Indiana University: Travel and Conflict of Interest Policies Raise Prior Review Concerns

In August 2026, Indiana University enacted an expansive “International Travel and Registration Prior Approval Policy” that subjected any travel undertaken by faculty, staff, or other employees and “conducted in support of the university’s mission, regardless of funding source,” to a university approval process. An IU conflict of interest policy also requires university approval for any activity, paid or unpaid, that involves “consulting, professional services, and other outside employment.” On September 22, FIRE wrote the university, explaining that these overbroad policies create an effective system of prior review for any faculty travel, even personal travel that incidentally involves faculty work. We urged the university to rescind its pre-approval process restricting protected, off-campus faculty activity, and to revise its conflicts of interest policy to avoid restricting informal work.