Video Capture Policy
Initially Approved: January 25, 2016
Technical Change: April 18, 2016
Technical Change: February 20, 2023
Revised: July 30, 2024
Policy Topic: Information Technology
Administering Office: Office of CIO
I. POLICY STATEMENT
Faculty and staff at Western Carolina University (WCU or University) respect the privacy
of students, employees and visitors. WCU authorizes video capture and the use of video
capture technology for university purposes that include, but are not limited to, scholarly,
health care and commercial purposes. WCU is committed to implementing and maintaining
a Video Capture Policy that maintains privacy and security for the campus community,
but also allows the University to advance its educational mission.
II. SCOPE
This policy applies to all University faculty, staff, and students who are performing
duties on behalf of faculty (for example, Content created incidental to a faculty
member’s scholarly activity) and/or staff (for example, Content created to further
a commercial activity) or who are performing duties as part of an employment and/or
training (for example, Classroom health practice activities) relationship with WCU.
Nothing in this policy shall apply to the activities of the University Police Department,
including WCU Emergency Services, when performing their traditional duties as well
as any Video Capture Content generated incident to the activities described in University
Policy 101: Installation and Use of Video Cameras for Non-Academic Purposes.
III. DEFINITIONS
- “Images” refers to still images derived from the Video Capture Content.
- “Video Capture” means the act of filming or creating video recordings.
- “Video Capture Content” or “Content” means video recordings made by, for, or under
the supervision, control, or direction of WCU, its faculty, staff, students, agents
or assigns and may include the audio component associated with the video.
- "Commercial Use” may include, but is not limited to, the use of Video Capture Content
in a television commercial; web-based advertisement; pop-up advertisement; as well
as the use of still images from Video Capture Content in any magazine advertisement;
web-based advertisement, such as content found on the official WCU website owned or
maintained by WCU; and/or advertisement found in any Department of Athletics publication.
- “Scholarly Use” may include, but it is not limited to, the use of Video Capture Content,
including the audio component derived from the Video Capture Content as well as any
Image(s) derived from the Content, as part of research, a grant application, conference
presentation or any other similar use.
- “Third Parties” may include individuals who are not associated with the University,
including but not limited to, private citizens; private entities; students of WCU;
WCU student organizations; and/or faculty and staff not operating at the direction
of WCU.
IV. IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES
A. Privacy Waiver and Release to Video Capture
- Releases
Notwithstanding Sections IV.A.2 and IV.A.3 below, WCU should, but is not required
to, obtain a Privacy Waiver and Release (Privacy Release), available in Section VI,
from any individual depicted in the Content, prior to any Commercial Use or Scholarly
Use of the Content. Written permission in the form of the Privacy Release from a parent
or guardian should be obtained prior to any Content creation and/or use of Content
that includes individuals younger than 18 years of age (e.g. Content created pursuant
to an educational program requirement such as the recording of a student teacher interacting
with minors).
- University Property
When members of the University Community and/or members of the general public enter
property owned, managed, or controlled by the University, they consent to the creation
of Content using their likeness. The University may use this content as it sees fit.
Notice of this policy statement shall be prominently displayed the University’s website,
as well as in the Faculty Handbook, and the Student Catalog.
- Gatherings and Events
Content created for newsworthy and/or editorial purposes by WCU is generally permitted
and may not require a Privacy Release from the individual depicted; however, obtaining
a Privacy Release is suggested.
In the instance of Content created in association with a University sponsored event
or an event that occurs on space owned, occupied, or managed by the University that
is attended by members of the campus community, the general public, or both, the University
may provide attendees of the event with additional notice of Video Capture activities.
The continued attendance at the event by the attendees shall signify their permission
to be a part of the Video Capture activities and their permission for the University
to use their likeness as it sees fit.
Content created depicting unidentifiable individuals will not require a release of
any type by the unidentifiable individuals.
Guest Speakers/Presenters: A Privacy Release or a contract modification allowing for
video capture by WCU should be obtained from all guest speakers/presenters prior to
being video captured. In the event that a guest speaker/presenter will not agree to
a video capture release or contract modificiaton, the contract administrator shall
notify University Communications of the status of permission.
Department of Athletics: Student athletes may be recorded using equipment owned, operated,
or managed by the Department of Athletics. A release provided by the Department of
Athletics from each student athlete should be obtained prior to any recording or creation
of Content. This policy does not apply to media rights and/or media licensing agreements
contemplated between WCU, including media rights and/or media licensing agreements
which involve or require the service(s) of WCU faculty, staff, and/or students, through
its Department of Athletics, and any third party media rights/licensing company.
Third parties filming on property owned, controlled or managed by WCU are expected
to comply with all applicable policies including, but not limited to, University Policy
82 - Facility Use and Public Art and University Policy 110 - Conferences and Events Policy
- Workplace Recording
WCU shall not, without the employee's consent, create or cause to be created Video
Capture Content, including the associated audio, of one or more employees performing
workplace duties or one or more employees engaged in private workplace activities
while on property owned or controlled by WCU.
This prohibition does not apply to law enforcement or the creation of Video Capture
Content that does not include the associated audio.
B. Creation and Maintenance of Video Capture Records
- Education Records
Content depicting students may be “education records” pursuant to the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and cannot be shared publicly without the written
consent of the student depicted in the Content in accordance with University Policy
72 – Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA or Buckley Amendment).
Prior to any video capture of students in an educational setting (e.g. a classroom),
including the video capture of classroom activities not made a condition of the successful
completion of a course, a Privacy Release, provided in Section VI, must be obtained
from the subject student(s). Further, prior to the creation of Content in an educational
setting, the instructor shall define a recording free zone and note in a conspicuous
location that the educational setting will be recorded. This Content may not be shared
with any student not enrolled in the video captured course and/or faculty member unless
authorized pursuant to FERPA or unless the student(s) depicted in the Content signs
a FERPA Release Form. With regard to regular video capture instances (e.g. a semester
of classroom activity), a term specific FERPA Release Form from the student or guest
is acceptable. It is recommended that students be informed prior to any video capture
activity and/or course offerings that require video capture activity as a prerequisite
for successful completion of the course.
It is understood that certain courses may require that a student be subjected to video
capture as a condition of the successful completion of the course. In such cases,
all applicable FERPA rules and regulations do apply. Further, the video capture content
created may not be used for any purpose other than grading and evaluation without
the consent of the subject student(s). Consent may be gained with the use of the Privacy
Release, provided in Section VI.
- Health Care Records
Video Capture Content of patients in a clinical setting may be considered to be individually
identifiable health information and protected under HIPAA. Any Content protected pursuant
to HIPAA must be created, transmitted, and maintained in accordance with WCU HIPAA
Privacy and Security Regulations regardless of whether the information is used for
educational purposes or is made a part of the patient’s medical record.
WCU must obtain the patient’s permission prior to the creation of any Content and/or
the start of any video capture activities. The patient or his/her legal guardian or
caretaker must agree to permit instructors and students associated with the treatment
and evaluation of the patient to view and review the Content.
Only WCU owned, managed, maintained, or contracted equipment and/or service will be
used to create Content depicting patients and students providing services to the patient(s).
In the case of Content created with the assistance of contracted equipment and/or
services, WCU shall enter into a Business Associate Agreement with the contracted
entity.
The college, department, or university must establish written procedures for the creation
of Content that is also a patients’ medical record. These written procedures must
indicate the person or position who shall approve the creation of Content, the person(s)
or position(s) who have access to the Content, when access to the Content will be
granted, and where the Content will reside. The Content may be used for research or
the development of continuing education with the consent of the patient/client. Please
note, permission to view the Content outside of the building in which it was created
for teaching, assessment or grading purposes must be obtained by the college Dean
and the WCU Chief Information Officer.
Any Content used for the treatment and/or evaluation of patients must be kept pursuant
to all applicable state and federal laws and regulation. The Content shall not be
transported outside of the control of WCU through physical, digital, streaming or
any other known or unknown means unless it is encrypted pursuant to applicable industry
standard and is so approved by the college Dean and the WCU Chief Information Officer.
Video Capture Content shall be maintained and retained pursuant to University Policy
97 – Data Security and Stewardship and the Data Handling Procedures, University Policy 108 - Records Retention and Disposition, and University Policy 117 – Information Security Policy.
Content associated with patient treatment or evaluation shall not become the property
of either the instructor or the student providing the care; however, insofar as the
Video Capture Content is considered a FERPA record pursuant to this policy, the student
may view the Content pursuant to FERPA.
- Research
Content created pursuant to scholarly research shall comply with this policy as well
as any established Institutional Review Board (IRB) policies and procedures as specified
by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Human Research
Protections with regard to video and video capture of research subjects.
- Student Generated Content
This policy does not apply to any WCU Student(s) who generate content pursuant to
their educational responsibilities, such as pursuant to a classroom assignment or
students who are performing their own scholarly work. However, students should use
their own best judgment in the creation of content and must remember that they are
bound by all University behavior policies, including but not limited to the Code of Student Conduct.
V. COPYRIGHT
WCU respects the right of copyright held by our faculty, staff and students. University
Policy 84 – Copyright Policy, shall be applied with regard to Content created and/or owned by University faculty,
staff and students.
VI. RETENTION
Video Capture Content shall be maintained and retained pursuant to University Policy
97 – Information Security and Privacy Governance, University Policy 108 - Records Retention and Disposition, and University Policy 117 – Information Security Policy.
VII. POLICY REVIEW
This policy shall be reviewed and revised as necessary every 4 years.
VIII. RELATED POLICIES AND RESOURCES
University Policy 72 – Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA or Buckley Amendment)
University Policy 84 – Copyright Policy
University Policy 97 – Information Security and Privacy Governance
Data Handling Procedures Related to Policy 97
University Policy 101 – Installation and Use of Video Cameras for Non-Academic Purposes
University Policy 106 – Identity Theft Protection Program
University Policy 108 – Records Retention and Disposition
University Policy 117 – Information Security Policy
Forms:
Privacy Waiver and Release Form
FERPA Release (from Registrar Office)
(The Privacy Waiver and Release Form shall be maintained by the entity who issued
it to a signor.)