Wis. Admin. Code Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System UWS 8.025

Current through October 28, 2024

Section UWS 8.025 - Outside activities and interests; reports

(1) OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES. Members of the unclassified staff are free to engage in outside activities, whether or not such activities are remunerative or related to staff members' fields of academic interest or specialization. However, no member of the unclassified staff may engage in an outside activity if it conflicts with his or her public responsibilities to the University of Wisconsin System or the institution at which the unclassified staff member is employed.

(2) REPORTABLE OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES.

(a) The following outside activities must be reported to a staff member's dean, director or other appropriate administrator:

1. Associations with organizations, as defined in s. UWS 8.02(3) and (12), related to staff members' fields of academic interest or specialization;

2. Private remunerative relationships between staff members and non-governmental sponsors of university research for which the staff member is a principal investigator; and

3. Remunerative outside activities in a staff member's field of academic interest or specialization, including but not limited to consulting, and whether the staff member earns for such activities $5,000 or more in a year from a single source.

(b) Each unclassified staff member engaging in outside activities reportable under this section shall annually, on or before April 30, file a report of outside activities with his or her dean, director or other appropriate administrator.

(c) If, during the year, significant changes in a staff member's reportable outside activities occur, the staff member shall immediately inform, in writing, his or her dean, director or other appropriate administrator. This information shall be placed on file with the staff member's annual statement of outside interests.

(3) INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES. The unclassified staff members of each institution, with the approval of the chancellor, shall develop policies and procedures which shall, at a minimum, provide:

(a) Standards concerning the use of university facilities and personnel in connection with outside activities;

(b) Standards concerning absence from regular duties for the purpose of engaging in outside activities;

(c) Guidelines identifying types or categories of outside activities which may result in a material conflict of interest; and

(d) For such reports of anticipated outside activities as are necessary to insure compliance with s. UWS 8.04.

(4) REPORTS PUBLIC. Information required to be reported under this section shall, unless otherwise privileged by law, be a matter of public record.

Wis. Admin. Code Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System UWS 8.025

Cr. Register, January, 1986, No. 361, eff. 2-1-86.

Amended by, 2015 Wis. Act 330 s. 20: am. (1) Register April 2016 No. 724, eff.5/1/2016

This section addresses outside activities. Several explanatory points provide relevant background:

1. The section addresses matters heretofore handled under chs. UWS 7 and 14, which are accordingly repealed. This change in the scope of chs. UWS 8 was made in response to legislative suggestion.

2. The rule recognizes the right of unclassified staff members to engage in outside activities, whether or not the activities are remunerative or related to staff members' fields of academic interest. However, in order to assure that such activities do not conflict with staff members' responsibilities to the University of Wisconsin System, or the institution at which the staff member serves, the rule provides that certain types of activities must be reported to staff members' deans, directors or other appropriate administrators. These reportable outside activities include associations with organizations related to staff members' fields of academic interest or specialization, certain private remunerative relationships between staff members and non-governmental research sponsors, and remunerative outside activities in staff members' fields of academic interest or specialization and whether the staff member earns $5,000 or more in a year from a single source. The language retains the requirements currently in chs. UWS 7 and 14 that institutions develop policies to regulate the use of university facilities in connection with outside activities, and adds a similar requirement pertaining to use of personnel. It provides a more explicit requirement for institutional development of standards on absence from university duties, and for reports on outside activities which staff members anticipate they will perform during the academic year.

3. Guidelines and suggestions will be provided to institutions for implementation of the Regent rule. These guidelines would include examples of standards concerning use of university facilities and absence from university duties that might be adopted under s. UWS 8.025(3) (a) and (b); categories or types of activities which might present a material conflict of interest under s. UWS 8.025(3) (c); reporting procedures under s. UWS 8.025(4); and other relevant information.

4. The rule incorporates and codifies the result of litigation between the Madison Capital Times and the UW-Madison. That case, decided in Dane County Circuit Court in the spring of 1983, held that UW-Madison reports of outside activities required under chs. UWS 7 and 14 were records open to public inspection. This section continues the existence of the reporting requirements (s. UWS 8.025(2)) and declares the public nature of the reports (s. UWS 8.025(4)), except in those instances where other legal principles establish a privilege for the information contained therein.

5. Section UWS 8.025(1) indicates that the regents' purpose is not to dictate the financial or topical terms of outside activity but to ensure that it does not present conflicts of interest or time with university duties. (See also Note to s. UWS 8.01(3)).

6. Forms required under this section for the reporting of outside activities may be obtained from the Office of the Secretary to the Board of Regents, Room 1860 Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, at no charge.