The Cavalier Daily
Serving the University Community Since 1890

UJC translates conduct rules

Professors will help translate Standards of Conduct in Spanish, Mandarin for international students, parents

The University Judiciary Committee announced Sunday that it will translate its Standards of Conduct into Spanish and Mandarin Chinese to accommodate international students and their parents.

The Standards of Conduct comprise 12 rules that govern the UJC's disciplinary proceedings and are used to determine guilt, Chair Will Bane said.

The decision to translate the Standards of Conduct was not because of any specific past issues involving rules being lost in translation but rather to ensure that no future uncertainties arise, he said. "These translations are focused on incoming international students and their families so their families can be aware of the standards of the University before they're entering. It's a very easy step for us to take to have a great impact for the group of students."

Currently, about 5 percent of the University's undergraduate body is comprised of international students. Of these students, a significant portion speak Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, Senior Educator Victoria Marchetti said.

Translating the Standards of Conduct is "a great way for us to expand our outreach and make sure the UJC is as transparent as it can be," Marchetti added.

This is the first time the Committee has translated any of its documents, Bane said. Faculty members and professors who are experts in these languages will translate the document to ensure all possible accuracy. Hopefully, Marchetti said, professors and faculty members well-versed in other languages will become available to help with other translations of the standards.

UJC hopes to have the first two translations available on the website and in hard copies by the spring semester.

In the future, members would like to expand the translation program to other UJC policies and procedures, Marchetti said.

"A language should not be a barrier to understanding what the UJC is," Marchetti said, calling the translations "a good step forward in making the UJC more transparent."

-Alborz Mesbahi contributed to this article

Comments

Latest Podcast

From her love of Taylor Swift to a late-night Yik Yak post, Olivia Beam describes how Swifties at U.Va. was born. In this week's episode, Olivia details the thin line Swifties at U.Va. successfully walk to share their love of Taylor Swift while also fostering an inclusive and welcoming community.