Though HBS encourages its faculty’s outside activity, their time away is closely monitored.

Because corporations are willing to funnel large sums of money to professors for their help, Clark says he personally monitors all outside faculty activities of professors to ensure that they remain within the designated time limits.

“The activities come under close scrutiny because they are subject to abuse,” Clark says.

For example, professors are not permitted to engage in any activities that create a conflict of interest with their teaching responsibilities. This includes limiting the number of board directorships they can accept and ensuring that all outside activities will result in educational benefits, rather than solely personal gain.

Professors are also prohibited from teaching on behalf of any other institution as well as from advertising their affiliation with HBS in any activity that is not approved by Clark.

“All of your educational efforts are supposed to be given to Harvard,” says Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis ’68. “You’re not supposed to go to [Boston University] and give the same lecture at night.”

While many professors engage in some outside activities, only a small percentage approach their maximum time allotment for time away from the classroom, HBS says.

“We have a really strong ethic that the commitment you have to the school and the classes and the students comes first,” Professor of Finance W. Carl Kester says. “In a way, it’s a privilege that we have a broad range of activities that we can engage in, but it’s a privilege we have only if we keep our commitment to our teaching and avoid conflict of commitment.”

Sasser says that in his experience, HBS professors, would never think of canceling a class for an outside engagement.

“Of the 31 years that I’ve been teaching here, I’ve only missed any classes when my father died,” he says. “It’s part of the culture here—you don’t miss classes.”

A Tradition of Outside Activity