But others say an invitation to join one committee can often spawn other requests.

"Some people tend to like being on committees and they are good at it," says Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Carol J. Thompson. "They are their own worst enemies."

It is the ease with which they say "yes" that sends these Faculty members to meeting rooms day in and day out.

"People who are good at saying no serve on considerably fewer committees," says Sven Beckert, assistant professor of history.

The Harvard Stamp of Approval

Harvard isn't the only tug on many professors' time. From advising the president to commenting on CNN, few outside organizations aren't pleased to have a Harvard professor's expertise.

"Unless they try hard to avoid it [professors here] end up on more committees outside the institution than faculty at less prestigious schools," wrote Leverett House Master and Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics Howard Georgi in an e-mail message from California where he was attending a Department of Energy committee meeting.

While Georgi noted that many top research institutions experience the phenomenon, there is nothing quite like the Harvard name.