Faculty members engage in a wide range of activities and, depending on the type of appointment they hold, may have responsibility for teaching, conducting research, producing scholarly publications, patient care, advising and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students or other trainees, serving on committees in their departments and schools, or otherwise contributing to the life of the University and their professional disciplines. Health System policies, including clinical practice guidelines, can be found in the Health System Policy Repository. For more information about the various responsibilities of faculty members, see the following policies:

Teaching Courses for Academic Credit  
This policy defines expectations related to a faculty member’s teaching responsibilities, including grading practices, office hours, and course syllabi. It also provides guidance for a series of issues related to instruction, including the rules governing when and under what conditions students are allowed to record classroom lectures and distribute course materials, accommodating students whose religious observances conflict with the academic calendar, retaining and disposing of students’ graded work, managing instructor absences from the classroom, and scheduling additional mandatory course sessions for undergraduate classes outside the regular class meeting time, among other topics.

Faculty Conflicts of Interest  
This policy outlines measures to manage or eliminate potential conflicts of interest for faculty and describes situations that are prohibited. For further details on University policy and state and federal law regarding conflicts of interest and related compliance procedures, faculty members should also consult the University’s Conflict of Interest Policy. Dependent upon job responsibilities, faculty should additionally consult the “Conflict of Interest” site from the Office of the Vice President for Research and the policy “Financial Conflicts of Interest for Research Investigators.” Those within the UVA Health System are also subject to the Health System policy “Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment.”

Restrictions on Certain Romantic or Sexual Relationships at the University  
This policy defines prohibitions and restrictions on certain romantic or sexual relationships relevant to faculty, student instructors, and others. For certain types of relationships as noted in the policy, it also establishes requirements for recusal of supervisory or evaluative functions and related notification requirements.

Consulting and Internal Overload  
The University permits faculty members to consult for agencies and organizations outside of the University and, under exceptional circumstances, to receive supplemental compensation for responsibilities assumed on an overload basis within the University. This policy defines the limits of these consulting privileges.

Research Misconduct  
The University takes any allegations of research misconduct seriously. This policy explains how allegations of observed, apparent, or suspected allegations of misconduct are reported, investigated, and, if substantiated, handled.

Investigator Eligibility Requirements and Responsibilities Related to Sponsored Programs 
This policy establishes institutional eligibility requirements and ongoing responsibilities of individuals holding senior/key roles on sponsored programs awarded to The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia and administered by the Office of Sponsored Programs. These requirements are necessary to meet the University’s obligations to sponsors and to facilitate compliance with award terms and conditions. Refer to this policy for information on federally required disclosures of all participation in foreign talent recruitment programs (FTRPs) and prohibitions on participating in a malign foreign government recruitment program (MFTRP).

Export Controls and Sanction Compliance  
This policy defines roles and responsibilities associated with activities involving the export of controlled items, information, and activities or that due to its nature or the parties involved are subject to US government export controls or sanction requirements. Common University activities that are subject to control include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) the transfer of technical information subject to access/dissemination restrictions to a foreign person in the US or abroad; 2) shipment of equipment, materials, components, or software out of the US; and 3) providing a service of value to, or receiving one from, an individual, entity, or country subject to a US sanction or embargo program. For details regarding compliance requirements, faculty members should review the University’s Managing Export and Sanction Compliance in Support of University Activities policy. The Export Controls website provides information on the regulatory requirements, institutional forms and procedures, training materials, and other resources to facilitate compliance.

Faculty and Staff International Travel  
Establishes requirements and procedures that “Covered Individuals” (faculty, staff, Senior Professional Research Staff, and all postdocs) must adhere to before and during all “University-Related International Travel” as these terms are defined in this policy. Among these, Covered Individuals engaging in University-Related International Travel must register travel itineraries and contact information in the International Travel Registry at least seven days before departure.

Other responsibilities include consulting with one’s local support partner (LSP) and/or Information Security for assistance in securing any University-owned or managed electronic devices being taken abroad. Faculty can also reference Information Security’s Best Practices for Traveling Internationally for additional guidance.

Information Policy (Computing Policies)  
Faculty members, like all members of the University community, are responsible for using the University’s computing and communication (information technology) resources and facilities in an ethical, professional, and legal manner. University Information Security (InfoSec) maintains policies related to data security, protection, and acceptable use of computing and information technology resources.

In 2018, Information Security established an Information Policy Library, which serves as a central repository for all UVA information technology (IT) resource policies, standards, and procedures. The creation of a single location that consolidates the four information policy areas and their associated standards, procedures, and guidelines should facilitate compliance initiatives across the UVA community. These policies address the management of IT resources and University information to provide the framework for minimizing risk to these valuable assets.

• IRM-002: Acceptable Use of the University’s Information Technology Resources - All users of University information technology (IT) resources are required to use them in an ethical, professional, and legal manner. Note: IRM-002 was revised effective July 1, 2023, in response to a Virginia law establishing prohibitions pertaining to various applications and websites (including TikTok and WeChat, among others). Refer to the policy for further details.
• IRM-003: Data Protection of University Information - Users must comply with all University policies, standards, and procedures for the data to which they have been granted the ability to view, copy, generate, transmit, store, download, or otherwise acquire, access, remove, or destroy. Users must also meet any additional compliance requirements for data protection stipulated by various governmental, legal, or contractual entities.
• IRM-004: Information Security of University Technology Resources - Owners and administrators of the University’s information technology (IT) resources must take reasonable care to eliminate security vulnerabilities from those resources.
• IRM-012: Privacy and Confidentiality of University Information - The University is committed to the privacy of individuals and to safeguarding information about individuals subject to limitations imposed by local, state, and federal law and other provisions described in this policy and its standards and procedures.  The University, as steward of public resources and electronic information, shall respond to requests for electronic information in an orderly manner consistent with state and federal law and this policy and its standards and procedures.

Responsible Use of Faculty and Staff Data (PDF)  
This document is a consolidated resource for information on the principles and specific guidelines governing the release and use of data and information about University of Virginia Academic Division, Medical Center and College at Wise employees.

Ownership Rights in Copyrightable Material  
Although the “work-for-hire” rule in the U.S. Copyright Act gives the University ownership of the copyrights to works produced by its employees within the scope of their employment, in the case of most scholarly and academic works produced by academic and research faculty, the University cedes copyright ownership to the author(s). This policy explains how the University manages the ownership rights of copyrightable material and the circumstances in which the University may elect to assert its rights to work produced by faculty members in the course of their employment.

Agreements/Contracts with Outside Entities  
Faculty members are not authorized to sign any document, contract, or agreement on behalf of the University. Faculty members who receive a request from an outside agency asking for their signature on behalf of the University should contact their dean’s office for guidance as to identifying the appropriate authorized signatory at the University and routing the request through appropriate internal review processes.

One of the agreements that faculty members are likely to encounter is an academic program agreement, which is any agreement with an external agency, organization, or institution of higher education that impacts the academic mission of the University. This can include both education programs and unusual research collaborations that fall outside the normal boundaries of sponsored research activities (which are managed by the Office of Sponsored Programs, as described below). The policy, “Academic Approval and Signatory Authority for Academic Program Agreements,” provides more detail on these types of agreements and explains the review processes required for each type of agreement.

The Office of Sponsored Programs has signatory authority for sponsored research agreements, including both funded agreements (CTAs, RFAs, etc.) and non-funded agreements (MTAs, CDAs, etc.).

Courses Involving Outside Entities or Vendors  
Faculty members who wish to involve outside entities in their courses (for example, to ask professionals in the field to serve as project mentors for projects involving “real-world” problems, or to require students to subscribe to an on-line service provided by a third-party vendor as part of their course) need to be conscious of a number of possible issues. Professionals in the field who work with students on classroom projects (capstone projects, for example), may ask that students sign agreements related to intellectual property or confidentiality before working on particular materials. Such requests must be made in advance of the course and approved by the dean’s office and the provost’s office. For more information, faculty should refer to the student intellectual property policy published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Records.

As for requiring students to purchase on-line services from a third-party vendor as part of a course, because such activities may expose students and their personal information to risk in ways that the purchase of a textbook does not, faculty members should seek guidance from their dean’s office and the provost’s office prior to establishing such a requirement in any course.

Other policies related to faculty members’ responsibilities:  
Use of Alcoholic Beverages and Prohibition of Other Drugs  
Managing Export and Sanction Compliance in Support of University Activities  
Duties Toward Speakers and Use of University Facilities or Property  
Policies & Regulations (UVA Free Speech Website)  
Combatting Human Trafficking  
University Institutional Compliance Program for Adherence to Federal, State, and Other Regulations Reporting and Investigation of Fraudulent Transactions 
Records and Information Management

Research  
Investigator Eligibility Requirements and Responsibilities Related to Sponsored Programs  
Payroll Allocation Confirmation on Sponsored Programs  
Employment of Professional Research Staff  
Visiting Graduate Researchers  
Ownership Rights in Copyrightable Material  
Federal Classified Research  
Faculty Exchanges with Other Institutions  
Patent Policy  
Purchases of Goods and Services  
Travel, Meals, and Entertainment Expenses Incurred on Behalf of the University  
OSP Policies and Procedures  
Solicitation, Clearance, Acceptance and Ongoing Management of Sponsored Programs  
University Information Technology Accessibility  
Use of Working Time and University Equipment for Personal or Commercial Purposes  
Use and Licensing of the University's Trademarks 
Ownership, Retention, Safeguarding, Management, and Transfer of Research Records  
Research Misconduct  
Financial Conflicts of Interest for Research Investigators  
Chemical Safety and Waste Training  
Radiation Safety Program  
Laser Safety  
Distinguishing Between a Gift or a Sponsored Program  
Facilities & Administrative Rate Application and Exception Process

Instruction and Students  
Confidentiality of Student Information (Student Privacy Rights/FERPA)  
Dissemination and Recording of Course Materials and Activities  
Instructional Sharing, Including Scanning and Delivery of Book Excerpts  
Determination and Assignation of Academic Credit  
Grading Practices (see Teaching Courses for Academic Credit)  
Graduate Assistantships  
Honor Resources for Faculty and TAs  
Inclement Weather/Emergencies  
Disruption of Normal University Operations Resulting from Weather or Emergency Events  
Reporting by University Employees of Disclosures Relating to the Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence and the Preventing and Addressing Discrimination and Harassment, and Preventing and Addressing Retaliation Policies  
Religious Observances, Requests for Academic Accommodation (see Teaching Courses for Academic Credit)  
Safety of Students in Laboratories, Makerspaces, Shops, and Studios  
More Information Regarding Shop, Studios and Makerspaces Safety  
Student Academic Suspension Grievances  
Student and Graduate Medical Education Trainee International Travel

External Relations  
Campaigning For and Serving in a Public Office  
Communicating with Government Officials  
Communicating with the Media and External Constituencies  
Endorsement of External Entities and Products  
Political Activity  
Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts to the University