Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question or concern that is not addressed here, please email Student Conduct at studentconduct.vt.edu.
Student FAQ
Who submits conduct reports/referrals?
- Students, faculty/staff members, other Virginia Tech community members, and parents or family members may also submit a report at any point using this reporting site. The Office of Student Conduct receives reports/referrals from Residential Well-being, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Virginia Tech Police Department, and Blacksburg Police Department.
How do I report an incident?
- Students, faculty/staff members, and parents/family members can report a concern using this reporting site. Anyone may also stop in or call the office to report something directly to our Student Conduct staff members.
Do I need to report my arrest/summons/EPO to the school?
- Students are expected to report their arrests, summons, and emergency protective orders within 10 days of the arrest using this form. Students that do not report their arrest within the 10-day window may face additional charges, such as the Failure to Comply policy violation.
What happens when Student Conduct receives a report?
- Once Student Conduct receives a conduct referral, our case manager assesses the behavior to determine if a potential violation of the Student Code of Conduct occurred and reassigns the case to one of the staff members to be heard as either an Agreed-Resolution or Formal Hearing.
What is an agreed resolution (AR)? What is the difference between an AR and a formal hearing?
- An agreed resolution (AR) is an informal meeting with a hearing officer in Student Conduct in which the student and hearing officer discuss the incident report as well as the students’ well-being. It is conversational and less structured than a Formal Hearing. The student(s) must agree to the outcome (finding and sanctions). A formal hearing is a structured hearing with a hearing officer in Student Conduct. Students have several rights in the formal hearing process, which are discussed in a pre-hearing meeting with the staff member who coordinated the hearing.
What rights do students have in the Student Conduct process?
What are possible outcomes/resolutions of cases?
- Student Conduct uses both educational, status, and privilege sanctions to appropriately address behavior and hold students accountable. Educational sanctions range from reflection activities to meeting with other campus resources/offices. Status sanctions range from a formal warning to dismissal. Privilege sanctions include termination of housing contracts, network access, and athletic privileges. More information on status sanctions can be found in the Student Code of Conduct.
Can I appeal my outcome?
- Students are only allowed to appeal outcomes that result in a loss of privilege (suspension, dismissal, denial of housing, denial of athletic privileges, etc). Students with this type of outcome will be given an appeal form to complete, if they would like to. Students are given seven business days from the date of the outcome to appeal. After an appeal is submitted, the appeal, along with all case information, is given to an appellate officer for review.
What outcomes are reported internally at Virginia Tech or externally to others?
- If students sign off to have their records released, Student Conduct reports any active status sanctions that are probationary or more severe. Probation, deferred suspension, suspension, and dismissal are on students’ conduct records and will be reported out if records are released.
How can I get my record expunged?
- Students are able to get low-level status sanctions removed from their records through the expungement process. Students are required to complete the expungement request form and adequately answer all necessary questions, in addition to showing that they have completed all required educational sanctions. Records are expunged by Student Conduct staff at their discretion. The incident report, completion of sanctions, and answers to the questions will be judged in determining if a student’s record can be expunged. Further, students must wait one full semester/term, after their status sanction is complete, before they are eligible to apply for expungement.
Will my parents/family find out about the incident?
- Student Conduct does not inform parents/family about an incident. However, as a federally funded university, Virginia Tech complies with The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) of 1989. Therefore, students who violate the Alcoholic Beverage or Illegal Drugs policy, if under 21, will have a letter mailed home stating they violated one of these policies.
How can I set up a FERPA code for my parents and/or family members to access my records?
- Students can log into Hokie Spa and create a FERPA pass code under the "Hokie Wallet" section.
What is a No-Contact Order (NCO)?
- A No-Contact Order (NCO) is essentially a measure taken to prevent a student from contacting another student. It is reciprocal in nature: if either student in the NCO violates the order terms, they will be brought through the Student Conduct process for failure to comply with the order. An NCO is not in effect for academic or extracurricular-related instances. If two students have an NCO in place, this does not prevent them from being in classes, clubs/organizations, or events together. It simply means they must not engage in any verbal, physical, written, or digital contact with one another.
How can a student get an NCO?
- Students can contact our office via phone or email to request an NCO meeting with a hearing officer. They may also come into the office in person to meet with whoever is available. An NCO is NOT guaranteed; the hearing officers have discretion on whether or not to implement an NCO.
Parents/Family Members FAQ
How can I find out more information about my student’s incident?
- Parents and family members may call Student Conduct to learn more about their student’s incident ONLY if they have the FERPA code that their student set up. This FERPA code allows for the transfer of information. Student Conduct staff will not discuss a student’s incident or circumstances with any parent/family member without a FERPA code. Students can set up a FERPA code in their Hokie Spa.
What is FERPA?
- FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act which protects students from having their information accessed by others. As a public institution, Virginia Tech upholds FERPA by allowing students the right to release their own information, if they wish. Student Conduct does not release student information to parents/family, employers, or other institutions unless records are released by that student.
How can I support my student through the Student Conduct process?
- It is recommended that you discuss the incident with your student before they come in to meet with a hearing officer. You can support your student by discussing their role (if any) in the incident, what they would like to share with their hearing officer, and what (if anything) they need to change or work on in regards to being better versions of themselves. It is also recommended that you encourage your student to contact Student Conduct by phone or email if they have any questions about anything.
Does my student need an attorney for their Student Conduct hearing?
- Depending on the incident, some students decide to hire an attorney for their hearing. For Formal Hearings, especially, students have the right to an advisor. However, advisors/attorneys are not able to speak during the meeting/hearing itself. Therefore, it is not required that students hire an attorney or have an advisor. Our Dean of Students (DOS) staff members also serve as advisors for students who request one. To request a DOS advisor, you may contact the DOS office.
Does Virginia Tech offer legal services?
- Neither Student Conduct nor the Dean of Students Office provides legal services. However, Virginia Tech has a Student Legal Services office for students to utilize. Visit their website for more information or to make an appointment.
