The University of Virginia may now notify the parents of a student who is mentally ill and is deemed a danger to himself or others.

U.Va.'s Board of Visitors on Saturday approved the policy, which school officials say formalizes practices already in place.

The policy authorizes U.Va. officials to contact parents if there is a "substantial likelihood" in the near future that their child will harm himself or others, based on the student's behavior or other relevant information.

But the university will not contact parents if the student's doctor or clinical psychologist states that such notification likely would cause the student to harm himself or another student.

All Virginia public colleges and universities are required to approve a parental notification policy under a state law passed this year.