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POLICY MATTERS: About conflicts of interest and commitment

By Tameka Perry, Equity and Compliance Director

Conflicts of InterestSouthwest has a talented, diverse workforce of professionals whose skills are in high demand. This could lead to career opportunities and possible conflicts of interest and/or commitment. Did you know Southwest has a policy for these matters? We do!

Conflicts of interest

Ever received an offer to do some consulting on the side or wrote a textbook that would really help your students? If so, Southwest needs to know about it. The Conflict of Interest policy is designed to protect you and the College by ensuring that certain ventures do not conflict with the College’s mission or operations. It is a guide for employees and the College to use together to determine whether activities or situations are permissible or may contradict the interests of the College.

For example, say you were offered an opportunity to serve as a consultant for a computer equipment company. But, you work in Information Technology Services for Southwest. Filling out a Conflict of Interest Form ensures that the College is not only aware, but also has cleared the venture as one that does not clash with the College’s ITS operations and relationships or does not cross any ethical boundaries.

Let’s say that while teaching a course you find that your students would benefit from educational material that you published. Fill out a form and the Conflict of Interest Committee will review it and let you know whether there is a possible conflict and work with you on a resolution, if necessary. This course of action prevents you, the employee, from entering into arrangements that could pose a threat to your employment later.

The Tennessee Board of Regents requires each of its institutions to have a conflict of interest policy. Southwest’s policy can be found on the Equity & Compliance Documents and Forms page of the college’s website at https://www.southwest.tn.edu/compliance/documents.htm , or you may download the pdf version here: https://www.southwest.tn.edu/policy/section1/1-02-03-10-11.pdf.

The policy is a valuable resource for examples of activities that should be disclosed and describes the process by which disclosures will be evaluated.  In addition, we have a brief tutorial on the policy that you can easily access via this link: https://southwest.bridgeapp.com/learner/courses/9ca06a61/enroll.

When conflict of interest exists, it does not always have to be eliminated.  The College will work with employees.  To submit a disclosure, click the following link: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthwestTNCC&layout_id=6. You can also email disclosures to:  coi@southwest.tn.edu.

Moonlighting and conflict of commitment

Do you work a second job? If so, you might have a conflict of commitment, as well as a conflict of interest. It is important to notify the College of outside employment so that any potential conflict of commitment can be assessed and addressed.

Some of you may have filled out an Outside Employment Form during new employee orientation. That’s great! But, what about those of you who have taken on a second job since joining the Southwest family? Let’s revisit the employee mentioned above who received an offer to work as a computer equipment consultant. The Conflict of Interest Committee will evaluate conflict of interest disclosure and reach a resolution. At this point, the employee fills out an Outside Employment Form, as well, to ensure the College has a record of the new employment on file.

For more information about this policy and how to disclose outside employment, refer to Policy Number 5:01:05:00/48 in the online policy manual.  You also can download a handy copy of the Outside Employment Policy here: https://www.southwest.tn.edu/policy/section5/5-01-05-00-48.pdf.

For more information or questions, please contact the Office of Equity and Compliance at equityandcompliance@southwest.tn.edu or 901-333-5005.

Policy Matters is a new series of columns from Equity and Compliance Director Tameka Perry that will provide an overview of Southwest policies that you may not be aware of or updates on those that may have changed. Next issue, Perry will discuss Behavioral Intervention Teams or BITs.