Confidentiality of Business Information

Policy Statement

Applies to: All employees 

Dartmouth employees, during the course of their employment, may have access to documents, data, or other information that is confidential and/or privileged from disclosure whether or not it is labeled or identified as "confidential" or "privileged." Examples include, but are not limited to, Dartmouth's financial information; research results; medical information regarding students, employees, or research subjects; and student educational records. Unless they have their department head's prior approval, employees may never, either during their Dartmouth employment or thereafter, disclose such information to persons outside Dartmouth or to persons inside Dartmouth who do not have a business need for such information. This does not include disclosures made in confidence to federal, state, or local government officials or Dartmouth officials for the sole purpose of reporting a suspected violation of law or as otherwise required by law   Employees are also expected to protect the integrity of business information as it might be transmitted verbally, through written or electronic means, both inside and outside the office. 

All documents received by Dartmouth employees for business use shall remain the property of Dartmouth.  Employees must return such documents to Dartmouth upon their separation from employment.