As University administrators, chairs and directors are responsible for understanding and adhering to institutional policies and procedures as well as state and federal laws that regulate functions of the academic unit. Noncompliance has far-reaching implications for individuals, the academic unit and the University. Open communication between chairs and directors and college deans can avert misunderstanding and unnecessary litigation and grievances.

Copyright (Association of American Universities)

Full text statements and reports on copyright.

Copyright and Fair Use (Stanford University Libraries)

Laws, guides, policies, and guidelines about copyright and fair use for colleges and universities.

Copyright Management Center (Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis)

Information about copyright and fair use for colleges and universities.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (U.S. Department of Education)

A guide to FERPA from the U.S. Department of Education.

Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability A: HRSA’s HIPAA Web Site (U.S. Health and Human Resources, Health Resources and Services Administration)

A guide to HIPAA from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Legal Issues (American Council on Education)

Links to reports, articles, and Internet sites with information about a variety of legal issues.

Legal Issues in Higher Education (Association of American University Professors)

Links to AAUP legal outlines, presentations, and publications on topics such as academic freedom, affirmative action, benefits, collective bargaining, faculty workload, hiring and promotion, tenure, etc.

Legal Reference Service Documents (National Association of College and University Attorneys)

Links to the text of important legal opinions, regulations, etc. that effect colleges and universities.

NACUA's Legal Links (National Association of College and University Attorneys)

Links to a wide variety of legal links, including some specific to higher education. One feature is a list of links to pages for offices of university general counsels.

U.S. Copyright Office

Home page of the U.S. Copyright Office. Includes full text of forms, circulars, and publications.

Academic Leadership: A Practical Guide to Chairing the Department, by Deryl R. Leaming
LB 2341 .L269 1998

A guide to being a department chair, including: Dealing with Sexual Harassment; Avoiding Legal Problems; and Understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Department Chair as an Academic Leader, by Irene W. D. Hecht et al.
LB 2341 .D414 1999

An overview of the responsibilities and concerns of a department chair. See: Chapter 12, Legal Issues for Chairs.

Effective Communication for Academic Chairs, ed. by Mark Hickson III and Don W. Stacks
LB 2341 .E43 1992

Advice on communication for academic department chairs. See particularly: Managing Grievances.

Jossey-Bass Academic Administrator's Guide to Hiring, by Joseph G. Rosse and Robert A. Levin
LB 2331.67 .S44 R67 2003

Guides the academic administrator through the hiring process: preparation, recruitment, legalities, evaluation, and decision making. Includes a chapter: The Legal and Social Context of Hiring.