C | I | M | O | P | R | S
Click one of the letters above to advance the page to terms beginning with that letter.
C
Conflict of Commitment (COC)
A circumstance in which an individual accepts or incurs conflicting obligations or responsibilities between or among different employers or other entities, whether foreign or domestic. Such a circumstance creates competing interests based on time, lack of intellectual separation, inappropriate use of institutional resources and/or personnel. It also creates obligations to improperly share information with, or to withhold information from, an employer or sponsors, putting in jeopardy research, technology, or economic security and integrity.
I
Institutional Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities associated with an Investigator’s or other individual’s MIT appointment or position, such as research; teaching; administration; conference attendance, research presentations or lectures at other universities; uncompensated publication review; and service on MIT committees.To clarify, scholars' activities within their disciplines can differ significantly, with common examples including peer review of research, service roles in professional or academic organizations, community outreach and enrichment, and K-12, STEM or other educational initiatives.
Institutional Time
The time generally required for individuals to fulfill their Institutional Responsibilities.
M
MIT Professional Activity (MPA)
Compensated teaching at MIT EDx, MIT Professional Education, Sloan Executive Education, and other MIT-run and authorized non-degree, professional programs. MPAs must be disclosed to the Institute as an OPA.
O
Outside Professional Activity (OPA)
Any professional activity conducted outside of Institutional Responsibilities, with a foreign or domestic entity, whether compensated or uncompensated, that may be, or appear to be, Reasonably Related to Institutional Responsibilities and therefore must be disclosed to the institute. OPAs must take place within the Permitted Time and utilize an individual's personal resources. An OPA is undertaken by an individual, not on behalf of MIT, thus, MIT is not a party to the OPA.
P
Permitted Time
A fraction of Institutional Time designated for OPAs, granted as a privilege to faculty and certain other roles.
Note: Administrative staff do not have Permitted Time. The review, approval and disclosure of any OPAs will be handled through a departmental process, not through the new system. See “Roles without Permitted Time” Section 5.
R
Reasonably Related
means there is a logical and relevant connection—or an appearance of such a connection or impact—between the Outside Professional Activity (OPA) and the individual’s Institutional Responsibilities. This connection may be direct or indirect and includes situations where the OPA could influence, or be perceived to influence, the individual’s MIT research, teaching, service, or administrative duties.
S
Separate and Distinct
While your MIT work provides the foundation for your expertise, work carried out as an OPA is clearly differentiated both intellectually and technically, as well as in how and when it is performed, to ensure it remains independent of your MIT Institutional Responsibilities. This distinction helps avoid conflicts of commitment and maintains the integrity of both roles. Specifically, the work:
- Occurs outside your MIT Institutional Time
- Does not use MIT-funded resources, facilities, or personnel unless explicitly authorized
- Has objectives, deliverables, and technical scope that are different from your MIT responsibilities
- Does not overlap with your institutional duties in a manner that creates conflict or interferes with your MIT role
Updated August 2025