Skip to main content

Conflict of Interest and Commitment

As employees of a public institution, we are each subject to the Florida Statutes Chapter 112, part III Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees, also referred to as the state ethics laws. These laws are intended to ensure that we conduct ourselves independently and impartially, and do not use our public position for private gain. We are each expected to be familiar with the requirements of the state ethics laws and to refrain from engaging in any activity that creates a conflict of interest or a bias in decision-making, or that gives the appearance of a conflict or bias. The requirements apply to all of us, and include prohibited actions or conduct, as well as require certain disclosures be made. Our primary obligation is to our assigned duties and responsibilities as employees of UCF.

As a state institution and recipient of federal funds, UCF must comply with both state and federal requirements regarding the disclosure and management of conflicts of interest and commitment. Additionally, the university is committed to conducting university business and activities with integrity and has developed policies and procedures to identify, manage, and, when appropriate, remove potential and actual conflicts of interest and commitment. University Compliance and Ethics provides oversight and management of the university’s conflicts of interest and commitment reporting process.

 

A person being pulled in two directions by a cat on one side and a dog on the other.

Conflict of Interest and Commitment Disclosure

UCF Regulation 3.018 Conflict of Interest or Commitment; Outside Activity or Employment is a longstanding university regulation that outlines the conflict of interest and commitment disclosure process at UCF, which complies with state law, as well as federal laws as they pertain to research.  This process of disclosing all outside activities for review and approval protects all of us from unknowingly violating a state or federal law and protects our credibility and reputations by providing a transparent system of disclosure, approval, and documentation of outside activities that might otherwise raise concerns of a conflict of interest or commitment.

Each academic year, a potential outside activity, employment, and conflict of interest and commitment disclosure is required of all faculty, executive staff, post-doctoral employees, and select individuals in university positions of trust, or other employees engaged in the design, conduct, and reporting of research at UCF. Through this process, employees report all outside activities for review and approval in advance of engaging in the outside activity and University Compliance and Ethics serves as the final reviewer of all outside activities disclosed through this process. All other employees must submit a report to their supervisor prior to the initiation of any outside activity or employment and when a potential conflict of interest exists. An amended disclosure must be submitted within 30 days of any change in circumstances.

Online Disclosure Process

The university’s online Potential Outside Activity, Employment, and Conflict of Interest and Commitment Disclosure (AA-21) is available in the Huron COI disclosure system.  Employees subject to online reporting  receive direct communications from Huron COI and have access to resources, including training modules, contained within the system . Questions regarding AA-21 reporting requirements may be sent to the Potential Conflict Administration at PCA@ucf.edu.

ARGIS (Read only access to prior AA-21 disclosures)

Additional Disclosure Forms