Policies
Policies and procedures at an institution as complex as Tufts University are regularly under review and subject to revision.
Standards of Professional Conduct and Integrity
The Standards of Professional Conduct and Integrity serve as a proxy for the University’s shared values: honesty, integrity, respect, and inclusion. The Standards provide a baseline for exercising good judgment, and guidance for using University resources prudently, in accordance with our students’ expectations and those of all members of our community.
Standards of Professional Conduct and Integrity
Privacy Statements
Tufts University’s Privacy Statement and Terms and Conditions of Use disclose the privacy practices for tufts.edu and other Tufts websites and digital services. The Global Privacy Statements provide information for persons from the United States and from countries outside the United States, including in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom. The Privacy Statements include information about how we collect and use personal information and about data rights under privacy laws.
Travel Policy
Tufts faculty, staff, and students are periodically required to travel on behalf of the university in furtherance of its educational and research mission. The intent of this policy is to help facilitate that travel and is designed to be fair and equitable to both the traveler and the university. It applies to all university travel regardless of the funding source.
Information Stewardship and Information Technology Policies
The Information Stewardship Policy outlines the actions all members of the Tufts community are expected to follow when working with university information. Supporting policies focus on using information systems, classifying and handling data, and roles and responsibilities for data. Additional policies establish requirements for using email, the Tufts network and other IT resources, such as Tufts Box, cloud services, and passwords. The Information Security Program provides for the university’s compliance with the Massachusetts data privacy laws and regulations.
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Digital Accessibility
Tufts University is committed to providing a digital environment that is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities. Our Digital Accessibility Policy, Procurement Accessibility Protocol, and Captioning Policy are grounded not only in principles of equity and inclusion, but also in the knowledge that accessible content enhances usability for everyone.
Digital Accessibility Policies
Communications Policies
Communications policies, including domain name use, university branding, social media and web accessibility, provide guidelines for uniformity in messaging and visual identity across Tufts websites and social media channels.
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Financial Policies
Financial policies include those for all employees, such as the Business Conduct Policy, designed to serve as a guide to appropriate business behavior, as well as specialized policies for controllers, bursars, accounting, treasury and purchasing, which provide comprehensive guidelines to fulfill financial tasks in a uniform, secure manner.
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Department of Public and Environmental Safety Policies
Public and Environmental Safety policies help to keep Tufts’ campuses a safe and healthy learning environment. Requirements for emergency notifications, conducting business with minors on campus, video security, weapons, and use of drones/unmanned aircraft systems on campus are listed within the policies and enforced on all campuses.
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Office of Equal Opportunity Policies
The Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) administers policies, including discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, to ensure a safe and welcoming learning and working environment for all members of the Tufts community.
Preferred Names Policy and Process
Tufts University allows individuals to select a preferred name for use in certain university systems and under certain circumstances. A preferred name may better reflect one’s gender identity, better reflect a current surname, or allow an individual to select a nickname or professional name that better reflects their personal identity. While some systems, such as financial records, Tufts username, public safety ID, and official university records are required to use legal names, the Preferred Names Policy and Process provides guidelines for the use of preferred names at Tufts University in general communications, in the university directory, and email communication information.
Preferred Names Policy and Process (PDF)
University Counsel Policies
University Counsel policies are used for broad spectrum of legal issues including operations, litigation, student issues, real property and construction, fundraising, environmental and other government regulations, intellectual property, employment, tenure, finance and investment, academic affiliation, trust administration, use of drones (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), and general legal policy.
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University Advancement: Guiding Principles for Gift Acceptance | Full Gift Policy
The University Gift Policy, approved by the Board of Trustees and administered by University Advancement, provides details about the process for how the University accepts gifts and provides associated recognition to our donors. It includes definitions and information about different ways of giving, minimums for establishing various types of endowments, and how naming opportunities are managed. The policy was updated significantly in 2020 to provide greater clarity and transparency. All prospective donors—as well as all University colleagues who are involved with philanthropy—are encouraged to review the policy, especially the opening section, Guiding Principles for Gift Acceptance.
University Records Policy and Related Policies
The University Records Policy, administered by Tufts Archival Research Center (TARC), defines university records and outlines responsibilities for managing them. TARC also maintains related policies and guidelines which support the University Records Policy. These include guidance for creating, storing, and handling university records; retention requirements and disposition procedures; and an employee offboarding checklist.
Records Policy Review Related Guidance
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Policy
The University’s FERPA Policy applies to all of the University’s schools. This policy is designed to help students and, in some cases, their parents, understand how to access their education records, how to amend them, and, if they wish, how to prevent their disclosure to third parties. Tufts University complies with FERPA through this policy and other school-specific practices.
Student Grievance Policy
The Student Grievance Policy outlines the processes and procedures students can take to appeal decisions made by University administrators, faculty and staff, and by committees and student governing groups. Any questions regarding appeal procedures should be directed to the individual department or committee involved or to the Office of the Dean of Students of the applicable School.
Student Grievance Policy (PDF)
Annual Influenza Vaccination Policies
Flu is a serious public health issue that impacts millions of Americans each year and causes tens of thousands of deaths. The annual influenza vaccine is a powerful weapon in preventing the flu. The purpose of these policies is to protect the Tufts community from seasonal influenza infection.
Student Flu Vaccination Policy (PDF)
Faculty & Staff Flu Vaccination Policy (PDF)
Employee, Faculty and Student Handbooks
Employees
Tufts University Employee Policies & Procedures details the responsibilities of staff members and explains the university’s commitment to staff.
Faculty
Each school’s Faculty Handbook details the responsibilities of faculty members and explains the university’s commitment to excellent faculty.
- Schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering (Undergraduate and Graduate)
- The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (login required)
- School of Dental Medicine
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
- School of Medicine
Students
Each school’s Student Handbook establishes standards of behavior for students and student organizations.