1. Who is covered by the URI Conflict of Interest Policy?
All University
employees. The State of RI Code
of Ethics prohibits public officials and employees.......from using
their public position for private gain or advantage..
2. What defines a "conflict of interest"?
A conflict of
interest situation exists when an employee is using his public office for
personal gain or to the detriment of the University.
3. What are the financial thresholds that define conflicts of interest?
"Significant
Financial Interest" is defined by federal and state statutes as:
1) anything of monetary value, including but not limited to, salary or other
payments for services (e.g. consulting fees or honoraria) that exceed
$10,000, 2) equity interest (e.g. stock options, stocks, or other
ownership interests) of > 5%, and 3) intellectual property rights,
(patents, copyrights, etc.).
4. Does that mean that if I am paid more that
$10,000 in consulting fees that I have a conflict of interest?
Not necessarily. If you get >$10,000 in consulting fees from a for profit company
and if that company is also funding your
research at the University there is a potential for conflict.
.
3. What problems do conflicts of interest create in research?
Situations
might arise creating conflicting roles which could potentially bias a
researcher's judgment or result in unfair competitive advantages.
Research must always remain impartial, technically sound, and objective. The possibility that such a conflict may exist requires management by
URI
4. When and to whom are disclosures made?
1) Conflict of interest issues
must be disclosed to the appropriate administrator (department chair,
division supervisor, dean, or vice provost).
2)Consultation activities
should be disclosed before they occur and updated as needed. The
Consultation Disclosure Form is submitted to the appropriate department
chair and dean. If there is a potential for conflict of interest in
research this must also be reported to the Research Office..
5. How can conflicts of interest be avoided?
Conflict may be avoided if
employees are aware of what constitutes a conflict, by disclosure of the
potential conflict and by management of the conflict.
6. How can conflicts of interest be managed?
In many instances a
conflict of interest can be resolved by simple disclosure, in other cases
the conflict may be monitored by independent reviewers, a research
plan might be modified, or severance of a relationship that is creating
the actual or potential conflict might be necessary.
7. Can faculty owned businesses conduct activities involving students or
staff?
Members of the University
community involved in business ventures as owner, or major investor
must be alert to the possibility that a conflict of interest may
arise. Students or staff may work for faculty owned business, but
not on University time. Students may work for a faculty owned
business but may not be simultaneously enrolled in a course taught by that
faculty member. Student/faculty roles and relationships must be
clearly defined.
8. To whom does
the Intellectual Property Policy apply?
The IP Policy
applies to all University personnel (faculty, staff, students and people
working on grants or contracts).
9. What is the Public/Private Partnership Act?
The purpose of the Act is to allow the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the Community College of Rhode Island to enter into public/private partnerships in education that involve faculty and staff members from those institutions and encourage the marketing of inventions developed by faculty and staff for the benefit of both the inventor and the public, while continuing to ensure that Rhode Island’s public employees adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct, as embodied in the R.I. Code of Ethics.
The Public/Private Partnership Act authorizes the RIBGHE to approve relationships between institutional employees and private entities in which there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest or conflict of commitment between the employee’s interests and the interests of the institution by whom he or she is employed. The Act therefore also obligates the RIBGHE to impose such restrictions as are necessary to manage, reduce, or eliminate any actual or potential conflict. Under the terms of the Act, the presidents and vice-presidents at any public institution of higher education in Rhode Island are not eligible for an exemption.
10. What is the Public/Private Partnership Policy?
All employees who are or may be engaged in any activity requiring disclosure and/or an exemption pursuant to the Public/Private Partnership Act shall be required to comply with the procedures set forth by the Public/Private Partnership Policy as APPENDIX A.
Conflict of Interest 