What's New for FY26

M-Inform Changes

Expanded Requirement

Individuals who indicate they have current or proposed federally funded research (e.g., awards from or proposals to NIH, NIH, NSF, DOE, NASA, etc.) will need to upload supporting documentation for outside activities with non-US entities.  Previously this requirement only applied to NIH funding.  This is required only if you have federal funding and disclose a non-US engagement.

On or after July 1, you will be required to update previously disclosed outside activities with non-US entities ​​​​​​to apply this documentation requirement.

Examples of applicable documentation to upload include:

• Contracts
• Appointment/acknowledgement letters
• Statements of work
• Emails that confirm expectations or deliverables (note:  you are not expected to upload all email between the parties involved), 
• Any other agreements with the foreign entity, or
• Grants, contracts or other sources of support that have been received as a result of the outside activity and that have not been reported through usual U-M processes.

New & Updated Disclosure Form Questions

Disclosure form questions define the nature of an outside activity, relationship, or interest.

1. Text and formatting changes have been applied throughout the disclosure form to improve clarity, provide additional information, and enhance examples.


2. New subquestions and options have been added to disclosure question #7 to better describe the details of an outside activity, including:
   • Individuals disclosing an appointment will need to answer a new subquestion about percent FTE/effort for that appointment;
   • Individuals disclosing that they are conducting or participating in non-UM research projects (paid or unpaid) not processed through a U-M system will need to answer two new subquestions about potential overlap with their U-M research;
   • Individuals disclosing an advisor role will need to answer a new sub-question asking if this advising activity involves the design, conduct, or reporting of research; and
   • Individuals disclosing consulting or advising activities that involve the design, conduct, or reporting of research must also select the “conducting or participating in non-UM research” activity.  Conditionally displayed reminder messages will appear in M-Inform.

Reminder: Those who have previously disclosed appointments, non-UM research, consulting, and/or advising activities will need to update their disclosures to answer the new subquestions.

Training Page Updated

The table displaying what to disclose and what not to disclose has been updated.  Download the printable version as guidance before you begin your annual disclosure!

Attestation Page Updated

Dislcosers must attest at the end of their disclosure submission that they have read and accept certain policies and practices.  A previous bullet has been revised to emphasize the discloser is attesting that they are not participating in a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program, which is prohibited by U-M policy.