The University Judiciary Committee released its Fall Statistics Report Dec. 19, in which it detailed the 15 cases processed over the course of the fall semester. All of the UJC’s cases were brought against individuals, and the most common case types involved violations of Standards of Conduct 6, 2 and 10 — violations of University policy, threats to health and safety and violations of federal, state or local law.
The UJC is a student-run, Special Status Organization that acts on behalf of the University to adjudicate alleged violations by students or organizations of the University’s 12 Standards of Conduct.
Allison McVey, UJC chair and fourth-year College student, shared the statistics report in an email to the University Dec. 19. McVey reflected on the UJC’s semester, noting that no organizational cases were processed for the second consecutive semester. Additionally, McVey said that the Committee crafted sanctions for the students found guilty that facilitated “growth, healing and reflection.”
Sanctions for the Fall 2025 semester included community service requirements, reflective essays and participation in programs like WahooWell — a well-being coaching service provided by the University. The Committee also issued one suspension and two suspensions in abeyance, or temporary suspensions contingent on students meeting behavioral requirements.
Of the 15 cases, 13 were brought against undergraduate students, and two were brought against graduate students. Nine of the charged individuals are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, two are enrolled in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, two are enrolled in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and two are enrolled in the McIntire School of Commerce.
According to the statistics report, the Committee adjudicated 12 violations of Standard 6, which are violations of University policies. In addition, it adjudicated eight violations of Standard 2 — threats to the health and safety of others. Standard 10 — violations of federal, state and local law — saw seven cases. The numbers in McVey’s email to the University differ from the numbers in the attached statistics report, but McVey confirmed that the statistics report has the correct numbers.
In a statement to The Cavalier Daily, McVey said that her biggest takeaway was the large proportion of Standard 6 and 10 violations.
“I think this reflects a somewhat ongoing trend we’ve been seeing over the past few semesters, and it really underscores the need to facilitate community understanding of the relevant laws and policies which students are expected to adhere to, and which most often translate into UJC cases,” McVey said.
Standards 6, 2 and 10 have tended to be the most frequently violated in the past few years. In the Spring 2025 semester, Standard 2 was the most frequently violated with 11 alleged violations, which is three more than this semester. Spring 2025 also saw four violations each to Standards 6 and 10, and the Fall 2024 semester saw primarily violations of Standards 6 and 2 — 21 violations of Standard 6 and 12 violations of Standard 2.
Standard 1 — allegations of physical assault — has seen a decrease this semester compared to the previous semester. Five cases involved Standard 1 in the Spring 2025 semester, while only two cases involved the standard this semester.
Six First Year Judiciary Committee cases were adjudicated, up from zero in the previous semester. The FYJC oversees cases concerning first-year students adjudicated by first years with the aim of offering a trial led by students most familiar and sympathetic to the early college experience.
No organizational cases were tried nor brought to the UJC this semester. Organizational cases spiked in the Spring 2021 semester, with an all-time-high of 11 cases against fraternities and one case against a Contracted Independent Organization. Since then, organizational case rates have fallen, with no organizational cases adjudicated in the Spring 2025 semester, and three organizational cases adjudicated in both the Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 semesters.
Of the guilty individuals this semester, 13 were sanctioned with essay assignments covering topics including personal reflections, apology letters and action plans for the future. Other sanctions included community service with an average length of 23.1 hours for nine of the guilty individuals, and eight individuals completed WahooWell or an educational program.
McVey said in the report that the University community’s engagement with the UJC is vital to its work. She asked that the University continue to interact with the Committee and anticipate Judiciary Week in the spring.
“The Committee’s work depends upon robust engagement from all members of our community, and I encourage you all to engage with it this spring semester,” McVey said. “It has been an honor to serve you all this past semester, and I am eager to continue the Committee’s crucial work in the New Year.”
Students, faculty and staff all have the ability to file a complaint to the UJC. They may do so by visiting the UJC's website, and accepted cases can be resolved either by trial or by a Hearing Panel.
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