Employment of Students in Faculty-Owned Businesses

Students may be employed by companies in which faculty members hold an ownership interest. Prior to such employment, the student, faculty member, the chair of the student's department, the chair of the graduate studies committee and a company representative must sign a disclosure agreement.

Otherwise, students may perform research benefiting a faculty owned company only pursuant to a sponsored research agreement or formal internship agreement through the University. A student may not be employed by a company in which a faculty member (or faculty member's spouse or household member) has an ownership interest in that company if (a) the student is enrolled in a course taught by the faculty member, (b) the faculty member is a member of the student's thesis or dissertation committee, or (c) the faculty member is the student's advisor or the director of his or her thesis or dissertation research.

Student Disclosure Agreement

The Student Disclosure Form (MS Word) is to be filled out whenever a student is employed in faculty-owned businesses according to the policy above.