7906. Higher Education Law

This course explores key laws and legal concepts applicable to U.S. institutions of higher education. With particular emphasis on the principle of academic freedom, as well as the educational mission and other unique features of such institutions, the course focuses on how the law balances the rights and responsibilities of colleges and universities and their many and varied constituencies - including faculty, staff, students, and the public at large. The course also explores the increasingly complex regulatory environment facing colleges and universities, and the relationships of these institutions to all levels of government. Specific topics of discussion include (among others): the rights and responsibilities of faculty and students in and outside the classroom; freedom of expression; freedom from discrimination; affirmative action; ownership and use of intellectual property in the academic environment; and the regulation of intercollegiate athletics.