IntegrityStar, November 2025 edition
Each edition of the IntegrityStar features an actual investigation conducted by the investigative offices here at UCF (note, all names have been changed in an effort to provide confidentiality of the parties involved). This edition covers an investigation highlighting the importance of the UCF Ethical Standard Honesty and Integrity, specifically, avoiding conflicts of interests or commitments.
Background
An anonymous reporter submitted a UCF IntegrityLine report alleging that a full time UCF faculty member owned a company and had not disclosed it to UCF. Additionally, the report alleged that the faculty member was living and working in another state while working remotely for UCF. University Compliance and Ethics conducted an inquiry and subsequent investigation.
Findings
The investigation substantiated the allegation that the faculty member failed to disclose their company in violation of university regulation UCF-3.018 Conflict of Interest or Commitment; Outside Activity or Employment. Additionally, the investigation found that the faculty member was dually employed, working full time for UCF while also working in the state where they resided, representing a conflict of commitment in violation of university regulation. Despite numerous requests by the university, the faculty member repeatedly failed to disclose their outside compensated activities to the university, also in violation of university regulation. Lastly, investigators discovered that the faculty member delivered presentations on behalf of their second employer while on contract with UCF and submitted expenses to UCF for a conference where they delivered a session representing their second employer.
Recommendations
As a result of the substantiated findings, University Compliance and Ethics recommended appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination. As a result, the faculty member is no longer working for the university and was required to reimburse the university for the expenses paid for non-university travel.
We appreciate the anonymous reporter who identified this as an issue and felt comfortable enough to bring it forward to the UCF IntegrityLine allowing the university the opportunity to address the issue.