Consulting work that does not interfere with teaching or research and that involves a payment of personal compensation may be performed after approval of an Application for Permission to Engage in Outside Activities (Form 32A). Reports on consulting projects may not be made on Purdue stationery. Whenever a project requires the use of Purdue facilities, equipment, or supplies, permission must be secured from the proper University authorities. The University will charge for using this equipment (from PU Faculty and Staff Handbook).

Guidelines for Consulting with outside organizations

Several guidelines for conducting consulting activities have emerged in the process of review and management of consulting activities by the Office of Research Administration.

• If an employee is consulting for multiple organizations, a separate Form 32A should be filed for every consulting activity, if the entity you are consulting for is involved in any business activity with Purdue University.


• If you are serving as an expert witness, or give any verbal or written expert opinion, you must clearly indicate that you are not representing Purdue, nor providing Purdue’s position, and will be in compliance with all University consulting policies and practices.


• Intellectual Property (IP) developed during your outside activities is subject to the provisions of the Purdue Policy on Intellectual Property (Policy VIII.4.1 ).


• If your consulting activity involves the signing of a Consulting Agreement, please note that the provisions set forward in the Purdue Policy on Intellectual Property (Policy VIII.4.1) will take precedence over any such clauses in your consulting agreement. The organization should be supplied with a copy of the Policy on Intellectual Property (Policy VIII.4.1). A model consulting agreement that is acceptable to the University can be found here.


• Any Intellectual Property developed with the use of University Resources is subject to review by the Committee on Patents and Copyrights.


• If an employee signs an individual Consulting Agreement with an outside organization, the agreement should not imply any University obligations, such as the use of university facilities for demonstrations/presentations during campus visits by third parties.


• The scope of work within consulting contracts needs to be clearly defined in order to protect rights to intellectual property that may be developed as a result of the research.


• A University employee may not use University facilities or resources on behalf of an outside interest without an explicit agreement with the University, including provisions to repay the cost of those resources.

• What is a Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI)?
• Who is Responsible for Managing FCOI?
• How Does This Affect Me? - Employee Obligations
• Do I have a Financial Interest That Must be Disclosed?
• How do I Disclose a Financial Interest Associated With University Employment?
• How do I Identify COI in Sponsored Research, Technology Transfer and/or Relationships with Outside Organizations?
• NIH and NSF Disclosure Requirements

• Process Description and Management Mechanisms
• Managing COI in Consulting