CONSULTING POLICY

"Private outside employment" refers to both private consulting activities and other remunerative outside activities of faculty members. "Consulting activity" is defined as professional work performed outside university auspices that is substantively related to a faculty member's area of expertise and duties at the university. "Outside activities" refers to employment or business activities (other than personal and private financial transactions) designed to enhance the income or wealth of the faculty member but not directly related to his/her area of expertise as a faculty member. Professional employment by the university clearly presumes a commitment of time and effort considerably beyond simply fulfilling such scheduled duties as meeting classes. (Meeting office hours in case of Extension). Excessive involvement in private outside employment of any kind must, by definition, have detrimental effects upon the performance or professional duties. Such lowered performance levels by necessity affect decisions regarding tenure, promotion, and salary.

"Consulting" activities can contribute to the professional development and stature of the faculty member and, thus, may benefit the university as well as the faculty member so long as such activities are kept within reasonable bounds. The university, therefore, encourages consulting activities provided they present no conflicts of interest and do not diminish the quantity and quality of professional services rendered to the university as part of the faculty member's normal duties and responsibilities. The primary safeguard is the requirement that the faculty member secure advance approval for consulting activities from the department chair, school director, and dean. (County faculty should secure advance approval through appropriate county director and assistant director to the Director of Extension). Department chairs, school directors, and deans shall evaluate the merits of each request to consult to ensure that the activity is beneficial to the university in that no conflicts of interest exist, no conflict with university duties or responsibilities is present, and the total amount of consulting by the faculty member is not excessive. Guidelines developed by the dean of each college for use in this evaluation shall be provided to the faculty after review by the Provost to ensure consistency with this policy.

A form for securing approval in advance for consulting activities must be submitted for any proposed consulting that is to occur during the faculty member's period of employment. Faculty members on nine-month appointments need not complete this form for consulting that is to occur during the period in which they are not employed by the university.

"Outside activities" are not viewed as beneficial to the university and are not encouraged. If engaged in, they must pose no conflict of interest or result in any lessened contribution by the faculty member to the university. The outside activities of part-time as well as full-time faculty members must not impinge in any way upon the duties and responsibilities of the faculty member to the university. Faculty members are not required to secure advance approval for outside activities, but should be prepared to disclose the nature and extent of such activities to their department chair, school director, and dean if a possibility of conflict of interest or impingement upon the proper performance of duties arises.