WVU requires faculty and others to disclose outside activities and outside financial interests whenever personal, commercial, or financial interests or activities outside of the University have the possibility (either in actuality or in appearance):
- To interfere with WVU employees' ability to fulfill their employment obligations;
- To compromise a faculty or staff member's professional judgment;
- To bias research or compromise, or give the appearance of compromising, the sound professional judgment of our research investigators; or
- To result in personal gain for the employee or employee's immediate family, at the expense of the University and/or the state.
University faculty and other personnel are State employees and thereby subject to WV State Ethics Act. Faculty and others engaged in teaching and academic research have a negotiated “carve out” from these regulations, subject to certain requirements for the university to review, approve, and manage potential conflicts of interest stemming from outside activities. This allowance is in place to foster technology transfer and economic development activities that benefit the State. Because university employees are compensated using taxpayer dollars, we must strive to embody and model the highest ethical standards for our students and West Virginia taxpayers. WVU leadership reminds faculty and others that these types of entrepreneurial activities, when disclosed and approved properly, are points of pride and celebration as they represent the University’s commitment and obligation as a public land grant university to economic development and community service.
Outside financial interests (unrelated to an outside activity) must also be disclosed, not only to comply with West Virginia ethics regulations, but also Federal regulations which may be applicable based upon one’s funding sources for research and sponsored projects.