Frequently Asked Questions – Storrs and Regional Campuses

  1. What is "Academic Activity"?
    • Attendance at professional meetings
    • Reviewing of books or articles
    • Giving occasional lectures and speeches
    • Participating in colloquia, symposia, site visits, study sections; and similar gatherings
    • Ad hoc refereeing of manuscripts
  2. What constitutes "Necessary Expenses"?
    • Travel
    • Lodging and Food (at the approximate current federal and state per diem rates)
  3. Can I be paid when I engage in an "Academic Activity" in my capacity as a State Employee?
    • No; you may be paid for "necessary expenses" only
  4. What can I do with an honorarium that includes "Necessary Expenses"?
    • Accept the pay for necessary expenses made out to you personally
    • Put the remainder in a departmental research support account
  5. Whom should the check be made out to, if it is to be deposited in a departmental account?
    • University of Connecticut
  6. What is "Material Use" of state resources?
    • Anything that would incur cost to the state
    • Anything that one could NOT comfortably justify as part of routine, "academic activity"
  7. How is the One-Day-A-Week for consulting calculated?
    • Generally, as, on average, one-day-a-week
  8. How does one count consulting days, if the activity is done on time "Not due the University"?
    • Days that are not due to the University do not count against the one-day-a-week allowed for consulting
  9. What if I initiate my consulting activity before I receive approval from the University?
    • Without prior University approval, you do not have the benefit of the legislative carve-out and are subject to the jurisdiction of the Office of State Ethics
  10. Do new forms need to be completed and approved prior to making changes to a previously approved activity?
    • Yes; forms on file must always be the most current for the consulting activity
  11. How can approval be obtained for last minute offers to consult?
    • Presently, the procedure is the same as for last minute grant submissions
    • It may be necessary to hand-carry the consulting form to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research
    • Once the computer-driven on-line approval system is operational, this issue should be resolved
  12. Can a person who is not a member of the faculty and not a member of the AAUP bargaining unit consult?
    • The word "consult" is being used only when this type of activity is carried out by a faculty member or a member of the AAUP bargaining unit
    • Employees who are not faculty or members of the AAUP bargaining unit may be allowed compensation for services rendered, provided that rules such as time due to the University are not violated
    • The Office of State Ethics would have jurisdiction over determining if there were a conflict of interest, in appropriate benefits resulting from state employment, violation of rules on confidential/proprietary information, etc.
  13. How does the State Ethics Code define a conflict of interest?
    • The primary source of conflict in consulting would be any activity that would impair one’s ability for independent judgment as a state employee
    • Another way of stating it is that you or your family may not financially benefit from your state position
  14. Can a faculty member or a member of the AAUP bargaining unit use the University’s name when consulting?
    • However, the consultant may not speak, act or make representations on behalf of the University, or express institutional endorsement for an activity or product