For all undergraduate and graduate courses, unauthorized recording of class sessions by instructors or students is strictly prohibited. A “recording” is defined as any audio, video, screenshot, or photograph, that captures faculty, students, or student work. Transcripts are considered part of a recording for the purposes of this policy. This policy applies to all course modalities offered by Villanova. Authorized recordings are regulated by existing policy for students with documented learning accommodations and for faculty for pedagogical and research purposes as delineated below.
Student initiated recordings: Unless permission to record a class is documented as an approved learning accommodation through the Office of Learning Support Services (LSS) or the Office for Access and Disability Services (ADS), under no circumstances may a student record a class session without the express approval of the instructor and the other students in the class, unless the recording is part of a class exercise, assignment, or assessment as clearly explained by the faculty. As explained to students with LSS or ADS accommodations, “[a]ny recording is solely for the student’s personal use and may not be shared publicly or privately with any unauthorized individuals. Students with permission to record lectures are responsible for ensuring that the recording is neither shared with others nor posted online.” Under no circumstances may a student, with or without a learning accommodation, distribute recorded material without the express permission of the instructor and the other students in the class. Additional information on approved lecture recording accommodations and confidentiality requirements is available here.
Faculty initiated recordings: Instructors who wish to record classes in a semester in classrooms with Classroom Lecture Capture (CLC) capability must follow the requirements of the Classroom Lecture Capture Recordings Policy. For classrooms not equipped with Classroom Lecture Capture, instructors who wish to record any class sessions in a semester must inform students of this plan in advance. This notification should be provided in writing via the class syllabus as well as verbally at the start of any recording. If any student enrolled in the class objects to the recording, the faculty member may not proceed. If the instructor plans to use an authorized recording with personally identifiable student information for any purpose outside the current course section, the instructor must notify and receive written consent from all the students whose information is captured in the recording. For classroom recordings related to IRB-approved research studies, all conditions outlined in the IRB must be followed.
Finally, all classroom recordings are subject to the University’s “Acceptable Use Policies” for technology usage by students and employees, which provides applicable information regarding the use of University computer systems and networks, including that: “Acceptable use must be ethical, reflect academic honesty, and show restraint in the consumption of shared resources. It demonstrates respect for intellectual property, ownership of data, system security mechanisms, and individuals' rights to privacy and freedom from intimidation and harassment.”
Policy violations will be handled through existing disciplinary processes for students and faculty, including as appropriate and documented in the Code of Student Conduct and the Faculty Handbooks.
Suggested Syllabus Language:
Unauthorized student recording of a classroom is strictly prohibited. A "recording" is defined as any audio, video, screenshot, photograph, that captures faculty, students, or student work. Transcripts are considered part of a recording. Students requesting classroom recording as an accommodation due to disability should contact the Office of Learning Support Services or the Office for Access and Disability Services, as appropriate. Unauthorized use of classroom recordings – including distributing, altering, or posting them – is also prohibited. Students who engage in unauthorized recording, unauthorized use of a recording, or unauthorized distribution of instructional materials will be subject to disciplinary processes outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.
Related Policies:
Academic Freedom
Classroom Lecture Capture Recordings v.1
Code of Student Conduct
Faculty Handbooks
Institutional Review Board
Intellectual Property Policy v.2
Language Use
Non-Discrimination/Non-Harassment Policy
History:
Academic Policy Committee Recommended, May 6, 2026
Provost Approved, May 8, 2026