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A comprehensive review of the implementation of “the one-sixth rule” at ���������� Boulder—which permits full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty to use up to one-sixth of their university time on consulting and other outside professional activities with appropriate approval—identified opportunities to address gaps in compliance with Regent policy and to improve the approval process by:  

• Revising the guidelines for faculty who plan to engage in outside work 
• Introducing a new online approval form for outside work to streamline the approval process and automate routing
• Improving the workflow to ensure robust, proactive conflicts of interest and commitment (COIC) review prior to approval rather than after approval

Why the approval process for faculty consulting and outside work matters

Many faculty engage in consulting and other external professional activities that draw on their expertise. This can keep faculty current in their field; develop their knowledge and skills; enhance their research, teaching, scholarship, and creative works; and provide other benefits to the university and wider community.

A clear, consistent process for the approval of faculty consulting and outside work is essential to prevent conflicts of commitment that would interfere with a faculty member’s performance of their assigned university responsibilities.

Regent Policy 5.C.4(D) and APS 1044 permit full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty to use up to one-sixth of their university time (approximately 20 days/semester) on consulting and other outside professional activities with the approval of the dean or dean’s designee. This is known as “the one-sixth rule.” 

These enhancements will improve policy administration and enforcement through automation and standardization while reducing non-compliance risks.

What faculty consulting and outside work is

Consulting and other external professional activities include any service provided to an external entity that is related to the faculty member’s professional expertise in their university position, including but not limited to:

• Advising
• Conducting research or analysis 
• Writing reports 
• Delivering presentations or training 
• Designing, developing or producing products or services 
• Contributing to or managing projects
• Providing clinical services 

Consulting and outside work does not include scholarly activity or any activity that is part of the criteria for tenure and promotion in the faculty member’s department.

Prior to engaging in consulting or other external professional activity, all instructional, research and clinical track faculty must obtain approval from their unit lead (department chair or institute director) and dean or the dean’s designee. This includes faculty who are not tenured or tenure track.

If you have questions about conflicts of interest and commitment, please visit Frequently Asked Questions or contact the COIC office at coi@colorado.edu.