On the matter of confidentiality requirements expected of VCU employees, the following state legislation is applicable.

Code of Virginia, Title 2.1 - ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT GENERALLY.
State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act... 
§ 2.1-639.4. Prohibited conduct. 

No officer or employee of a state or local governmental or advisory agency shall: 
...
4. Use for his own economic benefit or that of another party confidential information which he has acquired by reason of his
public position and which is not available to the public; 


Because this is a legislated condition of employment, VCU does not collect explicit confidentiality agreements from employees.  To do so is unnecessary.  It might even give the impression that VCU is expecting with such a signature that the individual is held to some greater standard than the law requires, i.e., unequal application of the law.  The Act provides that violation of this prohibition is subject to criminal penalties.

Because of this it has been VCU practice, at least so far as sponsored programs are concerned, to refuse sponsors' requests for a separate, explicit agreement of confidentiality of or on behalf of any employee. 

Please note that this DOES NOT APPLY TO STUDENTS, in the role of student.  That is why our model  research agreement states 
"VCU will not bind its registered students to this confidentiality agreement.  However, VCU agrees that no confidential material will be made available to students without the prior written approval of SPONSOR."
:
An individual may be a student and also a paid employee, and in the role of

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 employee the Act does apply.