Permitted Time for Outside Professional Activities (OPAs)

Related Policies

Faculty and others with defined Permitted Time may use Institutional Time for Outside Professional Activities (OPAs).

Definitions

  • Institutional Time: The time generally required for individuals to fulfill their Institutional Responsibilities.
  • Permitted Time: A fraction of Institutional Time designated for OPAs, granted as a privilege to faculty and certain other roles. 

What is My Permitted Time?

MIT does not require reporting of specific hours or days spent on OPAs. Individuals with Permitted Time should manage their time effectively to ensure that these activities do not compete with their institutional obligations. 

  • Faculty and senior research scientists, engineers and associates may use up to 20% of their Institutional Time for OPA.
  • Principal research scientists, engineers, and associates may use up to 10% of their Institutional Time for OPA.
  • Professors of the practice and adjunct professors may use Institutional Time for OPA as approved by their department head or dean.
  • Graduate students: Refer to Office of Graduate Education policy.
  • All others (including postdocs, research scientists and administrative staff): Not granted Permitted Time.
Faculty and senior research scientists, engineers, and associates may use 20% of their Institute time for OPA. Principal research scientists, engineers and associates may use 10% of their Institute time for OPA. All other employees may not use their Institute time for OPA.
Permitted Time by Rank

Rank

Permitted Time

Policy

Adjunct Associate Professor
Associate Professor of the Practice

Only as approved by department head/dean

2.3.3

Adjunct Professor
Professor of the Practice

Only as approved by department head/dean

2.3.2

Adjunct Professor Emeritus
Professor of the Practice Emeritus

No

2.3.2.1

Administrative Staff

Only with prior approval in accordance with policy

6.1.3

Assistant Professor
Associate Professor without tenure
Associate Professor with tenure
Professor

Yes

4.3

Graduate Students

Consult policy

OGE

Instructor

Only with prior approval in accordance with policy

2.3.5

Instructor/Coach

Only as approved by department head/dean

2.3.8

Lecturer

Only with prior approval in accordance with policy

2.3.9

Lincoln Lab Staff

No

5.2.6

Postdoctoral Associate
Senior Postdoctoral Associate

No

5.3.2

Postdoctoral Fellow
Senior Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Fellow

No

5.3.3

Principal Research Scientist
Principal Research Engineer
Principal Research Associate

Yes

5.2.1

Professor Emeritus

No

2.3.1.1

Professor, Post-Tenure

No

2.3.1.2

Research Administrators

Only with prior approval in accordance with policy

5.2.5

Research Scientist
Research Engineer
Research Associate

Only with prior approval in accordance with policy

5.2.2

Research Specialist
Technical Associate
Technical Assistant

Only with prior approval in accordance with policy

5.2.3

Senior Lecturer

Only as approved by department head/dean

2.3.10

Senior Research Scientist
Senior Research Engineer
Senior Research Associate

Yes

5.3.1

Senior Technical Instructor

Only with prior approval in accordance with policy

2.3.7

Sponsored Research Technical staff

Only with prior approval in accordance with policy

5.2.4

Technical Instructor

Only with prior approval in accordance with policy

2.3.6

Visiting Assistant Professor
Visiting Associate Professor
Visiting Professor

Yes

2.3.4

Visiting Engineer
Visiting Scientist
Visiting Scholar

No

5.3.4

Visiting Lecturer

Only with prior approval in accordance with policy

2.3.11