CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

Conflicts of interest occur when a set of circumstances creates a risk that professional judgment or actions regarding a KSU interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary or personal interest.

KSU employees are obligated to avoid or disclose actual ethical, legal, financial, or other conflicts of interest involving KSU, and recuse themselves when decision-making related to KSU responsibilities could be influenced by a conflict of interest.

KSU will exercise oversight and care in eliminating or managing conflicts of interest that do or may arise because of an individual's personal interests in activities related to their institutional responsibilities. KSU will not accept or enter into agreements, contracts, gifts, or purchases that give rise to a conflict of interest unless the conflict can be eliminated or appropriately managed through administrative oversight to protect the interests of the individual and KSU.

The following activities are examples of situations that may raise questions regarding an apparent or real conflict of interest. The list of examples below is not exhaustive.

• Undue personal gain from KSU funds or resources;
• Excessive or unauthorized use of KSU time or resources for professional, charitable, or community activities;
• Exploitation of students for private gain;
• Compromise of KSU priorities due to personal financial considerations;
• Unfair access by an outside party to KSU programs, services, information, or technology;
• Selection of an entity as a KSU vendor by an individual who has a personal or economic interest in that entity (such as engaging a relative to serve as an independent contractor, subcontractor, or consultant on behalf of KSU); or
• Acceptance of a gift or favor from an entity (or representative of an entity) conducting (or seeking to conduct) business with KSU when a KSU employee is in a position to influence or inform decision-making relative to engaging the entity on behalf of KSU.

KSU strongly urges employees in positions of authority not to engage in amorous or sexual conduct with individuals (including students) they are likely to evaluate in the future. Moreover, KSU expressly prohibits amorous relationships between a supervisor and an employee or student who is the supervisor's subordinate. The power difference in such relationships may restrict the less powerful individual's ability to willingly participate. If an employee in a position of authority is in an apparently welcomed amorous or sexual relationship with someone whose performance they must evaluate, the person in the position of authority must report the relationship to his or her supervisor. This allows for suitable arrangements to be made, thereby ensuring an objective third party evaluates the other person in a relationship.

DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS:

Prior to hire and upon request, employees must provide information on the nature and extent of their outside professional activities and financial interests related to their institutional responsibilities. This disclosure is