Following submission, Outside Activity Reports (OARs) go through several levels of review by different campus organizations. 

• OARs are reviewed at the unit level by department chairs, center directors or their equivalents (Primary Review).  This level of review evaluates potential conflicts, including conflict of commitment.
• OARs are reviewed at the Division level (Secondary Review) in the College of Letters & Science by the Associate Dean for Research Services or designee.  Typically, the Division level review within L&S is to ensure that time and effort spent on outside activities is not so onerous as to conflict with the employee's ability to fulfill their institutional obligations.
• OARs are also reviewed institutionally by the COI Program within the Graduate School.   Typically, the COI Program determines whether any activity reported on an individual's OAR represents a Significant Financial Interest (SFI). 

Significant Financial Interest (SFI)

A SFI includes the following interests of an investigator:

• Compensation received from a publicly-traded company or the value of any equity interest which exceed $5,000
• Compensation received from a non-publicly traded entity of greater than $5,000
• Any equity interest in a non-publicly traded entity
• Royalty income from intellectual property rights not assigned to WARF
• Reimbursed or sponsored travel paid by a non-government or educational entity 
• Service in positions with financial responsibility, whether or not the investigator receives compensation for such service

SFI do not include the following:

• Salary, royalties, or other compensation received from UW-Madison or affiliated entities
• Royalties generated by intellectual property rights assigned to WARF
• Income from seminars, lectures, or service on advisory committees sponsored by government or U.S. educational entities
• Travel reimbursed or sponsored by a government or educational entity (only required for PHS-funded individuals)
• Interests in mutual funds and retirement accounts

If a Significant Financial Interest (SFI) is identified by the COI Program, the OAR/SFI is then reviewed by the UW-Madison COI Committee. More information on the review of SFIs and the COI Committee may be found COI in L&S: Conflict of Interest Committee .

Questions?  Contact:
Breeana Hubbard, Ph.D.
Conflict of Interest
College of Letters & Science
breeana.hubbard@wisc.edu