Mission
The mission of the Office of Legal Affairs is to provide high quality legal advice, guidance and representation to advance and protect the mission and vision of the College. The department seeks to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations; maintain, monitor and implement a comprehensive risk management function; foster a premier learning and working environment that is equitable, accessible, diverse and inclusive; and develop and maintain collaborative relationships with governmental entities.
The Office of Legal Affairs manages and coordinates all legal and employment services for the College; advises on the legal ramifications of College policy and decision-making; and promotes compliance through sound legal advice, representation and training.
Goals and Outcomes
Goal:
To provide timely, useful and effective legal advice to the College’s Board of Trustees, President, administration and departments that reduces and minimizes legal liabilities, and aids in the efficient operation of the College.
Outcomes:
Negotiate, draft and review legal documents, including contracts, agreements and memoranda of understanding, entered into between the College and third parties in connection with the College’s business and operations.
Provide litigation support to the Office of the Suffolk County Attorney by gathering factual information and assisting in the development and furtherance of the College position in judicial and administrative forums.
Receive, review and respond to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests.
Provide legal assistance and guidance in matters concerning employees and labor relations.
Goal:
To provide concise, clear and easily accessible policies and procedures.
Outcomes:
Draft and amend College policies and procedures, and prepare resolutions, for consideration and adoption by the College’s Board of Trustees.
Communicate and disseminate policies and procedures which govern all members of the College community.
Goal:
To ensure that college employees will meet their workplace obligations consistent with the College’s mission and objectives.
Outcomes:
Train faculty and staff to ensure compliance with College policies and relevant state and federal laws, rules and regulations, including those relating to equal opportunity and affirmative action, to ensure that they will have an enlightened understanding of the legal implications of their actions.
Provide leadership, support, advice, education and intervention in support of the College’s efforts to recruit and retain a diverse workforce and increase areas of underrepresentation.
Goal:
To maintain, monitor and implement a comprehensive risk mitigation function, including emergency response planning, insurance and indemnification, and risk assessment.
Outcomes:
Continually update and evaluate the College’s Emergency Response Plan to ensure institutional crisis management capabilities.
Conduct a continual College-wide assessment and analysis of threats, challenges, and risks to employee and institutional integrity, security and safety, and the preservation of physical assets and reputational strength.
Reduce liabilities as more of the College’s risks are brought under commercially-underwritten insurance plans and removed from the self-insurance budget line.
Goal:
To develop and maintain collaborative relationships with government entities, including the State of New York and the County of Suffolk.
Outcomes:
Continually inform external stakeholders of the College’s achievements and the reasons for the College’s operating and capital needs.
Successfully facilitate the adoption of the College Budget by the Suffolk County Legislature.
