at the University of Vermont. Any course registration, whether in a non-degree or degree-granting program of undergraduate, graduate, or professional studies, characterizes the registrant as a "student" from the point of registration to the completion of the course of study. Persons who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have clearly manifested an intent to attend, remain in attendance, or to return to the University of Vermont as students are considered "students." Examples include, but are not limited to, students who are enrolled but not taking classes due to an academic break, medical leave, suspension, or other personal leave; persons who demonstrate an intent to enroll by registering for courses; and students participating in study abroad programs.

The term "University official," as used in this Code, means any person employed by the University and acting on behalf of the University.

Forms

Incident Report Form

Contacts

David Nestor, Dean of Students
41 South Prospect Street
Burlington, Vermont 05405
David.Nestor@uvm.edu
(802) 656–3380
http://www.uvm.edu/~dosa/

Jacob L. Diaz, Interim Director
Center for Student Ethics & Standards
41 South Prospect Street
Burlington, Vermont 05405
Jacob.Diaz@uvm.edu
(802) 656–4360
http://www.uvm.edu/cses/

Related Documents/Policies

Code of Academic Integrity
Notification of Rights Under FERPA


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