Committee on Ethics and Professionalism

At the provost's discretion, a CEP can be convened to help the OP analyze the extent to which a conflict of interest may exist and how it might be managed and resolved. The CEP can also be convened at the request of interested parties or to resolve any disputes that an employee may have with the OP's determination. The CEP will consist of four tenured faculty members, one of whom will chair the committee, one member of the group to which the individual with the potential conflict of interest belongs, and a representative from the OP as ex officio and nonvoting member. The university general counsel or designee will act as counsel for the CEP and will assist in fact development and interpretation of each case brought for consideration. The CEP and its chair will be appointed jointly by (1) the president of the Faculty Senate or, in the alternative, the assistant chair of the Graduate Council and (2) by the provost. Members from the supportive professional staff, operating staff, or the student body will be appointed in consultation with the appropriate councils or officers.

A person who has a close professional or personal affiliation or any real or apparent conflict of interest with the individual with the potential conflict of interest should not be a member of the CEP, and is required to bring such affiliation or real or apparent conflict to the attention of the provost and the president of the Faculty Senate or the assistant chair of the Graduate Council immediately, or within a reasonable amount of time after discovery. This person may still be called as a witness to the CEP. The CEP may provide advisory interpretations of the university's policies and procedures to the provost on conflict of interest. After consultation with the university general counsel or designee and, if necessary, with the employee, the elected members of the committee will render an advisory determination such as one of those listed above under E.2. Review.

The advisory findings of the CEP will be forwarded to the provost who will make a final determination. The OP will provide the employee with written notification of his or her determination. Original documentation will be retained in the OP with a copy given to the employee.