Office of the Provost

Dear Deans and Department Heads,

I’m writing to clarify some issues relating to consulting, summer fellowships, and travel. Central to this clarification is that during the summer months, faculty on nine- and ten-month appointments remain employees of the University.

During off-contract months, faculty have time open for effort that is not associated with their regular contractual workload. Faculty have flexibility taking up work that is external to the University. However, consulting approval must still be sought for any activity where faculty receive remuneration from an external entity (or for any work with a faculty-affiliated company). During the summer, consulting approval is required as:

• the potential for conflicts of interest remains the same as it does at any other time of the year;
• the potential for conflicts of commitment (e.g., teaching a course at another institution that directly competes with UConn) remains the same as it does at any other time of the year;
• when consulting during the summer, as at other times of the year, a faculty member is acting outside of their role as a UConn faculty member. This means that they must not use University resources to support consulting work (travel funds, lab resources, etc.);
• if a faculty member is supported for effort on a grant, this effort cannot conflict with consulting activities.

Confusion can occur with regard to summer fellowships (including those supported by federal agencies). In such cases, faculty can do the work within their UConn role, but this would need to be supported by an MOU signed by the Provost. Ideally funds for pay would come via UConn (as with any other fellowship), and the rate of summer pay should be the same as the rate of pay at other times of the year. Any funds supporting actual expenses for such fellowships must fit within State rules related to necessary expenses. Please note that University funds to support travel can only be used if the work is being undertaken as a University employee. Summer fellowships can be undertaken as consulting activity, but approval must be sought (as with all consulting activities), and this means that no University resources (e.g., travel funds) can be used to support the work.

Professional service work where a faculty member is not being paid does not require consulting approval. Please be aware that seeking consulting approval means that work is being undertaken outside of UConn employment and creates the requirement for a clear split with regard to the use of University resources. Necessary expenses that relate to actual expenses for professional service activities do not require consulting approval, but should follow applicable State policy.

We have tried to make sure that the Faculty Consulting website covers most common questions related to consulting in the FAQ section and the “Getting Started” pages. If you have specific questions that cannot be answered with this resource, please always reach out for individual advice.

Warmly,

Sarah

Sarah Croucher, PhD
Director of Academic Policy & Faculty Affairs