Conflict of Interest Reporting

HOW TO REPORT. Outside professional employment and possible conflicts of interest should be reported via the Outside Activity Report Form button below.

Submit Outside Activity Report Form

OUTSIDE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT.  Outside employment, consulting, and other business activities in the area of one’s OU duties (“outside professional employment”) should be reported by all employees whose OU appointment ranges from full-time to 0.8 fte, plus all personnel working on a sponsored research project. Employment or business activities need not be reported if they are dissimilar to one’s OU duties and none of the questions below requires a “yes” answer.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST.  A Conflict of Interest arises when a financial or other personal interest, activity, or relationship may reasonably be expected to compromise an Employee's judgment in carrying out University responsibilities. All employees have an ongoing duty to disclose any conflict when it arises.  

QUESTIONS ABOUT POSSIBLE CONFLICTS?   If the answer to any question is YES, please complete and submit the form. 

IF YOU TEACH…

• Do you teach or advise any members of your family, or anyone with whom you have a personal relationship that would reasonably appear to affect their evaluation?
• Do you receive a royalty, markup, or other compensation (other than OU compensation) for educational materials or services marketed to OU students? 

IF YOU DO RESEARCH…

• Do you work for any other university, institution or government?
• Does any other university, institution or government provide other support for your research, for example by providing laboratory space, assistants, or materials?  
• Do you have a title at any other university, for example professor, lecturer, or visiting professor?
• Do you receive any personal compensation, gifts, or personal reimbursement (for example, travel or lodging) from an entity that sponsors your research? 
• Do you work for, own equity in, or serve as an officer for a company related to your research?
• Do you have a confidentiality agreement for your research results or an agreement to delay their disclosure?
• Do you receive SBIR/STTR funding through a company that you or your family own, have equity in, or work for?

IF YOU HAVE AUTHORITY TO HIRE, SUPERVISE, OR EVALUATE OTHER OU EMPLOYEES . . .

• Do you supervise or evaluate members of your family? 
• Do you supervise or evaluate anyone who is not family, but with whom you have a personal or financial relationship that would reasonably appear to affect your decisions? 

IF YOU MAKE PURCHASING DECISIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS AT OU . . . 

• Do you or your family have a SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INTEREST in a vendor or potential vendor?
• Have you or your family received any gifts or other things of value from vendors or potential vendors?
• Do you have a past employment history or other relationship with a vendor or potential vendor that would create the appearance of a conflict of interest?

FOR ALL EMPLOYEES . . . 

• Do you work outside OU in any business where you may find potential customers or clients through your OU duties?
• Do you work outside OU in any business where you report to, work with, or supervise another OU employee?
• Do you provide “sports agent” representation to athletes?
• Do you expect to attend a conference with travel, lodging, or registration fees paid for by a third party?
• Do you or your family have a SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INTEREST in a company or enterprise that does business with OU?  Sponsors a university project? Employs OU faculty, staff or students?  Makes more than minimal use of university-owned intellectual property, equipment, or facilities?

PLEASE NOTE: No set of specific questions can cover all situations in which conflicts may arise.   Employees are encouraged to review the Individual Conflicts of Interest policy at Faculty Handbook sec. 5.10 and the OU Regents COI Policy for further information.