Preamble
Active participation
by academic staff members in external activities that enhance
their professional skills or constitute public service can
be beneficial to the University as well as to the individual.
Because such activities can lead to conflicts of commitment
or interest with regard to one's University responsibilities,
the need exists for a general framework against which the
propriety and advisability of non-University activities
can be measured and monitored.
This University
of Illinois Policy on Conflicts of Commitment and Interest
provides such a framework and identifies procedures for
consultation and advice on conflicts of commitment or interest
matters, for resolution of situations in which a conflict
may exist, and for approval of exceptions when warranted.
The Policy makes every effort to balance the integrity and
interests of the University of Illinois with the integrity
and interests of individual academic staff members. To that
end, the Policy attempts not only to identify and eliminate
or manage actual conflicts of commitment or interest but,
whenever possible, to prevent even the appearance of conflicts.
The Policy provides for remedies to manage conflicts constructively
and for sanctions when the Policy is violated.
This Policy implements
an Illinois law requiring University faculty members to
obtain prior written approval before engaging in remunerated
private consulting or research for external persons or organizations.
It also implements various policies set forth in the University
Statutes and The General Rules Concerning University Organization
and Procedure. Finally, the Policy accommodates federal
regulations designed to protect the integrity of federally
funded research. Relevant excerpts from University, state,
and federal documents appear in the Appendix.
