Faculty Manual - COST Home Page - Texas Southern University

Faculty, students, and staff who create a patentable invention must report the invention to the
Standing Committee on Intellectual Property, which is appointed by the President.
Upon receipt of the information, the University may undertake one of the following actions: seek
to acquire the patent, transfer the rights to the research sponsor, or waive ownership rights in
favor of the inventor. However, the creator has the right to be paid Creator’s Residual Economic
Interest if the University licenses the product and receives income from the product. Under the
policy, the schedule of payments to the creator range from 50 % of the first $100,000 to 25 % of
the payments over $300,000.
Inventions created with nominal use of the University’s materials, supplies, facilities, or services
of staff or students belong to the inventor. Where the use of these items is “more than nominal,”
the invention belongs to the University.
(c) Computer Software and Firmware
The University claims ownership to “all software and firmware that is conceived or developed by
any person engaged in research at the University.”
Annual Review
Texas Southern University will conduct annual written reviews of all faculty members based
upon “stated criteria. …established by departmental faculty and approved by department chairs
and deans, and disseminated to faculty by October 1 of each academic year.” “Annual reviews
are to be initiated no later than February 15 of each spring term and be completed no later than
April 1 of each spring term…”
The criteria established will range from a level deemed most meritorious to one deemed
unsatisfactory by departmental standards.” “An annual review finding unsatisfactory
performance shall state the basis for finding unsatisfactory performance in accordance with the
criteria.” “A report to the dean of unsatisfactory performance as assessed by annual review will
be accompanied by a written plan for near-term improvement.”
Post Tenure Review
Post tenure review is triggered when a faculty member receives unsatisfactory ratings in two
consecutive annual reviews. Exemptions are available for mitigating circumstances. A three
member ad-hoc committee appointed by the dean in consultation with the faculty member to be
reviewed and the department chair would conduct the review. The faculty member will prepare
a dossier, which will be added to by the department chair, which forms the record for Committee
review.
The review will have one of three possible outcomes: No deficiencies identified, or some
deficiencies identified, but not substantial, or substantial deficiencies identified. Where
substantial deficiencies are found, a professional development plan will be devised by the review
committee, faculty member, and department chair and submitted to the dean. Within two years
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