Legal Issues

Legal issues in higher education relate to an institution’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community and involve every facet of its mission, such as teaching, research, service, global reach, community engagement, and online presence. Legal issues that intersect with higher education include but are not limited to tortious liability, constitutional constraints for public institutions, compliance with administrative and statutory law, contractual obligations, employment discrimination, intellectual property, and business relationships, among others.

The potential for legal liability and large monetary damages has increased legal concerns for institutions of higher education since the 1960s. Legal literacy is critically important for higher education leaders, researchers, scholars, and practitioners as there are many implications that impact not only institutional liability but also the collegiate learning environment. Since the law is ...