Conflict of Interest/Conflict of Commitment
COI/COC policies
Below is a summary of the Conflict of Interest/Conflict of Commitment policies at the University of Michigan-Flint. If you have questions or believe you may have a conflict (or potential conflict) please reach out to the Human Resources Office at um-flint-hr@umich.edu.
An actual or potential Conflict of Interest (COI) exists whenever personal, professional, commercial, or financial interests or activities outside of the University have the possibility (either in actuality or in appearance) of (1) compromising a faculty or staff member’s judgment; (2) biasing the nature or direction of scholarly research; (3) influencing a faculty or staff member’s decision or behavior with respect to teaching and student affairs, appointments and promotions, uses of University resources, interactions with human subjects, or other matters of interest to the University; or (4) resulting in a personal or family member’s gain or advancement at the expense of the University. For purposes of subsection (4), family members include spouse, domestic partners and dependents.
An actual or potential Conflict of Commitment (COC) exists when a faculty or staff member’s external relationships or activities have the possibility (either in actuality or in appearance) of interfering or competing with the University’s educational, research, or service missions, or with that individual’s ability or willingness to perform the full range of responsibilities associated with their position.The Flint campus has procedures that faculty members and staff members in the academic unit or administrative unit must follow to disclose, evaluate and manage potential or actual conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment that arise.The procedures also govern Flint campus employee actions with regard to soliciting and accepting gifts; procedures for responding to alleged violations of this policy; and procedures to follow when a faculty or staff member wishes to dispute or appeal any action or decision related to a conflict of interest or conflict of commitment.
Examples of actual or potential conflicts include (but are not limited to):
- Performing work for other University departments or units for additional pay;
- Working in the same department as a family member;
- Participating in decisions or deliberations where your own personal financial interests are or could be affected;
- Participating in decisions or deliberations where a family member is, or could be, affected, financially or otherwise
- Performing activities for non-University entities for pay;
- Accepting gifts, entertainment, or other items of value from vendors or other third parties that do or have business with the University (also see below);
- Accepting an incentive or benefit to gain access to a staff member’s supervisor;
- Using University resources in activities that may lead to financial gain for the staff member or staff member’s family or friends;
- Using the name of the University in promoting activities that may lead to financial gain for the staff member or staff member’s family or friends;
- Honoraria or speakers fees greater than $1,000