Policy UL-IN01 Teaching by Libraries' Faculty for Other Institutions

Policies and Guidelines

INSTRUCTION

Policy UL-IN01 TEACHING BY LIBRARIES' FACULTY FOR OTHER INSTITUTIONS

Contents:

Preface
Teaching Courses for Other Institutions
Approval to Teach
Disposition of Documentation
Cross References

PREFACE:

Occasionally librarians receive opportunities to teach credit and non-credit courses in library studies and other academic areas that are offered at other institutions of higher education, or through educational agencies or organizations. Personal compensation is often involved. This policy addresses permission to teach outside of Penn State and identifies the relevant University policies that must be considered by librarians who want to teach outside of the University.

TEACHING COURSES FOR OTHER INSTITUTIONS:

Because teaching courses for other institutions is considered consulting by the University, librarians doing this teaching must abide by the following Penn State policies and guidelines:

The librarian’s first responsibility is to the University, and outside service should not be undertaken, with or without pay, if it interferes with the librarian’s primary responsibilities or the functions in which Libraries’ faculty are expected to participate. (See HR80 Private Consulting Practice)
Libraries’ faculty teaching for other institutions may not use University staff, technology resources, and other tangible assets of the University. (See FN14 Use of University Tangible Assets, Equipment, Supplies and Services).
Any potential services, including teaching, performed for an agency, department, or institution of the Commonwealth requires written approval of the President of the University. (See HR42 Payment of Personal Compensation by a State Agency or Department of the Commonwealth)
In any case involving teaching courses for an academic institution other than Penn State, including “for profit” entities in higher education, potential for conflict of interest must be considered and is subject to University policy HR91 Conflict of Interest.
Standards of ethics apply in making decisions about the work done outside of Penn State with regard to the librarian’s paramount responsibilities within it. (See AD47 General Standards of Professional Ethics).
Individual compensation, or any supplemental payments to a Libraries’ employee, is subject to University Libraries Human Resources policy UL-HR05 Supplemental Payments.

APPROVAL TO TEACH:

All Libraries’ faculty are under the administrative aegis of the Dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications and have their locus of tenure in the University Libraries. Any teaching for other institutions is therefore subject to the approval of the Dean on a case-by-case basis. Librarians may not negotiate contracts with other institutions until they have administrative approval from the Dean to teach, which will include a commitment to abide to relevant University policies. Approval to teach and the frequency of teaching outside of Penn State must be requested in writing to the Dean through the appropriate Associate Dean.

The Dean’s permission also is necessary to accept additional compensation beyond the University salary. Generally, permission will not be granted for part-time teaching performed during a sabbatical and related compensation unless it is directly related to the purposes of the sabbatical. Even when approved, payment earned by teaching during a sabbatical cannot result in a total amount of compensation that exceeds the normal full salary of the individual for the period of the leave. (See HR17 Sabbatical Leave and Human Resources Guideline 15 Regulations Regarding Use of Support Funds and Receiving Outside Compensation During Sabbatical Leaves of Absence).

Approval to teach, teaching loads, and ongoing teaching assignments are generally covered in University Libraries’ instruction policy UL-IN02 Teaching by Libraries Faculty.

DISPOSITION OF DOCUMENTATION:

Copies of all documentation related to teaching at other institutions should be sent to the Libraries' Office of Human Resources for retention in the personnel files, to the Dean's Office, and to the Libraries' Financial Officer when any supplemental payments are involved.