Gary A. Orfield, who is a professor of education and social policy at the Kennedy School, maintains a similar attitude about balancing his outside commitments. He currently serves as court-appointed Special Master in San Francisco's school desegregation court order and testifies in civil rights cases as an expert witness.

" I never cancel a class. I schedule everything else around my academic commitments because I consider that to be my primary responsibility," Orfield says, adding that a lot of faculty who don't have outside projects are often less hesitant to cancel a class or to stay available to students.

Orfield estimates that he spends a total of two to three days a month honoring his other commitments.

Robert D. Putnam, Dillon professor of international affairs and Stanfield professor of international peace at the KSG, says he "never comes close" to reaching the 20 percent limit.

He has, on occasion, traveled to the White House and Camp David to inform the president of his political ideas but says he has never let it interfere with his teaching responsibilities.

Greatest Good for the Greatest Number

Not only do professors seem to be able to juggle two very different commitments, they also benefit both the university and the students by remaining active in their respective professional fields.

Jasanoff, who consults for environmental and science policy agencies as well as serving on national scientific advisory boards, believes that her work ultimately improves her skills in the lecture hall.