It is critically important that faculty or staff ("employees) of the University of New Haven (the 'University") avoid activities or relationships that may harm or damage the interests and reputation of the University and expose it to legal and financial risk. A conflict of interest exists when employees put their interests ahead of the University's interests for their own personal gain. Employees should not allow their own interests or that of an immediate family member or any other person to influence the decisions they make and the actions they take on behalf of the University.