To
New Students
From
Genny Freed, Chair of the Honor Committee, and Zach Davidson, Chair of the University Judiciary Committee

Dear New Hoos,

Congratulations on your decision to attend the University of Virginia! We hope you all are enjoying your summer break, and we are excited to welcome you to Grounds in the fall.

As you prepare to join the UVA community, we wanted to take a moment to share with you one of our school’s most distinctive and important traditions: student self-governance. Here on Grounds, students are empowered to govern themselves and shape UVA’s academic and social environment. While many institutions incorporate some forms of student involvement, our University is committed to giving students a real, independent voice and entrusting them with the ability to make substantive and impactful decisions.

Two notable examples of student self-governance at UVA include the Honor Committee and the University Judiciary Committee. Both of these organizations are charged by the Board of Visitors, the University’s governing body, with adjudicating instances of alleged student misconduct. These organizations are fully student-run, and students themselves are ultimately responsible for the decisions they make and the outcomes they produce. They are both representative of and accountable to the student body, and they strive to reflect the values and principles of our community.

We want you to know that when you begin your time at UVA, you’ll be welcomed into a community where your voice matters and your contributions are valued. In both formal and informal settings, you will have the opportunity to participate in our tradition of student self-governance by collaborating with others, taking on leadership roles, and shaping the future of our University in meaningful ways.

We cannot wait to welcome you to Grounds and witness the impact you will make on our community. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions, and we’ll see you at Convocation in August!

Wahoowa!

Genny Freed, UVA '27
[email protected]
Chair, Honor Committee

Zach Davidson, UVA '27
[email protected]
Chair, University Judiciary Committee