Summer 2008 - course #8 Instructor: Tricia Nolfi Price: $130 Dates: July 14 - August 1
Deadline: July 11
Course Overview:
This course will provide an overview of key components of educational law that affect student affairs work. This is a large and complex topic, so participants will only get a "flavor" of major laws affecting professional's work. The course will provide an opportunity for participants to explore the sources of educational law and to better understand student freedoms. Much of the discussion and materials will center on student organizations and activities.
This course will reflect United States law and will primarily focus on its application in public institutions.
Course Outline:
In week one, participants will explore the sources of law affecting student affairs work. This includes looking at constitutional law, case law, statutes, and institutional policies and regulations.
In week two, participants will begin exploring student freedoms, focusing primarily on freedoms of expression. This includes an overview of the rights to freedom of speech, press, assembly, and to petition. Here the course will focus heavily on the first three rights in the context of student organizations.
Week three will continue to focus on student freedoms, building upon the prior week's discussions. Participants will continue to explore the freedom of assembly and also explore students' freedom of religion. Keeping in the context of student organization, the course will briefly touch on the topic of open meetings and open records.
Course Topics by Week:
Week One:
Topic: Sources of Law affecting Student Affairs work. Considerations: constitutional law, case law, statutes, and institutional policies and regulations.
Assignment: Preview materials and readings
Discussion: Legal issues facing your daily work
Week Two:
Topic: Student Freedoms: Part I: Considerations: Freedoms of expression, including an overview of the rights to freedom of speech, press, assembly, and to petition
Assignment: Preview materials and readings
Discussion: Case discussion: Freedom of speech
Week Three:
Topic: Student Freedoms: Part II, Open Records/Meeting: Considerations: More on freedom of assembly and discussion on students' freedom of religion. In the context of student organizations, review concepts of open meetings and open records
Assignment: Preview materials and readings
Discussion: Case discussion: Right to organize
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, active participants will,
Have a broad understanding of sources of law affecting student affairs work
Be able to identify the five student freedoms reflected in the First Amendment
Have an understanding of how student freedoms affect student affairs work
Be able to access pertinent online materials related to legal issues in education
Participant Expectations:
Participants should expect to devote about 4 hours during each week of this three weeks course in order to read the online materials, research resources available on campus and fully participate in the online discussions. This will be administered as an asynchronous class which means participants can log on whenever they wish and whatever location they have Internet access. The Discussion Board is the focus of online learning in this course. There will be no "real time" meetings for this course. Participation in the online discussion is critical to your success in the class and is expected of each participant.
Instructor Bio: Tricia Nolfi has spent the past 17 years working in higher education at both public and private institutions. Her professional travels have allowed her to work in the areas of student centers and student activities, judicial affairs, leadership education, and human resources. While working in student affairs she authored numerous institutional policies related to student organizations, judicial processes, and distribution of student fees. She has authored numerous articles on the topic of student leadership and is editor of Advising Student Governments: Models for Practice and Strategies for Success. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Human Resources at Rutgers University providing leadership for employee professional development programs. As an independent consultant Tricia has provided guidance in the areas of student life programs, organizational assessment, and employee development. Tricia Nolfi received both her Bachelor of Science in Communication and Masters of Education from The Ohio University and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Education at Rutgers University.
