LAWYERS NEW TO HIGHER EDUCATION

SCHEDULE

This is a self-study course that is intended to be paced in accordance with your personal schedule.  Consult the self-study syllabus to determine a plan that works for your schedule.

Welcome and Practical Advice to New Campus Counsel

  • Welcome and brief overview of NACUA
  • Brief overview of legal issues unique to higher education
  • Practical advice on transitioning to the practice of higher education law

Meet the Faculty

  • Faculty employment relationships: tenure, contracts, unionization 
  • Faculty duties, responsibilities, performance assessment and discipline
  • Faculty speech: Academic Freedom, First Amendment 
  • The road ahead: approaching emerging developments 

The FUNdamentals of FUNdamental FERPA

  • An overview of the FERPA framework and its key definitions
  • The principal disclosure exceptions
  • The often forgotten “inspect and review” and “seek amendment” rights
  • Saving the best for last: FERPA’s enforcement mechanism

Meet the Regulators

  • Introduction to federal, state, and non-governmental regulators
  • Key examples of regulatory oversight, including practical advice to navigate compliance audits, program reviews, and other regulatory enforcement activities
  • Building a comprehensive compliance program that advances institutional mission and strategic priorities

Federal Antidiscrimination Law

  • Addressing Harassment and Discrimination Matters in Higher Education (e.g., Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, ADA, Section 504)
  • Sexual Violence and Discrimination
  • Special Topics on Disability Law – Mental Health & FMLA/ADA
  • Retaliation
  • Diversity on Campus

Wheels Up! – Navigating University International Programs

  • Understand different frameworks for evaluating international initiatives
  • Review select U.S. and foreign law compliance issues and discuss recent trends and hot topics – e.g., international employment; foreign taxation; export controls; foreign influence; international student recruitment; online and remote learning; global data privacy; and international student health and safety concerns
  • Share unique contract terms, tips, and strategies to negotiate cross-border contracts 

College Athletics

  • NCAA structure and enforcement
  • Athletics contracts
  • Title IX and intercollegiate athletics
  • Wages, benefits, and the use of name, image, and likeness
  • Trending topics

Campus Safety: the Clery Act and Beyond

  • Introduction to the Clery Act, including the history and objectives of the law
  • Discussion of the main components of Clery compliance, including reporting and disclosure of crime statistics in the ASR, the crime log, timely warnings and emergency notifications, and policy disclosures
  • Exploration of the Clery Handbook—What is it, how is it used in practice, and does it contain the answer to my question?
  • Overview of enforcement actions, program reviews, and fines
  • Overlap with campus safety issues such as threat assessment/response, CARE/BIT teams

Title IX Sexual Harassment: the Basics and an Update

  • Current Practices under the 2020 Regulations
  • The New Regulations: Implications and Next Steps
  • Practical advice for campus counsel in adopting, revising, and administering sexual misconduct policies on campus

Contract Administration

  • Unique issues related to contract administration on college and university campuses
  • The role of counsel in contract administration
  • Who is entering into contracts at your university?  Signature authority and policies related to contract administration
  • Key contractual provisions
  • Practical take-aways related to contract review

Enterprise Risk Management and Insurance

  • Enterprise risk management in higher education
  • An overview of risk management and insurance on campus
  • Approaches for partnering cross-institutionally to balance risk and mission

A Balancing Act: Key Issues in Navigating Student Conduct and Expression

  • Introduction to student conduct administration: legal issues and beyond
  • The impact of current events and controversies on campus climate
  • Addressing student disciplinary issues
  • Speech codes, bias incidents, and harassment
  • Upholding academic standards and professional decisions

Disability Law

  • Academic accommodation issues in higher education context
  • Animals on campus
  • Threat to self and/or threat to others issues
  • Leaves of absence and withdrawals
  • Web accessibility

Research Rhetoric: An Overview of University Research

  • Sponsored university research and related regulations and responsibilities
  • Common research compliance issues and enforcement mechanisms
  • Research security
  • Intellectual property considerations
  • Hot topics for counsel to know

Ethical Advice for New Campus Counsel

  • General principles of ethics for college and university attorneys
  • Representing an institutional client – ethical issues and practical strategies
  • Attorney-client privilege – elements, exceptions, and waivers
  • Special challenges taking on non-legal roles


LIVE CLASSES

Meet the Experts Session #1

Meet the Experts Session #2

Networking Circles

Capstone Course


Monday, October 28, 2024, 2:00-3:15pm ET

Monday, November 4, 2024, 3:00-4:15pm ET

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 1:00-2:15pm ET

Monday, December 9, 2024, 3:00-4:15pm ET