Office of Conflicts of Interest & Commitment (COI/C) Services
Collaborating Beyond Campus. Building Confidence.
The Office of COI/C Services provides frontline support and clear guidance for Policy 1045 compliance. We help faculty and staff confidently navigate non-research related conflicts that naturally emerge as you engage with industry, the community, and outside professional growth.
Review Policy 1045: Disclosure Requirements for Activities and Interests (Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy)
New process coming in 2027! Access the electronic disclosure portal to submit, update, or track your annual conflict of interest and commitment forms.
Guides & Checklists
Coming Soon! Unsure who needs to disclose, what requires disclosure, or when to file? Read our breakdown regarding external activities, timelines, and other requirements.
How We Partner with You
Frontline Guidance
We work directly with employees to simplify the disclosure process. We help you understand who needs to file, what supporting documentation is required, and when to request approval before initiating an outside activity. This includes guiding you through complex questions regarding the activities and interests of spouses or immediate family members.
Approver Support & Preliminary Reviews
We ease the administrative burden on Department Heads and Senior Leaders. Our team conducts initial, preliminary reviews of submitted disclosures to flag specific areas that might require attention. This enables reviewers to make fast, informed decisions based on clear, standardized evaluations.
Management Planning
When a conflict of interest or commitment is identified, we help ensure consistency across campus. We collaborate with reviewers to draft structured, standardized COI/C management plans. These plans provide a clear framework that mitigates organizational risk while allowing your external professional relationships to move forward safely.
Integrated Compliance Oversight
We manage the disclosure system while monitoring evolving federal, state, and local requirements. We collaborate with the Research COI Program, Export & Secure Research Compliance, Procurement, University Legal Counsel, and Sponsored Projects to maintain a coordinated compliance network across the university.
Our Approach
Conflicts of interest can occur with anyone, in any area of the institution. They are formed when circumstances come together in a way that causes personal interests to diverge from professional obligations. Because Virginia Tech values innovation, external collaboration, and real-world impact, we want our community to be actively engaged beyond campus. Our job is to provide clear training and direct peer-to-peer outreach to minimize the administrative burden on disclosers and reviewers alike.
Contact
Alan W. Fellers
Director of Conflict of Interest and Commitment Services
alanf@vt.edu | (540) 231-4587