Sent on behalf of Vice Provost Colin Potts

Dear Colleagues,

Recent events have brought into focus the need to clarify the policies governing conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment. Sometimes these are unavoidable. However, they must be declared and managed. The attached letter from the chancellor gives an overview of the policy that was reaffirmed at the most recent BOR meeting. Please read it carefully.

Please be particularly careful if you are offered indirect compensation (dinners, transportation, hotel costs, etc.) by business entities that are likely to do business with parts of GT that you work for or with and can influence. These circumstances can create conflicts that may escalate over time and create moral hazards. We are all invited to events at which vendors present pitches on their educational support technologies or services, and occasionally the organizer will defray some of our costs. If those commercial pitches are ancillary to the purpose of the conference (e.g. a vendor’s fair at a conference organized by a not-for-profit professional association where most of the proceedings are research presentations and panel discussions), commonsense tells us that you are okay. And if you pick up a free pen or mouse pad while you are there and swap business cards, no one can argue that you’ve been corrupted. On the other hand, if the purpose of the conference is to share best practices using a platform and is organized by the vendor itself, then that may present the appearance of a conflict of interest. As such it’s not necessarily prohibited, but it should be acknowledged. Err on the side of caution.

As for conflicts of commitment, these arise when you’re doing something for an organization other than Georgia Tech while being paid by Georgia Tech. Giving talks at other universities or not-for-profit educational organizations is part of what we do as professionals and is one form of professional activity that’s taken into account when we are evaluated and promoted. That’s fine. In fact it’s encouraged. Working for another entity (including your own company) for pay or profit, on the other hand, should not be done except during vacation time and should be cleared in advance.

If in doubt, ask.

Colin

Chancellor's Policy Letter