Standards of Conduct Guide
Purpose
Manager
Compliance Program
Contacts with Media
Records
Litigation Hold
Workplace
Conflict of Interest
Use of Resources
Entering into Contracts
Environmental Health
Copyright
Gifts
Political
Contacts
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Conflicts


OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT

The primary employment responsibility of all employees is to UTSA. Outside professional commitments should not interfere with a faculty or staff member’s responsibility to UTSA. No member of the faculty or staff may accept outside employment, temporary or regular, that actually or potentially results in any conflict of interest with, or intrudes upon or detracts from the individual’s responsibilities to the programs, policies and objectives of UTSA. Consulting and other professional commitments with this result or the potential for this result must also be avoided. No full-time employee shall be employed in any outside work or activity or receive from an outside source a regular retainer fee or salary until a description of the nature and extent of the employment has been filed with and approved by their vice president.

Internet Click here for additional information found at the UT System Web site.
HOP Click here for additional information regarding Outside Employment

Q: May I work for a local department store at times when I am not working my normal hours at UTSA?
A: Probably. Working at a local department store most likely does not present a conflict of interest for UTSA employees. If UTSA is your permanent full- or part-time employer, you should still check with your supervisor to be certain that employment at the department store will
not interfere with your scheduled work times. You should also fill out an outside employment form and submit it to your vice president for approval.
Q: I work as an accountant in a department at UTSA. I also do bookkeeping for a catering firm that does business with UTSA and
occasionally with my department. Is there anything wrong with this?
A: Yes. You may not accept employment from any outside company that also does business with UTSA and creates a possible conflict of interest. In this case, it would be possible for you to allow the catering firm to bill your own UTSA department too much and then you could pay that bill. Whenever in doubt, check with your supervisor or vice president.

FINANCIAL INTERESTS
UTSA employees are prohibited from having a direct or indirect interest, financial or otherwise, in a corporation or business, engaging in a professional activity, or incurring an obligation of any nature
that is in substantial conflict with or might reasonably tend to influence the performance of their official duties at UTSA. If you plan to conduct business with UTSA, you are expected to inform the Vice President for Business Affairs, annually, of any financial arrangement with a company or entity external to UTSA that might create a potential conflict of interest.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN RESEARCH & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

UTSA is responsible for maintaining objectivity in research by ensuring that the design, conduct and reporting of research will not be biased by any conflicting financial interest of investigators responsible for the research in accordance with the provisions of Code of Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 50, Subpart F, and 45 CFR Part 94 and Texas Government Code Chapter 572 Section 572.001. Investigators are required to complete an annual Disclosure of Financial Interest Related to Research & Intellectual Property Form and submit it to the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance. This form should be kept current in regard to all research projects, whether extrnally funded or not funded and can be found at http://vpr.utsa.edu/oric/coi/procedures.php.

Q: My family owns a catering business that often does business with my department and others at UTSA. Is this a conflict of interest?
A: Not necessarily. If you do not make the catering decisions for your department and others at UTSA, then there should be no conflict. You do need to report this information to your supervisor.
Q: I’ve been buying stock in a company that does business with UTSA. After my next purchase, I’ll own 10 percent of the company. Is this a conflict of interest?
A: Potentially. If you have the authority to award contracts, select vendors, or influence purchases of goods and services, then you must report your ownership to your supervisor.

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The University of Texas at San Antonio, Office of Institutional Compliance