Back to Conflict of Interest Policy 309.6
Examples of Activities that May Constitute a Conflict of Interest
The following list provides some examples of the type of situations that may involve conflicts of interest and, hence, should be disclosed. The list of situations is not exhaustive. Other situations or activities may exist that have the appearance of, potential for, or involve actual conflicts. Situations, whether listed below or not, that have the appearance of, potential for, or involve actual conflicts of interest should be disclosed.
Because a particular situation appears on the list does not necessarily mean that a conflict of interest exists. Even if a conflict exists, the situation may be unavoidable or in the university’s best interest and, hence, allowed to continue after disclosure.
- Employee or immediate family member ownership, management, or other business ties with a private or public organization that has dealings with the university.
- Teaching credit or noncredit courses, seminars, or workshops not for the university.
- Requiring material for use by students for which the instructor derives direct or indirect financial benefit.
- Fees provided for professional service including consulting or expert testimony.
- Continuing role in the scientific and technical efforts of a commercial enterprise.
- Revenues from patents or licensed technology.
- Service or financial interest in an entity that provides research grants or contracts.
- Direct commercial or financial interests of immediate family members in employee’s research.
- Transfer of technology to an organization in which the employee or immediate family members have an interest.
- Employee or immediate family member having a financial interest in university decisions.
- Use of university facilities, employees, or students in personal or commercial activities.
- Appointment, promotion, supervision, or management of an immediate family member.
- Acceptance of gifts from suppliers, research sponsors, organizations, corporations, or persons who have dealings with UA Little Rock. For the operative definition of the term “gift,” see the Arkansas Ethics Commission’s Rules on Gifts.
- Private remuneration for university research provided by an individual or organization.
- Use of university credit, purchasing power, or facilities for non-university activities.
- Advertising endorsements based upon university position.
- Outside activities influencing decisions or behavior with respect to preservation, generation, and dissemination of knowledge (e.g., delaying dissemination of research information, diverting to external organizations research opportunities that the university would have a normal expectation to obtain).
- Side agreements to any contracts or business dealings between UA Little Rock suppliers, research sponsors, corporations, or other entities or persons.
- Participation in UA Little Rock committee, purchasing or contracting decisions that are related in any way to a business enterprise in which the employee has a significant financial interest.
- Use of the name of UA Little Rock, the University of Arkansas, a college, a center or a department in a manner to produce personal financial benefit.
- Memberships on board of directors, committees, advisory groups (or similar bodies) of governmental, for profit or not for profit entity.