Scholars must, at a minimum, disclose to the University the following Outside Interests and relationships outlined below that reasonably appear to be related to their Institutional Responsibilities:
• Remuneration received by the individual, or his or her Family Member, from a publicly traded entity within the twelve months preceding the disclosure and the value of any equity interest in the entity as of the date of disclosure, which, when aggregated, exceeds $5,000. For purposes of this policy, remuneration includes salary and any payment for services not otherwise identified as salary (e.g., consulting fees, honoraria, paid authorship); equity interest includes any stock, stock option, or other ownership interest, as determined through reference to public prices or other reasonable measures of fair market value.
•Remuneration received by the individual, or his or her Family Member, from a non-publicly traded entity in the twelve months preceding the disclosure, which, when aggregated, is in excess of $5,000, or when the person making the disclosure or a Family Member holds any equity interest (e.g., stock, stock option, or other ownership interest) in the entity.
•Intellectual property rights and interests (e.g., patents, copyrights) held by the individual, or his or her Family Member, upon receipt of income related to such rights and interests.
•Income received by the Scholars or his or her Family Member of more than $5,000 from royalties on any single item from any non-Rice activity, including any income from intellectual property rights and interests not jointly owned by the University (such as patents, copyright, and licensing fees).
•Gifts larger than $2,500 any outside (non-Rice) entity.
•Reimbursed or sponsored travel (i.e., that which is paid on behalf of, and not reimbursed to, the individual so that the exact monetary value may not be readily available) that reasonably appear to be related to their Institutional Responsibilities and received from domestic or foreign for-profit (e.g., industry) or nonprofit entities not excluded below (e.g., foundations) if the amount exceeds $5,000 per trip. Disclosure information would include the purpose of the trip, the identity of the sponsor/organizer, the destination, and the duration.
•With regard to travel, Scholars do not need to disclose: a) direct reimbursement or income from seminars, lectures, or teaching engagements sponsored by a federal, state, or local government agency; a U.S. institution of higher education; an academic teaching hospital; a medical center; or a research institute that is affiliated with an institution of higher education; b) income from service on advisory committees or review panels for a federal, state, or local government agency; or c) income from service on advisory committees or review panels for a federal, state, or local government agency, or for a U.S. institution of higher education.
•Special Requirement for PHS Investigators: While the normal requirement is for Scholars to disclose sponsored travel and travel reimbursements annually, PHS Investigators must, within 30 days of receipt (rather than annually), and regardless of the amount, disclose any sponsored travel or reimbursement paid on their behalf by entities required to be disclosed in the travel and travel reimbursement disclosure requirement, as noted above. If upon evaluation the Office of Research Compliance (ORC) feels that additional information is needed to determine whether the sponsored travel or travel reimbursement indicates a Significant Financial Interest, then additional information such as the estimated or actual cost of the travel may be requested.