Appendix – Significant University Resources Examples

Related Policy – Intellectual Property and Copyright

About This appendix

Responsible Officer
Vice President of Human Resources/Operations

Policy Owner
Executive Director of Innovation & Technology

Policy Contact
Executive Director of Innovation & Technology

Issued
2026-01-12

University Appendix

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Significant university resources exceed standard support typically provided to individuals in their university role. The distinction between significant and standard resources determines whether resource usage triggers university ownership of resulting intellectual property. 

Examples of Significant Resources (University Ownership Triggered):

• Access to specialized laboratory equipment or core facilities not generally available to the community, such as electron microscopes, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, DNA sequencers, or specialized manufacturing equipment requiring dedicated facilities and trained operators
• Support from technical or administrative staff dedicated specifically to a project for extended duration beyond routine support, such as full-time technicians, programmers, or research coordinators assigned to specific projects
• Internal grant funding or departmental stipends awarded specifically for creating intellectual property, developing commercializable products, or pursuing patent applications rather than general research support
• University-funded research assistants, graduate assistants, or student workers assigned to specific projects for substantial periods providing significant intellectual contribution rather than routine task support
• Specialized software licenses purchased specifically for projects that exceed standard institutional licenses, particularly when licenses cost thousands of dollars annually and support limited users
• Substantial release time or sabbatical leave granted specifically for developing commercializable products, creating institutional curricula, or pursuing intellectual property development rather than general scholarly activity
• Access to unique university datasets, biological materials, chemical compounds, or research materials not publicly available that provide competitive advantages or enable specific research directions
• Significant financial support for prototype development, product testing, market research, patent prosecution costs, or other commercialization activities 

Examples of Standard Resources (University Ownership Not Triggered):

• Standard office space and library access provided to all employees regardless of specific activities
• Standard office computers and standard productivity software including Office 365, Zoom, email systems, and other enterprise licenses available to all employees
• Standard internet connectivity, network access, and basic IT support provided to all employees
• Incidental use of university facilities for independent scholarly pursuits during non-working hours or outside assigned duties
• Standard faculty development funds or routine professional development stipends available to all faculty members for conference attendance, professional memberships, or general scholarly support
• Use of university-approved AI tools for routine administrative or instructional tasks within normal job duties
• Access to standard educational resources such as textbooks, online databases, and reference materials available to all faculty
• Routine departmental administrative support such as copying, mailing, scheduling, or general secretarial assistance
• Standard teaching equipment such as projectors, whiteboards, computers in classrooms, or learning management systems

Context Matters:

Resource significance depends on the individual’s position and normal support level. Equipment that constitutes significant support for one individual may represent standard support for another. For example, specialized scientific equipment represents standard resources for faculty hired specifically to conduct research requiring that equipment, but represents significant resources for faculty whose positions do not normally include such research.