Conflicts of Interest

Overview

University employees are subject to various conflicts of interest provisions under federal regulations, state law, and university policy. Most conflicts can be categorized as one of four different potential types of conflicts:

1. Ohio Ethics Law conflicts (state law and university policy)
2. Research conflicts (federal regulations and university policy
3. Ohio Technology Commercialization Law (state law and university rules)
4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - Open Payments

Outside Activities and Conflicts Policy now effective

To promote simplicity and efficiency, the university developed a single, comprehensive Outside Activities and Conflicts policy owned by the Office of University Compliance and Integrity to replace the four existing policies (Faculty Conflict of Commitment and Faculty Paid External Consulting policies owned by the Office of Academic Affairs, the Faculty Financial Conflict of Interest policy owned by the Office of Research, and the Conflict of Interest and Work Outside the University policy owned by the Office of Human Resources).

After several periods of review from the university community, the policy was finalized considering this feedback and ultimately approved or endorsed by, several groups including Senior Management Council, President’s Cabinet, and University Senate.

The Outside Activities and Conflict policy was approved by the Board of Trustees on May 19, with an effective date of September 1, 2022.