OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH

RESEARCH POLICIES COMMITTEE

FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2003

4006 Fleming Building

10:00 - 12:00 noon

Members: Katarina Borer (chair), Thomas Brock, Lee Harle, Rex Holland, Pinaki Mazumder, Marvin Parnes, Scott Stoltenberg, Fawwaz Ulaby, J. Hunter Waite, Victor Wong, and Jane Ritter (staff).

Guest: Helena Chan (Ph.D. student interested in volunteering for RPC next year.)

The agenda was:

1. Approval of minutes

2. Review of “Information on “Experience under the Regental Research Policy During FY 2002”

3. Intellectual property and data ownership presentation by Marvin Parnes.

4. Discussion of plans for future RPC meetings.

The following items were distributed to the Committee:

1. Agenda for May 9, 2003

2. Minutes from April 11, 2003

3. Information on Experience under the Regental Research Policy During FY 2002

4. Stanford University Policies:

· Retention of and Access to Research Data – October 30, 1997

· Tangible Research Property – September 1, 1983

The meeting interactions were as follows:

1. The minutes of April 11, 2003 were reviewed and approved as presented.

2. VP Ulaby discussed the report (item 2 and handout 3). VP Ulaby also thanked the members of RPC for their service this year, particularly their work on the Research Scientist change in title. Acknowledged the contributions of Katarina Borer, who served as chair, in setting an agenda at the beginning of the year and following through on this agenda. Suggests that the new chair continue this method.

3. Marvin Parnes presented on Data Ownership and Intellectual Property policies (item 3, handout 4). UM does not have Data Ownership policy. Copyright policy was distributed to RPC at April meeting. RPC discussion focus in April was on data ownership and related issues.

· Copyright, patents, data, tangible research property. Document clarifying what data ownership means is in progress. Will not change what UM does. MP to write up charge to committee.

· Data ownership (handout 4) and elements of policies were discussed.

· Tangible research property (handout 4) and elements of data policy were discussed.

UM can claim ownership under “work for hire” situations. Data ownership and intellectual property policies are an evolving process. Committee charged with writing a new policy should work towards acceptable and ethical policies which protect faculty and students.

One area of conflict arises when a graduate student is working under a faculty PI and may create something new. Ownership is not clear. AVP Nowack has worked with Rackham in the past on joint efforts to educate graduate students. There is a difference between graduate students and post-docs, who are hired.

Issue of data ownership – work with Rackham in areas of graduate students – framework for taking with faculty; guidelines.

4. POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT YEAR: Include Rackham; post doc vs. graduate students; barriers to human research – barriers, etc.

Question of whether or not to have June meeting was raised but the members agreed it was not necessary.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am.