The information on this page is provided to help guide members of the Clark community on how to approach university-related legal matters. Clark University does not maintain internal legal counsel but engages with outside counsel on specific matters as the need arises. Questions may be directed to legal@clarku.edu.
Contracts and Agreements
Only certain officials are authorized to act on behalf of the University and bind it to an agreement, including the retention of outside counsel to work on any matter on behalf of Clark University. The authority or ability to sign agreements on behalf of Clark, regardless of value, and the rules surrounding when legal, information technology services, and/or business office review of contracts might be required, are all outlined in the Policy on Contract Review. Please review the policy for details on the contract review and signing process. For assistance with contract review, please email legal@clarku.edu.
If any member of the Clark community receives a communication from, or is visited by, an attorney or government agency in regard to university-related business, please immediately contact legal@clarku.edu. This includes, but is not limited to: subpoenas, requests for background checks of former students, administrative or governmental agency requests for information, inquiries, or notifications of a claim or impending investigation.
Reporting Concerns and Whistleblowing
Clark values treating all members of its community with fairness, dignity, and respect. However, it is inevitable that concerns and disputes will periodically surface. The best and most direct mechanism for confronting challenges is for individuals to work one-on-one in an effort to informally diffuse the situation. This is not always possible or prudent and, in such circumstances, there are multiple avenues towards dispute resolution. These routes may include working with department managers, contacting Human Resources, contacting University Police, or utilizing Clark’s various reporting portals to report a concern. For staff and faculty, Clark University’s Ombudsperson is an informal, confidential, neutral, and independent resource to discuss any concern, issue, or conflict without fear of retaliation or judgment. Note that if anyone desires to report a concern of fraud, waste, or abuse, they can file an anonymous report on the above-referenced reporting portal page, and they can find the policy related to whistleblowing here.
