Outside Employment Disclosure
Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs to disclose?
What needs to be disclosed?
How much time is allowed?
Other questions?

Who is required to enter an annual disclosure?

All faculty members with appointments in the Medical School must complete an annual disclosure by April 1st. Even if you have no outside activity to disclose, you must enter the database and check a box that confirms that you have no outside employment activity to report.

Who is NOT required to enter an annual disclosure?

House Officers, Adjunct Faculty, Emeritus Faculty

My title on the disclosure form is not correct, how can this be fixed?

See your Department Administrator who has access and authorization to update titles in the database.

How long does it take for my disclosure to show up in the database?

Disclosed activities will show up immediately in the system.

Now that I’m proposing a consulting agreement for which I would like my department chair’s approval, and have disclosed it in the system, now what?

You should give a copy of your contract to your department chair for review and approval. You do not need to send a copy to ORGS. If you added a new activity after the annual deadline (April 1st), you should make sure you let your Chair know a disclosure has been added so that s/he reviews and approves your new activity.

I occasionally spend the weekend, at home, reviewing charts and providing expert medical advice for a handful of law firms that handles malpractice cases. Do I need to disclose this activity?

Yes. If you have a full time appointment (greater than 82%) all of your time spent on professional activities is accountable to UM. Any outside employment activity must be disclosed on the electronic disclosure form.

Do I need to report how much I get paid?

No, but you do need to report the existence and nature of the compensation (fee for service, stock options, reimbursement for travel to meetings, etc.).

I review grants for an NIH study section and am an editor for 2 journals in my field of expertise. Do I need to disclose this activity?

No. These activities are considered part of your scholarly activities as a UM faculty member. You are not required to disclose them or count them toward your time spent on outside activities.

A company that makes products I use in the clinic would like to pay me to give them advice on product development. Is this allowed? How much am I allowed to earn? Is there someone at UM who signs the contract?

Yes, the activity is allowed. There is no limit on the amount you may earn. The consulting contract is between you as an individual and the company; UM does not sign. If you need assistance evaluating the legal terms you should consult your attorney.

How much time is allowed on "outside activities"?

For full-time appointments (greater than 82%), you are allowed 48 days of outside employment per year. Individual department chairs have the right to limit a faculty member’s outside activities to less than 48 days per year if they conflict with the ability of the faculty member to perform the obligations of his/her University appointment.

I have a 50% appointment. Do I need to complete the disclosure form?

Yes, but the allowance is prorated by the percentage of your appointment. For a 50% appointment, you are allowed 24 days per year away from your obligations to the University, plus whatever you do with the other 50% of your professional time.

Part of my faculty appointment is at the Ann Arbor VA Hosptial. Do I need to disclose this as outside employment?

No. Ann Arbor VA appointments do not need to be disclosed.