ACOE_Self-Study

intellectual property rights are considered as unethical behavior. If the violation involves a student, it would be investigated by the Judicial Committee.

Policies concerning patents, inventions and other intellectual property are developed by faculty members can be found in the policies of the Research Foundation. The Technology Transfer Office of the Research Foundation is charged with assisting in the preparation of patent applications and monitoring patent payments. The operations manager for the Research Foundation at the campus is the College vice president for administration and finance, who is responsible for assuring that the campus is in compliance with the policies of the Research Foundation. All policies with regard to student records conformwith the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Specific policies intended to supplement the rights and assure the safeguards provided by FERPA and to clarify student records policy at the SUNY College of Optometry are posted at https://www.sunyopt.edu/pdfs/academics/SUNYOpt_FERPA.pdf (or Appendix IV-9 ). With respect to fiscal accountability, the College follows the State University of New York Policies and Procedures . A Guide to Financial Operations issued by the New York State Office of the Comptroller details the requirements of State agencies relating to procurement, accounting, revenue, appropriations, internal control and general financial management. Fiscal accountability is discussed in more detail under Standard 4.6.1. 4.1.2 The program is conducted and organized in such a way as to facilitate open communication among administrators, faculty, students, staff and other constituencies. Open and candid communication between administration and the faculty, staff and students is a high priority. An important vehicle for communication is the monthly College electronic newsletter FY EYE. This newsletter reinforces the College’s strategic priorities and progress with respect to these priorities while also informing the community of institutional and faculty/staff/student accomplishments and building a sense of community. Copies of FY EYE are archived on the College’s Web site at http://www.sunyopt.edu/fy-eye-archive . An example can be found in Appendix IV-10 . To keep the College community abreast of University and College developments, the president holds College meetings open to all faculty and staff three or four times per year. At these meetings, vice presidents and other administrators may report on their areas. The winter meeting is reserved for the president to make his State of the College Report to the community . These reports and the video of the most recent Address can be found at http://www.sunyopt.edu/offices/institutional-research/state-of-the-college-addresses, and an example can be found in Appendix IV-11 . Faculty meetings are held quarterly. During these meetings, the president and vice president for academic affairs, associate dean for research and graduate studies and department chairs provide updates on developments in their areas. Other administrators also frequently provide updates as appropriate.

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