Proprietary Thesis Petition
NUMBER: II-29-2
(Formerly Policy II-D-8)
Access to potential
proprietary technical material of a thesis research project will be restricted
for a specified period of time after approval has been granted by the South
Dakota School of Mines and Technology to a petition submitted by a Graduate
Committee on behalf of a graduate student.
1.
The graduate student will request, in writing, (including justification)
to the SDSM&T Office of Graduate Education that a proprietary thesis program be
granted. This request will be supported by an explanation by the project
sponsor for the need for a proprietary thesis program and such an endorsement
will include the appropriate authorized signature from the sponsor.
2.
The proposed proprietary status of all experimental materials,
computational data, manuscripts, and final thesis product for the candidate will
be maintained for a period that will not exceed three calendar years from the
date of the final thesis defense. The initial proprietary period or any
extension thereof will be recommended by the student’s Graduate Committee in
consultation with the project sponsor; final proposals and extension of the
proprietary period must be approved by the executive administrator with
responsibility for Graduate Education and the Council on Graduate Education.
The Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs receives information copies of
appropriate correspondence and program documents.
3.
A proprietary thesis Graduate Committee will consist of the major
professor, department head, the executive administrator with responsibility for
Graduate Education who acts as the Graduate Education representative, one
additional faculty member for MS programs, and two additional faculty members
for Ph.D. programs. Any faculty member may decline to serve without prejudice
on any committee involving a proprietary thesis program.
4.
Only the Graduate Committee may witness the proprietary thesis defense or
examine the proprietary material whether for a thesis defense or in any other
capacity.
5.
Proprietary thesis copies normally required for distribution will in
these cases not be released to department and school libraries but will be
retained in confidential Office of Graduate Education files for the duration of
the proprietary period.
6.
A proprietary thesis agreement will be prepared for the purposes of
program approval and must be signed by the sponsor, petitioning graduate
student, all Graduate Committee members, and executive administrator with
responsibility for Graduate Education at the South Dakota School of Mines and
Technology prior to effecting the proprietary aspects of the students program of
study.
7.
Definition of terms
A.
Graduate Committee: A committee organized for the purpose of guiding the
graduate student through his or her program. This committee is variable in size
depending on the level of the graduate program but must consist of a major
professor (chairman), a Graduate Education and Research representative, and
other department members. The Graduate Committee has the responsibility to
provide direction and counsel to the graduate student in areas of technical and
administrative procedures relative to the degree program.
B.
Major Professor: A member of the faculty who serves as the
chairman of the Graduate Committee and who is a member of the degree-granting
department. The major professor has the prime responsibility to direct the
research activities of the student and convene the Graduate Committee for
purposes of examining the student.
C.
Proprietary Period: The length of time (as recommended by the
Graduate Committee within the limitations) set by this policy during which all
proprietary materials and information shall be restricted in distribution as
specified in the policy.
D.
Proprietary Thesis: A document representing the technical results of
the proprietary research program.
E.
Proprietary Thesis Program: The program requested by the sponsor and
directed by the Graduate Committee to provide reasonable security in restricted
distribution of proprietary materials, including the proprietary thesis.
SOURCE: Graduate Office; Graduate Office, Aug.
1994; Graduate Office Dec. 2009
BOR
Reference: Policy 4:34
Contact: SDSMT Policy
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