The Office of General Counsel and Secretary to the University

Mission Statement:
The Office of the General Counsel and Secretary of the University (the “Office”) is unique within Arcadia University (the “University”) because it reports directly to the President and also to the Board of Trustees, as needed. Its purpose as General Counsel is to provide legal counsel to its client, the University, offering legal services to the Board of Trustees, President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans, Faculty, and Staff who raise questions related to the issues affecting the University. Its purpose as the Secretary is to support and facilitate the work of the Board of Trustees as they perform their fiduciary duty for the University, striving to promote effective governance among the Board and other constituencies of the University; preserve institutional memory by maintaining the official record of the Board; prepare for the future through strategic planning; and serve as the liaison between the Board, committee and subcommittee chairs, senior administrators, and the University community. We aspire to provide accessible and responsive advice, a collegial and constructive approach to solving problems, and excellent legal assistance in support of the University’s mission, as set forth below:

Arcadia University provides a distinctively global, integrative, and personal learning experience for intellectually curious undergraduate and graduate students in preparation for a life of scholarship, service, and professional contribution.

Vision Statement:

The Office of General Counsel and Secretary to the University’s strategic vision is guided by a desire to streamline, to increase efficiency, to reduce delay and administrative burden, and to ultimately increase effectiveness while leading the University through exemplary governance practices and fostering an environment in which all members of the University community can contribute, grow, and feel a sense of belonging.

The Office of General Counsel and Secretary to the University coordinates and supervises all legal services for Arcadia University by providing timely legal guidance; addressing existing and potential legal problems; reducing exposure to legal risk; and helping University units effectively and efficiently achieve their objectives.

The University is our client, but our legal services are provided to the Board of Trustees, the President, University Officers, deans, and heads of academic units, department heads, or other designated representatives of the University. We provide legal advice and representation to those employees acting within the scope of their duties, but we cannot provide personal legal advice to any individual.

The Office of General Counsel and Secretary to the University provides legal advice in a wide variety of practice areas.

Responsibilities include:

• Legal advice to Trustees, President, and Administration
• Contracts and agreements
• Copyright and trademark
• Discrimination and harassment
• Employment law
• Ethics and conflict of interest
• Intellectual property
• Litigation, subpoenas, and government investigations
• Management of policies, policy development, drafting, and interpretation
• Regulatory compliance
• Student education records requests (FERPA)

For information about the following Risk Management responsibilities, please contact the Director of Auxiliaries, Risk & Insurance, (215) 572-2941.

Risk Management responsibilities include:

• Certificates of Insurance
• Insurance and claims
• Minors on Campus Policy
• Special Event Risk Management
• University Authorized Drivers