Approved: The President
History: Issued              -- November 22, 2011
Revised            --
Last Reviewed -- July 31, 2019
Related Policies: Copyright Policy; Copyright Ownership Policy; Disability Accommodations for Students Policy
Additional References:

Copyright Guidelines; Office of Disability Support Services; DSS Recording Lecture Agreement

Responsible Official: Provost tel. (202) 319-5244

 

I. Introduction

 

Advance, written permission is required in order to record classroom lectures, discussions or presentations ("lectures"). When granted, permission to record lectures is subject to the limitations set forth in this policy. Violations of this policy may constitute copyright infringement in violation of federal or state law, and may be subject to University disciplinary action.

II. Definitions

 

A. Course Materials mean lecture notes, outlines, slides, Powerpoint presentations, readings, or other content made available to students by the instructor or presenter, or through any University online learning system.

B. Recording means a video or audio replication or photographic image recorded on devices including, but not limited to, audio recorders, video recorders, cell phones, Smartphones, digital cameras, media players, computers, or other devices that record images or sound.

III. Requirements and Limitations

 

A. Advance Written Permission

 

Recording of classroom lectures is prohibited unless advance written permission is obtained from the class instructor and any guest presenter(s). An instructor may provide such permission to an entire class as part of the course syllabus or other written description of a course. Students who require recording or other adaptations of lectures as a reasonable accommodation for a disability should contact the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) in advance of the lecture in order to obtain permission for the recording.

In the event permission to record classroom lectures is granted, the professor may notify all students, speakers and other lecture attendees in advance that recording may occur. Every effort should be made to protect the confidentiality of a student with a disability who is being granted an accommodation, i.e. the professor will not name the student who is doing the recording when it is due to a disability accommodation.

B. Limitations on Use of Recordings and Materials

 

Permission to allow lecture recording is not a transfer of any copyrights in the recording or related course materials. Such recordings and materials may be used only for individual or group study with other students enrolled in the same class, and may not be reproduced, transferred, distributed, or displayed in any public or commercial manner.

Students must destroy recordings at the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in the class.