In keeping with the philosophy that students are to do their utmost to help maintain a high level of conduct among fellow students, considerable responsibility for addressing violations of the Honor and Student Conduct Codes is invested in students via the Student Judicial Board, which is composed solely of students. Staff and faculty contribute to the address of alleged misconduct through the Administrative Board.
The shared purpose of the University of Lynchburg’s Student Judicial Board and Administrative Board is to promote integrity and responsible citizenship through enforcement of the Honor and Student Conduct Codes and Regulations, to help educate students about acceptable behavioral choices, and to deter misconduct. Both Boards have the authority to hear all cases arising within their respective jurisdictions, to require that students appear in conjunction with a hearing, to determine responsibility or lack thereof for alleged infractions, and to impose outcomes. Board proceedings are fact-finding in nature rather than adversarial and are conducted in accordance with hearing procedures outlined in the Honor and Student Conduct Codes and Regulations (see “Hearing Procedures”). If a hearing participant requires a form of accommodation to attend or engage in the board hearing, please communicate that need directly with the assigned case specialist or the Office of Community Expectations and Restorative Practices.
Student Judicial Board
The Student Judicial Board (SJB) resolves charges of alleged violation of the Honor and Student Conduct Codes as assigned by the Office of Community Expectations and Restorative Practices. SJB members are selected through application and interview processes. A Student Judicial Board hearing is conducted by a panel of five student members. A Student Judicial Board chairperson (or designee) facilitates the hearing. At the chairperson’s discretion, a Student Judicial Board advisor or other University representative may attend, observe, facilitate, and/or assist SJB during a hearing, including during private deliberations. During the fall and spring semesters, the Student Judicial Board resolves student appeal requests related to traffic and parking violations.
Administrative Board
The Administrative Board is authorized to resolve charges of any type of alleged violation of the Honor and Student Conduct Codes. Hearings assigned to the Administrative Board by the Office of Community Expectations and Restorative Practices include all matters when the Student Judicial Board is not in session, any matter that SJB is unable to resolve in a timely manner, and hearings involving students nearing degree completion who reportedly violated University policies during the last weeks of classes, exams, or the period between course completion and the awarding of a diploma. The Office of Community Expectations and Restorative Practices will select members of the University of Lynchburg staff and faculty to serve as hearing panel members on the Administrative Board. An Administrative Board hearing is conducted by a panel of three staff and/or faculty members. A chairperson facilitates the hearing. At the chairperson’s discretion, a University representative may attend, observe, facilitate, and/or assist the Administrative Board during a hearing, including during private deliberations.
Online Participation in a Board Hearing
A hearing conducted by the Administrative Board or the Student Judicial Board is typically conducted on the University’s campus in Lynchburg, Virginia. Typically, all hearing participants meet in person with the hearing panel.
At the discretion of the Office of Community Expectations and Restorative Practices, online participation in a hearing may be permitted for one or more hearing participants. An online participant must be both visible by a live camera and audible by computer microphone or telephone at all times during hearing presence. At the chairperson’s discretion, University representatives assisting with technology or other arrangements needed to facilitate online hearing participation may attend or observe any portion of a hearing, including private deliberations.
A student who has been charged with an alleged violation of the Honor and Student Conduct Codes that will be resolved through a board hearing may request online participation in the hearing in lieu of attendance in person. A charged student’s request for online participation in a hearing must be submitted in writing, with supporting rationale, prior to the deadline specified in the hearing notice. A charged student’s request for online participation in a board hearing is decided at the discretion of the Office of Community Expectations and Restorative Practices. Typically, a request for online participation in a hearing is denied when the charged student:
- Attends in person one or more courses delivered on the University’s campus;
- Resides in University housing, in the City of Lynchburg, or the surrounding counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, or Campbell; and/or
- Drops all courses attended in person on the University’s campus, withdraws from the University, or departs campus before the review of the reported incident and/or adjudication of an alleged infraction is completed.
