Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:02:54 -0400 From: Jim Purtilo <purtilo@cs.umd.edu> To: Alan Sussman <als@cs.umd.edu> CC: Samir Khuller <samir@cs.umd.edu> Subject: Re: reminder for AC ... other material excerpted ... While I have both of you in an email message, please let me bring up a question. I have been talking with a former student about ways to incorporate more intellectual property matters in courses, and an idea has been coming together for a course on patent law, technology and innovation. I think we can put together a prototype which would have two parts, a short seminar (likely for 1 credit) in fall coupled with an intensive winter session offering (2 credits) - the former is intended to cover background and prepare students, the second part would be almost an internship level, in which they would work on-site with a major IP firm and indeed be involved in preparation of patent applications. As a side effect of the course, students would become prepared to apply to join the patent bar. The content area of the work is utterly focused on technology, and the company willing to place at least a couple students for us has lots of big tech firms you have heard of as clients. My question is: am I still under some de facto (and unexplained) ban on listing 498 courses for our students? Alan, you had indicated a surprise on this when we talked back in June, and you said you would find out what was going on. I know you have been busy so have not pressed. Now, however, in order to go forward with something like this I would need to know whether I get the same opportunity to offer courses as are obviously afforded others in the department. Please let me know if this barrier can be lifted and, insofar as you are allowed to say, why it was there in the first place, thanks. Jim