Introduction to Potential Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment

To whom does this policy apply, and why? 

This SPG applies to every employee of the University, including the executive officers.  So, if you are a UM faculty member, including professorial faculty, research faculty, clinical instructional faculty, lecturers, and visiting faculty, and you hold an appointment that is tenure track, tenured, or adjunct; regular or temporary; or full-time or part-time, Standard Practice Guide (SPG) 201.65-1 Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment applies to you.  

The principles of the COI/COC policy emphasize how important it is for you (as for all University faculty) to act with honesty, integrity, and in the best interests of the University while fulfilling your professional obligations.  This is one aspect of employees’ stewardship responsibilities at the U-M, see
http://www.hr.umich.edu/stewardship.html. 

You should not, therefore, engage in external activities or pursue outside interests that interfere with your ability to fulfill your University obligations.  Nor should you use your University position and influence for personal gain at the expense of the University.

Neither SPG 201.65-1 nor the units’ implementation policies create new requirements for individual faculty, but they do articulate the obligation to disclose all potential conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment.