Longwood University  Chief Administration and Finance Officer:       Human Resources        201 High Street, Lancaster 335, Farmville, VA  23909         Phone: 434.395.2074     Fax: 434.395.2666

Policy 5208 
CONFLICT OF INTEREST

I.    PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to employees relating to conflict of interest.

II.    POLICY

        A. Statute: The citizens of the Commonwealth are entitled to be assured that the judgment of 
        public officers and employees will not be compromised or affected by inappropriate conflicts.  
        The State and Local Government Conflict of Interest Act (Sections 2.1-639.2 through 639.23) 
        and Article of the Virginia Public Procurement Act, Ethics in Contracting (Sections 11-72 
        through11-80), provide the body of law applicable to all Longwood employees regarding such
        conflicts.  While these laws are too complex to summarize, faculty and staff should be aware that 
        the following situations may represent violations:

                1.  Soliciting or accepting money or gifts:

                        a.  for services performed within the scope of your official duties other than from the
                        institution;

                        b.  for compensation for obtaining employment, an appointment or promotion of any 
                        person with any government agency;

                        c. for consideration of the use of your public position to obtain a contract for any
                        person/business with any government agency; or

                        d.  that may tend to influence you in the performance of your official duties.

                2. Accepting any business/professional opportunity that is being afforded to you to influence
                you in the performance of your official duties.

                3. Using any confidential information for your or another party's benefit that you have
                acquired by reason of your job and which information was not available to the public.

                4. Having a personal interest in a Longwood agreement/contract (i.e., financial benefit 
                accruing to you or a member of your immediate family by reason of ownership of more 
                than three (3) percent of the business or annual income/salary from the business exceeding
                ten thousand (10,000) dollars other than your contract of employment.

            5. Having a personal interest in a contract with another state agency that was not
                awarded through a competitive process.

            6. Involvement by you or a member of your immediate family in any manner in a Longwood
            procurement transaction while at the same time negotiating/arranging for prospective 
            employment with that bidder or offeror.

            7. While involved in any manner in a procurement transaction, soliciting or accepting any
            money, service or anything of value from any bidder or offeror, contractor or subcontractor,
            unless consideration of equal/greater value is exchanged.

III.    PROCEDURE

The cited Code of Virginia sections should be consulted by any faculty or staff who may be involved 
in any such situation as summarized above. The Code may be accessed at http://leg1.state.va.us. 
Employees who have questions should consult with the Human Resource Office.   Any person who 
knowingly violates any provisions of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act shall 
be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and malfeasance in office and, in addition to any other fine or 
penalty provided by law, may forfeit his/her office or employment.

Approved by the Board of Visitors, September 7, 2002.

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