Managing a Potential Conflict of Interest or Conflict of Commitment

What does it mean to “manage” a potential COI or COC?

To manage a potential conflict of interest, the University must take steps to identify the employee’s personal interests and then to isolate them from the University’s interests, which must take precedence. 

To manage a potential conflict of commitment, the University must ensure that the employee’s external commitments do not interfere with his or her ability to carry out his or her University responsibilities or compete with the University’s mission. 

The key steps the COI/COC manager will take are to

• gather information about the potential COI or COC;
• consult with other offices, as needed;
• evaluate the circumstances under the unit implementation policy; and 
• recommend a plan for addressing the potential conflict. 

The steps the manager takes to ensure that the employee’s interests or commitments do not interfere or compete with the University’s interests can vary significantly depending on the circumstances.  You’ll learn more in the next screens.