Office of the General Counsel
Office of the General Counsel ("GC") provides legal counsel, litigation management, contract drafting and review, and a wide variety of preventative advice. It serves an advisory as well as educational function providing training to deans, chairs and managers in matters of potential legal risk to the University.
GC provides counsel in decision making for the Board of Directors, the President, Vice Presidents, Deans, Directors, Faculty, Supervisors, and other managers.
Some examples of legal services provided by the GC to the University Include:
AUDITS/COMPLIANCE REVIEWS
GC works with departments and outside third parties during external audits, investigations, and other compliance reviews. See Billing Compliance for more information.
CONTRACTS AND LEASES
GC reviews, drafts, negotiates and enforces legal documents such as contracts, conveyances, construction contracts, internal policies and procedures, licenses, articles and bylaws, among others. The GC has also developed certain form agreements for use by University personnel. Those forms are available on the GC website.
EMPLOYMENT LAW
The GC advises and assists with property matters, labor relations, personnel and EEOC matters, insurance claims, tax and business issues, and patent, trademark and copyright issues.
STUDENT AND STAFF MATTERS
GC participates, when requested, in student and staff grievance and disciplinary proceedings.
REAL ESTATE
GC provides assistance with the purchase, sale and lease of real estate.
IMMIGRATION/VISA
GC reviews H-1B visa applications and extensions and permanent residency applications.
LITIGATION MANAGEMENT
GC manages all litigation in which the University is a party. In addition, the University manages all malpractice litigation through the Risk Management Office. For more information regarding the University's Risk Management Office click here.
FERPA ("Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act")
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) relates to the confidentiality of student records. Information about students or former students will not be released without the consent of the student other than in the exceptions stated in the Federal Act. FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. For further information on this subject click here.
