GRADUATE CATALOG • 2010-2011

It is the policy of Cedar Crest College to create an environment that encourages the generation of new knowledge by faculty, staff, and students, and facilitates the transfer of useful inventions and writings to society. To motivate the development and dissemination of intellectual property, the College seeks to ensure that the creators receive proper credit and financial rewards for their work.

For purposes of this policy the term intellectual property includes any patentable invention, any copyrightable subject matter, or valuable technology. It also includes works of art, inventions or creations that might normally be developed on a propriety basis because copyright or patent protection is not available. This policy applies to any full-time or part-time student, regardless of whether the student receives financial aid from the College or from outside sources.

A student retains all rights to intellectual property created solely by herself. This includes rights to articles, and other writings of which the intended purpose is to disseminate the results of student research or scholarly work. A student also retains all rights to popular nonfiction, novels, poems, musical works, dramatic works including any accompanying music, pantomimes and choreographic works, pictorial, graphic and sculptural works, motion pictures and other similar audio-visual works, and sound recordings. The use of College owned computers and other facilities in the preparation of such works does not alter this provision, though other College policies may limit such use or require reimbursement to the College.

In cases where the College provides funding or facilities for a particular student research project that are in excess of those normally available to students working in that area, the College may choose to act as a sponsor for that research and therefore own the rights of such property. Where student research is subject to an agreement between an external sponsor and the College that restricts the disposition of rights to intellectual property, the rights will be handled in accordance with that agreement. If a student is employed by the College specifically for the purpose of working as a research assistant, the College retains the rights of such property.

Issues not covered by any of the above provisions are subject to the policies which apply to the intellectual property rights of faculty and staff at the College.