For the convenience and understanding of the university community, several prominent conflict of interest- and commitment-related policies, unit rules, and procedures have been assembled below.
Board of Trustees Policy
Outside Activities and Related Compensation [formerly IMD 4.011]
- Employees may engage in outside consulting or other work so long as it does not substantially interfere with institutional obligations.
- "Employees," as used in this policy, means an employee hired under the authority of the Board.
- Laboratory and other institutional facilities and resources, including support staff and stationery, shall not be used in outside work for which the employee received remuneration unless expressly authorized by the institution. Such authorization may be included in the institution policy or as part of the approval of an employee's specific request.
- Remuneration received in accordance with this Board of Trustees policy and Oregon State University’s Conflict of Commitment unit rule from sources outside the University System shall be considered official salary, honorarium, or reimbursement of expenses for purposes of ORS 244.040. Receipt of such compensation does not have to be reported under Oregon State University’s Conflict of Commitment unit rule unless the outside work creates a potential conflict of interest as defined in ORS 244.020(8).
(Last revised: July 1, 2014. Adopted by the university as policy from Staff and Faculty, IMD Section 4.011 Board Policy on Outside Activities and Related Compensation. The statutory authority for this Board of Trustees policy is ORS 352.232 Sources of compensation for officers and employees; potential conflict of interest; reporting; standards.)
University Policies
Conflict of Interest, Policy Statement Regarding (unnumbered)
SECTION B: As to employees of the Department of Higher Education, including employees of the respective institutions:
The Chancellor, the vice chancellors, the presidents, and the vice presidents of this Department shall file annually with the Government Standards and Practices Commission a verified statement of economic interests. No employee shall accept any outside employment that will discredit or embarrass the employee's institution, the Department of Higher Education, or the State of Oregon. Before accepting any outside employment, all employees shall comply with University Policy 580-021 Conditions of Service.
Any employee of the Department in a position to influence or make recommendations concerning the award of any contract who is an officer, agent, or member of or directly or indirectly interested in the pecuniary profits or contracts or any corporation, association, or partnership which is doing business or seeking to do business with the Department of Higher Education, shall be considered to have a potential conflict of interest.
Upon adoption of this policy, the text of this policy statement, and of Article XV, Section 7, of the Oregon Constitution, or pertinent portions of ORS chapter 244, and of University Policy 580-021 Conditions of Service shall be widely disseminated and made available to each current and new employee.
(Last revised: October 19, 2017.)
University Policy 580-021 Conditions of Service
580-021-0025 Outside Employment and Activities; Conflict of Interest
- No full-time employee of the university shall engage in any outside employment that substantially interferes with duties.
- Institution employees shall provide written reports to the President or designee regarding potential conflicts of interest as defined under ORS 244.020(8). Complaints by any person regarding potential conflicts of interest may be referred for investigation to the President or Director of Internal Audit who shall investigate the complaint.
(Last revised: September 29, 2021. To read the full University Policy 580-021 Conditions of Service, please visit https://policy.oregonstate.edu/policy/conditions-service)
Unit Rules
Conflict of Commitment [University Human Resources Unit Rule]
The university recognizes the contributions and achievements of its faculty members by appropriate promotion and salary advancement, and permits them substantial freedom in arranging their academic lives. This freedom is, however, subject to the principle that the primary professional loyalty of full-time faculty is to the University. Faculty members are expected to engage in University teaching, research and service activities that advance and communicate knowledge and learning. To learn more, and for the full text of the unit rule, please visit https://hr.oregonstate.edu/manual/conflict-commitment.
(Last revised: February 1, 2012.)
Financial Conflicts of Interest in Research [Division of Research and Innovation Unit Rule]
This policy sets forth the obligations of Oregon State University and its employees, students, and affiliates (“individuals”), with respect to financial conflicts of interest that involve university-affiliated research and sponsored project activities. To learn more, and for the full text of the unit rule, please visit https://research.oregonstate.edu/ori/coi/about-conflict-interest-program/policy-research-conflicts-interest.
(Last revised: March 28, 2024.)
Procedures
Conflicts of Interest [Office of Audit, Risk and Compliance Web Resource on Ethics]
In general, personal responsibility, integrity, and high ethical standards are the principal guides in avoiding conflicts of commitment, and the University expects that all members of the faculty will conduct their outside activities in a manner that reflects credit on themselves, their profession, and the university. The principal safeguards against abuse are the standards imposed by professional colleagues during periodic reviews, and the rigorous process by which the university evaluates and selects individuals for appointment and promotion. The university ethics advisor provides more information regarding ethical considerations surrounding conflicts of interest on the Office of Audit, Risk and Compliance's ethics webpage.