Disclose a Conflict of Interest
It’s common for staff and faculty members to have non-College interests, affiliations, and relationships. This adds to the expertise and value we bring to our service at the College. It’s also common for employees to have family members working or studying at Montgomery College. This is a positive aspect of our campus community. However, these positive interactions can at times create the occasion for real or perceived conflicts of interest, which may damage the individual and/or the institution.
A conflict of interest is any situation where an employee’s personal interests could
interfere or appear to interfere with their judgment in carrying out their College
responsibilities. More details about what constitutes a conflict can be found in Policy and Procedure 31003 – Conflict of Interest (PDF, 
) .
To prevent our interests, affiliations, and relationships from having a negative impact on the College, we simply need to disclose them so the College can evaluate and—where a conflict is indeed present—manage the circumstances giving rise to it. All employees are required to disclose possible conflicts of interest as soon as they arise by completing the Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form.
Please note the College has a new Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form
Employees will create a password to access the Follow Upnew window functionality of this report before submitting the Conflict of Interest Disclosure form. After you complete your disclosure and before you exit the form, the EthicsPoint system will assign a unique code to you called a report key. Keep your report key and password in a safe place.
After five to six business days, follow up on your submission for feedback or questions. Select the Follow Upnew window option and use your report key and password to check the status of your disclosure. The Office of Compliance, Risk, and Ethics will provide a response to your conflict of interest disclosure to guide you to best manage or avoid any conflicts, if present.
Please be complete in filling out the form, even if you have disclosed the relationship or scenario previously. If you’re unsure about a scenario, err on the side of caution by disclosing it. Contact ethics@montgomerycollege.edu or 240-567-7396 with any questions.
For more information about strong passwords and password managers, please refer to the College’s Office of Information Technology website:
Cybersecurity Awareness Monthnew window
Passwords, WiFi, Malwarenew window
Please review this information for helpful guidance for employees submitting conflict of interest disclosures. (October, 2024)
I would like to talk with someone about some questions before submitting my Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form. What should I do?
Employees may contact ethics@montgomerycollege.edu with questions about conflicts of interest.
I am having technical problems with my Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form submission. Who should I contact for help?
For technical problems with your submission, please contact the Office of Compliance, Risk, and Ethics at ethics@montgomerycollege.edu for assistance.
How may I obtain a disability-related accommodation?
If you are unable to access the Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form due to a disability, and need it in an alternative format, please contact accessibility@montgomerycollege.edu.
What is a report key?
A report key is a unique code assigned to each Conflict of Interest Disclosure webform that is submitted. It serves as an identifier for your disclosure within the EthicsPoint system. It’s important to keep your report key(s) and your password in a safe place as you will need them to access and/or respond to any follow-up questions regarding your conflict of interest disclosure.
I completed the Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form. What happens next?
You will create a password before submitting your conflict of interest disclosure form. After completing your disclosure and before you exit the webform, the EthicsPoint system will assign a unique code to you called a report key. Please keep your report key and password in a safe place. After five to six business days, please follow up on your submission for feedback or questions.
Select the Follow Upnew window option and use your report key and password to check the status of your disclosure. The Office of Compliance, Risk, and Ethics will provide a response to guide you to best manage or avoid any conflicts, if present. Contact ethics@montgomerycollege.edu with any questions.
I submitted my Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form. What should I do if I have follow-up questions?
Please log into the EthicsPoint system using the “Follow Upnew window” process for Conflict of Interest disclosures to review questions or obtain more information about your disclosure.
Conflict of Interest Webform Follow Upnew window
You will need your report key and password to log in, so remember to save your report key and password and keep them in a safe place.
I lost my report key and/or my password. How can I follow-up on my conflict of interest disclosure submission?
The EthicsPoint system does not have a “Forgot Password” feature, nor does the Office of Compliance, Risk and Ethics have the ability to retrieve passwords or report keys. Keep your report key and password in a safe place. It is important to develop a password that is easy for you to remember, but not easy for someone else to guess. (Passwords, WiFi, Malwarenew window)
If you lost your report key or your password, please submit a new Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form.
For more information about strong passwords and password managers, please refer to the College’s Office of Information Technology website:
Cybersecurity Awareness Monthnew window
Passwords, WiFi, Malware new window
I am a supervisor and have questions about whether one of my team members should complete a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form. What should I do?
If you are a supervisor and have any questions about the conflict of interest disclosure process, please contact the Office of Compliance, Risk, and Ethics at ethics@montgomerycollege.edu for guidance.
Can I submit the previous Conflict of Interest PDF form?
Starting October 24, 2024, employees are required to complete the new Conflict of Interest Disclosure webform instead of the previous Conflict of Interest PDF form. If you complete the prior pdf version, you will be asked to complete and submit the new Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form.
I submitted a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form in the past, and now I have another possible disclosure. Should I complete a new form?
Yes, please submit a new Conflict of Interest Disclosure webform for each new circumstance.
Is the Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form available in languages other than English?
The Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form is available only in English. Please contact the Office of Compliance, Risk, and Ethics at ethics@montgomerycollege.edu for translation assistance.
Thank you for upholding a culture of ethics and integrity at Montgomery College.