Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1994 [PAGE 512]

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IV. PROCEDURES

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[February 8

A. Disclosure of Non-University Activities Except for activities specified in Section III. E, each academic staff member of the University of Illinois is required to obtain prior written approval from the University before undertaking, contracting for, or accepting anything of value in return for consulting or research from any external person or organization. Each academic staff member must complete annually a "Report of Non-University Activity," which requires retrospective and prospective disclosure of external activities. Throughout the year, additional disclosure is necessary whenever a substantial change in external activities occurs or when required by granting agencies. On the Report, the academic staff member must disclose external activities that constitute actual or potential conflicts of commitment or interest. These include: 1. consulting or other financial relationships with a sponsor of one's research; 2. managerial role or significant1 financial relationship with a company in one's field of research or a company that does business with the University; 3. external activities or business that involve University students or employees; 4. relationships, commitments, or activities on the part of the academic staff member or his/her family that might present or appear to present a conflict of commitment or interest with regard to one's University appointment. These relationships may be of a financial, fiduciary, or uncompensated nature. B. Role of the Unit Executive Officer T h e unit executive officer reviews submitted reports, evaluates the nature and extent of actual or potential conflicts, and works with each academic staff member having such conflicts to manage or eliminate them. Further, the unit executive officer may initiate an inquiry of an academic staff member when h e / s h e believes that a conflict of commitment or interest may exist. T h e unit executive officer can require sufficient specificity to ensure that h e / s h e understands the nature and extent of the conflict. T h e unit executive officer must respond within fourteen calendar days to a written request for approval of an external activity or within fourteen calendar days of receiving a response to inquiries regarding the nature and extent of any conflict. If fourteen days pass without a response, the academic staff member has the right to take the request to the next higher administrative level. C. Management of Non-University Activities (Remedy) It is incumbent upon the academic staff member and the unit executive officer to manage or resolve real or apparent conflicts. Remedies may include modifying the research plan, appointing an oversight panel or person to monitor research, appointing an impartial person to monitor the use of students, disclosing significant conflicts at presentation of results, abstaining from promotional decisions for staff, removing purchasing decision authority, divesting financial interests, and severing relationships that constitute actual or potential conflicts. T h e academic staff member may apply for a leave of absence with or without pay as a remedy. In trying to reach a mutually acceptable remedy, the advice of the dean or Vice Chancellor for Research may be sought.

1 In 1995, federal regulations define "significant" as financial interest in business enterprises or entities that exceeds $10,000 or represents more than 5 percent ownership.