Potential Conflicts of Interest (COI) and Conflicts of Commitment (COC) are inevitable where faculty are engaged, as they ought to be, with collaborators, sponsors, publishers, and other institutions outside the University.  These potential conflicts are not necessarily problematic and faculty members are encouraged to engage in outside activities and relationships that enhance the University’s mission.  To maintain our credibility in the eyes of the public, it is important that faculty disclose any potential conflicts of interest or commitment as soon as they arise so that they can be evaluated objectively and, if necessary, managed or eliminated.  For more background information, the University's main website for Conflict of Interest and Commitment is located on the UM-Ann Arbor Provost website.  University policies on Conflict of Interest and Commitment can be found in the Standard Practice Guide (SPG 201.65-1). 

UM-Dearborn's Policy documents on Conflict of Interest and Commitment were approved by the President on October 1, 2007 (more...).   Both Conflict of Interest (COI) and Conflict of Commitment (COC) are covered in the following documents:

Faculty Policy Document

Staff Policy Document

Example scenarios and discussion questions may be helpful in understanding when these policies apply and when an employee might be in a conflict situation.

In addition to as-needed disclosure of conflicts of interest and commitment, Dearborn faculty have an obligation to report information about outside, compensated activities annually.  In order to maintain confidentiality and separate this from other information requested by departments in annual reports, Dearborn uses a web-based disclosure system.  This system can be accessed at the following website; log on using University uniquename and password:

 Annual and As-needed Disclosure Form for Dearborn Faculty (web-application)

Annual reporting should be done at some time between May 1 and September 30.

PROCUREMENT: Guidance for COI in UM purchasing decisions, contact Dearborn Financial Services.

SPONSORED PROGRAMS: Guidance for COI in Sponsored Programs can be found on the Vice President for Research website.

FACULTY CONSULTING: additional information on faculty working outside the University can be found in the UM Faculty Handbook (Section 7.C.3) and the Standard Practice Guide (SPG 201.65-0).

 Steps to consider after the President approves your unit policy

 Basic steps to take after an employee discloses a potential COI/COC