On June 27, we issued an alert concerning the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Janus v. AFSCME (June 27, 2018). There, the Court held that mandatory agency fees (also sometimes known as service fees) for public employees … Read more
Archives: Colleges and Universities
Subscribe to Colleges and Universities RSS FeedU.S. Supreme Court Declares Compelled Public Sector Agency Fees Unconstitutional
In a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court today ruled that provisions requiring public employees to pay agency fees violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In doing so, the Supreme Court expressly overruled its own 41-year-old precedent.… Read more
Office for Civil Rights Launches Website Accessibility Technical Assistance Initiative
On May 17, 2018, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the launch of a Website Accessibility Technical Assistance Initiative (the “Initiative”). As part of the Initiative, OCR will offer a series of general and personalized … Read more
Colleges and Universities Facing Union Organizing Campaigns: An Update
The 2018 CCIC Annual Member Forum
June 12, 2018
Quinnipiac University, North Haven Campus
8:15 AM – 1:00 PM EDT
Gary Starr and Jarad Lucan will present a workshop entitled “Colleges and Universities Facing Union Organizing Campaigns: An Update” as … Read more
Massachusetts’ Supreme Court Finds Colleges May Face Liability for Student Suicide Under Certain Circumstances
Earlier this month, Massachusetts’ highest court ruled favorably for Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”) and three school officials in a wrongful death lawsuit closely watched by educational institutions for close to a decade. The court found that while a special … Read more
Peter Maher Presents at Lehigh University’s 46th Special Education Law Conference
On May 11, 2018, Peter Maher was a co-presenter during Lehigh University’s 46th Special Education Law Conference. The conference is a one-day program that provides a year-in-review case law keynote and various break-out sessions. The topics for this year’s sessions … Read more
Webinar: Opioids and Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Are Employers Left High and Dry?
Join Shipman & Goodwin labor and employment attorneys for this complimentary CLE webinar providing a discussion of changing laws and legal concerns related to opioids and medical marijuana in the workplace. Presenters will review recent court decisions, the interaction between … Read more
Connecticut Bankruptcy Court Rejects Claw Back of Parent Plus Loan Proceeds
Back in December 2017, we wrote about Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees’ attempts to claw back the distribution of Parent Plus loan proceeds to college and universities when the parent that obtained the loan for their child’s education later files for … Read more
Webinar: An Overview of the Significant Provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act PART 4: Update on Pension, Compensation and 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Organizations
Join Shipman & Goodwin tax attorneys for the fourth installment of this four-part CLE webinar reviewing some of the more significant provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This session will review changes in the pension, compensation, and fringe … Read more
Save the Date: Labor and Employment Spring Seminar 2018 Public Sector Legal Update
Please save the date and pre-register for Shipman & Goodwin’s 2018 Labor and Employment Public Sector Spring Seminar on May 4, 2018. Note: This program is intended for Public Sector employers.
Recent trends in the workplace related to claims of … Read more
Sixth Circuit: Title VII Prohibits Discrimination Based on Transgender and/or Transitioning Status
Less than one week after the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that Title VII’s prohibition on sex discrimination bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its own landmark Title VII … Read more
Plan Now to Retain Your Workforce: The Uncertain Future of Employment Authorization for H-4 Dependent Spouses
Certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-lB visa holders have been eligible for U.S. employment authorization, following a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) rule change in May 2015[1]. Since that time, thousands of spouses with H-4 classifications have … Read more
Reed College faces Union vote among its student housing advisors
Union organizing among students is not just limited to teaching assistants. Other students who are being paid and supervised by a college or university may select a bargaining representative, at least, until the Labor Board gets to revisit the Columbia … Read more
Second Circuit Upholds Ruling in Munn v. Hotchkiss
On February 6, 2018, the Second Circuit dismissed the remaining appellate claims in Munn v. Hotchkiss School, the case involving a private school student who contracted tick-borne encephalitis on a school-sponsored trip to China. When this case was last … Read more
Webinar: Are You at Risk? An In-Depth Look at Workplace Sexual Harassment Prevention and Company Culture
Join Shipman & Goodwin labor and employment attorneys Daniel Schwartz, Jarad Lucan and Ashley Marshall for this complimentary CLE webinar where they will explore sexual harassment and cultural shifts taking place in the workplace. Attendees will learn best practices … Read more
Register Now for Sexual Harassment Prevention Training – 2018 Schedule
Don’t wait until it’s too late. There are steps you can take now to protect you and your business from costly litigation. The programs outlined below will provide training and education on sexual harassment awareness and prevention for all supervisory … Read more
Claw Back of Parent PLUS Loan Proceeds to Pay College Tuition Hits a Roadblock
Over the last few years, Chapter 7 trustees of the bankruptcy estates of parents that paid college tuition for their children in the years before their bankruptcy filings have actively pursued the recovery of those tuition payments as constructively fraudulent … Read more
Is Algorithmic Transparency the Next Regulatory Frontier in Data Privacy?
On November 29, 2017, the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection held a hearing on the use of computer algorithms and their impact on consumers.[1]
This was the latest in a series … Read more
Is Your Institution Ready for GDPR?
The requirements of the European Union (“EU”) General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) come into effect on May 25, 2018. These regulations promise to usher in sweeping changes to the way institutions, companies, and other organizations collect and handle the personal … Read more
U.S. Supreme Court Allows Third Version of Travel Ban to Take Effect
On December 4, 2017 the U.S. Supreme Court issued two orders staying preliminary injunctions against President Trump’s latest travel ban, allowing that ban to take effect while ongoing legal challenges to it are being judicially considered.
The Supreme Court’s December … Read more
Title IX Procedures and The Need for Fairness to All Parties
Recent headlines make clear that sexual harassment is a serious problem in our society. It has also been a focus of attention on school campuses. Since the adoption of Title IX, colleges and universities, as well as other educational institutions, … Read more
Webinar: 2017 Connecticut Tax Update
Join Shipman & Goodwin tax attorneys for this complimentary CLE webinar focusing on current developments in Connecticut tax law. Presenters will discuss recent tax developments impacting businesses, organizations and individuals, and review the most up-to-date information on tax legislation enacted … Read more
The New Biennial Budget: Trick or Treat?
Connecticut was the last state in the country to adopt a budget, more than 120 days after the commencement of the current fiscal year. The biennial budget for the period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019 was the … Read more
Webinar: Conducting Effective Employee Investigations
Employers are required to investigate routine personnel matters, claims of employee harassment, discrimination and other behavior. This complimentary webinar will provide a review of Federal and State laws related to employee investigations, and address best practices employers and their counsel … Read more
