- Conflicts of Interest - Financial Interests:
The professional expertise of staff is expected to be devoted
principally to the performance of their work-related obligations to
MSUE and the university. Staff can render valuable service to the
outside community and provide an important ongoing link between the
University and business, industry, professional groups, government and
other public or private organizations. When acting in the role of
an Extension staff member, the employee is not to accept personal
compensation for their delivery of programs or information.
Neither are they to utilize their Extension appointment or
organizational resources to generate extra personal income for
themselves.
This does not preclude an Extension employee from having a financial
interest or engaging in financial transaction to the same extent as a
private citizen not employed by Extension, so long as the interest is
not represented as part of the Extension assignment or utilizes
Extension resources in the conduct of the effort. Extension staff
may have opportunities for consulting and application of their
professional advice beyond what would normally be extended in their
roles as a MSUE staff member. In these cases, the Consulting-for-Pay
Policy should be followed and appropriate request/approval forms
submitted.
- Conflicts of Interest - Employment of Relatives:
To avoid possible conflicts of interest, any director, supervisor or
staff member involved in hiring or performance review procedures who is
a relative of an employee or job applicant must not participate either
formally or informally in decisions on personnel matters affecting the
relative; including, but not limited to, decisions to hire, retain,
promote or determine the salary. Standards for hiring, promotion,
appointment, evaluation, salary and termination for all employees
within Michigan State University Extension are based on ability,
qualifications for the position, and performance. Relatives are
defined as connection between persons by blood, marriage, adoption,
domestic partnerships, or other personal relationship. No
employee shall be under the direct supervision or control of a
relative. Employment of relatives in the same unit or department
or under the same supervisor is authorized only with the prior written
approval of the head of the unit or department and the Office of the
Provost or the Office of Human Resource Services, as appropriate.
For further information, see the MSU Faculty Handbook on Conflict of
Interest In Employment (located at
www.msu.edu/unit/facrecds/FacHand/conflict3.html).
- Conflicts of Interest - Partisan and Non-Partisan
Public Boards and Committees:
Extension staff are in contact with community-based organizations and
issues on a daily basis. This provides opportunities to serve on
both elected or appointed non-partisan boards and committees. If
this appointment is based on the individual professional competencies
as an Extension staff member and the employee considers this a
work-related effort, the employee is to inform the university of such
involvement by submitting a Boards and Committee Form (See Boards
and Committees Participation Policy). Activities are to be
approved by their immediate supervisor. Income from service on
advisory committees or review panels for public entities is not to be
accepted when acting in the Extension staff role. Under no
circumstances should the Extension employee accept personal gratuities,
compensation, or special favors from organizations when representing
the university or Extension on these bodies. Neither should the
staff member use this public position for the extension of gratuities
or special favors to those approaching public boards in manners that
could be interpreted as an attempt to influence the recipients.
There may be times when such participation on a board could be
controversial and be publicly interpreted as a conflict of interest for
Extension involvement. Refer to the Handbook policy on Participation
On Non-Partisan Boards and Committees for guidance in determining
participation. Also see the MSU Faculty Handbook on Participation
in Partisan Political Activities (located at
www.msu.edu/unit/facrecds/FacHand/partisanpolitics.html).
- Conflicts of Interest - Endorsement of Commercial
Goods, Products or Services:
Extension staff are expected to act on behalf of and in the best
interest of the citizenry. A conflict of interest arises when a
person acts, or appears to act, on behalf of someone other than the
citizenry. It is inappropriate for Extension staff to indicate
the endorsement of a commercial good, product or service.
Extension is toe b a resource for unbiased, research-based
information. When called upon to suggest products or services
during the course of their educational delivery, staff are encouraged
to recommend alternatives in the marketplace, as opposed to specific
brand recommendations. Disclaimers should be used in print or
media presentations to indicate that product or service endorsements
are not made or implied.
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