Administrators in higher-education institutions are faced with an often-conflicting landscape of laws, court cases, adopted practices, rules of thumb, and folk wisdom related to copyright concerns on their campuses. Ask any ten faculty member and receive ten different responses about what constitutes fair use, who owns content created for courses,…

Education leaders are re-examining acceptable use policies in light of the increasing use of highly mobile information technologies. While acceptable use policies were developed to manage and control behaviour, a digital citizenship policy takes a more comprehensive approach by recognizing the important role of education in preparing digital…

Explains the legal issues involved in plagiarism and suggests strategies to deal with and prevent it. (JL)

Designed to provide educators with guidance for the lawful reproduction of computer software, this document contains suggested guidelines, sample forms, and several short articles concerning software copyright and license agreements. The initial policy statement calls for educators to provide software developers (or their agents) with a…

To manage schools effectively, administrators must first have a strong set of policies that guard against legal entanglements, define student rights and responsibilities, and guide student conduct. Lists the topics that such policies should address. (WD)

Offers administrative directives, including visitor identification and student release policies and a specific release procedure, for preventing and dealing with problems related to child snatching by spouses or former spouses. (KS)

This paper provides an overview of legal responsibilities of school districts relating to "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) orders for children who are medically fragile. It addresses the incidence of school children who are medically fragile and differences in state laws that affect DNR orders. Attitudes that are preventing school districts…

This paper presents the University of Utah's policy on study abroad programs, covering program fees, course registration, compensation for program directors, and other areas. Responsibilities of the program director are reviewed, including academic counseling, personal assistance, activities, institutional liaison, budget/finances, liability and…

This document was designed to assist computer users with the ethical issues created by the widespread use of microcomputers at Drexel University, where there were over 5,000 Macintosh microcomputers in use on the campus as of the fall of 1984. It explains to faculty, students, and staff what the university expects and the law demands in regard to…

Provides a basis for colleges and universities to develop regulations sanctioning hazing. Describes the types of activities that have caused death. Presents state laws and discusses the legal context leading to civil or criminal liability. (RC)

Schools can lead the fight against tobacco use and addiction. As of December 1990, 39 states and the District of Columbia have legislation restricting or prohibiting smoking in school buildings or grounds. Kansas and New Jersey are the only states that currently ban the use of tobacco products in all school buildings. Sixteen states statutorily…

Discusses North Carolina's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) laws that are relevant to colleges (especially public) and elementary and secondary schools generally, and then applies ABC laws to typical circumstances of alcohol use on campuses. Examines civil liability for use of alcohol on campuses. (MLF)

Since most children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were not previously in special education, their entitlement to special services, their parents' role in securing those services, and the school district's perception of them as disabled will be new. Both parents and regular school personnel may be resistant to special educational services. (DB)

This booklet on sexual harassment on college campuses covers sexual harassment law, harassment prevention, protection from liability, and handling allegations. Chapter 1, "What Is Sexual Harassment?" defines the term and gives an overview of sexual harassment law. Chapter 2, "How Does Sexual Harassment Law Apply in Actual Situations?" illustrates…

An overview of how legal decisions involving education are handed down is provided. Organized into 10 parts, part 1, "Employees," (Ralph D. Mawdley) focuses on court actions that addressed school board compliance with district and state policies regarding dismissal, nonrenewal, demotion, and discipline. Part 2, "School Governance," (Donald F.…