Conflict of Interest/Commitment

All employees must disclose outside interests and activities with entities that are related to their institutional responsibilities, do business with the institution, or sponsor research at the institution. These situations could create a real or perceived conflict of interest or conflict of commitment. When deemed necessary, a plan to manage, mitigate or eliminate the conflict will be developed by the employee with their supervisor and approved through their chain of supervision and the Division of Institutional Compliance and Privacy or the Office of Research Compliance.

Disclosures should include:

• Compensation received from any entity other than Auburn University. This includes outside employment, consulting fees, paid travel, intellectual property, stock/stock options, royalties, etc. (Note: You do NOT need to disclose your spouse's or child's primary employment if it has no relation to AU [not related to your AU work, not a vendor for AU, and not a research sponsor for AU.])

• Ownership interests or leadership positions in any legal entity. This includes owner of an LLC, sole proprietorship, or other business entity, CEO, President, Scientific Advisor, etc. (Note: you do NOT need to disclose stock in retirement accounts or other investment accounts, or if you own less than 5% of a publicly traded company).

• Board positions for companies or organizations, whether paid or unpaid, such as Chair/President, Treasurer, Advisor, etc. (Note: you do NOT need to disclose a leadership position for a professional organization related to your AU job that you are acting in your AU role and representing AU.)

• Other professional activities related or unrelated to your university work, which occur on a regular basis, whether paid or unpaid. Examples include operating online shops, commercial websites, social media business accounts, or other professional services (lawn and landscape, realty/real estate, information technology, HVAC, consulting, accounting/bookkeeping, legal, etc.)

• Interests in foreign entities, including but not limited to appointments or titles, contracts or agreements, laboratories, courses or lectures, collaborations, publications, gifts or other support (students, lab space, equipment, grants), consulting, travel, and visiting scholars. (Note: you do NOT need to disclose other Auburn employees who are foreign nationals that you collaborate with).

• Family members who also work at the university. This includes full-time, TES, GTAs, GAs, and student workers. (Note: you should also disclose if your relative is a student in your department in the open ended question).

• Personal relationships with Auburn vendors or affiliates that may appear to improperly influence your Auburn decisions or actions. This includes romantic relationships with vendors.