Participation Guidelines
for Joint University/Industry Undergraduate Educational Program
Capstone Design, EGR 486
College of Engineering and Technology, Northern Arizona University
In order to make the education of undergraduate engineers most relevant to industry, the College of Engineering and Technology has developed a sequence of courses which stress engineering design and efficiency of operation in a team environment. EGR 286 and EGR 386 are sophomore- and junior-level courses which provide a systematic methodology of engineering design by teams. The technical problems solved in these courses are based upon industry examples that have been modified by the faculty to illustrate fundamentals of engineering design.
EGR 486 is a senior-level course which is intended to be the capstone of the design sequence. In order to make the training in EGR 486 most relevant to the problems and environment of industry, NAU faculty collaborate with industrial partners who define real engineering problems and may provide financial support for the projects and/or act as advisors to the student teams. The student teams are required to submit to their industrial sponsors a written final report of their results. In order to foster oral communication skills, the student teams are also required to present their results at a general meeting where all participating sponsors are invited to attend.
Upon completion, students will have enhanced their awareness of and developed skills in:
Issues have been raised by some past sponsors concerning the rights and responsibilities of the collaborating parties. This document summarizes the University’s position concerning these and other related matters. It is the intention that this document establishes the baseline for any agreements, with the University or with the individual Faculty and students, which may be required by a Sponsoring Company.
This educational program is intended to benefit the corporate sponsor as well as the student. Corporate Sponsors have the opportunity to work with and observe students as potential employees. It is hoped that Corporate Sponsors also gain proof-of-concept solutions to real problems at a minimal cost to the sponsor.
The purpose of this joint educational program is, first and foremost, to provide a meaningful academic exercise to undergraduate students as required by the College of Engineering and Technology for graduation. The students are registered for course credit and therefore are considered as interns/externs of the University which provides substantial resources to support this educational requirement. As such, the University must comply with state regulations and Arizona Board of Regents policies. The corporate sponsor of a project may also provide substantial resources to support this academic program, but the sponsor does not, and may not, pay the students for their time and efforts under this program. Therefore the students should not be considered as agents or employees of the company. Obviously, there is no commitment on anyone’s part concerning future employment. In this context, the student has only an informal working relationship with the sponsor of a design project. The student is intended to be the primary beneficiary of this collaborative program. As such, no contractual relation between the University and the corporate sponsor is required unless the corporate sponsor specifically requests that one be developed. Any such agreement with the University shall be negotiated by the College of Engineering and Technology in consultation and collaboration with the Office of the Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies who shall sign the agreement on behalf of Northern Arizona University. If a sponsor requests such an agreement, it shall be completed prior to the initiation of any activities as part of EGR 486. Copies of the agreement with the University will be provided to the applicable student teams. Sections 4 through 7 discuss four issues which might be covered by such an agreement.
The State's self-insurance program is administered by the AZ Department of Administration, Risk Management Section, in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes §41-621 and 622. While acting as an intern/extern, students are covered for professional and third party liability caused by the student. The University considers the completed design to be a “proof of concept” rather than an operational design. As such, the State does not warranty nor guarantee the suitability of any student design.
5.1 PATENTS
Should an invention requiring protection under U.S. patent laws be made arising out of the Program, the University shall negotiate the disposition of such invention in good faith with the Company based upon the following principles. 1. The Company shall retain sole rights to any invention made entirely by Company employees. 2. The University shall retain sole rights pursuant to its Patent Policy to any invention made entirely by the Students and/or Faculty, and as assignee, will offer Company the first opportunity to enter into a license agreement to practice such invention. The terms of the license shall be established by negotiation, but in any case shall be royalty bearing and shall be for the life of the patent, and shall be on terms no less favorable to Company than terms offered then or thereafter to other licensees. 3. Company and University shall retain joint rights for any invention made jointly by the Company, Students and/or Faculty. The University, at its option, may assign responsibility to the Company to practice such invention. Any income generated to the University from such inventions shall be distributed according to the University’s Patent Policy.
5.2 COPYRIGHTS
Should work(s) requiring protection under U.S. copyright laws, including but not limited to computer software, be made arising out of the Program, the University shall negotiate the disposition of such copyright(s) in good faith with the Company based upon the following principles. 1. The Company shall retain sole rights to any copyright(s) based upon any computer software or other copyrightable work done entirely by Company employees. 2. The University shall retain sole rights to any copyright(s) based upon any computer software or other copyrightable work done entirely by the Students and/or Faculty, and as assignee, will offer Company the first opportunity to enter into a license agreement to practice the work covered by the copyright(s). The terms of the license shall be established by negotiation, but in any case shall be royalty bearing and shall be for the life of the patent, and shall be on terms no less favorable to the Company than terms offered then or thereafter to other licensees. 3. The Company and University shall retain joint rights for any copyright(s) based upon any computer software or other copyrightable work done jointly by the Company, Students and/or Faculty. The University, at its option, may assign responsibility to the Company to practice the work covered by the copyright(s). Any income generated to the University from such copyrights shall be distributed according to the University’s Policies on Copyrights.
5.3 NON-PATENTABLE OR NON-COYPRIGHTED PROPERTY
In consideration of the Company’s sponsorship, the Company shall have a royalty-free right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the Students’ work for Company purposes.
The results of work completed by the Students must be reportable at the end of the Program at a general meeting of all sponsors. However, the Company shall be furnished copies of the final report, as well as an outline of the proposed oral presentation, at least two [2] weeks in advance of the planned presentation. This is to provide the Company time to comment and/or object in writing because of factual inaccuracy or to protect intellectual property or proprietary information. In the event that the Company objects to the report and proposed presentation, the parties shall negotiate an acceptable version. Once approved by the Company, the final report will be in the public domain and available for distribution and/or publication.
Corporate sponsors may wish to sponsor continued development by the Students or others in collaboration with the University. Such development using University facilities and resources, can be arranged. Such efforts will be treated as an externally-funded project under standard University procedures and be implemented under a contract with the Company which shall include payment for all costs, including the time of the Students.
It is understood that the sponsor must act to protect its proprietary interests. It is reasonable to expect that company proprietary information may be disclosed to the students as part of this program. Since the students are not employees of the University, there is no effective way for the University to insure non-disclosure. Therefore, corporate sponsors may wish to require that students sign individual non-disclosure agreements separate from any agreement with the University. These agreements should be as simple and specific as possible to insure clarity and ease of compliance. The following is suggested:
The student agrees to maintain in confidence for a period of three (3) years from the date of termination of this program all information received from the Company which is, at the time of disclosure in writing and clearly designated as "confidential", transferred to the Student. Such obligation of confidentiality shall not apply to any information which, at the time of disclosure to the Student, was already in the possession of the Student, was generally available to the public or thereafter becomes generally available to the public through a source other than the Student, was rightfully obtained from a third party, or was developed by or for the Student independent of any disclosure under an Agreement. In addition to the above exclusions, the Student shall have the right to disclose Company's confidential information, if the Student is required to do so by final judicial order.