commit 08c26aa342a8c0313ca521bea9f07d3e3b8dcef6 Author: Mark Claypool <claypool@cs.wpi.edu> Date: Wed Apr 2 12:00:32 2025 -0400 Updates diff --git a/handbook.md b/handbook.md index 9ee4fcb..8d8528a 100644 --- a/handbook.md +++ b/handbook.md @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ title: "WPI Faculty Handbook" version: 3.0 --- ---------------------------------------------- +------------------------------------------------------- # Chapter One - Governance {#chapter-1} @@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ faculty members are the President, the Provost, and those individuals holding full-time appointments with the following exact titles and ranks: Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Professor of Teaching, Associate Professor of Teaching, and Assistant Professor -of Teaching. Full-time nontenure-track faculty members are those +of Teaching. Full-time nontenure-track faculty members are those individuals holding full-time appointments with the following exact titles and ranks: Teaching Professor, Associate Teaching Professor, Assistant Teaching Professor, Senior Instructor, Instructor, Professor @@ -1605,7 +1605,7 @@ Short-term nontenure-track teaching faculty members are full-time employees of the University who are hired with the expectation that their employment at WPI will be temporary and with academic responsibilities focused on filling a short-term institutional -teaching need (e.g. to cover a sabbatical or leave of absence, to +teaching need (e.g., to cover a sabbatical or leave of absence, to fill a temporary gap created by an unanticipated retirement or by a sudden unexpected increase in enrollment). @@ -1714,9 +1714,9 @@ interest. Tenured and tenure-track faculty members are the President, the Provost, and those individuals holding full-time appointments with the -following exact ranks and titles: Professor, Associate Professor, -Assistant Professor, Professor of Teaching, Associate Professor of -Teaching, and Assistant Professor of Teaching. +following exact ranks and titles: *Professor*, *Associate Professor*, +*Assistant Professor*, *Professor of Teaching*, *Associate Professor of +Teaching*, and *Assistant Professor of Teaching*. All appointments of these faculty members shall be either (a) probationary with respect to tenure, or (b) with tenure. @@ -1850,7 +1850,7 @@ expectations associated with their faculty position at WPI. The faculty member being reviewed will provide the DTC with documentation of their efforts in each category up to that date as well as future plans. The DTC may determine the format of this -document (e.g. Faculty Annual Report, tenure dossier format or other). +document (e.g., Faculty Annual Report, tenure dossier format or other). Following the DTC's review of the documentation provided, the DTC members will meet and discuss the teaching, scholarship, professional growth and currency, and service aspects of the candidate's efforts up @@ -2287,8 +2287,8 @@ members), the appropriate Dean, and the Provost. Terms of appointments of Assistant, Associate, or (full) Research Professors are negotiated on a case-by-case basis with one- or -two-year appointments the most common. The titles of Assistant, -Associate, and (full) Research Professor will be awarded only to those +two-year appointments the most common. The titles of *Assistant*, +*Associate*, and (full) *Research Professor* will be awarded only to those individuals with both a Ph.D. degree (and the recognized highest degree for the discipline) and with research credentials appropriate to the corresponding tenured or tenure-track rank. @@ -2728,7 +2728,7 @@ not exceed two years. ### a. Dual Appointment Faculty member carries current rank and title in both the designated -home and in the second departments (e.g. Professor of Computer Science +home and in the second departments (e.g., Professor of Computer Science and Professor of Robotics Engineering). Salary is split between the two departments with set percentages of @@ -2742,7 +2742,7 @@ Home department is listed first. ### b. Collaborative Appointment Faculty member carries current rank and title in both the designated -home department and in the second department (e.g. Professor of +home department and in the second department (e.g., Professor of Computer Science and Professor of Robotics Engineering). Salary is fully budgeted in home department. @@ -5342,7 +5342,8 @@ will be administered through the Center. ## 1. Procedure for Complaints of Academic Freedom Violations {#chapter-5-section-1} -(Approved by the Faculty, *March 13, 2024*) +(Approved by the Faculty, *March 13, 2024*) +(Approved by the Board of Trustees, *May 9, 2024*) ### a. Context @@ -6870,14 +6871,14 @@ business interests or for any purposes other than University business. Compensation for summer academic activities (including independent study courses, project work and thesis advising) and summer -educational youth programs (e.g. Frontiers, STRIVE, and GEMS) will be +educational youth programs (e.g., Frontiers, STRIVE, and GEMS) will be paid on a lump sum basis. Payment will be made on the last business day of the month in which the activity ends. These will be coordinated by the Summer Programs Office. Payroll Authorization forms should be submitted to the Provost's office by the respective Department Head for faculty assigned -administrative summer responsibilities (e.g. Acting Head, etc.). +administrative summer responsibilities (e.g., Acting Head, etc.). First- or second-year faculty members scheduled to receive summer support should contact the Provost's office before June 1 of the @@ -7145,7 +7146,9 @@ Should the individual not agree with the Conflict Management Committee's conditions or restrictions, he/she can appeal in writing to the Provost within ten (10) days after receipt of notification from the Vice Provost for Research, detailing why such conditions and -restrictions are inappropriate. The Provost will then consult with the +restrictions are inappropriate. + +The Provost will then consult with the Conflict Management Committee and make a decision, which will be final. @@ -7153,7 +7156,7 @@ final. Disclosures associated with the submissions of protocols for Institutional Review Board (IRB) review will be reviewed following the -same process as for sponsored research proposals. Protocols will not +same process as for sponsored research proposals. Protocols will not be approved until all conflicts are resolved or addressed by the Conflict Management Committee. @@ -7161,7 +7164,7 @@ by the Conflict Management Committee. The designated institutional official will report financial conflicts of interest or non-compliance to PHS in accordance with PHS -regulations. If the funding for the research is made available from a +regulations. If the funding for the research is made available from a prime PHS-awardee, such reports shall be made to the prime awardee prior to the expenditure of any funds and within 60 days of any subsequently identified financial conflict of interest such that the @@ -7171,10 +7174,10 @@ prime awardee may fulfill their reporting obligations to the PHS. Covered Individuals must be in full compliance with this policy in order to submit proposals or participate in sponsored research at -WPI. In the event of an individual’s failure to comply with this +WPI. In the event of an individual's failure to comply with this Policy, the Conflict Management Committee may suspend all activities relevant to that conflict of interest until the matter is resolved -through the appropriate disciplinary conduct policies.. For faculty +through the appropriate disciplinary conduct policies. For faculty members, the relevant conduct policies are described in the Faculty Handbook. The institution will promptly notify sponsors, if applicable, of any non-compliance and the remedial actions taken. @@ -7185,15 +7188,15 @@ In addition, if a Financial Conflict of Interest was not identified or managed in a timely manner, WPI will complete a retrospective review of the covered individual's activities and the research project to determine whether the research conducted during the period of -non-compliance was biased in its design, conduct or reporting. If bias +non-compliance was biased in its design, conduct or reporting. If bias is found, WPI will promptly notify the sponsor and submit a mitigation report in accordance with applicable regulations. ### Training Individuals will comply with training requirements mandated by -sponsors. OSP will notify individuals of such requirements when -applicable. Sponsors may require the completion of training prior to +sponsors. OSP will notify individuals of such requirements when +applicable. Sponsors may require the completion of training prior to the expenditure of grant funds. ### Record Retention @@ -7202,14 +7205,14 @@ WPI will retain all disclosure forms, conflict management plans, and related documents for a period of three years from the date the final expenditure report is submitted to the sponsor, unless any litigation, claim, financial management review, or audit is started before the -expiration of the three-year period. In that case, the records shall +expiration of the three-year period. In that case, the records shall be retained until all litigation, claims or audit findings involving the records have been resolved. ### Public Accessibility WPI will normally treat conflicts of interest as -confidential. However, with regard to any PHS-funded research, WPI +confidential. However, with regard to any PHS-funded research, WPI will make accessible to the public, within five business days of written request, information concerning any Significant Financial Interest disclosed to the institution that meets all of the following @@ -7232,35 +7235,36 @@ they will be required to comply with WPI's policy. ### Definitions -**"Conflict of Interest (or COI)"** means a situation in which an individual’s -financial interests and relationships/commitments outside of WPI could -improperly influence that individual’s professional judgment, exercise -of WPI responsibilities, or performance of WPI-related activities. +"Conflict of Interest (or COI)" means a situation in which an +individual's financial interests and relationships/commitments outside +of WPI could improperly influence that individual's professional +judgment, exercise of WPI responsibilities, or performance of +WPI-related activities. -**"Designated Institutional Official (or DIO)"** -means the WPI employee responsible for soliciting and reviewing -disclosures of financial interests pursuant to this policy. +"Designated Institutional Official (or DIO)" means the WPI employee +responsible for soliciting and reviewing disclosures of financial +interests pursuant to this policy. -**"Family"** means the covered individual’s spouse/partner, dependent -children, and any other dependents living in the covered individual’s +"Family" means the covered individual's spouse/partner, dependent +children, and any other dependents living in the covered individual's household. -**"Institutional Responsibilities"** may include, but are not limited -to teaching, research, departmental administration, committee -membership, and purchasing of goods and services. +"Institutional Responsibilities" may include, but are not limited to +teaching, research, departmental administration, committee membership, +and purchasing of goods and services. -**"Institutional Review Board (or IRB)"** means any boards established -or contracted to review protocols for human subjects research whether +"Institutional Review Board (or IRB)" means any boards established or +contracted to review protocols for human subjects research whether federally funded or not. -**"Public Health Service (or PHS)"** means the Public Health Service of +"Public Health Service (or PHS)" means the Public Health Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and any components of the PHS to which the authority of the PHS may be delegated (including the National Institutes of Health). -**"Sponsored Research"** means any research-related activity, -including training, which is funded by a grant, contract, -cooperative agreement, or fellowship awarded to WPI. +"Sponsored Research" means any research-related activity, including +training, which is funded by a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, +or fellowship awarded to WPI. ## II. Intellectual Property Policy @@ -7270,7 +7274,7 @@ cooperative agreement, or fellowship awarded to WPI. It is the policy of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to encourage creativity and entrepreneurism among its faculty, students, and -staff. WPI invests in this endeavor by making available its own +staff. WPI invests in this endeavor by making available its own facilities, equipment, personnel, and information resources. WPI also actively seeks specific support for creative activity from external sources, both public and private. @@ -7338,24 +7342,26 @@ electronic or paper documents, software, multimedia or audiovisual materials, and photographs. For purposes of this policy, intellectual property is divided into two categories: -2.1 "Patentable intellectual property" shall include, without ++ 2.1 "Patentable intellectual property" ([Section +2.1](chapter-9.html#chapter-9-section-II2.1)) shall include, without limitation, all inventions, discoveries, know-how (despite the fact that these may not benefit from patent protection) and discoveries or other material that is patentable under US law (whether or not produced in the US), as well as all software that is excluded from "copyrightable material" (whether or not patentable under US law). -2.2 "Copyrightable intellectual property" (Section 2.2) shall include, -without limitation, all creative works, electronic or paper documents, ++ 2.2 "Copyrightable intellectual property" ([Section +2.2](chapter-9.html#chapter-9-section-II2.2)) shall include, without +limitation, all creative works, electronic or paper documents, software, multimedia or audiovisual materials, and photographs, and any other materials that may be copyrightable under US law (whether or not produced in the US). -2.3 All research lab notebooks, data sets, data images, gene ++ 2.3 All research lab notebooks, data sets, data images, gene constructs, reagents, animal, human and plant cell lines, model organisms remain the exclusive property of WPI. -##### 2.1 Patentable Intellectual Property +##### 2.1 Patentable Intellectual Property {#chapter-9-section-II2.1} *Responsibility for Disclosure of Patentable Intellectual Property:* WPI personnel who alone, or in association with others, create @@ -7376,10 +7382,10 @@ WPI's sole and exclusive property. WPI will assert ownership rights to patentable intellectual property developed under any of the following circumstances: -2.1.1 Development was funded by an externally sponsored research ++ 2.1.1 Development was funded by an externally sponsored research program or by any agreement that allocates rights to WPI. -2.1.2 Development required use of WPI resources (for example but not ++ 2.1.2 Development required use of WPI resources (for example but not limited to facilities, equipment, funding, or personnel). WPI has rights to patentable material derived from research carried out with any use of WPI resources. However, patentable material developed @@ -7388,14 +7394,14 @@ the creator's position and with no use of WPI resources or facilities is vested with the creator and/or with the organization whose resources were used. -2.1.3 The creator was assigned, directed, or specifically funded by ++ 2.1.3 The creator was assigned, directed, or specifically funded by WPI to develop the material. -2.1.4 Material was developed by administrators or staff in the course ++ 2.1.4 Material was developed by administrators or staff in the course of their employment duties and constitutes "work for hire" under US law. -##### 2.2 Copyrightable Intellectual Property +##### 2.2 Copyrightable Intellectual Property {#chapter-9-section-II2.2} *Responsibility for Disclosure of Copyrightable Intellectual Property:* In contrast to historical business practice, the tradition of academic @@ -7420,25 +7426,25 @@ educational and research purposes. WPI will assert ownership rights to copyrightable intellectual property developed under any of the following circumstances. -2.2.1 Development was funded by an externally sponsored research ++ 2.2.1 Development was funded by an externally sponsored research program or by any agreement, which allocates rights to WPI. -2.2.2 WPI personnel was assigned, directed, or specifically funded by ++ 2.2.2 WPI personnel was assigned, directed, or specifically funded by WPI to develop the material, or WPI has negotiated an understanding or formal contract with the creator. -2.2.3 The material was developed with extraordinary or substantially ++ 2.2.3 The material was developed with extraordinary or substantially more use of WPI resources than would normally be provided for the creator's employment duties. This might occur as disproportionate use of staff time, networks, equipment, or direct funding. -2.2.4 Works created by non-faculty independent contractors on behalf ++ 2.2.4 Works created by non-faculty independent contractors on behalf of WPI, unless otherwise specified in a written agreement between such independent contractor and WPI. Such contractors do not share in the creator's portion of Net Royalty Income (as defined below under "Income Distribution"). -2.2.5 Laboratory Notebooks, data sets, biological materials. ++ 2.2.5 Laboratory Notebooks, data sets, biological materials. *Scholarly and Artistic Works Exception:* "Scholarly and Artistic Works" means copyrightable and copyrighted works that are in the @@ -7467,7 +7473,9 @@ works are (i) developed as part of a WPI project, program or activity that is the subject of an external WPI agreement; (ii) developed within the scope of employment by non-faculty WPI Employees; or (iii) developed as part of a WPI- Commissioned project. All Scholarly and -Artistic Works described in the preceding sentence under (i), (ii), or +Artistic + +Works described in the preceding sentence under (i), (ii), or (iii) are WPI-Owned. ##### 2.3 Intellectual Property Created by Students @@ -7506,20 +7514,20 @@ Generally, an invention, software, or other copyrightable material, will not be considered to have been developed using WPI funds or facilities if: -3.1 only a minimal amount of unrestricted funds has been used; and ++ 3.1 only a minimal amount of unrestricted funds has been used; and -3.2 the Intellectual Property has been developed outside of the ++ 3.2 the Intellectual Property has been developed outside of the assigned area of research of the inventor(s)/author(s) under a research assistantship or sponsored project; and -3.3 only a minimal amount of time has been spent using significant WPI ++ 3.3 only a minimal amount of time has been spent using significant WPI facilities or only insignificant facilities and equipment have been utilized (note: use of office, library, machine shop facilities, and of traditional desktop personal computers are examples of facilities and equipment that are not considered significant); and -3.4 the development has been made on the personal, unpaid time of the -inventor(s)/author. ++ 3.4 the development has been made on the personal, unpaid time of +the inventor(s)/author. #### 4. Intellectual Property Developed Under Sponsored Research Agreements @@ -7551,7 +7559,9 @@ longer pursue or maintain intellectual property protection, for example in cases without a revenue producing license. Where WPI determines that it will not pursue or maintain intellectual property protection and licensing of WPI-Owned Intellectual Property, it will -promptly and in writing advise the inventor(s) or author(s). To the +promptly and in writing advise the inventor(s) or author(s). + + To the extent permitted by external obligations, including any applicable laws and regulations, WPI may consider application by inventor(s) or author(s) for alternative funding of prosecution or maintenance of @@ -7597,13 +7607,13 @@ Distribution of Net Royalty Income: With respect to intellectual property owned by WPI hereunder, Net Royalty Income shall be distributed (usually annually) as follows: - ----- -------------------------------------------------- + ----- ------------------------------------------------------------ 50% Creator(s) (personal) 5% Creator(s) Department 5% Creator(s) Office of the Dean 5% Office of Intellectual Property and Innovation 35% WPI - ----- -------------------------------------------------- + ----- ------------------------------------------------------------ It is encouraged for the Department share give priority to the inventor's laboratory if at all possible. The funds should be @@ -7677,7 +7687,7 @@ and be submitted in writing to the President of WPI and to the Committee on Governance. When a request for an appeal is received, an Appeal Board shall promptly be appointed. -11.1 The Appeal Board is composed of five persons, three appointed by ++ 11.1 The Appeal Board is composed of five persons, three appointed by the Committee on Governance and two appointed by the WPI administration. The COG-appointed members shall be members of the faculty chosen from a current list of tenure-track faculty members who @@ -7691,7 +7701,7 @@ interest in the outcome of its decisions, including people who have participated in the decision that is under appeal, shall be appointed to the Appeal Board. -11.2 The Appeal Board shall promptly meet, elect a chair, and hear the ++ 11.2 The Appeal Board shall promptly meet, elect a chair, and hear the appeal. The Appeal Board shall receive written briefs from each party to the dispute, take oral presentations open to all parties and their counsels, and receive written emendations to the written briefs. The @@ -8167,7 +8177,7 @@ or a violation of this Policy occurred. f. Deadlines under this Policy may be extended upon a showing of reasonable cause. -### 6. Initial Review of Allegations +### 6. Initial Review of Allegations {#chapter-10-section-I6} a. Allegations of misconduct (a "Complaint") should be made in writing to the Dean of the School, department or program of the Respondent @@ -8175,9 +8185,9 @@ named in the Complaint. The fact that a Complaint has been received should be made known only to the Respondent and to other persons who need to know, based on the Dean's discretion. It should be expected that the Dean will notify the Provost and/or the President about -allegations of misconduct. "Because the Provost and President may be +allegations of misconduct. Because the Provost and President may be involved later in the process, they must each respect the integrity of -the process as it moves forward." +the process as it moves forward. b. Upon receiving a Complaint, the Dean shall promptly send a copy of the Complaint and a copy of this Policy to the Respondent, and shall @@ -8275,7 +8285,7 @@ of the Faculty shall collaborate in good faith, concerning the appointment of an unbiased, qualified Investigator. Following such good faith collaboration, the Provost and the Secretary of the Faculty shall agree upon and appoint an unbiased, qualified Investigator -(e.g. Title IX coordinator or qualified investigator from outside the +(e.g., Title IX coordinator or qualified investigator from outside the university) charged with responsibility for conducting a prompt, fair, and impartial investigation of the alleged conduct and presenting evidence to the Judicial Committee (described below). The Provost @@ -8326,7 +8336,8 @@ the Respondent ten (10) days to provide a written response to the additional potential violations. This deadline may be extended by the Dean as necessary under the circumstances. The Dean will treat any new unrelated allegation as a separate Complaint starting at Section 6 -of this Policy (Initial Review of Allegations). +of this Policy ([Initial Review of +Allegations](chapter-10.html#chapter-10-section-I6)). ### 8. Procedures Following the Investigative Phase @@ -8787,7 +8798,7 @@ WPI. There may be circumstances in which, prior to taking that action, it would be appropriate for the Complainant to discuss any concerns with the prospective Respondent. Consultation and guidance is always available from the Vice Provost for Research or from senior academic -officers (e.g. Deans, Department Heads, laboratory Directors), who +officers (e.g., Deans, Department Heads, laboratory Directors), who themselves are bound by a Duty to Report. All allegations of Research Misconduct, wherever initially received, @@ -9254,9 +9265,8 @@ Harassment Policy" in the Faculty Handbook. (Approved by the Faculty, *May 8, 2018*) (Approved by the Board of Trustees, *May 11, 2018*) -**Note!** -This policy is *not* active. WPI is under the [Interim Title IX & -Sexual Misconduct +**Note!** This policy is *not* active. WPI is under the [Interim +Title IX & Sexual Misconduct Policy](https://www.wpi.edu/offices/title-ix/title-ix-and-sexual-misconduct-policy) (updated *February 23, 2023*). @@ -9295,7 +9305,7 @@ abuse, engaging in certain inappropriate relationships, and retaliation against a person reporting sexual misconduct or participating in any investigation or proceeding related to this policy, all as defined below. This definition of sexual misconduct -includes sexual assault (e.g. rape, fondling, incest, or statutory +includes sexual assault (e.g., rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape) as defined by the Clery Act, a federal law on campus safety and security. Sexual misconduct can occur between individuals who know each other, individuals who do not know each other, individuals who @@ -10179,7 +10189,7 @@ In cases where the Title IX Coordinator has a conflict of interest, a Deputy Title IX Coordinator appointed by the President will serve in the Title IX Coordinator's role. In cases where the Appellate Officer has a conflict of interest, the President shall appoint another -Appellate Officer.. In cases where allegations of Sexual Misconduct +Appellate Officer. In cases where allegations of Sexual Misconduct have been brought against the Title IX Coordinator, the Vice President for Talent/Chief Diversity Officer, the Provost, or the President, then the process outlined in this policy will be adjusted accordingly