ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL ******************************************************************************

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1 ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: 4 A (5) DATE: June 8, 2016 ****************************************************************************** SUBJECT: BOR Policy 1:30 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Update The Board of Regents approved the system s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Policy (BOR Policy 1:30) at its meeting in April, Subsequently, on May 4 of this year, the Federal Aviation Administration released a memo titled, Educational Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (see Attachment I). The memo serves to interpret and clarify (1) the use of unmanned aircraft for hobby or recreational purposes at educational institutions and community-sponsored events; and (2) student use of unmanned aircraft in furtherance of receiving instruction at accredited educational institutions. The memo states, in-part, Many educational institutions are keenly interested in having students operate unmanned aircraft as model aircraft under section 336 of the FMRA in connection with their academic coursework at those schools The FAA has considered whether a student s course work of learning how to operate and use a UAS constitutes a hoppy or recreational activity within the meaning of section 336 s definition of model aircraft. The FAA believes students operating UAS as one component of a curricula pertaining to principles of flight, aerodynamics and airplane design and construction promotes UAS safe use and advances UAS-related knowledge, understanding and skills. UAS may also provide students a useful tool in other academic curricula such as television, film production or the arts generally Therefore, we find that the use of small unmanned aircraft by students at accredited educational institutions as a component of science, technology, aviation-related educational curricula or other coursework such as television, film production or the arts more closely reflects and embodies the purpose of hobby and recreational use of model aircraft and is consistent with the intent of section 336 of the FMRA. Accordingly, the FAA concludes that student use of UAS at accredited educational institutions as a component of their science, technology and aviation related educational curricula, or other coursework such as television and film production or the arts, is hobby or recreational use within the meaning of the FMRA. The memo also provides clear guidance with respect to when student use falls outside of the hobby and recreational use, as well as the role faculty may play in the process. Any use falling outside the hobby and recreational use carve out would require FAA authorization. (Continued) ****************************************************************************** RECOMMENDED ACTION Discussion & Recommendation.

2 BOR Policy 1:30 June 8, 2016 Page 2 of 2 Students may not receive any form of compensation directly or incidentally to their operation of the aircraft. Students may not operate a UAS for research on behalf of a faculty member if associated with the faculty member s professional duties and compensations. Faculty may not operate an unmanned aircraft as part of their professional duties for which they are paid. Faculty teaching a course or curricula that uses unmanned aircraft as a component of that course may provide limited assistance to students operating unmanned aircraft as a component of that course without changing the character of the student s operation as a hobby or recreational activity or requiring FAA authorization for the faculty member to operate. De minimis limited instructor participation in student operation of UAS as part of coursework does not rise to the level of faculty conducting an operation outside of the hobby or recreation construct. BOR Policy 1:30, as currently written, doesn t directly conflict with the recent guidance; however, modifying subsection 6, Private Use of Model Aircraft and UAS Usage within Institutional Airspace, or otherwise supplementing the policy may be appropriate to incorporate the recent guidance and to ensure student use or course offerings utilizing the expanded interpretation of hobby and recreational use are done in a prudent and appropriate manner. AAC representatives should be prepared to discuss the recent guidance put forth by the FAA, thoughts on utilizing the expanded interpretation of hobby and recreational use on campus, and the requisite changes necessitated thereby to BOR Policy 1:30.

3 ATTACHMENT I 3

4 ATTACHMENT I 4

5 ATTACHMENT I 5

6 ATTACHMENT I 6

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8 ATTACHMENT I 8