A principle responsibility of a board member is to understand the environment in which his or her institution operates. Today, that environment includes a host of legal risks that every institution of higher education must be prepared to assess and proactively address. Colleges and universities work to contain and manage those risks through such…

In response to the February 14, 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, President Donald Trump established the Federal Commission on School Safety to review safety practices and make meaningful and actionable recommendations of best practices to keep students safe. The Commission conducted field visits,…

This summary reports the highlights of a survey on microcomputer usage in institutions of higher education which was sponsored in part by EDUCOM. Software issues are emphasized, including assistance in evaluation, integrating software into the curriculum, and policy and procedures concerning illegal access and duplication. (LRW)

This pamphlet analyzes some of the legal issues colleges and universities face in regard to faculty and student access to computers and the World Wide Web, evaluates current legal developments, and offers guidelines for developing policies for computer access. It examines sample acceptable-use standards, procedures for suspending or terminating a…

Compiled by various members of the higher educational community together with risk managers, computer center managers, and computer industry experts, this report recommends establishing policies on an institutional level to protect colleges and universities from computer viruses and the accompanying liability. Various aspects of the topic are…

Provides guidelines for the development of campus computer policies, focusing on legal issues related to adult material, harassment, privacy, commerce, and copyright. Notes that computer use policies and practices need to evolve in concert with the changing computer culture. (MDM)

Discusses copyright laws applied to computer software for professors, students, and institutions. Concepts including infringement, contributory infringement, first sale doctrine, and licenses are considered. A sample university policy statement to avoid liability is presented. (YP)

Colleges and universities that provide computer services have become vulnerable to potential lawsuits associated with contraction and spread of computer viruses. Bookstore, library, and computer classroom or laboratory are most susceptible. In addition to protection against legal liability, schools should take specific steps to prevent problems.…

Online learning is one of the most important topics in distance learning, but practitioners and researchers have experienced difficulty in defining the process. "Online Assessment and Measurement: Foundations and Challenges" approaches the topic by finding a common ground to properly analyze online assessment and measurement. "Online Assessment…

The product of a detailed study of university copyright policies in Association of Research (ARL) Libraries, this System and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) flyer/kit approaches copyright use and ownership policies from the viewpoint of university administrations as well as libraries. A brief introduction discusses policies on use and ownership…

A school district that decides to acquire high-technology equipment for educational or administrative purposes faces three primary concerns: (1) potential competitive bid requirements; (2) a possible duty to bargain with employees over the effect of automation on existing jobs; and (3) copyright requirements. (MLF)

The increase in computer facilities, applications, and access on college campuses raises concerns about information and resource management. In developing an information policy, Lehigh University (Pennsylvania) addressed a variety of issues, including legal liability, censorship, resource management, ownership of information, user responsibility,…

Considers how civil law might treat claims of defamation arising from computer newsgroup postings. Concludes that newsgroup postings will probably be treated as a hybrid of print and broadcast media, and that newsgroup users will vigorously and aggressively protect freedoms of speech and press. While traditional defenses to defamation charges will…

Chaska High School (Minnesota) established a firm district policy to prevent unauthorized, illegal duplication of computer software by teachers and students. The policy's success depends on an ethics re-education program for users, increased funding for software, and a preview library for teachers. (MLH)

While college libraries embrace new technologies to provide access to a broader range of information, they must also cope with high costs, both financial and legal. In the print medium, access and distribution are governed by copyright laws; in the electronic media, they are dependent on the technology available to the library and on terms of…