Section XI: Publications / Research Projects

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Table of Contents

11.01 College Publications

Revision 1: 7/11/23

  1. Each employee is responsible for knowing the contents of the Employee Handbook and The Source policies and procedures manual.
  2. All College publications and promotional materials including, but not limited, to brochures, flyers, posters, newsletters, letterhead, advertisements, t-shirts, web pages, signage, social media, CNM events, and audiovisual materials published in the name of Central New Mexico Community College and intended for public distribution must be pre-approved by the Marketing & Communications Office (MCO). 
  3. All publications created on behalf of CNM shall include the official CNM logo and meet brand standards.
  4. Published materials must conform to the College's Brand Standards, which addresses issues related to use of name, logos and other identifiers, colors and fonts, and webpages.
  5. Requests to MCO should include item needed, plans for distribution, and funding source. It is important to allow adequate lead time for all publication requests. While lead time varies with different projects, two weeks is generally acceptable.

11.02 Surveys, Questionnaires and Research Projects

Please note: The researcher is responsible for all expenses involved in the research project.

Revision Date: 3/14/23

  1. Surveys and questionnaires shall be reviewed and approved by the Office of Data Strategy (ODS); this process is initiated by completing an ODS Survey Inventory Form. Research projects involving staff and students shall be approved in advance by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) according to procedures defined by the CNM administration. Research applications for the IRB can be found on the College’s website. Studies considered exempt from the Institutional Review Board require approval by the Office of Data Strategy.
  2. Participant identification may be required only if essential to the results and the participants have not opted out. Confidentiality shall be maintained in accordance with College policy or as otherwise required by law.
  3. Students and staff may be required to participate to meet a requirement of law. Participation in all other studies is voluntary and a statement to that effect shall appear on the instrument.
  4. For non-official CNM surveys and questionnaires, class time may be used only with prior approval from the Instructor.
  5. Studies and surveys conducted as part of CNM class projects that uses data in which CNM is the data steward, and are exempt from the Institutional Review Board process, shall be approved by the Office of Data Strategy.
  6. If the survey is to be administered across schools, campus-wide or externally, ODS and the Marketing & Communications Office review and approval is required.

11.03 Copyright

Revised: 07/09/24

  1. Employee-Owned Works: Any book, manual, musical or dramatic composition, architectural design, painting, sculpture or other comparable work developed by an employee is considered the property of the employee (author) unless:
    1. The material is prepared under a grant or contract with specified ownership provisions; or
    2. The material is prepared as a specific part of the employee’s College assignment. An employee’s general desire to produce occupational or scholarly works is not such a specific College assignment.
  2. College Copyright Ownership: The College will claim copyright ownership, on behalf of the Governing Board in cases where:
    1. A College employee creates a copyrightable work in the course of discharging a College assignment; or
    2. The College specially orders or commissions a “work for hire”; or
    3. College ownership is specified by terms of a gift, grant or contract with an outside party or sponsored program, or other agreement.
  3. Use of College Resources: If an employee, in developing a copyrightable work intended for commercial dissemination, extensively uses College resources, such as computer time, staff personnel, supplies, equipment or facilities, (excluding library facilities or office space), their supervisor or department dean may require reimbursement for such use. Before undertaking a commercial venture, the employee should consult their supervisor or department dean in advance to determine the appropriateness and extent of reimbursement. Reimbursement may be made through assignment of a portion of royalties, lump sum payment, or any mutually agreeable arrangement.
  4. Dispute Resolution: Any dispute as to the issue or extensive use of copyrighted material, or the amount/method of reimbursement for use of College resources in preparing copyrighted material, may be appealed to the Vice President for Education and Learning or designee.
  5. Responsibility for Copyright Policy: The Vice President for Education and Learning is responsible for interpreting and implementing the College’s copyright policy. Decisions of the Vice President of Education and Learning or designee may be appealed to the President.

11.04 Patents

Revised: 07/09/24

The College supports employees’ efforts in creating intellectual property which may be eligible for patent protection, recognizing the potential value to both the College and the employee. Given the collaboration of employee and College resources in such endeavors, a mutually beneficial policy is appropriate.

  1. Ownership of Inventions
    1. The College shall not claim rights to inventions resulting from efforts that are in no way supported by the College, or those where the College’s contribution was negligible.
    2. The College shall have the right, title and interest to an invention, including the sole right to file patent applications under the following circumstances:
      • The invention was conceived, or first reduced to practice, under an agreement with the College, or under an agreement of the College or a third party; and
      • The invention directly relates to the employee’s College duties; and
      • The invention was made with more than a negligible contribution of College Resources.
  2. Ownership Determination
    1. The inventor must promptly submit a written report of the invention, preferably within two months of its initial development or when it is first put into practice, whichever occurs first. This report should include a description of the invention, relevant circumstances, and approval from the appropriate dean or director.
    2. The report is submitted to the Vice President of Education and Learning, who will determine ownership rights within 60 days of receiving the report.
    3. If the employee disagrees they may appeal to the President within 20 working days of the Vice President’s determination. The President may appoint an ad hoc panel to review and make recommendations within 60 days of receiving the appeal.
  3. College Discretion and Waiver of Rights
    1. The College has sole discretion to file a patent application or waive its rights to an invention.
    2. Waivers and the terms and conditions are subject to negotiation between the College and the employee on a case-by-case basis. Reimbursement for College expenses may be required for granted waivers.
    3. If the College decides to file a patent application, the inventor must cooperate as requested. The College covers costs related to the patent application. Gross revenues including but not limited to option fees, license fees, royalties and commissions from the invention are shared equally with the employee after deducting College expenses related to patent issuance, maintenance, infringement cases, or licensing.

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