Office of the Provost

Suggestions and Policies on Recording Classroom Discussions

Aug. 25, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Thanks to work done by the Faculty Senate, in consultation with deans and academic affairs and ITS staff, I wanted to share information and new policies with respect to recording class sessions.

  1. Faculty members have the option, but not the requirement, of recording class sessions through Zoom or Echo360.

  2. Recordings will normally be deleted no later than 60 days after the end of the semester. Faculty who wish to record and save their lectures for their own future use should do this separately from recordings that include student comments and discussion.

  3. Faculty who choose to record student comments and discussion option must notify students two ways: in the syllabus and verbally at the beginning of the semester

  4. Formal student consent is not required unless the videos will be used beyond the course participants

    1. If so, any student who can be identified in the video selection must give formal permission otherwise these materials cannot be used beyond the course.

  5. Faculty should record to the cloud if they are recording students and should use passwords or other protection against zoombombing.

  6. Students may decline to be recorded

    1. If a student declines to be recorded, they should contact the professor to work out alternatives. This may include opting out of individual classes if the sensitive material is not a core part of the course. Other alternatives include: Shut off video of themselves; use a pseudonym for recording (in which case they must notify the professor beforehand); participate only through the chat function; call in to Zoom with a masked phone number; participate through written comments.

    2. If further discussion is needed, students should speak to their Department Chair or Program Director

  7. Students cannot record classes without instructor permission and may not share recording URLs or passwords to anyone outside the course.

Please remember that the Brandeis code of conduct applies equally to remote learning environments as to traditional contexts. In addition, as detailed by ITS, Brandeis administered networks are all subject to monitoring.

The following is a statement that you may wish to include in your Syllabus/LATTE course page

Model Syllabus Statement

Class sessions will be recorded for educational purposes. You may decline to be recorded; if so, please contact me to identify suitable alternatives for class participation. These recordings will be deleted within two months after the end of the semester. If you can be personally identified in a recording, no other use is permitted without your formal permission. You may not record classes on your own without my express permission, and may not share the URL and/or password to anyone unaffiliated with this course. Your behavior in these recordings, and in this class as a whole, must fulfill Brandeis standards:

Brandeis University is committed to providing its students, faculty and staff with an environment conducive to learning and working, where all people are treated with respect and dignity. (1) You must refrain from any behavior toward members of our Brandeis community, including students, faculty, staff, and guests, that intimidates, threatens, harasses, or bullies. (2)

(1) Brandeis Business Conduct Policy p. 2, 2020
(2) Student Rights & Responsibilities, p. 11, 2020 ed.

If you have any questions or concerns about this policy please contact your department chair or program director.

Best regards and best wishes for those starting your courses this week,

Lisa

Lisa M. Lynch, Provost