Stevenson University is committed to providing a safe environment that respects the privacy of members of the Stevenson community. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, present special challenges, liabilities, and risks for college and university campuses with a profusion of facilities, people, and vehicles that can be damaged or harmed by unsafe operation or technical failures that can occur. Protecting the privacy of students and staff is also a concern since many of these devices can be equipped with digital cameras and operated near buildings and windows where people would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
To protect the campus and individuals from accidental or intentional harm as well as invasions of privacy due to drone operation, Stevenson University does not permit the operation of drones or UAVs on or above its campus properties and facilities except in the following instances:
- Public agencies or private vendors properly insured, licensed, and registered with the Federal Aviation Administration to operate drones/UAVs for law enforcement or contracted by the university to survey portions of the campus or its structures to affect repairs or improvements, facilitate campus planning, or otherwise conduct projects requiring aerial photography or video.
- Stevenson-employed instructors properly licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration and using drones/UAVs owned and insured by Stevenson and registered with the FAA who are operating and demonstrating drone/UAVs use as part of an educational exercise for students. Students may only operate a campus-owned drone/UAV under the direct supervision of an FAA certified instructor. Drones/UAVs must be operated in an area where they pose no threat to individuals, groups, vehicles, and facilities in the event of a technical failure, and cannot be lent out to students or other unlicensed or untrained operators.
- Stevenson’s Marketing and Digital Communications Office using insured Stevenson-owned drones/UAVs licensed and registered with the Federal Aviation Administration to photograph the university for promotional purposes. These drones/UAVs must be operated in an area and from a distance where they can ensure privacy and pose no threat to individuals, groups, vehicles, and facilities in the event of a technical failure.
- Stevenson Athletics Department using insured Stevenson-owned drones/UAVs licensed and registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. These drones/UAVs must be operated in an area and at a distance where they can pose no threat to individuals, groups, vehicles, and facilities in the event of a technical failure and cannot be operated during NCAA-sanctioned sporting events or games in accordance with NCAA regulations.
- Stevenson Security must be notified in advance of any planned use of a drone/UAV to provide authorization of the use and location.
Questions on this policy may be referred to the Vice President, Marketing & Digital Communications.
(Approved Nov. 2017)