UVA SOM Policy on Student Mistreatment and Other Unacceptable Behaviors 

The University of Virginia School of Medicine strives to achieve a respectful, cooperative, and professional environment for students in the School of Medicine and affiliated educational and clinical settings. The environment in which medical students learn must be free from mistreatment and other unacceptable behaviors that may be used adversely to control, influence, or affect the well-being of any medical student; exhibiting such behaviors conflicts with the mission and values of the School of Medicine. Allegations and complaints of the occurrence of these behaviors will be quickly and fully investigated and, if the allegations are founded, appropriate disciplinary or other actions will be initiated. The terms “mistreatment” and “unacceptable behaviors” include but are not limited to:

• threatening or abusive language, profanity or language that is perceived by medical students to be demeaning, berating, rude, loud or offensive, publicly belittling or humiliating, and/or
• actual or threatened inappropriate physical contact, and/or 

• other forms of behavior that are perceived as intimidation or harassment by medical students, and/or

• behaviors perceived to be a pattern of disruptive behavior or interaction that could interfere with teaching, learning or adversely impact the quality of care render to any patient, and/or 

• bias, defined as a threat or act of harassment or intimidation – verbal, written or physical – which is personally directed against or targets a student because of that student’s race, age, color, disability, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or veteran status. 

The Medical Student Advocacy Committee (MSAC) is available to hear, evaluate, and respond to reports of mistreatment or unacceptable behaviors directed at or witnessed by medical students.

Medical students can make reports about mistreatment or unacceptable behaviors in person or by phone or email to any member of the Committee. They can also make anonymous or identified reports to the Committee using the “Student Listening Post” web site.

The University also has a web site for all students for reporting bias complaints: Just Report It

The Medical Center Policy Manual  policy 0262 provides another means by which to note complaints of unacceptable behavior involving members of the Clinical Staff, GME Trainees, or Allied Health Professionals.