"I’ve agreed to be on an advisory board for the Oxford Dictionary of African American English. I’ll be given more than $5000 and this is my area of expertise. What do I need to do for COI or COC?"

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 Disclosure Requirements webpage may be of assistance in making this determination.

 

"I have been invited to participate in a small conference. The conference is funded by a grant and the grantee is reimbursing participants for travel expenses. Is this a COC/COI?"

There is not enough information to determine whether this should be disclosed for conflict of interest review.  (e.g., Is it a UArizona grant?  Are you funded by a PHS agency or the Dept of Energy?)  Please contact OROI at coi@arizona.edu or visit our office hours (1st & 3rd Thursday, 2 pm – 3 pm; Connect via Zoom) for assistance.

A non-profit education organization has asked me to participate in a curriculum design project. The project aligns with my expertise and research. They would pay travel and a stipend. Is this a COI/COC?

If you are an Investigator and receive a travel reimbursement/sponsorship and/or stipend of any amount from a foreign entity, this must be disclosed as a Foreign Interest for conflict of interest review.

 

"I have been invited to serve on the board of a local non-profit with no stipend involved. Do I need to report this?"

If you are an Investigator, this activity should be disclosed for conflict of interest review if it meets the definition of a Significant Personnel Interest.  Significant Personal Interests are any managerial, professional, or Fiduciary Position you (or a Family Member) hold in any outside entity, whether or not you or your family is compensated. This can include officer, director, and board positions.

 

"I have been asked to serve on an advisory board with a non-education organization - no stipend is involved. It is a STEM organization and I am not a STEM expert. Do I need to file a COC?"

If you are an Investigator, this activity should be disclosed for conflict of interest review if it meets the definition of a Significant Personnel Interest.  Significant Personal Interests are any managerial, professional, or Fiduciary Position you (or a Family Member) hold in any outside entity, whether or not you or your family is compensated. This can include officer, director, and board positions.

 

"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.

 

"An institute at another US university wants to pay a stipend to consult on test development items. The total amount would be less than $5000."

Because the stipend is less than $5,000 and from a U.S. institution, this does not need to be disclosed for conflict of interest review.  This may, however, need to be disclosed for conflict of commitment review if it is an Outside Commitment, which can include fee-for-service activity and Research.

 

"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.  “Who is an Investigator?” can be used to help determine if you are an Investigator.

"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.

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