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To contact the COI officer, please e-mail coi-help@mit.edu.
What happens after I disclose a foreign non-OPA engagement?
- The activity will be labeled as a foreign non-OPA
- You will not need to complete additional disclosure steps
- The submission is captured for institutional tracking and compliance purposes
What is the difference between Institutional Time and Permitted Time? Are these the same thing?
Institutional Time is the total time required for individuals, such as faculty and researchers, to fulfill their Institutional Responsibilities. Institutional Time includes Permitted Time for faculty and certain ranks. Permitted Time is a specific portion of Institutional Time allocated for Outside Professional Activities (OPAs), allowing faculty to engage in activities beyond their core MIT responsibilities.
MIT does not require reporting of specific hours or days spent on OPAs, relying on faculty to manage their time effectively to ensure that these activities do not compete with their institutional obligations. For faculty, Permitted Time is up to 20% of Institutional Time; for other defined ranks, it is up to 10%. All others do not have Permitted Time to engage in OPAs.
When do I need to submit my OPA disclosure?
Submit your OPA disclosure:
- Within 30 days of starting a new engagement or renewing an existing one
- If 12 months have passed since your last OPA disclosure
Even if you have no OPAs to report, you must still complete and certify your OPA disclosure.
Who reviews and approves my OPA disclosure?
Either your DAF or department head in your unit will approve your OPA.
Why am I required to disclose engagements with foreign entities?
MIT policy requires faculty, researchers, research staff, academic instructional staff, postdocs, and others as directed to disclose any engagement with a foreign entity that is (or appears to be) Reasonably Related to your Institutional Responsibilities. This disclosure ensures:
- Compliance with federal regulations and sponsor requirements
- Identifying entities which may pose a risk to your ability to secure future federal research funding
- Appropriate institutional oversight of foreign relationships
Why can’t I see my OPA disclosures from prior to 2025?
MyCOI-OPA+ is a new system; historical data was not migrated.
You may access your last submitted OPA disclosure by going to the legacy OPA system. In the lefthand navigation menu, select “View My Current Submitted OPA Report.” This refers to your OPA report submitted in spring 2024.