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University of Waterloo -- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

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Monday, October 21, 1996

Policy on ownership of ideas

As UW's senate meets this evening (Needles Hall room 3001, 7:30 p.m.), the big item on the agenda is the proposed policy on intellectual property, Policy 73.

Senate got its first look at the policy last month, and then it's been under discussion around campus. Briefly, the policy confirms one of the customs that make Waterloo different from universities: inventions and writings created here belong primarily to the individual who created them, not to the university. It does put a few limits on individual ownership of intellectual property, and says that the university must get a cut of the profits if something developed at Waterloo is a commercial success.

The proposed Policy deals in detail with copyright, patents, data, and other forms of intellectual property created at Waterloo: who owns them, how they're controlled, who gets the profits from them if there are any. It introduces a new requirement for "disclosure", through the office of research, before an idea reaches the commercial stage.

And it notes that "all contributors to scholarly works" have a right to recognition for their contribution -- ranging from acknowledgement in print to a share of commercial profits. It also sets some rules about dividing the income, or the authorship credit, when something is the result of "collaborative" research. A mechanism is provided for settling disputes over credit and ownership.

Also on the agenda for the senate tonight is a proposal for a Master of Taxation program in UW's school of accountancy.

Approaching UW's 40th birthday

Plans for the university's 40th anniversary (the official founding date was July 1, 1957) are moving ahead. A memo from the president went out last week reminding departments that a 40th anniversary committee is at work. Its chair is university librarian Murray Shepherd.

The president, James Downey, said an anniversary celebration will have three purposes:

"to celebrate our successes and achievements. Few universities anywhere have more to celebrate."
"to gain perspective. After the difficult budgetary and personnel adjustments of the past couple of years, the effects of which are still very much with us, we may need to take the longer view, behind and before, to assist both our perspective and our planning."
"to honour some people who have played noteworthy roles in our success."

Downey says the plan is to have "the core anniversary events" between May and October next year. He also said someone will be in touch with all departments in the next few weeks to find out what's planned next year that might be listed as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations.

Nominating committee for provost

The long procedure is under way to decide who will be UW's vice-president (academic) and provost after June 30, 1998, when Jim Kalbfleisch ends his present term. Under Policy 48, a nominating committee is formed with the first responsibility of finding out whether "the incumbent is generally acceptable" to the university community and, if so, whether he wants another term. If necessary, it then moves on to a complete nomination process.

The first step was election of six faculty members to the nominating committee, and the university secretariat has announced the results of that voting. Serving on the committee will be Jim Frank (kinesiology), Jim Brox (economics, and past president of the faculty association), Gordon Andrews (mechanical engineering, and also a former FAUW president), Geoff McBoyle (geography, and dean-elect in environmental studies), Frank Zorzitto (pure mathematics), and John Hepburn (chemistry).

Now, notice has gone out for another election:

Nominations are requested for the election of two faculty members at large to the VPAP Nominating Committee. Policy 48, Vice-President, Academic & Provost, states that a reasonable gender balance should be maintained on nominating committees, whenever feasible. At least five (5) nominators are required in each case. Nomination forms are available from the University Secretariat at extension 6125 or by e-mail: mlklopp@provost-admin. Nominations should be sent to the Chief Returning Officer, Secretariat, Needles Hall, Room 3060, no later than 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 6, 1996. An election will follow, if necessary.

Meanwhile, a staff representative to the same committee is also being chosen. Here's a memo from the staff association:

CUPE local 793 and the Staff Association are seeking applications for a staff representative on the Vice-President, Academic & Provost Nominating Committee. For information about the committee's mandate, refer to Policy 48. Committee members must agree to maintain in confidence the information discussed by the committee.
If you are interested in serving on this committee, please forward the following information (if applicable): your name, department, extension, email address, years of service at UW, any relevant experience, and indicate why you wish to represent staff on this particular committee. Send this information by Monday, November 4, 1996 to Sharon Lamont, Davis Centre Library (or sljlamon@library) or to the office of CUPE local 793, room 118, GSC.

Now, the rest of the news

The football Warriors demolished Toronto's Varsity Blues on Saturday afternoon; Arek Bigos kicked three field goals for Waterloo. The only other sports score I have this morning is 1-1.

Oh, right: the 1-1 score was in women's soccer yesterday -- a Waterloo-Western tie.

Journalist and historian Gwynne Dyer will speak tonight at Wilfrid Laurier University (8 p.m., Maureen Forrester Recital Hall). His topic: "The New Canada and the Globalization Shuffle, or First the Good News, Then the Bad". Admission is free.

National Chemistry Week is beginning ("intended to help raise people's awareness of the importance of the chemical professions in everyday life"), and a number of special things are happening. Among them: food services will be serving some drinks this week in cups that have the periodic table of the elements printed on them. The department of chemistry and its newsletter, Chem 13 News, helped arrange that unusual promotion.

CAR

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca -- (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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