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Notification of Parents of Tax-Dependent Students in Instances of Psychological Emergency

Approved: June 13, 2008; Revised June 12, 2014; Revised December 9, 2022

Scheduled Review Date: December 2027

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WHEREAS, Virginia Code 23.1-1303 (5) provides notice under certain circumstances to the parents of a dependent student receiving mental health treatment at a state college or university student health or counseling center; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Code specifically requires a parent of a dependent student be notified when there exists a substantial likelihood that, as a result of mental illness the student will, in the near future, (i) cause serious physical harm to self or others as evidenced by recent behavior or any other relevant information or (ii) suffer serious harm due to the student’s lack of capacity to protect from self-harm or to provide for the student’s own basic human needs; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Code allows such notification to be withheld if the student’s treating physician or treating clinical psychologist has made a part of the student's record a written statement that, in the exercise of the physician or clinical psychologist’s professional judgment, the notification would be reasonably likely to cause substantial harm to the student or another person; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Code requires that the governing boards of each institution shall establish the policies and procedures necessary to comply with the legislation;

RESOLVED, the Board of Visitors of the Â鶹´«Ã½ hereby affirms as University policy the aforesaid parental notification requirement which shall be implemented as follows:

1. The University’s Office of Counseling Services or Student Health Services shall notify promptly the Vice President for Student Engagement & Enrollment Services or designee whenever the office treats a student who meets the criteria for parental notification under this legislation; and
2. The Division of Student Engagement and Enrollment Services shall be primarily responsible for contacting the parent of any such dependent student as required by state law and documenting such notification as appropriate under the circumstances. The foregoing general procedure is subject at all times to the authority and direction of the University’s Vice President for Student Engagement and Enrollment Services or officer designated by the Vice President to approve notification by such other University office or personnel as may be necessary or appropriate under the circumstances.