Research Resources

Policies

Guidelines for Conflict of Interest: Examples of Non-allowable Activities or those Requiring Management Plans (not inclusive)

1. Failure of the faculty member/researcher to fulfill university responsibilities (e.g., holding classes, advising students, conducting research, serving on departmental or university committees, supervising students in research lab), due to involvement in external activities.
2. Sponsored projects or technology licensing arrangements in which any of the involved investigators (or members of their immediate families) have employment or consulting arrangements and significant financial interests in the sponsor, or with subcontractors, vendors, or collaborators.
3. Using university resources to conduct research that is sponsored by an entity in which the faculty member/researcher or his/her family member has a significant financial interest.
4. Serving as a consultant or on the board of directors or major advisory committee of an external for-profit entity which sponsors the faculty member's/researcher's research or provides gift funds for the researcher or his/her department.
5. Hiring university students in consulting activities or a company in which the faculty member/researcher has financial interests. If the student's thesis/dissertation research is supervised by the faculty member, the conflict of interest situation may not be manageable.
6. Diverting research opportunities from the university to a consulting entity or business in which the faculty/researcher has a financial interest.
7. While acting in the context of his/her university duties, making professional referrals to or purchasing materials or services from a business in which an academic staff member or family member has a financial interest.
8. Serving as president or CEO, or holding any other position that requires involvement in the day-to-day operations of a for-profit sponsor. Such a situation creates an unacceptable conflict of interest and/or commitment, which must be reduced in order to be manageable.
9. Conducting clinical trials on a drug or device developed by the faculty member/researcher may be manageable if the research DOES NOT involve human research subjects.
10. Equity (ownership) interest of the faculty member (or members of the immediate family) in a sponsor.
11. Gifts to the university of cash or property which will be under the control, or will directly support the teaching or research activities of a faculty member from an entity in which that faculty member (or members of the immediate family) has an employment or consulting arrangement and/or significant financial interests.