We asked similar question about 2 years ago on e mail bulletin board
for southeastern region of NCURA.  Most respondents limited faculty to
one day per week of consulting; for more, you need permission from chair
and dean.  Don't know about practices regarding university facilities;
however, use of lab incurs indirect costs not covered by consultant's
fee, and direct cost of reagents.  Certainly use of students to help
a consultant's work is improper; such a project should be handled by
a subcontract with pay for the students.  When we process grant applications,
if a PI proposes to pay a consultant for anything besides travel,
subsistence and consulting fees,(e.g., if there are supplies in the budget
for the consultant) we insist on a subcontract with the consultant's employer.

Peter J. Dolce
Director, Research Support Services
Meharry Medical College
P 615 327 6703
F 625 327 6738
F 625 327 6738
Peter J. Dolce