Conflicts of Commitment

Commitment to the University

Conflicts of Commitment typically relate to an individual’s distribution of time and effort between obligations to University employment and participation in activities outside of University employment. The latter may include generally encouraged extensions of professional expertise such as consulting or participation in associations. These activities may promote professional development and enrich the individual’s contributions to the University, to the profession, and to society. However, a Conflict of Commitment occurs, for instance, when the pursuit of Outside Professional Activities involves an excessive investment of time, or is conducted at a time that interferes with the individual’s fulfillment of University employment responsibilities. For faculty, Outside Professional Activities should be limited to no more than 20% of the contracted time of the individual.

Elements of Review

Substantial, consequential work is conducted outside of traditional business hours and outside of an on-campus office or laboratory. It can be difficult, therefore, to examine and monitor whether the time devoted to Outside Professional Activities conflicts with fulfillment of Institutional Responsibilities. Unit Authorities are encouraged to monitor whether an individual is meeting their expected performance standards when determining whether a Conflict of Commitment exists. Potentially relevant questions for the Unit Authority to consider:

• • Have satisfactory arrangements been made to cover Institutional Responsibilities?
  • For faculty, has the individual engaged in Outside Professional Activities in excess of 20% of the time per week on average during their contract period?
  • For faculty, will the individual be engaging in Outside Professional Activities only during a non-contract period?
  • Does engaging in the Outside Professional Activity advance the skills and abilities of the individual, with potential resultant benefit to the individual department unit or University?
  • Will engaging in the Outside Professional Activity be detrimental to the employing individual department unit or the University?
  • Will engaging in the Outside Professional Activity involve other university personnel?
  • Is the individual in good standing and meeting expected standards of performance?
  • Does the Outside Professional Activity interfere or have the appearance of interfering with the Institutional Responsibilities of the individual?

No University Affiliation

Individuals engaging in Outside Professional Activities do so as private citizens and shall not represent themselves to the outside employer or other recipient of services as engaging in such Outside Professional Activities on behalf of the University. University personnel may not, in any way, claim or otherwise convey that the University endorses any recommendations or results of Outside Professional Activities of an individual. Idaho State Board of Education policy requires that, in all outside employment, the outside employer must be informed that the employee is acting in a private capacity and that the University is in no way a party to the outside employment, and is not liable or responsible for the performance thereof. If faculty members are listed as authors on publications resulting from performance of Outside Professional Activities (e.g., private consulting services), a disclosure statement must be included on that publication stating that the contribution resulted from the faculty member’s affiliation with the outside organization. If listed as a corresponding author of such a publication, the faculty member must use non-university contact information.

Exempt Academic Activities

Exempt Academic Activities, whether compensated or not, do not typically require disclosure unless the time committed to them interferes with the performance of other assigned duties or unless they may constitute an Undue Influence. Exempt Academic Activities are an expected part of an academic professional portfolio and not otherwise required to be disclosed. Examples include:

• • Holding office in, or undertaking an editorial office or duties for a scholarly journal, academic press, or professional organization;
  • Serving as a referee for a scholarly journal or an academic press;
  • Serving on a professional review board, a government review panel, or a peer review body;
  • Attending or presenting at professional meetings, workshops, colloquia, lectures, symposia, seminars, study sections, or training programs;
  • Site visits in connection with accreditation, audits, or reviews for projects having Sponsored Funding;
  • Writing or producing academically related books, articles, works of art, or other creative works ordinarily considered in decisions relating to employment status or salary; or
  • University-related public engagement.