Authoring and developing academically sound instructional materials (e.g., textbooks, laboratory manuals, supplemental materials, software, instruments and other equipment) is a desirable scholarly activity, which may lead to recognition of a faculty member’s contribution to teaching in the discipline. However, when a faculty member requires students in his/her own classes to purchase instructional materials for which the faculty member receives royalties or other payments, the practice can create a conflict of interest because he is perceived to be profiting personally from a captive audience of students.
When USI faculty receive royalties on instructional materials they require in courses they teach as part of the regular USI curriculum, they are required to report to their academic dean on an annual basis, their best estimate of royalties from those courses. The faculty member will deposit the royalty funds in a USI Foundation account for the exclusive use of the faculty member’s department in ways that will directly benefit student learning and success (e.g., student scholarships, student travel, support to student organizations, purchasing instructional materials by department).
Departmental use of the royalties donated will be in accordance with the expressed desire of the author. In the absence of any such specific request, the donated funds will be allocated to the department.
Contribution of payment or royalties does not apply to payment and royalties generated through sales of educational materials unrelated to the course in which the author requires them, such as sales to students in other universities; nor does it apply to educational materials required in short courses, seminars, or other educational presentations not part of the regular University curriculum.
Faculty producing materials for sale to students for a profit may not use University resources for purposes of photocopying, printing, or other forms of document reproduction.