Appendix K. Interpretation of Policies Related to Faculty Extra Compensation

Academic base year salaries may be supplemented by a variety of stipends and other adjustments. These include, but are not limited to, administrative stipends (for a chair or director), awards, etc. These additional forms of compensation are restricted by policy and have explicit pre-approval requirements.

MTU Board of Control Policy 19.3. explicitly provides for faculty to be eligible for overload compensation during the academic year due to research work. The federal government's OMB Circular A-21 explicitly prohibits faculty compensation at above the normal salary without it being specifically provided for in the agreement or explicitly approved in writing by the sponsoring agency. Circular A-21 also prohibits overload compensation on sponsored projects outside the academic year with the exception of certain teaching activities, meaning that requests for overload compensation due to research activity during the summer beyond what is already provided by Board of Control policy cannot be approved. In all cases, federal regulations take precedence over internal Michigan Tech policies and practices.

From July 1, 2006, interpretation and implementation of these federal regulations and Michigan Tech policies for academic faculty will be as follows:

• Extra compensation requests will be considered only if a person's regular duties cannot be reduced and if the need is of short duration (less than a semester) that cannot be postponed.
• Faculty supported by sponsored projects must be able to document that their workload and hours committed to their funded project remain unchanged and fulfill the level of commitment proposed to the sponsor. There must be additional documentation (e.g., log books) maintained for three years after completion of the project for audit purposes.
• Pre-approval (complete an Overload Compensation Request form) must be granted by both the University (through normal administrative channels) and the funding agency prior to any additional remuneration being received.
• Funding agency approval must be sought if a sponsored project is providing salary during a semester, even if the overload compensation is due to, and will be funded by, internal Michigan Tech activities.
• Research and Sponsored Programs will initiate the request for approval with the funding agency following the University's determination that the request is justified.
• All other Michigan Tech policies and practices related to faculty extra compensation, including but not limited to the approval process, the requirement that approval be obtained in advance of the activity, etc., remain in place.
• The External Funding Incentive Program (EFIP) remains the preferred means of providing incentive for externally sponsored activity for those bargaining unit faculty and others eligible to participate in EFIP.

Form

Overload Compensation Request Form

Word document

PDF fillable form