University policy provides guidelines, definitions and limitations relating to outside activities of faculty in professional consultation, contract research and private business activities.

1. External Professional Activities of Faculty. Faculty are permitted and even encouraged to engage in consultation and research within their area of professional expertise when there is not interference with the proper performance of regular duties. Such consultation and research are also permitted with minimal interference with normal duties, as determined by the department head and dean, as long as the activities conform to the University Procedure on Absence from Duty. In all cases, there should be no conflict of interest or unfavorable reflection on either Texas A&M University-Commerce or the State of Texas. Contract research involving faculty salary, reduced workload, or use of University resources must be approved in advance by the President. Agreement must be reached on reimbursable University resources prior to approval.

2. External Business Activities of Faculty. External business activities, as used here, differ from professional activities in that they are engaged in primarily as a source of income for a faculty member and may or may not involve an individual's academic expertise. As with any other free-time pursuit, external business activities shall neither interfere with the faculty member's duties and working hours, not conflict with nor unfavorably reflect upon the University and must clearly reflect the action of a private citizen, not that of an agent of Texas A&M University-Commerce.

No regular external teaching responsibilities may be accepted without prior written approval from the Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student affairs and/or the President. A&M-Commerce Procedure A31.01.