Research Gift Acceptance

Pursuant to the May 20, 2022 memo from the Vice President for Research and the Vice President for University Relations, there is a two-step process for the review and acceptance of all gifts related to research:

1) Route to Approve and Accept the Gift

Research-related gifts provided directly to a campus unit and not through the University of Maryland College Park Foundation (UMCPF) must be routed by the unit using the Kuali Build (KB) gift module. Please contact Kalika White via x56808 or whitekr@umd.edu for assistance with routing the gift through Kuali Build.

2) Disclose the Gift

Researchers supported by the gift must also disclose the gift via the Kuali Conflict of Interest (KCOI) platform, and the Conflict of Interest (COI) committee must complete their review before the gift can be accepted. Keep in mind that the KB and KCOI processes do not need to run concurrently. If an individual knows a gift is coming, they may submit their COI disclosure prior to the gift letter being received and routing it in KB.

Per the COI Committee FAQs, the COI Committee typically meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Disclosures must be completed and routed to the COI office by the first of the month for inclusion in that month's agenda. (This includes review/approval by the Dean's Office.)

UM employees are state employees first, which means we are all subject to State Ethics Laws, which restrict the interests and relationships employees may have with external entities. There is a limited exemption to State Ethics Laws surrounding research, but that exemption only applies if UM appropriately manages Conflicts of Interest. More information can be found in the VPR/VPUR memo linked above, or in the UM COI policy.