1. Purpose

   To describe the circumstances under which University employees and students should formalize consulting relationships with outside agencies or companies.

2. Policy

   If a faculty or staff member serving as a consultant to an outside agency or company requires the use of University facilities or equipment for purposes of the consultantship, such usage shall be only on an occasional and brief basis, and only with permission of the department Chair or school Director. Such permission shall include agreement upon any appropriate provisions for liability or fees.

3. Procedures

   Should more extensive or frequent usage be needed, the employee should seek the assistance of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to develop a grant or contract between the outside agency or company and the University.

   A student engaged in a project related to or part of a consultant's work should be paid by the consultant or the outside agency or company at a rate appropriate to the task and equivalent to the rate normally paid students for university-sponsored work. There must also be an agreement in place prior to the commencement of work that has provisions for liabilty.

   Policy 19.058, "Conflict of Interest in Research, Educational, and Public Service Activities," provides guidance for avoiding improprieties.

Reviewers

Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:

1. Policy and Procedure Review Committee

2. Faculty Senate

3. Administrative Senate

Forms, References, and History

1. Forms

   There are no forms that are specific to this policy.

2. References

    The following items are relevant to this policy:

   1. Policy 19.058, "Conflict of Interest in Research, Educational, and Public Service Activities".

3. History

   Draft versions of this policy that were circulated for review, their cover memos, their forms, and Reviewers' comments on them are available on the password-protected Review site.

   Prior versions of this policy were approved on March 31, 2003 and August 28, 1973.