Update on Campus Safety and Student Conduct
Today’s topic is about student conduct.
First, let me back up, welcome to fall! Thanks to your commitment, talents, care and belief in our students, this is certain to be another fantastic, boldly NOVA year. I am grateful for every moment you spend helping students succeed.
Second, while I’m certain this might not be the welcome back message you were expecting, this topic is one that was on the minds of faculty and staff as the spring semester concluded. So, in response to your concerns about disruptive student conduct at NOVA, an ad hoc task force on campus safety and student conduct, which I co-chaired with College Senate Chair Jack Lechelt, spent the summer meeting. Given the importance of this topic to you, as the new year begins, I want to update you on the outcomes of the task force’s work. In addition, on Friday, the VCCS released an addendum to each college’s Student Code of Conduct, so I want to ensure you are aware of this document, too.
With that background…
Ad Hoc Taskforce on Student Conduct and Campus Safety
The work of the ad hoc taskforce is documented in agendas and meeting notes on NOVAnet. Among the action items the group completed, put in process or provided input on this summer are the following:
- an updated Student Code of Conduct
- a renewed commitment from the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities to active communication
- a process map for reporting student conduct violations to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities
- a process map for reporting Title IX violations
- campus-specific info sheets identifying resources and reporting paths for conduct concerns
- resource sheets from the Office of Wellness and Mental Health
- 988 Crisis Line signage across campuses
- an updated Faculty Handbook that includes information related to student conduct concerns
- a template for reporting incidents to NOVA Police
- freedom of expression training videos for faculty and staff
- student videos on values for use in SDV and other courses
- presentations from student conduct-related offices at fall campus convenings
In addition, the group reviewed recommendations from the ISSC and PSC and looked more deeply into the recommendation to require orientation of all students. A survey on orientation went out to VCCS and other community colleges. The majority of VCCS colleges do not require orientation, but several have made the completion of new student orientation a required assignment in SDV—thereby dramatically increasing participation. I will be recommending that the group currently reviewing SDV curriculum consider following this practice.
One key lesson from the task force’s biweekly meetings was the significant impact of including, directly, perspectives and experiences of our students, faculty and staff on this topic. For this reason, I will be moving the ad hoc task force to a standing college committee, to be co-chaired by the Vice President for Student Affairs and a representative elected by the College Senate. Look for more on this committee in future issues of the Daily Flyer.
I thank co-chair College Senate Chair Jack Lechelt and the taskforce members who dedicated their summer to this important topic. It was an honor to work with such outstanding colleagues.
Addendum to the Student Code of Conduct
After the challenges experienced on campuses across the nation and the Commonwealth last spring, VCCS, like many colleges and universities, reviewed its policies on student conduct and facilities use. The system has provided a code of conduct addendum to the 23 community colleges, and we have adopted it provisionally pending formal approval by our local board. You will find the addendum here. All NOVA students enrolled this fall have received notice of the additions to the code of conduct.
The new document addresses four topics—disruptive acts; violations of local, state and federal laws; masking to conceal identity; and encampments—providing definitions and examples, identifying prohibited conduct and behaviors and stating student responsibilities.
In anticipation of questions, I want to clarify the masking provision of the addendum. Virginia Code prohibits the wearing of a mask with the intent to conceal one’s identity; this prohibition has been in place for over 70 years and was waived temporarily by emergency order during the pandemic. The new code of conduct provision requires that individuals on our campuses who are masking to conceal their identities must produce valid identification when requested by a designated college official. Neither NOVA nor the VCCS is seeking to prevent individuals from wearing face coverings for medical or religious/cultural reasons, and the conduct provision does not prevent individuals from doing so.
If you have questions about student conduct or the code of conduct, please reach out to Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities Director Matthew Coats.
And, again, welcome to fall!!
Anne