Conflict of Commitment and Outside Professional Activities
The University encourages faculty to engage in outside activities that contribute to their respective professions and the community. A conflict of commitment occurs when the commitment to external activities, whether compensated or uncompensated, professional or non-professional, interferes with the successful performance of the faculty member's University obligations.
UCOATS (UC Outside Activity Tracking System) is a secure, mobile-friendly platform used by faculty to track and report Outside Professional Activities (OPA). While UCR encourages community engagement, this system ensures these activities do not create a conflict of commitment with University obligations.
How UCOATS Works
The platform simplifies compliance with Academic Personnel policies (APM 025, 671, 240, and 246) by providing a single location to:
- Request Prior Approval: Submit requests for Category I activities before they begin.
- Track Time: Log hours for Category I and II activities.
- Track Earnings: HSCP members and Deans report earnings.
- Student Involvement: Request prior approval to involve students.
- Report Annually: Complete mandatory annual reports.
- Monitor Status: View request progress and history.
To stay in compliance with APM policy, UCR faculty must:
- Obtain Prior Approval: Required for all Category I activities.
- Submit an Annual Report: Required every fiscal year.
User Guides
Visit UC OATS Resources for a library of articles and videos covering every role in UC OATS.
- General Campus Faculty (APM 025): training-faculty-025
- Health Sciences Faculty (APM 671): training-faculty-671
- Reviewers: General Campus Faculty and Health Sciences Faculty
- Approvers: General Campus Faculty and Health Sciences Faculty
- Auditors: User Guides for Auditors
To support UCR’s continued engagement and collaboration in research with the international community while also addressing federal concerns about research security and international engagement, the Office of Research provides helpful resources and updates on this evolving compliance area
International Affairs can be contacted via email at vpia@ucr.edu
Outside financial interests facilitate opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and support. The Conflict of Interest Oversight Committee (COIOC) supports research by reviewing financial disclosures to protect the objectivity of the research
Departments and research units that submit proposals are assigned Sponsored Projects teams consisting of Contract and Grant Supervisors and Officers who work with department staff to review proposals and manage awards
Export Controls are federal laws regulating the shipment or transfer of controlled items, software, technology, or services outside the United States and restricting the release of certain information to foreign nationals