Source: https://www.apsu.edu/policy/1s_governance_organization_and_general_policies/1001-conflict-interest.php
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 17:14:34+00:00

Document:
It is the policy of Austin Peay State University that employees should avoid external commitments which significantly interfere with the employee’s duties to the Board of Trustees and the University. Employees should avoid situations where the self-interests of the Trustees or employee diverge from the best interests of the Board and the University. Board members should avoid external commitments that interfere with their fiduciary obligations to Austin Peay.
The purpose of this policy is to define the general principles which should guide the actions of members of the Board and of employees; offer illustrations of activities which potentially constitute a conflict of interest; make Board members and employees aware of disclosure requirements related to conflicts of interest; describe the process by which those disclosures shall be evaluated and decisions rendered; and describe the appeals process regarding such decisions.
Conflict of interest Occurs when the personal interests, financial or otherwise, of a person who owes a duty to the Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees and its constituent University (Trustees and all employees) actually or potentially diverge with the person’s professional obligations to and the best interests of the Board and the University.
Conflict of commitment Occurs when the personal or other non-work related activities of an employee of the Board of Trustee and its constituent University impair the ability of that employee to meet their commitments of time and energy to the Board of Trustee and the University.
Family member Includes the spouse and children (both dependent and non-dependent) of a person covered by this policy.
Immediate family For purposes of General Disclosure Requirements section A.1.b.(2)(c), means spouse, dependent children or stepchildren, or relatives related by blood or marriage.
of Interest Policy Members of the APSU Board of Trustees and all employees of APSU all serve the interests of the State of Tennessee and its citizens, and have a duty to avoid activities and situations which, either actually or potentially, put personal interests before the professional obligations which they owe to the State and its citizens.
The following lists are intended to indicate sources of information which may provide additional guidance regarding conflict of interest situations.
This policy is intended to be consistent with all pertinent Federal and State laws, regulations, and policies, as well as with other APSU policies.
To the extent that conflicts arise, Federal and State laws, regulations, and policies shall take precedence.
The lists are not intended to be exhaustive and additional laws, regulations, and policies may be implicated in a given conflict of interest situation.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Public Health Service (PHS) (which includes the National Institutes of Health (NIH)), have promulgated policies and regulations regarding conflicts of interest and disclosure of financial interests by investigators who receive funding from these Federal agencies.
The NSF policy regarding researcher conflicts of interest is contained in Section 510 of NSF Publication 95-26, the Grant Policy Manual. The PHS regulations, upon which the NSF policy is modeled, are contained in the Code of Federal Regulations at 42 CFR 50.601 et seq. and 45 CFR 94.1 et seq.
Other Federal agencies (e.g., the Veterans’ Administration or the Food and Drug Administration) may require as a condition to a contract, disclosure and management of conflicts of interest (see, for example, Veterans’ Administration Acquisition Regulation 852.209-70).
It is significant to note that violation of some of these statutes may lead to criminal penalties (e.g., violation of T.C.A. § 12-4-103 is a Class E felony).
This policy shall apply to all persons serving as members of the Board of Trustees and to all persons employed (either as full-time, part-time or temporary employees) by the University.
It is the policy of Austin Peay State University that employees should avoid external commitments which significantly interfere with the employee’s duties to the Board of Trustees and the University (conflicts of commitment). See also APSU Policy 5:014, Outside Employment. Disclosures of conflicts of commitment shall be made as required under Policy 5:014 and evaluated as indicated in that policy.
It is the further policy of Austin Peay State University that both the Trustees and employees should avoid situations where the self-interests of the Trustees or employees diverge from the best interests of the University (conflict of interest).
The mere existence of either a potential or actual conflict of interest does not mean that such conflict must necessarily be eliminated.
Where the potential detriment to the Board and the University is at most minor and inconsequential, and the conflict does not indicate violation of Federal or State law, regulation, or policy, those persons charged with evaluating disclosures should allow the activity to proceed without interference.
For those situations which do not implicate Federal or State law, regulation or policy, the standard by which it should be determined whether a conflict of interest should be managed, reduced, or eliminated is whether that conflict would appear to a reasonable person to call into question the integrity or judgment of the affected Trustee or employee.
In the following situations and activities, there is at least the appearance, and possibly the actuality, of an employee/Trustee allowing his or her personal interests, and not the best interests of the Board of Trustees and its constituent University, to affect that employee’s judgments. This list is illustrative, and not exhaustive.
Situations in which a Trustee or employee can appear to influence or actually influence a University-related decision from which that person or a member of that person’s family stands to realize a personal financial benefit is self-dealing, and a conflict of interest.
Examples of self-dealing activities are numerous, and include those listed below.
Purchase of State-owned property by an employee absent fair and open bidding.
It is unlawful for any state employee to purchase surplus state-owned property absent a fair and open bidding process (see T.C.A. § 12-2-208 and T.C.A. § 12-2-417).
Such purchases are also prohibited under APSU Policy 4:019.
Institutional purchases from businesses in which an employee or family member has a financial interest.
T.C.A. § 12-4-103 declares that it is unlawful for any state official or employee to “bid on, sell, or offer for sale, any merchandise, equipment or material, or similar commodity, to the state of Tennessee” or “to have any interest in the selling of the same to the state” during that person’s term of employment and for six months thereafter.
Disclosure of any such transaction by an employee or member of the employee’s family or by a business in which an employee or member of the employee’s family has any significant (more than 4%) ownership interest or for which an employee or employee family member serves as an officer is required by this policy.
T.C.A. § 12-4-106(b) declares that it is a conflict of interest for any person or any company with whom such person is an officer, a director, or an equity owner of greater than 1% interest to bid on any public contract for products or services for a governmental entity if such person or "immediate family" of such person is a member of a board or commission having responsibility for letting or approving such contract.
For purposes of this section only, "immediate family" means spouse, dependent children or stepchildren, or relatives related by blood or marriage.
Use of Educational Materials from Which a Faculty Member Derives Financial Benefit in That faculty Member’s Teaching Activities.
Any faculty member who wishes to use in his or her teaching activities educational materials (e.g. a textbook) which he or she has authored, or in which he or she otherwise stands to benefit financially from such use, a conflict of interest disclosure shall be made per Special Disclosure Requirements for Researchers Applying for or Receiving NSF or PHS Funding section of this policy.
Whether the use of such materials shall be permitted shall be evaluated either under the terms of Institutional policy, or in the absence of such policy, by the Review Committee established under Sanctions section of this policy.
Such evaluation shall include consideration of suitable substitute materials and ensure that the needs of students are best served by use of the materials in which the faculty member has an interest.
Has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee.
Informational materials in the form of books, articles, periodicals, other written materials, audiotapes, videotapes, or other forms of communication.
Food, refreshments, foodstuffs, entertainment, or beverages provided as part of a meal or other event, including tradeshows and professional meetings, if the value of such items does not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per occasion; provided further, that the value of a gift made pursuant to this subsection may not be reduced below the monetary limit by dividing the cost of the gift among two or more persons or entities identified in General Disclosure Requirements section A.1.b.(4).
Employees shall ensure that the activities of students or support staff are not exploited for the benefit of any external activity of the faculty member.
Prior to assigning any such non-Institutionally related task (which is more than incidental or de minimus in nature) to a student or member of the support staff, an employee shall disclose such proposed activities and obtain approval.
Employees may not make significant use of State owned facilities, equipment, materials or other resources, not otherwise available to the public, in the course of activities which are not related to the Institution and which are intended for personal benefit, without prior disclosure and approval.
APSU Policy 2:047 governs the rights and responsibilities which persons affiliated with the Board of Trustees and the University have regarding intellectual property developed during the term of their affiliation with the University.
Among the responsibilities enumerated in the policy is that of disclosure of inventions and those copyrightable works which may be reasonably expected to have commercial value which they have jointly or solely developed with the Board of Trustees and the University.
Persons to whom this policy applies who believe that a conflict of interest may exist either personally or with respect to another person covered by this policy shall make a written disclosure of the facts and circumstances surrounding the situation.
No particular format is required, but the disclosure should adequately describe the pertinent facts and circumstances.
For members of the Board, disclosure shall be made to the Secretary of the Board.
A University employee who self-discloses a potential conflict of interest or a written report of a potential conflict of interest is presented to the Conflict of Interest Committee.
Disclosures made by a President shall be submitted to the Director of Internal Audit.
In entities whose financial interests would reasonably appear to be affected by such activities.
Such disclosures must be submitted prior to the time the proposal is submitted to the Federal agency.
Further, such disclosures must be updated during the period of the award; either annually or as new reportable financial interests arise.
The University is responsible for eliminating or managing such conflicts prior to receipt of the award.
To facilitate such disclosures, the accompanying disclosure form is available.
The University is responsible for determining if a grant, services, or other contract with Federal agencies other than the Public Health Service or the National Science Foundation requires disclosure and / or management of conflicts of interest, and for ensuring that any such requirements are met.
Disclosure of financial interests made pursuant to this Special Disclosure Requirements for Trustees and Certain APSU Employees Section notwithstanding, such disclosure does not eliminate the responsibility for making disclosures under Special Disclosure Requirements for Researchers Applying For or Receiving NSF or PHS Funding Section, when specific conflict of interest situations arise.
Members of the Board of Trustees, the President, coaches, assistant coaches and employees of athletic departments who are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act are required to file a financial disclosure form within one month of their initial appointment and annually thereafter in January.
Disclosure of financial interests made pursuant to this Review of Disclosures section notwithstanding, such disclosure does not eliminate the responsibility for making disclosures under Special Disclosure Requirements for Researchers Applying For or Receiving NSF or PHS Funding section, when specific conflict of interest situations arise.
Members of the Board of Trustees shall make their disclosure using a form as indicated and submitted to the Secretary of the Board.
The President is required by Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-501(a)(15) to file an online Statement of Disclosure of Interests Form with the Tennessee Ethics Commission at https://apps.tn.gov/conflict/, Form ss-8005 (State Officials). For the Presidents this Statement of Disclosure will meet the requirements of this Policy.
Coaches, assistant coaches, exempt employees of the athletic department and other University personnel required to complete a disclosure form shall also use the Tennessee Ethics Commission Form ss-8005, Statement of Disclosure of Interest Form and accompanying instructions. The form shall be submitted to the Human Resource Office or other person designated by the President.
Disclosures made under Special Disclosure Requirements for Researchers Applying For or Receiving NSF or PHS Funding section of this policy by a member of the Board of Trustee. A member of the Board making a disclosure shall not be entitled to vote regarding disposition of the disclosure.
The Chair of the Conflict of Interest report submits the disclosure report to the Conflict of Interest Committee.
The Conflict of Interest Committee reviews details of possible Conflict of Interest.
The Conflict of Interest Committee evaluates the proposed Conflict of Interest and seeks legal input from the APSU Office of Legal Affairs when indicated in reviewing of the report.
The Conflict of Interest Committee renders a decision regarding the issue around the disclosure, determining if there is a conflict of interest and how it should be managed (restrictions to be placed on the individual to manage the conflict or that the person must eliminate the conflict).
The Conflict of Interest Committee notifies in writing the person of the outcome, and employee is given an opportunity to appear before the committee.
The disclosures and Committee decisions are forwarded to the President.
Sanctions Failure to observe restrictions imposed as a result of review of a conflict of interest disclosure or a knowing failure to disclose a conflict of interest may result in disciplinary proceedings under University policy. A Board member who knowingly fails to disclose a conflict of interest shall be subject to removal.
Decisions made by the Board of Trustees may not be appealed.
Decisions made by the University Review Committee may be appealed to the President. Decisions of the President shall be final and binding.

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