7.12 Conflict of Commitment

MIT is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and excellence, which includes effectively balancing personal activities with professional responsibilities. A conflict of commitment arises when an employee’s outside activities interfere, compete with, or detract from their ability to perform their MIT duties. Regardless of role or level of effort (e.g., full-time or part-time), employees must ensure that their outside activities do not undermine their commitment to their MIT work. 

This policy generally applies to all individuals with employment appointments at the Institute.  Special rules regarding outside professional activities applicable to graduate students are available here.

The existence of a conflict of commitment depends on the specific circumstances. Examples of potential conflicts of commitment include:

• Spending excessive time on outside activities that detract focus from MIT duties and responsibilities (for example, teaching or mentoring duties).
• Engaging in outside activities that unreasonably impede upon the employee’s availability during normal expected working hours.
• Misusing MIT resources, including office or laboratory space, equipment, or technology, for non-Institute activities. See Section 13.2.3.1.
• Directing other MIT community members (e.g., subordinate employees, students) to perform personal tasks or tasks for their outside activities, except as permitted in Section 4.5 Outside Professional Activities.
• Sharing confidential information, ideas, or strategies with outside organizations or individuals, especially those that could undermine US interests or national security, or that could result in MIT being in breach of contractual commitments to research sponsors.

Full disclosure and timely discussion are essential to address potential conflicts of commitment. Comprehensive guidance about conflicts of commitment, including the required procedural steps, are available on MIT's conflict of interest website.

Faculty and staff are also subject to MIT’s Conflict of Interest policy (Section 4.4); faculty and some staff must report Outside Professional Activities (Section 4.5).