General Counsel
FAQ: Ethics
This document provides a summary of the law in this area and answers questions frequently asked of attorneys in the Office of General Counsel. However, the information presented here is intended for informational purposes only and nothing in this document should be construed or relied upon as legal advice. The Office of General Counsel or your Campus Legal Counsel should be consulted regarding the specific facts and circumstances associated with any legal matter.
Reviewed 10/29/2010
Q.
How can I resolve ethical questions before agreeing
to undertake an outside activity?
A. If you are a member of the faculty or academic staff,
your dean, director or campus ethics committee can review
outside activities for any ethics concern. Classified
staff members may ask for advice from their appointing
authority or the Department of Employee Relations. In
all cases, it is prudent to keep your immediate supervisor
aware of outside activities in which you are involved
that relate to your university work.
Q.
What outside activities can raise ethical concerns?
A. Only activities that relate to or could affect your
university assignment are governed by the ethics code.
For example, if you are a Campus Business Officer, outside
employment as a physical therapist would not raise ethical
concerns although your outside employment would not
be appropriate if it diminished your commitment to your
university employment. However, if you were an instructor
of sports medicine, working as a physical therapist
could raise ethical concerns if your outside work conflicted
with your university position or was structured to allow
you to benefit personally from your university affiliation.
Q.
May I use my university telephone or email to communicate
personal matters?
A. University communications facilities are available
for limited personal use as long as there is no interference
with normal responsibilities or cost to the University.
Q.
Must I disclose outside activities relevant to my university
position when no conflict of interest is present?
A. Yes. All outside activities relevant to an employee's
university assignment must be disclosed, whether they
result in income or not. Unrelated activities, whether
or not reimbursed, need not be disclosed (for example,
house painting by a professor of chemistry).
Q.
May I attend a national conference on a reimbursed basis
without ethical concerns when the invitation is a result
of my professional expertise?
A. Yes, if your supervisor, dean or faculty chair agrees
that the conference will benefit the university and
your position. If the university will neither benefit
from your attendance nor be harmed by it, you may attend,
but you should report the activity and take vacation
time to cover your days away from your position.