2319.3 Limited Engagement Policy
The purpose of this policy is to define Limited Engagement and outline the policy for paying of Limited Engagement fees.
January, 2017
revisedMarch 31, 2025
March 31, 2025
Responsible OfficeProcurement Services
Procurement Services
Definitions
A Limited Engagement is a subset of Independent Contractors meeting the following criteria:
- The individual is a guest speaker, guest lecturer, artist, performer, writer/editor, board member, critic, preceptor, or mentor of an academic nature. The individual is not University faculty, staff, or student
- The engagement is limited to a short-term duration, typically less than 30 days.
- The service payment to the individual has a maximum dollar amount of $5,000 per transaction; $5,000 per calendar year. This is not to pay individuals on an hourly basis.
| Penn LE Service Types | Definition/Examples |
| Guest Speaker | Expert, professional, or influential individual who charges a fee to deliver a talk or presentation at an event |
| Guest Lecturer | An academic or professional expert who charges a fee to deliver a lecture, a limited series of lectures, visiting professors guest lecturing at a course on a limited basis |
| Artist | Artist doing an art exhibit, stage set and light designer, costume designer, choreographer |
| Performer | DJ, singer, comedian, dancer, musician / instrumentalist, actor, magician/clowns, juggler/circus performer, performance painter (i.e. sand painter) |
| Writer/Editor | Writer/editor for grants, articles, manuscript reviewer / editor |
| Board Member | Payment to advisory/directory board members for duties |
| Critic | Someone paid to critique/write a review of a piece of work (literary, artistic, etc.) or paid to judge a competition |
| Preceptor | An experienced professional who mentors, supervises, and trains students or trainees in a practical, hands-on learning environment |
| Mentor of an Academic Nature | An experienced faculty member, researcher, or professional who provides guidance, support, and advice to students, scholars, or junior faculty in their academic and professional development |
Policy
A Limited Engagement fee may only be paid to individuals who meet the criteria listed above. It cannot be paid to a student, an honoraria recipient, a human subject recipient, or any employee of the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania or any of its entities.
The Limited Engagement Agreement must be completed and signed by the individual providing services and submitted by the school or center to the Compliance Specialist by submitting a ticket through the BEN Helps Support Portal. The Compliance Specialist will review and sign the Limited Engagement Agreement. Once signed, the school or center completes and submits a Non-PO Payment Request Form via the Penn Marketplace.
Please see the Procedural Guide for Independent Contractors and Limited Engagements for detailed instructions. This includes instructions for processing limited engagements for nonresident aliens and limited engagement services performed outside of the United States.
The following forms are waived for qualifying Limited Engagements:
- Service Provider Questionnaire
- Service Provider Evaluation Worksheet
- Independent Contractor Agreement/Contract