Martin, however, says the advisory group wants to draw the line not at the distribution level, but when professors themselves become accessible to non-Harvard students, or when online materials can be used for a non-Harvard degree program.

"The gray areas involve interaction and certification, both of which are characteristics of courses and not of publications," Martin says.

Miller says that the draft's restrictions on online education may stem from fear that the University is behind in its distance learning initiatives.

"I think Harvard may have realized that this phenomenon was getting away from it," he says. "[Faculty venturing out on their own] might dilute Harvard's ability to be a unique institution--which I think is a little like Chicken Little fearing that the sky was falling."

The amount of time spent on an outside project will be another factor in determining whether an outside activity is inappropriate, according to Thompson.

He says the advisory group wants to make sure professors "don't spend so much time [on outside activities] that they neglect students here."

President Neil L. Rudenstine says professors should always remember their "duties and obligations while they are at Harvard to their students, colleagues, and curriculum and what activities will take away that commitment."

Proof of a Burden