From my understanding of A-21, your PI may not be consulting across
departmental lines but what he is doing is remote or separate from his
contractual obligations. According to A-21, this is an exception and
extra-compensation above the base salary is allowable if approved by the
sponsoring agency.

As a rule, it is also implied that such extra work should be incidental
rather than routine. If it becomes routine, the institution may want to
reassign this PI from some of the contractual institutional load to
research work on the particular project.

Barbara Gray wrote:
>
> One of our PIs who does a lot of remote research work (on board a ship
> in the middle of an ocean) thinks some of his colleagues from other
> universities get additional pay while on board because they basically
> work a double-shift each day.  While it makes logical sense to me that
> someone in this position, who basically spends all non-sleeping time
> doing research, be additionally compensated, I haven't yet found any
> institutions that have a published policy to this effect.  Also, I keep
> going back to A-21, which states:
>
> "...Charges for work performed [by faculty members] on sponsored
> agreements during all or any portion of [the continuous period
> which...constitutes the basis of his salary] are allowable at the base
> salary rate...In no event will charges to sponsored agreements,
> irrespective of the basis of computation, exceed the proportionate share
> of the base salary for that period.  This principle applies to all
> members of the faculty at an institution."
>
> The only excption A-21 seems to have is the "unusual case" where the
> faculty member is involved in consultation and where such consultation
> "is across departmental lines or involves a separate or remote
> operation, and the work performed by the consultant is in addition to
> his regular departmental load"...and then "extra compensation above the
> base salary are allowable provided  that such consulting arrangements
> are specifically provided for in the agreement or approved in writing by
> the sponsoring agency."   However, my guy is not consulting across
> departmental lines--he's the PI on his own federally funded research
> projects.
>
> I would like to develop a policy to additionally compensate faculty in
> very remote locations who do nothing but sleep, eat, and do research
> during short periods of the academic year.  We would consistently apply
> a very well-defined policy (at least to all sponsored projects) and
> would require the researchers to include a request for such additional
> compensation, fully explained, in their proposals to sponsors.  But,
> according to A-21, even though we could make it consistent, would it be
> legal?  Do I have an wiggle room under "proportionate share" since,
> during a normal academic year, the researcher is generally expected to
> work 8 hours a day, but he is working double that while at sea?
>
> Thanks for any insight you can offer..  I would especially appreciate
> web references to policies from any institution that is doing this.
>
> Barbara
>
> --
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> Barbara H. Gray, Director
> Office of Research & Grants Administration
> College of Charleston
> 66 George Street
> Charleston, SC  29424
> Campus Location:  407-G Bell Bldg.
> Office: 843.953.5673  Desk: 843.953.5885  Fax:  843.953.6577
> e-mail:  xxxxxx@cofc.edu   URL: http://www.orga.cofc.edu/
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