A conflict of interest exists if financial interests or other opportunities for tangible personal benefit may exert a substantial and improper influence on an employee's professional judgment in exercising any university duty or responsibility, including designing, conducting, or reporting research. "Employees" include faculty, staff, administrators and others. A conflict of interest is not an accusation and does not imply that an employee's judgment has been compromised.  Conflicts do occur.  It is important to be transparent and disclose them early, and develop strategies to manage them. If you think you may have a conflict, let me know and we will work with Barb Ludwig to sort through it.