By Alexa Lepold
For professionals working in higher education, the annual Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference at the University of Vermont is the “go-to conference” since long-time attendees report that it’s the definitive annual update on legal developments for colleges and universities.
Jeff Nolan, Partner at Holland & Knight, will speak at this year’s conference on the topic of current legal trends and preparing your campus for the new Title IX regulations. “I’ll be presenting along with Marjory Fisher regarding what college and university campuses can be doing to prepare for the regulations to be finalized in early 2023.”
More examples of topics that will be covered include campus safety, discrimination law, academic freedom, and access to education. These topics will be led by panels of experienced individuals coming from the president and provost offices, general counsels, student affairs, and other leaders in higher education.
Within recent years, courts have held higher education to a greater standard as the government has simultaneously and increasingly regulated these institutions, applying heightened pressure on universities to react and respond to legal issues in a way that both respects students and the law. The UVM conference hosts an experience for professionals to connect and discuss ways to work through the many problems institutions face in a supportive and cooperative manner.
“UVM’s Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference is really unparalleled in the breadth and the depth of higher education issues that are covered.”
Joshua Richards, Partner, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP
Virtual Conference Provides Attendees Flexibility
Even after 32 years, the conference still poses as a space for intimate conversations to take place whether in-person or virtually. Being spread out amongst a multi-day schedule allows for participants and attendees to not have to take time off work or other areas of life to attend and gain an understanding of law in a very practical way.
This year’s conference will remain virtual, following trend with the last couple of years. However, the online option creates a wider registration window that allows individuals to register for the conference leading up to the morning of October 17 while also limiting the need to travel in order to attend.
Denzil Suite, Vice President for Student Life at the University of Washington and speaker at this year’s conference on the topic of current legal trends, highly recommends the conference to every student affairs and higher education professional after attending himself for over 20 years.
“I’ve been consistently impressed with the quality, the variety of perspectives, the intimacy of the sessions, and the balance between student affairs and legal affairs perspectives.”
Denzil Suite, Vice President for Student Life, University of Washington
Diverse Perspectives on Legal Issues in Higher Education
Absent of an affiliated law school, UVM’s conference is connected to the College of Education and Social Services and has welcomed a diverse group of individuals from various areas within higher education. This diversity allows for increased perspectives on handling legal issues on campuses, while also making the conversations themselves more interesting.
This year’s panel contains speakers from past conferences while also welcoming new professionals. One new addition is Zandria Conyers J.D., deputy general counsel and managing director of legal affairs at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). She is a member of the panel speaking on the topic of ‘Gender Equity in Athletics: Where we’ve been and where we’re going. Celebrating 50 years of Title IX.’ Her experience managing legal work within college athletics provides a great addition to this year’s conference amid the new Title IX regulations. Sean Burke A.B., J.D., member of the associate general counsel at the University of Pennsylvania, is also a new speaker at this year’s conference and will join Conyers on that same panel.
Explore the detailed agenda for the 2022 Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference.
