University of Virginia Policies

Keeping Your Day Job

Maintaining an active research career at UVA and becoming an entrepreneur are not mutually exclusive. The university's attitude toward faculty members who start companies has dramatically shifted in recent years. UVA's concerns about researchers' business activities revolve around two issues: company activities will distract faculty from their duties at the university, and faculty-company relationships might lead to the perception of compromised academic integrity. UVA has a number of policies to manage these concerns. The first concern is addressed by UVA's policies on consulting and the second by UVA's policies on conflicts of interest.

All of these policies require you as the faculty entrepreneur to take the lead in identifying the rules that apply to you, notifying the proper offices at UVA, and obtaining any necessary permission. Some policies simply require a short written disclosure on a form. Others entail presentations to UVA's Board of Visitors. Spinner Technologies can help you as you work with your company and UVA to assure that your role as an entrepreneur complements your role as a UVA researcher.