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Policy changes require employees to report outside activities or employment, potential conflicts of interest and commitment

From: Office of the Provost and Human Resources

Virginia Tech has adopted two revised policies that will impact faculty and staff. Both policy revisions are effective August 10.

Policy 13010 – Individual Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy

Faculty are required to report their involvement in external activities, such as consulting or outside employment, and disclose any potential conflicts of interest, such as ownership of a business. The disclosure requirement extends to any employee, including staff members or graduate assistants, with a significant financial interest in an external entity.

A conflict of interest occurs when an employee is in a position to advance one's own interests or that of one's family or others, to the detriment of the university. Any employee involved in external activities or who has a possible conflict of interest must file the appropriate forms annually, by September 14, or in advance of any later occurring activity.

Revised reporting forms are available at a new, comprehensive conflict of interest website maintained by the Office of the Vice President for Research.

Additionally, the policy requires that all faculty members who are serving as an investigator on a research grant complete training on individual conflicts of interest. Training is available in on-line or in-person formats; registration is handled by the Faculty Development Institute.  Register for the remaining August dates here: online or in-person format.    Registration for fall term training sessions is available here:  online or in-person formats.

Policy 4070 - Additional/Outside Employment

A second university policy requires that staff who have outside employment, or additional Virginia Tech employment, complete a form annually to obtain approval.

Employees must file the appropriate forms requesting permission in advance to  work  outside  the  normal  work  schedule  within  or  outside  the  university.   Continuing outside or additional Virginia Tech employment requires annual approval from the supervisor.

For more information contact the Department of Human Resources’ Service Center at 540-231-9331.