Outside Professional Activities
What You Should Know
Research Education Series
January 29, 2003
Found that issues related to University Policy on Outside Professional Activities seemed be particularly confusing to faculty and administrators

To further add to the confusion there are federal requirements that are separate from University policy

 Will cover:
• What institutional and federal policy entails
• when they apply
• how to report activities

Outside professional activities are not a bad thing or something to be avoided

USC and all research universities encourage (and expect) faculty interactions and working relationships between faculty and government agencies, business & industry as important parts of their research, education and public service activities (See policy preamble – goes to lengths…)

Interactions with the private sector bring increased potential for financial conflicts of interest  or the perception of conflict (commitment as well as financial)

This is what must be avoided and what federal and institutional policy is designed to address

The University is responsible for assisting its faculty identify activities that present potential conflicts and in reducing or managing the conflicts to assure that they do not threaten the integrity the university and faculty.

Not possible nor necessary to eliminate all perceived or real financial conflicts of interest. existence of a conflict is not necessarily a problem; it is how individuals and institutions respond (don’t respond) to conflicts that may be problematic.       (That is where a clear enforced policy comes in)