We do NOT include our faculty members as parties to research agreements.

Our general counsel has recommended that faculty members not sign any agreements--including confidentiality agreements--for work they will be doing in their capacity as institutional employees.  They are not doing the studies as independent contractors or individuals but on behalf of the institution.  In the case of claims or suits arising from the work, they would be covered as institutional employees.

Also, since fiscal policy prohibits our entering into agreements with state employees, it would be difficult to have a 3-party agreement, with one party being the university and another being its employee.

If sponsors are adamant about having the PI's signature, we precede it with the following statement:  "Investigator, while not a party to this agreement, hereby acknowledges that he/she has read the agreement and understands his/her obligations as a university employee/faculty member to abide by the terms herein."

Deborah L. Smith, Ed.D.
Director
Research Administration
UT Memphis
xxxxxx@utmem.edu