A conflict of interest is a situation in which a personal interest may compromise or bias an employee’s professional judgment and objectivity when performing research or making decisions on behalf of the university. If an individual is an employee of Mason and also has an outside financial interest in a company that has a contract or transaction with Mason, that could be a personal interest that would cause a conflict of interest. The employee would have conflicting loyalties or responsibilities, between the employee’s self-interest and the interest of Mason.

A conflict of commitment is a situation in which an individual accepts or incurs conflicting obligations between or among the University and other entities. The University encourages faculty members to engage in Outside Professional Activities that contribute to the growth of knowledge or advance the mission of the University. Outside Professional Activities afford faculty opportunities to collaborate and share their expertise with communities beyond the University, to develop professional growth opportunities for faculty, and students, and to enhance their expertise and teaching in their chose discipline.