The University of Arizona (the “University”) encourages its faculty and appointed professionals to use their professional expertise to advance and communicate knowledge through interaction with the public, the community, and external entities. The University feels that such activities enhance performance of University teaching, advance University research and public service missions, and bring credit to the University.
At the same time, the University has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that inappropriate external influences outside the course and scope of one’s University employment do not affect the performance of one’s primary duties to the University. Outside Employment and Outside Professional Commitments1 raise important questions related to time and energy allocation, University resource allocation, intellectual property protection and potential for financial conflicts of interest.
As used in this Policy, “Conflict of Commitment” relates to an individual’s distribution of time and effort between his/her full-time duties as a University Employee, and his/her responsibilities resulting from Outside Employment and Outside Professional Commitments.
The purpose of this Policy is to
- provide guidance on the University’s requirements related to possible Conflicts of Commitment resulting from Outside Employment and Outside Professional Commitments;
- outline Conflict of Commitment disclosure requirements; and
- provide guidance to assist Supervisors, Department Heads and Deans in their review of such disclosures for approval or rejection.
While every full-time University employee is considered to have a primary commitment of time and intellectual energies to his/her work for the University, this Policy is not intended to deter the cultivation of outside interest in University expertise. Both the individual employee and the University may benefit from approved interactions with external scholars and organizations and from commitments to professional societies, journals, etc. Administrative Departments and individual colleges may establish their own Conflict of Commitment conventions within the parameters outlined in this Policy and based upon the Department Head or Dean’s determination of the unit’s and University’s best interests.
1. All capitalized terms used in this Policy that are not otherwise defined in the text have the meanings set forth in the "Definitions" below.