Ethics Act compliance, disclosure of employment or services outside UA

August 13, 2020

Tori Tragis

All university employees (including regular, term, temporary, student and full- and part-time faculty and staff) are responsible for complying with the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act (Alaska Statute 39.52). The act sets standards for how we do our university jobs, and to a lesser extent, may limit our non-university activities. For example, the act regulates: benefitting our own personal or financial interests through official action; misuse of official position; solicitation or receipt of gifts; improper influence in university grants, contracts, leases or loans; improper representation; outside activities; and restrictions on employment after leaving the university. See the “Quick reference” (PDF) or the websites listed below for more information.

As part of this ethical obligation, we must disclose any work we perform outside of our university employment, including any self-employment, independent contracting or consulting. All compensated outside activities are to be disclosed, and even volunteer outside work must also be disclosed, if we get reimbursed for anything in connection with that volunteer work (travel, meals, etc.), or if there is any possibility that the volunteer work might involve the same issues or people as our university duties, or interfere with our university responsibilities. (However, employees with no outside activities are not required to submit the form.)

Outside employment is to be disclosed within 30 days of starting (or resuming) university employment. Thereafter, any additional outside employment is to be reported prior to beginning that outside employment (bearing in mind that if your supervisor finds that an adverse effect from your outside employment is possible, you may not start that outside employment unless and until your supervisor or the designated ethics supervisor gives approval). Updated outside employment forms are required as changes in that outside employment occur. In addition to these time frames, outside employment is also to be reported every July 1, even if a form was previously submitted. The supervisor makes an initial determination about possible adverse effect on employment and forwards the form to the designated UAA, UAF, UAS or SW ethics representative for review.

This year, employees have the option of using the "NextGen" version of the outside activity form, available here. The form can also be completed using the version on the ethics website. There are also FAQs on outside activity and other ethics act reference materials on the website.

Remember that there are different forms for making other disclosures. For example, there is a separate form for disclosing employee and employee family member interests in contracts with the university; these must be disclosed and pre-approved using the “Interest in Contracts, Grants, Leases, or Loans” form. This and other disclosure forms (Notification of Receipt of Gift in Excess of $150, Disclosure of Employment of Immediate Family Members, etc.) are available on the ethics website. Additional information regarding the Ethics Act is also available online.

You may be required to submit other disclosures if you engage in sponsored research. Please contact your research compliance officer for further information. Thank you for your cooperation.