June 9, 2023

Update from the President: Student Conduct Review

Dear UMW Community:

I am writing to follow up on my April 22, 2022, email calling for “an outside review of our entire system of student conduct.” We have engaged two expert evaluators to oversee this work: Karen Belanger, Director of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity at Virginia Commonwealth University, and Alyssa Reddy, Director, Center for Honor Enrichment and Community Standards, at Christopher Newport University.

My charge to the reviewers calls for a comprehensive evaluation of our conduct system, including the code of conduct; the process through which cases are heard; and the impact of the process on community members. The evaluators will review specific aspects of the system as well, including transparency and the rights and responsibilities of all students involved in the process.

Our goal is for the review to be completed by the beginning of August. At that point we will update the community on the review’s outcomes.

Dr. Juliette Landphair, Vice President for Student Affairs, will be organizing and overseeing the review. Feel free to contact her with questions.

Troy D. Paino, J.D., Ph.D.President