Curators complete conflict of interest policy, set May vote

By Jedd Rosche

Published April 21, 2006

The UM system Board of Curators completed a draft of its conflict of interest policy this week, and it should be ready for a vote at the board's May meeting in St. Louis.

The purpose of the policy is to disclose curators' financial and political interests.

Board members already are required by the state to disclose financial interests. The new policy is meant to consolidate the laws that require disclosure and allow the documents to be on file within the UM system.

The board made suggestions to change a draft of the policy this past week, and UM system lawyers completed the alterations this week, said Curator John Carnahan, chairman of the board's conflict of interest committee.

"It was an excellent draft," Carnahan said. "I think we made about three amendments, and it's been finalized. It will go up before a vote at the next curator's meeting."

The board discussed the three amendments last week at a meeting in Columbia.

The amendments included extending the term "immediate family" to include all children, both dependent and independent, and including a "neutrality clause," which would allow the policy to include political interests as a possible violation.

Carnahan said though the policy was important, the board has not had many problems with violations.

"I think we've been pretty good," Carnahan said. "There have been several situations where, in voting processes, curators have abstained from voting. This action will just codify that system."

Carnahan said after the board discussed the issue in January, it decided the policy needed to be put in writing.

"It's trying to follow up on just some discussions that took place last year. It's to deal with the potential for conflicts of interest to arise," Carnahan said.

Carnahan said the policy was meant to prevent possible future conflicts of interest more than it was a reaction to past conflicts.

Maria Curtis, the student representative to the Board of Curators, said her job did not fall under the policy.

"This committee, this action doesn't actually apply to the student curator," Curtis said.

Curtis said she supported the policy because it put curators' power in check.

"I think it gives the students a great security about the individuals making decisions on their behalf," Curtis said.

As student representative, Curtis can participate in board discussions; she cannot vote with the board.

Carnahan worked with Curators Anne Ream and Marion Cairns, as well as Bunky Wright, the UM system general council, in formulating the policy.

"It's just a draft that shows the board guidelines, in regards to business activity," Wright said, adding that many of the rules included in the policy were also found in the UM system's Collected Rules and Regulations and in state laws.

Wright said curators would file conflict of interest statements each year.

Wright said this was the first conflict of interest policy he had written.

The next board meeting is May 4 and 5 in St. Louis.