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University Compliance Office

Presenting Policy: Proactive Ethics

Featured Policies

The University Compliance Office (UCO) is featuring compliance related polices starting September 2020 in order to assist faculty, staff, and students to better navigate and understand the many policies and procedures of Villanova University.  We will explain how the chosen policy connects to our daily activities and sets expectations for individual members of our University community.

All members of the University community have a responsibility to review and understand the policies and procedures that may impact them. Many of these policies are located within the Villanova Policy Library (VPL) which can be accessed through MyNova. Taking the time to learn more about Villanova’s policies helps to strengthen our unwavering commitment to integrity, academic, and workplace excellence. Below is a convenient drop-down menu to access the featured policies.

 

Academic Year 2023-2024

Anti-Hazing Policy

The Villanova Anti-Hazing policy defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless action or situation that, for purposes of initiation or admission into or affiliation with an organization, or as a condition for continued or enhanced membership in an organization:

  • Endangers the mental or physical health, safety, wellbeing, or dignity of an individual, or
  • Destroys or removes public or private property.

Hazing can occur in a variety of groups and settings and it is the responsibility of every community member to speak up and prevent hazing.

It is up to our entire University community to be part of the solution and help change the culture around hazing. The first step is to familiarize yourself with the Villanova University policy prohibiting hazing, located in the Villanova Policy Library as well as the Student Handbook.

Resource

The week of September 25th-29th is National Hazing Prevention week. Villanova students, faculty and staff should take the time to be aware of the signs of hazing in order to look out for our fellow community members. HazingPrevention.org identified several warning signs of hazing, including:

  • Sudden changes in behavior after joining an organization, club, or team.
  • Desire to leave the organization, club, or team without giving any explanation.
  • Weight-loss; exhaustion; or sudden changes in appetite, sleep habits, or appearance.
  • Secrecy, avoidance, or stress surrounding new member activities.
  • Unexplained injuries or illnesses.

Reporting Resources at Villanova:

 

 

Minors in Villanova University Programs Policy

Villanova University offers many youth programs and activities throughout the year providing a space for minors to explore their academic or athletic interests, receive tutoring help, and to learn from the vast resources the University has to offer.

At Villanova, we take seriously our obligation and commitment to protect all minors who visit our campus and participate in these programs.

The Minors in Villanova University Programs Policy:

  • Establishes safeguards for youth under the age of 18 who participate in activities and programs taking place on the University's campus, in University facilities, or under the authority of the University at off-campus locations.
  • Covers all activities designed primarily to serve Minors.
  • Outlines the requirements that a Program Director must meet in order to oversee, sponsor, monitor or operate a youth program or activity, as well as additional requirements (e.g., education/training, background checks) for other pertinent individuals (e.g., student volunteers, non-employee volunteers, employees).

Resources and Related Policies

Background Screening Policy

Child Abuse Reporting Policy

Minors in the Laboratory Policy

University Compliance Office Webpage on Minors and Youth Programs

Emergency Plan Template

Academic Year 2022-2023:

Why?

Wagering on professional and collegiate sports in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been legal for individuals over 21 years of age since 2018 and has become increasingly accessible via online applications. Currently, the general public may lawfully place wagers on Villanova’s Division I sports teams in the Commonwealth, as well as in other states that allow gambling on college athletic events.

At Villanova, sustaining a culture based on ethical conduct is critical to upholding the University’s Augustinian mission and core values of Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas. Our culture and values often call faculty, staff and students to a higher standard than what the law requires.

Consistent with these values, Villanova’s Sports Wagering Restrictions policy aims to:

  • Maintain an athletic program that emphasizes the educational experience of our student-athletes;
  • Evidence our respect for our student-athletes by eliminating the potential that they may feel compromised, restricted, or inhibited in the pursuit of their educational activities; and
  • Minimize the potential of unlawful use of information that could influence the outcome of an athletic event.

Resources

Villanova University Student Handbook - Gambling

NCAA sports wagering rules

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Sports Wagering Regulations

Do you, or anyone you know, have a gambling problem?

Policy

The Villanova University Sports Wagering Restrictions policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff. This policy also applies to any and all independent contractors who provide services to the Villanova University Department of Athletics, its athletic teams and student-athletes.

Villanova University faculty, staff, and students, who are 21 years of age or older, are not permitted to wager on any athletic event (e.g., practice) or contest in which a Villanova University athletic team or student-athlete participates. Similarly, Villanova University faculty, staff and students may not knowingly disclose nonpublic information regarding its athletic teams or student-athletes for the purpose of influencing wagering activities.

Additional restrictions are applicable to ALL Villanova University Student-Athletes, Athletics Department Staff Members and Non-Athletics Department Staff Members who have responsibilities within or over the Athletics Department. Please refer to Sports Wagering Restrictions policy for additional guidance.

A Message from the Athletics Compliance Office

“This policy allows our student-athletes to live and train in an environment that is free from the pressures that sports wagering can place on them as individuals who are here to be educated and to compete to win championships.”

Katherine LeGrand, Assistant Athletics Director, Compliance

Why?

As stated on the Office of the Provost website, academic integrity is a primary value for any institution of higher education. Cheating on tests, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty and misconduct are completely unacceptable, especially at Villanova which prides itself on its commitment to the Augustinian values of truth, unity, and love.

Students and faculty have key roles and responsibilities as it relates to academic integrity, specifically:

  • Students: The expectation is that students will read, become familiar with, and abide by Villanova’s Code of Academic Integrity. Further, students should discuss any concerns they have with faculty and ask questions if they are not sure of expectations instead of making their own assumptions.
  • Faculty: Members of the faculty are responsible for having an understanding of Villanova’s Code of Academic Integrity and the Academic Integrity policy. As such, faculty should strive to foster and maintain an environment of academic honesty. To assist in achieving this, faculty are encouraged to include a statement regarding academic integrity in their course syllabus and proactively discuss how it relates to the work to be completed in the course.

Resources and Related Policies

Policy

The Academic Integrity Policy has been established to provide a detailed overview of:

  • Jurisdiction – Covers all cases where graduate or undergraduate students are alleged to have committed academic dishonesty at Villanova University except for the Charles Widger School of Law, which has its own policy.
  • Procedure – Subsequent process that ensues if and when a faculty member believes that a student is in violation of Villanova’s Code of Academic Integrity.

Villanova’s Code of Academic Integrity provides a detailed outline of rules, examples, and penalties regarding academic dishonesty. Examples include (but not limited to): cheating, fabrication of information, assisting in or contributing to academic dishonesty, plagiarism, submission of the same work for more than one class, unsanctioned collaboration, misrepresentation, forgery, taking credit for work done by others, stealing or damaging library books, or unlawfully copying computer software.

A Message from the Office of the Provost

As stated in the Academic Integrity Code, “When students come to Villanova, they join an academic community founded on the search for knowledge in an atmosphere of cooperation and trust. The intellectual health of the community depends on this trust and draws nourishment from the integrity and mutual respect of each of its members.”  Students who are responsible for academic integrity violations meet with their college dean (designee). The dean’s designee will develop an individualized education program to help educate the student about the seriousness of academic integrity. Our goal is to make sure the student does not have a second academic integrity offense.

Dr. Craig Wheeland, Senior Vice Provost for Academics, Office of the Provost

Why?

If as part of your employment you have access to the education records of our students, you should learn more about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  This federal law protects the privacy of education records and gives students certain rights with respect to their education records including the right to inspect, review, and seek their amendment. The University Compliance Office (UCO) FERPA webpage provides information and resources to assist in strengthening your understanding of FERPA rights and institutional obligations.  The UCO can also provide education and training upon departmental request. Published in Campus Currents on September 17, 2022, and September 18, 2022.

 

Policy

Resources

  • Internal Resources/Education and Training

Villanova’s University Compliance Office FERPA Webpage

Villanova University Faculty Handbook

Villanova University Student Handbook

FERPA Basics Education Module I and Case Studies Videos (Bridge LMS)

FERPA 101: Colleges & Universities (Bridge LMS)

FERPA: Avoid Mistakes & Costly Violations Across Campus Webinar

  • External Resources

U. S. Department of Education Protecting Student Privacy.  Provides  general overview and links to specific areas of FERPA compliance.

FERPA and Virtual Learning during COVID-19 (Webinar).  This webinar is intended to provide information on privacy best practices and insight into helpful resources available to the education community during this critical time of national emergency.

 

 

Academic Year 2021-2022:

For updated information on this policy, select Sports Wagering Restrictions presented during Academic Year 2022-2023..

Why?

These guidelines provide a framework for the authorized use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, for outdoor usage by University Operators on University-owned or controlled property so that the operation of UAS is efficient, safe, ethical, and in adherence to applicable laws and regulations.

Resources and Related Policies

Guidelines

These guidelines apply to University students, staff, or faculty who wish to pilot UAS outdoors on University-owned or controlled property (University Operators) and include the following standards (but not limited to):

  • All operation and use of UAS must comply with federal rules and regulations, including but not limited to FAA regulations, local and state laws, and these guidelines. Any operation or use of UAS that violates such regulations, laws, or guidelines is prohibited.
  • University Operators wishing to use a UAS on University-owned or controlled property must contact the University’s Department of Public Safety (610-519-6979) in advance of conducting flight operations for guidance on allowable usage.
  • UAS must be under the control of a University Operator with a remote pilot certificate at all times or the operator is under direct supervision of a certified remote pilot and the certified remote pilot has the ability to immediately take direct control of the flight of the UAS. University Operator must possess their current, permanent remote pilot certificate (RPC) at all times while flying the UAS and will present or produce the RPC to Public Safety or authorized University representative.
  • The FAA requires all UAS owners to register any UAS (regardless of flight type) weighing between 0.55lbs to 55lbs. The University requires that the UAS be registered according to the certified remote pilots including commercial operators’ mission and follow the corresponding rules. The University department or individual who is the primary user of the UAS is responsible for completion of the online UAS Registration application and payment of the Registration Fee (https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/register_drone/).
  • The use of any UAS larger than 55 pounds is strictly prohibited on University-owned or controlled property.

A Message from the University Compliance Office:

"Drones offer significant opportunities for teaching and research and provide the University community with valuable experiences in a wide range of disciplines. At the same time, drones present unique health and safety risks, environmental risks, regulatory issues, and privacy concerns that must be balanced with the University’s other missions. Villanova is committed to providing an academically vigorous, safe, and secure environment for all members of the campus community. If you have questions regarding these guidelines, please contact James Allsman at james.allsman@villanova.edu."

Why?

The University has a policy that applies to all employees (including student workers) that describes the mechanisms and procedures in place to communicate the hazards of workplace chemicals, including (but not limited to) labels and other forms of warning signs, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and employee information and training.

Resources and Related Policies

Policy

The Hazard Communication Program policy has been established to ensure that information about the dangers of chemicals used by Villanova University employees is available. All departments where chemicals are used will participate in the hazard communication program.

The online Safety Data Sheet, inventory management, and chemical labeling service, Chimera, is available to all departments to locate Safety Data Sheets and print compliant chemical container labels. Chimera contains Safety Data Sheets for chemicals on campus which is accessible to faculty, staff, and students. CHIMERA is accessible to faculty, students, and staff on the Villanova network via the link on the EHS website. Contact EHS for assistance with this service.

A Message from Environmental Health and Safety:

"The information contained in Safety Data Sheets (SDS) is critical to understanding the precautions and protection equipment that is required to safely work with a chemical. Our updated chemical inventory and SDS management system allow chemical users to quickly access information about the chemicals they use."

Matthew Pollart, Director, Environmental Health and Safety

Academic Year 2020-2021:

Access Links:

Villanova Policy Library - Public Access (VU Students & Adjunct Faculty) Select "Visit our Public Site"

Villanova Policy Library - Licensed Users (VU Staff & Full-Time Faculty)

Questions:

The Villanova Policy Library is an ongoing and continuous initiative. At this time the University Compliance Office (UCO) continues to work with departments/areas in the transition of their university-wide policies and procedures.

Questions regarding policies can be referred to either the UCO at 610-519-5466 or the person listed for that department/area in the Department/Area Contact List.