Directing purchasing or subcontracting opportunities to a family owned company or an associated entity. Inappropriate use of confidential information. Managers accepting honoraria from employees. The unreimbursed use of University resources for private gain. Reviewing, approving, or administratively controlling contracts when the contract is between the University and a company in which the individual has a substantial financial interest or when the contract is with a member of the employee's family, or when a member of the employee's family is directly involved with activities included under the contract or has a substantial interest in the contractor.
Full disclosure is necessary for successful implementation of any conflict of interest policy.
The responsibility for avoiding conflict of interest rests with the individual and is shared by all University employees. It is prudent to note, however, that this does not include frivolous or vindictive disclosures against another employee. It should be noted that the State Code of Ethics also prohibits any person from knowingly and willfully making a false or frivolous complaint. All financial disclosures must be made to the Research Office prior to any new application or proposal for funded projects and must be updated during the period of the award or funding either on an annual basis or as new reportable Significant Financial Interests are obtained. The University shall maintain records of all Financial Disclosures and all actions taken to resolve conflicts of interest for at least three years beyond the termination or completion of the grant to which they relate, or until the resolution of any NSF action involving those records, whichever is longer.