Committee on the Conflict of Interest in Employment

2002-03 Annual Report

The committee’s main activity is receiving and responding to inquiries and notifications regarding possible conflicts of interest in employment and, when appropriate, working with unit administrators to develop management plans for conflicts.  This year, the committee:

●      received 19 inquiries or notifications

●      determined that 6 of these did not constitute a conflict of interest in employment requiring a management plan (e.g., because it was below the financial threshold or there was no supervisory relationship)

●    was advised that 3 of these would not be pursued (e.g., employment relationship ended or was not begun)

●      evaluated and accepted 5 new management plans

●      collected and reviewed follow up reports for existing management plans

Thus, 5 situations are pending development of a management plan.

In addition, the committee made a number of improvements to its processes:

●      modified and improved the template that guides administrative areas in the creation of a management plan

●      proposed revisions to the Operations Manual policy (III-8) "Conflict of Interest in Employment (Nepotism)" to be reviewed by Staff Council and the Faculty Council/Senate

●      revised Sponsored Program's proposal routing form that triggers notification of a conflict of interest to the administrative area, the PI, and committee co-chairs and expanded notification to include the PI’s supervisor

●      followed up monthly on all HR transactions (appointments, transfers, special compensation) that indicated a conflict of interest

●      updated committee data base on past and current cases

Susan Buckley and

Lee Anna Clark, Co-Chairs