USM Bylaws, Policies and Procedures of the Board of Regents
II-3.10 - POLICY ON PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT OF FACULTY
(Approved by the Board of Regents, November 30, 1989;
amended by the Board of Regents, June 27, 2003)
I. INTRODUCTION
By accepting an appointment to an institution in the
University System of Maryland, faculty members make a
major professional commitment to the institution, its
students, and the State of Maryland. Maryland law
encourages higher education institutions to promote
economic development in the State and to increase their
financial resources through arrangements with the
private and nonprofit sectors, including collaborative
research and development, commercial application of
institution-owned intellectual property, and provision
of technical assistance. The University System of
Maryland encourages its faculty to use its expertise in
serving the economic and social interests of the
community and the advancement of the academic
disciplines.
Faculty members may be expected to contribute to all
aspects of the mission of the institution, including
such essential components as teaching, student
direction, and advisement; research and economic
development; professional, public, and institutional
service; and administration. The distribution of
assignments will vary greatly from year to year and
from person to person according to the particular
talents and interests of the faculty member and the
needs of the institution and the academic unit as
determined in consultation with the department chair or
responsible administrator.
II. SCOPE AND PURPOSE
A. Scope. This policy applies to all faculty members
in the University System of Maryland and shall be
incorporated in the published policies of each
institution. By explicit reference, some sections
of the policy apply only to full-time faculty
members.
B. Purpose. Recognizing the need for balance among
personal, institutional, and social missions and
goals, this policy establishes broad guidelines
for avoiding conflicts of commitment and requires
each institution to review or develop procedures
for handling possible instances of conflict of
commitment.
C. Definition. A conflict of commitment situation
arises when outside activities substantially
interfere with the person's obligation to
students, colleagues, or the institution.
III. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITHIN THE INSTITUTION
Full-time faculty members may undertake consulting,
overload teaching, or professional services within he
constituent institution during an appointment period
for a stipend only with the advance written approval of
the President or designee.
IV. EXTERNAL COMMITMENTS
Consulting and other external professional services may
enhance the reputation of the institution as well as
the individual, assist in recruiting or placing
students, apply the expertise developed in its
academies to the enterprises of the State, and test the
applicability of theoretical ideas. Nevertheless, the
faculty and the institution must remain vigilant to
ensure that such external services enhance and do not
detract from a faculty member's fulfillment of his or
her responsibilities to the institution. Therefore,
external professional services, whether income-
producing or not, may be undertaken only when it is
ensured that all responsibilities associated with the
individual's faculty position are fully satisfied and
will continue to be met.
A. Professional Services
1. Within USM or State of Maryland. Consulting or
professional services which carry a stipend and are rendered
to another institution in the University System or another
State agency in Maryland require the advance written
approval of the President or designee of the faculty
member's institution.
2. Use of University Resources. A faculty member may use
the physical resources of his or her institution in
connection with consulting or professional services beyond
routine use of the office, computer, library, and telephone
only if the institution is reimbursed in accordance with
prior arrangements, or if such reimbursement is waived by
the President or designee of the affected institution.
3. Endorsement Not Implied. A faculty member shall not
convey endorsement by the institution or the University
System of the recommendations or results from his or her
consulting or professional services.
4. Protection of Intellectual Property. No individual
shall enter into an agreement in the pursuit of consulting
or professional services which conflicts with the University
System policy on intellectual property (See Policy IV-3.20)
without the advance written waiver or consent of the
Chancellor or designee.
B. Teaching Outside the Home Institution. A full-
time faculty member, with the advance written
permission of the President (or designee) of his
or her institution, may teach a maximum of two
courses at another institution for extra
compensation during the individual's contract
year.
V. DISCLOSURE TO PREVENT CONFLICT OF COMMITMENT
Although external activities may enhance the
institution and the University System of Maryland, they
also bring with them the potential for conflicts of
commitment. Although some situations carry the
potential for a conflict of commitment, the faculty
member and the University may be able to avoid actual
conflict by careful attention to the individual's
assigned institutional responsibilities. In situations
that have the potential for conflict, a faculty member
must confer with the department chair or other
appropriate administrator and resolve the potential
conflict according to institutional procedures before
assuming additional professional responsibilities
outside the unit.
IV. IMPLEMENTATION
A. Limits of Application to Contract. Nothing
contained in this policy shall be construed as
imposing any obligations on faculty members to the
institution or to the University System beyond
those required by law or contract, nor as adding
any grounds for termination of a faculty
appointment beyond those stipulated in the
polities governing faculty appointments, ranks,
and tenure, as approved by the Board of Regents.
B. Procedures at Each Institution. Each institution
of the University System of Maryland shall develop
and publish procedures to implement this policy.
Such procedures shall include provisions for
regular reporting by faculty members to the
institution on all outside professional consulting
or teaching and substantial external professional
services, whether paid or unpaid.
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