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The Office of Legal Affairs is Augusta University's in-house legal counsel. Attorneys in the Office of Legal Affairs provide legal advice and counseling to the University through its administrators, faculty, and staff in the course of their duties on behalf of the University.

The Augusta University Legal Affairs Office provides advice on a variety of topics including contracts, employment and discretionary issues, inventions, copyrights and other intellectual property, and risk management. In addition to providing legal counseling to the University, other areas of responsibility for the Office of Legal Affairs include policy interpretation and advice, administration of the University's grievance and dispute resolution procedures, contract review, and – in conjunction with the Attorney General – management of actual or threatened litigation in which the University is involved. The Office of Legal Affairs is also available to provide training and informative programs on legal issues applicable to units of the University.

The information contained on this site is for use by Augusta University. Forms or documents provided are not intended to serve as legal advice. The Office of Legal Affairs does not provide legal advice to administrators, faculty, staff, or students in their individual capacities. Employees and students should generally consult with their supervisor or faculty member before contacting the Legal Affairs Office.

Contact Us

Legal Affairs

Health Sciences Campus

G. Lombard Kelly Building

Room- AA 2028

1459 Laney Walker Blvd
Augusta, GA 30912

706-721-4018

legal@augusta.edu

Service Areas

We are guided by operating principles of: integrity and the highest ethical standards; a commitment to excellence; continuously updated legal expertise; professionalism; creativity; sound decision-making; prevention; effectiveness; risk management; teamwork; effective communication; courtesy and respect; consensus-building; timeliness; and professional growth.

Contract Routing

Instructions for routing AU contracts and required form.

Open Records Requests

With limited exceptions, public records of AU are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A.-50-18-70 et seq.

Mediation Program

Informal process mandated by BOR whereby employees experiencing disputes can come together with a trained neutral (intermediary) to try to work out mutually agreeable resolution.

Medical Malpractice

Litigation for professional negligence involving doctors whose patients have been injured by a doctor whose actions were below the applicable standard of care pursue damages.

Standard Agreements

Template agreements that contain the University's preferred terms for specific types of collaborations

Policies & Guidelines

In order to streamline the process for drafting, revising, and approval of policies, AU has implemented a management system.

Policy Guidelines

Legal Affairs serves as the single source for university-level policies and information pertaining to policy drafting and review.

Authorization for Release of Education Records

 

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) governs the release of educational records. Students must file educational records request with the Registrar’s Office.

 

Advance Directives

 

Statutory device whereby a patient informs a healthcare provider how he/she desires their care to be delivered given a particular set of medical conditions.

 

HIPAA Hybrid Entity Designation

 

AU has a system for processing contracts. All contracts must be approved by the Office of Legal Affairs prior to execution by employees with written signature authority.

Conflicts of Interest

 

Employee conduct that improperly benefits his/her financial interest or those of his or her family members or any business with which the person is associated.

 

Intellectual Property

 

Intellectual property is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. The most prominent types are copyrights, patents, and trademarks.

Negotiation & Execution of Contracts

 

AU has a system for processing contracts. All contracts must be approved by the Office of Legal Affairs prior to execution by employees with written signature authority.

 

Non-Disclosure Agreement

 

Non-disclosure agreements (NDA) are legal commitments prohibiting the release of specific information, e.g., proprietary research, health and educational records, etc.

Unit News

moderator in classroom

Human Resources launches executive leadership program

Augusta University's first executive leadership cohort is expected to complete the program in June.

campus arch entrance that says Augusta University

Augusta University Policy Library update includes new, user-friendly website

“A comprehensive and ongoing policy process is a critical component of creating and supporting a culture of ethics and integrity, which reflects our mission and values,” said Chris Melcher, vice president and general counsel for Augusta University.

Volunteers raising hands

Volunteer needs changing amid COVID-19 pandemic

Preventing the spread of COVID-19 makes it an unusual circumstance for coordinating volunteer efforts.

blue background that says augusta university

New and updated policies now available online

The Office of Legal Affairs assumed responsibility for the university’s policy system in January and is working to update and streamline the policy process.

Statutes of Augusta University

The Faculty of Augusta University sets forth the following regulations for the governance of the university.

These Statutes seek to encompass basic principles of operation and organization of the Faculty of Augusta University; to delineate the rights and responsibilities of each component of the university; and to provide means for communication among the components so that, through cooperative action, the purposes of the university can best be served.

View Statutes