Outside Consulting and Other Commitments

During the term of their appointment, University employees may participate in outside commitments that do not interfere with the performance of their regular duties. Except for individuals with part-time teaching appointments (less than 75%), employees' outside commitments must not compete with course work offered by the University or services offered by the employee's unit. Employees who participate in outside commitments must comply with all rules outlined in Board of Regents Policy: Outside Consulting and Other Commitments.

Faculty and academic professional and administrative (P&A) employees on full-time appointments (75% or more) are eligible to engage in outside consulting commitments that do not exceed, on the average, one day per seven-day week. For those with A term appointments, the maximum is 48 days. For those with B term appointments, the maximum is 39 days. (Those employees on B appointments are not subject to this policy during the months they are not on appointment, but may be subject to the limitations set forth in Board of Regents Policy: Individual Business or Financial Conflict of Interest).

Employees eligible to consult must obtain prior approval for a consulting activity when it is required and must complete an annual disclosure form (Report of External Professional Activities) even if there are no outside activities to report. If an activity presents a potential conflict of interest, it will be handled according to Board of Regents Policy: Individual Business or Financial Conflict of Interest.

Faculty and P&A employees, other than Athletics Department staff, are required to follow the reporting and prior approval rules for outside consulting in Administrative Procedure - Outside Consulting and Other Commitments by Faculty and Academic Professional and Administrative (P&A) Staff. Employees in the Athletics Department are required to follow the reporting and prior approval rules for outside consulting in Administrative Procedure: Outside Consulting and Other Commitments by Intercollegiate Athletics Staff.

On an annual basis, the Provost or delegate will summarize consulting activities for the Board of Regents.

No employee may use University personnel or students, equipment or services for outside commitments in a way that depletes University resources without prior approval and payment of a reasonable fee. Prior approval and agreement for payment terms must be obtained from the employee's unit head and dean.

For purposes of this policy, work supported by grant or contract funds awarded to the University and accepted by the Board of Regents does not constitute outside activity.

Teaching extension courses offered by the University does not constitute outside activity for the purposes of this policy.

For some units, community contract and outreach are part of their University responsibilities and, therefore, are not considered an outside activity under the terms of this policy. All such activities will be governed by departmental, collegiate, and other University policies.

Employees participating in private practice plans are governed by Board of Regents' policies on private practice plans. Consulting activities that do not fall under these plans, as determined by the president or delegate, are subject to this policy.

This policy implements Board of Regents Policy: Outside Consulting and Other Commitments.

• Outside Consulting and Other Commitments by Faculty and Academic Professional and Administrative (P and A) Staff
• Outside Consulting and Commitments by Intercollegiate Athletics Staff

There are no forms for this policy.

Subject	Contact	Phone	Fax/Email
Primary Contact(s)	Sharon Reich Paulsen	612-625-0051	reich002@umn.edu
Policy	EGMS Helpline	612-624-1600
EGMS (completing Requests for Consulting forms)	EGMS Helpline	612-624-1600
Sponsored Projects	Kevin McKoskey	612-624-5066 612-624-4843 (fax)

Appointment Type

The condition attached to the appointment.

Day

For this policy only, in order to calculate allowable consulting days, the length of a day is considered the length of a faculty member's normal working day, up to ten hours. However if the entity the individual is consulting with defines "day" differently, the individual must use that definition (e.g., in its consulting agreements, the Veteran's Administration defines a day as 8 hours).

Full-time

For this policy, "full-time" is considered an appointment of 75% -100%, consistent with eligibility for human resources benefits.

Outside Commitment

Outside consulting or other activity, paid or unpaid, that is beyond the scope of the individual's University employment responsibilities.

Outside Consulting

An outside commitment that is paid professional service intended to further the interests of an outside party, regardless of whether such services are provided as an employee of the outside party, an independent contractor, a business owner, or as a director or manager.

Professional and Administrative employee

Employees classified within the 93xx, 96xx, and 97xx job codes and title series.

Term of appointment

The duration of an individual's University employment contract. The term of appointment for a B appointee is nine months; for an A appointee, the term is effectively eleven months, since one month is officially recognized as vacation.

Unit head

"Unit head" means the department, unit or division head, as appropriate.

Faculty and Professional and Administrative (P&A) Employees

Report outside consulting on an annual basis. When required, request prior approval for outside consulting. Obtain prior approval and agreement for payment terms from unit head and dean before using University personnel or students, equipment or services for outside commitments in a way that depletes University resources.

Department Head and Associate Athletics Director

Review outside consulting reports. Review and approve or deny requests for approval of outside consulting. Ensure faculty and staff compliance with this policy. Act on requests for use of University resources for outside commitments.

Dean and Athletics Director

Review unit head's action on outside consulting reports. Approve or deny requests for approval of outside consulting. Refer to appropriate Conflict Review Committee any outside activity that presents a potential conflict of interest under Board of Regents Policy: Individual Business or Financial Conflict of Interest. Act on requests for use of University resources for outside commitments.

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Review and approve or deny requests for special exemptions from the policy. Review and act on faculty appeals of denied consulting requests, with advisory report from three person committee that hears such appeals.

Associate Vice President for Regulatory Affairs

Where possible, informally resolve disputes related to denials of faculty requests for approval of outside consulting.

• Guidelines for Reviewing Outside Consulting and Commitment Requests

There is no FAQ for this policy.

• Board of Regents Policy: Outside Consulting and Other Commitments
• Board of Regents Policy: Employees Campaigning For or Holding Public Office

Effective: