University of North Texas 
There are two types of conflicts of interest:
• Potential conflicts exist when you COULD benefit from an action or decision you make in your official capacity.
• Actual conflicts exist when you WOULD benefit from an action or decision you make in your official capacity.
Financial interest may result in a conflict of interest related to a staff member's
institutional responsibilities that include but are not limited to research, education,
purchasing, and administrative activities. Additionally, financial conflicts of interest
for staff members, his/her spouse, domestic partner, or dependent children must be
disclosed.
Examples of conflict or potential conflict include:
Disclosure Description |
Disclosure Description |
Example |
|---|---|---|
| UNT Business Affiliations | Activities with entities that relate to or conduct business with UNT |
|
| Equity and Ownership Interest | Holders of equity, including stock, stock options or warrants, in publicly traded or privately held companies (This excludes investments in mutual funds over which staff members have no direct oversight) |
An employee owns 5% of a local printing shop that may bid on university business. |
| Consulting and Other Professional Services | Recipients of consulting income, salary (excluding that from UNT), other emoluments, or other in-kind compensation per year | A faculty member provides professional medical anthropology consulting services. |
| Editorial Services | Journal services, scientific editor services | A faculty member who is an expert in public health provides a specialized form of editing for a medical journal. |
| Intellectual Property Rights | Recipients of license fees, equity, royalties, or contractual rights to receive royalties either through UNT or from an external entity | A researcher receives royalties for a patented design created outside of university official duties from a third party. |
| Sponsored Travel | Travel which is paid on behalf of the Discloser and not reimbursed to the Discloser | A UNT staff member is invited to speak at a technology conference. An official duty of the UNT employee is to evaluate effective software. Conference organizers have paid for travel expenses. |
| Board or Elected Service | Service as an officer, director, or in any other fiduciary role for a commercial entity | A faculty member accepts a board of directors' position at a company. |
| Prizes and Honoraria | Speaking compensation or prizes (Nobel Prize, Honorary Degrees) | A professor is asked to speak at a criminology conference because of experience and knowledge and not because of a held position as Department Chair of Criminal Justice. A gift was given in recognition of service. |
| Outside Employment | Employment external to your institution | See UNT Policy 05.008 - Dual Employment and Other Activities for guidance and reporting responsibilities |
| Other Appointments | Compensated or Uncompensated (positions, appointments, fellowships, or talent programs)other than those provided through UNT | A faculty member participates in an international exchange through the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program. |
Need Assistance?
It is important to contact the University Integrity & Compliance office when in doubt as to whether or not your financial interest, business affiliation, or personal relationship creates a conflict of interest.
Contact University Integrity & Compliance, Compliance@unt.edu
For additional assistance, consult UNT Ethics Policy 05.015