The Office for Responsible Outside Interests’ (OROI) goal is to align outside interests and activities with the University’s mission in a way that ensures transparency and public trust.
OROI’s focus is mitigating six conflict types:
- Substantial Interest Conflicts – These conflicts relate to a University employee’s, or their relatives, financial interest in a University contract, sale, purchase, service, or decision.
- Conflicts of Commitment – These conflicts relate to a situation in which an individual accepts or incurs conflicting obligations between or among the University and another entity.
- Financial Conflicts of Interest in Research – These conflicts relate to a situation in which it could reasonably appear that a decision made by a researcher could affect the value of their, or their family member’s, financial or personal interest.
- Institutional Conflicts of Interest – These conflicts relate to institutional financial interests that could reasonably appear to influence a business or administrative decision made by a University Administrator on behalf of the University. This includes decisions related to the conduct of research.
- Organizational Conflicts of Interests – These conflicts relate to the University as an institution and everyone within the institution. This differs from Financial Conflicts of Interest (COI), Institutional COI, Substantial Interest conflicts and Conflicts of Commitment (COC) which relate to one’s individual interests, commitments and obligations. OCI review focuses on whether activities and relationships will render the University, the Principal Investigator or Project Director, and others involved in the project unable to (1) provide impartial assistance or advice, or (2) objectively perform work. OCI review also focuses on whether the institution has an unfair competitive advantage compared to other entities.
- Tech Transfer Conflicts – These conflicts relate to conflicts that may arise because of a proposed transfer of technology to employees or regents.
OROI manages the University disclosure system – eDisclosure. eDisclosure is a single point of disclosure for University employees and researchers to disclose their financial interests, personal interests and outside activity in accordance with University policy.