The copyright policy defines ownership of creative ideas of faculty, such as textbooks and journal articles. Work on the patent policy has been on hold pending the outcome of state questions 680 and 681. These questions, which have now been approved, have to do with the conversion of public money to private purpose. The issue of ownership of patentable items will be addressed by the Senate in the spring. At the next meeting, the Senate will receive a proposal concerning the title of research professor for individuals on research contracts but not in a tenure-track position.
Issues being addressed include faculty governance.
In his State of the University address, President Boren noted that the Senate Executive Committee meets with him regularly. Those discussions are really helpful. He said the four years he has been here have been extremely satisfying. The Board of Regents has embraced the idea of long-range planning. We started in the eleventh position.