Please read the Student Business Policy below in detail.
You will be required to sign at the end of this application & agree to its terms.
Waynesburg University supports innovators and entrepreneurs and has valuable resources to assist students pursuing their business ideas. The eHIVE is the campus entrepreneurship center and provides business coaching and support to student entrepreneurs. It also serves as the clearinghouse for students interested in doing business with WU or using WU resources or property to operate a business.
This policy addresses the following:
- Intellectual Property Ownership.
- Use of University Resources for Personal Business.
- Approval Process a Student Business Not Associated with a Class Project
- Approval Process for Business/Nonprofit Class Projects.
- Approval Process to Become a Vendor to the University.
Intellectual Property Ownership:
- General Ownership: To encourage creativity and innovation, Waynesburg University will take no ownership in a student’s personal Intellectual Property created on campus. The University may, however, charge a fee for materials, equipment, and advising. Entrepreneurs and inventors should work with the eHIVE for assistance. Please email ehive@waynesburg.edu for details.
- IP Created During Class: Intellectual property created during class is purely for academic purposes and there is no explicit or implicit agreement that teams formed in class are obligated to share their intellectual property or equity in a new venture that comes out of the class.
- All marketing and business analysis that is produced is considered public domain unless explicitly specified and agreed to by both the instructor and the student. Should a student decide to pursue an idea generated in a WU class, the student should work with the team members who worked on the project to determine ownership. The eHIVE can assist you with these discussions and help you draft a founder’s agreement that outlines the rights and responsibilities of each team member.
Use of University Resources for Personal Businesses:
- WU students are prohibited from using university resources or space for operating a business unless prior written approval is obtained. Failure to obtain this approval is grounds for disciplinary action. To obtain this approval, please follow steps 3-5 below.
Approval Process for a Student Business Not Associated with a Class Assignment:
- Prior to launch of your business, register with the eHIVE. Email ehive@waynesburg.edu for details.
- Meet with eHIVE staff to discuss your business idea and receive individualized coaching.
- Complete the university’s application for approval to operate a business on campus.
- Your completed application will be submitted to the eHIVE and reviewed by the Student Business Approval Panel (SBAP). The Panel will consist of: The Dean of Students*, The Chair of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program*, The Director of the eHIVE *. *or their designee.
- The panel may request a meeting to discuss your application. Regardless, the panel will respond to your application in writing with either an approval, denial, or a request for revision based on conditions.
- If approved, you will be required to schedule periodic meetings with the eHIVE to discuss your business. If denied you will be provided reasons. If revisions are requested, you may continue to work with the eHIVE and resubmit your application.
- Once the approval is granted, the student may begin operating the business under the parameters agreed upon. If conditions change, the operation of the business is disruptive to the campus community, or becomes inconsistent with WU’s mission, the approval will be reviewed and may be revoked.
- Complaints regarding a student operated business will be directed to the eHIVE. The eHIVE director will investigate all complaints and work with the student entrepreneur to rectify the problem. The eHIVE Director may also choose to take the complaint to the SBAP for review and adjudication. At that point, the panel may revoke the approval and require the student business to cease operation on campus.
- A student entrepreneur’s failure to immediately respond to request from the eHIVE can result in revocation of approval.
- Any student entrepreneur who does not obtain or maintain proper approval for operating a campus business will be subject to disciplinary action.
Approval Process for Class Projects:
- WU encourages the entrepreneurial spirit in the classroom and welcomes project-based learning in the form entrepreneurial projects and nonprofit events.
- Faculty assigning these types of projects are asked to notify the Dean of Students and Chair of Entrepreneurial Leadership or their designees of the type of assignment and the dates involved.
- Students participating in these assignments must make themselves aware of all policies, rules, laws, and processes that may be involved in the execution of the project. It is the student’s responsibly to obtain all the necessary approvals.
- Students and/or Faculty are encouraged to use the eHIVE as a resource for these types of projects.
Approval Process to Become a Vendor to the University
- Student Entrepreneurs may choose to do business with the University in two ways:
1. Become a supplier of products to The Nest by contacting Nest leadership. There is no guarantee that student items will be purchased by the Nest and real-world vendor relationships will be explored. If a student entrepreneur needs assistance in their product development, they may be referred to the eHIVE.
2. Become a supplier of products or services directly to the University.
Student entrepreneurs seeking to do business with the University must first have approval to operate a business on campus and outline in Section 3 of this document.
If the student has not already done so, she/he should officially register as a business.
Working with the eHIVE, the student will develop a proposal for the desired Business Unit within the University.
When ready the eHIVE will assist the entrepreneur in submitting the proposal to the appropriate unit and facilitating a meeting if necessary.
If an agreement is reached, the student entrepreneur will work with the WU Business Office to complete all required paperwork.