Students must act in accordance with the rights and responsibilities afforded to them consistent with the privilege of being a member of the university and law school community. Expectations for academic efforts are articulated in the Standards of Academic Integrity. For non-academic rights and responsibilities, the Student Code of Conduct outlines student rights and responsibilities at any of the Campuses of the University of Pittsburgh.
Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct is an outline of the non-academic rights and responsibilities of students matriculating at any of the Campuses of the University of Pittsburgh. The Code is the product of the combined efforts of the administration, faculty, and students and is approved by the Board of Trustees. The Code defines offenses against students and reflects the University's commitment to equity and procedural fairness. A student or University official may file a complaint of violation of the Conduct Code at the University Student Judicial System Office. The standard of evidence used in hearings is clear and convincing, but an effort is usually made to resolve grievances through informal settlements when possible.
The Student Code of Conduct may be accessed online at the Student Affairs website. Hard copies are available in the Student Judicial System Office, 738 William Pitt Union (WPU).
Office of the University Student Judicial System
The Office of the University Student Judicial System coordinates the Campus Judicial Board and ensures due process and fair treatment in all disciplinary actions initiated against University of Pittsburgh students.
The Judicial Board is composed of 35 graduate and undergraduate students and is the body empowered with jurisdiction to adjudicate cases against students who breach the Student Code of Conduct. While legally the University may have broad discretion to institute internal disciplinary procedures against its students involved in incidents that occur off campus, the University has chosen to limit the use of its internal disciplinary mechanism to incidents that occur ". . . on University property, or in the course of a University-sponsored activity, or if such conduct results directly from membership in the University community." University disciplinary procedures are described in the Student Code of Conduct.
In addition to managing complaints, Judicial Affairs (as this office is often called) also administers a mediation program designed to encourage conflict resolution through discussion and compromise. The purpose of this program is to help students develop the communication and problem solving skills necessary to resolve disputes before a conflict escalates into a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. This office also monitors the "Buckley Amendment" guidelines on student records and screens requests for contact of students.
For more information contact: the Office of the University Student Judicial System, at (412) 648-7910.