Outside Commitments and Outside Employment

What is Significant Use of University Resources?

“Significant Use of University Resources” includes but is not limited to: use of research funding; use of funding allocated for asynchronous or distance learning programs; use of telecommunication and data services beyond ordinary use; use of university computing resources; use of instructional design or media production services; access to and use of research equipment and facilities or production facilities; use of University Assets* such as paid employee time, proprietary information, intellectual property (such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights), logos, land and buildings.

"I have been invited by a school district to provide professional development and will be paid for 6 hours of work. Is this a COC or COI?"

Please work with your college to determine if this is outside of your institutional duties and responsibilities.  If this activity meets the definition of an Outside Commitment, it should be disclosed for conflict of commitment review.  The Outside Commitment Decision Tree on our

"Is serving on an advisory board for an NSF grant a conflict? Usually a stipend is involved."

Generally speaking, this often falls within one’s institutional duties and responsibilities.  If this is outside of an individual’s institutional duties and responsibilities and meets the definition of an Outside Commitment, it will need to be disclosed for conflict of commitment review.

"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:

"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. 

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