To: All faculty and staff
From:
Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost
Cheryl Reardon, chief human resources officer and associate vice president
J. Martin Scholtz, vice president for research
Denise Jamieson, vice president for medical affairs
Intent: Inform all University of Iowa faculty and staff of the institution's conflict of interest policies. Please review the information below and bookmark the websites for future reference.
Date: Sept. 19, 2023
The University of Iowa is committed to the principle of objective, fair, and equitable treatment of all employees.
It is crucial that university activities be conducted in an atmosphere that is free of actual or apparent conflicts of interest. For the purpose of protecting both the integrity and objectivity of its employees in the performance of their university obligations, and to create a workplace environment based in equity and fairness, it is the policy of the university that conflicts of interest should be avoided where possible, and otherwise disclosed and managed. Policy notifications such as this are required by federal law.
The existence of a conflict of interest is not always clear cut. University employees are expected to make a reasonable effort to determine whether their activities create, or appear to create, such conflicts. If there is any uncertainty, employees should consult their departmental executive officer (DEO) or equivalent, or supervisor.
Please review the information below and bookmark the annual policy notifications page on the University Human Resources website for reference.
Conflict of Interest in Employment
Generally, a conflict of interest in employment (nepotism) arises when two individuals have a current or former relationship outside work and are in a position where one can make decisions affecting the employment status of the other. This could make it difficult for the individual with the decision-making responsibility to be objective, or it may create the appearance, to a reasonable third party, that such an individual may not be objective.
To review the complete policy, please see the UI Operations Manual.
Conflict of Commitment
A conflict of commitment (effort) involves a situation in which a faculty or staff member engages in an "external activity" (see II-18.4d for definition), which requires time and/or effort such that the activity interferes, or appears to interfere, with fulfillment of the faculty or staff member's obligations to the university.
To review the complete policy, please see the UI Operations Manual.
UI Health Care Conflict of Interest Policy
The success of University of Iowa Health Care (UIHC) depends on a talented and creative faculty and staff who earn regional, national, and international recognition for their contributions to teaching, research, clinical care, and the advancement of their diverse clinical and scientific specialties.
As a result of their expertise and experience, faculty and staff have opportunities to engage in professional activities outside UIHC. Participation in these activities may also create real and/or perceived conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment.
UIHC must continue to make it possible for faculty and staff to advance teaching, service, and research through collaborations with industry in a manner that avoids real or perceived conflicts of interest or commitment.
To review the complete policy, please visit the UIHC Conflict of Interest Office webpage.
Purchasing Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest in purchasing arises when a faculty or staff member is or may be in the position to influence the university's business, research, or other decisions in ways that could lead to any form of personal gain for the faculty or staff member, or others closely associated with the university employee.
Further, except as part of official state duties, a UI employee shall not sell, in any one occurrence, any goods or services having a value in excess of $2,000 to any state agency unless the sale is made pursuant to an award or contract let after public notice and competitive bidding. Purchases from UI employees must be pre-approved by the director of purchasing.
To review the complete policy, please see the UI Operations Manual.
Prohibition of Giving and Receiving Gifts
Under state law (Iowa Code Chapter 68B), public employees–including university employees and their immediate family members–may not accept gifts valued at more than $3 from restricted donors (see policy for definitions of "gift" and "restricted donors"). Restricted donors include supervisees and has been interpreted broadly to include students in one's classes and graduate student advisees.
To review the complete policy, please see the UI Operations Manual.
Royalties from Course Materials
Faculty members should not profit from recommending or requiring the purchase of course materials by their students.
Faculty members who receive royalties from the sale of course materials to their students should either refund the money to the students or make other arrangements to avoid profiting from their students' use of the materials (e.g., transferring the funds to the UI Center for Advancement).
To review the complete policy, please see the UI Operations Manual.
Annual Disclosure of Outside Professional Activities and Interests
To ensure that UI academic, health care, business, research, and teaching endeavors are free of potential or actual conflicts of interest, the UI requires all employees to disclose any potential or actual conflicts of interest in advance of initiating an activity or when the employee, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, first becomes aware of the conflict or the potential for one.
Additionally, certain UI faculty and staff members are required to complete an Annual Disclosure of Outside Professional Activities and Interests by April 30 each calendar year.
Please review this webpage to determine if you are an employee who is required to complete an Annual Disclosure of Outside Professional Activities.
