Code of Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

This email serves as the annual reminder regarding:

1. The policies and obligations for faculty, academic staff, and limited appointees with half-time appointments or more to report on outside activities.
2. The requirement to advise university staff of their obligation to avoid conflicts of interest.
3. The obligation to notify staff about Regent Policy Document 13-4, which governs institutional and employee relationships with educational loan lenders.

Code of Ethics and Outside Activities Reporting – Faculty, Academic Staff, Limited Appointees

Faculty, academic staff, and limited appointees (other than state public officials) are subject to Chapter UWS 8, which outlines standards of conduct to avoid activities which cause, or tend to cause, conflicts between their personal interests and their public responsibilities. If a potential conflict arises, employees should follow the procedure outlined in UWS 8.04.

Pursuant to Wis. Admin Code UWS 8.025 and SYS 1290, all Universities of Wisconsin - Whitewater faculty, academic staff, and limited appointees with half-time appointments or more must report any outside activities and interests related to their areas of professional responsibility by April 30 of each year, if they meet any of the following criteria:

1. Associations with organizations, as defined in s. UWS 8.02 (3) and (12), related to the staff member's field of academic interest or specialization.
2. Private remunerative relationships between staff members and non-governmental sponsors of university research, where the staff member is a principal investigator.
3. Remunerative outside activities in the staff member's field of academic interest or specialization, including but not limited to consulting, where the staff member earns $5,000 or more in a year from a single source.

These reports are public records and must be maintained in a central location at each institution. While the form reflects on the prior year, employees are required to promptly update any changes that occur throughout the year. 

In addition to submitting the outside activity report (OAR), institutions are expected to evaluate whether an employee’s outside activities might conflict with their university duties. SYS 1290 provides further guidance on the review process and responsibilities of reviewers.  

Moreover, any faculty, academic staff, or limited appointee with signature authority, or who qualify as “contracting personnel” under UWS 8.02(7), are required by UWS 8.06 to file an annual Statement of Economic Interests with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. If you are uncertain whether this requirement applies to you or an employee, please contact Thomas Lisowski at lisowskt@uww.edu. 

Code of Ethics – State Public Officials

State public officials, including the President, Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, and all Vice President titles, must adhere to Subchapter III of Wis. Stat Chapter 19. These individuals are required to file a Statement of Economic Interests with the Secretary of State annually, by April 30.

Conflicts of Interest – University Staff

The University Staff Code of Ethics is outlined in section III of Regent Policy Document 20-22: Code of Ethics. This document serves as guidance for University staff employees to avoid activities which cause, or tend to cause, conflicts between their personal interests and their public responsibilities. In particular, Section III.C.2 specifies those activities that create conflicts of interest.

When it appears a material conflict may arise, university staff are advised of their responsibility, as outlined in RPD 20-22 section III.D, to submit a written statement describing the nature of possible conflict to their supervisor or other appropriate administrator.

Additionally, any university staff with signature authority, or who qualify as “contracting personnel” under UWS 8.02(7), are required by UWS 8.06 to file an annual Statement of Economic Interests with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. If you are uncertain whether this requirement applies to you or an employee, please contact Thomas Lisowski at lisowskt@uww.edu.

Institutional and Employee Relationships with Educational Lenders – All Universities of Wisconsin Staff

In accordance with Section 5.3 of Regent Policy Document 13-4: Institutional and Employee Relationships with Educational Loan Lenders, all University of Wisconsin - Whitewater employees will be regularly informed of the provisions of the policy, as well as related state and federal ethics laws.

For any questions, please contact Thomas Lisowski at lisowskt@uww.edu.