The Office of Legal Affairs of Winston-Salem State University provides comprehensive legal advice and assistance to the WSSU community. To that end, the Office of Legal Affairs provides timely, accurate, and thorough legal analysis and counsel to the Chancellor, Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, and students of WSSU concerning University legal matters.
The Office of Legal Affairs also advises the University concerning the legal implications of proposed and established policies and procedures, counsels the University to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and administrative regulations, drafts, reviews, and negotiates University contracts, and provides legal counsel and assistance to the University community on a wide variety of legal issues involving or affecting the University.
Hotlines
Drug Violations - 336-750-2912Including possession, use, sale or other
Ethics Hotline - 336-750-2063
Including abuse, misuse or theft of university property
Guide to Legal Documents
In an effort to assist the campus community with legal matters in an efficient, transparent, and responsible manner, the following guide has been created to help educate the campus while providing guidance about what to do and what to expect from the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA). If there are any questions, please contact OLA.
- Definition: Document from OLA instructing to gather, identify, and hold information related to a legal matter
- What to do: Respond to the Litigation Hold as soon as possible by identifying locations where information may be held. Do not contact anyone about the hold or request for information except OLA unless OLA directs otherwise (this includes the NC Attorney General).
- What Legal will do: OLA may not be at liberty to share the underlying facts behind the litigation hold. You may not be alerted to the outcome or settlement of the matter.
- Definition: A court order to appear or produce certain documents related to WSSU
- What to do: Contact OLA immediately via email and include a copy of the subpoena. Do not contact the issuer of the subpoena.
- What Legal will do: OLA will review the subpoena to determine the University's rights and responsibilities. Failure to respond to a subpoena could result in you or WSSU being held in contempt of court.
- Definition: Notification that legal action has been commenced against WSSU.
- What to do: Contact OLA immediately via email and include a copy of the complaint or lawsuit. Do not contact the attorney or sender of the complaint.
- What Legal will do: OLA will review the complaint to determine the University's rights and responsibilities. OLA will also manage the legal strategy and gather information to respond. You may not be alerted to the outcome or settlement of the dispute.
- Definition: Allegation of discrimination or retaliation made to the Federal EEOC concerning WSSU and/or WSSU employees
- What to do: Contact OLA immediately via email and include a copy of everything received from the EEOC. Do not share it with others or contact the employee.
- What Legal will do: OLA will review the Charge and share information internally as necessary. You may not be alerted to the outcome or settlement of the matter. To ensure fairness to the grieving party, you may not be called to participate in the actual EEOC process unless it is determined as a necessity by OLA.
- Definition: Request for information or records related to WSSU's business
- What to do: Any employee who receives a request directly from an individual should forward a copy of the university policy on Public Records to the requestor and share that the request must be made in writing to the General Counsel. Submissions can be made via the Public Records Request page.
- What Legal will do: OLA will review the request and provide a response to the requestor.
Disclaimer: Please note that the materials contained herein are provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Consult with a licensed attorney for legal advice concerning specific legal issues.
