UC Oats
- Offices Supporting OPA
- UC OATS Resources
- UC OATS Policy
- UC OATS System
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Conflict of Comitment-Outside Professional Activity (OPA) Policy
Academic Personnel Manual (APM)
APM 671 Conflict of Commitment and Outside Activities for Health Sciences Compensation Plan Participants
APM 240 Deans
APM 246 Faculty Administrators - 100%
Foreign activities
How to Identify a Non-US Talent Recruitment Program
FAQs on International Research and Engagement
Please note, outside professional activities, as outlined in the category definitions in the Conflict of Commitment policies, include both domestic and foreign activities. As there has been increased scrutiny from the federal government regarding the appropriate disclosure of foreign engagements, it is critical that you report both your domestic and foreign engagements while completing the UC OATS forms. Such engagements include, but are not limited to, visiting professorial or research appointments and directorship of labs or programs, whether compensated or not. Please refer to the definitions of Category I and II activities for reference on the academic and professional activities that must be disclosed.
Additional policy information
July 1, 2024 UC OATS Policy Updates
Effective January 1, 2024, Academic Personnel Manual (APM) Section 025 and Section 671, the key policies from which UC OATS is derived, have been revised as follows:
Retaining the current definition of Outside Professional Activities.- The revised policies preserve the distinction between activities that are related and unrelated to the training and expertise that are the qualifications for University appointment.
Clarifying that current or pending acceptance of an honorary, visiting, adjunct, or other institutional appointment (either compensated or uncompensated) at an outside institution is a Category I activity.
- Current policies already classify employment outside the University as a Category I activity. The revised policies provide clarification that current or pending acceptance of an honorary, visiting, adjunct, or other institutional appointment (either compensated or uncompensated) at an institution of higher education, research institute, or medical center affiliated with an outside institution of higher education, non-U.S. government, or other outside entity is a Category I activity.
Clarifying that participation in or application to talent recruitment programs sponsored by a government agency of a nation other than the United States is a Category I activity.
- This requirement already exists in current policies but is not clearly articulated. The revised policies make explicit the requirement that faculty members seek prior approval for application to or participation in talent recruitment programs specifically designed to recruit science and technology professionals or students.
Expanding the definition of Compensation to include in-kind contributions.
- The revised policies articulate that in-kind contributions, such as office/laboratory space, equipment supplies, or employees or students supported by an outside source constitute compensation for outside professional activities. If the time commitment or dollar value is not readily ascertainable, reasonable estimates should be provided. Compensation does not include training awards, prizes, or gifts. Gifts are resources provided where there is no expectation of anything (e.g., time, services, specific research activities, money, etc.) in return. An item or service given with the expectation of an associated time commitment is not a gift and is instead compensation and must be reported as such. This is an existing reporting obligation required by federal funding agencies.
For faculty and Designated Other Academic Appointees, requiring compliance with federal funding agency laws and policies governing grant disclosures if participating in a federally funded research project and if deemed required to disclose per funding agency policy, grant terms & conditions, and/or federal law.
- Reporting requirements from federal funding agency laws and policies currently include reporting on conflicts of commitment and affiliations including, but not limited to, participation in non-U.S. talent recruitment programs and acceptance of visiting and honorary appointments at outside institutions of higher education and research.
Removing Appendices B, C, and D.
- The revised policies delete Appendices B, C, and D, as all campuses currently use the UC Outside Activities Tracking System (UC OATS) for APM - 025 and APM - 671 prior approval and annual reporting processes.
The revised Academic Personnel Manual (APM) Section 025 and Section 671 and accompanying issuance letter can be viewed by clicking the links below: