Policies

NMSU Conflict of Interest Policies

The conflict of interest form contains information that may have direct bearing on your employment and completing the form is a condition of your employment; the form must be completed annually, and an additional form should be submitted when circumstances change and a potential conflict arises.  The form will be stored by Human Resource Services and considered confidential.  The information submitted is only available to individuals duly charged with the responsibility for review and may be released only in accordance with and as required by federal or state law; or regulation; or lawful court order.

Examples of conflicts of commitment for faculty may include but are not limited to:

  • Maintaining full-time paid employment at another institution/organization that interferes with work performance and/or attendance.
  • Excessive (not more than one day per week, on average) private consulting or advisory committee service, even if it is in the public interest or pro bono.
  • Taking a significant management role in a non-NMSU entity as part of consulting activities.
  • Holding an elective political office.

Examples of permitted activities may include but are not limited to:

  • Faculty consulting for private companies not in excess of one day per week during that portion of the year when drawing an academic or summer salary.
  • Serving on advisory committees of public or private concerns for the benefit of the university, even if an honorarium is paid for such activities, as long as it does not interfere with work performance and attendance.
  • Acting as an editor or reviewer for a professional society journal.
  • Preparing chapters, textbooks or monographs related to teaching, research or service activities, even if paid royalties as an author or editor.
  • Occasional lectures, colloquia or seminars to disseminate results of university-related teaching, research or service activities.
  • Holding an office in a professional society.

For additional information regarding Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment, please refer to the NMSU Administrative Rules and Procedures Chapter 3 (ARP 3.02-3.14). In addition to the NMSU policies on Ethics and Conflicts of Interest, NMSU has created a Business Ethics Handbook that cross-references all associated policies. When employees complete their Conflict of Interest form, they must acknowledge that they have read and agree to comply with the NMSU Business Ethics Handbook.

Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) Procedures for Sponsored Projects

For sponsored activities, the procedures for reporting are based on the federal regulation 42 CFR Part 50 Subpart F, Promoting Objectivity in Research. The Final Rule was published in the Federal Register, Vol. 76, No. 165 on August 25, 2011. 

The major changes implemented in 2012 to the NMSU Financial Conflict of Interest Procedures include:

  • The lowering of the financial disclosure threshold from $10,000 to $5,000;
  • Disclosure of all travel and expenses related to sponsored projects;
  • Mandatory conflict of interest training for ALL individuals, regardless of their position, or role on sponsored projects; and
  • FCOI management and reporting as outlined in 42 CFR Part 50 Subpart F. 

For details about federal conflict of interest policies and recent changes, please visit https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/coi/index.htm.

For more information about your sponsored project, please contact Research Administration Services (RAS), Grants & Contracts Administrator. 

Outside Activities Report and Management

New Mexico State University is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity in all of its academic and administrative operations.  Both individual members of the University and entities controlled by the University have a vital need to recognize and deal with conflicts of interest and/or commitment.  Such conflicts may compromise or have the appearance of compromising the integrity of University related activities and may have unforeseen effects on those activities.

Therefore, conflicts of interest and commitment must be reported by all regular employees (full and part-time faculty and staff) under the following circumstances:

*Upon hire
*Annually when initiated by HR Services in the Fall Semester
*When a conflict or the appearance of a conflict arises that has not been reported
*Upon notification from Researach Administration Services via Streamlyne for new awards