- Individuals must ensure they follow this COC policy and comply with the applicable processes for their role to provide accurate and current disclosures of all OPAs. Individuals should seek guidance early and often, from the resources referenced herein.
- Individuals must ensure that their OPAs are Separate and Distinct from their Institutional Responsibilities.
- Individuals must ensure that a new or updated OPA has been reviewed by an appropriate MIT office if needed (e.g. Export Control, Conflicts of Interest, Dean’s office), and DLCI head prior to (re)engagement.
- No MIT office is authorized to review or negotiate individual OPA agreements or contracts. Any guidance provided by MIT regarding an OPA is advisory and should be considered at the individual's discretion. MIT may require termination of an OPA or prohibit participation based on assessed risks to the institute, sponsors of research, or the individual’s capacity to fulfill their Institutional Responsibilities.
- Individuals are responsible for complying with the Permitted Time applicable to them and will be asked to certify in the system when reporting new engagements.
- Individuals with a full-time MIT appointment must not assume or appear to assume operational or management roles with titles such as CEO, CFO, CTO, COO, President or similar, regardless of the organization type (for-profit, foundation, etc.). These titles imply significant responsibilities that could conflict or appear to conflict with Institutional Responsibilities expected from full-time service to MIT. If you are on sabbatical or professional leave, you may take on such titles during that period, which will end when your sabbatical or leave concludes.
- Before accepting honorific or active appointments at other academic or research institutions, such as Adjunct Professor, Visiting Professor, or Program Director, individuals must obtain written approval from their school or college dean, who will then seek approval from the Provost’s Office and the Office of the Vice President for Research. These appointments should be time-limited. Exceptions apply for certain affiliates, like academic teaching hospitals or the Broad Institute, which have different guidelines. Additionally, if you are on sabbatical or professional leave, you may accept a visiting or adjunct professor appointment during that period, which ends when your sabbatical or leave concludes.
- Individuals may not use MIT resources, such as MIT licensed software, lab spaces, and other institutional facilities not designated for external third party use, for OPAs. Your OPA should not be reliant on your access to MIT resources.
- An OPA does not establish a relationship with MIT; hence, MIT's logo, name, branded resources or trademarks cannot be used in conjunction with an OPA. Per MIT’s Policies and Procedures Section 12.3, use of MIT's name and marks is limited to identification of the individual by their affiliation (e.g., Jane Smith, Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology). MIT’s logos include departmental or program logos (i.e. Deshpande, JWAFS) including those made by students.
- Individuals must accurately represent their role in any publications stemming from an OPA. For clarity, publications resulting from OPA work do not represent MIT research or an individual's Institutional Responsibilities.
- Individuals should avoid engaging their active students, advisees, trainees and/or other direct reports in an OPA and vice versa. There cannot be an expectation that subordinates support OPAs. Additionally, involving a faculty advisor or supervisor in an OPA can raise concerns about conflicts of interest (COI) and Conflicts of Commitment (COC) for them.
- Individuals must disclose and keep their OPAs updated during leaves and sabbaticals.
- Individuals serving on boards of companies, government organizations, foundations, or similar entities, as well as those involved with journals and publications, should recuse themselves from discussions or decisions related to matters that impact MIT.
Updated August 2025