Class Recording & Distribution of Course Materials

Applies to:	Original Policy Date:	Date of Last Review:	Approved by:
Students, Course Instructors, Teaching Assistants	07.29.2026	07.29.2026	John Z. Kiss, Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs

Policy Owner: Office of the Provost

Policy Purpose

This policy establishes standards governing the recording of class sessions and the access, use, and distribution of course materials. The policy supports effective teaching and learning while protecting student and instructor privacy, safeguarding intellectual property, ensuring accessibility, and upholding academic integrity.

Policy Scope

This policy applies to all Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) students, instructors, teaching assistants, and academic units involved in all credit and non-credit instructional activities delivered in in‑person, hybrid, remote, and fully online formats.

Policy Statement

Florida Tech permits the recording of class sessions and controlled access to course materials for legitimate educational purposes consistent with this policy. Class recordings and course materials must be managed in a transparent, secure, and policy‑compliant manner and may not be recorded, used, or distributed without appropriate authorization.

Definitions

Class Recording: An audio, video, or audiovisual recording of a scheduled class session or course‑related instructional activity, whether conducted in person or through remote or online platforms.

Course Materials: All instructional content associated with a course, including but not limited to class recordings, lecture slides, notes, presentations, handouts, audio files, videos, assignments, assessments, and examinations.

Learning Management System (LMS): The University‑approved platform (e.g., Canvas) used to provide enrolled students with access to class recordings and course materials.

Authorized Recording: A class recording made by an instructor or by a student with explicit prior written permission from the instructor or as part of an approved accommodation through the Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR).

Procedures/Guidelines

A. Class Recording Disclosure and Instructor Responsibilities

The following notification must be included in the course syllabus:

Class Recording and Distribution of Course Materials

The instructor may record class sessions to support student learning, provide access for students who are unable to attend, and maintain course archives. Recorded lectures are official course materials and may be made available to students enrolled in this course through Canvas, with access expiring at the end of the semester unless otherwise specified.

By enrolling in this course, students acknowledge that their images, voices, and participation may be recorded during in‑person class sessions, remote learning activities, or online discussions. All recording of class sessions and use of course materials must comply with instructor policies and the University’s Class Recording and Distribution of Course Materials Policy. Students are not permitted to make audio or video recordings, take photographs, or capture screenshots of class content or to share, distribute, upload, or otherwise disseminate any course materials without explicit prior written permission from the instructor. Students with approved disability accommodations through the Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) must notify the instructor upon receiving approval. Any recordings or materials authorized by the instructor or OAR may be used solely for personal academic purposes. Students are responsible for reviewing and adhering to the University’s Class Recording and Distribution of Course Materials Policy. Questions regarding the application of this policy in this course should be directed to the course instructor.

When recording class sessions, instructors should:

• Position recording equipment to minimize capturing student faces and voices, where feasible.
• Pause or limit recordings during sensitive discussions when requested by students or when pedagogically appropriate.
• Store and share recordings only through University approved systems.

B. Student Accommodations and Restrictions

1. Accessibility Accommodations
   • Students with approved recording accommodations through the Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) must notify the instructor upon receiving accommodation approval.
   • Class recordings or materials provided as part of an approved accommodation remain subject to all use and distribution restrictions under this policy.
2. Student Restrictions on Class Recordings

   Students are not permitted to audio‑ or video‑record class sessions, take photographs, or capture screenshots of class content without explicit prior written permission from the course instructor.

   This restriction applies to all recording and capture technologies, including but not limited to:

   • Mobile phones
   • Cameras
   • Audio or video recording devices
   • Screen‑capture software
   • AI-enabled recording, transcription, or content-capture tools

   Any recordings, photographs, or screenshots made with instructor permission or through approved accommodations:

   • May be used solely for personal academic purposes
   • May not be shared, reposted, edited, or reused in any form. except as otherwise expressly authorized in writing by the course instructor for all students enrolled in the course.
3. Student Restrictions on Distribution of Course Materials

   If recording is authorized in writing for all students by the class instructor, such recordings may be shared among students enrolled in the same class within the same semester and solely for legitimate academic purposes through instructor-approved or university-approved platforms. Authorized student recordings must be deleted when no longer needed for the course and, in any event, no later than the conclusion of the semester unless otherwise required by law or approved by the University.

   Students are otherwise prohibited from sharing, distributing, uploading, selling, or disseminating any course materials, including class recordings, to any third party or platform. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, sharing with individuals (except as provided above), as well as posting to content-sharing websites, social media platforms, and file-sharing or content-aggregation services.

   Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of course materials violate the Student Academic Honesty Policy.

Responsibilities

Office of the Provost:

• Implements and administers this policy in accordance with standards recommended by the Academic Affairs Committee.
• Monitors compliance with the policy and conducts a review at least annually.
• Communicates policy requirements and ensures consistent reinforcement.
• Evaluates and determines requests for policy exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

Instructors:

• Provide required class recording disclosures in course syllabi
• Manage class recordings and course materials in compliance with this policy
• Communicate course-specific expectations regarding recording and materials

Students:

• Comply with all restrictions on class recording and distribution of course materials
• Use authorized recordings solely for personal academic purposes
• Adhere to instructor directives and University policies

Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR):

• Determines and approves disability-related recording accommodations
• Communicates approved accommodations to students and course instructors

Compliance Reference

• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Florida Tech Student Academic Honesty Policy
• Florida Tech Copyright Policy

Enforcement

Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action in accordance with applicable University policies and procedures. Violations may include, but are not limited to, unauthorized recording of class sessions or unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of course materials. Sanctions may include academic penalties, course failure, suspension, or other disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate by the University.