Decision-Making in University Business Guidance

As stewards of the university’s financial resources, GW employees should avoid activities that impair, or appear to impair, their ability to perform their duties or affect the independence or objectivity of judgment in carrying out their responsibilities to the university.

A real, potential, or perceived conflict of interest could occur when there is overlap or relation between a GW employee's university role and an entity that they, or a member of their family, have an external relationship with. The Policy on Outside Interests, Relationships, and Professional Activities states, "GW employees shall not be involved in decisions concerning the purchasing or contracting of goods or services for the university, or control of funds, if their interest or relationships with a potential or committed vendor/contractor/donor conflict with, or reasonably appear to conflict with, their duty to act in the university’s best interests. This includes interests held by family members or anyone that the GW employee has a personal relationship with." This expectation extends to sponsored research, and as such, investigators may not act as a representative of the university regarding any sponsored research contracting, decision-making, or fund management with entities they have an outside relationship with.

If it is determined that there is a relation between the outside interest or activity and the GW employee’s university role, the involved entity will be added to the university's Vendor Watch List. Any university transaction with the entity will be reviewed to check for approval by someone other than the GW employee or their subordinate, with appropriate authorization.

Supervisors should remain apprised of their employees’ outside interests, relationships, and professional activities to assist in executing this guidance. A plan to mitigate, manage, or eliminate conflicts may be developed as needed.