Except
as prohibited by law, it is the policy of Drexel University
to furnish University employees with legal defense and
payment of judgments, fines, penalties, settlements
and any other expenses actually and reasonably incurred
in connection with an actual or threatened action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative (such action, suit or proceeding hereinafter
being referred to as an "Action"), brought
against such employee by reason of being an employee
of the University, or by reason of serving or having
served the University as an authorized member of or
representative to a University committee or board or
as an authorized University representative to an entity
outside the University. Any rights that accrue under
this policy shall inure to the benefit of the employee's
estate in the event of the employee's death.
ELIGIBILITY
This
policy applies to all University regular, contractual,
full-time, part-time faculty and non-faculty employees
who are not affiliated with a collective bargaining
unit.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Defense
and/or indemnification hereunder shall be available
only if all of the following conditions are met:
Such
employee's actions or omissions were within the scope
of his or her University duties and authority, which
shall generally include teaching, research and administrative
activities for which an employee is paid by the University.
Such
employee's actions or omissions were in good faith,
and in a manner reasonably believed to be lawful and
in the best interests of the University as determined
by the Office of General Counsel. The acts or omission
did not constitute willful misconduct, gross negligence
or recklessness.
The
protection in this policy shall not, among other things,
extend to consulting or other outside professional or
business activities beyond the scope of the employee's
University duties.
The
protection in this policy shall extend only to Actions
in which an employee is a defendant or proposed defendant,
and shall not extend to Actions that an employee may
affirmatively initiate or propose initiating against
any other persons or entities.
The
protection in this indemnification policy shall not
extend to defense and/or indemnification of an employee
in an internal University proceeding. Internal proceedings
are those that are conducted by the University under
University policies and procedures. As an exception
to this provision, an employee may request defense and/or
indemnification in an internal proceeding that arises
from allegations made by an outside individual, agency,
organization or interest group, if the outside party
is already represented by legal counsel in the proceeding.
The President may in his/her discretion, in consultation
with the General Counsel, grant or deny such request,
and if granted, may impose such conditions as the President
deems appropriate.
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