FACULTY EMPLOYMENT

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

FACULTY AS ADVISORS TO STUDENTS

What rights do my students have to uses of their own intellectual property? Do I need their permission to use their works in the classroom?

 Students should grant written permission if you wish to use their works in a manner that exceeds the normal give and take of the students' participation in the classroom. (Be mindful also of privacy requirements applicable under FERPA when reviewing student grades or academic performance in a way which reveals personally identifiable information. To avoid liability for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement in televised and online courses, it is advisable to obtain a release form which grants the University permission to use each student's contribution to classes that are videotaped, broadcast, or made available online and authorizes use of personal identification information (picture, name, voice, personal e-mail address, phone number, etc.) in course-related communications. See the University of North Texas sample student release form: http://www.unt.edu/cdl/services/release_form.htm

What resources are available for my students to help them avoid charges of plagiarism?

 Library instruction for managing information and citing properly in both the print and electronic learning environment is available for face-to-face and distance education courses. Egan Library provides links to online citation guides and sources with tips on plagiarism. Always include source data in your classroom visuals to help students recognize the need for attribution when they photocopy illustrations, charts, data, etc. for inclusion in reports, presentations, and assignments; do not accept assignments without proper attribution.

Where may students obtain materials to use in assignments that are free of copyright restrictions?

 There is an immense amount of material in the public domain which may be used without seeking permission. Refer to Kenyon Potter's book An Educator's Guide to Finding Resources in the Public Domain (LB1044.9F73P67 1999). Almost all U.S. government documents are in the public domain, including images. Also, Creative Commons is a new resource-sharing project supported by the Center for the Public Domain.

Who can I contact if I want advice about Fair Use or how and when to obtain permission?

Contact the University's Intellectual Property Manager at (907) 474-7765 or the General Counsel's Office at Statewide at (907) 474-7259.