Office for Responsible Outside Interests

top level Office for Responsible Outside Interests content

"I have to fill out a conflict of interest form for every doctoral student for whom I am advisor when they submit an IRB. The questions asked on the form are not relevant for this situation. It's a waste of time and irrelevant."

Investigators, as defined in the Conflicts of Interest & Commitment policy, are required to submit a Research Certification for each Research Project, both non-sponsored and sponsored.  OROI relies on the PI to make this determination.  “

"Our research is applied work on the field, with communities, nonprofits, and other organizations. How do we determine what is a 'conflict'?"

University Employees are asked to disclose their Outside Interests (Significant Financial Interests, Significant Personal Interests, Foreign Interests), Outside Commitments and Substantial Interests so that determinations of what is and is not a conflict can made through OROI.

"What is considered 'outside of UA duties and responsibilities' if we are budgeted to for research, teaching, and service?"

Please work with your college to determine what is and is not considered to be part of your UArizona duties and responsibilities.  The following disclosure scenarios may be helpful:

"When is there overlap between my Outside Interests and my Research?"

Overlap between an Outside Interest and a Research Project occurs when there is Relatedness.

 

“Relatedness” is the condition in which it may reasonably appear that decisions made by the Investigator in the performance of his/her institutional responsibilities could directly and significantly affect the value of his/her Significant Financial Interests or be in conflict with Significant Personal Interests or Foreign Interests.

 

"Do employees have to fill out a form in eDisclosure if they are teaching a course for the UA? This is not part of their job description."

COI:  Income received from the University of Arizona is exempt from the COI disclosure requirements

"What happens if you submit a COC form prior to the trip and it’s not 'approved' before the date of the trip? Can you still go?"

Outside Commitments require prior approval.  In an ideal world, the COC form would be submitted in eDisclosure 4 weeks prior to the start date to ensure college and department reviewers have an opportunity to review the form, resolve concerns and/or implement a management plan.  Realizing that submission 4 weeks prior to the start date is not always possible, we ask that individuals email us to flag a fast-approaching start date so that we can work with the approvers to ensure all questions are answered, etc. 

"If a person asks for permission to engage in an Outside Commitment and it is declined, then what?"

If the Outside Commitment is not approved, the individual cannot engage in the Outside Commitment.

OROI is available to work with college/department approvers to discuss concerns and develop a COC management plan.  More details about the COC review process are available on our COC & COI Review Processes webpage. 

"Do people need to get COC approval prior to going on a trip or can they report it during or afterward?"

Outside Commitments require prior approval.

"Is Conflict of Commitment a disclosure process or an approval process?"

Both.  Outside Commitments must be disclosed in eDisclosure, at which time OROI will initiate the review process.  

 

More details about the COC review process are available on our COC & COI Review Processes webpage. 

"What is research?"

Research and Research Project mean any organized program of scientific inquiry that involves a systematic investigation, study, or experiment designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge that is performed at or under the auspices of the University. Research includes non-sponsored research, research fellowship and training programs, and research-related activities in undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral education.  It also includes some educational activities that are supported by a research sponsor.

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