Conflicts of Interest

Occupational

1. An employee of the University System shall not engage in any occupation, pursuit, or endeavor which will interfere with the regular and punctual discharge of official duties.
2. All full-time faculty, administrators, and other professional staff members employed by an institution of the University System are expected to give full professional effort to their assignments of teaching, research, and service.
3. Professional employees are encouraged to participate in professional activity that does not interfere with the regular and punctual discharge of official duties provided the activity meets one of the following criteria: (1) is a means of personal professional development; (2) serves the community, state or nation; or (3) is consistent with the objectives of the institution.
4. For all activities, except single-occasion activities, the employee shall report in writing through official channels the proposed arrangements and secure the approval of the President or his/her designee prior to engaging in the activities. Such activities include consulting, teaching, speaking, and participating in business or service enterprises.

Consulting

Recognizing that teaching, research, and public service are the primary responsibilities of faculty members in the University System of Georgia, it shall be considered reasonable and desirable for faculty members to engage in consulting activities, which are defined for purposes of this policy as any additional activity beyond duties assigned by GCSU, professional in nature and based in the appropriate discipline for which the individual receives additional compensation during the contract year. GCSU has adopted guidelines governing consulting activities of faculty members which shall include the following:

1. A plan for reimbursing the institution for use of the institution's employees, facilities, equipment and/or materials consistent with rates charged outside groups or persons.
2. A procedure for obtaining prior approval of the President or his/her designee.
3. A procedure for defining and prohibiting conflicts of interest.

Related link:

• Forms

Political

Last Edited 01/15/2025

In accordance with the University System of Georgia (USG) policy, Georgia College and State University (GCSU) adopts the following:

USG employees are encouraged to fulfill their civic obligations and engage in the normal political processes of society, including the right to express their personal opinions on matters of public concern, and nothing in this policy is intended to infringe or restrict free expression rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution or the Georgia Constitution. Nevertheless, it is inappropriate for USG employees to manage or enter political campaigns while on duty to perform services for the USG or to hold elective political office at the state or federal level while employed by the USG. Likewise, USG employees must not hold themselves out as speaking or acting on behalf of the USG or its institutions when participating in political activities and must take reasonable measures to avoid any appearance that such participation is in an official capacity as an employee of the USG or its institutions.

In light of the foregoing, the following rules govern all USG employees when engaging in political activities and associated political expression:

1. A USG employee may not manage or take an active part in a political campaign that interferes with the performance of duties or services for which he or she receives compensation from the USG.

2. A USG employee may not hold elective political office at the state or federal level.

3. A USG employee seeking elective political office at the state or federal level must first request a leave of absence without pay beginning prior to qualification as a candidate in a primary or general  election and ending after the general or final election. If elected to state or federal office, a USG employee must resign prior to assuming office.

4. A USG employee may seek and hold elective office at other than the state or federal level, or seek and hold an appointive office, when doing so does not conflict or interfere with the employee’s duties and responsibilities to the USG or the employee’s institution, as applicable.

5. A USG employee engaging in political activities and/or associated political expression must do so only in their personal capacity and shall not speak on behalf of the USG or its institutions or hold themselves out as representing the USG or its institutions, unless specifically authorized by the USG or the employee’s institution, as applicable.

6. When a USG employee engages in political activities and/or associated political expression in their personal capacity, such employee must take reasonable steps to avoid any appearance that such political activities and/or associated political expression represents the views of, or is endorsed by, the USG or its institutions. For example, USG employees are not prohibited from noting in a biographical description their employment status, title, or affiliation with the USG or their institution, or their background and credentials, but if an employee does so, the employee must make clear that the employee is not speaking in the employee’s capacity as an employee of the USG or the employee’s institution.

7. USG employees are prohibited from using state property, resources, or materials (including work email) or work time to communicate personal political views or in conjunction with any political campaigning. In addition, employees are prohibited from using any USG registered trademarks when expressing personal opinions on political issues, unless they are expressly authorized to do so

8. USG employees shall not make any promise of preferential treatment or any threat of detrimental treatment or actually confer such treatment for the purpose of inducing the support of or opposition to any political campaign or candidate for political office, political party, or political organization.

9. Neither USG, any USG institution, nor any employee thereof shall ask or require any employee, student, or applicant for employment or admission to affirmatively ascribe to or opine about political beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles as a condition for employment, promotion, admission, enrollment, or any benefit or privilege related thereto.  This prohibition shall not, however, prevent any employee, student, or applicant for employment of admission from voluntarily engaging in such expression.

Any employee who violates these prohibitions on certain political activities shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Related Links:

• 8.2.18.3 Prohibition on Certain Political Activities; No Official Endorsement or Affiliation and Avoidance of the Appearance Thereof