XI. Student Research and Scholarship
The University of Findlay students are subject to this Policy when they participate in faculty research programs, if they are working for pay or for academic credit. A student working for pay for the University or for a third party under a Sponsored Research Agreement will be covered by the provisions of this Policy. Intellectual Property created by a student during such employment or course of study shall be owned by the University or by the entity so designated in the SRA. Thus, in circumstances where a student originates Intellectual Property independently, using resources generally available to students, and without faculty supervision, such Intellectual Property is owned by the student.
A. Student Research
- Where the undergraduate and graduate student research is done under faculty supervision, all Inventions and copyrighted works are owned by the University under the terms described in sections III. and IV. above.
- Faculty who supervise undergraduate or graduate student research have custody and control over all Tangible Research Property (TRP) (See section V., Tangible Research Property), subject to the terms of any grant or SRA. Student researchers have the right to access and use TRP, and it is appropriate for them to have copies in as far as is practicable.
- The faculty research advisor decides all matters concerning the publication of research results. Such decisions include the timing and choice of manuscript submissions and all issues pertaining to co-authorship and inventorship.
- Student Authors own the Copyrights to their essays, theses or dissertations, subject to the rights of any co- authors. Student Copyrights may be limited, however, when student manuscripts are based upon research conducted under an SRA or grant. In those cases, the students’ rights will be subject to the rights of the sponsor, which may include prior review of publications, delay of publication for patent filing, excise of proprietary information or Trade Secrets or other restrictions. Faculty members have the obligation to insure that students involved in sponsored research are aware of and understand the terms of any SRA.
- Acceptance of a dissertation or thesis outline by a faculty advisor constitutes an assurance that the Intellectual Property created or otherwise acquired for the outlined research program will remain reasonably available to the student for the duration of the proposed research. This assurance is granted only for the purpose of completing the proposed research and degree requirements. Thus, Intellectual Property agreements between the University and third parties under a grant or SRA should include such licenses as may be required to protect the interests of students and effectuate the intent of this provision.
- Students are expected to maintain the confidentiality of proprietary information and Trade Secrets belonging to research sponsors and faculty. The University may require students to sign and agree to be bound by confidentiality agreements, reasonable in their scope, when such an agreement is required by a research sponsor or otherwise required by the supervising vice president or senior officer designated by the President. Such confidentiality extends not only to the research and TRP, but also to information received from Sponsors and faculty members.
- A student working under an SRA violates this Policy and becomes subject to appropriate academic discipline, including termination from his or her academic program, for the unauthorized oral, written or electronic release of TRP to a third person not a party to the SRA. Such unauthorized release includes uploading such materials to any computer to which persons not a party to the SRA have access.