Ethics Act compliance, disclosure of employment or services outside UA
August 6, 2019
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. (See information at the bottom of this message for submitting your disclosure form online.) Thereafter, any additional outside employment is to be reported prior to beginning that outside employment. 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 campus ethics representative for review.
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, available atwww.alaska.edu/hr/forms/hr_ethicsforms/. Other disclosure forms are available at the same site (Notification of Receipt of Gift in Excess of $150, Disclosure of Employment of Immediate Family Members, etc.).
Additional information regarding the Ethics Act is also available at www.law.state.ak.us/doclibrary/ethics.html.
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.
New for FY20
UAF is using DocuSign for the outside employment disclosure forms. This process is completely online. Employees initiate the process using one of the links below, and DocuSign will automatically route the form through the approval process. Employees with multiple activities to report can attach a sheet to the DocuSign form.
Faculty: Outside employment disclosure form
For more information contact Jennifer Hoppough, Provost's Office, 474-7096 or jahoppough@alaska.edu.
Staff and student employees: Outside employment disclosure form
For more information contact Kerynn Fisher, Administrative Services, 474-7907 or klfisher@alaska.edu.