Conflict of Interest

What is a significant financial interest (SFI)?

A significant financial interest is an interest in an entity outside of the University where an individual receives financial benefit or holds the potential for financial benefit that meets a defined threshold.  Per OSU policy, this includes:

1. For a publicly traded entity:
   1. Remuneration valued at $5,000 or more in the last 12 months; or
   2. Equity interest valued at $5,000 or more; or
   3. A combination of remuneration and equity that is valued at $5,000 or more.
2. For a non-publicly traded entity:
   1. Remuneration valued at $5,000 or more in the last 12 months; or
   2. Any equity interest.
3. For intellectual property rights and interests:
   1. Any income received related to such rights or interest.

The following categories of financial interests are excluded from the definition of “Significant Financial Interest”:

1. Salary, royalties, or other remuneration from the University
2. Income from investment vehicles, such as mutual funds or retirements accounts, where the individual does not directly control the investment decisions
3. Income from seminars, lectures, teaching engagements sponsored by, or service on advisory committees or review panels for, a Federal, state or local government agency, an institution of higher education, an academic teaching hospital, a medical center, or a research institute that is affiliated with an institution of higher education (FAQ: Do the SFI exclusion include foreign governments and institutions of higher education?)
4. Financial interests held by an individual’s family members that are unknown to the individual

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