A conflict of interest exists when a person's outside or private interests affect - or appear to affect - their institutional responsibilities and judgment as a Wichita State employee.

What does a conflict of interest look like? Here are four situations where officials at other universities had their judgment or ethics questioned. 

A university chancellor emails three other university presidents recommending they consider a jeweler known for its charm bracelets. The email eventually led to a retaliation grievance and settlement.  

Inside Higher Ed - Maryland chancellor and his emails for jeweler

NBC Washington - Email caused ethics to become part of Maryland university's chancellor's appraisal

The Baltimore Sun - Email from head of Maryland's university system promoting Pandora bracelets led to ethics queries

I asked about the authenticity of the email because I was concerned  that ... email account had been hacked or spoofed, or that I was being phished.

Teresa Sullivan, former University of Virginia President

An interim president of a public university system fails to disclose on required forms receiving payments exceeding $5 million for board service from major corporations doing business with the state.

Daily Journal - Documents: UNC system president didn't report board seats

Inside Higher Ed - For-profit board seats cause headache for UNC president

Becker's Hospital Review - "Forms can be complicated," board says over past UNC Health CEO's failure to disclose conflicts of interest

There is this potential for that relationship, even if it's inadvertent, to be exploited for the benefit of the corporation.

James Fikelstein, professor emeritus of public policy at George Mason University

A state senator introduces a bill seeking $1 million in state infrastructure bonds for a small college only weeks before taking a new job with the college. College officials say the bonding proposal did not influence the hiring decision.

Inside Higher Ed - State senator funds college on potential conflict of interest

News Tribune - Simonson's new job at Lake Superior College raises conflict questions

Star Tribune - Minnesota lawmaker's new college job sparks conflict of interest questions

Either it's a real conflict of interest ... or it raises such enormous appearances of impropriety that it's a problem.

David Schultz, professor at Hamline University and former president of Common Cause Minnesota

A university calls in an independent law firm to conduct an inquiry after a whistleblower alleged one of its doctors misused a $10 million donation to benefit his private businesses. 

KFMB-TV / inewsource - Investigation of prominent UCSD doctor finds multiple violations of university rules

KPBS / inewsource - University of California and former vice chair go to court Over $10 million research donation

Internal controls will be bolstered to improve regulation and oversight of gift expenditures. Conflict of interest reviews will be more strictly enforced. And relevant policies and protocols revised with expanded education and training.

UCSD spokesperson

The information provided on the WSU Conflict of Interest webpage and beefed-up annual reporting is a proactive approach to addressing potential conflicts of interest before they become a problem.

The determination of whether you have a conflict of interest is not self-determination. In many cases, the perception of conflict is a critical factor to consider.

Accordingly, the university does not merely ask whether you have a conflict. It asks about your financial and outside interests, so a board of university employees well versed in such matters can decide.

Far beyond the lousy optics in the first three cases, the UCSD situation is a prime example of how far a conflict of interest can go off the rails.